Should I Go to Law School?

By BrainFall Staff - Updated: April 9, 2024

Deciding whether to go to law school is like choosing what to binge-watch next—it's a serious commitment, and if you pick wrong, you're stuck with regret and a hefty student loan instead of just a bad TV hangover. But fear not, because we're here to guide you through the labyrinth of legalese and casebooks! Think of us as your legal career GPS, minus the annoying "recalculating" every time you question if you should've just gone backpacking across Europe instead.

We get it; law school isn't all powdered wigs and dramatic courtroom monologues. It's a cauldron bubbling with case briefs, late nights, and a whole lot of "Did I really sign up for this?" So, before you take the plunge and start prepping for the LSAT like it's the final boss in a video game, let's talk turkey. Law school hones the mind sharper than a sushi chef's knife—critical thinking and research will become your bread and butter. But is this culinary school for the brain right for you? Well, that's the million-dollar question, and we're here to help you answer it without spending a million dollars.

Considering a Career in Law

Before diving headfirst into the majestic world of justice and jurisprudence, let's crack open the reality of a legal education. It's a world where your vocabulary will expand faster than a judge's gavel can cause a courtroom to fall silent.

The Great Debate: Lawyer vs. Martyr

So, you want to don the cape of justice and become a modern-day legal hero? We get it, the appeal of battling it out in the courtroom, armed with nothing but your wit and a fluency in legalese, is strong. But let's not forget, this career path can sometimes feel more like martyrdom, complete with long hours, steep competition, and enough anxiety to fuel a small country.

Show Me the Money: Financing Your Legal Fantasy

Oh, the siren song of those (admittedly sometimes elusive) high salaries can be such sweet music to our debt-ridden ears! But hold on, those glittering numbers don't come without their own hefty price tag. Brace yourselves for tuition fees that could rival the GDP of a small nation, while your bank account prepares to play the most unfun game of hide and seek.

The LSAT: Your New Worst Best Friend

Imagine a friend who challenges you to intellectual duels and throws logic puzzles at you for fun—that’s the LSAT. Sure, conquering this beast of a test is your golden ticket to legal education glory, but it'll demand every ounce of focus, leaving you with a weird fondness for tortuously tricky questions and a knack for filling out Scantrons in your sleep.

Law School 101: Socratic Method and Other Legal Tortures

Welcome to the thunderdome where professors toss questions like ninja stars and you learn to think on your feet or fall flat on your face. "Cold calling" will become a term that haunts you, and "IRAC" (Issue, Rule, Application, Conclusion) will be your new mantra. Engage in the brain-building masochism of civil procedure, torts, contracts, and constitutional law, but remember—it's all in the name of constructing your impenetrable suit of legal armor.

Life After the Bar Exam

Ladies and gents, after the grueling hours hunched over textbooks and the hair-pulling stress of the bar exam, we’ve arrived at the grand finale — what happens post-victory (or post-defeat, but who's counting).

To Court or Not to Court

So you've survived the bar exam, sporting that fresh-out-of-the-trenches glow. Now we're faced with the eternal lawyerly question: to strut into court with all the drama of a legal eagle or to carve out a space where the mahogany of courtrooms doesn’t echo our every step. Law firm magnets may beckon with the promise of high starting salaries, but beware the siren song if the courtroom isn't where your passion lies. If you're dreaming of changing the world one law at a time, perhaps turning to social change organizations feels more like your jam.

You've Passed the Bar! Now What?

Pop the bubbly because we passed the bar! But before settling into our leather chairs, let's talk turkey. The government could use our sharp minds in the public sector or maybe a swanky corporate gig in the private sector — the world is our oyster. Sure, the American Bar Association (ABA) guidelines and networking helped us get here, but choosing internships and practice areas that resonate with our inner justice-seeker? Chef's kiss. Remember, a juris doctor doesn't chain us to the courtroom; alternate paths like being a law professor are totally within reach.

Making Bank or Making Change: Career Options Post-JD

Alright, let's face it, we've got loan debt that's scarier than any cross-examination we'll ever face, but we've also got a shiny JD that opens doors to both lucrative gigs and gigs that feed the soul. Prospective law students, hear us out: having a thick skin isn't just for weathering critiques but also for the financial investment that is law school. Like hunting for hidden treasure, district attorney’s office roles or advocating for ivory tower policies offer a mix of both worlds. For those of us wanting to shake things up, income-driven repayment plans can be a lifebuoy as we dive into making a splash for social change.

And no matter where you are, remember — location, location, location! Whether you're making bank or rallying for reform, where you practice can shape your path just as much as your ambition.