Don't Go to Law School!...Part I

At least...that's what people who've gone to law school tend to say.

I read an article on LinkedIn recently that discussed reasons why you should not attend law school. One of those was if you're main desire for becoming an attorney is to obtain a high salary. The article went on to explain that the average attorney doesn't necessarily make high six figures. Add the student loan debt to that and the output is not always worth the investment.

While I don't disagree with the point of the article, I have different reasons why you probably shouldn't pursue an education in law...at least not without considering these few things.

First, I want to preface this by stating that I am not the model example for choosing to study law. In fact, I'm probably the poster child for what NOT to do when thinking about applying to law school. But it's from my own mistakes that I can share these "tips" or reasons why you shouldn't attend. So please bear with me.

1. Don't apply to law school without doing your research.

I kind of decided on a whim to take the LSAT and apply to law schools. I had an interest in business law since my undergrad days, but didn't take it seriously until many years later. I hadn't looked into other focus areas that law schools had to offer, and I didn't know how many law schools were available to choose from. I knew I wanted to apply to the University of Michigan. That was pretty much it. Through work I came across government procurement law and decided to look into schools that had government procurement, or related, programs. Since I knew I planned to continue working, I also looked into schools that offered part-time programs. Honestly, that was it. I didn't even look into those things until after I signed up to take the LSAT. I applied to two schools, was rejected by one and accepted the other. Knowing what I know now, I would have taken a lot more time researching my interests, the retention/graduation rates, the statistics on the number of graduates that find full-time work upon successful completion of the bar exam, success rates of graduates passing the bar, demographics of the school and the community in which it resides, and the average/desired LSAT scores, not just to get accepted, but also to potentially be considered for scholarships. I use to work in pre-college programming. I used to tell my high school students to do these very things and I did none of it. 🤦🏾‍♀️ There are other things to look into as well, such as location, job market in the area where the school is, the networking opportunities provided by the school, etc., the list goes on. But simply stated, do your research and take your time when choosing which schools you want to pursue.

2. Don't apply to law school without being fully aware of application and graduation requirements.

Now, I did look at what documents were required to apply, you know, the usual: personal statement, LSAT score, letters of recommendation, transcripts, etc. But I didn't look into the minimum or average LSAT scores the schools typically accept. As I stated earlier, LSAT scores can in some cases affect whether or not you receive scholarships or other free financial support (key word here is "free"). But more than that, some schools require a minimum score just to get in. I honestly did not consider that at all. My plan was to take the LSAT, get my score, apply to schools. If I didn't get accepted by any school, I was willing to take the LSAT again and apply again the following year. Not really the best plan.

Here's another confession....I didn't study for the LSAT either...🫣.

I do NOT recommend anyone do that. I was honestly in a bit of a funk and was looking for a dopamine hit. Don't be like me. Try. Plan. Prepare. Your execution will be way better than mine.

Now for the whole "looking at graduation requirements" bit. I saw the number of credits required to graduate, and the number of years/semesters the program should take to complete. That was it. It wasn't until after I got accepted and started taking classes that I began looking into the various concentrations and focus areas I could select from and how many credits were required in courses with specific attributes in order to be eligible for graduation. I literally did not put a graduation or course plan together until my second semester. This matters a lot when you learn too late that certain courses are only offered certain times of the year, and that certain professors are recommended over others for certain subjects. This is a pretty big deal when trying to get your courses to align with your career goals, especially when working a full-time job and certain classes are only offered during the day 😑. So be sure to look into what's required for program completion, what is required when declaring a concentration (if your school offers concentrations), and also what classes to register for that will prepare you for the bar and the area in which you're interested in practicing.

3. Don't go to law school without a support system.

This is my personal opinion. Law school is very demanding....VERY!. Most lawyers say not to go because of the level of intensity, on top of the costs, to earn your degree. But law school requires a lot of you. A LOT. Having a support system to help with basic things, cooked meals, cleaning around the home, etc., can be very helpful. And you want to maintain a healthy school-life balance. Law school is going to take a lot of your time, but you need to be able to rest, relax, and enjoy life in the midst of it. I currently work a full-time job while attending law school part-time...0/10 - do not recommend... At least not without a good, strong support system. Work is work and still requires 8-10 hours a day, or whatever your work hours are. You have less time to focus on your studies and less time to soak in everything that you're learning compared to full-time students, or other part-time students with no full-time job commitment. And part-time law school isn't "half-time". At my school, it's just one credit less than full-time. So basically it still feels like full-time. Trust me...having support will be greatly appreciated. You can build that support and community through school with your classmates, or by meeting new people in your area if you choose to relocate for school. But it makes a world of a difference having people to help with simple things at home, or who can connect with you to just hang out on occasion or meet a need from time to time so you're not unintentionally neglecting yourself. Trust me...having that support is needed.

To be continued...

~Ms. Royalty