Lawschool Advice?

starryeyed · #1 06-19-2005, 03:55 PM

I'm about to start applying for law schools soon. I've yet to take my LSAT. (I'm taking 3 of those weekend bootcamps to study for it! ) Is there any advice or stories of personal experience that ya'll can bestow upon me? It'd be appreciated. Thanks!

kddani · #2 06-19-2005, 04:15 PM

be sure it's what you want to do. Do a search for the other law school threads. There's quite a few of them

It's a big investment of time and money, and as of right now, the job market really isn't too great.

starryeyed · #3 06-19-2005, 04:21 PM

kddani check your pm's!

valkyrie · #4 06-19-2005, 05:15 PM

Law school: don't do it.

I'm kidding, kind of -- just make sure law is really, really, really what you want to do. If you don't know your Myers Briggs type, that might be a good place to start, because I think there are some personality types that are not suited for careers in the legal field (why yes, I am talking about myself).

Make sure you've asked yourself the following questions --

What kind of law do you want to practice?

Do you have realistic expectations (for example, 99% of the people who say they want to do "entertainment law" are in for a world of pain and disappointment, and you probably won't make more than $50k a year, if you're lucky, if you want to do some type of public interest law)?

In what kind of environment do you want to work?

Kevlar281 · #5 06-19-2005, 05:43 PM

I am currently preparing for the October 1st LSAT. Here is a link to a lot of great online resources. http://www.lawschoolnumbers.com/link...c7c3b7c228ff72

starryeyed · #6 06-19-2005, 06:32 PM

Thanks for the insights and websites. Is there a place to get your Myer's Briggs type online? Also I don't think I'd like to be an entertainment lawyer. Final salary is not going to sway me. I don't think making a lot of money is going to ever make me happy. I was hoping to be an advocate for battered women and neglected children so I am prepared to make next to nothing. Do you think this idealism is going to hurt me in the long run. I still feel like the law is a calling...

kddani · #7 06-19-2005, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by starryeyed
Thanks for the insights and websites. Is there a place to get your Myer's Briggs type online? Also I don't think I'd like to be an entertainment lawyer. Final salary is not going to sway me. I don't think making a lot of money is going to ever make me happy. I was hoping to be an advocate for battered women and neglected children so I am prepared to make next to nothing. Do you think this idealism is going to hurt me in the long run. I still feel like the law is a calling...

you might think differently when you graduate from law school tens of thousands of dollars in the hole. While salary may not be important to you know, when you have to pay the rent/mortgage, car payments, EAT, etc. you will very likely think differently

starryeyed · #8 06-19-2005, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kddani
you might think differently when you graduate from law school tens of thousands of dollars in the hole. While salary may not be important to you know, when you have to pay the rent/mortgage, car payments, EAT, etc. you will very likely think differently

Good point. But aren't you proud and glad that you did it?

* Edited to add: Also I am married and my husband is a SAINT and being very supportive. In a way I feel guilty because he is basically going to support the both of us through out this.

Again I appreciate your insights and advice, and I want your honest opinions and insights from your life experience...

kddani · #9 06-19-2005, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by starryeyed
Good point. But aren't you proud and glad that you did it?

After 3 years of it, $85K in debt, a very tough job market, and studying for the bar, i'm not so sure. And I think most of my classmates would have the same opinion. It's rough. Law school beats you down.

I'm not going to lie and be like oh, it's all wonderful and light and happy clouds and all that. It can really suck. It does suck. And it's probably not going to be much better for awhile. EVERYONE wants to go to law school, and there's going to be a glut of new law grads and no jobs for them.

Don't be too idealistic, make sure you take a look at the negatives.

starryeyed · #10 06-19-2005, 08:31 PM

Gosh 85 K is ALOT of money!

kddani · #11 06-19-2005, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by starryeyed
Gosh 85 K is ALOT of money!

And I go to a semi-public school. In state tuition was about 18,500 a year, plus fees and all that, books, and living expenses. If you go to a private school it'll be a lot more

starryeyed · #12 06-19-2005, 08:33 PM

what kind of law do you want to practice?

kddani · #13 06-19-2005, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by starryeyed
what kind of law do you want to practice?

Whatever I can get a job in. Can't really afford to be picky

starryeyed · #14 06-19-2005, 08:37 PM

How close was the school you went to from where you grew up?

kddani · #15 06-19-2005, 08:37 PM

i was born several blocks up the street from my law school (Pitt) and have lived within 20 miles my entire life