Question about practice and job

Graduate School Law School
1

<p>Okay, I've been speculating a lot these days about what kind of job/practice I want after law school. (I know for sure I want to go to law school). I was wondering what type of job (with a JD) would get me in court more often (I really like being in court). I hear that private practice/lawyers get to go once or twice a year while government practice/prosecutors go like once a week... </p>

<p>But here's the catch: </p>

<p>I really like the idea of being a prosecutor (working 9-5 with the benefits of being a federal employee and being in court a lot more), but the salary is substantially lower than private practice
like 45k(prosecutor) to 80k-125k (private)...</p>

2

<p>Ooookkkkaaaaayyyyy. Thanks for sharing since there isn't a question.</p>

3

<p>Lol... I forgot :-P Which is better in the long run for me? (A job that offers a decent salary AND a lot of court time... :-/)</p>

4

<p>"I really like the idea of being a prosecutor (working 9-5 with the benefits of being a federal employee and being in court a lot more), but the salary is substantially lower than private practice like 45k(prosecutor) to 80k-125k (private)..."</p>

<p>You seem to understand the nitty gritty basics (in a very generalized way) of the choice between private and prosecutorial work. Are you looking for someone to tell you how you can be in court as often as a prosecutor or ADA while making a private law firm salary?</p>

5

<p>Prosecutor's salaries vary. Massachusetts may have just upped the starting salary of prosecutors, but it was roughly $35,000/year... in a high cost-of-living area. Some states pay almost double that. Either way, do seriously consider that, even without loans, it is hard to make ends meet in Boston on $35,000/year. </p>

<p>Before you enroll in law school, you should ensure that you can repay your loans on a prosecutor's salary. First of all, figure out how much you'll borrow for the three years (not just tuition!!!). Assume that tuition will increase about 5%-7% each year. Asssume a 5% interest rate on the loan. That means that, for every dollar you borrow, you'll end up repaying roughly $1.50 in loans over 10 years. Divide your final figure by 120 for a monthly repayment over 10 years. </p>

<p>Now, that is how much you'll have to repay. </p>

<p>If your school offers repayment, see if it is guaranteed; if there is a salary cap on it; if it pays for most of your loans or only part of them; and if there is a cap on how much they repay (ex. $7,000/year). Go in assuming worst-case scenario.</p>

<p>About 30% of a $45,000/year salary will go to taxes. (Only the interest on loans is tax-deductible.) So you'll have a bit over $30,000/year to play with. Of that, you'll spend roughly $20,000/year on expenses - rent, car payments/insurance/Metro, utilities, groceries, etc. Do you have enough left over to make your loan payments? </p>

<p>Now, I know that some people are going to pretend that since Harvard has great loan forgiveness, you shouldn't worry. Unless you go to HYS, loan forgiveness is either limited or not guaranteed. Be very, very aware of this. </p>

<p>So... before you ask this question, please make sure that you can even pay off your loans. I would hate for you to go to law school, really wanting to be a prosecutor, but not even having that option. Do the math.</p>

<p>If you can afford it (loan forgiveness, parents helping out with tuition), great - but still do the math. If you decide that living paycheck to paycheck just isn't doing it for you, that's fine.</p>

6

<p>Well I hear that if you work as a federal prosecutor, you can trade yor law school debt for 3 years of service... </p>

<p>btw i plan on living in the orange county or nyc area when I grow up</p>

<p>"Are you looking for someone to tell you how you can be in court as often as a prosecutor or ADA while making a private law firm salary?"</p>

<p>yes, that is what I am asking</p>

7

<p>Private law firms that send young attorneys to court a great deal don't pay them six-figured salaries.</p>

<p>And no attorney who tries a lot of cases works nine-to-five, in my experience. When you're in trial, you're in court most of the day, and preparing for the next day's proceedings the rest of your waking hours. All you do is work and sleep, and you don't get enough sleep.</p>

8

<p>wow... I just found something on a job listing site: </p>

<p><a href="http://agency.governmentjobs.com/santaclara/default.cfm?action=viewclassspec&ClassSpecID=10244&Agency=554&ViewOnly=Yes%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://agency.governmentjobs.com/santaclara/default.cfm?action=viewclassspec&ClassSpecID=10244&Agency=554&ViewOnly=Yes&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>$162k+ Is that the typical salary in high crime areas?</p>

9

<p>the job description you refer to is for a management position. do NOT assume that most da's end up with this type of position.</p>