I am seriously considering Law School-Advice from anyone appreciated....

[noahmijo]

Okay here's my background I graduated with a BS in Business in MIS (Management Information Systems) from the University of Arizona.

My overall GPA was a 3.3 my major GPA was a 3.8

Incidently supposedly the school I graduated from is according to US News and World #3 in the subject of Info Technology under only MIT and Carnegie Mellon.

Technology is a passion of mine and will always remain so, but lately I'm just not as much into the idea of becoming a network administrator or engineer as I thought I was.

Completely overlooking the fact that the field has now become one of massive outsourcing and jobs that require you to go out and train yourself as companies are too cheap nowadays to even spend a couple of weeks providing you with necessary training.



Here's the main point to consider though that I just have no come to accept: I spend far more time studying politics, interesting cases, global issues, basically I read books on topics like Iran-Contra and The coop in Iran, and Enron than I do about how to properly configure a server.

The way I see it I know lawyers a dime a dozen and I do not harbor fantasies about living on easy street ect, however I do feel that with my background as a technology grad and a law degree I could find an area that isn't quite so tapped out in the field of maybe patent law or perhaps corporate law in an area where technology reigns (such as say what Microsoft lawyers do ect)

I LOVE reading and writing-I always made a killing on my college essays that dealt in various fields of business like accounting and economics and especially in the law related courses I took I found myself taking more interest in those subjects than that of the technical related courses that made up my major.

Even more than reading and writing I like to take apart written arguments, analyze the facts, come up with rebuttals or boosters to them.

I did it almost non-stop right here on DU-and I did it for nothing it was considered FUN for me.

I'm currently in between contract jobs (it's tough as hell to find full time work for a college newbie in the tech field) I am 24 years old so I don't think it's necessarily too late for me to go back to school.

I would try to get into the college of law here in at the school I graduated from as since I am an alumnist I know some professors, I know the school, the reduced tuition rate for me, ect, and I would say my chances of getting in would be good.

I can't even apply until Feb of next year as the deadline for Fall semester (the only semester new applicants are admitted into) is Feb 15 and there's no way I can get all my letters, financial aid, LSAT ducks in a row in just a couple of weeks.

In the meantime I'd probably stick with doing the technical jobs I know how to do to save up and also go out and do a little research on what it's like to work in the legal field.

Maybe even by then I'd catch a lucky break and land a decent paying full time gig doing tech work, but honestly I really am more the type of person that likes to research and analyze more real world problems and issues as opposed to ensuring that a server room is functioning properly.





So my question is what do you all think? from the background I just gave do you think I should go for it? it means another three years out of my life and everything, and I know I would be another newbie all over again, however I just get the feeling given the type of person I am I would get more out of life working with patent or law as it is related to technology as opposed to being a glorified technician.

Also I am aware of the stress and the competitive nature of the job, but the whole fact of the matter is an advantage I think I have is I have no delusions: lawyers were my primary clients as a network technician. I don't expect to be big-time or anything like I just want the opportunity to working with a company or private clients and being the guy that explains how technological patents work, or how such and such move violated monopoly laws, ect.


Thanks in advance!

~N~

[bushisaturd]

1. Advice

Go for it.

I'm a patent attorney working for a relatively large firm. Patent attorney's with experience are still in big demand. I stress with experience. If you don't have experience, many employers are looking for advanced degrees, M.S. and Phd. If you do well in law school (top ten to twenty percent), take the patent bar and pass before you graduate, you should have no problem finding an entry-level job that will at least get you some patent experience.

There are no guarantees. I know many folks who have gone to law school, passed the patent bar and cannot find a patent attorney position because they do not have any experience. It becomes a vicious circle, you can't get experience unless you get a job, but they won't hire you without some experience.

That is why doing well in law school can be very important. It can allow you to get your foot in a door that might otherwise have been closed.

Best of luck to you.

Also, the first year of law school is hell. If you get through the first year, the next two are smooth sailing, so to speak.

If you have any questions, feel free to message me.

[noahmijo]

2. Thank you greatly appreciated

I am just about to head to the university to see about speaking to counselors and maybe even possibly see if I can gather up everything in time to submit my application by Feb 15 for the Fall '06 semester.

If I can't or for whatever reasons it doesn't work out I already planned on realistically applying for the Fall '07 term which in some ways would make things alot easier on me, however the prospect of being admitted and starting asap just appeals to me the most at the moment. The way I see it if I get admitted I still have a good number of months to prep up and save up for the upcoming semester if I get in.

I'll definitely keep in touch, thanks for responding, take care and make you have continuous success in your own practice.

~N~

[Dangerously Amused]

3. I'm a lawyer, and I think you're on the right track.

You've already done or plan to do most of the things I would recommend to someone in your position, and you appear to be very realistic and sensible with your expectations. All I can think of to add:


1) The LSAT is very important -- every point counts! -- and I can't tell from your post if you've taken it yet. If not, don't rush into it. At least take a few practice tests first, because once you have an official LSAT score it stays with you forever. Yes, you can take the test again, but they will just average all your scores for your latest "official" score. Kind of like a GPA. At least that is how it was when I took the test.

If you have any worries about taking the LSAT at all, I highly recommend Stanley Kaplan for test prep. I took it and am so glad I did. Yes, it's expensive. And it's worth every penny.


2) You want to go to law school for all the right reasons. You will probably have the opportunity to write a "letter of introduction" to submit with your application. All else being equal, that letter can make it or break it for you. If you let all the genuine enthusiasm shine through in that letter as you did in this post, and emphasize how and why your appreciation of the law has been growing over the years, I think you'll do fine. (Believe it or not, there are some people who want to go to law school simply because they want the "glam" lifestyle they see on TV. Let the school know you're not one of them.)

Keep your letter upbeat and completely socially neutral. For example (and you probably wouldn't do this anyway), don't include phrases such as some that you wrote above, i.e., "companies are too cheap nowadays to even spend a couple of weeks providing you with necessary training." Too negative. Or "I spend far more time studying politics, interesting cases, global issues, basically I read books on topics like Iran-Contra and The coop in Iran, and Enron than I do about how to properly configure a server." You have no idea who will be reading that letter, it may be a RWer, and you don't want them to judge your suitability for law school based your political opinions... not even subconsciously.

That's all I can think of for now. Hey, good luck, and be sure to post us when you're accepted!