BECOMING A LAWYER: Should I Go to Law School?
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Going to law school and getting a J.D. can open many doors and lead to a challenging and satisfying career. Keep in mind, though, that attending law school is a big investment of time and money. Preparing for and succeeding in law school requires hard work; practicing law also requires very hard work, and often, long hours. For these reasons, consider carefully the decision to apply to law school. Do the research to make a well-informed choice about what is right for you.

Finding a satisfying career is work that demands both career exploration and self-exploration.  Researching career options, and knowing yourself, including your values, strengths, weaknesses, joys and interests will set you on the road to success, whether that means attending graduate or professional school or gaining employment experience. Everybody has a passion and abilities. If you don’t know yet what yours are, and/or are daunted by the prospect of seeking out options and information in the working world, visit Career Development Services in 805 Hunter West for advice on the process of exploring and developing a career. 

Along these lines, you are most likely to find a satisfying legal career if you explore the legal profession and address whether you should go to law school prior to applying. Ask yourself, “Why law school? What do I hope to do as a lawyer?” Familiarity with options in the legal profession and types of legal practice will help you decide whether and where to apply, and how best to use your legal education for career advancement. Educate yourself: for example, be aware of the cost of public and private law schools and of the average salaries of lawyers in various fields in the location where you intend to work. While you are researching law and legal careers, look into other types of graduate programs to explore the range of options. If your goal is to help people, also consider professions such as social work and teaching. If you would like to manage a program or non-profit organization, also explore graduate programs and career opportunities in public and business administration.

Many students wonder whether they should attend law school if they are unsure of their desire to practice law. A law degree may open the door to a variety of opportunities: not only is law practice diverse, but law school itself provides training and skills that may prove useful in a variety of law-related employment settings. For these reasons, students may see attending law school as a way to keep options open, a practical way of extending ones education, while not committing to a narrow field.  Other common motivations for attending law school are a desire to help people, earn money and enjoy prestige. While any of these considerations may be a legitimate factor in the decision to go to law school, it is advisable to consider what legal work actually involves and to have a realistic sense of the opportunities typically open to law school graduates. 

It is worth noting that career and placement offices at law schools are geared primarily to placing students in legal jobs. If you want to use your law degree in a non-legal environment, it is advisable to have a clear picture of how legal education fits in with a career path in the areas in which you are interested, and to be prepared to convince potential employers of the relevance of your law degree.  Furthermore, keep in mind that accumulating debt to prepare for a career that you do not want to pursue may not keep your options open, but instead cost you dearly both in money and experience foregone in areas in which you are interested. Many students decide to take some time to work after graduating from college in order to explore career options, save money and/or allow themselves more time to study for the LSAT (Law School Admission Test).

Our best advice on law school is taken from career services professionals at law schools who help law school students, recent graduates, and alumni seek employment. They maintain that those most likely to develop satisfying careers have done their research beforehand, and are familiar with the realities of the legal profession. They stress the importance of proactively exploring careers and making career choices before law school, and continuing to do so during law school in order to develop the career path right for you.