- Mon Aug 19, 2013 4:25 pm
#10365
Hi,
Thanks for asking this critical question. Without knowing anything about you specifically, what I can do is share some of the qualities that tend to characterize those who enjoy legal education, and some general pros and cons.
People who thrive in law school are often those who like to read and enjoy a good argument, who have decent time-management skills, and who can handle hard work. The study of law can at times be frustrating or confusing -- in large part because "law" is such a vast field -- created over generations by many different judges and legislators -- who all bring to it different interpretations and agendas. So people who want to work in areas where the rules are always clear, reliable and finite, may find that they don't enjoy law. Law is not like mathematics, it won't always follow a consistent formula. However, if you can deal with that, and like to come up with creative arguments, than it may be a good fit for you.
Some pros:
*There are many fields and specialties in law -- if you explore them carefully, you'll have a lot of options for what you eventually end up doing with your degree.
* Lawyer jokes not withstanding, law is a respected field
* Knowing about the law is useful not just in your career, but in other areas of life (dealing with landlords or real estate, medical care, contracts, you name it!)
Some cons:
* Law school is expensive! One common problem is that new lawyers may have to spend several years working law hours in demanding jobs to cover paying back their student loans. If you're interested in "public interest" work, which doesn't pay much, one possible way around this is through "loan forgiveness" programs, which alleviate student debt for those who do this kind of work. Either way though, it's going to be tight for awhile.
* Law students tend to be stressed out and competitive
* It's a lot of work, particularly in the first year -- you have to try hard to maintain a healthy balance
Good luck!
Beth
