law school?

[Anonymous]

Should be obvious by now, but: Taking loans out to attend the most expensive law schools will result in a lot of debt. You may or may not get a Big Law job that will help you pay back the debt.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:You MUST go to the highest ranked law school no matter what it costs, if you want to be in Big Law, where you WILL be miserable. You MUST get a Big Law job, though you WILL be miserable in Big Law, but you MUST stay to pay off your loans. Is this the wisdom of DCUM? I'm also confused why everyone is talking about law school loans when everyone on DCUM is wealthy and has saved enough to send their kids to both Ivy undergrads and Ivy grad schools. Also, everyone on DCUM has kids who CAN and WILL get into these schools, and WILL get Big Law offers.

It is confusing. I work for fed and in my agency there are many GS 14 lawyers and GS 14 non lawyers doing exactly same thing. It seems to me the only career that would justify the high cost of attendance for the law school is 1) either joining a BigLaw or 2) becoming a partner at a smaller or sole practice. Otherwise going to a law school is money losing proposition.

So the advice on this thread is either go to the highest ranked law school (T14) to increase your chance to get into a big law, which is still a big gamble because T14 schools tend to be very expensive, or go to the cheap law school to minimize the downside risk.

There's a revolving door between government and BigLaw so it's not one or the other. You can get government experience and then go cash in by moving to a senior BigLaw role. A senior role in BigLaw doesn't have the same drawbacks as being a junior associate--you may still work hard but will have much greater control over your schedule.

You've also entirely left out in house as a career goal. Many in house attorneys are well paid with reasonable schedules. You likely have to start in BigLaw to get some experience and pay off loans, but then there are options including government, in house or non-profits.

Yes there are other legal careers. But again the only career that would make a financial sense and pay off are either working for the BigLaw or being a partner. I haven’t seen many in house counsels who didn’t start their career at BigLaw. Also how many GS14 employees moved to the senior BigLaw role?

I just don’t think attending a law school and becoming a government or non profit emplolyee is financially a wise choice. And if you don’t start in BigLaw in the first place, most likley you will never become an in house counsel and move to a senior BigLaw role.

This is all mixed up. I think you're confused.

Well, maybe.

All I am saying is that the government and non profit jobs are not lucarative enough given the cost of law school. And the in-house postions are not realistic for the graduates who didn’t get BigLaw jobs.

You are confused. This analysis doesn't make any sense.

What doesn't make sense? I'm not PP, but what he said makes sense to me.

The "ideal" path is generally to go T14 > biglaw > whatever (in-house, government, etc.).

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:People are so dramatic with law school. Just know if you want to work your butt off at a BigLaw firm making the big money before you go. I knew that was never going to be me as I like work-life balance too much. So I knew I should do law school as cheap as possible. I went to a state law school where I was able to get in state tuition the last 2 years (also got a little scholarship $). Moved to DC where government attorney jobs were plentiful. Within a year out I got myself a job at an agency. Money is fine for the work life balance, mother of 3.

Your example is contrary to the people on this thread saying that agencies ONLY hire T-14 grads. Lol. I also don't get why people are talking about law school loans when everyone in this College forum claims to be 'Full Pay!" Guess that ends with undergrad?

For many people parental support ends with undergrad, even if they were full pay then. A large majority of first year law students do not go to law school immediately upon graduation.

About 60 to 80 percent of law school applicants today have taken off one or two years. Most work as paralegals to make money to pay for law school or do advanced degrees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People are so dramatic with law school. Just know if you want to work your butt off at a BigLaw firm making the big money before you go. I knew that was never going to be me as I like work-life balance too much. So I knew I should do law school as cheap as possible. I went to a state law school where I was able to get in state tuition the last 2 years (also got a little scholarship $). Moved to DC where government attorney jobs were plentiful. Within a year out I got myself a job at an agency. Money is fine for the work life balance, mother of 3.

Wait! It took you a year to find a job? That's not good. Who supported you?