Thinking of going to law school? Know before you go

Let me be the first to say, law school isn't for everybody. With the every climbing tuition cost and tight job market, the internet is full of posts about Dear God Don't Go to Law School and Why You Should Not Go to Law School. But the bottom line is, if you want to be a lawyer, there aren't a whole lot of other options besides taking out student loans and walking into the highly competitive world of law school. So, how do you know you want to be a lawyer? Is there a way to determine if this is the profession for you before investing in the six-figure price tag? Maybe the law genuinely interests you or maybe you see being a lawyer is a great profession where you can help people. But before committing, consider these top ten ways to determine if being a lawyer is for you.

1. Take time off after you finish your undergraduate degree- Having some time and perspective after finishing your undergrad is not a bad thing when trying to decide if you law school is right for you. Too many students think this is a path they are destined for and don't take time to stop and breathe. Additionally, if you do end up going to law school, chances are you are going to be working in a highly intensive career for the next 40 years, so enjoy the time to relax now before making a decision. Not sure what to do with that time after law school? See number 2.

2. Work with lawyers: I took a year and a half off after I finished undergrad and worked with lawyers in a government affairs office. Although I was working at a large well well-known corporation, the work was not sexy. I was basically an administrative assistant but it was an incredibly valuable experience. I got to see what lawyers do day to day. I will tell you, what they were doing wasn't very sexy either. They spent most of their time at their desks reading and writing, which brings me to consideration number three.

3. You enjoy reading and writing so much so that you can do it for over eight hours a day- Just because your parents once quipped you argue so much, you should go to law school doesn't mean you're the next Johnnie Cochran. Most attorneys I know spend most of their time researching and writing. This is even true of litigators. As a prosecutor, I was in court more than many other legal professionals. However, much of my time out of court was spent reading police reports, preparing discovery and preparing cases for trial. I am a total file and paper nerd and actually kind of secretly loved making trial binders, but this is not for everybody.

4. Are you a good salesperson? If not, you still might make a good lawyer, but chances are, private practice is not for you. Getting clients is a big part of private practice, even more so if you are a solo practitioner. Many people don't realize that clients don't just fall from the sky or get handed to you from the higher-ups like they do in the movies. If this aspect of the job doesn't sound appealing, as it doesn't to most people, consider working in the public sector or in-house for a corporation. I am not a salesperson, so working for the government was a much better fit for me.

5. Hang out with lawyers- or law students- Go hang out with people who have made it to the other side of the law school equation. These are the people that you will be rubbing shoulders with for the next 40 years. Are you okay with that? Pay attention to your gut instinct. See if you can attend an event put on by your local bar association or better yet, the bar association of the geographic area you want to ultimately practice in. Use this as an opportunity. Introduce yourself and tell them why you are here. Ignore their eye rolls and if they tell you "don't go to law school," but ask them why? Pay attention to their answers and determine if their reasoning applies to you.

6. Go to court- I tell this to my students all the time, and there is nothing that can substitute for sitting in a courtroom watching real lawyers practice real law. I promise you it looks nothing like it does on television and in fact most people think it is pretty boring, but I didn't. I remember being in school and going on a field trip where we went to court. All we saw was a plea but I remember being completely fascinated by what was happening. Not sure how to actually go see a case? Call your local courthouse and tell them exactly why you are calling, you are considering law school and want to watch court. They can usually give you days and times of when you can expect to see some action, potentially very slow action, but if that appeals to you, being a lawyer might be a good fit.

7. Are you okay with being responsible for other people's lives? When I was a prosecutor, this weighed heavily on me, as it should. You are literally dealing in other people's future freedom. This is also true of almost any type of law you practice. The law has big consequences for people so as a lawyer, you will be responsible for your clients and your staff. Make sure you are okay with this type of pressure and responsibility. If you still have a passion for law, but think this aspect may not quite be for you, consider a career as a paralegal.

8. Apply to a summer prelaw program. These programs are offered for several weeks over the summer at law schools across the country. They are all a little different, but generally they are available to undergraduate students, offered at no cost and even provide a stipend to the students who are admitted. This is a get a law school-like experience for little or no money.

9. Go see a financial planner- Go in with an idea of the type of law you want to practice and some schools you are considering. Have the financial planner discuss loan options, interest rates based on a realistic projected salary. So many people I know went to law school, maybe myself included, thinking the amount of loans I took out didn't matter because I would be able to make so much money when I graduated. I'm not saying those jobs don't exist, but it wasn't the type of law I wanted to practice. Most people I know got jobs working as prosecutors, public defenders, or for mid-size law firms. These are good jobs and most attorneys I know love their work, myself included, but law is not a money train. You are making a major investment in yourself to be an attorney. Make sure the cost-benefit analysis is there, and you are comfortable with it.

10. Look at employment statistics on the type of law you want to practice- Or, when you go to mingle with attorneys, ask if they know anybody practicing that type of law. Why is this important? The types of lawyers you see on TV aren't necessarily real jobs. I had a student once tell me she really wanted to do adoption law for the parents adopting children. I'm sure everybody would love to do the kind of heartwarming work of filing papers for kids who are in good homes but the truth is that is not necessarily a realistic job goal for full-time work. I knew an attorney who did a substantial amount of adoption work. He did a large region of the state but he also does a whole lot of other non-adoption work as well because it is not enough adoption cases to make-up a full-time practice. He is good at all of it and really seems to enjoy his job; but knowing that doing private adoption cases isn't going to be the only type of law you practice is the type of information you want to know before going to law school.

Source: Bridget Lowrie

Email: bridget.lowrie@montgomerycollege.edu
Phone: 240-567-5143
Office Location: Rockville Campus, HU 227

Bridget (Wyant) Lowrie began teaching her teaching career in 2013 after practicing law for nearly ten years, including as a prosecutor in the Dorchester and Worcester County State's Attorney's Offices. Before becoming a prosecutor, she clerked for Judge Thomas C. Groton and Judge Theodore R. Eschenburg, Sr. in the Circuit Court for Worcester County.

This release was published on openPR.