Go to law school?

[Anonymous]

OP, to be blunt, you're most likely not getting into American or UMD and you're not going to get a scholarship. Also, commuting to Baltimore for law school (will you still work) would be brutal to the point of not making any sense.

Don't do it. No way.

[Anonymous]

I actually think he might get into American or UMD. Anyone with any intelligence is skipping the law school path unless they get into one of the top couple schools, schools are terribly unenrolled and digging down deep in the applicant pool to get students to pay the incredibly high tuitions. So it will likely be up to you, OP; would you like to waste your time and money for a watered down and almost surely useless degree or not?

[Anonymous]

I would not recommend it, but if you are serious about it I would suggest you find the best part time/ evening program you can, so you don't give up your current job (note however that it would be difficult to have a personal life plus job plus law school).

[Anonymous]

No no no. Think of something else.

[Anonymous]

I'm weighing the idea as well. But I'm 29 and not interested in Big Law at all. If I do go, I'd pursue jobs working with domestic violence victims and family law (mainly because I credit my divorce lawyer with saving my life and would like to help others in the same way).

But I'm broke with a kid already and can't afford jack, I've worked hard to get out of debt and don't want to go back in debt. And I don't know that I could get in with my grades from undergrad (very low 3s). I also value the work-life balance I have right now and am not sure I am passionate enough to give that up at this point in my life, there are other ways to help after all.

I'm also not sure I'd be able to emotionally and mentally handle some of the clients I'd end up with either, it would be very, very hard for me to represent someone like my XH and I'd have to take the "bad" clients along with the "good" clients if I want to be successful. I don't think idealists make very good lawyers.

So while it's nice to daydream about going to law school and helping people, I don't think it will ever happen for me. There are other ways to help people.

[Anonymous]

You would be better off going back to grad school for a degree in Organizational Behavior or some other HR related degree. But you should only go if you think you can graduate in the top of your class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:34 years old, single. Born and raised in DC area. I work in HR and make about 55k. I really want to go to law school. I took the LSAT last month and kind of bombed it - I got a 154. I also went to a middling college in the midwest and got a low 3's GPA in sociology. Realistically, I know I am not getting into Georgetown or GW. Probably more like American or U. Maryland (I am willing to commute to Baltimore). Assuming I get a small scholarship at American or UMD, would it make sense to go? Or even if I have to pay full price (I am a MD resident)? I know the job market is pretty bad now for lawyers, but I am thinking that will pass by the time I get out of school. Thoughts? Thanks!

Median GPA for the class thatn just started at AU is 157 and the median GPA is 3.42. If you had a high GPA and a 154 on the LSAT, maybe you could get in, but low GPA and low LSAT probably mean a rejection letter. Keep in mind that a lot of people want to come to the DC area for law school, so if you look someplace else, you will no doubt find the entry requirements lower. Moreover, while there are a large number of lawyers in DC, making getting a job tough, that is not the case in other parts of the country. If you really want to go to lawschool, I would consider looking for a school in the midwest or the south in a mid size city.

[Anonymous]

I work as a legal librarian and have for almost 25 years. I cannot tell you how many attorneys have come up to me and asked how they do my job. I guess they think I just read books all day - WRONG! I couldn't believe it because they all made much more money than I make. I also cannot tell you how many librarians I meet who got a J.D. and then decided they hated it, went back to school for their MLS, and are happily working as a law librarians in academia.

The HR people in my government agency seemed to be making good money too. Can you get an advanced degree in HR at any of these schools around here (GW, UMD, UMUC) and move up the ranks or is just not of interest to you?

Just my take on it.

[Anonymous]

I cannot tell you how many attorneys have come up to me and asked how they do my job

Sorry-typing too fast! Should be "I cannot tell you how many attorneys have approached me and wanted to know how they could do what I do!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The other thing to think about is, in addition to the investment going in, even if you can find a decent job, you may not like it. I wanted to be a lawyer since I was 8 years old. Went to law school on a full merit scholarship, never had too much trouble finding job. I have NEVER liked any attorney job that I had. It is just not a good fit for me.

Wow. Sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:34 years old, single. Born and raised in DC area. I work in HR and make about 55k. I really want to go to law school. I took the LSAT last month and kind of bombed it - I got a 154. I also went to a middling college in the midwest and got a low 3's GPA in sociology. Realistically, I know I am not getting into Georgetown or GW. Probably more like American or U. Maryland (I am willing to commute to Baltimore). Assuming I get a small scholarship at American or UMD, would it make sense to go? Or even if I have to pay full price (I am a MD resident)? I know the job market is pretty bad now for lawyers, but I am thinking that will pass by the time I get out of school. Thoughts? Thanks!

Median GPA for the class thatn just started at AU is 157 and the median GPA is 3.42. If you had a high GPA and a 154 on the LSAT, maybe you could get in, but low GPA and low LSAT probably mean a rejection letter. Keep in mind that a lot of people want to come to the DC area for law school, so if you look someplace else, you will no doubt find the entry requirements lower. Moreover, while there are a large number of lawyers in DC, making getting a job tough, that is not the case in other parts of the country. If you really want to go to lawschool, I would consider looking for a school in the midwest or the south in a mid size city.

Wrong. The job market for lawyers is even worse in other parts of the country.

[Anonymous]

Why do you want to go to law school? You do not say why you want to go. If you want more money/opportunities, get an MBA. Its cheaper, you will have more option in terms of career path. Many startups to mid size companies would love to have a manager with hr experience and an MBA something else.

[Anonymous]

If I do go, I'd pursue jobs working with domestic violence victims and family law (mainly because I credit my divorce lawyer with saving my life and would like to help others in the same way).

IDK, that used to be what I wanted to do, but after working at a DA's office in the DV division in a large Southern city for two years, it was not what I thought it was. The same sad people being shuffled through constantly, and most of them had been horribly abused and neglected in their youth themselves. Not that they didn't deserve punishment for DV regardless, but the whole situation was depressing and unsatisfying.

[Anonymous]

Why don't you try to get a paralegal position in an employment law practice group. Your experience is relevant and you will get a taste of the more "legal" side of what you already do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

If I do go, I'd pursue jobs working with domestic violence victims and family law (mainly because I credit my divorce lawyer with saving my life and would like to help others in the same way).

IDK, that used to be what I wanted to do, but after working at a DA's office in the DV division in a large Southern city for two years, it was not what I thought it was. The same sad people being shuffled through constantly, and most of them had been horribly abused and neglected in their youth themselves. Not that they didn't deserve punishment for DV regardless, but the whole situation was depressing and unsatisfying.

This is one of the reasons I'm not really pursuing it. I know reality won't match up to my expectations and I'm not sure if I could handle that day in and day out. I know it would take a lot of compromising and settling for the "least horrible" scenario rather than "best case" scenario and that is draining. I could see getting jaded and burnt out very quickly. I have a lot of respect for those who do that work, I just don't know if I'm capable of it.