if you are looking for work, apply elsewhere. The legal profession is beyond over-saturated. Further, the debt and stress of lawschool are not worth it. Of all professions, lawyers hate their jobs most. This is exhibited by the highest depression and, sadly, suicide rate of any job. Work more hours at a job you will likely hate - go for it, indeed. The money generally isn't that spectacular unless you're one of the few who work at a very large firm. "Why Law School is Only for 1% of the Population" would be an infinitely more honest article.
Simply put, the decision should come down to two things:
1. There aren't law jobs; and
2. being a lawyer is probably not what you think it it (unless, of course, you
think it's all about billing, timekeeping and very dry reading on top of
kissing ass after ass).
I finished top third of my class at a top 20 law school. I had a prestigious federal appellate clerkship. I worked at a small firm, and am not at a mega-firm. Many of my law school friends struggle to make loan payments (one friend pays 65% of his monthly income toward his student loan debt). I make pretty good money. I work horrible hours and have no life. Law school was the worst decision I ever made.
There is a reason so many lawyers recommend to non-lawyers to not go to law school: it's not worth it. Sure, you might love it. But, chances are, you will be like 85% of the rest of us and regret it.
I'm not a "self-selected whining martyr who blew [my] own life . . .now try[ing] to tell you that law school will ruin yours." I'm telling you the reality of the situation. 3 years, $80k and your sanity is a high price to pay to see if you like it, especially when you will have a very hard time being employed at graduation. Look at the news: law firms everywhere have not only stopped hiring, but are now laying off lawyers.
The law is for everyone, but law school is not.
Good Karmaof CO6:04AM March 17, 2010
Law school is a debt trap.
The employment and salary statistics that you read on the internet, and on the law school websites and from the NALP are false.
The law schools put out phony stats claiming that their grads get jobs and make good money. Unfortunately, these stats are lies.
The only neutral 3rd party stats that I have seen were paid for by the Texas State bar, which showed that only about 64 percent of law school grads had jobs 6 months after graduation (with only 55 percent of those jobs being in the legal field). And that study done during the boom job market of the year 2000.
And yet the law schools claim that in 2000 that over 90 percent of their grads got jobs as lawyers.
they lie. They are still lying.
In the last 2 years, the legal job market has self destructed. And it will probably never come back to where it was, at least not for a decade.
The law schools make 3 BILLION dollars annually off of tuition money.
They use hugely inflated job and salary stats to lure applicants into 6 figure debt so that law school deans can make millions (yes, millions!) annually in salaries and kickbacks from the student loan banks.
The law school industry is trying to persuade college age students to make a huge 6 figure gamble in order to keep those law school deans and staffers rolling in the money.
Don't fall for their lies.
lawyer facing bankruptcyof TX3:03PM February 21, 2010
clear from your lsat or grades that you wont be successful at law? what a tool... You know the largest judgment ever won was from a grad at a T4 school. Some of the BS these guys are saying is true for BIGlaw, but they can have it... I wouldnt want to be on that hamster wheel at the bottom of a pyramid scheme anyway. Law school is what you make of it. Yes, the lower school - class rank - will mean you get a lower starting salary, but that all changes in 3-5 years. A lot of the people on the internet bitching dont even really practice. If your willing to get out and practice, and hustle - you will make money. But news flash nobody is going to me making multi-hundred thousand dollar salaries, nor do you deserve to. Its the same with MBAs they think they will make 6 figures and be big shot business man... lol... Just be realistic and dont listen to the pretentious asses... most to of them are liars anyway... if you were really top 10% at a top 20... you wouldn't be crying on the internet.
Full-of-itof NC10:06PM February 16, 2010
This is incredible. What a bunch of lies. Most people who go to law school simply do not qualify for the higher paying jobs, if they can ever get jobs at all. Today, there must be 10 law school grads for every paying job out there. Most law schools today are just diploma mills. They prey on the fears of the masses of college students and grads who have no imagination and go to law school because they want something to do with themselves -- they just want to "get aheaad" -- and seek stability in a fearful world It is articles like this -- with irresonsible, fanciful reporting -- that continue the hoax. The only ones winning are the diploma mills and the student loan sharks.
THERE IS NO MORE PRESTIGE in becoming a lawyer. ANd there is plenty of coverage on what is causing the glut of lawyers. For once perspective, go see:
http://lawschoolscam.blogspot.com/
Perplexed Miltonof CA8:18PM February 15, 2010
This has been an interesting read. While taking a criminal justice class taught by our county's former asst pros. atty, i learned his first year as asst pros he earned $35,000/yr. I MADE THAT AS A NEW GRAD with nursing, and that is as a registered nurse with an associate degree.When I then worked contract, I made $80/hour plus relocation expenses and rent reimbursement, along with deciding where I wanted to work. However, i was one of the unlucky ones who contacted Hepatitis C while nursing and have now been on treatment twice, trying to save my liver. Nursing is HARD, HARD work, and very cut throat. Just know that going in. It isn't all about money. I enjoy law, and although I do not plan on attending law school, i have just completed my paralegal degree and hope to work in law in some capacity. I would love to work with the INNOCENT PROJECT, but I live in the Midwest and I must get well first. So, to the attorney that is going to nursing school, i wish you my best. We need good nurses. But trust me, it isn't all its cracked up to be either. We all must make a living, but I think we should all pursue the things we LOVE not just where we think we can make the most money. None of the money I made is worth the disease I am struggling with daily, and don't think it can't happen to you. Because it can happen to any of us.
skhof MO10:07AM February 12, 2010
Being a lawyer would be great if you didn't have to get paid to do it. Finding a job is nearly impossible. Most legal jobs pay $45K or less and it is difficult to pay back student loans on so little. The upper 10K salaries are non-existent. BigLaw jobs are extremely hard to come by. You have a better chance of striking it rich with the lotto. Btw, T14 guarantees you nothing. Read: www.butidideverythingrightorsoithought.blogspot.com
Angel9:11AM February 11, 2010
Don't let them fool you with their slick media marketing about how 90 percent of all law school grads get job with a median salary of 60K dollars. It is a LIE and is NOT TRUE.
The law schools have lobbbyists that are very well paid to put out those fake salary information and to go around the internet spreading lies about law schools.
There are 150,000 students paying 20K dollars a year to the law schools. That is 3 billion a year off of these students. And the law schools have very low costs. Most of the profs don't make too much. The banks and the regents and deans and the owners of the law schools make a fortune. And they pay some of that money to lobbyists and propagandists to keep up the illusion that law school pays off for most.
MOST law school students go to schools in tiers 2 through 4. MOST.
And MOST of those students never make back the money and time they spent in law school. Most never get a decent job in law. Most are out of law completely.
If you go to law school outside the top 25 schools or thereabouts, you had better be rich or have a lawyer daddy who will hire you unless you get top 10 percent.
Don't fall for the lies of the law school industry.
jimof TX11:34PM February 10, 2010
Read bigdebtsmallaw.wordpress.com
L4Lof NJ11:27PM February 10, 2010
Try 4 years of medical school a year of 100 hours a week internship another 3 to 6 years of residency and fellowship; all with little or no pay, little or no free time - now that's commitment!
sroof FL10:10PM February 09, 2010
Think about it. For whatever reason, these people saying "law school will ruin your life" are a group of self-selected whining martyrs who blew their own life and now try to tell you that law school will ruin yours. It might, it might not, but just because some joker here hated his 80+ hour big law job doesn't mean you have to be like him and take the same law path as every other narrow minded loser. Think big. Go after what you want. If that's law, great. And if not, that's great too.
Debt is ok, within reason. Otherwise all lawyers would either have rich parents or be geniuses. You might make a ton of money (top 10, or top 10%) and pay it off. Or you might go public service and have it forgiven after 10 years of reduced payments. What's the problem here?
There is only one time you should listen to these naysayers. That's if you're applying to a tier 2, 3 or 4 law school, you're in it for the money, and you're assuming you'll be top 10% and make a ton of money. THAT'S what all the whiners on this board thought, and why they're miserable. Just have realistic expectations and understand your goals and the process of getting there.
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Good Karma of CO 6:04AM March 17, 2010
lawyer facing bankruptcy of TX 3:03PM February 21, 2010
Full-of-it of NC 10:06PM February 16, 2010
Perplexed Milton of CA 8:18PM February 15, 2010
skh of MO 10:07AM February 12, 2010
Angel 9:11AM February 11, 2010
jim of TX 11:34PM February 10, 2010
L4L of NJ 11:27PM February 10, 2010
sro of FL 10:10PM February 09, 2010
Chris of CA 1:23AM February 09, 2010