It's not hard. The ausa is filled with twenty somethings.

Anonymous wrote:Graduate with debt, make 40k as a defense lawyer, quit, find a convenient government job. I'd skip the steps and go straight to the doj.

This is NOT good advice, getting into DOJ is very hard!

OP, people have told you what you need to know:

1. Going into law, in general, is a bad idea right now.
2. If you're going to go anyway, either get into HYP, or go into little/no debt.

I took the second option and went into government policy (it was not easy to find this job), and I am pretty happy.

Graduate with debt, make 40k as a defense lawyer, quit, find a convenient government job. I'd skip the steps and go straight to the doj.

My sister went to law school. A state school. Did well. Practiced one year and hated it. Had 70k in student debt. She works in sales now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are your credentials (college, GPA, masters degree?) and what was your LSAT score?

+1

I'd say this is pretty important. People who do well in college and on the LSAT tend to have what it takes to be lawyers. It tends to be a very competitive field with a lot of overachievers.

College GPA's mean nothing these days. Grade inflation is rampant. I say this as a recovering lawyer who works at a local law school in student services. LSAT is a decent predictor, but most students have no idea what they are getting themselves into. Every single one who walks in the door thinks they are special and will be in the top 10%. Ain't gonna happen.

Isn't grade deflation rampant in law school, so most law students end up with Bs and B-s so they can spread the curve?

B or B- is NOT grade inflation. You will get nowhere with those grades. Also, if there are one or two standouts in your class, they can drive the the curve to more of an A's & C's kind of split. Really bad for those who aren't on the A end.
OP, I highly recommend that you get a job or internahip at a public defender's office to check it out in real life. I went to NYU & did the public interest law thing in NYC for many years. Bronx Defenders are some of the best in the country, amazing to work with. But the work can wear you down & it certainly didn't appeal to me nearly as much after having kids. As other have said, it is not advisable to take this path of you will come out with a large amount of debt (which is highly likely at NYU). I was lucky enough to emerge debt free but can attest to the cost of living in NYC. It's one of the most expensive places to live. Think twice about the location and housing options of the law school you choose.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are your credentials (college, GPA, masters degree?) and what was your LSAT score?

+1

I'd say this is pretty important. People who do well in college and on the LSAT tend to have what it takes to be lawyers. It tends to be a very competitive field with a lot of overachievers.

College GPA's mean nothing these days. Grade inflation is rampant. I say this as a recovering lawyer who works at a local law school in student services. LSAT is a decent predictor, but most students have no idea what they are getting themselves into. Every single one who walks in the door thinks they are special and will be in the top 10%. Ain't gonna happen.

Isn't grade deflation rampant in law school, so most law students end up with Bs and B-s so they can spread the curve?

If you can't get at least 170 on the LSAT, do something else. IMHO.