For context, im 26, went to grad school right after undergrad, and now work as a sales engineer. I think i make great money at 26 considering I only graduated 2 yrs ago.
But ive always wanted to pursue law school and now that I have the means to fund this pursuit Im really considering it. I only think its worthwhile if I crack T-14, otherwise its a waste considering i already have $100k in student loans.
Sales is also a lucrative industry and theres plenty of money to make in this field when youre good at it. I love the work I do but i dont want to be “hands on keyboard” for the rest of my life. I also want a bit more job security now as I get older. I think im also itching for the prestige and network that comes with a J.D after my name. Im also thinking about the future I want to secure for my future children and my immediate family. I’d be the first attorney in my family if i actually do this and considering the scary times we live in, I see no rzn not to go full throttle with my plan BUT only if i can secure a T-14.
Any thoughts?
Fyi— hands on keyboard as an engineer means coding and directly performing technical work
Is it stupid to consider leaving my $200k salary job to peruse law school?
byu/Content-Lemon-6671 inStudentLoans
Posted by Content-Lemon-6671
30 Comments
Have you taken a practice LSAT?
You’ll be hands on a keyboard for the rest of your life as a lawyer.
Don’t become a lawyer for the “prestige.” There are lots of unhappy and underpaid lawyers. What are your current degrees?
I personally think it’s a bad idea, at least with your already existing loans. You’re making good money now. Find meaning in the work you do, or more meaning outside of work. If loans are paid off and you’re still wanting it, then sure.
At minimum, take the practice LSAT a few times and see how you fair. I’d also recommend working a few years to make the money to fund your life through school and pay the debt after. I’m not a lawyer, but I have a lot of friends who did the lawyer route when we all picked grad/doctorate programs.
My friends have a higher salary, but when you compare it to hours worked, I make about the same/more and I have a fraction of the debt they do.
The few who got scholarships are doing great though. They got to choose jobs based on interest without having to pursue jobs for high pay where they end up working 70+ hours a week.
There’s a lot for you to consider before making a move. I also considered law school at one point but was not as passionate about it as you seem to be considering i did not think the student loans awaiting me would be worth the grueling 3 and a half years of schooling i’d go through.
But you have to consider the risks. IF you do well on the LSAT and get into a T-14, there’s no guarantee you’re going to receive funding in the form of scholarships. Meaning you would have to figure out how to pay for the $150k+ in loans (you already have $100k in loans). Even once you graduate there’s no absolute guarantee that you’re going to get into a top law firm, but there’s an increased chance that you’ll land a job.
All in all this is not a stupid decision to make if you are absolutely passionate about becoming a lawyer. But if you just want more financial security and the prestige of having a JD, then it’s not worth what you are about to put yourself through.
I would maybe think about doing some research into what type of entry positions automation is now filling in that field and try to determine how difficult it may become to get work, fresh out of law school, however many years down the road that is, and what positions automation may be filling then.
Yes
Do not go to law school for the prestige. Only go if it’s something you truly want to do. Your entire life as an attorney will be hands on a keyboard btw.
If this is something you are considering then aggressively repay any private loans. Build up your savings so that you don’t have to borrow for law school.
It will cost you $600k of lost salary plus whatever the cost of tuition is just to graduate to a job making less than what you are making now. I had the same thought years ago and have zero regrets not going down that path.
Yes.
Bad idea
Yes
Seems like an unnecessary change, but your happiness is what matters most
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Agree stay out if you can be happy. Agree with crazy debt and cost vs benefit/happiness…. You need to be real with yourself!
Yes, that would be stupid: written by a lawyer
Dont do it
Do you think that lawyers have a ton of job security? Why? a best case financial outcome is that you give up $600k in income for the next 3 years, pay nothing for law school, then graduate to a highly sought after and somewhat competitive job in BigLaw to make… slightly more than you do now. You’d have to work a good long time to make up the lost income.
But money isn’t everything. Why do you want to go to law school? Why do you only want to go if you go to a T14 (which, you know, actually varies from year to year)?
If I had a $200k job at 26 you’d have to pry it from my cold, dead hands. That kind of salary that early sets you up for life. Don’t do it.
>I do but i dont want to be “hands on keyboard” for the rest of my life
If this is how you feel, you may want to lookup what lawyers *actually* do outside of tv shows and movies. Being in court and actually participating in trial and proceedings is like 1% of the job and usually comes after doing 99% of the “hands on a keyboard” work for the 6 months before that. Rinse and repeat.
Dumb as hell
don’t do it for the prestige. its a lot of debt and a lot of hours. all lawyers have told me to only pursue law if I really want it, because it just is not worth it to them. do it if you really WANT to, if its a passion, and of course, if it makes sense financially. you’re still very young, give it some time (and work on paying off those loans…)
If you have a genuine interest in it and score well enough on the LSATs to get a free ride to a T100 school, then it can be worth it.
Don’t get hung up on rankings, I made that mistake opting against a free ride at a lower ranked law school because I assumed it would make a difference. I’ve known and worked with attorneys making $250k+ from lower tier schools and just as many earning far less from higher ranked schools. Your performance and the connections you make are all that matter and not having an albatross of an additional six figure debt around your neck makes a world of a difference. For your own good, prioritize avoiding additional student loans.
Yes
Financially you will never be ahead unless you score a very rare slot at a top law firm or otherwise do much better than the average lawyer.
The real cost is a couple years of no pay, 400 – 600k that it will be hard to make back. Plus the cost of law school, and then you are only really benefitting when your pay is over 200k.
Pay off your existing student loans. Then save another 150-200k for law school tuition and expenses before you go. Then, if you still think it is a good idea, go for it. But don’t go into debt (or more debt) for it. LOTS of lawyers do not make 120k or more.
This has to be for content farming. I can’t think someone would go to law school, a T-14 no less, for such a deeply unserious reason. If it’s not content farming, and you are seriously considering this career path, then you need to talk to lawyers who have graduated from a T-14. The only way for you to realize a return on investment is if you secure a future in BigLaw. It’s highly competitive and the competition will get even more fierce in the coming years. Practicing law takes everything from you. Your time, your youth, your peace of mind, your nights and weekends, your health. The list goes on. And it’s thankless. Your clients, generally, won’t look at you and think of prestige. They’ll look at you and want the answer that they want to hear. And they’ll hate you when you tell them differently.
Yes, it is not the time in this economy to leave a gig like you have. Take the LSAT and see what you think but I’d stay at your job if I was you