Anonymous
Post 07/22/2013 09:52     Subject: Would you recommend a legal career?
My husband is a lawyer from a school that many on here would mock. He has an awesome job working in-house that he got through hard work, being a good employee aware that it's a competitive market (ie, knowing he didn't "deserve" 160k right out of law school), and luck. He's 5 years out of school. A lot of the issue is the cockiness of law school grads - thinking they are entitled to a certain level of job, refusing to take anything less than that, etc. That mentality, however, comes from the ridiculous prices of law school - the debt renders people unable to take the kind of lower-paying, resume-building jobs they might be interested in.

I'd say if you don't go into debt, it isn't a bad path. Just be realistic about the options afterwards.
Anonymous
Post 07/22/2013 09:45     Subject: Would you recommend a legal career?
I enjoy being a lawyer, but you have to have the right personality. I'm a litigator so, that means: Direct, not afraid of a good tussle, happy to look at the negative side of things, etc etc.

Most people don't find these things to be admirable qualities or keys to a happy/fulfilling life, hence all the unhappy lawyers.
Anonymous
Post 07/22/2013 09:44     Subject: Re:Would you recommend a legal career?
The job market for new lawyers is in a state of collapse. It's free-falling and we won't see the bottom for a few years. Unless you can go to a top 20-25 law school, or are willing to move to an underserved market (Alaska, Wyoming, North Dakota), finding a job can be very, very tough. Law school is expensive.

If you don't know what to do with your life, keep looking. Don't go to law school . Law school is not the reliable stand-by that it used to be.
Anonymous
Post 07/22/2013 09:39     Subject: Would you recommend a legal career?
Anonymous wrote:I know I am a huge voice of dissent here, but I love being a lawyer. I graduated from law school at 25 and worked in Big Law for 3 years - working hard, but honestly not any harder than i would have at anything at that time in my life (before kids). Went to a family friendly govt agency shortly after i got married and have been here for 5 years (through 2 kids - 6 months of unpaid leave with each). I work 4 days a week, am home by 4 every day (work really early schedule which it totally ok with my job) and make 100k a year. I also telework when i need to to cover doctors appts, household work, etc. I get 20 days of vacation a year, 13 federal holidays, and 13 sick days. I can't imagine another job I could love as much and yet have as much flexibility to have a work life balance.

This type of govt job is available to non-lawyers, but the salary is significantly lower - such that the flexibility isn't outweighed by the pay.


I have similar (if not slightly better) benefits and salary, work from home 100% on a flexible schedule, and didn't have to go to law school or work in Biglaw. I work in a tech field at a university. OP, unless you actually like the WORK you'd do as a lawyer, don't go into the field. You can get similar pay and flexibility through other careers.
Anonymous
Post 07/22/2013 09:37     Subject: Would you recommend a legal career?
Many people enter the law because they are committed to social justice work and see the J.D. and the possible Esq. as another tool in their toolbox. My experience as a social justice attorney is that those lawyers are happier than individuals looking for a good-paying job. I am extremely proud to work in a profession committed to justice, but I am the first in my family to go to college, not to mention law school, so I am a bit of an anomaly. If you think you will not be happy with yourself without the degree, then take the plunge, but be forewarned that many taking JDs no longer use them in the law as the professional has allowed too many law schools to proliferate and produce crop after crop with higher and higher yields of JDs.
Anonymous
Post 07/22/2013 09:31     Subject: Would you recommend a legal career?
Anonymous wrote:So, why then did you become a lawyer if there are a myriad of other fields to choose from? Why not answer the question?


didn't get that far into your post/stream of consciousness dribble to notice any question (In law school, they teach us to get to the point immediately. Not blah blah blah blah blah blah . . . insert question . . . . blah blah blah. . . )

I went to law school because I enjoyed tax law (from accounting in college).
Anonymous
Post 07/22/2013 09:29     Subject: Would you recommend a legal career?
Anonymous wrote:So, why then did you become a lawyer if there are a myriad of other fields to choose from? Why not answer the question?


couln't get into med school, so seemed like a reasonable thing to do at the time.
Anonymous
Post 07/22/2013 09:27     Subject: Would you recommend a legal career?
Anonymous wrote:I know I am a huge voice of dissent here, but I love being a lawyer. I graduated from law school at 25 and worked in Big Law for 3 years - working hard, but honestly not any harder than i would have at anything at that time in my life (before kids). Went to a family friendly govt agency shortly after i got married and have been here for 5 years (through 2 kids - 6 months of unpaid leave with each). I work 4 days a week, am home by 4 every day (work really early schedule which it totally ok with my job) and make 100k a year. I also telework when i need to to cover doctors appts, household work, etc. I get 20 days of vacation a year, 13 federal holidays, and 13 sick days. I can't imagine another job I could love as much and yet have as much flexibility to have a work life balance.

This type of govt job is available to non-lawyers, but the salary is significantly lower - such that the flexibility isn't outweighed by the pay.


+1, but never worked in Big Law. Most lawyers I know who are miserable are working very long, stressful hours. Anything 80 hours a week starts to get old. I enjoy being a lawyer, but I could've done other things as well. I went to law school, because I received a degree in sociology and had no idea what to do with it when I graduated. Many in my peer group were the same. They graduated and had no idea what they wanted to do, so they went to law school. I wouldn't recommend law to those just looking to make a lot of money. Many attorneys are struggling/under employed, and the work they can get (contract attorneys) is mind-numbingly boring (document review for weeks at a time). I would recommend students clerk at a firm or agency before they go to law school. I don't think students have any grasp for what "real" lawyers do compared to the ones they see on TV.
Anonymous
Post 07/22/2013 09:13     Subject: Would you recommend a legal career?
I know I am a huge voice of dissent here, but I love being a lawyer. I graduated from law school at 25 and worked in Big Law for 3 years - working hard, but honestly not any harder than i would have at anything at that time in my life (before kids). Went to a family friendly govt agency shortly after i got married and have been here for 5 years (through 2 kids - 6 months of unpaid leave with each). I work 4 days a week, am home by 4 every day (work really early schedule which it totally ok with my job) and make 100k a year. I also telework when i need to to cover doctors appts, household work, etc. I get 20 days of vacation a year, 13 federal holidays, and 13 sick days. I can't imagine another job I could love as much and yet have as much flexibility to have a work life balance.

This type of govt job is available to non-lawyers, but the salary is significantly lower - such that the flexibility isn't outweighed by the pay.
Anonymous
Post 07/22/2013 09:09     Subject: Re:Would you recommend a legal career?
law is interesting to study. The practice of law is tedious and grueling.
Anonymous
Post 07/22/2013 09:05     Subject: Would you recommend a legal career?
So, why then did you become a lawyer if there are a myriad of other fields to choose from? Why not answer the question?
Anonymous
Post 07/22/2013 09:00     Subject: Would you recommend a legal career?
Ditto that
Anonymous
Post 07/22/2013 09:00     Subject: Would you recommend a legal career?
no! Being a lawyer sucks!!!
Anonymous
Post 07/22/2013 08:58     Subject: Would you recommend a legal career?
LOL.
Anonymous
Post 07/22/2013 08:03     Subject: Would you recommend a legal career?
I am curious to ask a question of practicing attorneys out there? Why did you become interested in studying the law and becoming a lawyer? Have you found the practice of law living up to your expectations and would you recommend a legal career to someone who is interested in issues of human and social justice?