<p>So I've been reading a lot of the threads here in the law school forum and I've been hearing about how difficult it can be to get a job after law school. How versatile is a law degree? Are there a lot of career opportunities outside of being a lawyer?...Sorry, I'm kind of in a career exploration phase and I don't know much about law school so I apologize if my question seems strange.</p>
<p>Sweetsangria: Don't know what your career objectives might be, but law school can be a tough grind. Some people seem to have it in mind to go to law school but become something other than a lawyer (usually go into politics). However, my advice is to go to law school only if you are planning to become a lawyer. The only exception to this that I would find sensible is when an employer wants you to go to law school in order to be able to understand business from a legal perspective, and is willing to pay for the school.</p>
<p>As far as difficulties in finding a job after graduation, this is the case in some parts of the country at some times, but overall there usually are enough jobs for lawyers most of the time, in most parts of the country, unless the economy as a whole is tanking. However, that doesn't mean that a graduate will necessarily have his or her pick of the "plum" jobs (whatever those may be).</p>
<p>sweetsangria:</p>
<p>If you are looking for versatility, an MBA is a better pursuit. Granted, you may need some work experience to be accepted at some -although, depending on your background, you may get accepted to some right out of college.</p>
<p>Hope this helps. And, Good luck!</p>
<p>Wf</p>
<p>Yeah, this is going to sound really strange but I'd really like to go to med school and become a psychiatrist...but I guess you could say that I'm in the process of being weeded out. I'm doing alright in the courses and I have a decent gpa. Except I'm absolutely miserable in these science classes and I'm getting discouraged by the low admit rates. </p>
<p>So I guess I'm looking into other possible career routes. I've actually been considering law for a while now, and I think I'd enjoy being a lawyer (possibly handling GLBT related issues and cases). I'm heading into my junior year as an undergrad and I'm kind of freaking out. Some additional research is definitely in order.</p>
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I'm heading into my junior year as an undergrad and I'm kind of freaking out. Some additional research is definitely in order.
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<p>Does Harvard not have excellent pre-law advising? I am sure an advisor would be much more capable at fielding your inquiries than anyone here (no offense AA, Graybeard, myself, WF, and so on).</p>
<p>Edit: With respect to career opportunities, there is also the joint JD/Business program. I suppose that is also beneficial in terms of versatility.</p>
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I'd really like to go to med school and become a psychiatrist.
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Another route would be to get a Ph.D. in Psychiatry and become a Psychologist. Psychologists do roughly the same thing as Psychiatrists but only the latter can fully prescribe medications (depending on the State). If you would like to do counseling, you can become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker or you could obtain a masters in social work. If you are interested in health but don't necessarily care for sciences, you may wish to consider a Masters in Public Health. Johns Hopkins has the best school in the nation for public health. There are many areas that involve medicine and health but do not require an M.D.</p>
<p>(I hope I have not reversed my Psys in this post)</p>