Some advice on life after college...interested in law school but should i work first? As a legal secretary?

Question

I have applied to 7 schools along the east coast but I'm not sure if I should jump in and go to school or test the waters and work as a secretary for a legal firm. Law school is a big investment and I just want to be 100% sure that I can make it. What other jobs can I do? Where can I find these jobs? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks =)

Answer 1

Law school is like a treadmill you can't get off. Your life is planned out for you, from what kind of work you will do each summer to taking the bar to starting work with your 2L employer right after labor day. Although much of this stems from social pressure and custom, it can be enough.

This may be your last chance to make your own way, to make sure you really want to be a lawyer, to backpack across Europe.

I worked for six years before starting law school, and it was easy as pie for me to go back. Indeed, the time I spent in the working world made me long for the days of sleeping until 11 and making my own hours, even made me appreciate learning in a way that is hard to do if you've only ever been a student.

I spent two years as a paralegal for a small law firm. Since I was at a small firm and they knew I was interested in law, they gave me a wide variety of assignments that exposed me to legal practice. My friends who worked at large firms did a lot of photocopying. I don't think being a legal secretary would help you much, and it is pretty easy to get paralegal jobs with a bachelors.

I have a lot of friends in law school who don't want to be lawyers. While it does seem there are other roads open (like i-banking) they say that it is hard to do anything but be a lawyer, and they'll probably just go to film school, art school, etc. Their degree in law might make them a more interesting filmmaker, but at three years and $100k is not worth doing if you don't want to be a lawyer.

I also know a law student taking a year off in the middle to travel the world - which is very difficult. You don't graduate with your friends, you have a lot of explaining to do at job interviews. He said it would have been much better to do beforehand, but could not see moving onto the treadmill without ever having time to do these things.

Make sure you want to be a lawyer. Law school is not a very good idea if you plan another path. If you get a paralegal job, it will probably not be that hard to go back. While you are learning the law, it is hard to miss the fact that you earn six figures less, get much less respect, and flounder your way through assignments lawyers need to help you with. These factors are good motivation to register for the LSAT when the time comes.

Answer 2

From personal experience, it is very difficult to go back to your education after you've entered the work force and started earning money, making life decisions like having children, buying a home, etc. That isn't to say it is impossible, it is just harder.

Also, legal secretaries, while very knowledgeable and invaluable to a lawyer, do not have the same knowledge or job description as an attorney. You might find you don't like the work a legal secretary does, but would actually enjoy what a lawyer does .

Also, just because you go to law school doesn't mean you'll end up practicing law in public practice; you could use your legal skills as an accountant or executive for a large company as well.

Answer 3

Get an internship NOW. Or at least shadow an attorney. You should have some free time right now.

I really wouldn't work for a year before going on to law school. First of all, working in the real world (even in a law office) is nothing like law school. You really won't gain anything from it other than an idea of what lawyers do. However, that's not worth wasting a year. You can get that by an internship (even over the summer before law school) or just shadowing a few lawyers.

Answer 4

I am starting law school (part-time) in August and it's been three years since I graduated from college. Even though making money feels good, I see no problems going back to school for personal and professional development. There is a lady in my office who used to work as a legal secretary and she hated it. If you decide to take a year off before going to law school and work, make sure you choose the right work environment/law firm. Best of luck to you.

Answer 5

From personal experience, it can be very hard to go back to school if you have taken a break. But as a person on a graduate admissions committee I have realized that the majority of the people that have taken time off before going back to grad/prof school have an advantage over those that go straight. They tend to be more mature, are able to use their life expereinces in the classroom, and tend to be more focused becasue they have taken that time to think of whethor or not this route is the best route to be where they want to be,

Answer 6

Another route to becoming an attorney is the law clerk program. You find a full time attorney or judge who is willing to supervise your clerkship and work under them. I have seen women become attorneys this way. The women comleted the paralegal program at the local community college then went to work full time for an attorney. A four degree is a prerequisite for both law school and the law clerk program. These women completed four year degrees at night. The attorney they worked for then agreed to supervise their clerkship. If becoming an attorney is your goal, I think working as a paralegal would be a better choice.

Answer 7

If you are truly interested and willing to do the work well, go to school. All too often, people intend to go and never do.

On the other hand, if you're not sure you're ready to make the commitment to school, get a job first. Then set a date at which you will revisit the issue - soon enough to get your applications out.

Answer 8

Leaving school and getting a job will make it harder to go back to school. It's hard to start working and then just chuck it all and go back to school. I understand your hesitation but you're really a lot better off to just do it. If being an attorney is really what you want, put your head down and slog through it.

Cave

Answer 9

I would keep going to school. You can possibly get related work experience while attending school, but staying in class is most important.
It's easy to lose the discipline and sharpness of the mind the more years you spend out of the class room.
Going back to school is much much harder than staying in.