<p>Hey,</p>
<p>I originally thought that I was set on the biotech industry and going into the biz aspect of it, but lately I've been getting into my english classes, and have been considering law school. Now, I know that law school isn't just about arguing/debating, but more about writing persuasively, but that actually appeals to me, because I like writing that style of writing. It was kind of dumb to try and committ myself to that industry so early since I'm still a senior, but I'm wiser now (a little). But I digress...</p>
<p>My questions are:</p>
<p>For corporate law, what happens to people that want to do corporate law, but don't get into a T14 law school? I've been doing some reading, and mostly I keep seeing that if you don't go to a T14, you won't get into Big Law, and thus not get that great of a job. If I end up being really passionate about corporate law (again, I want to leave my options open because I realize now they can drastically change), can you still be monetarily successful? I realize there are other levels of success, one of them being happy with one's job, and I don't want a ridiculous salary of like 250k, but I do want to be very well off. Is it possible to make around 150-170k after about 3-5 years if you don't get into biglaw? The reason I'm worried about this is because I'm afraid my standardized test scores (I got a freaking 30 on the ACT :() are keeping me out of the colleges I really like for undergrad, and it will only get worse for law school admission.</p>
<p>Since I like science, I'm also considering patent law. I realize you have to major in a science to qualify for a bar exam or something, so I was wondering if comp sci qualifies for a corporate law position? Computer science and programming are directly applicable to business, and science, which are the two fields I like, so would majoring in econ and corporate law suffice be a good combo since I'm interested in corporate law (econ) and patent law (CS)?</p>
<p>sorry for the long post.</p>
<p>Dear confused:
In my opinion it's quite a bit too early to be worrying about making it in Biglaw, or even making it into law school. Instead you should be focusing on college admissions, including what you want to study. If you feel you want to major in English, that's not something you have to decide on until the middle or end of your sophomore year - at which point you will have become exposed to subjects that you did not encounter in high school and might change your mind entirely. You might even decide to forget about law school.</p>
<p>If you feel you might want to major in computer science, then you'll have to decide that much earlier. But don't decide on it as a path to becoming a patent attorney. Since you'll be spending a great deal of time over the next four years taking classes in that subject or related ones, first decide whether you like computer science well enough to spend the next four years learning about it. If not, then don't look to major in it; otherwise you'll be setting yourself up for the possibility of having four somewhat miserable years. At this time you have the opportunity of setting yourself up for a good or even great college experience, so look at things from that perspective.
Best of luck, whatever you decide.</p>
<p>CS: I just wanted to really let you know to take DOS very seriously in what he tells you. He's a very knowledgeable, well-informed poster with a lot of expertise in the exact area you're asking about. He's been very helpful to me.</p>
<p>When he tells you not to worry, it really means that you don't have to worry. Trust him.</p>
<p>I understand that I could change my mind, but I think it would be nice to know at least a little bit of what I'm getting into. I mean, if life is really tough for those that don't make it into big law, perhaps it will motivate me to study harder. </p>
<p>I don't want to disagree with you DOS, because you are well respected, but I would just like some background knowledge if you understand where I'm coming from. I've tried searching, but all I see is biglaw, so thats why I'm asking for help.</p>
<p>Dear Confused Senior: If you want to succeed in any field, you should do your best at your current job. Your current job is being a student. Doing your best in that job means studying, learning to write as well as possible, getting the best grades you can, and making the most of the opportunities available to you, both academically and socially.</p>
<p>Very soon you will have to graduate and change jobs to being a college student. You will be in a different "company" and with different opportunities and challenges. Sometime during that "job" you will be thinking about your next job, which will be coming up in about 4 years, and could be a graduate student, a law student, working at an actual job, or even something else.</p>
<p>As far as what lawyers need to be able to do, it depends on what field of law they are working in. Some need to be persuasive writers but most need to be able to analyze problems and look for solutions, using the law as a tool. Some law schools are looking to change their methods of instruction because few law schools teach those skills; they mainly teach what the law is, not really how to use it as a tool. So at the present time being a law student is one thing, while working as a lawyer is another.</p>
<p>There are many ways to work as a lawyer. If you want to find out more about what lawyers do, find a way to meet some actual lawyers and ask them about it instead of looking for opinions on these boards. Try to find some lawyers working in different areas of law, and some working in companies, for the government or for nonprofit organizations. (Actually you shoud try to do this for any profession you're thinking of entering, including computer science.) Then, if you decide that you like that sort of work, and only then, will it be time to start trying to figure out how to become a lawyer, including the financial situation, biglaw vs. other types of law, etc.</p>
<p>Meanwhile I suggest you have fun being a student.</p>