Considering going to law school? Read this first.

I've been wasting time as of late dispensing free advice to whoever listens. Sort of like those wackos on the street who proclaim the end is near. Although I have no regrets about my law school decision and will happily begin pursuing the legal love for learning post-bar in July, I offer these tid-bits of insight to those of you considering going to law school. If anything can be taken from this advice, it is to take (at least) a year off between undergrad and law school to make sure law school (or whatever graduate program for that matter) is the right decision.

Also, law school is nothing like it is on tv. If you are obsessed with helping people, you should consider social work and read no further. If helping people is not your major motivation, I offer you my free advice for what it's worth.

First, regardless of whether you go to a law school full-time or whether you find a 4-year extended program, you will be incurring a significant amount of debt (average is $100k). This should be your primary consideration assuming you are older than the average 24-year-old student (or even if you are right out from undergrad). Second, you should be aware that the average salary coming out of most law schools (top tiers down to fourth tiers) is roughly $40k, and these are generally public sector jobs.

Regarding legal salaries, most lawyers make a comfortable living. The average salary (overall) is high, but this is because of the disparity in salaries between the lawyers at big firms and the lawyers everywhere else. The top lawyers do start off making six figures to start. These are the students who are in the top 10% (to top 25-50% at a top-tier school) of graduates of the law school class. If you work hard during your first two years of law school and earn your way into this category, that's great. Keep in mind that the average billable hours you will be putting in to ensure that salary will be about 2000/year. This translates to a 40-hour work week, but since you can't bill 8 hours in an 8-hour day, this means you probably are putting in 60-70+ hours a week. After working this lifestyle for about seven years, you may make partner and your work hours may shift, but your responsibilities become tremendously client-centered. I don't mean to tell you all of this as a discouragement, but big firm life (in most big firms) is not for most people. Of course, if you aren't in this top of your class, you will not have these options to worry about.

As only about the top 10% (with some exceptions) will get the kind of work described in the above paragraph, that leaves 90% of the class battling for the rest of the legal jobs. Most fall somewhere among the public sector, which has salaries starting between $30-50k/year depending on your state. The hours are better, but the graduating debt is the same, which means you will be paying it off for much longer. Add this into whatever debt you already owe (credit cards, mortgage, etc.) and you will see why I said the first consideration must be debt. If money isn't an issue, that's fine, but you will probably still need to take a long look at whether you think law is for you and what you will be able to do with your J.D.

As far as what law schools want, they really don't care so long as you can pay the bill. Admissions are calculated through a complex formula of percentages based on GPA and LSAT score - if anyone tells you anything else, they are probably misleading you.

If you decide to pursue law school, are accepted, and can afford it (and even if you can't, some lender will give you the $50k/year expenses that it will cost you), go full-time and see how the chips fall when the first semester grades come out. If you do great, great; if not, you should make a serious consideration for cutting your losses. If my point is not clear by now, it is this: law school isn't for everybody and some people embark on the legal path without really thinking it out fully.

In the alternative, and if it's simply resume enhancement you are seeking, I would recommend pursuing an MBA program (they usually are much cheaper and easier to complete around a work schedule). If your goal is just to find a better job with perhaps some better security, an MBA may provide you that option. Your job may pay for an MBA program; if not, there are obviously educational credits of which your accountant may point out. Regardless of the degree you pursue, most employers are looking for someone who can handle themselves well and have a sense of respect and responsibility. You don't need a law degree to find one.

Tags: law school, applying, considerations