Anyone else thinking of law school as a backup

[heinzmoleman]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I know that my plan is that if i keep applying and not even getting into the low tier schools im going to try and head up law school's alley. Anyone else ever thought about this? As well do you think the law school adcoms would look negatively on the fact that they were your backup when some of the other applicants have been dreaming of law school forever and it is their primary? Like when I think of it, you could go back and take all the b/s courses to skyrocket your Gpa then try law.

 

[Catalystik]

I think that any program would look negatively on being the backup plan. I would avoid mentioning it.

 

[mdeast]

I know that my plan is that if i keep applying and not even getting into the low tier schools im going to try and head up law school's alley. Anyone else ever thought about this? As well do you think the law school adcoms would look negatively on the fact that they were your backup when some of the other applicants have been dreaming of law school forever and it is their primary? Like when I think of it, you could go back and take all the b/s courses to skyrocket your Gpa then try law.

Have you taken the LSATs? It's sort of getting somewhat mid-cycle/late in the law school admissions game to be submitting apps. Please remember, that Law and medicine are completely different degrees (and just about everyone considers law a backup plan at some point...as it's one of the few professional schools that asks for practically no pre-requisites except an undergraduate degree and a high LSAT score).

I am firmly against the idea of just immediately applying to long-term graduate schools if medical school doesn't work out. Take a year, look for a job in another field (i.e. work for a firm as a paralegal) and see if you really want to be getting yourself into it. Law school is expensive, more competitive than medical school while you're in it (i.e. you want a firm job? gotta be in the top 10% of your class at a Top 20 law school), and a lot of the times just a godawful amount of work and reading. You don't want to go into it, and then decide you either (1) didn't go through the admissions correctly and ended up at a crappy law school (2) you hate law and just amassed an enormous amount of a debt for a useful degree, but one of whose skills apply mainly to the job of being a lawyer. To me, all graduate schools work out better (i.e. you'll benefit from them and succeed going forth from them), if you have a better idea of why you're going into them and what you want to do with it BEFORE going.

P.S. If you're competitive for medical school (most students have above a 3.6 GPA), then you don't need to raise it for law school. Even many Top 20 law schools have GPA ranges closer to 3.0-3.7 rather than the high GPAs of top med students (3.6-4.0). My sis is a lawyer BTW, and I considered applying to law school at one point to do IP/patent law.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I know that my plan is that if i keep applying and not even getting into the low tier schools im going to try and head up law school's alley. Anyone else ever thought about this? As well do you think the law school adcoms would look negatively on the fact that they were your backup when some of the other applicants have been dreaming of law school forever and it is their primary? Like when I think of it, you could go back and take all the b/s courses to skyrocket your Gpa then try law.

eh go to dental or pharmacy school.. or optometry school if your into that..
pre-med/pre-life science programs basically prep a person for the same thing
anyway both are health care fields and closely related

law school honestly is way too different and requires going back to college and majoring in political science or something else..

 

[elektroshok]

law school honestly is way too different and requires going back to college and majoring in political science or something else..

Umm no it doesn't..👎

 

[mdeast]

Umm no it doesn't..👎

Yeah, it definitely doesn't. Any med student could easily quit med school and immediately apply to law school. Take the LSATs, get a few recs, submit your transcript and write a personal statement. No interviews or anything and about 20% of applicants are accepted at most schools (even some top schools) compared to 5% at most medical schools. People do this everyday. That is partially why there are so many unhappy lawyers . 🙄

 

[SoulinNeed]

Don't do it, the cost is not worth it, there are no jobs, and the legal field is getting worse. Just try to be a PA or a Pharmacist.

 

[scattun]

P.S. If you're competitive for medical school (most students have above a 3.6 GPA), then you don't need to raise it for law school. Even many Top 20 law schools have GPA ranges closer to 3.0-3.7 rather than the high GPAs of top med students (3.6-4.0). My sis is a lawyer BTW, and I considered applying to law school at one point to do IP/patent law.

I've looked into law school admissions, and definitely was/am considering it. These stats aren't exactly true. Yes, if you are competitive for medical school, odds are (barring a complete disaster of an LSAT performance) you can get into a law school, but it won't necessarily be a good one, and that definitely matters a lot more for than school than for medical school. For med school, we look at the top 20 schools as the top echelon, in law admissions it is the top 14. Last year Yale's (#1 school) class had a median GPA of 3.9 and a 25th percentile GPA of 3.81. Georgetown (school #14) had a median GPA of 3.68 with a 25th percentile of 3.42. Also keep in mind that Law school admissions are much more numbers driven so GPA is really only half the equation. If you are looking to get into a top school you are going to need an LSAT at the 98th percentile, at least (assuming you GPA isn't above these medians).

Edit: To actually answer your question OP, I think it really depends how you spin it in your PS. There aren't any interviews so no one is going to ask you pointblack, "Were we your backup?" Law schools really like science majors and other health related EC's for diversity so depending on how well you can craft your path to Law school, it may turn into a positive for your application.

 

[Moose A Moose]

I had law school in the back of my mind as a serious option for about half of my undergraduate years. After really thinking about it, the life style really wouldn't fit me after a given amount of time. You've gotta do some inner soul-searching, young one .

Law schools happen to look very favorably on natural science majors. They know the kind of work that goes into those studies- and the kind of person it takes to do well. All those hours spent learning intricate subjects and typing up massive lab reports.. you get the idea.

However, as stated, the legal job market is becoming saturated.. rapidly. Paralegals are taking on a lot job aspects than lawyers because they're both cheaper to train and utilize than your standard attorney.

Do what you feel will be best for your future. You may be smart and quick witted, but what do you enjoy more? Science or politics? Working directly with people or through others? Either way, you're gonna have debt and be a workhorse through your 30s.

 

[JJMrK]

I've looked into law school admissions, and definitely was/am considering it. These stats aren't exactly true. Yes, if you are competitive for medical school, odds are (barring a complete disaster of an LSAT performance) you can get into a law school, but it won't necessarily be a good one, and that definitely matters a lot more for than school than for medical school. For med school, we look at the top 20 schools as the top echelon, in law admissions it is the top 14. Last year Yale's (#1 school) class had a median GPA of 3.9 and a 25th percentile GPA of 3.81. Georgetown (school #14) had a median GPA of 3.68 with a 25th percentile of 3.42. Also keep in mind that Law school admissions are much more numbers driven so GPA is really only half the equation. If you are looking to get into a top school you are going to need an LSAT at the 98th percentile, at least (assuming you GPA isn't above these medians).

Edit: To actually answer your question OP, I think it really depends how you spin it in your PS. There aren't any interviews so no one is going to ask you pointblack, "Were we your backup?" Law schools really like science majors and other health related EC's for diversity so depending on how well you can craft your path to Law school, it may turn into a positive for your application.

We do?

I think this is a bit misleading. It's my understanding that for law schools and job prospects, it *really* matters where you went to school. For med school, a residency is a residency, and a board certified physician is going to get a job. If you go to a low tier law school you might find yourself unemployed.

 

[scattun]

We do?

I think this is a bit misleading. It's my understanding that for law schools and job prospects, it *really* matters where you went to school. For med school, a residency is a residency, and a board certified physician is going to get a job. If you go to a low tier law school you might find yourself unemployed.

You are definitely right, where you go is infinitely more important in law than medicine. I just said top 20 because that is what I see most people on here saying when they are talking about admissions, ie. "What does it take to get into a top 20?" or "You have a solid app but probably won't have much luck in the top 20." I don't know, I might have imagined all that, anyway for law school everyone definitely refers to top 14 like its the holy grail.

 

[JJMrK]

You are definitely right, where you go is infinitely more important in law than medicine. I just said top 20 because that is what I see most people on here saying when they are talking about admissions, ie. "What does it take to get into a top 20?" or "You have a solid app but probably won't have much luck in the top 20." I don't know, I might have imagined all that, anyway for law school everyone definitely refers to top 14 like its the holy grail.

Yeah I've heard this too. Ranking is a lot less important for medical schools.

 

[Eyti]

The biggest turn-off for me when it comes to law is that it seems like there is too much emphasis on money-making for personal job satisfaction. OP, lets say that you in fact did make it to med school and were well on your way to being a doctor. How would you see the legal profession as a place to apply yourself? There must be a niche within law for the doctor types, but I have no idea what that might be.

 

[DrYoda]

I know that my plan is that if i keep applying and not even getting into the low tier schools im going to try and head up law school's alley. Anyone else ever thought about this? As well do you think the law school adcoms would look negatively on the fact that they were your backup when some of the other applicants have been dreaming of law school forever and it is their primary? Like when I think of it, you could go back and take all the b/s courses to skyrocket your Gpa then try law.

Turn away from the darkside young padawan.

 

[mdeast]

I scored a 166 [extraneous info] on the LSAT and thank the heavens every day for not enrolling in law school.

1) Crap job market -- surplus of lawyers and http://jdunderground.com/forum.php
2) Crap lifestyle -- 2000+ Billable hours expectations
3) Crap work -- how many cases these days aren't motivated by greed?
4) Crap salary for the majority of lawyers -- http://www.elsblog.org/the_empirical_legal_studi/2007/09/distribution-of.html


80 hour work weeks with A-hole clients for 40k a year? Nahhhh. 👎

This is relative and if you notice on that salary chart the second "wave" of people are firm jobs (which all start off associates at about 120k-160k). My boyfriend actually dropped out of Columbia Med to attend law school in New Brunswick (NOT a top law school by any means). He's 30 now and a managing partner at a law firm (not a top law firm by any means, but still partner) doing mergers/acquisitions/corporate law after only graduating from law school in 2005. He can make up to $1500/hour for billable hours, and while he works long hours 7AM- 8 or 9 PM most weekdays, he still has weekends free and is admittedly always going out to bars/restaurants/etc (but mainly because he is a night owl....and an alcoholic... and can survive on only 4 hours of sleep per evening....it actually boggles my mind sometimes).

I wouldn't say I envy his life or his profession, but he does enjoy working in many different fields (and getting to learn about them through law). That being said, you can be SUPER successful in law with the right connections, drive, and grades. It isn't nearly a stable career as medicine, and the job prospects currently are absolutely horrendous...most graduates looking to start at firms are being deferred indefinitely on jobs offers (but getting $60k/year to do nothing in the meantime....grrrrrrrr....i'm actually jealous). But, if you luck out and it's really what you wanna do, I think it can be a pretty fun and fulfilling career both personally and financing.

Just, not for me. I couldn't sit behind a desk answering phone calls and reading documents all day. Medicine is way more hands on, and way less drafting endless contracts.

 

[mdeast]

Well, I speak of the trends of the overall profession - you speak of an individual within it.

However, just like you said, lady, it's "relative". ^^^

PS: I forgot to mention law school debt... For many fresh grads that 120k in loans doesn't look so nice with a 50k/yr job (yes, there is loan forgiveness with DA jobs in the 30k salary region - but even these [often last-resort] opportunities aren't super easy to find with the squeezed market).

😉

Also of note: there are merit scholarships available for many law schools....much more so than I've seen for med school which is primarily based on need. My sister goes to a Top 20 school (not Top 14) and has a full tuition scholarship (she had a 169 LSAT score....and only had a 3.5 undergrad GPA). So, she'll basically end up only having living expense debt (about 20k/year, 60k total) at the end of law school, which is way less than average med school debt. And, even without being in a Top 14 law school and in this job market she got 5 firm offers (1 NYC, 2 Philly, 2 DC) and has a starting salary next year of $160k after 3 years of schooling versus. 4 years of med school + 4-6 years of residency/fellowship. She'll be able to pay off the 60k super quickly and I wouldn't be surprised if her firm helps out.

I'm not saying law school is AWESOME. I for one, could NEVER be a lawyer after meeting enough neurotic, ungenuine, and generally misguided law students in my time...but if you want to be making a lot of money in your career, there are other lucrative and much quicker ways to that goal than medicine. And law can be one of them under the right circumstances.

 

[SoulinNeed]

That graph that was posted is discouraging, but it doesn't tell the whole picture. That graph is from 2007!!!!! Due to the economic conditions, the overall number of jobs (especially the high paying ones) have dwindled substantially, and it'll be years before the legal market returns to what it was in 2007 (if ever).

A Doctor enjoys job security at a high salary, a lawyer does not. You cannot treat law anymore as a backup plan. Only do it if you ABSOLUTELY love it, and know what you are getting into. Otherwise, it could be a dangerous investment.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

I thought about being a lawyer until I worked at a law firm and learned how ****ty it was. If you think that doing paperwork is going to be the worst part about being a doctor, DO NOT BE A LAWYER. Basically all you do is paperwork. Most lawyers are not trial lawyers, and will be in court maybe a couple times a year at the very most.

 

[Handy388]

This is relative and if you notice on that salary chart the second "wave" of people are firm jobs (which all start off associates at about 120k-160k). My boyfriend actually dropped out of Columbia Med to attend law school in New Brunswick (NOT a top law school by any means). He's 30 now and a managing partner at a law firm (not a top law firm by any means, but still partner) doing mergers/acquisitions/corporate law after only graduating from law school in 2005. He can make up to $1500/hour for billable hours, and while he works long hours 7AM- 8 or 9 PM most weekdays, he still has weekends free and is admittedly always going out to bars/restaurants/etc (but mainly because he is a night owl....and an alcoholic... and can survive on only 4 hours of sleep per evening....it actually boggles my mind sometimes).

I wouldn't say I envy his life or his profession, but he does enjoy working in many different fields (and getting to learn about them through law). That being said, you can be SUPER successful in law with the right connections, drive, and grades. It isn't nearly a stable career as medicine, and the job prospects currently are absolutely horrendous...most graduates looking to start at firms are being deferred indefinitely on jobs offers (but getting $60k/year to do nothing in the meantime....grrrrrrrr....i'm actually jealous). But, if you luck out and it's really what you wanna do, I think it can be a pretty fun and fulfilling career both personally and financing.

Just, not for me. I couldn't sit behind a desk answering phone calls and reading documents all day. Medicine is way more hands on, and way less
drafting endless contracts.

1. How many people make partner?
2. How many partners make above 150k?
3. When you speak of the "right connection", do you mean connection like in med school where you worked for someone, impressed them by merit, and such, or connection like, your father is the firm's partner?


In conclusion, for every one partner, there are hundreds of jobless lawyers. For every one hundred MD, I don't know, couple unmatched caribean grads?

 

[mmmcdowe]

My favorite quote ever about the stability of medicine here on SDN went something like "If the economy crashes, they will come to you with bread and cheese."

 

[ahmcadams]

Everybody and their brother seems to consider law school a back-up to whatever they're currently doing. The average freshman pre-med is probably not that different.

 

[Evergrey]

My favorite quote ever about the stability of medicine here on SDN went something like "If the economy crashes, they will come to you with bread and cheese."

That made me LOL! Probably true, too.

 

[Hurricane95]

Medicine and law are two VERY different careers. You can't just say you'll do one as a backup to the other, because it is actually more likely that you'll like one over the other, and not both. I love medicine, and after dating 2 girls who were/are law students and being exposed to everything they do in school, man I can tell I would HATE law. sooo boring, too much reading, tons of writing and all about cases and statutes.....blah. If you are the science minded type of person, law would probably be a terrible backup in most cases. Better backups would be stuff in the sciences, research, engineering, etc.

Also +1 to what everyone else said about # of lawyers and job security compared to medicine.

 

[GH253]

I think the question implies a serious lack of devotion to medicine. Maybe you should just go for law as your first choice.

 

[futureboy]

Medicine and law are two VERY different careers. You can't just say you'll do one as a backup to the other, because it is actually more likely that you'll like one over the other, and not both. I love medicine, and after dating 2 girls who were/are law students and being exposed to everything they do in school, man I can tell I would HATE law. sooo boring, too much reading, tons of writing and all about cases and statutes.....blah. If you are the science minded type of person, law would probably be a terrible backup in most cases. Better backups would be stuff in the sciences, research, engineering, etc.

Also +1 to what everyone else said about # of lawyers and job security compared to medicine.

Lawyer here. The above is pretty good advice. I would NOT recommend using law as a backup. I myself decided on law as the best of the options available to me after undergraduate school. I have practiced law for 15+ years now (in litigation) with some reasonable success. Being a lawyer has its good and not so good points, but I've felt for some time that it's not the best fit for me--hence my interest in medicine.

My advice to the OP: if medicine is what you truly want to do, find a way to do it. Apply again to US MD/DO, and if you don't get in, try the "big 4" Caribbean schools (St. George's, American University of the Caribbean, Ross, and Saba). Life is too short to do what you don't want to do.

 

[Eggs n Coffee]

Don't go into law. It's an oversaturated field, because just about anyone can get into law school now.

Lots of people still have the misconception that lawyers make a lot of money. Truth: there's a bimodal distribution in the income of lawyers.

Most lawyers are either making around 40k/year

or

around 150k/year.

There is not much in between.

What this means is that after getting out of school, you'll be making crap pay relative to the amount of student loans (unless you got a free ride or something)

or

You'll be working 80 hours a week in an office type environment. Yes, you're earning a six figure salary, but there's a reason for that - you'll be worked like a dog. The attrition rates for these lawyers are extremely high.

Also, those lawyers who make six figure salaries all graduate from top law schools (top 14, specifically), so don't expect to earn much money after graduating from your state law school.

 

[futureboy]

law school honestly is way too different and requires going back to college and majoring in political science or something else..

Wrong, wrong, wrong! Please do not post misinformation.

 

[futureboy]

Most lawyers are either making around 40k/year

Most lawyers are making more than this, even right out of school. For non-big firm, non-government/public interest jobs, it's probably more like $50,000 to $80,000 for the first 5 years.

Your point is well-taken, though.

 

[Hoody]

I thought about law. I even applied and was accepted to law school in Austin....choose not to attend due to cost and desire (is it worth it to spend 150K and then admit to my doctoral desires? no, I'll shoot for MD first).

Anyway, I was looking to go into staff protection....sorta like patient protection. Specifically recruitment, retention, protection from fear of frivolous lawsuits etc..

 

[futureboy]

Also, those lawyers who make six figure salaries all graduate from top law schools (top 14, specifically), so don't expect to earn much money after graduating from your state law school.

Non-top 14 grads can get big firm jobs, but they usually need to be in the top 10% of the class or better.

 

[zetabetazeta]

They are completely two different careers. I wouldn't do that..

 

[Hoody]

Most lawyers are making more than this, even right out of school. For non-big fire, non-government/public interest jobs, it's probably more like $50,000 to $80,000 for the first 5 years.

This is true. One of my state schools gave me a stat that said their grads average 50K for the first five years after graduation (which is significantly less than what I am making with my bachelors in nursing right now with just a few years). Unfortunatley for lawyers, after 5 years, their paycheck does not shoot up in the the mid 15s-200K range.

 

[circulus vitios]

God no.

 

[Meat]

My brother is applying to Law schools right now. I couldn't imagine learning about politics and regulations, the sheer literature would bore me to death, I'm sure. Its all about the science.

 

[Hoody]

Please note (at least 3rd time posted in this forum):

New York Times: Students Fret as Big Law Jobs Vanish

and

ABA Journal: As Law Firms Respond to Crisis, 21% of Law Students Regret Choice

 

[TheMightySmiter]

God no.

Umm, I don't know why you think that spread is so horrible. The median is more than you'll be making as a resident.

As a side note, while I don't think the OP should consider law as a backup to medicine, and while the legal field is in a slump, you can still make a LOT of money doing law. It just varies, far more than medicine, depending on your specialty. The lawyer I worked for (a corporate attorney) charged over $500 an hour.

 

[circulus vitios]

Umm, I don't know why you think that spread is so horrible. The median is more than you'll be making as a resident.

As a side note, while I don't think the OP should consider law as a backup to medicine, and while the legal field is in a slump, you can still make a LOT of money doing law. It just varies, far more than medicine, depending on your specialty. The lawyer I worked for (a corporate attorney) charged over $500 an hour.

Yeah, and I would only be a resident for 3-7 years.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Yeah, and I would only be a resident for 3-7 years.

True but the figures you quoted were starting salaries. They'll go up for lawyers just as they do for doctors.

 

[TXWrigley]

Lawyer here. The above is pretty good advice. I would NOT recommend using law as a backup. I myself decided on law as the best of the options available to me after undergraduate school. I have practiced law for 15+ years now (in litigation) with some reasonable success. Being a lawyer has its good and not so good points, but I've felt for some time that it's not the best fit for me--hence my interest in medicine.

My advice to the OP: if medicine is what you truly want to do, find a way to do it. Apply again to US MD/DO, and if you don't get in, try the "big 4" Caribbean schools (St. George's, American University of the Caribbean, Ross, and Saba). Life is too short to do what you don't want to do.

So I'm a long-time lurker and a rare poster, but I feel like I can chime in here, based on my experiences. I agree completely with FutureBoy. I'm a full-time attorney, and I'm trying to change careers to medicine (I miss science, among other reasons).

I can say, without a doubt, that you shouldn't "settle" for law, if medicine is what you want to do. Though both field rely on similar skills (analysis, critical thinking, etc.), the two are entirely different beasts. I do not mean to disparage the legal field - it is challenging and has its rewards, but it is no substitute for helping someone become healthy, etc., if that's what you're interested in. On the other hand, if you're interested in health policy, a legal degree might be a great way to break into that field.

In addition, other posters have claimed you need a particular undergrad background to get into law school. Not true. You merely need a decent LSAT score.

As for the lawyer salary discussions - it all depends on what field you enter, and somewhat where you go to school. Public interest work (public defenders, legal aid, etc.) doesn't make much, but is perhaps a more satisfying field. Civil litigation jobs (patents, torts, etc.) can pay much more, but often have higher rates of dissatisfaction. From what I've seen, the legal field is very enamored with rankings and standings. So you're more likely to get the job you want if you went to a top 20 or top 10 lawschool.

Anyway, I hope this wall of text was somehow helpful and not too preachy. Good luck to you all in getting either into medschool or whatever other field.

 

[futureboy]

God no.

I would add that one should take any law school admission office salary propaganda--err statistic--with a grain of salt. I learned this the hard way. The stats are usually based on a salary survey sent to grads something like 6 months after graduation. Response rates aren't that great, and the data is unverified and can be skewed--who is more likely to send in the survey, the guy making $160k at a NYC big firm, or the dude who's still looking for a job and working as a bartender?

 

[Hoody]

The median is more than you'll be making as a resident.

awwww....poor residents, only make 50K+ for a few years before jumping to 130K+. Life must be sooooo tough.


Get real. Residents make more than your average American. And yeah, consider yourself lucky getting paid so much for on the job training. You had 4 years of school related to medicine....so basically your getting paid more than most other 4 year degrees.


I think I hear the waaaaambulance. 🙄

 

[Hoody]

LLife is too short to do what you don't want to do.

this.

times a million.

 

[JJMrK]

Umm, I don't know why you think that spread is so horrible. The median is more than you'll be making as a resident.

As a side note, while I don't think the OP should consider law as a backup to medicine, and while the legal field is in a slump, you can still make a LOT of money doing law. It just varies, far more than medicine, depending on your specialty. The lawyer I worked for (a corporate attorney) charged over $500 an hour.

...which only lasts 3-5 years.

 

[wanderer]

Umm, I don't know why you think that spread is so horrible. The median is more than you'll be making as a resident.

As a side note, while I don't think the OP should consider law as a backup to medicine, and while the legal field is in a slump, you can still make a LOT of money doing law. It just varies, far more than medicine, depending on your specialty. The lawyer I worked for (a corporate attorney) charged over $500 an hour.

Exactly, there's way too much risk/uncertainty involved. From a salary standpoint medicine is definitely better, just because there's more certainty/security.

 

[futureboy]

Exactly, there's way too much risk/uncertainty involved. From a salary standpoint medicine is definitely better, just because there's more certainty/security.

The top end for the two are probably similar ($1 million/yr for neurosurgeons, plastic surgeons, big law firm equity partners). The lower end favors doctors--I would think that few full time docs make less than $130,000.

 

[kia ora]

it's my opinion that law school is a terrible "backup" plan for the typical premed (typical being a science major who hasn't taken any humanities classes other than those required by his school). I haven't started med school yet, but my understanding is that it is not a particularly intellectual pursuit. my understanding is that the first two years mostly are high-volume memorization and the next two years are like working. I do know what the study of law at a top-ranked school is like. to give an example, in my first year con law class we once spent three days discussing/debating a footnote in an appellate opinion. a *footnote*. at a top school there is very little memorization involved. there is a great deal of reading, analysis, critical thinking and lively discourse. my classmates were some of the most intelligent people I've ever known. most of us went on to successful (financially rewarding and intellectually challenging) careers and like(d) our jobs.

and why is everyone in this thread so obsessed with making fat $? yes, most of us will have loans to pay back but most everyone seems to be measuring their future success/happiness in terms of how much $ they will earn. I find that sad, actually

and to the person upthread with the 166 on the LSAT - that wouldn't have gotten you anywhere near a T14 law school! unless your mom was the dean of admissions🙂

oh, and yes it definitely matters where you went to law school. graduate from a T14, or better yet a T5, and you can pretty much do whatever you want, regardless of your law school record

 

[premed20092013]

I am, I am an Economics major at Vandy, so I will have to take a lot of courses that will prepare me well for Law School.

 

[SoulinNeed]

Non-top 14 grads can get big firm jobs, but they usually need to be in the top 10% of the class or better.

It's more like top 5% now.

 

[SoulinNeed]

I should also add that one should never take law schools' salary reports seriously. Unlike medical schools, these reports are highly deceptive. Like it was said earlier, only a few actually report their salaries. Many will respond to the survey (which asks other questions) but few will report their salaries. It is certainly that crooked, and these schools should be punished.

BTW, T14 is no longer a golden ticket like it used to be. People in the lower T14s are having trouble getting high paying jobs. Remember, many in the legal field are projecting these problems to remain for many years. Getting a high paying job in 2007 was tough, and it just got WAYYYYYYY harder.

I repeat, only do it if you LOVE it, and will be willing to do it for $50K.

 

[Hoody]

Well, if you want to call out the details, I was actually accepted at Cornell and Georgetown...Last time I checked, both were T14 -- did they drop in ranks? Also, last time I checked my mom was not the dean [nor any other relative of mine].

...I'll look later at their rankings, yet it is doubtful - being that the T14 has always been the same T14. However, I could care less. I had a last minute revelation about the profession and happily declined my acceptance.

Now, I'm going back to do the med pre-reqs at my state school with a smile on my face 😀.

Cheers, sunshine.

PS: no URM

Rankings....and you're good. I applied and was accepted to #15. I have lower than average stats....

Class Profile for Fall 2009 Incoming Class

• 5,250 Applications
• 379 Enrolled
• Median LSAT: 167
• Median GPA: 3.71
• Female: 47%
• Average age: 24

....but stellar LORs. I also applied and was rejected to a different program (Business #18) at the same school. I had a higher than average GMAT but no work experience. 😕