logout
help
framed forum
go pro
subscriptions
account
create thread
LegalGround Forum >> thinking about law school
| 11/26/08 11:18 AM | |
VKX
Member Since: 8/8/03 Posts: 10 |
hey folks, was wondering if I could get some advice...I'm thinking about law school but not sure if I should apply yet. UGPA: ~3.4 from a top 20 undergrad; LSAT: 163. Currently working as a legal assistant in the foreclosures department of a local law group. Personal worries: I've got 2. 1)I had a pretty bad stint in graduate school after I graduated - I left so late in the quarter that I've got a string of "F"s for courses that I didn't complete (didn't take finals). 2) One of my professors retired and at this point in time, I've only been able to pull 1 academic recommendation from a professor. I should be able to get recommendations from one of the attorneys that I work with, but I am still not sure where to go right now. I'm trying to determine if I should even bother applying to law school at this point in time, or if I should just throw in the towel (e.g. join the French Foreign Legion, enter a monastery & sell all my worldly possessions, etc etc.). I could probably re-seat the LSAT and I could probably take some classes at the local university to maybe get a recommendation...again, not sure if it's worth it or not. Any advice? I guess I'm at a cross-roads in my personal life...late 20's and not exactly where I thought I was going to be when I first graduated from undergrad. I've got friends that are finishing grad school and have kids on the way, so I'm feeling like a bit of a miserable slacker at the moment. thanks |
| 11/26/08 11:21 AM | |
bflex
1 
Member Since: 5/11/02 Posts: 4738 |
Most law schools don't look at grad school grades. You undergrad should carry the day at most grad schools. Recomendations don't go very far. You really don't need them. You probably won't get in a top 20 with the grad school issue, but who wants to practice big law anyway? Side note, the Foreign Legion sounds more fun. |
| 12/16/08 4:35 PM | |
|
614
39
Member Since: 11/12/00 Posts: 14476 |
Youtube "Law School Musical" |
| 3/6/09 11:25 PM | |
|
alley
17
Member Since: 6/22/03 Posts: 1678 |
Apply. |
| 3/7/09 11:45 AM | |
|
Xtina
6
Member Since: 4/11/04 Posts: 28247 |
bflex - the Foreign Legion sounds more fun. |
| 3/7/09 2:01 PM | |
|
seg
55
Member Since: 3/28/05 Posts: 8212 |
Think again |
| 3/8/09 2:57 PM | |
|
Fake Pie
61
Member Since: 12/2/05 Posts: 18735 |
Only do it if you can do it for free. Way to risky to incur debt right now with the legal market being the shit that it is. Go to a worse school for free if you really want to do it. Better yet, find something else. Try the federal government. |
| 3/8/09 10:34 PM | |
|
seg
55
Member Since: 3/28/05 Posts: 8217 |
You must be qualified to do something else. To be successful as a lawyer you have to be about 90% used car salesman, but without the bitchin' camaros. I wouldn't do it again. |
| 3/13/09 10:54 AM | |
|
Fake Pie
61
Member Since: 12/2/05 Posts: 18744 |
" To be successful as a lawyer you have to be about 90% used car salesman, but without the bitchin' camaros." I have the exact opposite personality of a used car salesman. I would suck horribly at sales. Not everyone is a litigator... |
| 3/13/09 2:59 PM | |
|
goku
Member Since: 8/6/08 Posts: 3321 |
i kind of disagree with the notion of avoiding law school because of the market...yes the market is shit right now, but if your options are unemployment and getting a higher degree, I would get the higher degree. Things are likely to turn up by 3 years and yes, you can get hired as a 3L as I did. |
| 3/13/09 3:00 PM | |
|
goku
Member Since: 8/6/08 Posts: 3322 |
"I have the exact opposite personality of a used car salesman. I would suck horribly at sales. Not everyone is a litigator... " not just litigators my friend...the top dogs in my corp department are very car salesman-esque |
| 4/1/09 9:58 PM | |
|
rocklos
2
Member Since: 3/23/05 Posts: 741 |
I think if you have some car salesman traits you will be successful no matter what business your in. they're called kiss asses |
| 5/6/09 1:03 AM | |
|
BruceWayne23
4
Member Since: 6/24/03 Posts: 1839 |
I don't understand this mentality. At some point, you HAVE to incur debt to get ahead, do you not?Fake Pie - Only do it if you can do it for free. Way to risky to incur debt right now with the legal market being the shit that it is. Go to a worse school for free if you really want to do it. |
| 5/28/09 8:10 PM | |
|
Grei
29
Member Since: 4/11/05 Posts: 13 |
I started law school at 29, now working as a prosecutor. Before law school I worked as a bartender so it was a great decision for me, and I love my job. But I would advise: unless one of the school's you are accepted is Harvard or Michigan or Yale, go with the cheaper school. Nobody really cares where you went to law school, just if you passed the bar exam. |
| 5/29/09 2:01 PM | |
The Gimp
2
Member Since: 10/3/04 Posts: 2612 |
Grei - I would advise: unless one of the school's you are accepted is Harvard or Michigan or Yale, go with the cheaper school. Nobody really cares where you went to law school, just if you passed the bar exam. Word. Most of the better lawyers I know went to night law school or 3rd-tier schools. |
| 5/29/09 3:07 PM | |
|
Fake Pie
61
Member Since: 12/2/05 Posts: 19784 |
Grei - I started law school at 29, now working as a prosecutor. Before law school I worked as a bartender so it was a great decision for me, and I love my job. But I would advise: unless one of the school's you are accepted is Harvard or Michigan or Yale, go with the cheaper school. Nobody really cares where you went to law school, just if you passed the bar exam. I would strongly disagree with that if you want to work for a big law firm. If so, you need to go to a top national school or one of the 2-3 top schools for your State/Region. If you are not interested in "big law" then it doesn't matter as much. |
| 5/31/09 9:31 PM | |
|
sux@bjj
4
Member Since: 1/1/01 Posts: 8750 |
^ true that it depends what you wish to do. i know that the big corporate firm i use won't even look at you for employment unless you are from top level / national law school. |
| 6/1/09 6:45 AM | |
|
VKX
Member Since: 8/8/03 Posts: 92 |
Thanks for all of the responses - can't believe this thread is still alive. I'm retaking the LSAT and if I don't break 170 this time, then it's the Legion for sure. Either that, or selling meth - not sure which is more lucrative. I've also got an offer to be an "amateur" film star, but I don't think that would go over too well with my folks. |
| 6/1/09 5:45 PM | |
|
Subadie
Member Since: 10/9/04 Posts: 983 |
When I drive past the kids, they all spit and cuss, Because I've got a BITCHIN CAMARO and they have to ride the bus. |
| 6/2/09 7:22 PM | |
|
VKX
Member Since: 8/8/03 Posts: 93 |
turducken - Dude, 172 is the new 170. I got your mom for 170 last night. OOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHH!!!! |
| 6/2/09 7:53 PM | |
|
The Gimp
2
Member Since: 10/3/04 Posts: 2618 |
Fake Pie -Grei - I started law school at 29, now working as a prosecutor. Before law school I worked as a bartender so it was a great decision for me, and I love my job. But I would advise: unless one of the school's you are accepted is Harvard or Michigan or Yale, go with the cheaper school. Nobody really cares where you went to law school, just if you passed the bar exam. Going to an expensive law school banking on landing a BigLaw job is kind of a dumb idea. Even with high grades, law review, etc. there's no guarantee you're gonna land one of those plum jobs. Plus, BigLaw ain't exactly hiring right now. 1st year start dates are being pushed back. Offers are being rescinded. It's bad. Finally, once you get to BigLaw, chances are you will hate it. I mean, the money's good, but working 80+ hours a week for a bunch of high-powered type-A assholes isn't anyone's idea of a good time. |
| 6/2/09 7:54 PM | |
|
The Gimp
2
Member Since: 10/3/04 Posts: 2619 |
BTW previous post not directed at anyone in particular. Fake Pie's post just made me think of this stuff. |
| 6/3/09 1:06 AM | |
|
Xtina
6
Member Since: 4/11/04 Posts: 28739 |
The Gimp - maybe not, but what else are you really going to do with your time? |
| 6/5/09 10:57 PM | |
|
Fake Pie
61
Member Since: 12/2/05 Posts: 19932 |
" maybe not, but what else are you really going to do with your time? " Spoken like a good associate. |
| 6/5/09 10:58 PM | |
|
Fake Pie
61
Member Since: 12/2/05 Posts: 19933 |
The Gimp -Fake Pie -Grei - I started law school at 29, now working as a prosecutor. Before law school I worked as a bartender so it was a great decision for me, and I love my job. But I would advise: unless one of the school's you are accepted is Harvard or Michigan or Yale, go with the cheaper school. Nobody really cares where you went to law school, just if you passed the bar exam. Well, yeah if you look at my first post on this thread you will see that I pointed out how shitty the market is right now. Things used to be different though just a year ago and before. When I was interviewing as a 2L in 2006 70 some percent of my class got biglaw jobs. |
Reply Post
You must log in to post a reply. Click here to login.
