Considering law school

Graduate School Law School
1

<p>I'm going to be a freshman at Fordham in a few weeks and while I know I still have a lot of time to decide, I am seriously considering law school (I don't like sonding decisive because this, like most career ideas college freshman have, has potential to change). However, I am incredibley ignorant on the whole idea, so I have a lot of basic questions. Anyone that can help me out--thank you.</p>

<p>Fordham has an early entrance into their law school and I was just wondering if someone could give me some feedback on this? Is it a good/bad idea? </p>

<p>Do law school students usually have jobs while they're studying? Since most law students have a bachelors degree (Fordham's program you get bachelors and JD upon completion of law school), are the jobs more specialized? Say I don't do an early entrance program and graduate from Fordham with a degree in International Political Economy (my prospective major currently)--will I be able to get a good job in this field while studying law? Or is there just not enough time to do that while in law school?</p>

<p>Basically, cost is a huge concern. Eek. I know I am going to be in quite a bit of debt from undergraduate. I know there are loans available for law students, but I'm aiming more for scholarships. Are there any law schools known for giving out scholarship money? </p>

<p>I'm from IL moving to NYC for school, but at the moment I think I want to end up in Chicago. Would it be difficult to attend Fordham Law and be recruited back to Chicago? I'm wondering if I should be focusing my attention on Illinois law schools to be more easily recruited.</p>

<p>Will attending a somewhat average school hurt my chances tremendously? I'm not in the honors program at Fordham, but I am insanely ambitious, with hopes of graduating in the top of the class, etc etc. Fordham has a prelaw program (not major!) and I hope to get information about it sometime first semester. I also want to get introduced to the LSAT ASAP. Just to know what it's about, etc. Do law schools care much about extracurriculars? I plan to get involved just because I want to, but I'm mainly just curious as to what's important in admissions.</p>

<p>Sorry for all the questions (and rambling). I know I still have time to worry about all this, but I really regret not caring about college admissions until junior year of high school, so I don't really want to make that mistake again.</p>

2

<p>Well, if you are set on going to law school, then go for it and apply for early entrance. There is no harm applying to this one school for early admission, if you are sure you want to attend this specific school.</p>

<p>I think most law students go full time, although I am pretty sure you can go part time as well. From what I have heard, the third year is pretty easy, and future graduates usually have jobs secured by then and are interning. My recommendation would be to go at law school full time the first 2 years without working, and with the third year being more lax, find an internship. </p>

<p>I think getting scholarships will probably be a bit difficult, and most law students who need the money probably take out loans. However, I do not know much about scholarships in law school, so it's not my place to answer this question!</p>

<p>If you attend a good law school and maintain good grades while in law school, you should not have a low chance of getting recruited by a law firm in Chicago. However, if you are dead set on living in Chicago and only Chicago, then why don't you check out law schools in this area?</p>

<p>If you maintain a high GPA and get a high LSAT score (160+ at least), attending an average school WILL NOT hurt your chances. Your GPA and LSAT are much more important. Also, law schools do like prospective students who have extracurriculars under their belt. Look for internships in law firms over the summer. But don't forget to concentrate on your GPA while you are at it.</p>

3

<p>Is Fordham a 3-3, where you graduate in six years? That can save a pile of money. </p>

<p>You should NOT work in law school more than a few hours a week. I don't know enough about your particular field to know whether or not you could get a "good job" for a few hours a week. Summers, you want to do something law-related (when you are in law school).</p>

<p>Fordham is a really good school. Hard to say which way you should go - if you really want to move back to Chicago, you would be better off at Loyola or any other solid 2d tier school out there than at Fordham.</p>