Look for schools with good loan repayment assistance programs. They will help you pay your loans as long as you're working in the public sector. NYU has one of the best out there.

No you don't. I have a very fulfilling legal career 20 years post law school (but also with an LLM), and I feel like an endangered species. I think I've passed the average tenure by almost 50%. The odds are slim. Burnout in criminal law is shorter than in some other disciplines too. Take that into account in your cost-benefit analysis.

Anonymous wrote:Young Prosecutors are just as stressed and overworked as big law associates. And are paid crap on top of it. That is true in both the state and federal systems. Public defenders are badly paid, too, and have to put up with a lot from their clients and often only get to meet them once or twice.

Also, it is true that most of a lawyer's day is not in court, even for a litigator. Criminal litigators get more trial experience than civil litigators, but still. You can enjoy it, but think hard about how you will pay back loans on a small salary if you want to prosecute/be a public defender.

I don't think it true that prosecutors are as stressed and overworked as big law associates. I have several friends who are Maryland Assistant States Attorneys in Montgomery County and Baltimore County, and they all work pretty regular hours, unless they are preparing for a big trial. They do get paid pretty poorly though, especially at the beginning of their careers.

Young Prosecutors are just as stressed and overworked as big law associates. And are paid crap on top of it. That is true in both the state and federal systems. Public defenders are badly paid, too, and have to put up with a lot from their clients and often only get to meet them once or twice.

Also, it is true that most of a lawyer's day is not in court, even for a litigator. Criminal litigators get more trial experience than civil litigators, but still. You can enjoy it, but think hard about how you will pay back loans on a small salary if you want to prosecute/be a public defender.

The market is awful, particularly in the private sector. I went to a top school and graduated in 2011 (so the market crashed during my first semester in law school), and most of my friends found jobs, but not all.

If you can graduate with no debt (OR go to a good school with a good public interest loan forgiveness program) and you are ok making $50k-$70k for a decade or more, go for it.

I'm a state government lawyer and I'm happy with my job.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/05/12/lawyers-with-lowest-pay-report-more-happiness/?_r=0

Read through these articles and then let us know if you still want to be a lawyer:

http://lawschooltransparency.com/

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/27/business/dealbook/burdened-with-debt-law-school-graduates-struggle-in-job-market.html?_r=0

http://www.newsweek.com/law-schools-reform-or-go-bust-308339

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brian-leiter/american-law-schools_b_4508504.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/business/09law.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Also, keep in mind that if you want to be a prosecutor or a criminal defense attorney, you will probably make $50,000 when you graduate, IF you get a job at all. If you have student loans, you will barely be able to support yourself. If you can get into a top school and get a SIGNIFICANT amount of guaranteed financial aid for all three years, or if you have wealthy parents who will foot the bill for you, go for it. Just know that there is a very good chance you won't have a job when you graduate and pass the bar.

I'm a lawyer and we recently hired a summer law clerk for $25 an hour who graduated from law school in 2013. He went to George Mason Law School, which is a decent law school in the DC area, and graduated in the top 10 percent of his class. If he can't get a real job, what hope does someone at the bottom of the class have?

I decided that I would only go if I got a scholarship (couldn't pay for it myself) so I bust my ass to get a scholarship. NYU has a great scholarship program for students interested in public interest.

I have been a lawyer for over 20 years and have enjoyed it. It's been good for me because:
1. I went to a cheap, public law school and had no debt
2. I went into public interest/government in a field I believe in and have never felt like I'm "selling out" or just working for money or representing people/causes I don't believe in
3. I do mostly appellate work, which suits my personality
4. I have a fairly predictable schedule and good work/life balance; only have to put in extra time on occasion when there's a crunch on a brief or prepping for oral argument.

So, what I'm saying is that, if you find your niche, law can be rewarding. But, it's a field in which that is not always easy to do and there are a lot more miserable people than happy people.

Only go if you can get into a top 10 school.

If you can pay outright, do it. I did, and I enjoy my life. But if you need a loan, skip it. Not worth it. Either way, go to the best school that you can get into. Don't just go to a crummy school because they will pay more; you will lose in the end.

Another NYU Law grad here, though many, many years ago. Great experience in law school, great clinics (defense and prosecution side), and I really like being a lawyer (I've had a very varied career, in private practice and in government).

If you want to be a lawyer, go for it, but if you can't pay for law school outright, then be aware there will be serious financial sacrifices no matter what you choose to do.

OP, I feel so sorry for you. I would say "don't do it!!!" but I know you won't listen. Good luck.

Anonymous wrote:OP--I graduated from NYU Law. It's a great school. Students are very supportive of each other. And we need more defense attorneys and attorneys willing to work on behalf of the indigent.

Also (same poster), I got to do defense work as a student and it was a great an experience.

OP--I graduated from NYU Law. It's a great school. Students are very supportive of each other. And we need more defense attorneys and attorneys willing to work on behalf of the indigent.