Who took time off between undergrad and law school? Forum

[Non-Chalant1]

I read all these great stories by people in here and made one comment and you're calling me self-entitled?

This is a thread for people who took time off. If you didn't take time off, I don't think your presence in the thread is valuable.

I'm sure there are threads where your input is actually relevant. But if you go into a thread for X and your only input is not-X, just move along.

I'm surprised you're being this rude, I liked your story the most. Quite frankly, I threw in my input because there was this perception that if you don't take time off then you're insane. I didn't agree with, I posted, accept it. I still liked your reasoning regardless of what you think. We'd probably end up doing the same work ironically. Now as far as "buying me a Mercedes." You TLS people are hilarious. You think you can interpret something like that out of context? Let me put it in context and make you feel like a fool for that comment. I have never owned a car in my life, grew up in the inner city and went to UG off of scholarship and grants. My friends all got to study abroad in Prague last year and I couldn't go for financial reasons (surprising huh?). I've always want to travel to Europe, I've been France once....you know...when I had to go there while switching planes when my mother fleeing her war-torn country...you ignoramus. They have saved up my entire 4 years of undergrad and promised to get me a mild and respectable car for being the first one out of my entire generation of cousins to finish undergrad on time and for being a role model to my younger family members. I don't feel I need it while in law school, thus I said I'd rather get to travel because I don't know when I will be able to again. Yeah, but that kid sure is "entitled". I could care less about anything else said in here, but no one will ever call me entitled...that's a slap in the face to my entire family.

[BlueDiamond]

I read all these great stories by people in here and made one comment and you're calling me self-entitled?

This is a thread for people who took time off. If you didn't take time off, I don't think your presence in the thread is valuable.

I'm sure there are threads where your input is actually relevant. But if you go into a thread for X and your only input is not-X, just move along.

I'm surprised you're being this rude, I liked your story the most. Quite frankly, I threw in my input because there was this perception that if you don't take time off then you're insane. I didn't agree with, I posted, accept it. I still liked your reasoning regardless of what you think. We'd probably end up doing the same work ironically. Now as far as "buying me a Mercedes." You TLS people are hilarious. You think you can interpret something like that out of context? Let me put it in context and make you feel like a fool for that comment. I have never owned a car in my life, grew up in the inner city and went to UG off of scholarship and grants. My friends all got to study abroad in Prague last year and I couldn't go for financial reasons (surprising huh?). I've always want to travel to Europe, I've been France once....you know...when I had to go there while switching planes when my mother fleeing her war-torn country...you ignoramus. They have saved up my entire 4 years of undergrad and promised to get me a mild and respectable car for being the first one out of my entire generation of cousins to finish undergrad on time and for being a role model to my younger family members. I don't feel I need it while in law school, thus I said I'd rather get to travel because I don't know when I will be able to again. Yeah, but that kid sure is "entitled". I could care less about anything else said in here, but no one will ever call me entitled...that's a slap in the face to my entire family.

I didn't even read this but GO AWAY so people who have experiences with taking time off can post.

[sarcasticswede]

I'm personally opting not to take time off, but for the OP, the best advice I ever got on the issue was that you NEVER hear people say that they regret their decision to take time off, but you hear plenty of people say they regret going to straight to law school.

[Juuuulie]

I'm personally opting not to take time off, but for the OP, the best advice I ever got on the issue was that you NEVER hear people say that they regret their decision to take time off, but you hear plenty of people say they regret going to straight to law school.

I think the time off is going to be a great thing for me. I really didn't have it together as an UG. Good grades and all of that, but I just didn't have any direction and, most of all, didn't care. I think I'm just one of the slow ones!

[Non-Chalant1]

I thought the self-entitled part kicked in around the "daddys buying junior a Mercedes or a trip across ten foreign countires.. obviously a Mercedes wasn't up to my standards so I took the trip" part...

but this thread is actually useful to a lot of people (including me) who want to take some time off before going.. so I'd like to hear some other stories also

Edit: One of my fears is also that I'll find a full-time job which I don't enjoy, but make enough money to make attending law school financially stupid. Anyone ever had to face the same situation? Many people who have worked 3-7 years that I've seen post here seem like they were ready for a change and hadn't considered LS until later in life after undergrad.

This thread was dead until I posted first of all. Secondly, I assumed someone with a contrasting view but in my position would respond and that would open a forum for debate. Third, I'm probably the poorest person posting in this thread. Fourth, read my response to Julie...because for some reason I thought she posted what you said. I apologize for that Julie. Fifth, get back on subject everyone. I had no idea how touchy you people are. If I get a law degree tomorrow I'd be the only person in my family to ever have one....yeah I'm entitled...

P.S. OP, PM me if you're looking for some options for that year off. I know a lot of people taking time off for great experiences. There's nothing wrong with taking a year off at all. Around this time last year I thought I would be in Teach For America, but the circumstances changed.

[cmk]

Wow everyone's stories are so motivating, kudos to you guys for following your passions! OP, considering you are only planning on taking a year or two here is my two cents. I understand everyone is different but take it for what it's worth:

I'm applying to law school now after graduating from undergrad in May 2009. I've always been a bit of a social activist and I was lucky enough to go to an undergrad institution where I was able to create an individualized degree based around that. For fun I took a film sound editing class my senior year. It turned out I was really good at it. People starting calling me for work and next thing I knew I was making money and enjoying something I never planned on doing. This completely changed my plans and after graduating I stuck with the film work. By the middle of last year I began to feel a sick void, like something really important was missing from my life. Now that I didn't have the academic intellectual PI stuff to counterbalance the film work I felt unstimulated (for lack of a better word) and decided that the world of film just wasn't for me. So here I am two years out of undergrad applying to law school. I got all my apps out and I'm taking off for South America next month with the money I saved from the film work last year. Long story short, I'm glad I took time off because 1) I am now more mature and have seen what the "working world" is like (granted it was in the entertainment industry which is a completely different beast) and 2) working in an unrelated field proved to me that PI work really is what I want to do.

Don't stress taking time off. If there is something you've always been curious about, do it. Don't feel pressure to work in a law firm or do something that you don't enjoy with the hopes of beefing up your impending applications. I'm not saying you should sit home and scum out and work for the local pizza place, but take this time as your time. You've been in school since you were 5 years old. I think for mental health sake it is important to take time off before diving back in. We all know that law school is going to be a crazy three years, might as well give yourself a break and just do something that makes you happy for the next year. Good luck with whatever you decide!

[ahduth]

It's very simple why I'm not taking time off. Nearly everything I would want to do correlates with the law or I would benefit from having a law degree. My friends told me close your eyes, can you imagine yourself as anything else but a lawyer? I couldn't. That's when everyone told me to go. As far as taking time off goes...I could've graduated a semester early, but didn't. I have a few more credits to finish a minor. I'll be doing a lot of traveling, and my graduation gift is either a car or the trip throughout Europe I always wanted. I'm obviously choosing the latter. There's really nothing I'd want to work in right now...and I don't feel that I need to go out and find myself or anything like that. Some of your stories are amazing, but I think the person going to law school straight from undergrad is certainly less crazy than the person going after taking 7 plus years off to work..especially if they have a good job going.

I called you entitled becaused you came into a thread where people were discussing taking time off and proceeded to call people who are going back to school after 7 years of work "crazy." You have apparently figured it all out in undergrad - this is what makes you entitled. I do not care about what kind of car you drive or where your family is from. You are "entitled" because you are soaking up airtime in a thread that has nothing to do with you. You did not have anything to contribute in beginning - the above post sounded grossly over-confident, naive and... entitled.

Hopefully you'll learn how to contribute to discussions more effectively in law school. You're certainly entitled to.

[BlueDiamond]

I thought the self-entitled part kicked in around the "daddys buying junior a Mercedes or a trip across ten foreign countires.. obviously a Mercedes wasn't up to my standards so I took the trip" part...

but this thread is actually useful to a lot of people (including me) who want to take some time off before going.. so I'd like to hear some other stories also

Edit: One of my fears is also that I'll find a full-time job which I don't enjoy, but make enough money to make attending law school financially stupid. Anyone ever had to face the same situation? Many people who have worked 3-7 years that I've seen post here seem like they were ready for a change and hadn't considered LS until later in life after undergrad.

This thread was dead until I posted first of all. Secondly, I assumed someone with a contrasting view but in my position would respond and that would open a forum for debate. Third, I'm probably the poorest person posting in this thread. Fourth, read my response to Julie...because for some reason I thought she posted what you said. I apologize for that Julie. Fifth, get back on subject everyone. I had no idea how touchy you people are. If I get a law degree tomorrow I'd be the only person in my family to ever have one....yeah I'm entitled...

P.S. OP, PM me if you're looking for some options for that year off. I know a lot of people taking time off for great experiences. There's nothing wrong with taking a year off at all. Around this time last year I thought I would be in Teach For America, but the circumstances changed.

"I didn't even read this but GO AWAY so people who have experiences with taking time off can post."

[Non-Chalant1]

It's very simple why I'm not taking time off. Nearly everything I would want to do correlates with the law or I would benefit from having a law degree. My friends told me close your eyes, can you imagine yourself as anything else but a lawyer? I couldn't. That's when everyone told me to go. As far as taking time off goes...I could've graduated a semester early, but didn't. I have a few more credits to finish a minor. I'll be doing a lot of traveling, and my graduation gift is either a car or the trip throughout Europe I always wanted. I'm obviously choosing the latter. There's really nothing I'd want to work in right now...and I don't feel that I need to go out and find myself or anything like that. Some of your stories are amazing, but I think the person going to law school straight from undergrad is certainly less crazy than the person going after taking 7 plus years off to work..especially if they have a good job going.

I called you entitled becaused you came into a thread where people were discussing taking time off and proceeded to call people who are going back to school after 7 years of work "crazy." You have apparently figured it all out in undergrad - this is what makes you entitled. I do not care about what kind of car you drive or where your family is from. You are "entitled" because you are soaking up airtime in a thread that has nothing to do with you. You did not have anything to contribute in beginning - the above post sounded grossly over-confident, naive and... entitled.

Hopefully you'll learn how to contribute to discussions more effectively in law school. You're certainly entitled to.

I PMed you my response because I'm not about to sit here and be responsible for a good thread deteoriating. Just know that you're wrong and you just mischaracterized everything I said. Oh and LMAO...BlueDiamond you're very childish and obviously read my post. When I'm done with finals I'll share the stories of my friends who took time off.

[NZA]

It's very simple why I'm not taking time off. Nearly everything I would want to do correlates with the law or I would benefit from having a law degree. My friends told me close your eyes, can you imagine yourself as anything else but a lawyer? I couldn't. That's when everyone told me to go. As far as taking time off goes...I could've graduated a semester early, but didn't. I have a few more credits to finish a minor. I'll be doing a lot of traveling, and my graduation gift is either a car or the trip throughout Europe I always wanted. I'm obviously choosing the latter. There's really nothing I'd want to work in right now...and I don't feel that I need to go out and find myself or anything like that. Some of your stories are amazing, but I think the person going to law school straight from undergrad is certainly less crazy than the person going after taking 7 plus years off to work..especially if they have a good job going.

I called you entitled becaused you came into a thread where people were discussing taking time off and proceeded to call people who are going back to school after 7 years of work "crazy." You have apparently figured it all out in undergrad - this is what makes you entitled. I do not care about what kind of car you drive or where your family is from. You are "entitled" because you are soaking up airtime in a thread that has nothing to do with you. You did not have anything to contribute in beginning - the above post sounded grossly over-confident, naive and... entitled.

Hopefully you'll learn how to contribute to discussions more effectively in law school. You're certainly entitled to.

I PMed you my response because I'm not about to sit here and be responsible for a good thread deteoriating. Just know that you're wrong and you just mischaracterized everything I said. Oh and LMAO...BlueDiamond you're very childish and obviously read my post. When I'm done with finals I'll share the stories of my friends who took time off.

...you are not living up to your name, Non-Chalant1.

[Non-Chalant1]

It's very simple why I'm not taking time off. Nearly everything I would want to do correlates with the law or I would benefit from having a law degree. My friends told me close your eyes, can you imagine yourself as anything else but a lawyer? I couldn't. That's when everyone told me to go. As far as taking time off goes...I could've graduated a semester early, but didn't. I have a few more credits to finish a minor. I'll be doing a lot of traveling, and my graduation gift is either a car or the trip throughout Europe I always wanted. I'm obviously choosing the latter. There's really nothing I'd want to work in right now...and I don't feel that I need to go out and find myself or anything like that. Some of your stories are amazing, but I think the person going to law school straight from undergrad is certainly less crazy than the person going after taking 7 plus years off to work..especially if they have a good job going.

I called you entitled becaused you came into a thread where people were discussing taking time off and proceeded to call people who are going back to school after 7 years of work "crazy." You have apparently figured it all out in undergrad - this is what makes you entitled. I do not care about what kind of car you drive or where your family is from. You are "entitled" because you are soaking up airtime in a thread that has nothing to do with you. You did not have anything to contribute in beginning - the above post sounded grossly over-confident, naive and... entitled.

Hopefully you'll learn how to contribute to discussions more effectively in law school. You're certainly entitled to.

I PMed you my response because I'm not about to sit here and be responsible for a good thread deteoriating. Just know that you're wrong and you just mischaracterized everything I said. Oh and LMAO...BlueDiamond you're very childish and obviously read my post. When I'm done with finals I'll share the stories of my friends who took time off.

...you are not living up to your name, Non-Chalant1.

I'm know I'm sorry...and I use the name because people always tell me it describes my personality. But being called "entitled" struck a cord. It's fine though. I apologize for my part in starting or continuing this back and forth.

I think the best story I know of any of my friends taking time off is my friend who is in Teach for America back in his hometown teaching at his old high school where over 50% of the people dropout...and over 90% of his class passed state examinations. After managing those people, he tells me that he thinks law school will be easy. Furthermore, his law school deferred him and is giving him a specific scholarship based on that (don't know the name). But that's the type of stuff and change you dream about being able to make. Taking time off can be a blessing as well.

[northwood]

I took time off from undergrad to go to graduate school. I took time off between graduate school and law school. I worked at a few different places. Figured out what I liked to do, what i dont like to do. Saw the difference in employers and their personalities, as well as things to look for in both the interview and on the job, both positives and negatives. I always had a desire to go to law school, but it took working at a job I hated, for me to realize how important a good work environment is.. I also used the time to mature, have fun and explore the country. I dont regret it one bit. as it has helped shape me and grow as a person.

[nygrrrl]

I'm going to step in and make a couple of suggestions here, before a potentially good thread goes completely down the toilet.
Non-chalant1, I think you've made your point. Thank you for your opinion and best of luck to you, in your cycle.
Everyone else? Non-chalant1 has expressed his opinion. If you would like to continue discussing his choices and why he made them, perhaps you could do it in PMs (as he has suggested) and not on the board, so as to allow the thread to get back on track.
Thank you.

[dj666]

My undergrad degree dates back to 1994 (it hurts to type that). There's no way I was anywhere near mature enough to head to law school back then. Or in 1999. Or in 2004. It was only when I became a parent that I realized that I needed to be a role model, and that being a role model meant carving out my own path. I took an honest look at what I'd been doing for the past 16 years, realized that I genuinely loved working with attorneys, did a little research, and... here I am.

I, for one, am thrilled by the prospect of hanging out with people who are straight out of undergrad. It's been a long time since I looked at the world through that lens, and there's much to be learned by listening to people at different stages in their lives. There are many, many paths to law school. I'm happy with the path I took, and genuinely happy for the people who took paths far different from my own.

[Lwoods]

When I was in high school, my classmates wanted to go into very traditional careers: doctor, lawyer, engineer, accountant, banker, etc. The obvious choice for me among those was lawyer. My dad was a prosecutor, and I excelled in English and Government in addition to Math. But, I thought that choosing law lacked creativity and knew there were more niche careers out there. So, I pursued a couple other career paths: theatrical production, corporate event planning, and fashion merchandising. I also held "day jobs" at a top BigLaw firm and in the M&A group at a global bank.

I kind of "fell" into a number of opportunities and am grateful for that. I now have options in my life and skills outside of law in addition to solid contacts in law. My time in the entertainment and fashion industries give me the confidence that, while I enjoy those worlds, they're not the best fit for me. My time at the law firm gives me the confidence that I actually know what I'm getting into with law.

I have thought long and hard, particularly in the last few weeks now that I have a few acceptances, about whether or not I want to pursue law or climb the ladder at my current employer. I'm at a company that I have admired since I was 14, that pays well and that offers plenty of opportunity for advancement. Is it going to be difficult to walk away? Of course. But I also now have enough time under my belt to know that pursuing law is what I actually want to do.


I should note that I worked every school break and held 4 internships in college. While they were valuable experiences, they didn't offer anywhere near the perspective I gained working full time post-college.

[cmk]

I should note that I worked every school break and held 4 internships in college. While they were valuable experiences, they didn't offer anywhere near the perspective I gained working full time post-college.

Could not agree with that statement more.

[Non-Chalant1]

I should note that I worked every school break and held 4 internships in college. While they were valuable experiences, they didn't offer anywhere near the perspective I gained working full time post-college.

Could not agree with that statement more.

I actually have a question about that. Either one of or both of you can answer. To what extent did these jobs differ from your internships? Did you get to do anything substantive at your internships in college or were they those ones where they just have you filing (which sucks). I know your jobs obviously had added responsibility, but how far of a departure were they from where you interned?

[nonprofit-prophet]

I should note that I worked every school break and held 4 internships in college. While they were valuable experiences, they didn't offer anywhere near the perspective I gained working full time post-college.

Could not agree with that statement more.

I actually have a question about that. Either one of or both of you can answer. To what extent did these jobs differ from your internships? Did you get to do anything substantive at your internships in college or were they those ones where they just have you filing (which sucks). I know your jobs obviously had added responsibility, but how far of a departure were they from where you interned?

I'm 2 years out of school and I can tell you it is a HUGE departure. I manage staff and a budget. No matter how substantive you think an internship may be (I had a number of writing intensive DC internships during college), they are nothing compared to the real deal.

[wildcathighfive]

I should note that I worked every school break and held 4 internships in college. While they were valuable experiences, they didn't offer anywhere near the perspective I gained working full time post-college.

Could not agree with that statement more.

I actually have a question about that. Either one of or both of you can answer. To what extent did these jobs differ from your internships? Did you get to do anything substantive at your internships in college or were they those ones where they just have you filing (which sucks). I know your jobs obviously had added responsibility, but how far of a departure were they from where you interned?

I'm 2 years out of school and I can tell you it is a HUGE departure. I manage staff and a budget. No matter how substantive you think an internship may be (I had a number of writing intensive DC internships during college), they are nothing compared to the real deal.

i agree with this. every internship i've ever had has been paid and i was doing real work, but being a salaried employee with a full-time obligation is an entirely different feeling. at the end of the day, most organizations send interns home. at the end of the day as a new grad, you're the first person they ask to stay.

[brupe]

I'd say that I've been pretty lucky. I got a job my junior year of college as a mail clerk in a law firm here in Iowa City, then was able to take the position of a paralegal who was leaving the month after I graduated. I'm taking a year off (maybe two if I dont get in this cycle) and let me tell you, I wouldnt have it any other way. Just the fact that life is so much less stressful outside of school, I feel like everybody should be required to take a year off just to reflect. Its been great. I definitely recommend taking a year off AND working in the legal sector.

[nonprofit-prophet]

I'd say that I've been pretty lucky. I got a job my junior year of college as a mail clerk in a law firm here in Iowa City, then was able to take the position of a paralegal who was leaving the month after I graduated. I'm taking a year off (maybe two if I dont get in this cycle) and let me tell you, I wouldnt have it any other way. Just the fact that life is so much less stressful outside of school, I feel like everybody should be required to take a year off just to reflect. Its been great. I definitely recommend taking a year off AND working in the legal sector.

less stressful? wow let's trade jobs

[brupe]

For me, yeah. I mean, I had 3 jobs (worked 60 hours a week) and took 5 classes each semester and managed to graduate with distinction and honors. So now, for me, working only 40 hours a week and having a social life has been a nice change. It'll be hard to go back, but I know I have to!!

[ach24]

.

[wildcathighfive]

I definitely recommend taking a year off AND working in the legal sector.

I agree with you. Working in the legal sector really made it clear to me that this is what I want to do. I've worked with a lot of people who work in the legal field and are miserable. I actually enjoy my job and look forward to it everyday. Honestly, I'm not sure that I would have pursued law had I not had the experience working for a firm. I probably would have gone down an entirely different path.

haha wow so funny--i am having an entirely different experience. i work as a paralegal at a v10 firm and i now know that i will never work in biglaw if i can help it.

[brupe]

Haha, yeah, I work at a firm with 6 -soon to be 4- lawyers where there is no dress code (as in jeans EVERYDAY)
and its a much more laid back experience