2.05 GPA/163 LSAT? Forum

NonTrat · Post by **NonTrat** » Sun Aug 02, 2015 4:38 pm

What are my chances to being accepted? I'm a non-traditional student, so it is ideal for me to go to one of the night, part-time schools.

I was looking at Nashville School of Law as the tuition is only 5K a year. Geographically, I am not limited and willing to move.

My GPA can be explained, from when I first graduated high school over ten years ago, didn't take college seriously, changed my major three times, and didn't finish. Fast forward a decade, I went back to school retook numerous classes and finished school. Unfortunately it seems the cumulative GPA is what matters, which is a 2.05 and not the degree GPA which is a 2.90. I've also worked since I was 16 even through college, currently work as Parole Officer, and am considered a minority.

What is everyone's thoughts?

shump92 · Post by **shump92** » Sun Aug 02, 2015 4:42 pm

Is retaking the LSAT a feasible option for you? Did you study for the test like it was a part-time job? Do you feel you have room for improvement on your score?

Sideshow Raheem · Post by **Sideshow Raheem** » Sun Aug 02, 2015 5:06 pm

Minority as in URM (African-American/Mexican-American/Native American)? If so, you should be aiming a lot higher than Nashville School Of Law. Fordham's PT program is potentially attainable (GULC's might be too with a few more points on the LSAT) and could be a better option depending on what you want to do with a JD and how much debt you're willing to go into.

shump92 · Post by **shump92** » Sun Aug 02, 2015 5:27 pm

Sideshow Raheem wrote:Minority as in URM (African-American/Mexican-American/Native American)?

Also PR and potentially other Hispanic (but only for special snowflakes).

+1 to the post though

NonTrat · Post by **NonTrat** » Mon Aug 03, 2015 11:54 am

shump92 wrote:Is retaking the LSAT a feasible option for you? Did you study for the test like it was a part-time job? Do you feel you have room for improvement on your score?

Hmmm, not necessasrilly. I studied for a month and a half using two of the powerscore books. And don't some schools use your most recent score instead of the highest?

Sideshow Raheem wrote:Minority as in URM (African-American/Mexican-American/Native American)? If so, you should be aiming a lot higher than Nashville School Of Law. Fordham's PT program is potentially attainable.

Yes, African-American..Black.(Actually mixed like Black/White/Native American) (I don't count the Native American, since there is no documenation, which is what is needed.) I actually focused on Nashville School of Law, since they are local and offered a night time option. But, this is why I also posted, to get insight of other's people 'two-cents' of other night-time schools that I may not be aware of, such as Fordham. Yet, since Nashville School of Law isn't ABA acrediated, it doesn't sit to well with the wife who is aware that I would only be able to practice in TN at least for the first few years... (And she wants to raise our future, potential kids near the beach)

Yet, 20K debt for a J.D....that's less than what my Bachelor degree cost.

KMart · Post by **KMart** » Mon Aug 03, 2015 11:59 am

NonTrat wrote:
shump92 wrote:Is retaking the LSAT a feasible option for you? Did you study for the test like it was a part-time job? Do you feel you have room for improvement on your score?
Hmmm, not necessasrilly. I studied for a month and a half using two of the powerscore books. And don't some schools use your most recent score instead of the highest?

This is untrue. Where does your wife want to move? In almost any circumstance going to a school which is not ABA accredited is an awful idea. Retaking the LSAT can knock the tuition at other, better schools, down to the same level.

What have you been doing in the meantime from high school until now? Why do you want to be a lawyer?

NonTrat · Post by **NonTrat** » Tue Aug 04, 2015 8:48 am

KMart wrote: Where does your wife want to move? In almost any circumstance going to a school which is not ABA accredited is an awful idea.

Anywhere there is a beach within a 60 mile radius. And yes, I believe the only downside to going to a non-ABA Accredited is I limit myself to move. Since this school in particular is approved by TN's Supreme Court to take the bar and practice law..

Clemenceau · Post by **Clemenceau** » Tue Aug 04, 2015 9:05 am

Frankly, it will be difficult to find a viable law school option that 1. is near a beach 2. will get you a job as a lawyer 3. is affordable, and 4. will accept you.

Those are just tough parameters to work with. But certainly don't go to nashville. That sounds like a disaster.

Edit typo

NonTrat · Post by **NonTrat** » Tue Aug 04, 2015 9:15 am

Yes, I figured, to pacify the wife, I could apply to a state that is adjacent to water, such as Alabama.

I keep hearing don't apply to non-ABA accredited schools, yet that seems the majority of night/part time schools are non-ABA accredited, such as Birmingham School of Laaw.
(And a few of the attorney's I bump into in my line of work happened to graduate from Nashville School of Law)

Indifference · Post by **Indifference** » Tue Aug 04, 2015 9:27 am

Going to be blunt here. Just because people have graduated from a school and have jobs, does not mean it is the norm. The law market is tough as it is, and schools like the ones you are looking at give you really shitty job prospects. Study like you mean it, retake the LSAT, and apply to a non-dumpster-fire school. Otherwise you might as well burn your tuition money and save yourself 3 years. Scratch that, since they seem to have a 4 year program.

pittsburghpirates · Post by **pittsburghpirates** » Tue Aug 04, 2015 9:39 am

Post removed.

Sweetneers · Post by **Sweetneers** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 5:35 am

NonTrat wrote:Yes, I figured, to pacify the wife, I could apply to a state that is adjacent to water, such as Alabama.

I keep hearing don't apply to non-ABA accredited schools, yet that seems the majority of night/part time schools are non-ABA accredited, such as Birmingham School of Laaw.
(And a few of the attorney's I bump into in my line of work happened to graduate from Nashville School of Law)

I live in Birmingham. Birmingham School of Law is an actual joke in our legal community. Apply to Cumberland or Alabama if you're looking at the state of AL.

BNA · Post by **BNA** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 9:44 am

Better have strong personal ties to the legal field, or be certain that you'll develop them soon after starting school to get a job as a lawyer from NSOL. There are prominent lawyers, and even judges, from NSOL practicing in Nashville, but you'd better believe that they were set up from the beginning (i.g. uncle was a circuit court judge, worked as a paralegal and was offered a position, worked for metro, etc.). People are going to crucify me for this, but they don't know Nashville. It is most unique. If you can get some money at Belmont (and I mean a good chunk), and can make full time work, you'll get a job as a lawyer in this town.

NonTrat · Post by **NonTrat** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 2:42 pm

pittsburghpirates wrote:Are you dead set on going part time?

Yes, unless there is some means of attending college, while still having rent, car note, and other debts paid. (A full time job is a must at this point...no longer in my early 20's.)

BNA wrote:Better have strong personal ties to the legal field, or be certain that you'll develop them soon after starting school to get a job as a lawyer from NSOL. There are prominent lawyers, and even judges, from NSOL practicing in Nashville, but you'd better believe that they were set up from the beginning (i.g. uncle was a circuit court judge, worked as a paralegal and was offered a position, worked for metro, etc.). People are going to crucify me for this, but they don't know Nashville. It is most unique. If you can get some money at Belmont (and I mean a good chunk), and can make full time work, you'll get a job as a lawyer in this town.

Thanks for the vote of confidence....Like I said before, I constantly brush shoulders with numerous attorneys in my line of work and am before a judge on a weekly basis. Like you said Nashville/Middle TN is different..

benwyatt · Post by **benwyatt** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 2:48 pm

Post removed.

NonTrat · Post by **NonTrat** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 2:51 pm

benwyatt wrote: Be careful about assuming this means they will give you a job.
I'm a 0L as well but I still would never assume that someone would give me a job just because they know who I am.

Understood...nothing is guaranteed....realized this when I received my undergraduate.....