So, You Want To Go To Law School?

"Why did you choose to go to law school?" I’m asked that question fairly often, usually with a follow-up about my decision making process leading me to law school. My casual response typically is "my choice was either doctor, lawyer or engineer; I don't like blood and I can't do math, so it was a process of elimination," but that's only part of the truth.

More important than why I went to law school is how I decided to go to law school. Law school is a three-year, mentally-exhausting, six-figure-debt commitment. Law school's all-consuming reputation should not be underestimated. When considering whether law school is a good decision, prospective students should take a pragmatic approach and weigh the decision holistically. Is attending law school your dream because one of your parents was also an attorney? Great! Will attending law school significantly increase your salary or job perspectives either at your current employer or a new company? Awesome! Do you want to go to law school because your best friend is thinking about it and your entry-level marketing job is boring to you? Maybe reconsider.

Understanding the consequences and potential rewards of a certain action is one of the fundamental skills you will learn in law school, but few students realize that making the decision to go to law school is their very first test of this important skill. Making substantial decisions requires careful planning, but a lot of people get lost in the "weeds" of decision making by either prioritizing unimportant factors or ignoring critical risks. That is where flowcharts come in handy.

Something I discovered while in law school (particularly in my first year contracts course) is that my brain processes flowcharts more efficiently and thoroughly than any other medium. For some people like myself, flowcharts just work better. And what better way to help prospective law student make one of the most important decisions of their life than by, you guessed it, creating a flowchart!

If You Are Generally Interested in Law School

If you recently graduated college or are about to graduate, law school might seem like a great post-graduate pursuit. Perhaps one of your parents or older siblings went to law school and you want to follow in their footsteps, or you've dreamed of being a litigator since you were young. Those are valid reasons to consider going to law school, even with the considerable time and monetary commitments required to get a coveted J.D.

A law degree is one of several post-graduate options for prospective students looking to start a professional career. Some college graduates pursue graduate degrees immediately after they graduate while others work for several years either in their target industry or in other entry-level positions to build up important professional and interpersonal skills.

Whether you just graduated or have been working in the workforce for a few years, it's important to question why you want truly want to go to law school. Law school is not an easy decision to make. I suggest prospective law students look at all of their options before committing to law school.

For those still seriously considering law school, I would suggest contemplating the below questions before signing up to take the LSAT:

1. Are you actually interested in the legal profession? Many students feel pressured to pursue post-graduate degrees or add fancy titles to the end of their names. Take time to seriously reflect on your career goals, ambitions and what type of work is stimulating. If reading thousands of pages of difficult prose and writing complex opinion pieces doesn't sound agreeable to you, maybe reconsider.
2. What about the legal professional is appealing to you? You have to be honest with yourself here: why do you want to become a lawyer? Is it the prestige, salary, and future prospects? Do you want to help defend the indigent or prosecute the guilty? All of those reasons are completely valid, but you should assess your reasons for becoming a lawyer before you commit three years of your life towards earning a J.D.
3. have you really thought about the time, financial and emotional commitment? Students should seriously consider the time commitment, lifestyle change and costs of law school. People often underestimate the total costs of law school and should consider the following formula when weighing whether a law degree is worth the cost: (1) cost of tuition (after subtracting scholarship + grants) + (2) cost of living (rent, food, entertainment, travel) + (3) loss of earning potential for 3 years + (4) interest on student loans (including any unsubsidized undergraduate loans) + (5) opportunity costs (a catch-all for all other opportunities you will miss out on while pursuing a law degree). This formula typically adds up to a huge sum in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, so don't be surprised.

Law School for Professionals

It isn't uncommon to find young professionals in their late 20's or early 40's (or even older) joining the ranks at law schools. Many people decide to go to law school after they've already started their career, sometimes years after graduating from college, and often from various professional backgrounds ranging from banking to hospitality.

Increasingly, many young professionals are dipping their toes in the legal field before fully committing to law school, which I highly suggest. The most most common pathway is becoming a paralegal, case assistant or other support staff at a law firm, courthouse or state agency after graduating from college. Having hands-on experience in the legal industry, including the various skills you will inevitably learn to balance tasks and work late nights, is a distinct advantage in law school. Entering law school with an existing professional network will also come in handy when recruiting season begins.

This is the route I personally took and I often advise college students looking to enter the legal field to do the same. I worked at a top law firm as a paralegal for two years after graduating from NYU to make sure I truly wanted to be a lawyer. I paid special attention to the young attorneys around me, observing how they prioritized tasks and how they handled various stressors. You should also use any "gap" time to build up a savings buffer, law school expenses routinely outpace even your best estimates.

For professionals that are looking to attend law school to increase their pay or hiring prospects, proceed with some caution. Law school is a long-term commitment (3 years, versus MBA programs that take 1-2 years) and is exceedingly expensive without significant scholarships. If you are joining law school full-time, you will have to forgo wages for 3 years. And, if you are joining a part-time evening program, you will have to juggle a full workload of reading, outlining and exams with your other work responsibilities.

This isn't to say professionals shouldn't consider law school. I've seen plenty of examples of successful law students who worked professionally during the day and were exceptional students at night. For professionals wondering whether law school is the right fit for them, I think the following 2 step thought-process (detailed in the flow chart) is appropriate:

1. Would a J.D. (the degree, not admitted) or attorney license (passed the bar, admitted) significantly increase your salary or position at your company? Many companies offer increased pay for employees who hold advanced degrees, including a J.D. Gather information from hiring managers, job board websites and other sources to determine what level of pay increase you could expect to receive with a J.D. If the amount is greater than 20-25% your current salary, then a J.D. might be a perfect way to climb up the corporate ladder.
2. Are you thinking of switching to a job that "prefers" a J.D. and is willing to pay you significantly more or your chances of career advancement at that firm are significantly higher? If you are looking to switch jobs from a non-management position to a mid-level management position that "prefers" a J.D., law school might be an appropriate fit. Not only will you climb the corporate ladder, but your future career prospects will likely broaden with a J.D. attached to your resume.

Considering the Financial Burden

No analysis of a three-year higher education commitment can be completed without considering the financial costs. According to the U.S. News and World Report, the average cost of attendance for a private law school is $43,020 per year and $26,264 at state institutions for in-state residents. That average skyrockets for attending a top law school (the top 25 schools), costing an average of $60,293 per year.

While some mentors would advise students to follow their dreams no matter the cost, a cost-conscious approach is more suitable when discussing hundreds of thousands of dollars. Taking into account other economic costs such as lost opportunity to earn wages during the three years of law school and the myriad of ancillary costs of living that are not accounted for in the average tuition costs (including travel, entertainment and emergencies), law students graduating with upwards of $200,000 of student debt are the new norm.

If prospective students believe law school is a good fit for them or believe a law degree will significantly boost their current salary or open new career opportunities, they should consider the final puzzle piece:

1. Can you realistically afford the costs of going to law school? "Realistically" should be a conservative analysis of your savings, existing debts, potential financial aid packages and cost of tuition and other living expenses.
2. Will a JD significantly boost your current salary? "Significant" should be at least 25% or more. Even with scholarships and grants, law school is a several-hundred thousand dollar endeavor, so do a serious cost-benefit analysis before committing to law school.
3. Will a JD open new career opportunities for you? A Juris Doctor is required to become an attorney (in almost all states), but JDs are also "preferred" for many mid- and upper-management positions.

I personally graduated with over $200,000 in student debt, but luckily was able to land a job at a top law firm. Others with the same amount of debt, or more, unfortunately don't graduate with such prospects. Law school calculus is half understanding the cost (risk) of law school, and half luck that your first year grades will be good enough to cinch a coveted Big Law job. Prospective law students should stay informed about the costs of attending law school, the availability of financial aid and understand the heavy burden of debt before committing.

I'm Not Trying to Scare You

I promise. Law school was an overall great experience and (so far) a great return on my investment. I left law school with a fantastic career, close friendships, and a significant other, not to mention that I get to do truly interesting work each day and get highly compensated for that work.

I wrote this article because I've heard too many people say "I wish I knew the true costs of law school before I was $200,000 in debt" or the typical "I wish I went to business school" refrain. I encourage any prospective law school reading this post to think through the costs and benefits of law school, talk with current law students and recent graduates, and consider your alternatives. As a future lawyer you will be tasked with assessing situations from a neutral and tactical viewpoint; contemplating the costs and benefits of law school should be your first attempt at thinking through a tough decision with that mindset.