Applying to law school is a huge step. Lots of people do it without fully understanding what they’re getting into. Many of these people end up unhappy.
Since you don’t want to end up being an unhappy lawyer, try out some of the techniques below for making big decisions. Each one taps into a slightly different type of knowledge, so try them all!
Then read on for lots of myths about law school, so you can be sure you’re well-informed, not deluded about what you’re actually getting into!
(Decided to go? Check out our law school applications tips.)
Is Law School Right For You?
- 5 Benefits of Having a Career Before Law School After spending just a few (or many more) years in the workforce rather than in the classroom, it can be daunting to think about returning to a student lifestyle. Briana Borgolini is looking at some of the reasons that it could actually be a benefit.
- What to Think About When Considering Law School (as a Non-Traditional Student) Stephanie Gregoire discusses the challenge of transitioning from a career to law student.
- Should You Go to Law School? A Slightly Weird Technique to Help You Decide Trying to decide whether to go to law school? Here's an unusual technique to help you decide.
- Should You Go to Law School? Well, What Do You Like? Wondering whether to go to law school? What do you like to do?
- Should You Go to Law School? What’s Your Motivation? Why are you thinking about law school? Understanding your motivation will go a long way in helping you decide if this makes sense for you.
- Do I Think You Should Go to Law School? If you're on the fence about going to law school, then you probably shouldn't. Why? Read on to find out!
- Wondering if Law School is Right For You? A Lawyer Turned Positive Psychology Expert Shares Her Insights Former lawyer Paula Davis-Laack, graduate of the master’s program in applied Positive Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, shares her insights about the legal profession and who’s likely to be happy there.
- Should You Go To Law School? Should You Drop Out? Advice From Bruce MacEwen of JD Match and Adam Smith, Esq. Bruce MacEwen, president of JD Match and Adam Smith, Esq., offers his unvarnished advice on whether to go to law school (and stay there).
Good and Bad Reasons to Go to Law School
- Is Lawyering the Right Path For You? Lainee Beigel, founder of Career Esquire, shares some advice on how to figure out if law’s the right path for you (before you start and after you’re in the middle of it).
- Don't Go To Law School Just Because You're Good at the LSAT The fact that you got a high score on the LSAT does not mean that you should automatically go to law school! If you want to go, make sure it's for the right reasons.
- Will You Be a Happy Lawyer? A fantastic interview with Jennifer Alvey, lawyer turned career coach for "thwarted creative" lawyer types. She’s got great insight to share about what personality types are most likely to be miserable working in the law. Check it out!
- The Danger of Doing Things Because You're Good at Them Should you aim to make a career out of only doing things you’re good at? This could be a dangerous path. Find out why!
- Why Now Might Be the Perfect Time to Go to Law School Think you want to be a lawyer? There’s no avoiding the consensus decision that you’re probably making a bad choice. But is that really true? Nathan Fox, LSAT guru, is here to argue that now might actually be the perfect time to apply!
- How to Decide Whether to Take a Gap Year Between College and Law School in Light of COVID-19 Mihal Ansik looks at the decision to take some time off before law school, in the middle of a global pandemic.
- Should I Become a Lawyer? Advice From the Author of Best Friends at the Bar Susan Smith Blakely, author of Best Friends at the Bar: What Women Need to Know about a Career in the Law, shares her insight about the challenges women face in the legal profession, and how they can be overcome.
- Don't Go to Law School Unless You Want to Be a Lawyer Before you go to law school, seriously consider one question: Do you actually WANT to be a lawyer? Law school can be an amazing experience, but it's also expensive and time-consuming. If you don't want to be a lawyer, it probably isn't worth it.
Law School Myths
- Law School Myth #1: Lawyers Make a Lot of Money Gearing up for law school? Looking forward to your first huge paycheck as a big-shot attorney? Step back a moment and consider what you should actually expect from your post-law-school job.
- Law School Myth #2: Student Loan Debt is Good Debt When you look at the price of law school, don't kid yourself that law school debt is always "good" debt. Here are some things you should know before you sign those loan documents.
- Law School Myth #3: Law School Gives You Three More Years to Decide What to Do With Your Life Are you considering law school because you want some additional time to figure out what to do with your life? You might want to reconsider!
- Law School Myth #4: Life as a Lawyer is Exciting and Intellectually Challenging Think life as a lawyer is glamorous and exciting every day? You might be in for a shock. Here are some realities to consider before you make the jump into life as a lawyer.
- Law School Myth #5: Getting a Law Degree Opens Lots of Doors Everyone says that law school can open lots of doors. And it can. But if you apply for non-law jobs after getting a law degree, there are some downsides as well.
- Law School Myth #6: You Can Trust a Law School’s Employment Numbers How much faith can you put in the employment numbers released by a given law school? Well, not much. Here are the things to be wary of when you look at those figures.
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