Top EIGHT (8) Reasons to NOT go to LAW SCHOOL
Posted 7 months ago at 1:48 am. 41 comments
1. FINANCIAL SUICIDE -
Law school is unjustifiably expensive!! If you have a house – sell it; if you have children – sell them (but try to buy them back later – you’re not going to have time for them anyway so let someone else raise them – but do sell them. The money spent on law school loans is ridiculous, so sell something (or some kids) first, and then get a loan for the rest. F*ck what you heard about how much money you’re going to make when you pass the bar in 3 to 4 years – you’re going to need at least 12 years of paying off that loan.
2. IF YOU’RE A CREATIVE PERSON, FORGET IT -
Law School will suck the creativity out of you. Law school is designed to make you a logical, stringent person who can quickly analyze any situation. There’s no room for creativity. Imagination? Imagination is for artists, chefs, bloggers, children, writers, Entrepreneurs, happy people – not lawyers. (Maybe I should rethink all this, huh?)
3. THE “BREAKUP” RATE IS NEARLY 80% -
If you are married, have a partner, or a live-in relationship – it’s over! (Only 19% of Law Students retain their relationships during Law School.) There’s no time for being social – no time for family, making love, burping a small child, there’s not even time for dinner! Plus, you won’t meet anyone new at school – your new friends and classmates will live in the library and will not find much time away from their books to even remember you by the fourth class of the day.
4. THE BAR EXAM IS BRUTAL -
This exam is 2 to 3 days long, and you are asked “Analytical Reasoning Questions” which is a fancy way of saying “You will never be asked these nonsensical nonsense questions again for the rest of your life” questions. They ask you a bunch of other crap, but the question on your mind will be, “Why did I decide to do this bullsh*t?” You will study like an animal for three months, only surfacing from your dungeon to eat and feel some sunlight on your face for one insane exam. Plus, if you fail (nearly 50% of us will – well, actually around 43% overall will fail, but that’s a lot!!) you have the option of torturing yourself for the next 6 months to take the exam again. In New York, they actually setup triage medical stations and have squads of ambulance (motors running) ready to separate the strong from the weak.
5. TOP JOBS ARE HARD TO COME BY-
Working at the top law firms is one of the most competitive jobs in the entire country – especially New York (damn, do I need to move…again?) Don’t forget, you need to be in the top 20 LAW SCHOOLS and score in the top 5% for these big-wig top law firms to even look at you.
6. INSANE HOURS -
Practicing law is usually a 70 hour work week for budding lawyers fresh out of school. Prepare to spend all your nights in the office – weekends and holidays as well. Primarily, you’ll be doing EVERYTHING and handing off huge case files for the “real” lawyers at the firm (that’s right, all the work – none of the glory.) Average time spent before becoming managing partner? Approximately 22 years from your start date. OUCH!!
7. LAW PROFESSORS ARE A-HOLES -
Law school professors are some of the most pretentious and arrogant people on this earth. They know everything about everything. In office hours you will find yourself thinking that God is talking to you and then you will realize it is your criminal law professor engaged in some diatribe about Moses. What does this have to do with Law? Nothing! But can you stop him from speaking…NO! Your grade depends on it!
8. HARASSMENT -
Just because you are attending Law School, your entire family and friends (some neighbors too) will ask you for all kinds of legal advice. When you tell them you can’t dispense any advice, because you are NOT a lawyer, they’ll look at you and say, “Then the advice should be free!” Uhm…What???
Think before you “think” that you want to become a lawyer – it’s gruelling. Do not get caught-up with these pretty perfect size 6 lawyers or expensive fitted suit on gym-bodies you see on television. The reality is; it’s a difficult path during the process of attending law school and an even more difficult process “staying on” the path once started.
THINK TWICE, then THINK again.
Great read. Tell it like it is…
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H. Luiz Reply:
July 22nd, 2009 at 12:20 am
@Jamie Parks, thank you James!
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I was thinking of attending law school, I am a graduate paralegal and get get anyone to hire me, duh I have no expereince…duh…so this too was a waste of education. THanks for the awesome intake on this. Great job.
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ev Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:00 am
@jackie,
I am right there with you. I have a 4 year legal studies degree w/paralegal cert and can’t get in anywhere. My school pushed me to do the law/business program next. I refused. I am so glad I did. i am too old for this crap!!!
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@jackie, oh no… not a waste. Just wanted to show that it is difficult & draining, financially and emotionally.
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Jackie Reply:
July 22nd, 2009 at 5:56 pm
@H. Luiz, I know that it is hard work. The paralegal program I went to was stirn. I also am an A student. I intern for an attorney now and work full time Security. No one in Chgo will hire me or suburbs because I have no experience in the paralegal field. My attorney now was so impressed how fast I type and pick things up. He also said he was impressed with my Research skills on Lexis Nexis to find cases. He also said that he was amazed I could do a memoradum, and other law things. It’s a shame that some lawyer doesn’t take this motivated student and put her through law school. That is what I would do if I had an ambitious individual as myself. Thanks for everything, I will check back again.
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H. Luiz Reply:
July 22nd, 2009 at 6:04 pm
@Jackie, Not alot of firms or corps will pay for Law School, being that the top ones are around 40-70K a year. Some will, however pay for any LSAT training (mine is) and will allow you to take paid time off after Law School to study for the BAR (about 4 weeks off – paid)!! Good Luck! If you’d like, I can try to scout around the firms I know for you.
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Jackie Reply:
July 22nd, 2009 at 6:07 pm
@H. Luiz, I live in McHenry County IL, I can work there best for transportation. Otherwise Lake County is where I intern. If you could help me in any way I know I would not disappoint you or the firm. Thanks. THis is the best site I have ever been on. I want to make my own blog or website, any ideas? I also want to make my own ebook, any ideas? I adore your fast reply.
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H. Luiz Reply:
July 22nd, 2009 at 6:33 pm
@Jackie, I do not have ANY connections in IL but I have a few in NYC. I can share many ideas about your own blog (but it’s more time-consuming than one may imagine.)
email me: hluizpresents@gmail.com
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Any new career requires hard work if you would like to be successful. The money part is a pain, but that goes for any type of higher education. You could always quit and do something you love. Then you could sit back and wait for Obama to bail you out:)
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H. Luiz Reply:
July 22nd, 2009 at 1:38 pm
@Smith, You are so right about that one.
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Come on H, it isn’t thaaaat bad. I just finished my first year at a top 5 school and though I agree with most of what you say, with a little resistance it’s definitely bearable. I can’t argue with the financial suicide part. Paying off those loans is gonna suck. I’m lucky enough to go to a school with a loan repayment assistance program for grads commit to public service for 10 years or something. Still, it stresses the shit out of me.
There are ways to circumvent the creativity-sucking qualities of law school, though – believe me – if you want to and are remotely concerned with maintaining some individuality, it’s actually pretty easy.
As for the breakup rate – yeah, I joined that stat. I wonder how many of those 80% regret ending those relationships when they did. I certainly don’t. And even at the “elite” schools, if your priorities include drinking, dining, flirting, sexing, etc – you WILL make room for them. And with any luck, you’ll be able to tempt some of your classmates out of their nerdtastic library hours to join you.
As for dealing with A-holes and harassment, what could be better training for the real world, in any profession?
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H. Luiz Reply:
July 22nd, 2009 at 1:40 pm
@Allika, Love that!!!
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Jack Reply:
July 24th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Some people were not meant to be lawyers. I would only say that after reading the eight things, if that is all it takes to discourage you, then the law is not your destiny.
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H. Luiz Reply:
July 24th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
@Jack, That’s all, huh?
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Mary Reply:
July 24th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
@H. Luiz, Does Allika and Jack know that this was not your life or your view, just a comical take on what a lot of us are going through?
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H. Luiz Reply:
July 24th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
@Mary, I don’t think they do, but they are entitled to THEIR views. I just think it’s hilarious that there are people out there (not all) who think that what I wrote is not a representation of what a lot of law students are dealing with.
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Allika Reply:
July 25th, 2009 at 12:53 am
@H. Luiz and @Mary – haha well I do know that now
It was obviously a very relevant / attention-grabbing post for a lot of people and for a lot of different reasons – I just wanted to pitch in with my experience so far! Still, I am QUITE aware that my experience and attitude are not universal – just not convinced that it’s so rare, either.
I’ve seen Paper Chase and unfortunately I know a whole lot of people who live it; I just prefer to live something more like Legally Blond (except with a little less blond and a lot less pink)!
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H. Luiz Reply:
July 25th, 2009 at 1:39 am
@Allika, That’s all you do, Allika: PITCH-PITCH-PITCH!!!
Check out Allika on celimene.blogspot.com
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David Reply:
July 24th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
@Jack, Not discouraged, just good to hear the “real” shit, not the pretty.
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Allika Reply:
July 24th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
@Jack, I couldn’t agree with you more.
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Michael Reply:
July 24th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
@Allika, How can you agree with Jack “more” if you just said “I agree with most of what you say” to H. Luiz? Then you go on to state how you can’t argue with the financial aspect of what H. Luiz said? You joined the stat of 80% breakup, etc…..
Make your OWN assessment and stick to it!
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I’m a May 2009 graduate a week away from the CA bar.
I COULDN’T AGREE WITH YOU MORE!! I should have stayed in my old job. I wouldn’t be in 150,000 debt with a starting salary (yeah, i’m a rare lucky one with a job) that is LESS than what I got paid 3 YEARS AGO when I left my old job.
THIS DUDE IS RIGHT….DON’T GET CAUGHT UP IN IT. ENJOY YOUR LIFE. LAW SUCKS.
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H. Luiz Reply:
July 22nd, 2009 at 5:48 pm
@A, Well, I do not want to discourage people from going to Law School. Again, this was written very tongue-n-cheek, although it resonates with some people’s experiences. I just wanted to make people very aware that it is NOT an easy road.
Thanks for sharing YOUR real-life experience.
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A Reply:
July 22nd, 2009 at 5:54 pm
@H. Luiz, dude, i just realized you’re not in law school yet. so you don’t really know that all this stuff IS true. Doubt it, but you’ll see — it’s more common than just MY experience. Best of luck.
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H. Luiz Reply:
July 22nd, 2009 at 6:00 pm
@A, Well, I got my info from my own research, current law-school friends, LSAT Teachers, Lawyers, and some Law Professors so yes, I know this to be true from their experiences (yours too.)
Hope you write and comment again, being that you lived most of this.
Thanks!!
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I graduated from law school a few years ago. I went to a top school and partied all the time. You live off loans so you dont have to work. After the first year, class is optional and since there is only one test you only have to study for the last month or so for the exam (I finished in the top 10% using this strategy). The bar is a similar affair, just cram like crazy for a month or two and forget everything you learned over a blunt after the test. Any way, I made tons of friends in law school – there are plenty of people in law school who like to smoke weed everyday and get drunk on the weekends. The loans do suck, so if you dont expect to get into a top firm and make a half million or so in your first 2 or 3 years out, that should be reason enough not to go. But if you do think you have a shot (got into a good – top 15 or so – school) then do it, especially if you are a young male. Once you get out and get a good job you will be bagging chicks left and right (assuming you do the right thing and join the 80% club before you graduate). Best to do this during those 2 or 3 years at the big firm – since you dont plan on staying you dont have to work too hard or care about performance so you can go out most of the week and will have serious cash. Bottom line, you have to weigh everything for yourself and see if its worth it for you. I’m not even practicing anymore but it sure as hell was worth it for me. Had a blast during lawschool and as a young associate, and paid off most of my loans and saved a wad of cash on the big firm’s dime.
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Um…having just graduated from law school…the author is completely right. This is the most honest advice I’ve seen anybody give. Don’t get me wrong, I’m one of the lucky few from my school who has A job (let alone a high paying job) of my classmates. It took three solid years of pounding the pavement.
I went to a top 20 law school and was in the middle of my class, but there were LOTS of people who were ranked higher (and lower) than me who didn’t get jobs.
Law firms have been bloated for the past several decades, and the rubber finally hit the road. Lawyers are lawyers, not businessmen. For years, because they pay associates less than they bill them out for on an hourly basis, the approach if a firm was in trouble was to just hire more associates. Surprise, surprise, the economy cannot sustain an infinite number of lawyers. All the law firms have FINALLY realized this and are either going out of business, or firing massive numbers of lawyers (I have a friend who was fired from 3 firms in 2 years under a first-in-first-out theory, until she managed to land a job w/ in-house-counsel for a regular business…nice work if you can get it.).
MOST of my friends who were “fortunate” enough to land a job with a big firm where their salary is over $100K have been “delayed.” That means they are not allowed to show up to work until A YEAR from now. They will not get paid for sitting at home and doing nothing. In the meantime, they have student loans kicking in, and living expenses…I guess it’s time to take the wife and kids and move back in with mom???? Some American dream!!!
If you want to get a job coming out of law school (unless you are exceedingly lucky or have a dad who will hire you), you have to interview your butt off for all 3 years, beginning in December of your first year. That’s when you interview for the first summer job. If you don’t get something lined up by February, you’re screwed…but you still have to keep hunting because if you don’t get something that first summer, you won’t get something for the second summer, and then you won’t get something for when you graduate. Second year and third year, the job hunt begins in August and continues until you get something lined up.
NO, magic jobs don’t just fall out of the sky and pay you buttloads of money. That is the EXCEPTION, NOT the RULE.
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H. Luiz Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 8:38 am
@anonymous, Wow – a real-life reference…thank you!
You would not believe the amount of attention this post has received: every major bLAWg, the Washington Post, the Insider Online??????? Wow!
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H. Luiz,
This is great news! I love the Washington Post! Keep up the great work and know that all good things come to those who wait.
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H. Luiz Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 4:40 pm
@Jackie, Well, thanks Jackie!
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Hi. I read your post yesterday evening. It was very interesting, so I decided to translate it for the french law students and others in our beautiful country.
If you want, you can have a look on my post intitled “HUIT BONNES RAISONS DE NE PAS ALLER DANS UNE FACULTÉ DE DROIT” on my website JURIBLOGSPHERE.net
Thanks.
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H. Luiz Reply:
July 24th, 2009 at 8:32 am
@Jackd, Wow!!! I just read it in French. Well, to say I read it was a stretch, but I am happy that it made it onto your site. The Washington Post here in America picked it up as well as every major bLAWg in the U.S.
Merci!
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Made an awesome read.
lol
I have 2 more years to go in shitty law school. This post cheered me up immensely because I’m not the only one who’s undergoing this torture
Awesome awesome awesome work there, dude
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H. Luiz Reply:
July 27th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
@Mads, Thank you for “getting” it. It was meant to do just that – cheer you up and say, “Oh, I went through that” or “That’s funny, but true”.
Glad to hear your still sticking it out!!!!!
Loving Mads!!!
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How could you possibley know what the break-up rate is?
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H. Luiz Reply:
July 29th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
@Law School Podcaster, The study I used is actually a “divorce rate among law students” from some stat-guru friends at Columbia Law 2007, and not neccessarily a “break-up” rate among lovers.
What year are you? L1, L3?
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Great bit! It’s been 10 years since I finished law school and many of your points brought back fond memories.
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H. Luiz Reply:
September 10th, 2009 at 7:27 am
@jarenjohnson, Thank you. How’s the pratice going in Minnesota?
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jarenjohnson Reply:
September 10th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
@H. Luiz, It’s going well. Thanks.
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