Earn cash as you plan. Get a $20 gift card for every 200 points with The Knot Rewards
Not Engaged Yet
LizzyTish88
member
Law School Question
LizzyTish88
member
Hey ladies. So I went to a job fair the other day at school, and it just made me realize even more that I should have picked a different major. I have a BS in Sociology, and it is doing nothing for me. I have been on a handful of interviews looking for a job since December, and it goes well until they ask what my major was. One guy expressed that he couldn't understand why I was applying to their job even though I had a Soc degree.
So at the job fair I picked up info on law school. I think I might apply and try to get a degree in something more narrow. So I ask, what do you like about law school? List a few positives and a few negatives. I would like to see what everyone has to say so that I can make an informed decision on whether or not to apply. TIA!
So at the job fair I picked up info on law school. I think I might apply and try to get a degree in something more narrow. So I ask, what do you like about law school? List a few positives and a few negatives. I would like to see what everyone has to say so that I can make an informed decision on whether or not to apply. TIA!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Law School Question
1) The people you talked to are morons. Unless you're trying to go into engineering, accounting, finance, or something otherwise VERY specialized, It doesn't matter what you majored in in undergrad. It just matters that you went to college and did reasonably well in college.
2) Don't go to law school to help you with the job search. Just don't do it. The ONLY reason to go to law school is because you WANT to be a lawyer and you WANT all of the things that go along with it. YOU REALLY NEED TO LOVE IT!
Pros about law school: You learn how to think like a lawyer. You learn the law. You learn what really goes on in the legal profession. It's more education.
Cons about law school: 90% of the people you interact with on a daily basis are TOOLS, the work load is outrageous, it's INSANELY competitive, EVERYONE is stressed out, you don't have time for most things outside of law school, you're more likely to be an alcoholic/suicidal if you're a law student, the amount of classes you have to take is outrageous, it's expensive, the job market for lawyers right now sucks, socially it's like middle school all over again, you're more likely to put on weight because you have no time to cook healthy food, your relationship with everyone you love will be strained because you'll have less time for them...
That's all I can think of off the top of my head. But I'll let you know if I think of more.
All of that being said...if this is what you want, it's what you want. But you need to be 1000000% sure that it IS what you want. Otherwise, it won't go well for you. Also, if you DO decide to go to law school, you NEED to go to the school that gives you the most money in scholarship. Honestly, unless you're going to a top 5 school, taking out 200k in debt for law school is stupid. In this economy, it's hard to find a legal job, and nearly impossible to find a job that will pay you enough to pay back that kind of debt.
Good luck!
[QUOTE]<strong>Maybe law school is different in the States, but I know plenty of people who go into law school (or have finished law school) who chose not to be lawyers.</strong>They simply saw it as a good education, and really valued it for that. Then they went off and found any other number of careers to go into. These people told me that they have no regrets about this, and the skills they developped were worth it.
Posted by heyimbren[/QUOTE]
No, that is right here. I wouldn't be going to be a lawyer. They focus on four major areas, Civil and Human Rights, Community Law practice, Economic Justice, and Legal Support for Operating Business and Creating Innovation. (as taken from the packet).
It is just a thought. I am not set either way. I just want to hear what others have to say about it. Thanks for all the advice so far.
I've never been one to think that any form of education is a bad idea. I think you could get a lot of value out of a law degree.
That being said, are you prepared for the financial consequences? A friend of mine is now paying off a law degree from MI and he has made sacrafices in order to do that and has been fortunate in other ways. First, he no longer lives in MI because the job situation is so bad there for lawyers. Second, he has no undergrad debt. Fortunately, he was able to find a good job but it is in Canada and I don't think that was his original plan at all.
My Bio - updated 26/3/2011
[QUOTE]CD, do you have an idea of what you'd do after school?
Posted by heyimbren[/QUOTE]
I honestly don't. I have no idea what I want to do at all. I think that is where my problem lies. If I were to go to law school, it would give me four more years to decide. When I think about it I want to, but then I start reading about applying and what you would have to do and don't know if it is right for me. I am trying to weigh my options.
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Law School Question : I honestly don't. I have no idea what I want to do at all. I think that is where my problem lies. If I were to go to law school, it would give me four more years to decide. When I think about it I want to, but then I start reading about applying and what you would have to do and don't know if it is right for me. I am trying to weigh my options.
Posted by cdechristopher[/QUOTE]
It is a big commitment, both in the amount of time and money it costs. TBH, that's something I struggle with too, when I see the amount of commitment it does take. But that's worth it to me, so that's something to consider for your own life as well.
Do you know when you'd want to apply and when you'd write the LSAT if that's what you decided to do?
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Law School Question : It is a big commitment, both in the amount of time and money it costs. TBH, that's something I struggle with too, when I see the amount of commitment it does take. But that's worth it to me, so that's something to consider for your own life as well. <strong>Do you know when you'd want to apply and when you'd write the LSAT if that's what you decided to do?
</strong>Posted by heyimbren[/QUOTE]
I have to sign up for the LSAT by the end of April and take it in June. July is when the application is due and August is when the fall semester begins. That is if I want to get in for this August. I could always take time to think about it and go for the Spring semester.
Danieka- I would most likely be going nights and weekends. The website says that you can finish in 2 and a half years if you go full time and during the summer, 4 if you do not. The name of the program is the "Juris Doctor Program." (I'm sorry I really don't know all the lingo, but hopefully this will explain what I am talking about.)
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Law School Question : I have to sign up for the LSAT by the end of April and take it in June. July is when the application is due and August is when the fall semester begins. That is if I want to get in for this August. I could always take time to think about it and go for the Spring semester. Danieka- I would most likely be going nights and weekends. The website says that you can finish in 2 and a half years if you go full time and during the summer, 4 if you do not. <strong>The name of the program is the "Juris Doctor Program."</strong> (I'm sorry I really don't know all the lingo, but hopefully this will explain what I am talking about.)
Posted by cdechristopher[/QUOTE]
<div>Welcome to law school! Yup, that's definitely the real deal! I always say, it doesn't hurt to apply. You don't ever have to go and if you do, I'm sure you'll make the most of it! But if you don't apply, then you have to wait a whole semester. If you decide to wait the semester anyway, you'll have already applied and could probably defer acceptance till the spring, but at least you know you got in. </div>
One thing to warn you about with the June date, is you may not get the test centre you want since it's so close to the date.
[QUOTE]Just an FYI, you can't get an LLM without already having a JD.
Posted by loves2shop4shoes[/QUOTE]
<div>I knew that, but the specialized nature of those topics CD mentioned sounded like an LL.M program. The description was very specialized for a general JD program, but it's all been cleared up now. </div>
[QUOTE]Oh man...I have a lot of advice for you. 1) The people you talked to are morons. Unless you're trying to go into engineering, accounting, finance, or something otherwise VERY specialized, It doesn't matter what you majored in in undergrad. <strong>It just matters that you went to college and did reasonably well in college.</strong>
Posted by loves2shop4shoes[/QUOTE]
<div>I know nothing about law school, so I will stay away from that, but I absolutely agree with the bolded part above. Don't think about the facts you learned, but rather the skills you learned in undergrad, because really I think that those are pretty similar regardless of your major (reading, interpreting, critical analysis, integrating ideas, problem solving, etc). I'm in medical school, and there are plenty of people in my class with anthropology, art history, sociology, and other similar degrees. When they ask you "Why would you even apply with a sociology degree?", I don't think they actually mean they think it was silly for you to apply. I think they would be impressed by an answer about the skills you have learned and how it would benefit them.</div><div>
</div><div>That being said, I'm all for further education, so if you do want to go to law school then I say go for it!</div>
I can understand furthering your education to make you a more attractive candidate. What do you want to do? Would something like an MBA be more appropriate?
I haz a planning bio
A lot of people say that they don't want to go to law school to be lawyers. I'm of the opinion that that's a mistake. It's one that I made. I learned a lot, and I learned things that I'm not sure I could have learned elsewhere, but I'm not sure that I would do it all over again. I highly recommend this blog: http://barelylegalblog.blogspot.com/
It's snarky and obviously biased, but it'll give you a much better picture than the law school industry will.
Only go to law school if you're truly passionate about it, not as a way to beef up your resume. It's a very expensive and risky move. If you want to just make yourself more marketable, figure out what specific thing you want to do and take classes in that subject or volunteer somewhere to get experience in that position (for instance, I think I might want to do some marketing-related stuff, so I signed on as the Marketing Director for a small non-profit - they'll get free work, I'll get free experience in my spare time).
Good luck!
Oh, and Bren, I think the main difference is the cost. In Canada, education is more affordable, so it's worthwhile to spend the time since you won't be in a heap of debt. In the US, you're going to start out with a law degree with over $100k in loans if you went to a decent school and didn't get a scholarship, as Shoes mentioned. That's a really uphill battle to make it worthwhile.
[QUOTE]Cate, there are law schools in Canada that cost $100k, as well as schools that may cost less than that. So it really depends on where you go here.
Posted by heyimbren[/QUOTE]
Yeah, the school here costs less than that as well.
I am still toying with the idea in my head. I keep going back and forth. Thank you all for the words of wisdom, I am seriously going to consider what each and every one of you has said. Thanks again!