Should I go to Law School?

Applying to law school is a big step for many. But just like any path, it's not for everyone—and sometimes, the reasons many pursue a J.D. are not the right ones. Many people do it without understanding enough about the legal profession to gauge whether they'd find a job as an attorney fulfilling.
 

Before choosing a legal career path, it's also vital for prospective law students to reflect on their reasons for attending law school.

 
"A college graduate should not go to law school only because he or she is able to get admitted into law school and does not know what he or she wants to do after college," Stuart B. Wolfe, a co-founder, and partner with Wolfe & Wyman LLP, a law firm in California, told U.S. News. Legal jobs often have inconsistent hours, and people with these jobs are typically detail-oriented, Wolfe adds.

Why do you want to go to law school?

 
One of the biggest mistakes that aspiring law students make is going to law school for the wrong reasons or no reason at all. Some inertly opt for law school merely to meet their parent's expectations; others are gunning for the $160K-per-year-plus-bonus gig, or just because being a lawyer looks glitzy and fun on T.V. shows like 'The Good Wife,' 'Suits,' or 'Law and Order.'
 
"A surprising number of people want to go to law school because they love "Law & Order," Laura Hosid, law school admissions and career counselor told CNBC, but "being a lawyer is nothing like what you see on T.V." In fact, it can take lawyers years to even set foot in a courtroom or get a cushy job like in-house counsel.
 
Similarly, the idea that being a lawyer will make you rich is off-base, says Hosid. According to U.S. News & World Report, the median private sector salary was $68,300, and the median public sector salary was $52,000 among J.D. recipients in the class of 2015 at ranked law schools. Only 35 law schools of the 197 ranked reported median private-sector wages in the six figures.
 
Are you really cut-out to be a lawyer?
 
You can cite all the cases in human history and still be a terrible lawyer. Why? Because, at its most basic level, the practice of law is about having the right skills to deliver a service to someone.
 
Enthusiastic debaters who enjoy engaging in arguments and don't take alternative viewpoints personally often excel as students and eventually become accomplished lawyers.
"Thick skin," a skeptical and intellectual mindset, is also typically necessary for success.
 
Those who come up with smart solutions to tough problems are a good fit for practicing law, according to Abid Qureshi, a partner at the global law firm Latham & Watkins.
 
"This is especially true for those who can do so while remaining faithful to core principles: equality, impartiality and accountability," Qureshi told U.S. News. "I would encourage anyone interested in solving complex problems, regardless of their background, to consider a legal career."

What do you want to do with your law degree?

Consider whether you'd like to work in the public sector, the private sector, or for a non-profit. Would you want to do trial work or research? In what city or country do you want to find a job? All these factors can affect whether you need a law degree and where it would be best to go to school.
 
"Technically, you can do anything with a law degree, but that doesn't mean you should," says Hosid. "That doesn't mean you need one."
 
Hosid advised talking to people in the fields you're interested in. "Find out how valuable they would view a law degree if you were looking for a job in their position," she says. "Just because you see a lot of people have law degrees, it might not be the case that it's necessary."
 
Is Law School Worth the Cost?
 
Usually, the pursuit of a legal career is similar to buying a house with a six-figure mortgage. According to a U.S. News & World Report in 2017, the average cost of fees and tuition among the top tier law schools is $60,293 per year. It's $26,264 in state and $39,612 out of state for public schools, and for private schools, it's $46,164.
It's also essential to consider living expenses and the fact that you may not be making a steady salary for the three years you are in law school.
Also, big law firms recruit only from the 15-20 elite schools in the country (plus maybe a few local ones). But going to one of the top law schools could cost you in terms of your financial aid package. That's a deep financial hole to dig yourself out of.
 
Is This a Good Time to Apply to Law School?
 
While the COVID-19 pandemic may be incalculably tragic, a recession due to reduced economic activity during a global outbreak could be more short-lived. It should have a limited long-term impact on the legal field.
 
Aspiring law students should not be discouraged by the ongoing chaos caused by the novel coronavirus because, just like everything, this too shall pass, and the world will still need attorneys. And the generation of lawyers that weathers this storm will have monumental work ahead to safeguard and strengthen the rule of law.
 
In fact, attorneys may be more needed than ever in a post-coronavirus world.
 
Do not attend law school because you feel lost, want to get rich, and wear fancy suits. Law school is time-consuming and too expensive to simply serve as a fallback.
 
If you are genuinely interested in legal, justice, social, or economic issues, you excel at logical thinking, and you love communicating with others; law school and the legal profession may be a good fit for you.
 
See also:

• What's Hot in the Law Today: The Buzz List
• 5 Important Qualities Every Lawyer Should Have
• The Rewards of Attending a Top Law School
• Good News! Law School is Worth It- or Getting there