Pre-Law to Law School

[D-MaN88 0]

I've currently contacted my academic counselor at my university and am in the process of setting up a pre-law type schedule as law is what I finally decided is what I want to do with my life. I was just wondering if anyone on here is in the law field and if they could give me some advice of good courses to take that look good when applying for law school?

Also, once out of pre-law and accepted into law school, what is the experience like? I know is going to be one tough hell of a challenge (which I like and enjoy) but I'm just wondering if those who have graduated with a degree in law and practice it, do you regret it? Wish you went into another field?

I guess I'm just looking for advice, help, and background on what the whole experience is like and what I can do to get the most out of it and make sure I get myself on the right track.

Thanks for any and all responses and replies.

[DavidT 11]

My father is an attorney. He's torn betwee convincing me not to go to law school and also following his steps, along with all his buddies. Although Im still undecided.

The death threats, the ungratification, the debt of schooling, the competition; sometimes just aint worth it. Ive seen the ups and downs daily. It's a pretty grueling job and demands a lot of one to be good. Afterall, all being a lawyer is being able to interpret the law and persuasive speaking. It sucks for the most part and unless you really like typing and reading, isnt much fun. Of course it all varies from what type of law you get into. My father does criminal, family, and civil and everything from Municipal Courts all the way to the US Supreme Court. He loves being able to help the unfortunate and give people a possible 2nd chance in life. He also believes in upholding the constitution and that everyone deserves a right to defense.

It's definately something someone has to want to do. I know lawyers working a second job, but they love what they do they sacrifice a lot.

For courses I'd definately look into consitutional classes plus classes that look into whatever state you may practice in. I would also involve myself heavily in political readings/understandings because a lot of rulings and views are political based, something my father passed along from his cousin (Henry Wade of "Roe v. Wade" and prosecution of Jack Ruby)

[D-MaN88 0]

Thanks for that reply man. I've heard a lot of the same stuff as well. It's just there's something about going into Law that grabbed me unlike any other field option I thought about. I don't know, I want to do it so bad and I know the sacrifices will be a lot and the schooling will be tough and rigorous but I mean like everyone says, if it's what you want to do, it must be worth it in the end.

Thanks again for the reply though, I've definitely been advised to take as many political courses as possible along with those such as sociology and psychology to understand the human race and person in general.

I feel like I'm on the right track, I guess it's always nice hearing tips and pointers and experience from those who have already been in these shoes and live the life.

[gxc999 7]

Don't waste your time taking classes you'll have to take in law school anyway. You'll realize you barely learned anything in undergrad anyway. Personally, I say skip law school unless you REALLY, REALLY like formal logic. Luckily for me, I'm completely insane and like exactly that. I think the worst part though is the inevitable jading that comes with it all. The inevitable debt is a close second.

But for a moment, let me enlighten you. Your friends are your enemies, your Professors will attempt to humiliate you, books will cost $180 and sleep will become a thing of the past. Red Bull will become your new favorite drink and you will think some guy named Emanuel is the real Jesus. Personally, I recommend avoiding it if you can. Part of what I'm really not looking forward to is practicing and having no time left for anything else, e.g. hockey, friends, bars, chicks, whatever.

[Trippingblue 1]

I used to room with 4 students who went to UC Hastings, apparently a VERY competitive law school. I lived with them for about 3 years and in those 3 years it amazed me how much they had changed. It was like they had all their personal ethics schooled out of them. They became total vacuums unto themselves. They were good enough at arguing they all got Section 8 status from the city. They would tell me about having to race to the library during the first few days of classes because if you didn't get the books you needed right away, the other students would tear out the essential pages from the books. They were making stupid amounts of money during their summer internships, around $2500- 3000 per WEEK, just for doing nothing but sitting around the law firm's offices and occasionally filing something, plus the firms were paying for them to go out and drunk with the partners every night. It was insane. They went from being passionate and just people to these ruthless and conniving money whores in only a few years. One of them went to work for Texaco and makes obscene amounts of money in the 7 figure range, one is working for an American company with huge Chinese economic and government investments, another left and went to the Culinary Institute of America to learn to be a chef, and the last I think is now working for Immigrations and Customs Enforcement...

--nick--

[hockeysc23 0]

Taking Pre-Law classes are not necessary for becoming a lawyer. Actually I'd advise learning something else as your primary degree so you have something else to fall backon. Or something else that compliments your knowledge you will learn as a lawyer (Business, Econ, Psychology, Communications, etc.) a lot of people get enamored with law but after the grueling law school end up changing professions so its best to have something else to fall back on or compliment your law knowledge.

I applied for Law School but lost my heart and focus after calculating the debt, and seeing how some people will literally stab their brother in the back to get ahead in that profession.

My best friend is almost done with Law School and working for a big NY firm. He majored in Asian Studies. My advice would be to pick up a book on understanding the whole law process from undergrad through grad school. Usually these books also explain sitting for the bar etc. There is usually a lot more to it then one first thinks.

If after all that you still decide you want to do law (and please don't do it just cuz you see starting lawyers making 160k range (only bc of the debt they have to incur)) then best of luck!

[the_game 452]

If you are going to focus your undergrad classes around law, I would base your undergrad classes on the type of law you think you are going to practice.

For example a good friend of mine did his undergrad as a Chemical Engineer because he knew he wanted to practice Patent law. Now he works for a firm that represents pharmaceutical companies where he makes boat loads of cash.

[BackinAction 0]

I've been practicing law for 15 years at a large firm and am currently the hiring partner. As for pre-law, I would say it is not necessary to load yourself up with political science type classes. I rarely look at undergradute degrees. Obviously grades are important and if you want to focus on intellectual property law, a science or engineering degree is almost a must. Other than that, business, english, economics, history etc... won't be a major factor. You can major in just about anything and get into law school. My one suggestion would be to focus on writing. If you can't write extremely well you won't succeed in the law, at least not in the large firm environment. It's been a long time since I went to school and some of what has been said is true e.g., the competitive nature of certain schools. I went to an extremely competitive school, but had a great group of friends none of whom were the stab you in the back types. A fair number of my classmates never intended to practice but wanted the degree to assist them in business. The cost is a major consideration too. I don't ever regret the path I took. Good luck.

[JR97 2]

I wanted to go into law and loaded up on poli-sci classes. But the prospect of either not going to law or not getting into law school had me switch up my major a few times. You can always go to law school regardless of what degree you get. Had someone told me that early on I would have focused on a degree on what I wanted to learn for undergrad instead of something to try and get a job. And then balls to the wall law school.

[frankie56 0]

You show great promise with that avatar.

[fastbrother7 0]

practicing attys are so funny. I work with them everyday. i tell them im taking my LSAT in October and they say "are you sure you want to go through with it?" lol