Bill Hebert, the President of the State Bar of California, has written a letter in response to the much-discussed NY Times article. Hebert deliberates the value of a law degree, addressing important facts all law school applicants should consider before committing.
First, make sure you want to be a lawyer. Check out what it is that lawyers really do, perhaps through interning or working at a law firm or office. Also, be realistic about your professional expectations, at least in your initial jobs after law school. As Hebert so aptly illustrates, “The practice of law is the practice of delayed gratification.” Becoming a mediator or appellate lawyer won’t happen overnight, but rather through years of experience. And don’t expect your law education to prepare you for another profession. A law school education prepares you to be a lawyer, and won’t necessarily help you with the skills you need for a different career.
You should also be realistic about your chances of getting that coveted Biglaw job. In all probability, you only stand a chance if you attend a Top 50 school and are in the top 15-25 percent of your class. However, you can still make a good living. Even if you don’t attain that six-figure salary, over time you’ll probably earn more than your non-lawyer peers. Hebert suggests, “Before you go to law school, ask yourself whether you want to graduate and earn a five-figure salary that you could be making in business, teaching or some other vocation. Chances are, even if you are employed, that’s the most you will make. If you are one of the unlucky many who don’t get a law firm job, you will be making even less.” Have reasonable expectations of your future earning, and don’t assume that the economy will pick up, as law firms are trying to keep costs down for the foreseeable future.
You must also take into account potential debt. Hebert advises to consider your future from the viewpoint of a banker: “what is the likely return on the tens of thousands of dollars of debt you are about to accrue and when will the asset called you-as-a-law-school-graduate become profitable?” He acknowledges that the law school grads who have the easiest time after school are the ones who graduate debt-free. For those about to accumulate a massive amount of debt, it probably isn’t worth it.
It is worth it to read the entire article, here.
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Read the full article: A Must-Read for Those Considering Law School
