Advice on my situation appreciated Forum

[wannabesportsagent]

I apologize ahead of time if this is in the wrong section. I was an elite level athlete until I suffered a career ending injury. Since then, I've decided I'd like to pursue a career representing professional athletes, specifically in my former sport. I was fortunate enough to meet some prominent coaches and agents through my playing days and have maintained those relationships to this day. I've spent time interning with a sports agents post graduation. Additionally, a few agents with different companies have reached out to me regarding employment. Although I'm pretty much guaranteed employment upon earning a JD, you only get paid when your athlete gets paid. I'm not sure my family and I possess the resources to foot the bill for a JD. Would I be able to defer loans post graduation until I get my feet on the ground? I graduated with a 3.6 in undergrad and am fully committed to taking the next few months off preparing for the LSAT to ensure I get the highest score possible to hopefully secure some scholarship money. Since I'm not attempting to gain legal employment and I have job(s) lined up for the future, job prospects really aren't important in my law school search. Would it be realistic to think I could negotiate the scholarship terms to something reasonable from a school where my LSAT is well above their 75% mark? The most important factor for me is affordability, so if I score lets say a 168 my goal would be to get a full ride or guaranteed money rather than trying to crack a tier 1 school. I apologize if any of this is common knowledge as this is all completely new to me. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

[quixotical]

Almost everyone on here will tell you to come back when you have a real LSAT score. It's hard to give any advice (even general advice) without knowing your score, since that's easily the #1 factor in law school admissions.

That said, you would be in great shape for T1 with an LSAT score of 168+, a 3.6 GPA, and a background as an elite athlete (I'm assuming that means pro-level athlete). If you apply early in the admissions cycle you should get $$ at T20/T25 schools, and full-rides are possible throughout the T1. Have you taken a practice LSAT yet to see where you stand? If you are taking practice tests and scoring 168 (which is the 95th or 96th percentile I believe), you should be able to get your score up to the mid-170s at least, which would put you in with $$ at T14 schools.

You are right to take the next few months to seriously study for the LSAT. Take advantage of TLS to help maximize your study time. Good luck!

ETA: I just realized you said you already have a job lined up and won't be doing any legal work. Why do you need a JD at all then?

[wannabesportsagent]

I have not taken a practice LSAT, so the number I pulled out means nothing. I have jobs lined up pending I earn my JD. Thanks for all the helpful advice. I figured not much could be said without a real LSAT score, but I appreciate the information you've provided. I guess my next question is if I bomb the LSAT, am I fucked? I'm fully committed to taking as much time off as I need, or perhaps hiring an expensive tutor if need be. I've read advice on here advising some to retake instead of forcing themselves to go to a lower ranked school. I have no problem taking time off from my life to do this the right way, but I'm wondering is the LSAT a test that can be mastered over time or is it to some degree you either have it or you don't?

[fingersxd]

I have not taken a practice LSAT, so the number I pulled out means nothing. I have jobs lined up pending I earn my JD. Thanks for all the helpful advice. I figured not much could be said without a real LSAT score, but I appreciate the information you've provided. I guess my next question is if I bomb the LSAT, am I fucked? I'm fully committed to taking as much time off as I need, or perhaps hiring an expensive tutor if need be. I've read advice on here advising some to retake instead of forcing themselves to go to a lower ranked school. I have no problem taking time off from my life to do this the right way, but I'm wondering is the LSAT a test that can be mastered over time or is it to some degree you either have it or you don't?

LSAT scores can be improved with appropriate practice and diligence, but your potential is (obviously) smewhat limited by your innate abilities as well. Someone who can score a 165+ can probably be "coached" into the mid 170's. Someone at 155? Unlikely.

And will they really hold a job for you for 3+ years while you go to law school? Have you considered getting a part-time JD? This would seem to alleviate some of your financial concerns.

[gens1tb]

If you want to represent athletes in a legal capacity then you are looking for legal work. If that's not what you're talking about, then I have no idea why you need a JD.

If that's literally the only thing you're willing to do, you're taking a big risk going to law school just for that. People talk up job prospects, but you're talking 4 years from when you'd be finished with law school (plus bar exam), in my experience the platitude "talk is cheap" tends to be pretty true. But, you know better than anyone here how realistic the promises are. If all you need is a JD you can absolutely get a full ride at a T2, full ride at a T1, and money at a T14, with the proper LSAT score of course (and if your LSAC gpa reflects the gpa you listed).

[Gary Sanchez]

Man, I work at a well regarded agency as a legal intern and know many agents w/in the biz. Whoever told you getting a JD guarantee's you anything in the sports world isn't being candid. The sports business is a sales industry, if your not good in sales, you won't cut it. If, however, you want to be a general counsel or a contracts drafter/negoitator thats different, but those are definitely legal jobs in legal capacities. If you don't want to practice, your JD IS NOT NECESSARY, all you need are clients and be a smooth talker. While many agents have JD's, they got them at a time when agencies werent full service shops with in house counsels, but now that the biz/industry is so big they can employ these lawyers and JD's are no longer the norm.

[jdl239]

Does the school matter in this situation, or just a J.D. from anywhere?

[wannabesportsagent]

@Gary Sanchez: As I said before, I have experience interning with an agency. In that role, I did gain some experience in selling clients on the company and was successful in doing so. I have since been offered positions with a few agencies on the player development side of things. I remain in contact quite regularly with those I've met over the years from playing, as well as the companies I've been offered employment from. I made my goals clear to them, and they let me know that they respect my decision, and urged me to keep in contact with them. They said that upon graduation, a position as an agent will be available. I know that a JD isn't necessary, but I know it helps A LOT in the execution of the job, sales and negotiations. I know when I was selling players on the agency I interned with, a main concern for families was whether or not agents had a JD.

@gens1tb : I am aware it's a big risk, which is why I am looking for advice from those who know MUCH more about law school than I do. It's all I want to do and I've spent many hours thinking about this. Knowing the gamble that's ahead of me, I've tried to talk myself out of law school, but I always come back to it. I know in order to be the best agent possible, a JD is necessary. However, the idea of going $100,000 into debt scares the shit out of me. I've gained experience in the industry and have talked to those who are living it. I think that these guys are being honest with their offers, but then again, we all know that come graduation someone else may have filled the void, they may have lost interest, or perhaps they were lying all along.

@jdl239: for me, the school really doesn't matter. the agents i have relationships with are all over the place in terms of where they went to school. the majority of them graduated from tier 3 or 4 schools, but there's a few top schools mixed in. i had a conversation with one agent about whether it mattered where i went to school, and he said it wouldn't, especially given my background. I am just looking for the most affordable option possible. If I can get a nice scholarship at a T4 where I would only have to remain in good standing, I would be very happy. Obviously if I can get a scholarship at a much better school with reasonable stips, I'd do that, but it's all bullshit at this point with no real lsat to go by.

[deadhipsters]

@Gary Sanchez: As I said before, I have experience interning with an agency. In that role, I did gain some experience in selling clients on the company and was successful in doing so. I have since been offered positions with a few agencies on the player development side of things. I remain in contact quite regularly with those I've met over the years from playing, as well as the companies I've been offered employment from. I made my goals clear to them, and they let me know that they respect my decision, and urged me to keep in contact with them. They said that upon graduation, a position as an agent will be available. I know that a JD isn't necessary, but I know it helps A LOT in the execution of the job, sales and negotiations. I know when I was selling players on the agency I interned with, a main concern for families was whether or not agents had their JD.

@gens1tb : I am aware it's a big risk, which is why I am looking for advice from those who know MUCH more about law school than I do. It's all I want to do and I've spent many hours thinking about this. Knowing the gamble that's ahead of me, I've tried to talk myself out of law school, but I always come back to it. I know in order to be the best agent possible, a JD is necessary. However, the idea of going $100,000 into debt scares the shit out of me. I've gained experience in the industry and have talked to those who are living it. I think that these guys are being honest with their offers, but then again, we all know that come graduation someone else may have filled the void, they may have lost interest, or perhaps they were lying all along.

@jdl239: for me, the school really doesn't matter. the agents i have relationships with are all over the place in terms of where they went to school. the majority of them graduated from tier 3 or 4 schools, but there's a few top schools mixed in. i had a conversation with one agent about whether it mattered where i went to school, and he said it wouldn't, especially given my background. I am just looking for the most affordable option possible. If I can get a nice scholarship at a T4 where I would only have to remain in good standing, I would be very happy. Obviously if I can get a scholarship at a much better school with reasonable stips, I'd do that, but it's all bullshit at this point with no real lsat to go by.

Take whatever job they offered you and study for the LSAT while working. If you do well- great. If not, fine. You have a job in an industry you like.

[law4vus]

Not sure what your sport is, but I work in an agency as well.

With regard to representation, just get a JD from wherever will give you a free one (if you're dead set on being ONLY an agent and not a lawyer). The NFLPA requires a graduate degree now to represent athletes (except in rare cases) so you'll need something. If you want a legal related job, then you might have to pay some money for a decent school.

[AreJay711]

Not sure what your sport is, but I work in an agency as well.

With regard to representation, just get a JD from wherever will give you a free one (if you're dead set on being ONLY an agent and not a lawyer). The NFLPA requires a graduate degree now to represent athletes (except in rare cases) so you'll need something. If you want a legal related job, then you might have to pay some money for a decent school.

I love the tar

[CanadianWolf]

Michigan State Entertainment & Sports Law Journal. Full tuition scholarships require a 3.6 GPA & at least a 158 LSAT for MSU College of Law--which is a tier two school on the rise.

[gens1tb]

cost of living in east lansing is nothing too

[CanadianWolf]

MSU also has a dual degree program. After 4 years, participants earn both a US JD degree (MSU College of Law) & a Canadian JD degree (University of Ottawa--which is the capitol of Canada & a gorgeous city). Maybe this would make you more marketable as a sports agent in ice hockey, baseball, CFL, etc.

[wannabesportsagent]

Thanks to everyone for your insight. CanadianWolf, any idea what type of stipulations MSU requires to maintain scholarships? Given the cost of living in East Lansing as someone noted, I'd be pretty interested.

[CanadianWolf]

Their website shows that only a 3.0 GPA is required & that 87% of all full tuition scholarships are renewed & several others lost during the second year are reinstated for the third year.

[wannabesportsagent]

I'm new to this, but that sounds pretty good, no? Does MSU have a brutal curve, or is 3.0 pretty reasonable? Regardless, are they guarenteed for the first year? Again, sorry if I sound ignorant. I'm clueless to it all.

[MGH1989]

I don't know that you really need a JD. I wanna be a sports agent as well, but I don't have the multitude of connections as you apparently do and that's what the business is all about. It's who you know, not what you know. I think getting in the business sooner rather than later and being immersed in it will be of greater benefit than law school would be. Now, I don't know how strong these individuals word are, so you may want a JD as a backup, or you may want to parlay an agent gig into a front office gig in the future, so it would be valuable from that perspective as well.

[chicubs88]

To give you an example of what you can expect, I had a 3.9 and a 168 and was offered full tuition scholarships to Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Minnesota. I didn't apply to any other schools in the 20-30 range of the rankings, so i don't know if schools like BC and BU make similar offers.

[youarereadingthis]

I have not taken a practice LSAT, so the number I pulled out means nothing. I have jobs lined up pending I earn my JD. Thanks for all the helpful advice. I figured not much could be said without a real LSAT score, but I appreciate the information you've provided. I guess my next question is if I bomb the LSAT, am I fucked? I'm fully committed to taking as much time off as I need, or perhaps hiring an expensive tutor if need be. I've read advice on here advising some to retake instead of forcing themselves to go to a lower ranked school. I have no problem taking time off from my life to do this the right way, but I'm wondering is the LSAT a test that can be mastered over time or is it to some degree you either have it or you don't?

LSAT scores can be improved with appropriate practice and diligence, but your potential is (obviously) smewhat limited by your innate abilities as well. Someone who can score a 165+ can probably be "coached" into the mid 170's. Someone at 155? Unlikely.

And will they really hold a job for you for 3+ years while you go to law school? Have you considered getting a part-time JD? This would seem to alleviate some of your financial concerns.

I disagree. I personally went from 148 to 170. And I honestly believe I could have scored even higher. Practice makes perfect.

[JDndMSW]

I watched the VISA Women's gymnastics championship the other night and when a former Olympian athlete mentioned how she was going to be applying to law schools this cycle I immediately thought it could have been the OP.