Is Law School For You?

As a recent law graduate, I did the most sensible thing while waiting for my bar results - I started a blog. The most difficult thing about blogging is coming up with interesting topics for potential readers. My girlfriend, mom, and dad.

All kidding aside, my blog will cover trending law. The purpose of the blog is to provide easy to understand commentary on legal matters that affect my readers. My passion lies with business law but I will comment on other civil matters.

With that being said, I do feel it is important to discuss whether law school is right for those thinking about attending 3+ years of law school . The Wall Street Journal and the Huffington Post report a decline in law school applications. The articles attribute the lower rate to the difficult job climate. I suggest it may have more to do with the stress, weight gain, and repetition of reading boring casebooks that law school has to offer.

Attending law school is an important decision. It's a career path that can offer many new opportunities. Almost 200 members of the House of Representatives and over half of United States Senators hold law degrees. That fact may persuade you that law school is not for you since congress is despised by almost everyone according to some polls.

A juris doctor degree is also expensive. Be prepared to accumulate large debt unless you have wealthy parents. I love my parents but they are hard working middle class Americans so I had to take out a few loans to finance my higher education goals.

Like with any decision, you have to weigh the benefits versus the costs. For me, the education and opportunity I will receive outweighs any pecuniary sacrifice I had to make. But, for those still undecided - I will give some quick takeaways.

1) Law school is what you make of it.

If you have friends who have graduated from law school or who are currently in law school, I am sure you have heard horror stories about exams, professors, and assignments. Most of them are highly exaggerated. I do not want to discredit what graduates or attorneys have accomplished, but with the right attitude and work ethic you will be able to succeed. Just be prepared to read material that should be saved for bedtime.

2) Law school allows you to meet a diverse group of people.

Lawschools are centers for diversity. This allows students to learn about different cultures, ideas, and customs. I find that this benefit will help me tremendously when I enter into practice. I made friends from Armenia, England, the Philippines and Mexico.

3) Law school is a three year boot camp for the bar examination.

Law school is just the beginning, a mere boot camp. The real challenge will come when you have already graduated. The California bar examination is a three day struggle that tests your mental and physical resolve. It will cause nightmares, high levels of stress, and doubt. Law school prepares you for this as best as it can. For example, your grade will come down to one final exam in most cases. It will also train you to write, analyze, and critical think which are the skills that will ultimately be tested on the bar.

Before applying you should weigh the traditional factors, i.e. costs, living arrangements, and the time commitment involvement. However I hope that my takeaways give you some perspective before taking the plunge.

I know I made the right decision. I learned a great deal about important and not so important legal matters. I am one step closer to reaching my dreams.

As far the bar exam goes - I'll keep my fingers crossed. I may even say a prayer or two. Maybe three to be on the safe side.