Thread for LSAT 145- 149 scores

[USAFVETERAN]

To SYN-

…but it seems to me just a way of countering your crap LSAT test scores with a "oh, I didn't care about rankings anyway" and "but I've got passion!"

When I was a kid I participated in programs that exposed me to the court system.  Before I even paid any attention to ranking of law schools I had a passion for law school.  I do not need a scholarship.  I am not interested in going to law school to earn 6 figures.  I am going to get a legal education.  What part of that confuses you?  Everyone who goes to law school is not motivated my money.  I promise you I will not loose sleep if I go to a tier3 or tier 4.  The one thing that you fail to realize is there are plenty of ways to make money.  I am an entrepreneur.   I bring in several thousand before I brush my teeth in the morning.  I am not trying to brag but am only stating the facts. 

There are lots of wonderful things to gain from a legal education.  But it is professional school.  The goal of professional school is generally to get a job.  And some schools put you in a better position to do that.

You should focus on how to network with people.  Trust me you will go further in life besides expecting the school to hand you a job.  Also show me the numbers where lower ranked graduates are unemployed versus their higher ranked counterparts.  You mistake a temporary situation, i.e. unemployed, for being a permanent situation.  Discounting whether ones job was 100k or 45k, show me the numbers of law graduates that are unemployed by the 10th month after graduation.  I am willing to bet this percentage is very small.  After you find that then show me the numbers of those who are unemployed after 12 months.  Your problem is you think that you are owed a job immediately after you graduate.  This false sense of entitlement is unrealistic for most graduating law students.  But I am sure you know this.

[USAFVETERAN]

These are the worst kinds of law students. Put that in your personal statement, along with "everyone tells me I am good at arguing!" and "Once I saw a homeless person, and it made me think about injustice!"

Allow me to clarify.  I was involved in a legal program for 2 years as a teenager.  I am not a kid mid way through college and decided to go to law school.  This has been my goal for several years. It would be grossly misrepresented to deduce my experiences to what you have implied.  I do agree that some people will make the decision to go to law school on a whim or pure irrational premises.  This is true with all career fields.  For example, it would be irrational for me to all of a sudden decide to go to med school and become a doctor based on the salary that is common of this profession.  This holds true for law school.  Going to law school for the sole premise of wanting to make loads of money does no justice for people whom they will eventually represent.  Now I do understand your point you make about job security and school affiliation.  As I said I have income coming in before I wipe the crust out of my eye.  Let me repeat.  I have money.  So whether I am unemployed for the first 6,9,12 months out is irrelevant for me.  However, this may not be the case for everyone.  As stated before my education is paid in full.  I will type this another way if you did not understand.  IT IS FREE.  A high salary job is not my motivation to go to law school.  I do not expect you to relate.

[USAFVETERAN]

Not everyone works in public interest or for the poor plaintiff.  A lot of people work for companies and firms that usually divorce "justice" from winning.  Everyone I interviewed with clearly knows I am in it for the money (because most of them are too), and they could care less.  I'm not a horrible person, I will be an ethical lawyer, and I will probably be a damn good lawyer. I would just be a damn good something else if it paid better.

I do not think a person can be ethical and divorce law at the same time.  Those boundaries will eventually cross.  Also I am sure you actually like law, otherwise your premise will not sustain you in the field very long.  You may make loads of money, but if you’re not doing it for the right reasons, i.e. to help others, then you will run yourself out.  I say this because you may in the end be a great attorney and your employers will love you.  Your conscience on the other hand will not be as loving.  I speak of this after knowing people who have travelled where you excitedly are embarking.  I take issue with your premise for being an attorney. 

[USAFVETERAN]

Not everyone works in public interest or for the poor plaintiff.  A lot of people work for companies and firms that usually divorce "justice" from winning.  Everyone I interviewed with clearly knows I am in it for the money (because most of them are too), and they could care less.  I'm not a horrible person, I will be an ethical lawyer, and I will probably be a damn good lawyer. I would just be a damn good something else if it paid better.
I do not think a person can be ethical and divorce law at the same time.  Those boundaries will eventually cross.  Also I am sure you actually like law, otherwise your premise will not sustain you in the field very long.  You may make loads of money, but if you’re not doing it for the right reasons, i.e. to help others, then you will run yourself out.  I say this because you may in the end be a great attorney and your employers will love you.  Your conscience on the other hand will not be as loving.  I speak of this after knowing people who have travelled where you excitedly are embarking.  I take issue with your premise for being an attorney. 

[USAFVETERAN]

Not everyone works in public interest or for the poor plaintiff.  A lot of people work for companies and firms that usually divorce "justice" from winning.  Everyone I interviewed with clearly knows I am in it for the money (because most of them are too), and they could care less.  I'm not a horrible person, I will be an ethical lawyer, and I will probably be a damn good lawyer. I would just be a damn good something else if it paid better.
I do not think a person can be ethical and divorce law at the same time.  Those boundaries will eventually cross.  Also I am sure you actually like law, otherwise your premise will not sustain you in the field very long.  You may make loads of money, but if you’re not doing it for the right reasons, i.e. to help others, then you will run yourself out.  I say this because you may in the end be a great attorney and your employers will love you.  Your conscience on the other hand will not be as loving.  I speak of this after knowing people who have travelled where you excitedly are embarking.  I take issue with your premise for being an attorney. 

[USAFVETERAN]

SYN-
At any rate you are surely right that most people may not be in my position.  However, I will not discount the opinions raised by you or others that have been selected to attend one of the better institutions.  If I find myself in the postion to transfer, as this would be a viable option to excercise for people with my numbers, I will more than likely do so.

[Kohinoor]

I do not think a person can be ethical and divorce law at the same time.  Those boundaries will eventually cross.

 

I'm not sure you get what he was saying. If you're doing corporate law your work boils down to whether your faceless billion dollar corporation or the other faceless billion dollar corporation wins. You can have zero passion or empathy and still do a fantastic job if you're good. The boundaries need not ever cross. If you don't fudge your hours or do some insider trading on the side, you'll be ethical.

Also I am sure you actually like law, otherwise your premise will not sustain you in the field very long.  You may make loads of money, but if you’re not doing it for the right reasons, i.e. to help others, then you will run yourself out.  I say this because you may in the end be a great attorney and your employers will love you.  Your conscience on the other hand will not be as loving.  I speak of this after knowing people who have travelled where you excitedly are embarking.  I take issue with your premise for being an attorney.

I feel you're entirely too idealistic and are imposing your standards on others. Some people don't need the warm glow that comes with helping their fellow man in order to face each new day. I for one just need coffee, a bagel, and the thought of where I'm going to be vacationing in a few months. Like Stole Your Nose!, I'm doing this because the money is good and the work isn't aversive. I'd venture that for most lawyers that is more than reason enough.

[USAFVETERAN]

Kohinoor
I get your point.  The truth of the matter is SYN and maybe even you will have a lucrative position upon graduation.  You may be in the position to show up, do your job, and go on vaction half the year.  However, the majority of graduates will not be in that position.  Just as SYN states that my position does not represent most students, your position and his does not.  There are so many seats in the selected schools that are selective recruited from.  That leaves a lot more people pounding the pavement or settling for less than what they may have been lead to believe.  What I am trying to advance is for most people if their motivation is nothing more than money, what will drive them after graduation when the job does not materialize, or they settle for 50k a year?  It may be safe for you to openly go to law school strictly for monetary reasons.  I just would advise anyone to go for these reasons.  As for being a face in corporate, that may be the attitude that is prevalent in field of law.  That does not hold true for all facets of lawyering.  Also may be I am too idealistic.  I mistakenly thought that most people held this view for going to law school. 

[JDat45]

Besides being put off by your multiple posts in this thread, is there a reason that this is posted in the Black Law School Discussion Board? I hope you are not inferring that folks who scored in the 145-149 range have a propensity to hang out in these parts. 

[LawDog3]

Ok if you have clicked on this link then you have the same questions and feel the same way as other 145's-149's.  The feeling is gut wretching.  The one question is who the hell will let us throw the doors with these scores.  This thread is for you.  I will begin by stating that I have scored a 146 on the December 08 LSAT.  I have a 4.0 gpa, however this has not been calculated by LSAC or LDAS (whichever does the calculations).  I have several "perks" on my resume/personal statement to include military disabled veteran, small business owner, and co-founder of a non-profit.  I say all this to say that in the end my LSAT is a 146.  This is all that may really matter.  However, I have not been admitted or denied as of yet, so I do not know if my "perks" mean anything.  Speaking of admittance this thread is made for a point of reference for all of us in the lower 30 (percent that is).  As always, as I am sure you have heard, your gpa will be a variable as well as your personal statement etc.  With that said please feel free to post your local law school that will accept us for info purposes. 

In Texas if your score is between 145- 149 you will have a moderate chance at the following:

Texas Southern U.,
South Texas (slightly less),
Saint Mary (San Antonio),
Texas Weselyan (Ft. Worth). 

In the neighboring states of Texas you will have a moderate chance at

Loyola Uni in New Orleans
Oklahoma City Uni

The first time I took the LSAT (mistakenly did so with with no prep), I scored a 145. I was still able to woo Vandy, Columbia and Iowa, as well as Chicago-Kent and San Francisco into waitlisting me that year. And my Cum-GPA is 3.58, albeit in a double-degree. Someone with a 4.0/146 should do even better, esp. given your "perks", aka, "soft factors". Something isn't right in the applications, LOR's or essays. Take everything apart and re-do it. There's absolutely no reason anyone with a 4.0 should EVER have to settle for going to a TTT school! Ever! TTT/T4 schools should have ZERO students w/4.0's. Re-take the test and re-write your essays.