Pharmacist curious about options after law school Forum

[ace52387]

I'm a hospital pharmacist passingly curious about a law degree and where that may take me. My gpa is not great at just above 3.1. If I could manage a high 160s-low-170s on my LSATS what do you think I would be looking at?

I am still in the preliminary stages of 'doing my homework' and exploring options for this type of background. I dont believe my experience would be of great benefit to me in IP law; I would have a lot of ground to make up against a biochemist with an advanced degree and pharma experience. It might help me on the regulatory or litigation side of big pharma is what I'm thinking now as I have experience evaluating, applying or poking holes in medical literature. I may be dead wrong.

I love my current job and Im not hoping for a pay bump nor am I looking to have the cost of law school be justified financially (though the cost itself is an important consideration for me), I would just like more education/skills and a broader understanding of whats out there. I jumped into my field way too early in life.

[kalvano]

If I could manage a high 160s-low-170s on my LSATS

I don't know why this has become a thing, but I'm going to pick on you. It's the LSAT, not LSATS.

It might help me on the regulatory or litigation side of big pharma is what I'm thinking now as I have experience evaluating, applying or poking holes in medical literature. I may be dead wrong.

Are you currently involved in regulating or litigating? Do you work in policy, or are you a regular old pharmacist?

Because, generally, you shouldn't go to law school unless you want to be a lawyer.

I love my current job and Im not hoping for a pay bump nor am I looking to have the cost of law school be justified financially (though the cost itself is an important consideration for me), I would just like more education/skills and a broader understanding of whats out there. I jumped into my field way too early in life.

What, exactly, are you looking for? What specifically do you think a law degree will help you achieve? If you love the job you have and are fine with the money you're making, why a career switch? Law school is a trade school, not a liberal arts general purpose degree. If all you want is to broaden your education, go for the next level up in pharmacology or audit some undergrad classes.

[ace52387]

I dont know if I want to be a lawyer yet. If I decide to I would probably take the LSAT next year. Was hoping to hear from someone who has or knows someone else with a similar background.

[kalvano]

What do you envision doing with a law degree? What do you think daily life will be?

[ace52387]

Paperwork heavy I would guess? Not terribly unlike what I do now in that respect. Longer hours perhaps with a little more money.

What I would like to do is reconcile medical evidence with regulations in an ambulance chasing fashion or on the other side of that. Im also interested in regulatory positions where would not practice law. My law professor in school was a pharmd/jd who worked for the NY board of pharmacy as a regulator/inspector. I recognize there will be a grind in law. My current profession is 95% grind. Im ok with that and find the 5% rewarding enough.

[Cogburn87]

I love my current job and Im not hoping for a pay bump nor am I looking to have the cost of law school be justified financially (though the cost itself is an important consideration for me), I would just like more education/skills and a broader understanding of whats out there. I jumped into my field way too early in life.

Do not go to law school.

[baal hadad]

I love my current job and Im not hoping for a pay bump nor am I looking to have the cost of law school be justified financially (though the cost itself is an important consideration for me), I would just like more education/skills and a broader understanding of whats out there. I jumped into my field way too early in life.

Do not go to law school.

[ace52387]

I get what you're saying and this is what I tell all the undergrads or high school kids I know regarding pharmacy school. The job market is bad. The job is pretty boring. There are too many new schools and old schools are becoming pharmacist mills. Dont feed the beast etc. Ive given the speech.

If we imagine a magical world where it all actually works out (as it has for myself so far), what might I be looking at?

Again Im just beginning to consider whether this is something I am interested in doing.

[Cogburn87]

I get what you're saying and this is what I tell all the undergrads or high school kids I know regarding pharmacy school. The job market is bad. The job is pretty boring. There are too many new schools and old schools are becoming pharmacist mills. Dont feed the beast etc. Ive given the speech.

If we imagine a magical world where it all actually works out (as it has for myself so far), what might I be looking at?

Again Im just beginning to consider whether this is something I am interested in doing.

Do not go to law school.

[cron1834]

PharmDs are overproduced by about 15%, JDs are overproduced by three times that rate. There's no comparison, especially considering you a) already have a great job and b) are likely not going to a top school b/c of your crap GPA. Unless you really dream of being Matlock, this seems like bad news bears.