4 More Types of People Who Should Not Go To Law School
In the wake of the latest U.S. News rankings, columnist Shannon Achimalbe lists four (more) types of people who should not go to law school in this day and age.
Last July, I wrote about the four types of people who shouldn’t go to law school. But my post was published after most law school applicants had already made up their minds and placed their tuition deposits; I wish I had written it sooner.
So today, in the wake of the latest U.S. News rankings, I want to introduce four more types of people who should not go to law school in this day and age. And for those who are studying for the LSAT, please direct them to some free sample questions here.
1. Those who want to “help people” or “make a difference.” Many people claim to want to go to law school because of some vague notion of helping people or making a difference in the world or their communities. At least that’s what many of them write on their personal statements. They think a law degree will give them more credibility for their lofty, altruistic goals.
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First off, I’m sure some of these people are lying. The only difference they want to make is to their bank account balances. These people should get MBA degrees instead.
But for those who really do want to help people, you need to be more specific about how you plan to do so, and then figure out whether you need a law degree to do it. In essence, lawyers have the exclusive right to represent people in court and some government proceedings. So if you specifically want to help people contest evictions or avoid deportation or prison time, then being a lawyer makes sense. Be sure to be very selective about the law school you attend. Make sure that it is highly ranked in the specialty you want to enter and negotiate a substantial tuition discount. It’s still a student’s market.
But if you want a more direct role in helping the homeless, fighting racial discrimination, assisting immigrants, or another public service, you do not need a law degree to do it. The three years spent in law school can be spent working for a government agency or a non-profit organization. In three years, you may be promoted to a managerial role or you may even be in charge. The best part is, you get to tell the lawyers what to do and get paid just as much as they do.
2. People who like to argue. There are too many people who decided to be a lawyer because they were told by others (usually family and friends) that they are good at arguing. The problem with these people is that most of them do not realize how they are winning their arguments.
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Some win their arguments through eloquent and coherent writing and speaking. They get their points across concisely, backed by credible evidence. These people are likely to do well in law because whether they win or lose, they will be respected by their peers.
But others “win” arguments by outshouting or out-talking their opponents usually with logical fallacies, ad hominem attacks, and just plain gibberish. Or they bust some dope rhymes that may get them a spot on BET’s Freestyle Friday. Their opponents usually give up out of frustration. This type of “winning by exhaustion” will not get you very far in law school or in law practice. Try that with a judge and you can expect sanctions or even contempt charges.
That’s not even the worst part. Half of the time, lawyers are not arguing before a judge or with opposing counsel. They argue with their clients, bosses and co-workers. And sometimes they have to keep their mouths shut unless they want to get fired.
If you run into someone who wants to go to law school because they like to argue, educate them as to how lawyers argue in legal proceedings. Be sure to tell them that snark and wit alone will not win cases. Or try introducing them to the chronic master debaters in the comments section below. The commenters will be more than happy to school them about their likelihood of getting a good job with their 147 LSAT score.
3. People who are fascinated with the law. These people want to go to law school because they find the law interesting or intellectually challenging. Now what this means is not clear. My guess is that these people got good grades in their political science and legal studies classes in college, where in most cases you can get a good grade by writing a half-decent essay.
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It’s great that these people find the law fascinating. But is going to law school and being a lawyer the best way to indulge their fascination? Law practice is a business, so they will have to focus on getting clients and doing good work for them.
If you find law fascinating, then be a professor. Go to a bookstore and buy a cheap casebook or visit a law library. You can even email a law professor who will be happy to have a real conversation with someone who has a genuine interest in the subject matter as opposed to a law student who cares more about her grade.
4. People who cannot see themselves doing anything else. These people grew up knowing the legal profession. Perhaps their parents were lawyers and lived an upper-class lifestyle. Or their favorite childhood TV shows featured lawyers or judges (my favorite was The Judge).
They are aware of the law school scam. They know about the falsified employment figures and the bimodal salary distribution. They know about the instability of a legal career, the high alcoholism rate, the high percentage of lawyers leaving the profession, and the high suicide rate.
But they are determined to go to law school anyway because they claim that they really want to be a lawyer. But the reality is that they fell in love with the legal profession for so long that they cannot imagine themselves doing anything else.
I can’t blame them for the environment they grew up in. But at the same time, the practice of law has changed in so many ways in the last few years, and more changes are coming. Lawyers today have to keep up with technological trends to meet ethical competency rules. Lawyers today have to compete with advanced document preparation services, companies that provide a-la-carte legal services, automated document review, and the intrusion of non-lawyer legal technicians. So are these people entering the same profession they fell in love with in the past?
Instead of discouraging them, these people should be advised to take at least a year off before attending. They should spend this time researching other career options, exploring new interests, and improving their LSAT score, if necessary. If they want to practice in a specific industry, then they should spend some time working in the industry and network with the right people. So long as these people know that there may be other career options available to them, they will be in a better position to make an informed decision to go to law school.
Earlier: 4 Types Of People Who Shouldn’t Go To Law School
Shannon Achimalbe was a former solo practitioner for five years before deciding to sell out and get back on the corporate ladder. Shannon can be reached by email at sachimalbe@excite.com and via Twitter: @ShanonAchimalbe.
