Should You Go to Law School?
In honor of back to school, I thought I’d answer a question that people often ask me which is – Should I go to law school?
This is always a loaded question for me. First, because I don’t think I should tell you what to do with your life. Unless I am your close personal friend or family member, my opinion shouldn’t really matter that much. (Often when I’m asked this question, it’s by the friend of an acquaintance, and I don’t know enough to provide anything of value in my answer.)
I also think this question is heavy for me because people equate going to law school with taking on the law as a career. They are not one in the same. Do I think people should go to law school? Yes. Do I think you should choose traditional law as a career? That’s another story. Here’s why.
The Pros for Going to Law School
I started law school at 21, and I didn’t know anything. I know people say things like this as they age, but for me, it was true. I was smart and hardworking, but I had very little knowledge about how things worked in the adult world.
I had heard words like mortgage, bankruptcy, federal reserve, criminal procedure, and the System. But I only understood what those terms meant in the abstract. I didn’t have the lived experience to understand them viscerally. Law school all that changed.
I began to master the procedures, processes, language, and reasoning behind those terms and all that they represent. I learned how and why laws and regulations were passed. I discovered the interplay between law, politics, social programs, money, and everyday life intimately. I finally started to understand the US System, and how people use it, abuse it, and garner success and wealth from it. And there is nothing better than law school to teach you how to work under pressure (looking at you Socratic method).
For me going to law school was like learning to read as a child. Before I knew how to read, the world seemed like such a vast, complicated place. There were so many things I didn’t know or understand, and I couldn’t navigate the world without help. But once I learned to read, the world became more manageable. I could read the signs and get around. I could dream and make things. I had an awareness that was previously out of view, and there was no turning back. That was law school.
The Cons For Law School
The biggest tick in the con column for law school is the price.
There is a line in the movie Spanglish that goes, “the cost of assimilation gets expensive.” Well, the cost of understanding the System via law school is astronomical in most cases. Unless you get a scholarship that covers the whole cost or have enough foresight and masochism to work while in school, get ready for a heap of debt after graduation.
Another con is that law school creates an environment of unhealthy competitiveness among the students. These mental rivalries then continue among lawyers as they advance in their careers.
In law school, your whole identity can be swept up in your ego and the false belief that you are somehow better than someone else because you went to the right law school, got the right grades and work at a particular firm, etc. In your career, you are respected and rewarded for using any means necessary to win even if that means going against your values.
If you the case win, you are a “smart lawyer” regardless of whether your character (or your client’s) is questionable. If you lose, you’re a loser. This completely discounts the fact that winning or losing a case is typically out of your control.
Basically, in law school, the goal of life shifts. You become more concerned with protecting your reputation, not your humanity.
On Practicing As A Lawyer
There are many great things about the legal career. There is ultimate job security because you can always work for yourself and make a living reasonably easily. These days you only need a computer, a phone, and malpractice insurance to get started. There is also the opportunity to represent clients in cases that you care about, and you can make a lot of money, more than most professions, and that’s not something to discount.
However, there are many drawbacks to the career too. Most attorneys aren’t doing work they enjoy or are taking on meaningful cases. They can’t afford to. If they want to keep their jobs, attorneys do whatever the partner tells them, and they spend most of their waking hours doing it.
That’s the attorneys at large law firms. The majority of lawyers do not work there. They work at small to mid-sized firms where the median salary for an entry-level attorney is $40,000 according to Zip Recruiter. Most people can make that coming straight out of undergrad with a lot less debt. And even though they may be working with clients that they actually like, attorneys as small to mid-sized firms can barely make ends meet with those salaries.
What’s worse is that attorneys can’t even admit that there is a salary issue. There is an expectation that attorneys are making a lot of money, and no attorney wants to admit she is struggling. Everyone understands when a teacher needs a second job to make ends meet, but there is shame associated with that for attorneys.
Attorneys should be rolling in the dough, right? If not, those attorneys must be doing something wrong. What will people think? What about your reputation?
And just because you work at a smaller firm for less pay, don’t think the workload is lighter. The court doesn’t care how much the attorney makes. The demands of the case must be met no matter what, and lawyers at smaller firms work just as hard without the help or perks.
On Balance
I think a law school education is life-changing, but there are realities about the career behind it that potential students need to know before making the decision to attend. To that end, remember this if you are considering it:
Pedigree Matters – Remember I mentioned that lawyers were extremely competitive and cared about reputations? Well, that extends to the prestige of your law school too. I don’t know about other professions, but lawyers review law school rankings religiously. Some firms won’t even interview you unless you went to a specific school. So if you aren’t planning to go to one of the top 10 schools (I didn’t btw), then go to the school that is the most affordable no matter the ranking. Despite what the school might be telling you, saving money and minimizing loan debt is more important than the prestige of the law school at that point.
This is About Your Life – If you decide to practice law after law school expect to make less money than you anticipated initially. That’s okay if you are sure you want to practice law. Eventually, you’ll make up for the shortfall and make great money. If you are not sure you want to practice, remember that you don’t have too. Although law schools don’t do a great job showing students how to use their degree effectively in other fields, it can be done. There are industries, new and old, that can benefit from the experience of a U.S. trained lawyer. Just do what is best for you not what people expect.
Try to Avoid Becoming a Jerk – You’ll meet jerky lawyers in law school and in your career, but you don’t have to become one. It’s not a requirement of the job. Just remember to focus on your character over your reputation.
Love Yourself – I know this is a bit touchy-feely, but with the demanding curriculum of law school, you can start to get down on yourself pretty quickly. Remember that you made it that far for a reason. Find the support you need whether that be a therapist or a tutor. And do what is best for you and your mental health first.
Do you have any question or comments about law school or have an experience to share? Let me know in the comments below. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic.
Also, enrollment is still open for our 4th Quarter Hustle group coaching program. Schedule a free call with me to define your 4th quarter goals and learn more. Together we win the year by accomplishing one to two major goals and develop a toolbox to fight resistance going forward. Schedule your free call here.