The Passion Project Volume 1: Law School ! What Like It's Hard?!
This Week's Passion : The Law
There was a time where a Juris Doctorate ensured the foundation to a successful career, vocational mobility, and a financially stable life. Now, many law school graduates are referring to law school as a financial death sentence and a guaranteed paradox.
With law school enrollment at an all time low and law school alumni, like Anna Alaburda, suing their law schools for distorting the graduate-employment rate, students are more confused than ever. Is a law degree still worth the emotion, effort, finance, and sacrifice?
In volume one of the passion project, four law grads answer some of your most pressing questions about the road to becoming a lawyer:
Jessica Odigie (J.O.)
Chicago, IL
The University of Iowa College of Law
Bankruptcy Law
Chigozie Ezirike (C.E.)
Missouri City, TX
Thurgood Marshall School of Law
Immigration, Educational & Criminal Law
Amber Roberts (A.R.)
New York, NY
University of Virginia School of Law
Benefits & Executive Compensation (Transactional Law)
Ashley Heilprin (A.H.)
New Orleans, LA
William & Mary Law School
Commercial Litigation
Of all fields why law? What can be done with a law degree?
C.E. : Why law?? The true question is why not law? It’s one of the few degrees that allows you the opportunity to explore other fields. The skill one receives in law school is invaluable and often marketable. There is so much that can be done with a law degree: one can practice law, become a consultant, teach, work in nonprofit, run for state/local office and much more.
J.O. : As early as five years of age, I knew I wanted to become a lawyer. Thinking back, I cannot remember whether it was the confidence, the polished suits or the tremendous oral advocacy that originally stole and kept my attention. Regardless of what provoked my kindergarten mind, as I grew older, it became increasingly obvious that I made the right decision. Now, I enjoy the legal profession for what it is. I’m passionate about solving problems, speaking on behalf of those who can’t speak for themselves and helping others reach their full potential, all of which are part of the profession.
Those uninterested in practicing law might consider politics, government, nonprofit, advocacy or consulting. The list is endless.
A.R. : I chose to become a lawyer because I’m passionate about public policy. My father was in the Army and my mother was a lifelong civil servant, so political affairs and social policy issues were always at the forefront of my consciousness. The law was a natural fit because I’ve always been curious about how the world works. The law is all around us and influences outcomes in ways that we often fail to predict. You want answers? Look to the law. You want to make a difference? Look to the law.
A.H. : Anything can be done with a law degree. There are people who have JD’s in every industry of work. In that regard, it is a door opener. I went to law school to get a JD/MPP thinking that I was going to work in government or policy-oriented work. That’s not what I’m doing now but it worked it, because I love what I do.
With that being said, the cost, energy, effort required to gain a Juris Doctorate is burdensome. If you do not actually want to practice law, do your research. See if there is another degree that will allow you to do the work that you want to do.
Did you always knows what kind of law you wanted to practice?
A.R. : Nope! I think everyone who told me that I would make a good lawyer pictured me arguing in a courtroom. After my first semester in law school, I confirmed my suspicions that I did not want to be a litigator!
Prior to attending law school, I spent 2 years working for lawyers who specialized in health and tax law and I had inkling that transactional work would be a good fit for me. I ended up finding a good fit with my practice group and the rest is (6 months of) history.
J.O. : Prior to law school, I did not always know precisely what area of law I wanted to practice. However, I always had an overwhelming interest in civil litigation (still very broad, since civil litigation encompasses essentially every area of litigation with the exception of criminal). In law school, after classes like Trial Advocacy, Advanced Trial Advocacy, Appellate Advocacy and Appellate Advocacy II, I knew I wanted to become a litigator.
How did you decide on the law school you attended? How important is a school's ranking?
A.H. : I actually applied to law school twice. The first time that I applied to law school was during my senior year of college. I applied to 20 different schools across the country (with fee waivers) but didn't have much focus on how I was choosing the schools that I applied to. I applied to a wide variety of schools, in large part, based on which schools sent me information and fee waivers. Although I was accepted to many schools, because the schools were so different (geographically, rank, cost, region, etc.) I didn't really feel as though I was choosing between two schools.
My father passed away during my senior year and I needed to take a little time off, so I deferred admission to a top 20 ranked school that I was admitted to because it was the "best" school, but it was also very expensive.
During my year off, I decided to reapply to law school, but this time, to be focused on schools that were either an "A-lister/top choice" where I would be confident that it was worth all of the debt, or a "B+" school that was reputable, but a little more affordable than the top 20 school I deferred admission to. After being accepted into the JD/MPP program with a small fellowship, I accepted admission to William & Mary.
As far as ranking, it depends on what you want to do. If you’re at a top 14 school, your chances of getting a job are great. The opportunity to attend such a school is incredible ESPECIALLY if you want to work at a big firm in a big city. If that’s not what you aim to do, be sure to decide on a school that would streamline you into the career of your choice. For example, if your plan is to work in policy, a law school in D.C. is ideal.
J.O.: In choosing which law school to attend, I considered the ranking and bar passage rate, cost of attendance, scholarship awards, proximity to my family, and the city in which I ultimately wanted to practice in. It was also important for me to feel like I could succeed in the environment of the institution.
Whether a school’s ranking is important depends on the individual applicant and what that applicant wants to do with their law degree. If you want to sit on the United States Supreme Court, ranking is essential. If you want a law degree only for purposes of having a working knowledge of the law, but have no intentions of practicing law or even sitting for the bar exam, you may consider ranking less important.
Law school is expensive. What resources did you use to supplement your expenses?
J.O. : At a number of law schools, mine included, full-time first year students are not permitted to work more than fifteen hours a week, if it all. After my first year of law school, I worked as a paid Research Assistant for a professor at my law school. In addition to working, there are a number of programs that students can apply to for grants.
C.E. : To supplement my expenses I lived at home instead of renting an apartment. My commute was longer but I saved so much money.
A.H. : Your search for scholarships, fellowships, grants, and other financial aid does not stop once you're admitted to law school. Unless you received a full-ride, continue to look for scholarship programs from community organizations, corporate law firms, and your financial aid office.
Did you find that your study skills were cultivated and developed before law school? What resources did you use to study analytically?
A.R. : I think my study skills improved in law school. I was a solid student in undergrad, but I never had to study every day. I was also coming off of a 3-year work stint, so my habits were pretty rusty when I first started.
I took everyone’s advice and went hard in the paint that first semester, as almost every 1L does. I asked for advice from my lawyer friends and from certain UVA 2Ls and 3Ls that were great models of academic success. Eventually, you sort of just figure it all out.
C.E. : My ability to study for long periods of time and my organizational skills were developed prior to law school but my analytical skills were cultivated while in law school. The resources that I used the most often included: Barbri, Law in A Flash, and having a study group.
A.H. : Seek your school's academic support services. Often these services are not widely-advertised but are free (with your hefty tuition bill), so take advantage of what you are already paying for.
My second semester of my 1L year, I requested a tutor from academic support services, who I met with one-on-one during the spring semester to go over test-taking strategies and learn how to best approach each of the exams I had based on that particular professor's testing style. It was very helpful. MANY MANY people can study and learn the material well, but if you don't learn how to prepare for those particular types of tests, you won't do well, despite appearing like a "gunner" in class and always knowing the right answers.
How important is it to secure internships while in law school?
A.R. : Internships are critical. A lot of the practice of law is “on-the-job training”. If you wait until you graduate to start looking for opportunities, it will be far too late. Internships are also a great way to learn about what attorneys do and to identify practice areas that you enjoy.
J.O. : It is important to gain internship and other experience while in law school. It gives you a glimpse of what to expect after law school while showing future employers that you have experience. Your two summers (or three, if you are a dual degree candidate) should be spent learning something. Whether that is through a summer associate position at a firm or a government agency, a volunteer position at a free legal aid clinic, a research assistantship or even a study abroad program depends on the individual student and what they are looking to get out of the law school experience. In the last year of law school, if possible, I also recommend a clinic or externship.
What is the most dynamic lesson that you learned while in law school and/or working in the legal field?
C.E. : While in law school find out what works best for you. As a graduate and former law student I truly understood the meaning of “there is more than one way to skin a cat.” I don’t believe that there is a wrong or right way, when it comes to studying for law school exams, seeking internships or choosing the path your legal career will take you. Find out what’s best for you and go with confidence.
A.H.: Be confident in yourself because it’s a VERY competitive field.
I had a breakdown every day in the August before my 2L year trying to find my 2L summer internship, and hoping that it would lead to full-time employment. Then after I graduated from law school, I had a meltdown every day for a month while studying for the bar! It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.
But what kept was the constant validation that God had (and still has) a plan for me!
A.R. : I hate to be cliché, but (with the exception of clinics) law school doesn’t teach you how to be a lawyer. Most people simply do not walk out of law school knowing much of anything about the day-to-day practice of law. I say that after two summer internships and a year-long clinic!
Law school teaches you how to think like a lawyer, communicate like a lawyer and instills the requisite wherewithal to succeed as a lawyer. I cannot count the number of times I’ve thought, “Gee, this is a challenge, but I’d be in worse off shape if I hadn’t taken X class.”
What should undergraduate or graduate students be doing now to prepare for law school?
J.O. : In anticipation of law school, students should focus on getting the best grades possible in undergraduate school while discovering the one thing about them that sets them apart from their contemporaries and include that one thing in all law school applications. Additionally, students should prepare for the application process by studying for the LSAT and taking practice tests. Students should research the law schools they find appealing and find out what the schools look for in a J.D. Candidate including LSAT score and GPA. During the application process, students should visit law schools and law school libraries, talk to admissions officers, law professors, and current and previous law students.
C.E. : Honestly I don’t believe there is anything that prepares you for law school like law school it self. However, make sure to take advantage of organizations like the Counsel of Legal Education Organization Scholars, the Black Pre–Law Conference and the Law School Admission Council–Pre law division.
