Undecided If Law School Is for You? Try These Before Taking the Plunge

People who are considering a career in law should carefully consider their decision. Many students underestimate the huge financial investment that it calls for and also are unaware of the huge burden law school and if you manage to go through it, the pressures the practice of law can put on your time, finances and relationships. Not only do students underestimate all these important matters they also overestimate the earnings and glamour quotient of the profession. They feel that going through law school is a breeze and that the money that will flow in will help them erase all debts and allow them to lead fun-filled tension free lives. Well, to them I can say, that you probably should not be joining law school and the reality could come as a huge disappointment and you will disenchanted sooner than you think.

Prospective students should make informed and well-calculated decisions and to help them they can make these time proven techniques to help them make the vital decision, whether law is a viable career for them.

Understand The Financial Implications:

There are many good and genuine reasons why you should go to law school, but before you do that there is one very big reason why probably you shouldn't and that one thing is, debt. Debt is a mountain that chipping away will not remove; it is the elephant in the room that refuses to budge and will dominate your life more than your career. It is something that has to be understood in tangible dollar terms before you make the move.

Law school will last for at least three years. You will need to arrange for at least $150,000, at the bare minimum. Every year tuition keeps on increasing. It was lesser in 2012; it will further increase in 2014. This hundred and fifty grand comprises of tuition, books and living expenses. Surely loans will account for a major share of the contributors towards your fund. This in reality means that you will start your legal job with 150K already spent and you may also have undergraduate debt.

Imagine, even though the possibilities are remote, you get a starting salary of $150,000 per annum, it may seem a cake walk towards clearing that loan, but sadly it does not work that way. Around 30 percent of the salary would go in taxes and around 15 percent towards loan payments. Almost half your income would simply vanish, even before you got to touch it. In cold terms you will have to struggle for 12 hours a day for ten years to clear that debt. It doesn't sound all that cool anymore, does it?

Visit with a Lawyer Practicing in an Area of Interest to You:

If you know which area of law you would like to practice, make an appointment with a lawyer who practices that specialty; he or she can give you the positives and negatives. There is nothing quite like firsthand advice.

Have your questions written out so you do not take any more of the attorney's time than necessary. You might inquire as to how long he or she has practiced law, the advantages and disadvantages of practicing that specialty, present and future demand for lawyers in that specialty, a law school he or she would recommend that emphasizes that specialty, possible advanced degrees required for that specialty such as an LL.M. (Master of Laws), starting salaries in that locale (if that is where you eventually plan to practice law), and emphasis placed on the law school G.P.A. by that firm. You might even be fortunate enough to be taken on a tour of the firm. At the conclusion of the interview, thank him or her for taking time to visit with you, then later send a thank you card.

Take a Tour Through a Law Firm:

There is much to be learned about a law firm, and a good way to gain understanding is by taking a tour through that firm. Examples of what one can learn include the resources available in the law firm library, computerized legal research databases, decor, number and approximate ages of partners, whether there are any female partners, dress code, coffee breaks (if any), average length of time required to attain partner status, possibilities of ever attaining partner status, amount of client contact initially, time spent on training new associates, perks (such as pension plans, use of company cars, repayment of law school student loans, vacation time, bonuses, and country club memberships), amount of overtime required, billable hours expected, housing, starting salaries in that locale, and turnover rate (how long associates stay with that firm before moving on to other businesses, to start their own firms, or to form partnerships with friends and/or colleagues).

Observe expressions on associates' and legal assistants' faces to determine if they appear distressed and overworked, or friendly and satisfied with their jobs.

If it can be done discreetly, it may be a good idea to visit with personnel from that firm to get the inside track. It's amazing what you can learn from an associate, secretary, or legal assistant. Also, if the firm has hired temporaries in the past, you might check with some of those persons to get their impressions of the firm.

A tour is especially beneficial if you are planning to practice in that locale after graduation. You might even consider touring several firms in that locale. Firms are as unique as individuals-and what better way to determine a firm's personality.

Work as a Paralegal for a Year:

If you truly wish to get an inside track on what goes on in a particular law firm, you could work in that firm as a paralegal for a year. This will accomplish two things: If you do good work for them they may hire you as an associate after graduation from law school, or better yet, finance (or help finance) your legal education. Secondly, you can form your own impression of law firms in general and of that law firm in particular.

After working as a paralegal, you may decide that the practice of law is not for you. If so, you've saved yourself three years and thousands of dollars-probably many headaches as well. On the other hand, if you enjoy what you do. Law school will be even more enjoy-able because you've seen what it's like to practice law firsthand. Upon graduation from law school, you'll know exactly what to expect from your paralegal and can become productive more rapidly. In essence, you have gained a slight competitive edge over those classmates who have never seen the inside of a law firm, let alone how law firms operate. What an excellent initiation into the practice of law!

I am sure that your personal visits to a law firm and working a paralegal will help you dispel all preconceived notions about the profession. Joining it without understanding its pros and cons can become a very expensive and irrevocable mistake to make. Both the negatives and the positives need to be weighed equally, because even though a degree will give you an impressive and prestigious credential, the path to it is littered with many obstacles that you have to decide whether you have it in you to face and overcome.