Thinking about applyingto law school.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by AnotherPundit:
Any advice?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

AP: That's a big question. What do you like about the idea of going to law school? What benefits do you see?

Achilles.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Well, there are only so many careers I can go into with just a liberal arts degree -- I'm going to have to get some form of advanced degree at some point. If I don't, I'll be shooting myself in the foot in a lot of ways.

I useta think I wanted to pursue a doctorate, but the rampant socialism in upper-level academia turned me off of that, so I didn't.

And, now, I've realized that I'm spending an altogether too large section of my time online arguing, well, points of law. Constitutional law, Intellectual Property Law. And I usually enjoy the arguments, and I almost always win them. So, briefly, learning to do that "professionally" seems like something to think about.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Any advice?

[The_RANDy_Corporation]

Did you see the long epistle about the practice of law I wrote to MaximumSam in the Political forum about a month ago?

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Law school is very tough if you are not sure you want to do it.

If you are going to do it, start early. The application process is more of a pain that most other graduate schools.

If you get in, get wired early. Make friends among upper classmen. Get a feel for exam formats, writing styles and class preparation format. Those who break the code first get many rewards, especially law review.

You will find that most law professors will respect your politics as long as you're competent, prepared and never rely on ideology, emotion or assumptions. Law school can be very satisfying and invigorating or it can be pure hell depending on how you prepare and respond early on.

[ThomasMore]

AP, going through the experience of law school is definitely an eye-opener. You will learn a great deal about the way the world really works...but the education really comes in the practice of law. It is demanding, but also rewarding.

However, it is not for everyone. The majority of my law school classmates (I graduated in 1990) are long gone from the practice.

images/icons/cool.gif

[**DONOTDELETE**]

nope. images/icons/frown.gif

[Hottjohn]

Thomas, I agree. I got out in 1988, got an LL.M. in 1989, and nver used it. I practiced for a while with a firm, then with an oil company for seven years. I have gone back to my roots as a landman, which is what I did for ten years prior to law school.
Pundit, law school is a tough row to hoe, but I think its greatest benefit is you come away with a sense of security that you can always hang out a shingle if worse comes to worse. Or if you like the idea of living in a small town, you can be and assistant D.A. part time and have a small town practice on the side. I think the worst part about law school, aside from sitting in torts and being asked questions that are extremely nerve wracking, is that fact that there is only one test for the whole semester, and in some law schools, the whole year. The whole experience changes the way you look at the world, but if you can keep your perspective, it is well worth the effort.

[ThomasMore]

HJ, I am currently out of practice myself. Practiced until 2000, then pursued my dream of a career in aviation. Tought all last year for a national pilot training academy in Fla, and am starting first officer school with a commuter airline mid-May.

I might dip my toes back in part-time, but I don't think my career ambition is to go back into the meat-grinder.

(Got sick of the billing, among other things...)
images/icons/grin.gif

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Yeah. I'm not necessarily interested in "being a hotshot john-grisham lawyer." It's just something that's a) a marketable skill and b) I think would be interesting to do, at least for a while.

That, and I'd get to work indoors.

[The_RANDy_Corporation]

It's not too late to get into an honorable profession. Pimping and drug pushing would put you higher in the public's respect than lawyering.

Are you sure you can take the heat?

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Have to realize --

with a liberal arts english degree, my only other options are advertising (shudder), joining the left-wing media (gag), or entering socialist academia! (swoon.)

Comparatively speaking, being a lawyer is the clean choice!

Right now I'm working as a freelance writer & real estate investor. It's paying the bills, but sadly not doing anything more than that so time to pick up a career.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by The RANDy Corporation:
It's not too late to get into an honorable profession. Pimping and drug pushing would put you higher in the public's respect than lawyering.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


That's because pimps and drug pushers at least offer an honest trade. My experiences with lawyers has mostly been I pay them money and I still take it in the shorts. It's a racket. Most lawyers and judges should be drug up on RICO charges... but then...

[The_RANDy_Corporation]

Justaguy:

You are in Saudi? Oil company? We had a client over there, divorcing back here.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Yep, work at an oil company. Nice thing is... my gas is free.