Law school: now or later?

Graduate School Law School
1

<p>I have been having a debate with myself about whether or not to attend law school immediately after undergrad or to take some time off in between. I will be graduating in May 2006 with a mechanical engineering degree and I've wanted to go to law school for quite some time but money is an issue. I pay for all of my college expenses myself. I will have around $35,000 in loan debt before going to law school and after every school year is over I am only left with $1500-$2000 in my bank account. My internship and research stipend earnings get used up every year. A lawyer friend of mine said that I should go to law school immediately because if I wait I might end up with a good-paying engineering job and it would be hard to give up that salary. Some people can work full-time and go to law school part-time but I need to be a full-time student in order to do well. If I go to law school in 2006 all of my tuition and living expenses would be financed with scholarships, loans, and loan refunds since I wouldn't have time for a job. If I work for x number of years I could at least have some money in the bank but by then I would probably be paying for a car, insurance, paying off undergrad loans, etc., and then have to give up my job to be a full-time student. </p>

<p>Going to law school immediately seems to be a good choice for me because there are more variables I can control in the short-term future. I don't know what obstacles I will face a few years from now that could prevent me from uprooting and heading to law school. </p>

<p>Has anyone had any similar experiences or know someone who has?</p>

2

<p>Consider keeping your options open by applying to law school and applying for jobs. Your decision may be easier to make if you're choosing between a particular law school and a particular job.</p>

<p>I took off a year between college and law school for travel and language study, then found myself playing music professionally, and having a stupendously good time. I was sorely tempted to take off another year, but really was afraid that if I did, I would never get around to going back to school. I'm glad I took the time off from school, and glad I went back when I did.</p>

<p>My gut feeling is that if you're serious about wanting to practice law, you will go back to school, with more appreciation for the academic life, less debt when you graduate, and less pressure to take the highest paid job you're offered. I'd also wager that twenty some years from now, when you're my age, you'll feel that a couple of years working as an engineer made you a better lawyer in the long run.</p>

<p>Of course, at my age, my gut is a bit noisier than it used to be. Practice listening to your own.</p>

3

<p>If you find yourself at a point where you feel like you'd rather keep a good paying, rewarding engineering job instead of law school - so what? Maybe it will be better in the long run.</p>

4

<p>eric, </p>

<p>If I end up liking an engineering job and I am able to support a decent lifestyle then I may not need to take the risk of going to law school. However, with my current experience in engineering I know it is something I don't want to do for a long time. Ever since I was a kid I wanted to major in some kind of science or engineering but I could never picture myself doing only that for the rest of my life. Law/business was always in the picture of my future.</p>

5

<p>JustinMechE: Hum, know the feeling! I took a year off and worked as an engineer. I'm also financing law school myself (but have no undergraduate debt). I usually suggest taking time off between undergrad and law (as an engineer, you probably don't even realize how burnt out you are until sometime in November after graduating when you realize that no, you don't have 10 million problem sets to do for next Monday). </p>

<p>People gave me the same "you'll get used to earning a salary" line - and it's true and it's not true. If you just go out and work because the money is good and you have vague plans of law school, it'll be really true. If you go out, work, study for the LSATs, research the legal field, still live like a student because you're saving like mad for law school or paying down undergrad debt (or both), do your apps - you're not going to get used to earning a salary. You're earning a salary, but with a focus on something else. </p>

<p>If you can possibly live at home (I know, NOT glamourous) for a year or two, work as an engineer, and manage to do the law school application process (really, it's harder than undergrad - I would honestly suggest applying to at least 10 schools), that would be great. Keep shoveling money at the debt, which will get paid down and won't accumulate as much interest. Assuming you earn $50k/year (high for mech-e, but round numbers) for two years. You'll pay $30k-ish in income tax. Law school application process will (and this is another reason to work) hit you up for a ton: $120 for the LSAT, $100 or so to sign up for LSDAS (mandatory). LSDAS gives you one free school; after that, you pay them $10 per application. Then, the apps themselves cost between $50 and $75. You haven't even traveled to the LSAC conferences (highly recommend that), interviewed at the few schools that do so, visited any of them to get a feel... do you want to raid your bank account in the application process? </p>

<p>Anyway - assuming you work for two years and manage to save the majority of the money by living at home and such - you'll really be able to get your debt down and have some cash to start off law school with. Depending on where you go, you might have to live in an unfurnished apartment - that's more money to set one up (if you haven't already). Do you have a car? Will you need a car at the school you go to? (It could be cheaper to go to a rural school, save $10k/year, and buy a used car than it would be to go to a school in the city). </p>

<p>Many people take a year off and find it to be worthwhile. It will also be something to put on your resume - real, actual engineering work. You'll stand out during interviewing season with the IP firms because of it.</p>

6

<p>ariesathena,</p>

<p>I suppose the big question is how much time to take off. Some people say a year is good but how do I go about getting a company to hire me as an engineer when I only plan to stay in that job for a short period of time (I suppose I could keep my mouth shut about my future plans)? And living at home with my mom or dad (they are separated) may not be feasible since most of the good engineering jobs are a long distance away.</p>

<p>The undergrad debt is still troubling to me. Once I start paying it I don't think it can be deferred again. And when I do start law school I would have to take out more loan money to get refunds to pay the monthly payments for the undergrad loans. If I went to law school immediately the loans could be deferred.</p>

7

<p>Justinmeche,</p>

<p>What sort of loans do you have? Under the federally guaranteed student loans I had when I was was in school, you could defer again while you were enrolled in school full time, even if you had started to pay them while you were working. </p>

<p>You should be able to figure this out by reading the terms of your loan agreement.</p>