Law School Discussion

Thank you Ronald for your thoughtful reply. Turning lemons in to lemonade; Charleston School of Law does seem to have low standards for acceptance and still maintain a reasonably high credibility amongst Charlestonian law firms. the average LSAT was 150 and a 3.5 GPA. Can you elaborate on how likely scholarships are and the process to obtain them. It seems that money hungry law schools who have the power to turn down many students each year wouldn't be so keen on dolling out free money. Anything would help with their $17,500/semester cost.

A few weeks ago I purchased a Kaplan LSAT prep book with practice tests. One of my best friends is a former chemist turned attorney who got a 168 first time out so I've been and will continue to pick his brain. I've been practicing in a completely relaxed environment for now. Knowing how nerves can play a role come test time I'm trying to associate the LSAT with a glorified Sudoku game in my brain early so when it comes to serious multiple timed practice tests and ultimately the one that counts I hopefully won't lose my mind and get a 146.

I understand the importance of a high GPA and currently maintain a 4.0. This is the last semester i'm taking prerequisite classes and plan on meeting with admissions at COFC to discuss transferring for my bachelor. It's a little scary to push through without the paralegal as a back-up but I understand and appreciate your advice. It's something I continue to wrestle with especially considering how non-challenging I'm finding the program to be.

You sound like you know what you are talking about and it is nice to read that I am seemingly on the "right track". Again thank you for your thoughtfullness.

Best,
Nick

Good evening,

I am a new member but long time lurker of the site. My Name is Nicholas and wanted to introduce myself. I enjoy the informative responses and sometimes heated debates your insight offers. My search function won't work and I'm not sure if that has to do with the newness of my account. It seems my post is not about to re-invent the wheel here, however anyone patient enough to read my below situation and offer whatever you wish, (Advice, insight, constructive critique or questions) would be greatly appreciated.

I am 25 and live in Charleston, SC and work for a major insurance & investment company from home. I've been in insurance since I was 18 and want to settle in to the legal field for the rest of my career.. I live with my boyfriend who is a police officer downtown and our two dogs. My current job is task driven and not a set schedule so I have decided to take advantage of the leniency offered and achieve my goals of higher education by going full time since Spring 2012.

 I am currently in the middle of a Paralegal Associates degree. I chose this field because I have an extreme interest and passion for law, the risk vs. reward compared to law school is less in regards to financial investment. But for me, in spite of the current legal economic climate being so bleak; I still want to push through and obtain a law degree While I believe I would enjoy the moments of legal research as a Paralegal and getting to use your brain finding applicable case law for instance; I don't think those moments will happen often enough to satisfy my desire to think analytically. I also foresee struggles with perceived notions of what my career entails by those close to me and within my future law office, (My ego might not allow me to play second fiddle for long- Especially once I fully know what I'm doing through experience).

So here is my tentative plan:
-Push through and finish my associates in Paralegal as a solid career back-up, (In case "life" derails my plans)
-Transfer to the College of Charleston to finish my Bachelors in Philosophy and minor in History, (Undecided if I will pursue a minor at this time)
- Hopefully gain acceptance to the Charleston School of Law 

 Charleston is a rare city for police work as they require a college degree to be an officer and thus actually compensate their employees very well financially. My boyfriend is 28 and very goal oriented. He has a masters in Math and began teaching when he was 22. He turned to police work to fulfill his own life's goal and to make more money, (Off duty jobs and a hustlers spirit can raise your income by up to $30,000/year over your base salary). On top of this, he is extremely savvy with his money and we are able to take full advantage of our respectable but not impressive $120,000 combined salary.

The whole reason I mention this about him and our personal situation is that because of our spending habits and desire to remain debt free, (Beyond my student loans), we are on track to pay off our mortgage in three years. I will work for my job from home until I finish my bachelors degree. At that point; the plan should sync up and the house should be paid off. This would in theory allow me to enroll and hopefully gain acceptance to the Charleston School of Law and quit my job to allow me to focus studies without hurting us financially.

I will hope to be no older than 32 by the time I graduate from law school. I know that the Charleston School of Law is a T4 school and not even a highly ranked school among other T4's and the cost is high for the ranking. However, because of our living situation and desire to remain in the Charleston area post graduation; leaving to seek out more prestigious law schools is not something I can justify. I consider myself fairly in touch with reality and know that my future will not be in NY as a corporate attorney- I will be happy and define my success if I can achieve my goals of higher education to show myself I can do it and by securing a respectable position as an attorney in some sort of civil subject matter. I have many friends in the legal field, most are attorneys but some paralegals so my networking instinct is already ablaze.

 I also wish to have children in the future and believe that I will regret it if I don't at least attempt to fulfill my goals before they are born or adopted. This was rather long winded and upon a reading it over; seems a bit of an outlet for me since I have only discussed with my partner. I have based my ideas on reading many books about the legal profession from insiders and matching them up to my personal goals and skill sets and observing those in the profession. I don't want to sound off of the glorious things I will accomplish to those close to me, only to potentially fizzle out.

Please offer any advice, comments you wish as insight from those in the legal field and/or in law school are greatly appreciated and thank you for reading.

Nicholas