Kristina
What are the risks and benefits of dedicating 8 years to law school?
I've always excelled proficiently in English, since I was born in Ukraine and gained a bilingual advantage, but I've fallen in love with all things government during the course of my Advanced Placement Government course this semester (my last in high school). I was looking for some advice on whether I should do what I know best or to follow my passions, although they are accompanied by risks. #law #criminal-justice #justice #legal #congress
4 answers
Richard A.
Richard’s Answer
The biggest risk is the cost. College loans are hard to pay off and usually not dischargeable in bankruptcy. It is not like you are guaranteed to make a lot of money either to pay off that debt.
On the other hand, it is a rewarding career. My wife is an attorney and loves what she does. She says there is enough variety to always keep her day interesting. It does take a lot of hours to get experienced in one area though. The practice of law is nothing like law school, and there isn't a "residency" for attorneys like what is provided for doctors. You learn on the job from mentors. It can be frustrating and require a lot of hours of learning.
Jesse H
Jesse’s Answer
Risks: 1) high debt - law school is not cheap and the average graduate comes out with nearly $100k of debt. 2) low paying job - society believes that attorneys make money hand over fist. In fact most attorneys make below $100k conning out of law school. 3) high stress - being an attorney you deal with people's lives. If you mess up you could have horribly detrimental consequences to who ever you represent.
Rewards: 1) potential for high salary. 2) interesting and impactful work. 3) unique view on life.
Kim Igleheart
Kim’s Answer
Hi Kristina!
Career choices are not necessarily either/or. Sometimes you can do both. The key to happiness is to find a way to do what you want to be doing. It also means not necessarily staying with what you "Are good at" but sometimes exploring other options. While everyone will tell you to have a goal and steps to get there, you are a bright young lady and will realize if somewhere along that path, opportunity knocks, you need to evaluate changing your course of action.
I encourage you to explore law, and ask yourself if that is what you want. Lawyers often work 60 hours a week, it is extremely stressful and competitive. Some people thrive in that environment, some don't. Get your Bachelor's degree in something that would be a good fallback. Perhaps English/Political Science, along with a teaching degree. I could envision you as a HS teacher who also coaches the debate team, for example. Paralegal is another option. They do almost everything a lawyer does, including a lot of research and drafting of documents. But they do not actually represent clients, they work for an attorney. They also accompany the attorney at trial sometimes. The salary starts out low, but over time it gets pretty good.
There is also the option to pursue a passion simply as a hobby, which is what I do. An attorney who represented me on a case liked the way I think, and uses me as an investigator. This is fairly low stress, and I work from home. I work on criminal defense, civil rights, and employment law cases. It is exciting!
Keep exploring, keep thinking. There are lots of options available to you! Good luck!
