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Is it worth going to law school?
Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2012 9:03 pm
by splittertothemax
This is a question i keep asking myself as I read more statistics on law school employment ad starting salaries. Blogs, such as lawschoolscam, state that there Aren't strong job prospects and with 46k lawyers coming into an already saturated market I have to look at all options.
There's 46k lawyers coming out and only 26k jobs. 100k more of debt an at least 1200 a month in student loan costs.
I work at wells Fargo . Would it be better suited to continue working and have them pay for my MBA at wake forest( its business school is located in charlotte) . Or should i take a risk. Take a huge opportunity cost hit for three years to have 100k debt and a 56 percen chance at landing a 60k job.
Re: Is it worth going to law school?
Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2012 9:21 pm
by kaseyb002
Sounds like you've got your mind made up.
Re: Is it worth going to law school?
Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2012 9:30 pm
by IHeartPhilly
ya go dude
Re: Is it worth going to law school?
Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2012 9:32 pm
by bernaldiaz
obviously depends on what schools you are in at/ what your opportunity cost is. If you're in at Chicago with 15k a year and leaving a 55k a year job it's a little different than paying sticker at Fordham and leaving an 80k a year job.
Re: Is it worth going to law school?
Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2012 9:54 pm
by westie25
I think it also depends on why you're considering law school. Do you actually want to be an attorney, or are you just looking for a higher degree? If it's the increase in education, and not the desire to become an attorney, then law school will never be worth it. It took me 6 1/2 years to give a 100% "yes" to law school. I didn't just go when I was younger, because I wasn't sure. When that uncertainty was there, it absolutely wasn't worth it to me. Now that I'm certian, it is. Also, you have to consider what you're paying for law school. Is it sticker price? Are you receiving some scholarships, grants, other financial aid, etc.?
Re: Is it worth going to law school?
Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2012 10:09 pm
by IHeartPhilly
The answer depends on everything: stats, scholarship, finances, family life, where you want to work and live and the opportunities potential schools provide for you, etc. Not everyone comes out of school with 6 figure debt, and not everyone is fortunate enough to get a job that pays 60k. The answer to ur question should be calculated and predicated on ur particular circumstances, it shouldn't be a broad yea or no.
Re: Is it worth going to law school?
Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2012 10:15 pm
by CanadianWolf
Free MBA while continuing to work at a good job sounds attractive.
Re: Is it worth going to law school?
Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2012 10:16 pm
by LOLyer
Statistically speaking: Law school is high risk. And so is driving on the interstate.
In fact, you should lay on your couch all day as going outside is high risk.
I say skip the requirement of validation from the various pretentious d-bags on this site and go bust your ass and do what you want to do.
Re: Is it worth going to law school?
Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2012 10:23 pm
by dingbat
bernaldiaz wrote:obviously depends on what schools you are in at/ what your opportunity cost is. If you're in at Chicago with 15k a year and leaving a 55k a year job it's a little different than paying sticker at Fordham and leaving an 80k a year job.
Certainly dont consider paying sticker at a school lower ranked than Fordham. It's arguably the lowest ranked school where sticker
might be an acceptable/reasonable decision
Oh, and definitely don't go to a TTT that isn't the only law school in the state, even if it's free
Re: Is it worth going to law school?
Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 12:17 am
by Systematic1
splittertothemax wrote:Would it be better suited to continue working and have them pay for my MBA at wake forest( its business school is located in charlotte) . Or should i take a risk. Take a huge opportunity cost hit for three years to have 100k debt and a 56 percen chance at landing a 60k job.
You should definitely let this forum decide for you.
Re: Is it worth going to law school?
Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 12:28 am
by KevinP
The answer to this question depends on a lot of factors. Personally, I would pay sticker at only HYSCCN + Northwestern/Penn, and it would take significant schollys for me to attend the rest of the T14 schools. The legal market is really bad right now, and because of the sunken 3-year cost, I wouldn't go anywhere outside of a T14, even with a full ride.
Re: Is it worth going to law school?
Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 12:32 am
by dowu
LOLyer wrote:Statistically speaking: Law school is high risk. And so is driving on the interstate.
In fact, you should lay on your couch all day as going outside is high risk.
I say skip the requirement of validation from the various pretentious d-bags on this site and go bust your ass and do what you want to do.
On the contrary, you could actually listen to other people's logical and generous truthful opinions and THEN decide what you want to do.
Law school involves a risk and will be here for a while. You should bust your ass to apply, see what schools accept you and where you stand with regards to money, and then come back to us. It would be better if you (we) actually knew what you were facing, rather than just guessing, IMO.
Re: Is it worth going to law school?
Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 7:02 am
by DSman
For a question like this, you should post your gpa and LSAT score if you've taken it. Also, do you like your job and want to to work in banking or whatever field you are in currently?
Re: Is it worth going to law school?
Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 9:25 am
by Nova
OP has a 2.8/173 split, which of course is really unpredictable. OP, I think you should go through this cycle and come back with offers. Apply to UVA/NU/GULC/Cornell/Wake/UNC, at least, and see what happens.
Re: Is it worth going to law school?
Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 9:47 am
by top30man
CanadianWolf wrote:Free MBA while continuing to work at a good job sounds attractive.
Re: Is it worth going to law school?
Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 9:53 am
by Psib337
westie25[b] wrote:I think it also depends on why you're considering law school. Do you actually want to be an attorney, or are you just looking for a higher degree? If it's the increase in education, and not the desire to become an attorney, then law school will never be worth it.[/b] It took me 6 1/2 years to give a 100% "yes" to law school. I didn't just go when I was younger, because I wasn't sure. When that uncertainty was there, it absolutely wasn't worth it to me. Now that I'm certian, it is. Also, you have to consider what you're paying for law school. Is it sticker price? Are you receiving some scholarships, grants, other financial aid, etc.?
I would go with this, if you don't want to be a lawyer then don't go. If you want a job where you don't need a JD or it won't really help you much to have one then don't go. You can always apply and see what happens, getting into a bunch of schools doesn't necessarily mean you have to go. But personally I wouldn't go to law school if I wasn't sure I wanted to be a lawyer.
Re: Is it worth going to law school?
Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 10:04 am
by Eberry
Nova wrote:OP has a 2.8/173 split, which of course is really unpredictable. OP, I think you should go through this cycle and come back with offers. Apply to UVA/NU/GULC/Cornell/Wake/UNC, at least, and see what happens.
Re: Is it worth going to law school?
Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 12:11 pm
by dowu
Eberry wrote:Nova wrote:OP has a 2.8/173 split, which of course is really unpredictable. OP, I think you should go through this cycle and come back with offers. Apply to UVA/NU/GULC/Cornell/Wake/UNC, at least, and see what happens.
Re: Is it worth going to law school?
Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 1:45 pm
by gobosox
Do what you want to do and screw risk.
Of course, I'm still young enough to make a few mistakes in my life-- if you're 35/40, that advice may not be as sound...
Re: Is it worth going to law school?
Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 12:08 am
by rglifberg
gobosox wrote:Do what you want to do and screw risk.
Of course, I'm still young enough to make a few mistakes in my life-- if you're 35/40, that advice may not be as sound...
this could be the dumbest statement i've seen on the site. A 100k+ mistake could crush you for life. Even grads from top schools are having trouble finding work. A friend of mine graduated from NYU above median and is currently unemployed still looking for work. She has a 65 k/yr gig but got laid off and has been unable to find work as of yet. 65 k is nothing in NY, ontop of her debt load. Really makes me consider going to law school sometime later down the road.
Re: Is it worth going to law school?
Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 12:16 am
by prezidentv8
top30man wrote:CanadianWolf wrote:Free MBA while continuing to work at a good job sounds attractive.
Re: Is it worth going to law school?
Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 12:26 am
by timbs4339
gobosox wrote:Do what you want to do and screw risk.
Of course, I'm still young enough to make a few mistakes in my life-- if you're 35/40, that advice may not be as sound...
It's a financial investment, not a white water rafting or skydiving trip.
Re: Is it worth going to law school?
Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 12:28 am
by prezidentv8
rglifberg wrote:gobosox wrote:Do what you want to do and screw risk.
Of course, I'm still young enough to make a few mistakes in my life-- if you're 35/40, that advice may not be as sound...
this could be the dumbest statement i've seen on the site. A 100k+ mistake could crush you for life. Even grads from top schools are having trouble finding work. A friend of mine graduated from NYU above median and is currently unemployed still looking for work. She has a 65 k/yr gig but got laid off and has been unable to find work as of yet. 65 k is nothing in NY, ontop of her debt load. Really makes me consider going to law school sometime later down the road.
Yeah that was a retarded statement.
Re: Is it worth going to law school?
Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 12:28 am
by Ozymandias
With a 2.8? Stay at your job and get a free MBA later on. If you want to go to law school, you'll either go to a crappy school that likely won't give you better job prospects than the career path you're on already, or you'll pay way too much for a splitter-friendly T14.
Re: Is it worth going to law school?
Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 11:01 am
by Eberry
.