Top 5 Reasons Not to Go to Law School
Law school is hell. That's enough reason not to go to law school. Post over, good night folks.
Just joking. While law school can be a bad decision for some people, this isn't necessarily true for everyone. There are a lot of students who actually enjoy the experience. However, there are some things about law school that even these people dislike.
So if you're thinking about sentencing yourself to a life of lawyering, take a moment to consider these five reasons why you shouldn't go to law school.
1) Type A Law Students = Bad Social Scene
Were you a straight-A student in undergrad? Always on top of your work and never compromised your vision in group projects? Did you also feel like every other student around you was an idiot?
If you answered yes to these questions, rest assured that everyone else planning to go to law school also did, too. Law school is full of know-it-all A-types who all excelled in undergrad just like you did. The only difference is that now you're whole 1L class will be full of these people. Who you'll have to socialize with. Every day. For three years.
2) The Law School Curve
In law school, professors can only give out a certain number of As, Bs, Cs, etc. So even if write what would normally be an "A" exam in undergrad, if someone else's exam is a little better than yours, suddenly your A must become a B. That's the law school curve in a nutshell.
3) Tuition is Expensive
Being the type A personality that you are, you've already read the reports about the rising cost of law school. So before you jump in, really ponder if this is truly your passion.
4) The JD is Limited to Law-Related Careers
Some of you might think that getting a JD may be a good stepping stone to other careers. But the thing is that all those other careers usually involve the law in some way.
5) Insane Work Hours
Alright, you finished law school, passed the bar, and now you got a big firm job making crazy money in a fancy office. Well, you better like those fancy walls because you're going to be staring at them forever. Weekends, nights, holidays. Kiss them goodbye, because being a lawyer can often mean long, long hours. Isn't that enough reason not to go to law school?
Related Resources:
- If You Are Still Applying to Law School, You Might Be an Idiot (Above The Law)
- Best Value Law Schools: Will These Schools Reduce Your Student Debt? (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)
- 29 Ways to Minimize Your Law School Loan Debt (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)