10 Questions Future Lawyers Should Ask.

Is going to law school worth the time (three years) and money (tuition, books, room and board, etc.)?  

That question is like asking “is purple a more attractive color than green”?  The answer, of course, is that it depends on the person.  However, just because the answer is subjective doesn’t mean there aren’t legitimate things to consider.  Here are 10 questions I would encourage anyone considering a future in the law to ask himself or herself:

1.  What do lawyers do?  Lawyers do a wide range of different things, and the day-to-day lives of lawyers in different practice areas can vary a lot.  If you know a lawyer or two, talk to them about their jobs!
2. Would I enjoy saying “I’m a lawyer” when asked what I do for a living?  There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking some pride in one’s work and occupation.  Most studies suggest that money is not the most important part of what makes people happy with their jobs.
3. How much money do lawyers make?  There also is nothing wrong with being concerned about making money.  Lawyers’ incomes vary widely, but consider a few things.  First, one’s income is not limited to just “salary” – benefits and possible retirement income (through a pension and/or 401(k) plan) are factors to consider as well.  Second, focus less on how much one makes initially and think about how much one is likely to make 3 years, 5 years, and 10 years down the road – that is likely to be far more important than one’s first-year salary.
4. What are my other realistic options?  This is a critical question that I always encourage any prospective law student to think about.  After all, the comparison isn’t between becoming a lawyer and doing nothing…the comparison is between becoming a lawyer and doing something else.  No job/career is likely to be perfect, but focus on what seems like the best fit for you.
5. Do other lawyers seem to like their job?  There are a lot of unhappy lawyers out there, and a lot of lawyers who absolutely love their jobs.  If you can, ask some lawyers whether or not they like their job – but focus on why they like or don’t like it.  After all, the key is whether you will like being a lawyer, not whether they do.
6. How important is career stability to me?  No jobs, including ones in the legal industry, are guaranteed to remain stable.  However, having an advanced degree like a J.D. or M.D. sets you apart from those who don’t, and that may add a certain degree of career stability over the long-term.
7. How much is law school going to cost me?  The cost of law school will be a bigger concern for some students than others. Tuition alone can run around $40,000-$50,000 per year.  However, law schools offer very substantial merit-based scholarships if your LSAT score (and/or cumulative gpa) is strong for that school.  You probably won’t know how much law school will cost until after taking the LSAT – at that point, you may have a better sense of the merit-based scholarships that may be coming your way.
8. Am I willing to make short-term sacrifices for long-term benefits?  Many people would not consider three years of law school to be a sacrifice when compared to three years of working at an uninspiring job.  However, from an economic standpoint, it is a sacrifice – are you willing to incur the cost of law school in exchange for the long-term future benefits a law degree may provide?
9. Is this a good time to go to law school?  I have written about this topic many times.  Economic factors are somewhat mixed, but one indication that the timing may be pretty good is that law school enrollment (as reflected by LSAT statistics) remains near a 30-year low…a reduced supply of lawyers is a lot better than having a glut of unemployed lawyers.
10. Will I enjoy (or at least tolerate) the steps necessary to becoming a lawyer?  Solid preparation for the LSAT takes at least two or three months.  Law school lasts three years (with summers off).  Studying for the bar takes several more months.  Many people enjoy at least some parts of the challenges along the way to becoming a lawyer, and most jobs require a person to “pay his/her dues” for a period of time.  But if the thought of the LSAT/law school/State Bar makes your stomach churn, it may be time to consider a different career.

Finally, don’t stress too much about the decision.  No decision we make in life is final, and you can change your mind at any point along the way.  Many people do, and there is no substitute for experience in helping us make a more informed decision.  For example, many students feel the decision about going to law school is a lot more clear after preparing for and taking the LSAT.

Before going to law school, though, it makes sense to take a little bit of time to consider these issues thoughtfully, and to do your best to make a sensible decision with the information that you currently have at hand.  Whatever your decision is, I wish you the best of luck!!