This post is not encouraging to many people entering law school. I think that is a negative thing to think about. I, unlike many others, am not going to law school to make a lot of money, so being in the 50th percentile will not destroy me. If I honestly give it my all and wind up with that percentile, so be it! I will be happy that I made through the 1st year. I think that is the best attitude to have, though I will do everything in my power to do well.
I've been externing for awhile now and everytime I talk to other firms about recruiting they admitt that grades only matter for the first job, then after that its all performance based. They literally will turn someone away if they walk into the interview talking about what T their school was and their GPA. The idea is "who gives a flyingfuck, you've been practicing what are you cold cut results from that? You could be an online grad was bounced on and off of academic probation his whole time in school if you take cases that cowards wont take and get a few solid wins, you'll end up with more pay at the next gig then they will.
I don't think this is a "negative" thing to ask. She is just asking us to consider the possibility that we won't all be brilliant at at law school, which you have to admit, is true. If I am literally in the very bottom of my class then I plan to cut my losses and drop out. On the other hand, I don't plan to be too hard on myself if I am not in the tippy top of the class. I do think it is important to manage your expectations.
Beware of Crushing DebtI am a "non-trad" student with a good job and am going part-time. I will have NO debt upon graduation because going to a state TTT school with low tuition makes that so. Even if I graduate at the absolute bottom of my class I still graduate, still get a JD and don't have to worry about a job, cause I already have one. This profile is not typical; however, you folks need to face the reality of the market, which is not going to get any better for many years. Be very careful about taking on massive debt with the dream of six figure salaries. Not going to happen for most. If you are not at HYS then maybe never. Make sure you know why you are going to law school. If its for money only, you will be disappointed. For me, it is something I wanted to do for a VERY long time and just got around to it. If it yields a fun "retirement job" cool, if not, I learned how to write my own will, cool. I cannot overemphasize the crushing load debt will put on your young life. Be sure you know what you are doing. You might want to read this article:The Next Bubble: Law School Tuition http://abovethelaw.com/2010/04/the-next-bubble-law-school-tuition/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+abovethelaw+%28Above+the+Law%29
My situation exactly, stayed in my well-paying career after passing the bar 2 years ago, and thank God I did not jump into this field.. Job market is horrible, pay is not that great - especially if you take on a crushing debt to get the JD. Quote from: fllaw on June 12, 2010, 10:37:55 AMBeware of Crushing DebtI am a "non-trad" student with a good job and am going part-time. I will have NO debt upon graduation because going to a state TTT school with low tuition makes that so. Even if I graduate at the absolute bottom of my class I still graduate, still get a JD and don't have to worry about a job, cause I already have one. This profile is not typical; however, you folks need to face the reality of the market, which is not going to get any better for many years. Be very careful about taking on massive debt with the dream of six figure salaries. Not going to happen for most. If you are not at HYS then maybe never. Make sure you know why you are going to law school. If its for money only, you will be disappointed. For me, it is something I wanted to do for a VERY long time and just got around to it. If it yields a fun "retirement job" cool, if not, I learned how to write my own will, cool. I cannot overemphasize the crushing load debt will put on your young life. Be sure you know what you are doing. You might want to read this article:The Next Bubble: Law School Tuition http://abovethelaw.com/2010/04/the-next-bubble-law-school-tuition/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+abovethelaw+%28Above+the+Law%29
My situation exactly, stayed in my well-paying career after passing the bar 2 years ago, and thank God I did not jump into this field.. Job market is horrible, pay is not that great - especially if you take on a crushing debt to get the JD.
Why do otherwise intelligent individuals form seething masses of idiocy when they engage in collective action? Why do financially sensible people jump lemming-like into hare-brained speculative frenzies--only to jump broker-like out of windows when their fantasies dissolve? We may think that the Great Crash of 1929, junk bonds of the '80s, and over-valued high-tech stocks of the '90s are peculiarly 20th century aberrations, but Mackay's classic--first published in 1841--shows that the madness and confusion of crowds knows no limits, and has no temporal bounds. These are extraordinarily illuminating,and, unfortunately, entertaining tales of chicanery, greed and naivete. Essential reading for any student of human nature or the transmission of ideas.In fact, cases such as Tulipomania in 1624--when Tulip bulbs traded at a higher price than gold--suggest the existence of what I would dub "Mackay's Law of Mass Action:" when it comes to the effect of social behavior on the intelligence of individuals, 1+1 is often less than 2, and sometimes considerably less than 0.
I am doing what I consider, the best options, and minimizing risk. In any case, I am doing what I consider to be the route to less worry when I do actually go to law school. If I am in the 50th percentile? Oh well, I have experience in finance and all the necessary components to land a 6 figure salary straight out of college, but I am going to the marines when I am through with college. I need a J.D. though because I'd rather have knowledge of the law instead of having lawyers circle-jerk me into major debt, not to mention, it just adds to my resume.
So if you are still passing you plan to quit? Are you one of those guys who stops the 2 mile run one lap into it since he dosn't have the guts to sprint into the front or passout puking and pooping himself to death in the process? I hate those pussies. Quote from: Haynes7 on June 12, 2010, 01:24:08 AMI don't think this is a "negative" thing to ask. She is just asking us to consider the possibility that we won't all be brilliant at at law school, which you have to admit, is true. If I am literally in the very bottom of my class then I plan to cut my losses and drop out. On the other hand, I don't plan to be too hard on myself if I am not in the tippy top of the class. I do think it is important to manage your expectations.
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