Is law school even worth it? Forum

[ato308]

I was just offered $63,000 a year with Siemens when I complete my undergrad degree in May. The only problem is I've always wanted to be a lawyer; I find the law and politics interesting.

I was wondering with the law job market being highly saturated at the moment, along with the average salary of a lawyer being around 65k, and also the fact that your coming out of law school in financial debt/stress ( 250k+ not including housing and other expenses.) Is law school even worth it?

[hawkeye22]

You need to do some research. Short answer: yes, if you really want to be a lawyer and you go to a highly ranked school and/or get a substantial scholarship. Additionally, what people think being a lawyer is like is quite different from what it is actually like, so spending some time in a law office might be useful.

If you are looking at this from a financial standpoint, your current offer is probably better than law school. The law school gravy train left sometime in the 90's.

[Pato_09]

It obviously depends on your personal goals, and how much you want to be an attorney. Also, It depends on your G.P.A and your LSAT score. If you can crack the Top 14, and thus have a very good chance of a 160K salary right out of law school, I think it is worth it. Plus, law school brings a lot of intangibles such as developing your character, getting smarter etc.

[Helmholtz]

I would work for a couple years first. See if you still want to do law school after then, and the work experience will help w/admissions, and more importantly, your eventual job search.

[Helmholtz]

Plus, law school brings a lot of intangibles such as developing your character, getting smarter etc.

I feel like law school has made me a worse human being.

[ato308]

People keep saying you should work a couple years then decide.

I also hear that a lot of the time when you take a break from school you never decide/want to go back.

[fathergoose]

Plus, law school brings a lot of intangibles such as developing your character, getting smarter etc.

I feel like law school has made me a worse human being.

This.

[kahechsof]

Siemens is a good employer. I've worked for them.

[Helmholtz]

People keep saying you should work a couple years then decide.

I also hear that a lot of the time when you take a break from school you never decide/want to go back.

I have to say, after having just finished up OCI/callbacks and seeing how I did and how some of my friends did, pre-law-school people really underestimate how far some decent post-UG work experience will take you in the legal hiring game. Also, your law school experience will be better with some money saved up.

[Redzo]

I would take the job and work for a few years, and then think about law school. Law school will still be there, the job market may have improved, and your work experience could prove very helpful both in admissions and in the legal job hunt.

[20121109]

Moved topic.

[lawstudento]

Work for a few years.

If you actually care about going back to school, you'll definitely go. If you didn't really want it, you won't (and trust me, I know people in that boat and they are miserable).

I worked for a few years and I know I wouldn't be in the same place had I done differently. The experience and maturity will pay-off in spades.

[tfer2222]

People keep saying you should work a couple years then decide.

I also hear that a lot of the time when you take a break from school you never decide/want to go back.

I have to say, after having just finished up OCI/callbacks and seeing how I did and how some of my friends did, pre-law-school people really underestimate how far some decent post-UG work experience will take you in the legal hiring game. Also, your law school experience will be better with some money saved up.

+1. kids with WE seem to do really well in OCI (assuming the grades are there)

I wish so badly I would have taken a few years to work. For the experience yes, but mostly for the perspective. I regret rushing right in.

[quiver]

I went straight through and don't regret it at all. That said, I've found this to be 100% true:

pre-law-school people really underestimate how far some decent post-UG work experience will take you in the legal hiring game.

While I have my own perspective on the matter, legal employers seem to love WE

[BLS07]

See Prof. Campos of Colorado Law School's Explanation:

http://insidethelawschoolscam.blogspot. ... l#comments

Prof. Campos' website is actually called inside the law school scam @ Blogspot dot com. One of the moderators on this site must have a strange sense of humor.

If you don't fit in one of those categories, take the seimens job.

edit: the above link was mangled. Someone who moderates this site has a vested interest in continuing the law school scam.

inside the law school scam [all one word] dot blogspot dot com/2011/08/who-should-go-to-law-school-now.html#comments"

[rinkrat19]

I also hear that a lot of the time when you take a break from school you never decide/want to go back.

If you end up in a job you like, you may never want to go back to school. OBVIOUSLY.

If, on the other hand, you find that your job path isn't for you, law school will always be there. It might be scary to leave a solid job to go back to school, especially if you have a family, but it's completely possible.

I've been working for almost 9 years since I graduated, and I'm fed up with this path. Going back to school for a couple of years sounds awesome, let alone starting a new career that hopefully pays better AND sucks less.

[BackToTheOldHouse]

I also hear that a lot of the time when you take a break from school you never decide/want to go back.

If you end up in a job you like, you may never want to go back to school. OBVIOUSLY.

If, on the other hand, you find that your job path isn't for you, law school will always be there. It might be scary to leave a solid job to go back to school, especially if you have a family, but it's completely possible.

I've been working for almost 9 years since I graduated, and I'm fed up with this path. Going back to school for a couple of years sounds awesome, let alone starting a new career that hopefully pays better AND sucks less.

speak the truth

[prezidentv8]

the above link was mangled. Someone who moderates this site has a vested interest in continuing the law school scam.

[BLS07]

the above link was mangled. Someone who moderates this site has a vested interest in continuing the law school scam.

Type the text "inside the law school scam" as one word in a comment box and preview. It will read: insidethelawschoolscam

It is a little Orwellian, and I don't think I have ever seen this type of "editing" of forum content.

Law school is a losing proposition for most who enter. Many who are involved in sites such as this make their living in the current scam-like law school environment. If law school ceases to be a scam and fewer students enter the law school slaughterhouse, this site would not exist in this form.

[prezidentv8]

Law school is a losing proposition for most who enter.

What?! But my school reported 100% employment last year!

[BLS07]

Law school is a losing proposition for most who enter.

What?! But my school reported 100% employment last year!

"employment" is a fuzzy concept. Like the definition of "is." 20 dollar an hour temp doc review in a basement is defiantly employment. Six weeks of working for the law school in the admissions department, provided those six weeks are in the right part of the calendar, is employment. Barista at Starbucks. Employment.

140,000 in non-dischargable debt at 7% will cost you approximately $1625.52 per month, every month, for 10 years. Try to have that hanging over your head every month for ten years. I know. It makes death seem like a warm embrace.

[jim]

Law school is a losing proposition for most who enter.

What?! But my school reported 100% employment last year!

"employment" is a fuzzy concept. Like the definition of "is." 20 dollar an hour temp doc review in a basement is defiantly employment. Six weeks of working for the law school in the admissions department, provided those six weeks are in the right part of the calendar, is employment. Barista at Starbucks. Employment.

whoosh

[shoeshine]

Law school is a losing proposition for most who enter.

What?! But my school reported 100% employment last year!

"employment" is a fuzzy concept. Like the definition of "is." 20 dollar an hour temp doc review in a basement is defiantly employment. Six weeks of working for the law school in the admissions department, provided those six weeks are in the right part of the calendar, is employment. Barista at Starbucks. Employment.

140,000 in non-dischargable debt at 7% will cost you approximately $1625.52 per month, every month, for 10 years. Try to have that hanging over your head every month for ten years. I know. It makes death seem like a warm embrace.

areyouinsane? is that you?

[BLS07]

areyouinsane? is that you?

No, this is my first time to this forum. But my story is not unique. I am a very well dressed oakie from grapes of wrath. I followed the handbills to law school and now I am fubar.

you dig sixteen tons, what do you get, another day older and deeper in debt. St. Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go. I owe my soul to the company store.

To flood this post with cultural references, I am just trying to save one lamb.

[shoeshine]

areyouinsane? is that you?

No, this is my first time to this forum. But my story is not unique. I am a very well dressed oakie from grapes of wrath. I followed the handbills to law school and now I am fubar.

you dig sixteen tons, what do you get, another day older and deeper in debt. St. Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go. I owe my soul to the company store.

To flood this post with cultural references, I am just trying to save one lamb.

Sure .Nice to have you back buddy. Any good doc review stories lately?