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Having had real experience helps students make more informed career choices; they have more realistic expectations of what the world is like. If all the top schools agreed not to accept applicants unless they had three-plus years of experience, it would probably work out better for everyone. The work experience would benefit applicants, who would better understand what they want with a law degree. As a result, it would really help career services directors, too. None of us wants to sit across from broken dreams, or a perception of law that was never checked out.
Waiting to Apply
Someone with a weak undergraduate record is well advised to wait to apply; the rule of thumb is about five years. Many require some time out to grow up as well as to accomplish something. They need to develop a sense of focus, time management skills.
There is no penalty for waiting to apply to law school. And too many people apply to law school for lack of other ideas of what to do. You don't have to go to law school right out of college. It is good news that more applicants wait longer to apply now; they work for a few years on average and determine where they're headed. The older students tend to be more focused and are better able to handle the stresses of law school.
Older, more experienced students seem to do better in class. They are often more dedicated and focused regarding why they are in law school. They have gained discipline and organizational ability, and are able to tackle school work more efficiently and well.
Students who've taken a break often are more motivated to take on the rigors of studying. They're usually excited about being back in an academic environment. Most people who go to law school after time out are glad they took time out.
Senioritis at college can be a real problem. You don't know what you want to do, which is frightening. You figure that you might as well hedge your bets, so you take the LSAT. If you do well, you apply to law school. If you get into a good school, you probably go. After all, it relieves the career uncertainty you've felt. Once you go, you commit yourself to finish. After you graduate—and almost everyone does—you'll end up practicing law for the next fifty years. The consequences to having senioritis are pretty serious.
How Much Work Experience Is Preferable?
Ideally, an applicant would work for at least two years, and probably more, in an area he or she is interested in pursuing.
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There are a couple of reasons that work experience before law school is such a good thing. In terms of introspection and self-understanding, those with work experience are typically further along. Also, employers like to see a couple years of real-world experience.
At least two years of work experience is greatly beneficial. Employers prefer someone who has had a couple years to mature and gain more life experience. It has been observed that people who have had several years of experience do better academically.
The Affect of Work Experience upon Your Marketability
- Employers want people who can hit the ground running.
- The average age of our entering students is going up, and those with real-work experience are at an advantage in the job search.
- Employers view work experience prior to law school very positively, particularly that deemed to be in "professional" settings. The only exceptions are when students have held multiple jobs for very short periods of time.
- Interpersonal skills are crucial to success. Employers like to see that you've worked with a team, preferably in a professional setting.