Top Law Schools

I recently graduated from a UC with a BA in Psych and Criminology. My gpa is 3.4 and I have yet to take the LSAT... For the past 3 years, I have interned and worked at about 3 different law offices. I've always been interested in a career in law, but more because I'm NOT interested in med school, business or engineering....I've done well in all of my classes about law (Con Law, Family Law, Soc. of Law, etc....although I know these classes probably don't compare to the classes in law school). However, something I've noticed about myself is that I'm not very quick on my feet. I've never really been able to participate in class discussions because I never felt as knowledgeable or as quick of a thinker as my fellow classmates. I've always been intimidated by how much my classmates have known about legal issues and politics, and I've realized that while I am book smart, I find it hard to follow political issues and legal debates.

Based on this, would you say that the legal field is not a good fit for me? I really enjoy learning about law, but am scared that law school will be way to much for me handle, given that I really don't know anything about the workings of the legal system.

lag88 wrote:I recently graduated from a UC with a BA in Psych and Criminology. My gpa is 3.4 and I have yet to take the LSAT... For the past 3 years, I have interned and worked at about 3 different law offices. I've always been interested in a career in law, but more because I'm NOT interested in med school, business or engineering....I've done well in all of my classes about law (Con Law, Family Law, Soc. of Law, etc....although I know these classes probably don't compare to the classes in law school). However, something I've noticed about myself is that I'm not very quick on my feet. I've never really been able to participate in class discussions because I never felt as knowledgeable or as quick of a thinker as my fellow classmates. I've always been intimidated by how much my classmates have known about legal issues and politics, and I've realized that while I am book smart, I find it hard to follow political issues and legal debates.

Based on this, would you say that the legal field is not a good fit for me? I really enjoy learning about law, but am scared that law school will be way to much for me handle, given that I really don't know anything about the workings of the legal system.

No. The legal field is not a good fit based on this:

I've always been interested in a career in law, but more because I'm NOT interested in med school, business or engineering

You might have difficulty doing well on law school exams since quick analysis is required while memorization & regurgitation will result in very poor grades.

CanadianWolf wrote:You might have difficulty doing well on law school exams

You'll probably have trouble on the LSAT as well.

You might make a good lawyer, as careful consideration of a matter is a virtue. Unfortunately, you may have real trouble both in law school and on the LSAT, as both are considerably time-pressured.

Hm. You say you didn't participate in class discussions...are you shy or a slow thinker? Can you do word or math puzzles on your own? Make sure you identify the issue correctly before you act on it.

Also, if you're going to law school by process of elimination, maybe you should take some time working in a legal setting to make sure it's for you. My friends who went to law school for reasons other than really wanting to be a lawyer are all miserable.

I think you're fine. In my experience, 90% of law school learning happens outside of the classroom (and therefore on your own time) anyway. While it might be tough for you to justify an evidentiary objection on the fly in a courtroom, something like probate or contract law might really lend itself to your style of thought.

As far as having no particular devotion to law as a career - well, I'm not as anal about this as many posters are. I guess it depends on what your options are. You've got to get some kind of job, right? Even if you don't love the law, if there isn't any other job you DO love, it might be a good move for you.

Renzo wrote:You might make a good lawyer, as careful consideration of a matter is a virtue. Unfortunately, you may have real trouble both in law school and on the LSAT, as both are considerably time-pressured.

this.

1ferret! wrote:

Renzo wrote:You might make a good lawyer, as careful consideration of a matter is a virtue. Unfortunately, you may have real trouble both in law school and on the LSAT, as both are considerably time-pressured.

this.

eh, quick thinking is important in both face to face interaction with opposing parties and with judges.

Bosque wrote:

lag88 wrote:I recently graduated from a UC with a BA in Psych and Criminology. My gpa is 3.4 and I have yet to take the LSAT... For the past 3 years, I have interned and worked at about 3 different law offices. I've always been interested in a career in law, but more because I'm NOT interested in med school, business or engineering....I've done well in all of my classes about law (Con Law, Family Law, Soc. of Law, etc....although I know these classes probably don't compare to the classes in law school). However, something I've noticed about myself is that I'm not very quick on my feet. I've never really been able to participate in class discussions because I never felt as knowledgeable or as quick of a thinker as my fellow classmates. I've always been intimidated by how much my classmates have known about legal issues and politics, and I've realized that while I am book smart, I find it hard to follow political issues and legal debates.

Based on this, would you say that the legal field is not a good fit for me? I really enjoy learning about law, but am scared that law school will be way to much for me handle, given that I really don't know anything about the workings of the legal system.

No. The legal field is not a good fit based on this:

I've always been interested in a career in law, but more because I'm NOT interested in med school, business or engineering

TCR

Don't worry about the thinking issues. Thats not important. What is important is that you only want to go to LS because you want a grad degree and don't know what else to do. This is a very bad reason to go to law school. You will probably not do well, but it will be because you have limited interest in it, not because you can't think.

jmhendri wrote:

1ferret! wrote:

Renzo wrote:You might make a good lawyer, as careful consideration of a matter is a virtue. Unfortunately, you may have real trouble both in law school and on the LSAT, as both are considerably time-pressured.

this.

eh, quick thinking is important in both face to face interaction with opposing parties and with judges.

transactional law does not require that kind of quick thinking. OP should probably not be a litigator.

OP....take the LSAT and see how it goes....if you can think quick enough to do well, you should be able to handle law school exams.
As far as quick thinking in class....that's not what you're graded on.

No offense, bro, but you're stupid

kittenmittons wrote:No offense, bro, but you're stupid

.....was that really necessary

lag88 wrote:

kittenmittons wrote:No offense, bro, but you're stupid

.....was that really necessary

harsh, but the op had to have expected this.

lag88 wrote:I've always been interested in a career in law, but more because I'm NOT interested in med school, business or engineering....

Knowing you're not interested in being a doctor: sure. I could see that. Many types of doctor jobs are similar, and certainly med school isn't for anyone.

Knowing you're not interested in engineering: makes sense. Various kinds of engineering are pretty different, but the fundamentals are generally the same. Thermodynamics is no picnic. I know, I have an engineering degree.

Knowing you're not interested in business: how the hell can you even know this? At the company where I work now, there are hundreds of different kinds of jobs - and we're only in a few industries. In other industries, many of those jobs would be different. Plus, the size of the company has a major impact on the kind of job. Not to mention the differences between private, public, and non-profit companies. And more than all of that, it really just comes down to your boss - a great boss can make a great job out of almost anything. I could work my entire life in business and never feel that I know a tiny snowball of the massive blizzard that is business jobs.

I'm starting to think that Northwestern is the only sane law school of the bunch.

legalease9 wrote:What is important is that you only want to go to LS because you want a grad degree and don't know what else to do. This is a very bad reason to go to law school.

Not if he really doesn't have other options.

lag88 wrote:I recently graduated from a UC with a BA in Psych and Criminology. My gpa is 3.4 and I have yet to take the LSAT... For the past 3 years, I have interned and worked at about 3 different law offices. I've always been interested in a career in law, but more because I'm NOT interested in med school, business or engineering....I've done well in all of my classes about law (Con Law, Family Law, Soc. of Law, etc....although I know these classes probably don't compare to the classes in law school). However, something I've noticed about myself is that I'm not very quick on my feet. I've never really been able to participate in class discussions because I never felt as knowledgeable or as quick of a thinker as my fellow classmates. I've always been intimidated by how much my classmates have known about legal issues and politics, and I've realized that while I am book smart, I find it hard to follow political issues and legal debates.

Based on this, would you say that the legal field is not a good fit for me? I really enjoy learning about law, but am scared that law school will be way to much for me handle, given that I really don't know anything about the workings of the legal system.

OP, in my opinion formulating and articulating opinions on complex subject matter quickly is a a question of practice, not of natural intellectual ability. I think that familiarity breeds confidence, and hesitation to just say the first thing on one's mind is a sign that one's eventual contribution to a discussion might just be of higher quality.

As for following political issues and legal debates: not everyone has the natural desire to comb The New York Times daily or The Economist weekly, or any number of blogs. Some people are just a little more attracted to social media than others. That's okay, and it doesn't mean that you're less intellectually capable, just that that isn't part of your interests. However, if you view being an informed person as part of your work, and make it a point to read a major news source daily (no, you don't need to be one of those people that spends all their free time trolling blogs that comment on the blogs that comment on the blogs that comment on the news) and maybe occasionally relevant analysis i.e. the economist, you'll find these topics less daunting. Understand knowing about current events to be part of what will get you a good job in any profession. People that keep up are valuable, and after the first few splashes around in a daily where you're going "who's this upper level official in command of the forces in Afghanistan?" or whatever, you'll start getting the hang of it. Understanding current events is more a question of consistency and diligence than they are of natural desire to know everything that's going on in the world, though that, for some people, is more than enough.

That said, don't go to law school just because you don't want to go to business school or med school. You mentioned that you like learning about the law. Since you work in a law office, I'd ask an associate or someone to tell you a little about what the do and what they think the benefits and drawbacks of the job are. But don't desist from going just because you don't easily run off your mouth in class. that can be a point in your favor.

neimanmarxist wrote:

lag88 wrote:I recently graduated from a UC with a BA in Psych and Criminology. My gpa is 3.4 and I have yet to take the LSAT... For the past 3 years, I have interned and worked at about 3 different law offices. I've always been interested in a career in law, but more because I'm NOT interested in med school, business or engineering....I've done well in all of my classes about law (Con Law, Family Law, Soc. of Law, etc....although I know these classes probably don't compare to the classes in law school). However, something I've noticed about myself is that I'm not very quick on my feet. I've never really been able to participate in class discussions because I never felt as knowledgeable or as quick of a thinker as my fellow classmates. I've always been intimidated by how much my classmates have known about legal issues and politics, and I've realized that while I am book smart, I find it hard to follow political issues and legal debates.

Based on this, would you say that the legal field is not a good fit for me? I really enjoy learning about law, but am scared that law school will be way to much for me handle, given that I really don't know anything about the workings of the legal system.

OP, in my opinion formulating and articulating opinions on complex subject matter quickly is a a question of practice, not of natural intellectual ability. I think that familiarity breeds confidence, and hesitation to just say the first thing on one's mind is a sign that one's eventual contribution to a discussion might just be of higher quality.

As for following political issues and legal debates: not everyone has the natural desire to comb The New York Times daily or The Economist weekly, or any number of blogs. Some people are just a little more attracted to social media than others. That's okay, and it doesn't mean that you're less intellectually capable, just that that isn't part of your interests. However, if you view being an informed person as part of your work, and make it a point to read a major news source daily (no, you don't need to be one of those people that spends all their free time trolling blogs that comment on the blogs that comment on the blogs that comment on the news) and maybe occasionally relevant analysis i.e. the economist, you'll find these topics less daunting. Understand knowing about current events to be part of what will get you a good job in any profession. People that keep up are valuable, and after the first few splashes around in a daily where you're going "who's this upper level official in command of the forces in Afghanistan?" or whatever, you'll start getting the hang of it. Understanding current events is more a question of consistency and diligence than they are of natural desire to know everything that's going on in the world, though that, for some people, is more than enough.

That said, don't go to law school just because you don't want to go to business school or med school. You mentioned that you like learning about the law. Since you work in a law office, I'd ask an associate or someone to tell you a little about what the do and what they think the benefits and drawbacks of the job are. But don't desist from going just because you don't easily run off your mouth in class. that can be a point in your favor.

Also of questionable intelligence. Who uses desist like that anyway?

1. Take the lsat, if you do good and want to go to law school, go. I think the lsat is a good measure of quickness while factoring out shyness. (i have this issue) Be careful, don't confuse people being quick, with people saying the first thing that comes to their head whether or not it makes sense.
2. I think most careers in law are more calculated than quick. At least from my limited knowledge.

kittenmittons wrote: Also of questionable intelligence. Who uses desist like that anyway?

desist (dɪˈzɪst)

— vb (often foll by from )
to cease, as from an action; stop or abstain.

hth

neimanmarxist wrote:

kittenmittons wrote: Also of questionable intelligence. Who uses desist like that anyway?

desist (dɪˈzɪst)

— vb (often foll by from )
to cease, as from an action; stop or abstain.

hth

Insert any of those synonyms in that sentence and tell me it sounds good. And don't hth me like you know me bro.

kittenmittons wrote:

neimanmarxist wrote:

kittenmittons wrote: Also of questionable intelligence. Who uses desist like that anyway?

desist (dɪˈzɪst)

— vb (often foll by from )
to cease, as from an action; stop or abstain.

hth

Insert any of those synonyms in that sentence and tell me it sounds good. And don't hth me like you know me bro.

But don't abstain from going just because you don't easily run off your mouth in class.

hth *air kiss*

neimanmarxist wrote:

kittenmittons wrote:

neimanmarxist wrote:

kittenmittons wrote: Also of questionable intelligence. Who uses desist like that anyway?

desist (dɪˈzɪst)

— vb (often foll by from )
to cease, as from an action; stop or abstain.

hth

Insert any of those synonyms in that sentence and tell me it sounds good. And don't hth me like you know me bro.

But don't abstain from going just because you don't easily run off your mouth in class.

hth *air kiss*

That still sounds awkward.

But the problem is, desist does not work with a future action. It refers to an action that is currently happening which the subject is going to stop doing. So it would have made sense if the OP was currently enrolled in law school and was thinking of dropping out. But since the OP is not actually attending right now (just thinking of it), desist is the wrong word. Abstain would work better, but what you really want is "deviate from the law" or "pick an alternative profession." Or if you are set on using desist, it should be "desist in applying", not going.

Bosque wrote:
That still sounds awkward.

But the problem is, desist does not work with a future action. It refers to an action that is currently happening which the subject is going to stop doing. So it would have made sense if the OP was currently enrolled in law school and was thinking of dropping out. But since the OP is not actually attending right now (just thinking of it), desist is the wrong word. Abstain would work better, but what you really want is "deviate from the law" or "pick an alternative profession." Or if you are set on using desist, it should be "desist in applying", not going.

I concur. But please don't desist on our account. Continue using the word anyway you see fit.

..