In today's blog, I will be discussing six different questions to ask yourself before thinking of attending law school. As you may already know, law school is a 3-year commitment after undergrad school. From many current law students I have personally talked to, they have told me the first year is the hardest year and if can survive the first year, you can finish the last two. But, how do you know if law school is for you? Is law school worth the investment or what do you plan to do with a Juris Doctorate degree? Here are 6 important question to first ask yourself:
How Much is Law School?
Law school has never been cheap, but over the years law school has increased rapidly according to U.S News . When I would talk to my law school advisor at my university, she would always tell me to look at law school as a lifetime investment. An investment that can or will turn into a lifetime career filled with long nights of reading, writing, and connecting with clients. She then continued to say that law school is very different from undergrad school and to think hard if you are willing to be in debt the next 20-30 years of your life. Depending on how successful you are as an attorney, will determine how long it will take to pay off your school debt, or you can be extremely blessed and get a full ride scholarship. Unfornatualy, we do not all have that opportunity. The most expensive law school starts off at $62,000 a year, this school happens to be Yale, the number 1 ranked law school in the nation. BUT, the average law school tuition is between $25,000-$45,000. You must remember that tuition rates vary if you are attending school out of state, tuition is usually spiked an extra $10,000 more than the original cost of attendance. Either way, your law school tuition is going to be a cost of an average brand new car every year, for 3 years. No doubt law school is expensive, but many law schools offer financial aid and always have scholarships open. This may not be a way to completely get out of tuition debt, but it will greatly decrease debt cost.
Why Do You Want To Go To Law School?
I've talked to many classmates that want to be lawyers over my time being an undergraduate student and always ask "why do you want to go to law school?" The most common reply I would receive was "I like to argue" or "lawyers make great money and I'm trying to live comfortable". I believe you may want to re-think twice about those answers to why you want to go to law school. I have had the honor of talking to a judge based in San Antonio and she told me that law school is nothing like Law & Order or the movie 'Legally Blonde'. She said law school is super competitive, rigorous, and time-consuming. But if you're willing to put in the time and effort to get as much knowledge you can out of attending law school, you're more than likely to be a great lawyer. When I was in a pre-law program at my university, an attorney came to talk to our class and even said herself that she came out of law school broke. When she first started practicing law, she was only making around $60,000 a year and took her many years to make as much as she does now. So she made it clear to the class not to have high hopes of starting off rich as a lawyer. Within time and working for the right law firm could grant you that opportunity, but please never go to law school because you wish to be rich in life.
What Do You Plan On Doing With Your Law Degree?
Many lawyers have said, "if you're not going to be a practicing lawyer, then don't go to law school." I'd have to disagree with that statement because some people may go to law school to be a practicing attorney and use their law degree to help them build within another career. A career that could be blended well with the law is real estate, business owners, and law enforcement. Yes, you want to make the most out of your Juris Doctorate degree because you invested so much money into it, but if you find another passion that involves law, do not limit yourself. You're able to be a judge, a State Senate, a Congress member with a law degree. The only limit to what you wish to do with your degree is up to you.
Should You Take Time Off Before Attending Law School?
There is no right or wrong answer to this, but many people (like myself) need to take a quick break just to get a clear piece of mind after grad school. Hats off to the students that go straight into law school as soon as they graduate undergrad. That is a true dedication and great planning. But, for individuals like myself, I want to be able to take a year off and save as much money as I can before going into law school. Taking a year off will allow me to work full-time and dedicate my full attention to studying the LSAT and not having any other class get in the way. Taking some time off before law school also gives you a chance to explore different careers, network, and possibly get a job in a law firm to gain experience beforehand. Remember that, your LSAT score is good for 5 years after you have taken it, so use your time wisely and remember that even though law school can be stressful, your mental health comes first. And, if taking a year or more off before committing to law school is what you feel you have to do, then do it. There is no race to finish.
How Are You Going To Make A Living Throughout Law School?
You must decide how you will make a living while attending law school, rather it is your parents, working full/part-time, or a spouse helping out. There used to be a rule that law school permitted any full-time students from working. But really, who else is going to pay for your bills? How could school take away the option for you to work? It just blows my mind. The best and only way you will be prepared to save yourself from stress is to plan before applying/getting accepted into law school. Find where you will live, try to avoid getting into any new type of debt and find a job that is understanding that you are a law student and you have committed yourself for the next 3 years to school.
What Law School is Best For You?
My law school advisor had suggested that I pick 5 law schools. First pick my dream school, two schools that I have a better chance than my dream school, and two schools that I know for sure I may be accepted into to. No matter what law school you have chosen already or plan to, make sure you are aware of the economy of the city and if you happen to move out of state, do you have plans on staying or moving back home? Many say to pick a law school that you are positive you will be practicing law in. But certain law schools offer different programs for specific types of law to practice. For example, the law school in Denver Colorado is ranked 8th for professional writing and has one of the best environmental law programs. If there is a law school that is out of state but has the type of law you have a high chance of practicing after law school, put that school down on your list to apply.
No comments:
Post a Comment