#law scam

[lawlemmings]

Don't you want to hear truth rather than "encouragement"? Get real, lemming.

An attorney told me tonight that she regrets going to law school because of the debt hanging over her head now. #veryencouraging #countmeout

— Ricky (@RickyR513) October 24, 2014

[lawlemmings]

Maybe your IT dept is as helpful as the career services dept

Considering how much I pay for tuition would it kill the law school to have reliable internet?

— #QuidProNo (@swhittnee) October 14, 2014

[lawlemmings]

Hi. Thank you for putting together this website. I have reviewed this site and other realistic resources and I was wondering if I could get some advice for my particular situation. I'm currently working within a legal role in a large company. If I go to law school part time, the company will pay ~60% of tuition, and I will continue to earn a salary. I'm targeting a T2 school with positive employment outlooks. Also grants might not be off the table. Should I drop my job if I get into a T1 school?

T1 is a distinction without a difference. The only law schools worth dropping your job for at full price are Harvard, Yale, and Stanford. If you got a full or nearly full tuition scholarship at a law school ranked between 4 and 10, that “MAY” be worth taking advantage of. T1 in and of itself means nothing. There are loads of “T1” schools that churn out huge classes of students where more than half the class never gets a job at a law firm.

My first question would be why do you want to go to law school? Working in a legal role at a large company is entirely different from working at a law firm, especially a small law firm (where the vast majority of lawyers actually work). Your exposure to law has probably been one where lawyers are mostly civilized and genteel with one another. The practice of law in small firms often involves berating, yelling, screaming, and generally unprofessional behavior. Realize that if you don’t work for a large firm or a large company that this is what you’ll have to expect. It’s brutal and this is why so many lawyers have substance abuse and depression problems. Google it if you don’t believe me.

If you want to go to law school, I’d suggest working at a small firm as a legal assistant for at least a year or two to see what you’re getting yourself into. You most likely won’t be able to get an in-house position at the large company you’re with unless they’re guaranteeing you a job.

The 60% tuition + keeping your job deal sounds pretty good. But even paying 40% of law school tuition can leave you with a huge student loan debt that you’ll regret. 40% of my law school debt is still $80,000. That’s a lot of money.

Also, I’d like to see any T2 law school with positive employment outcomes because I don’t think such a school exists. I don’t think you’ve learned how to properly analyze the job statistics the ABA finally mandated the law schools to provide. Law firms with less than 30 or so lawyers often pay horribly. People who are working in non-legal roles or who hang their own shingles are also not being paid well. Law grads with temporary jobs are not being paid well. The numbers are gamed and you need to learn how to interpret them. I almost guarantee that if you’re working at a large company, you’re getting paid more than the average law school grad, especially from a T2 school.

If I were you, I’d try to get a solid LSAT score and get a full ride at the T2 but for the love of God, DO NOT DROP YOUR JOB. Keep your job because law school is not a good route to any sort of job. If you stay on with your employer during law school, you have the best of both worlds. If you get a full ride (won’t take much at a T2), you’ll have kept your job and have no debt. I think that’s the best move for your future. Believe me when I say law school is generally not a good bet for your future. I’ve seen too many lives destroyed by huge law school debt and horrifically poor job opportunities for new JDs. Caveat emptor!

Good luck out there. I wish I’d had someone to give me the truth about law school prior to my wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars and three years of my youth I’ll never get back.

[lawlemmings]

Stick with cam modeling. You're more likely to pay your bills.

Quiet night on cam but thanks to those who hung out & did LSAT questions w me. See you tomorrow!

— Ginger Meadows (@Gingervitis23) July 9, 2014

[lawlemmings]

Great critical thinking skills!

#TheOtherWoman was so good 😍 makes me want to go to law school and get rich

— Alaina Avirett (@alainaavirett) May 2, 2014

[lawlemmings]

The language used by law school marketers makes me throw up in my mouth. "In light of your accomplishments" "Committee believes strongly in the contributions you will make"

And another law school acceptance! Whoop! pic.twitter.com/FV1hLWA0Qs

— Stef A. (@EggSteff) March 29, 2014

[lawlemmings]

Terrible, horrible advice

@J9_lisa @JurisDebtis you also know what it takes to be different, to stand out and yes, chase your dream! Not just grades but be marketable

— Law School Rookie (@lawschoolrookie) March 23, 2014

[lawlemmings]

Interesting perspective from a for-profit Charlotte School of Law student

@JurisDebtis like I have never felt surrounded by more idiots than at law school I'm so unchallenged I'm bored I correct my profs' grammar

— )o( (@KITTEHMIEN) March 23, 2014