Thinking about going to law school, what should I know?

brush up on your bird law

 

Sorry, but that's all the info I give about my job.

 

I know you didn't ask me, but I'm going to butt in anyway

I took the LSAT the first time February of my junior year. It's pricey, but I would recommend taking a prep-class instead of just buying a couple of books and doing it on your own.

Having a class to go to held me somewhat accountable, especially when it came to doing practice problems outside of the class (our "homework" assignments) and if regular classes got in the way of the LSAT homework, at the very least I would have gotten 6-8 hours of studying in over the course of a week (I did two 3-4 hour classes a week over like 3 months).

Everyone's different, but it's just so easy to put off studying for a test thats several months away, and classes are a good way to ease into the right mindset.

 

it's cool, I'll just print some fliers with that pic of you lurking in the shadows and see what turns up.

 

Hey Mulder, thanks a lot for the info on UH and that link for acceptance requirements. I'd only been on the calculator thing before. The problem with my Canadian undergrad is that I'm not sure how to convert my GPA over to American standards. Apparently the way they're structured Canadian students' GPAs take a hit when converted.

I took the June 2009 administration (Test 57). To be honest, I really didn't do much preparation for it outside of the prep course and about 10 timed practice tests. My school term ended in May and I had about 4 weeks to prepare while working 3 days a week. That's why this time around I'm taking 3 months and plan to finish every single past test, hoping that with more practice I can improve my score. So far, it's getting better with even more practice. I've been scoring consistently between 170-175 the past couple weeks.

Just for comparison's sakes, I took a blind diagnostic before my prep course and got a 156. At the end of the prep course, I took another test and scored 164. For much of my prep for last year's LSAT I scored between 160-168. I was expecting something in the low-160s so I was pleasantly surprised to actually get a 165. It gave me the motivation and self-belief to take it again and hope for a score in the 99th percentile.

 

Even if you don't pursue law, it is not the end of the world. There a lot of respectable professions that contribute to the development of humanity and the "atty" is just one of them. The ball is in your court. Take it to the rack.

Don't mention it. Glad I could help

 

Unless you're going to go to a top school (and top i mean top 14 or so, not top half or top quarter) - don't go, you'll be joining an oversaturated market that is somehow, incredibly, managing to contribute more useless new law grads (and I mean that in the nicest possible way, but all new law grads are useless even from top schools) desptie the fact that the industry is contracting. And you'll be doing it with a 100,000 hole in your balance sheet.

What people don't realize is that law schools are basically a profit center for universities. Comparatively low overhead and the promise of high tuition means it's an easy kill for them which is why more and more schools are opening despite the legions of unemployed (and this predates the crash) lawyers out there from the factory schools. Then they bandy about highly manufactured stats about employment and average salaries that most are unlikely to get and boom...hello federally guaranteed student loans.

 

David Stern is a lawyer.

 

I love people saying don't just do it for the money. If lawyers and doctors didn't get good pay how many people would do it.

If you want the money go for it. You might fail, but you got to try.

 

Yep, this is exactly the type of myth that is perpetuated about law school. The number of big money jobs right out of law school is comparatively small to the mainstream belief. Right now, many law school graduates would be pulling in more net income with their pre-law school jobs than what they are making as lawyers. In fact, we have a poster in this very thread for whom that is the case.

 

Sorry to necro this tread but I’m thinking about applying to law school and I need some advice. For me, it not a question of why I should go, I know I want to be a lawyer. My issue is my GPA. I partied and made a lot of mistakes when I first went to UH and failed out. I took 5 years off from college, grew up, got married, got a good job and went back to UH. When I went back to school I was also working fulltime so I was not able to make enough A’s to dig my GPA out from when I was younger.

Now, I really want to become a lawyer but I graduated with a 2.5ish GPA and I feel like my past mistakes are coming back to haunt me again… So, my question is, do I even have a shot in being accepted into a (any) law school? It’s not about the money or prestige for me, so I don’t care about school tiers. It’s about being a lawyer, it’s about overcoming adversity, it’s about fulfilling a calling and using my JD and past experiences to sincerely help others.

 

you won't make any money if you can find a job.

Unless you goto a top law school.

I know a bunch of a people that got in and ended up deciding to do grad school for a masters or something instead.

Its just a terrible investment imo

 

If you have a great LSAT score your GPA won't matter.

 

I don't know. I know a few people who have graduated from law schools and make outstanding shoe salesmen.

 

Unless you go to a top law school, good luck finding a job, let alone a job that pays enough to pay off your loans. My wife as I, just finance majors, are making a lot more than all our friends who are lawyers, except for one. If you're doing it for the money (and no idea why anyone else would want to be a lawyer except for the money), just make sure you go somewhere reputable...

 

Can we get some comments from people who are actually lawyers and have gone through the process????







....wait.

By the way, BigMak...I love my job...I'd do it for less. I knew growing up that I wanted to play 2B for the Astros or be an attorney. The first didn't work out.

As to the question....honestly, it's been over a decade since I graduated from law school. I don't know, but I'd suggest contacting someone you know who is in law school right now and get a sense from them.

 

Graduated from a tier 4 law school (top 25%) and love my job. Paid off my tuition in the first year and make close to $100k but I realize that I may be one of the lucky few.

It's all a personal call and I suggest you research the cost to salary of where you expect to be headed. Feel free to PM me for questions.

 

Working for money is a doomsday scenario. Unhappiness which leads to other things. People that are the best in their field truly enjoy what they do.

 

Mister Realist, here is a dime. Take it, call your mother, and tell her there is serious doubt about you ever becoming a lawyer.

Spoiler