<p>I'm a senior in highschool who is trying to create his life path. I've researched so much and the only occupation I really feel passion for is becoming a lawyer. I want to be able to fight for people's right. Its not for the money at all I just want to feel like I'm making a difference for people. I want to be able to use my brain and intelligence for the better of someone else. Whenever I hear a case of someone being unfairly and harshly prosecuted for a non-fitting crime it honestly can make me feel saddened for a long time to a point where I don't watch the news anymore. Another thing that is a huge benefit is that I researched that a major in english is very welcome by law school and that is the major I would just love to do in college. However everytime I research everyone is saying do not go its too expensive, you'll regret it, you'll ruin your life. I just feel like there is nothing else out there for me that I have passion to do. Should I take the risk? I'm also thinking that as a backup plan for if I do not get into a top 50 law school, I could always go on and phd in english and become a english professor which I'd also like. Thoughts?</p>
<p>You have a plan… and you have a back up plan. Go to college and see where you get there. I don’t believe you have to decide now; you have decided what you want to major in, let life take you where it shall :)</p>
<p>gl</p>
<p>You should take on an internship at the public defender’s office or at legal aid during your time in college. Find out what the practice of law is actually like before you decide to do it for the rest of your life.</p>
<p>Majoring in English is fine for going to law school. However, don’t assume that your backup plan to get a PhD in English and become a professor is really a realistic backup plan. It is difficult to get into a funded PhD program (where your tuition is paid and you are given a stipend in exchange for working part time as a teaching assistant), and extremely difficult to get a tenure track job as an English professor once you get a PhD in English. </p>
<p>I’d take the advice of 1-3 above-and also why limit yourself at this point? As it doesn’t appear that you’ve had any actual experience with law or lawyers, I’d recommend getting a job-even as a messenger-at a law firm or govt law office. And you express an interest in criminal law-definitely stop by your local courthouse on docket day. It will be an illuminating experience; just spend a morning there, and see if the practice of law is what you currently think it is. </p>
<p>If you want to fight for people’s rights than your career track would be some type of public interest or government work. Those jobs are difficult to get and don’t earn high pay. Are you comfortable with that? Then it’s the right career track for you.</p>
<p>Law is a deadend field. I guess if you can get into a top 25 law school, maybe it’s worth it. But Some 208 law schools saw declining admissions, according to this article. I can’t cry for the fact we will have fewer lawyers in this country. <a href=“http://theadvocate.com/news/11137666-123/lsu-law-center-offers-buyouts”>http://theadvocate.com/news/11137666-123/lsu-law-center-offers-buyouts</a></p>
<p>Actually, we don’t have fewer lawyers; we’ve got fewer law students. There are still way too many licensed attorneys for jobs requiring bar passage.</p>