Is it worth going to a bottom tier law school?

**padresouth** · 03-02-2009, 08:39 PM

Hey guys, I'm one year away from graduating with a BA in liberal arts. I'll end up graduating with roughly a 3.1 GPA, with tons of W's and a few F's. Terrible transcript. So if I get in anywhere, it will be the bottom of the barrel law schools.

Is it even worth it? I've heard it's generally not a great idea, but I don't really see any other options for me. I'll be 25 when I graduate college with no real skills and a checkered resume.

Should I go?

**bhxgryphon** · 03-02-2009, 08:42 PM

If it's your state school and you can get in cheaply, and have the time and nothing else going for it, then I'd do it. My business law professor graduated from some ****ty Tier 4 school and has his own practice and is an absolutely amazing teacher (one of the best I've had). If it's your passion go for it, but don't expect to make big dollars. Atleast yet.

Edit: And make sure your LSAT is outstanding.

**Beachbum1546** · 03-02-2009, 08:43 PM

no.

**kyleTX** · 03-02-2009, 08:44 PM

Originally Posted by padresouth

Hey guys, I'm one year away from graduating with a BA in liberal arts. I'll end up graduating with roughly a 3.1 GPA, with tons of W's and a few F's. Terrible transcript. So if I get in anywhere, it will be the bottom of the barrel law schools.

Is it even worth it? I've heard it's generally not a great idea, but I don't really see any other options for me. I'll be 25 when I graduate college with no real skills and a checkered resume.

Should I go?

You don't happen to go to TAMUCC do you?

**padresouth** · 03-02-2009, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by bhxgryphon

If it's your state school and you can get in cheaply, and have the time and nothing else going for it, then I'd do it. My business law professor graduated from some ****ty Tier 4 school and has his own practice and is an absolutely amazing teacher (one of the best I've had). If it's your passion go for it, but don't expect to make big dollars. Atleast yet.

Edit: And make sure your LSAT is outstanding.

Thanks man.

Originally Posted by Beachbum1546

no.

What if you're pretty sure you can get to the top of your class and tranfer upwards after a year?

Originally Posted by kyleTX

You don't happen to go to TAMUCC do you?

nope. What's that?

**stringtheorist** · 03-02-2009, 08:47 PM

usually its not worth going to a bottom tier law school but if you have the drive and you are truly outstanding you can stand out and do well after law school. then again if you are truly outstanding you wont be going to a bottom tier law school.

**kyleTX** · 03-02-2009, 08:48 PM

Originally Posted by padresouth

nope. What's that?

nevermind, your screen name made me think you were from south texas.

**padresouth** · 03-02-2009, 08:49 PM

Originally Posted by stringtheorist

usually its not worth going to a bottom tier law school but if you have the drive and you are truly outstanding you can stand out and do well after law school. then again if you are truly outstanding you wont be going to a bottom tier law school.

well that's not necessarily true. I've had a 4.0 for more than a few semesters now, been published as a main author on academic papers, etc. I just fu cked around in a college for a while, hence ruining my GPA.

Not making excuses, just sayin. You can be a gifted student and not have the resume to attend a top law school.

I appreciate your perspective before that comment though.

**NorrCal** · 03-02-2009, 08:50 PM

what was your lsat?

**Beachbum1546** · 03-02-2009, 08:50 PM

Originally Posted by padresouth

What if you're pretty sure you can get to the top of your class and tranfer upwards after a year?

hmm. if you really can do that then it's not a bad idea anymore.

**DrDouchebag** · 03-02-2009, 08:50 PM

go to cooley

one of the best law schools in the country

**SicWithIt** · 03-02-2009, 08:50 PM

Originally Posted by padresouth

well that's not necessarily true. I've had a 4.0 for more than a few semesters now, been published as a main author on academic papers, etc. I just fu cked around in a college for a while, hence ruining my GPA.

Not making excuses, just sayin. You can be a gifted student and not have the resume to attend a top law school.

I appreciate your perspective before that comment though.

i have a 3.5 (3.46 rounded

) and idk if a top law school would accept me. its fcuking hard brah

im not pre-law by the way.

**padresouth** · 03-02-2009, 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by NorrCal

what was your lsat?

161

**High_Endurance** · 03-02-2009, 08:51 PM

the world is run by C's so why not

**DrDouchebag** · 03-02-2009, 08:51 PM

and word of advice

law school in the states is 35-50k a year

your going to be 200k in debt when you're done....MAKE SURE you are going to a school where u can get a job after

**panic91984** · 03-02-2009, 08:52 PM

your LSAT score is weighted more depending on the school (most are like this). honestly i dont think law school is worth it in today's market.

i had every opportunity to go to a great school, but i am still hesitant to go. everyone i have spoken with (from pos graduates to professors) has advised me not to go. even knowing i had a 3.8 GPA and 174 LSAT score. sucks.

**NorrCal** · 03-02-2009, 08:53 PM

http://www.studentdoc.com/law-schools.php

**DrDouchebag** · 03-02-2009, 08:54 PM

Originally Posted by padresouth

well that's not necessarily true. I've had a 4.0 for more than a few semesters now, been published as a main author on academic papers, etc. I just fu cked around in a college for a while, hence ruining my GPA.

Not making excuses, just sayin. You can be a gifted student and not have the resume to attend a top law school.

I appreciate your perspective before that comment though.

Idea for you. Some canadian law schools look at last 2 years. If you had a 4.0 for last 2 years and a 161 lsat u can get into a pretty decent school here. Job prospects are better and i *THINK* you get NY state bar certification as well.

Its much cheaper too. Just a thought.

**padresouth** · 03-02-2009, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by panic91984

your LSAT score is weighted more depending on the school (most are like this). honestly i dont think law school is worth it in today's market.

i had every opportunity to go to a great school, but i am still hesitant to go. everyone i have spoken with (from pos graduates to professors) has advised me not to go. even knowing i had a 3.8 GPA and 174 LSAT score. sucks.

I hear you, but I don't have anything else going for me. No skills. Checkered resume. etc. etc.

**Thought_Riot** · 03-02-2009, 08:55 PM

according to my parents (both lawyers), your law school only affects your first job. Past that, it's all about how you handle yourself in a work environment. Lots of great lawyers come from no name schools and a lot of kids from the top in the nation don't have it. Hell, my dad worked for CalTrans before getting hired by a private firm.

**Beachbum1546** · 03-02-2009, 08:56 PM

Originally Posted by padresouth

161

strong actually got a 151.

**panic91984** · 03-02-2009, 08:57 PM

Originally Posted by SicWithIt

im not pre-law by the way.

at my university, pre-law was a designated label, not a specific course of study. its actually dumb for school's to offer this, such that it belittles your resume.

**DangerDan** · 03-02-2009, 08:59 PM

Originally Posted by kyleTX

You don't happen to go to TAMUCC do you?

tienes una mensaje private

**SicWithIt** · 03-02-2009, 09:01 PM

Originally Posted by panic91984

at my university, pre-law was a designated label, not a specific course of study. its actually dumb for school's to offer this, such that it belittles your resume.

im a finance major. but yeah its pretty retarded how they label it. you can have any bull**** degree as long as you pass the "pre-law" prerequisites, which any business degree usually does. goddammit i hate finance. where you attend brah?

**coasterguy** · 03-02-2009, 09:03 PM

Originally Posted by kyleTX

You don't happen to go to TAMUCC do you?

It's an islander brah. lol

I go there next semester. **** I don't even know anyone down there.

**panic91984** · 03-02-2009, 09:04 PM

Originally Posted by Thought_Riot

according to my parents (both lawyers), your law school only affects your first job. Past that, it's all about how you handle yourself in a work environment. Lots of great lawyers come from no name schools and a lot of kids from the top in the nation don't have it. Hell, my dad worked for CalTrans before getting hired by a private firm.

things have changed a bit and the profession has become very oversaturated. many lawyers never even achieve 6-figure status throughout their entire career. it used to be t-14 would land you anywhere you wanted, but now you need to be top 15% of a t-14 to be considered by the major firms.

**DrDouchebag** · 03-02-2009, 09:04 PM

Originally Posted by Thought_Riot

according to my parents (both lawyers), your law school only affects your first job. Past that, it's all about how you handle yourself in a work environment. Lots of great lawyers come from no name schools and a lot of kids from the top in the nation don't have it. Hell, my dad worked for CalTrans before getting hired by a private firm.

props to your parents for staying together

out of all the double lawyer couples I know maybe 1-2 have stayed together for more than 5ish years, and only 1 of them is together now

**NorrCal** · 03-02-2009, 09:06 PM

Originally Posted by panic91984

things have changed a bit and the profession has become very oversaturated. many lawyers never even achieve 6-figure status throughout their entire career. it used to be t-14 would land you anywhere you wanted, but now you need to be top 15% of a t-14 to be considered by the major firms.

where do you live?

**panic91984** · 03-02-2009, 09:09 PM

Originally Posted by SicWithIt

im a finance major. but yeah its pretty retarded how they label it. you can have any bull**** degree as long as you pass the "pre-law" prerequisites, which any business degree usually does. goddammit i hate finance. where you attend brah?

graduated university of illinois. you?

**McMackin** · 03-02-2009, 09:10 PM

as the economy gets worse lawyers just make more money who are you guys kidding. nows a prime time to go to law school.

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