Thinking About Law School

[JamieA]

I am desperate need of advice/someone to listen.

A little background:
When I graduated HS I had intentions of going to law school right out of college. About 1/2 way through college, I had a melt down and decided that I needed a break, and going to law school right away maybe wasn't the best choice. I didn't think I would have made it through. I graduated college in 2002 - not the best time for jobs! I looked for a job in a law firm or in the legal field for a year. I never did find one. Everywhere wanted experience, even for the meaningless jobs. I ended up working as an admin. assistant for a Dr. during the day and waitressing at night. I hated it! After about 9 mo., we decided to move to Denver (from IA) and I enrolled in a post grad paralegal program here. I finished the program in 6 months - and started my internship in Jan. I interned for a District Court Judge, though I didn't get to do anything - I filed, etc. and was bored to tears!!! Then, I got a job for a law firm. I've been working there about a month. This is where my delimma comes in.

I'm seriously thinking about going back to law school. Why? Because I'm bored to tears with what I'm doing now. Yes, I know I've only been doing this for about a month - but I've been talking to other peopel there, and from my understanding, it won't get any better, this is just what the job is :disbelief And, right now, it's supposed to be exciting b/c we're preparing for trial. The guy who's been there for 4 yrs said it's going to get worse after the trial is over. (Yes, this is all he does too, still, after 4 yrs) WORSE??? I'm not sure I'll be able to stand it! All I do now is file, copy, shift paper for trial notebooks and verify docket. This is NOTHING like what I went to school for! Anyone with a brain and a little bit of common sense could do my job! I'm SO dissapointed, aggravated and upset! I don't want to go somewhere else, b/c I do like the firm A LOT! And, I'm paranoid of getting a job that's even worse (firm wise) And, besides that, entry level jobs are hard to come by around here. That said, I do like the law firm, I like the law firm atmosphere and by watching the attorneys there, I actually think that I would like to be an attorney.

However, I'm concerned that the reason I'm wanting to go to law school is b/c I'm starving for more challenging work. I've been in college, for the most part, for the past 6 yrs. I didn't do that so I could copy, file and shift paper all day. Yes, I know this is going to be a big part of my job - but I, in no way, thought this would be 100% of my job. Actually, I think being a secretary would be better.

Another issue is that I'm broke! On top of everything else, I'm really not getting paid all that much - it's not horrible, but it's not good! Definately not enough to pay the bills. Between undergrad (private college) and the very expensive paralegal program, there is no way I could afford to quit work for 3 yrs and go back to incur more debt. So - I've been thinking about and talking to many peopel about a night law school program at the University of Denver. Yet, another private college. Some of my paralegal instructors went to college there, at night, so I know it's dooable. My problem is that I don't want to start, yet another college program if I'm not absolutely positive this is what I want.

Any insight/thoughts?

[sketcher]

don't stick with a job you don't really like-- keep your job but start looking for something more rewarding/challenging

talk to the lawyers you work with/for and tell them you're thinking about pursuing law school to become an attorney-- find out what they like and don't like about their jobs and see if what they do sounds interesting to you

my DH is a lawyer and from what I can tell even associates sometimes get boring work but their boring work is still better than the work that gets handed to paralegals and research assistants

just my 2 cents! believe in your dreams and go for it.

[JamieA]

Thanks for your reply.

I agree - associate attorneys arn't going to get boring work too - but I would hope it's not filing for hours per day, weeks on end! ALL I have done for the past 7 working days is file. ALL I will do for at least the next 6 is file b/c my boss is going on vacation - I won't get any new projects until after she gets back - most of which will be a ton more filing b/c I won't get any new filing while she's gone.

I'm seriously thinking about applying to law school - it just seems that everyone I talk to tells me not to go b/c it was a horrible experience and that there are already so many attorneys that don't have a job and I would most likely have a hard time finding a job.

So - now I'm still trying to decide what I want to do.

Regarding my immediate situation - I would love to look for something esle, but I'm not sure there really is much else. I know that sounds pathetic, but in my graduating class at the paralegal college - there were over 30 graduates and only 4 (including me) had a job when we graduated. I was EXTREMELY lucky to get this job. Since I've taken this job, I've been offered two others (within my first week here) which I turned down b/c I had already accepted this job. One I think may have been better the other maybe better work wise, but it was payin signifigantly less and I would have to add about another 45 min. onto my commute each way - so it really wasn't an option. Another reason is I really need some stability right now. My DH is leaving for boot camp this summer and I need a stable job with stable income to pay the bills while he's gone. That said, I'm going to give this job six months and see how things are going and then start looking for something more challenging. I love the firm though - I could not have gotten a job with a better law firm. They treat their employees great and the benefits are outstanding. So - there are plus sides to being here. I'm just still really not sure how filing all day is getting me experience to get a job elsewhere with more responsibility and projects in a few months!

[Nocona]

Before I read your latest post, I was going to suggest giving it a chance. Who's to say that they won't see what a great job you do and move you around and give you more exciting things to do. Maybe the guy that's been there 4 years isn't motivated to do any more than he's doing. If you still don't like it, your DH will be out of boot camp and you can reevaluate law school.

[Katrina]

Wow..tough decision. And I am not sure I can be of much help because I am in a similar situation, only I have actually gone to law school, and dropped out halfway through because I needed a break .. like you described your college experience.. I was burned out. I was working full time at the time and doing my own Army training while going to school so that didn't help.
That said, a few years after I left law school, I am now working as a legal assistant at a small law firm.. an entry level position..not even a paralegal. A lot of what I do sound much like what you do. (except I spend all day ordering medical records on clients...whoopee!)
Anyway, I have debated going back to law school on and off ever since I left. I LOVED law school but wasn't sure I wanted to be an attorney. I am still not totally positive I want to be one, but there are SO many things you can do with a JD that isn't necessarily being a trial lawyer, or an attorney in the conventional sense we think of them. My issue is that I would have to likely start over from the very beginning and its expensive. Its a heck of a time commitment for 3 years and right *now* I am not positive I want to make it. Again though, I REALLY REALLY loved studying law. My husband is getting out of the Army in January and he is going to start law school himself the following fall semester. So I am thinking that maybe once he is a working lawyer, my son will be in school by then and I will have more freedom to go back to school at that point, should I choose to make that commitment. Plus, we will be able to afford it more then, as now we are going to need my income to help put him through school and whatnot.
So I don't really know what to tell you.. working at the firm will give you great experience for your law school application (they usually ask for resumes) and your boss can do letters of recommendation, so that is going to be good for you. I would stick with it as long as you can stand. Have you thought about going to school part time? Maybe once your husband gets back from boot camp, and gets established at your new duty station, you can look into schools. That would give you a good amoutn of time at your job to give it a fair shot, get experience, get a recommendation and then look more into law school.

Good luck!

[Brownie]

I am desperate need of advice/someone to listen.

Between undergrad (private college) and the very expensive paralegal program, there is no way I could afford to quit work for 3 yrs and go back to incur more debt. So - I've been thinking about and talking to many peopel about a night law school program at the University of Denver. Yet, another private college. Some of my paralegal instructors went to college there, at night, so I know it's dooable. My problem is that I don't want to start, yet another college program if I'm not absolutely positive this is what I want.

Any insight/thoughts?
Hey Jamie. I'm new here, but here's what I can offer you in advice. Right now I am in my first year of law school at Nashville School of Law, which is a private night school, and sounds similar to the program you describe in Denver. My school is a four-year program, I go for 4 hours 2 nights a week, Sep-May. So far, it has been VERY challenging, but if I pass finals in 3 weeks(fingers crossed!) I think the worst will be behind me. The way I looked at it is this:
1) By chosing a night-school program, I can still work full-time, and if I decide to quit, then I haven't lost anything because I still have my job.
2) My school is WAY more affordable than a full-time program, so I don't have school debt to tie me down when I'm done, and I won't have lost too much of an investment if I don't finish.
3) In my area, my school is highly respected, but it is probably unknown outside my state. Since I know I will never be moving out of my area, this isn't an issue for me.

I wasn't totally conviced I wanted to be a lawyer before I started school, but night school just seemed like a good opportunity to try it without a lot of risks involved. I like it for the most part, and I think if I can stick it out it will all be worth it, it's just hard to see that light at the end right now! It also helps when you're in a job you hate to have something to look forward to, and knowing that your career is moving forward by going to law school could do that for you. Just my thoughts...good luck!

[bunkie68]

The good thing about a law degree is that you can do so many things with it. You aren't limited to working as an associate in a big firm if that's not what appeals to you, or if that's what you start out doing and then decide it isn't for you after all. You can work for a variety of government agencies, you can be a prosecutor (that's where I started out - good place to get courtroom experience without having to do some partner's grunt work for years before you see the inside of a courtroom, if you're interested in that), you can work for corporations of various kinds, you aren't really limited to a particular field or type of work. So you can use a law degree to find something that's interesting and appealing to you! :) I've just started a new job as a trust officer with Bank of America. I didn't have to have a law degree to get the job, but it got me a bump up in starting salary to have the J.D.

Jamie, I agree with what others have said, that life is too short to stick with a dead-end job. Before jumping into law school, though, I'd check around, see if there's room for you to move up to something more interesting with your current employer or other opportunities out there to use your paralegal certificate. I think entry-level paralegal work may be a bit tedious, but paralegals can pretty much do everything attorneys can, except sign legal documents and represent people in court. So perhaps you could move up to something more interesting where you are, or stay there a year or two (or as long as you can stand it) and get some good initial experience and then move to another paralegal position elsewhere that offers some more variety. What is your job title, exactly? What you're doing sounds more like a case clerk position than a true paralegal position. You're working in litigation, right? My husband (soon to be ex?) has been looking for a job, and based on what I've seen helping him with that, a lot of places want that initial gruntwork experience that you're getting right now before they'll be willing to hire you on for the more interesting stuff. Sucks, I know, but everyone has to start somewhere.

So after all that, my advice is: See what else is available once you've got more experience, either through moving up where you are or elsewhere. If it sounds like there's the potential to get to something interesting eventually, stick it out at your current job and get the experience you need to do that. If you don't find that there's the possibility to move up or on to something you enjoy without the legal degree, then you might be better off going to law school.

Just my two cents! :)

[JamieA]

Thanks Bunkie - I've thought abotu this A LOT!!! I know that I have to do the grunt work, that's where everyone starts, though I'm still not sure why I have to get a paralegal cert. if that's where I'm going to start and 'learn on the job' but whatever. After doing some 'research' and talking to paralegals there and other places, I don't think I even want to be a paralegal, or a lawyer (unless I could work in criminal law) I have decided my problem isn't only what my job entails, but also the fact that I HATE civil litigation - I HATE, HATE, HATE IT!!! The more I thought about it and thought about why I wanted to work in the legal field was b/c of shows like Law and Order - I know it's stupid - but that made me realize that the biggest reason I wasn't happythere was b/c of the area of law - it's not what I even want to do - does that make sense???

Now - that said, I've basically decided that being a paralegal or even a lawyer is not for me - but what is? I'm still trying to figure that out. Everytime I think about what I loved in college, what jobs I've enjoyed, etc. I keep coming back to psychology and social work. So - that is the route I'm currently looking into. I'm thinking working with mentally disturbed criminals would be right up my alley :awink:

[Bonnie]

My only advice would be to make sure you think being a lawyer is something you want to do that would also work with other life choices, i.e. children, etc. I am a lawyer and am fortunate to have a great 9-5 job where I almost never travel or go to court, but when in private practice, I worked a lot more and was out in depositions, trial, etc. all the time... not at all compatible with my current family life... plus, it is very expensive, even if you do get a good job with a good salary, will it be worth all the debt? For me, 10 years out of law school, yes, but for many of my friends, no, and I'm only a yes b/c of the particular job I have. In private practice, while I liked the work, the other aggravations, billing, etc. really sucked!

[bunkie68]

though I'm still not sure why I have to get a paralegal cert. if that's where I'm going to start and 'learn on the job' but whatever.
Some employers want the certificate, some want a certificate and a degree, and some are fine with on-the-job training only. It just depends on who's hiring.

After doing some 'research' and talking to paralegals there and other places, I don't think I even want to be a paralegal, or a lawyer (unless I could work in criminal law) I have decided my problem isn't only what my job entails, but also the fact that I HATE civil litigation - I HATE, HATE, HATE IT!!!
You sound like Kevin. :lol: He's figured out he can't stand civil litigation and is looking for a paralegal position more in line with his personality and interests. I told him to focus on government jobs - he's currently applying for a position with the local U.S. Attorney's office. If he gets it, it will be good training, decent pay, and good experience.

The more I thought about it and thought about why I wanted to work in the legal field was b/c of shows like Law and Order - I know it's stupid - but that made me realize that the biggest reason I wasn't happythere was b/c of the area of law - it's not what I even want to do - does that make sense???
Not stupid at all. People have all sorts of reasons for wanting to go into law. Me, I thought I could change the world. Now that I'm in it, I realize that the opportunities to really make a difference are few and far between, and I tend to find those opportunities in places like prosecution or where I am now, as a trust officer. And at least you figured out you didn't like litigation before you had a lot of time and effort vested in it. Now you can look for something better suited to you, be it in the legal field or elsewhere.

Good luck!