I don't know where you get 250,000 from their tuition is 19,000 per year http://www.lsac.org/lsacresources/publications/2012og/aba4973.pdf (direct from LSAC) 19,000 x 3=57,000 in tuition not 250,000.
That's $19,000
per semester. And that information is actually outdated, the actual cost of tuition is $21,500
per semester for the 2012-2013 academic year. See:
http://www.tjsl.edu/admissions/tuition$21,000 x 2 = $42,000 per year in tuition.
Adding in living expenses, estimated by your source at $27,440 / year, and the total cost of attendance is
$69,440 per year.
$69,440 x 3 = $208,320.
Now take into account tuition increases. From 2011-2012 to 2012-2013 the tuition increased from $19,000 to $21,000. That's over a 10% increase. Let's assume that rate stays constant for the next three years. This means the cost of tuition, per semester, for 1L, 2L, and 3L year will be $21,000, $23,100, and $25,410, respectively. This adds an extra $6,200 his 2L year, and an extra $10,820 to his 3L year. Tuition increases will cost an additional
$17,020.$208,320 + $17,020 = $225,340
Now, I don't know too many people who have that kind of money lying around. That means OP is taking out loans. After loan fees (4% of principal) and interest over three years, OP will easily top out over $250,000. (And let's be honest, it's not like OP's life would be any less destroyed if it were only $225,340).
As for the 26.7% again where do get these numbers LSAC says it is 86% employment. Now not everyone in law school has any desire to practice law and the circumstances of individual are so varied
http://www.lstscorereports.com/?school=thomasjefferson&show=chars, which gets its data directly from the NALP report:
http://www.lawschooltransparency.com/documents/NALPReports/2011/thomasjefferson_Redacted.pdf69 students out of the class of 228 got long term, full time legal jobs. That's 30% (slightly higher than the 26.7% reported at LST, but still inexcusably bad).
And I don't understand your argument that some students "have no desire to practice law." If one does not want to practice law, why is that person going to law school. Would you go to Med school if you didn't want to be a doctor?
that these stats are essentially useless on top of the fact that many people fail to report their information because it is not mandatory. Do you fill out every survey that comes your way? Probably not and when you get something 9 months after you graduate from your law school it is the last thing on most grads mind.
If you have ever taken a statistics class you are probably familiar with something known as a
sample size. 100% participation is not required to gain an accurate picture of the legal industry.
Additionally, the NALP report suggests that over-representation at large firms (and consequently high paying jobs) actually skews the salary data we
do have in a favorable light. Meaning, things are actually worse than they look, and things look pretty awful.The statistics may not be perfect, but they are the best that we have. It makes a lot more sense to rely on statistics than it does to rely on personal anecdotes.
As for the lawyer yes I am, but maybe I am just some insane delusional person all it takes to post on this board is an internet connection. Therefore, OP before making a life altering decision really understand what you read on this board or others should be taken with a major grain of salt. I have never set foot on the Thomas Jefferson Law School Campus and I am assuming Anti has never attended a law school class so we are some of the last people you should be listening to when choosing whether to commit 57,000 in tuition or more importantly 3 years of the prime of your life.
I agree. I am not asking him to listen to me, or not to listen to you. I am asking him to listen to basic fiscal (and common) sense. Objectively, attending this school is one of the worst investments anyone could possibly make. It will end in abject failure for
three quarters of the class, and those who are lucky enough to find work will face loan payments of nearly $2,600 a month for 10 years, or $1,500 a month for 30 years. That is life-crushingly awful debt for anyone, but shouldering that debt while making (at a maximum) $60,000 per year is literally impossible.