Why a Recent Law Grad says Don't go to Law School 

Thank you for doing this education interview. Your video helped a lot.

Please, if nothing else, if you are even remotely considering law school, know this: The job market for JD's is profoundly over-saturated and has been for many years. It only get worse as time goes on. The old "if I don't get good grades, I will just work at the Public Defender's Office", that was actually true, when I attended a well ranked law school in the early 90's. Today, even getting into the OPD (Office of the Public Defender) is VERY difficult, and many, if not most, of the lawyers there stay there for life. And don't even think about the old "if I can't get a job, I will "hang out a shingle" and open your own solo practice--in my state a brand new baby lawyer was recently DISBARRED for gross incompetence that led to one of his clients getting convicted and deported. You WON"T know what you're doing, fresh out of law school, trust me on that.

Thank you Judy for all you do 😊

This was very informative and enlightening video! Thanks Judy and Elia!

This was very informative Thank you!

Interesting perspective on this, law school definitely not for everyone

But i still wanna go to lawschool!!😊

Thank you so much for reducing competition in the feint of heart among the field😂 ❤

My law school would be paid in full due to the hazelwood act in Texas for veterans. But everything else you said was depressing as fuck.

Great livestream. Re: the cost of legal education. Many times, people overlook the fact that those with full rides are effectively getting their education paid for by those paying full tuition. Couple this with the fact that schools are allocating scholarships based on their indexes of who is more and less likely to succeed coming out of law school. Law school costs someone a raw financial figure, but for many law students who also pay the most, there is an amplified disadvantage. The pressures of needing to secure post-graduate income to match the level of debt accruing, flexibility in spending during law school, and knowing that more of your peers than not are are probably higher achievers than you are (using objective metrics) can all stack up to a little fish + big pond effect. I would love to see an empirical study of scholarships correlating with earning power or some other success metric. But for those considering paying close to full tuition for law school, ask if you are willing to pay for both yourself and another student who has clearly impressed the admissions office more than you have.

Even in the medical field, the debt is very high and there is no guarantee that a job is going to be waiting for you after graduation or residency. In the healthcare field, if you piss off the wrong doctor h/she can tag your employment background making it hard to find your next gig. Medical solo practice without an established referral networks can put you in the poor house very quickly. I do not think at this point no industry is safe from unemployment. I thought about the liberal arts or something else that is less expensive like the field of education. Education at the Ed.S or doctoral level pay very well.

As a not recent law school grad, I second this position. The LSAT is a broad IQ test but worthless for assessing your ability to succeed in law school or practice. A better test is to learn a bit of legal writing and research, pick a case/topic/thesis (talk to a local law professor), and write it up unassisted put it away for a few months then grade your work, if it makes you cringe don't go to law school I'd also advise working in a real law office before and during law school, or better yet become a plumber and deal with less $hit

Thanks!

Also most lawyers that graduate don’t even have the skill. I am a paralegal and I’m at six figures and know alot more than majority of lawyers. I’ve actually trained a few cause they don’t even know anything other than the book they learned in those 3 years.

This may sound obvious, but don't go to law school unless you are willing to read 100+ pages of legal theory and cases every week for 3 or 4 years, or if you don't like writing or doing legal research. If you want to do trial you must feel comfortable with public speaking.

Very good video....and its true, you learn more law during bar review courses than you do during law school

I was watching and my son came in 🤦🏼‍♀️but I was enjoying find law interesting although I am a Barber and hair stylist and many other things 🤭but definitely a fan of yours 💯✌🏻

Law schools tell applicants "come to our amazing school, some of our grads get very well paying jobs with large, prestigious law firms!" Then after thw gullible mark signs the dotted line and enrolls, the truth emerges. At most law schools, large law firms will only grant interviews to students in the top ten percent of their class (top five percent for very grade-sensitive firms like Cravath). So for 9/10 law students, those jobs are entirely out of reach. Now, what if you are an amazing student, truly gifted, and you graduate at the top of your class and get a job with a large law firm? Well, at an annual salary of 190K, working 70 hours a week (typical for a first year in BigLaw, where sleeping overnight at your office is something that happens) you will make a whopping $50 per hour, pre-tax, with no time-and-a-half overtime. 50 bucks an hour--after 7Y of higher education--but if you have a wiring issue and need an electrician to come to your house, he will charge you $140 per hour. So will a plumber. Oh, and those jobs last 4Y on average, meaning that many people spend 7Y in college and law school for a "career" in biglaw that is over in 24-36 months, miserable overworked months, BTW. And that's the best outcome possible for most law students. . Don't do this. Practicing law is not like an episode of Suits or Law & Order. Don't make a big, expensive, life-changing mistake.

I’m applying for law school. I think law school is more valuable to people who have career experience or even are switching careers but will utilize their expertise. I definitely have realized that I am doing this at the right time in my life. Think about the TYPE of law you’re interested in before going and although it can change, there is a starting point. Also, don’t choose a law school without interviewing the career services. You shouldn’t have to look for a job. I’m choosing a school where I know the Career services company wants to find me a position or money for my company because it benefits the school. It’s a win-win.

A big reason not to go to law school for me was how improbable it is in the long run. The largest aspirations in the law (big law, regional court positions, national levels, etc.) get winnowed down to lottery level numbers in the likelihood of getting those positions.

So I don’t get the point-he wants law school shorter and lower cost-but that still doesn’t mean you will get a high paying job or even any job . AND -As for me, as a legal consumer - I still want a top notch lawyer with great legal experience and top of the class background. It’s easy now for the clients to check on the lawyer that they want to hire. (You’re not going to hire a lower tier inexperienced or poor experienced lawyer if you do your homework ). I think he sounds like he wants a shortcut 😂. So naive. Good luck getting work or clients.

Weren’t they saying don’t go into Law in the 80s! I think i remember the film St Elmo’s Fire one of the characters saying that Law is over saturated with graduates and that was nearly 40 years ago.

So someone just posted on here that all job fields are saturated, and this isn't a law thing. Respectfully, no. I did a Jail Visit with a client today, and there was a big electronic sign outside the Detention Center advertising jobs for Correctional Officers starting at over 50k. Where I live there are literally signs on the side of the road with big dollar symbols on them, advertising Cash Bonuses for Nurses. They will literally pay you to take a job as a Nurse. There is a major teacher shortage where I live, and public school teachers start at 55K or more. So, no, not every job field is saturated, not even close. Please, don't be a dummy. Don't go to law school and flounder to find work. 4 semesters studying nursing will get you a cash bonus to start working, at a nice salary, and you probably can get your employer to pay for another 4 semesters, giving you a Bachelor's Degree and, perhaps, a six-figure salary. Or become a cop, or a teacher, or a pilot--seriously, do some research, there is a major need for workers in all of those fields, and I personally know a pilot who earns a quarter-million dollars a year, plus more money for taking on special assignments. Law is portrayed as a sexy, high-paying profession, and while I have figured out how to monetize my JD, most never do (and I don't make nearly as much as the Pilot with a Bachelor's degree.)

AI will take most lawyer and para jobs in the next two years...just wait.

I want to go to law school, but can’t overcome the lsat. I know I’m a hard worker, and have the grades, it’s just suck, how a test can create so much hurdles. I’m a good memorizer.

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Heading to a t14 this fall with 50% scholarship. This is my third career (was a working DJ prior). Should I go or stay as a working DJ making 50k per year?

There is a country or more than one you don't have to pay for college.

I was about to graduate from law school in a few weeks but im well aware of the sunk cost fallacy and i will drop out immediately. Thank you for this informative video. 😥 how will i pay for this debt now?

Does a job in law consist of working from home?

I personally don't understand the CBE (CA Bar) argument that it's too expensive or only for rich people. I'm looking at a program that's $20k a year, with $4k CA financial aid semesterly. You also have the opportunity for scholarships and you can work during the day at local court as a clerk or similar. You have compound BS and MLS degrees. And a JD in record time sometimes about 3-4 years for everything total. Let's say $80k max for everything. My experience otherwise is that traditional ABA law students finish with upwards of $100k and closer to $200k in debt. So, right there I don't understand the debate about $20 a year vs $20k a *semester*. I don't believe many high preforming law students get to work and pay for school simultaneously, as well as at the local court. The debate still stands for the quality of your degree but many employers have plenty of 4.0 students but how many come with 2 years experience as a clerk, or who worked under local judges? CBE is a great opportunity and solution to the over saturation of traditional law students. Thank you for the video x

I’ve grown to really love the LSAT partly because I think it’s a useful self-sorting If you can’t get in the high 170s you probably don’t have the necessary work ethic or tolerance for drudgery to do well in school or practice.

If you’re going to Law School SOLELY to get compensated as a “lawyer,” after you graduate and NOTHING else, then quit it. The study of law has been so misunderstood throughout the years, many go into it with dollar sign eyes and that’s just not what it’s about. Studying law is an art of logic and exercising your mind, essentially like a mind-gym. Attend law school if you want to train your mind and with that be able to help others.

What I don't get about these "dont do law school" videos...both of you didn't have to go to the character committee. I did, which was a nightmare. Why are you complaining if you didn't, I assume, have to go to the character committee, they put me through 2 years of nonsense. Also, why didn't you take an additional degree and do law with that degree, for eg MBA/JD. Jonathan Manson MS/JD.

If you want to work, the job will be there. I put my faith in Jesus Christ, and I never have to worry about anything when it comes to employment. The problem is everybody wants to rely on themselves and you’re just not a reliable individual as a human alone. You have to lean on somebody bigger than yourself to overcome this world, and that is Jesus Christ. I’m telling you from experience, go to law school if you have a calling to go to law school and don’t listen to anyone else telling you not to. Forget saturation, God is bigger. Forget, unemployment rates God is bigger. Everybody in this world lacks faith and that’s the problem. You are not the author of your destiny because you can’t even tell me the day you die. God is bigger and if you want to serve him in that career, you do so.

Unless you go to a Tier 1 law school, don't even consider becoming an attorney....