(From Dr. Don: In the first chapter of my book (see end of blog), I suggest seven questions to ask yourself before pursuing a graduate degree. Here are some excellent questions regarding pursuing a law degree, from Ms. Kowarski and U.S. News &World Report. While a few are a bit redundant, they are so worth the time it takes to answer them. Your ultimate career satisfaction may depend on doing so.)
Experts say it’s critical to figure out whether you’d be happy working as an attorney.
Investigate the legal profession before applying to law school.
Law schools challenge students inside and outside the classroom. Before enrolling in a J.D. program, aspiring lawyers should be aware of what the law school environment will be like, how much it costs to get a law degree, and what distinguishes one school from the next. It’s also important to consider whether the difficulty of obtaining a J.D. degree and passing a state bar exam is a challenge you are ready to confront. In addition, you should conduct some research on the legal job market and reflect on whether a legal career is a good fit and whether you’d really enjoy the practice of law. Here are 18 questions to ask prior to submitting a law school application.
- How long is law school and do I have sufficient time for it?
Students can complete law school in two years, three years or longer. It depends on whether they attend an accelerated, traditional, dual-degree or part-time program. Many law students are also in an MBA program, for example. The J.D. curriculum is highly rigorous and the first year of law school is especially demanding, so anyone contemplating law school should understand that it will be time-consuming and stressful.
- Am I well prepared for the law school entrance exam?
The Law School Admission Test, also known as the LSAT, tests prospective law students on their critical thinking, logical reasoning and writing skills. College students can take a variety of undergraduate courses to improve in these areas, but experts highly recommend taking an LSAT preparation course or using LSAT study materials. J.D. admissions officers often view LSAT scores as an indicator of whether someone is ready for law school, so performing well on this test is a way to improve the odds of acceptance at highly ranked J.D. programs.
- Could I survive and thrive in law school?
Law school professors often use the Socratic method, a style of teaching that requires students to respond orally to questions. First-year law students often are intimidated by this teaching style, so it is important for prospective law students to ready themselves for this aspect of legal education. J.D. programs typically include courses on civil procedure, criminal law, contracts, constitutional law, property, torts and administrative or regulatory law.
- Do I feel confident that I could pass a state bar exam?
After J.D. candidates complete law school, they usually must take a bar examination to become a licensed law professional. Law school applicants should scrutinize a school’s bar passage rates for its graduates, though they should be aware that if their academic credentials are significantly above or below the norm for incoming students at that school, their odds of passing the bar may deviate from the school average. Passing the bar is usually necessary to practice law.
- Which types of law schools are likely to accept me?
Highly ranked law schools primarily admit students with stellar academic credentials, including impressive LSAT scores and exceptional college GPAs. When applying to reach law schools, where your grades and scores are below the norm, be sure to write a compelling personal statement and recruit references who can write strong recommendation letters.
- Can I afford the cost of a legal education?
The price of a law education depends on several factors, including a school’s location, the amount of time a student is in school and whether a school is public or private. The average annual tuition and fees among private institutions in the U.S. News Best Law Schools rankings that submitted these statistics for the 2020-21 academic year were $51,268. At public schools, they were $29,074 for in-state students and $42,143 for out-of-state students.
- Would the reward of law school be greater than the cost?
Legal education experts say it is critical for J.D. hopefuls to compare the value of a legal education to its price. The kind of salary someone can expect to earn with a law degree varies widely depending on the prestige of the law school attended and the type of legal employer. The six-figure entry-level salaries at big law firms are well above the salaries that other new lawyers get, and jobs at large law firms are typically reserved for the highest-achieving law school grads.
- How well do law schools prepare students for the real world?
Many schools offer practicums or clinics, which allow second- or third-year students to work with real clients on cases. Clinics can focus on specific legal issues, such as criminal or immigration cases. Law school applicants should find out what type of experiential learning opportunities schools offer and the quality of those options when deciding where to go, admissions experts say.
- Is a law degree necessary for me?
Practicing attorneys say it’s foolish to attend law school simply because you can get in or because of a desire to delay entering the workforce after graduating from college. Uncertainty about what career to pursue is also a bad reason to invest in an expensive legal education, experts warn. Legal education experts urge those who do not intend to practice law to be wary of pursuing a J.D. degree and to reflect on whether legal training is valuable for their career. It’s important to have a clear vision of how you might use a law degree and whether you intend to use it as an attorney or in a field related to law such as public policy or politics.
- Would I be happy as a lawyer?
It’s vital to do some introspection before applying to law school so that you can determine whether a legal career would be personally fulfilling, experts say. There are many areas of law that aspiring lawyers might want to practice, so it’s helpful to do some research about the various types of legal jobs. Law schools often excel within a particular branch of law, such as tax law, so it’s worthwhile to find out which schools align with your interests.
- Why am I interested in becoming a lawyer?
A desire for fame and fortune is not a compelling reason to become a lawyer and practice law, since there are many ways to achieve celebrity and become wealthy that don’t require a law degree, experts say. On the other hand, an interest in helping others and improving society isn’t sufficient alone to demonstrate that law is the right profession, since there are many civic-minded and service-oriented jobs outside the legal field, according to experts. A history of successfully advocating for others and winning debates against intelligent opponents is a sign that a legal occupation could be appropriate. Zeal for pursuing justice and righting wrongs is common among lawyers, who often have a strong sense of righteous indignation when they witness unfairness.
- Do I have the grit necessary for legal jobs?
Legal work is extremely challenging and stressful, since it usually involves fighting against some type of opposition, explains Bob Sullivan, senior partner at Sullivan Papain Block McGrath Coffinas & Cannavo, a personal injury law firm based in New York. “Wherever I go, there’s someone very talented, highly paid and highly motivated to undo what I’m trying to do,” Sullivan says. “And you don’t get that in other fields. For example, when a doctor is operating, there’s nobody there trying to make him fail … When I go to trial, there’s somebody 100% of the time there who is very talented and very motivated to make me fail.”
- Does a job as a lawyer align with my identity and life story?
Some attorneys say that their personal circumstances led them to law school. “I decided to go to law school after growing up as an undocumented farm worker in the United States and living through disgusting levels of discrimination,” Luis Ruiz, an immigration attorney in Texas, wrote in an email. “I decided that I wanted to have a bit of power, a seat at the table. Being able to say that you are a lawyer commands immediate respect. I wanted that respect and the power to be able to help other undocumented people like myself out of the shadows.” He suggests that people who are drawn to the legal field investigate whether a legal education can help them accomplish their goals.
- What worthwhile projects could I pursue as an attorney?
A law degree can provide a foundation for a meaningful career, experts say. “Conversations about the role law plays in maintaining justice, fairness and order in our society have been front and center lately,” Katherine Demby, a Yale Law School alumna, wrote in an email. “Lawyers play a unique role in shaping our institutions and our country’s values,” adds Demby, head of higher education at the Wanderlust Careers employment services firm. “Lawyering is a long and storied tradition dating back to antiquity. By becoming a lawyer, you become a part of that history.”
- Is a career as a lawyer the best way to fulfill my potential?
Someone who can demonstrate grace under pressure and thrives in competitive environments could benefit others by advocating for people in stressful situations, such as custody battles or divorces, legal experts suggest. Detail-oriented individuals can use their meticulousness to their advantage in the workplace if they become lawyers, since law is an area where technicalities matter. Eloquence is also helpful, since changing the minds of judges, juries or other legal decision-makers necessitates the artful use of words. Personal injury lawyer and law firm founder Stewart J. Guss put it this way in an email: “Being an advocate for someone in their darkest hour and seeing them come out the other side gives a new purpose to going to work every day.”
- Is there a place for me within the large legal industry?
Because there are many kinds of legal jobs and many areas of law, there is room for a variety of people within the legal field, according to bankruptcy attorney Allison Day, a shareholder with the Genovese Joblove & Battista law firm in Florida. Shyness can be overcome if an aspiring attorney cultivates his or her public speaking abilities, and someone with the “gift of gab” can excel as a lawyer even if he or she isn’t extraordinarily bright. A person who dreams of becoming an attorney can build up self-confidence even if he or she doesn’t start out with it. The key is to figure out whether there is an aspect of law that fascinates you, Day suggests.
- Who do I intend to assist if I become a lawyer?
“As an attorney, you can support important causes and fight for underprivileged groups such as animals, victims of abuse, and children,” Chicago family lawyer Jonathan Merel wrote in an email. “You’re in a unique position to have a positive impact on society. Your work helps enforce laws that keep people safe and prevent corruption.” However, something important to keep in mind is that the most philanthropic legal jobs are often hard to get, not well compensated or take a long time to become competitive for, says Jeff Thomas, executive director of legal programs at Kaplan.
- How could I do good for the world as a lawyer?
One of the perks of a job as a lawyer is seeing the fruits of your labor when you win a case and an appropriate remedy for your clients, according to attorneys. Representing underdogs in David vs. Goliath disputes and achieving a victory against the odds can be especially fulfilling. “Unlike many other careers, you can see the direct impact that your hard work has on the lives of the people you serve,” Eric Pines, founder of the Houston-based employment law firm Pines Federal, wrote in an email. “Working in the area of federal employment law, I’ve been able to leverage my knowledge and experience to help people who are afraid of losing their jobs and livelihood for reporting wrongdoing at their workplaces.”
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