Law School Discussion

Lance,

Thanks for the response.  I can identify with your feelings about spending a career inside a cubicle.

I work for a helicopter manufacturer (nowadays we're supposed to say its a vertical flight company instead of just a mere helicopter company) in Connecticut.    

I'm in a good position to go to law school full time since I am single and don't own a home. I can reduce my living expenses very quickly and drastically.  If I got into a law school out of state that is significantly better than UCONN, then I would go full time.  If UCONN was the best I could get into, then I'd go part time there since my employer would pay my tuition.  So it really hinges on where I can get in.

Hi everyone.

I want to pose an important question about being a lawyer, but first I'd like to share a little about my background and why I am considering law school.

I have a M.S. in mechanical engineering and have been employed for 2 years in a large aerospace company.  In that time I have had to listen daily to the most unbelievable amount of complaining and self-pitying drivel from the other engineers.  Only a small minority seem even content with their position in life, and this makes dealing with these people a deplorable task that is faced 5 mornings a week.  On top of this, the work is mainly tedious and frustrating with only rare moments of intellectual challenge or excitement.  To add a final bit of motivation for change, I am one out of several thousand engineers at the company who are considered interchangeable by management.  That makes it very hard to distinguish myself in any way.  I have previously worked at a couple of other companies and the environments were similar.

I'd like to work among people who are at the job they really want to be at.  It would also be nice to have assignments that are difficult once in a while.  

I am considering law school in part because I feel that I have the ability to argue persuasively and to do detailed and accurate work.  I am especially considering the field of litigation because I perform much better when motivated by competition.  Also, it seems reasonable that in a smaller law firm, one might have good exposure to partners and customers, and more opportunity for professional advancement.

Can anyone tell me if the profession, on average, has the qualities that I'm looking for?
 
I realize that every field has a lot of variability.  My real concerns come from reading about very low levels of job satisfaction among lawyers.  That makes me think that in moving from engineering to law I'd only be jumping from the frying pan into the fire.  I'd really appreciate any of your personal perspectives on this.  Thanks.