Hey jbean29:
This thread is kind of crazy.
I would dissuade you from going to law school, but it's really not the worst choice in the world.
There are basically three ways of getting a legal job these days
1: Knowing someone
2: Dominating law school, particularly at a law school employers care about. (This applies to some T4 schools.)
3: Hustling at the right time and getting lucky.
As an example, Let's say you get into Washburn University in Topeka Kansas. It's a low ranked school, but it's pretty well respected in Topeka, Kansas City, and Wichita. Those are three decent job markets. Let's say you dominate at Washburn (Top 10%, Law Review Editor, etc). You could probably transfer to Kansas or another decent T2 school, or you could just stay at Washburn and continue to dominate. (highly recommended).
If you have VERY STRONG connections, like a family member who owns a firm, it doesn't really matter where you go to school.
If you dominate, your resume will have significant regional appeal. If you were in the top ten percent after 1L, you are likely to get a good internship somewhere in the region, which could lead to a good job.
However, if you moved to San Diego or something, you may have a tough time even though your resume is very impressive. Then you'd have to hustle. Unfortunately, your effort doesn't pay off that well if you aren't in the area. I finished law school and moved to my home state. My networking efforts were ten times as effective when I actually lived where I want to work. SO, if you are going to go to a T4 you really have to consider the market you want to live in. You also have to consider the fact that half of your classmates probably won't get a law-firm or government job. Even less will like their jobs.
Law degrees are incredibly valuable in many ways. Some are possible to quantify in hindsight, some aren't (i.e., the increase in analytical ability that many law students enjoy). My investment looks like it will pay off, even though the job hunt was brutal and long. That said, it's not going to pay off by a ton. I understand you want to be a lawyer, I did too, but you have a very low chance of practicing in the type of law you want. The lawyers that enjoy their jobs are either lucky, or just have the right kind of attitude and focus, which means they can enjoy most anything.
I think most candidates should attack a few other markets before coming to law school. If they still aren't finding the challenge and interest that they are looking for, then go to law school. If you are going to law school for the money and you are going to a T4, you probably have less than a 30% chance it will pay off, even in the long run.
Between the articles, this forum, another forum I am on.. all I keep hearing is about how I will end up in debt without a job.
I have no other choice to attend a 4 tier at this point, and I am pretty confident that I will be able to transfer out.. that is my plan, but this is the rest of my life and I am about to get into a lot of debt and be thrown into a not great job market in 3 years.. I really don't want to regret ignoring everything I have been hearing.
But I honestly do want to be an attorney more than anything, and have always wanted to.