Decided not to go to law school......

[bomb cola]

Man, I would have been right there with ya in a few years, but I just had to really take my heart out of it and use my head, I hate that the market and stories like yours continues to prove me right, it sickens me to be honest, but it is what it is as they say, congrats and I hope you land on a strong foundation that will give you the flexibility and prestige that your scholastic discipline should allow for..............

Thanks, Chuck.

[VEESTER]

I'm glad you came to your senses and took the emotion out of your decision. Too many folks thinking about law school fail to do that and end up terribly disappointed and broke. Maybe things will turn around in 5 to 10 years, but things suck right about now. Next time someone tells you they want to go to law school, show them this video. Humorous and not that far off the mark:

Wow!!!

[Pete_ is_ niccce]

Yeah what he said Chuck. I to am in school working on my degree in network administration with a cisco option.

How much will you make when you finish, and you were to talk to the black youths in neighborhood how would describe to them step by step for them to got to those position

[Steven Stewart]

So...if 5 years from now the market bounces back, isn't that about the time a part time law student would finish up?
Assuming he wanted to be an attorney in the first place?

[DaveR]

...

... "Science cleared that guy, a lawyer put him in prison ..."

[Steven Stewart]

Some Law Graduates Cheerfully Choose Alternative Careers

Generally speaking, you need a law degree (plus a license) to practice law. However, having a law degree doesn't mean you must practice law. While most graduates of U.S.-based law schools enter the private practice of law, a notable number do not, opting for diverse career opportunities that may not even require a law degree or law license, but in which the broad-based education underlying the J.D. proves useful.
Meet four law school graduates who are doing something different with their legal education. They are in the minority, but these doctors of law are pursuing a diverse array of careers, including:

• financial planner,
• owner of a real estate investment business,
• campaign worker for presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama, and
• consultant for the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization.

The reasons for these mavericks' selections of nontraditional career paths are as varied as the positions they currently hold. The financial planner cited a weak job market as part of the reason he picked an alternative career. However, the three other law graduates suggested that they used law school itself as a stepping stone to work that was not centered around practicing law. One used his legal education to advance his real estate career. The other two graduates used their law degrees, respectively, as a springboard to enter politics and public policy, and to become a social entrepreneur who works on social justice issues.
Do these deviations indicate a trend moving away from traditional law careers? It's really too early to tell. Nevertheless, these four stories about career satisfaction and success suggest that there are many ways to use a J.D. in satisfying work; traditional law practice is just one option.
By Steve Imparl, guest blogger

[mhd]

thanks Vee, means a lot bro, what I found was a bunch of under paid over worked lawyers in a saturated field, attorneys are everywhere and only those fortunate enough to get picked up by a large firm or those who choose to or become successful in a private practice really take full advantage of their JD.........

I had initially thought on leaving the Sheriff's Office, but the Sheriff has made some moves that have cleared my pathway to firming up a solid career and giving me a 6 figure salary in the process if I continue to do what I'm doing..........

Not that it's all about the money, but a lawyer fresh out of law school working in the public defender's office in Cook County is under 50 grand a year, in the State's Attorney's office he/she is under 60........

No disrespect to those who are working in those capacities, but Master's level IT professionals are coming out of school with the proper certifications making much more than that, bottom line too many lawyers ='s less demand for them thus the market is saturated............

you make your own choices, but, using the above makes no sense at all, botton line, you don't get it

[TAC]

you make your own choices, but, using the above makes no sense at all, botton line, you don't get it

Thanks for chiming in.

[mhd]

Thanks for chiming in.

well, its not for the weak, or the uninformed, for that matter

[dj kelvin]

How much will you make when you finish, and you were to talk to the black youths in neighborhood how would describe to them step by step for them to got to those position

Not sure how much I will make when I am done. One of the students ahead of me just came out and got a job on a military base making 57k to start. So I am hopeful that I too can start in that range. What I would tell the youth of today now that I am back in school and see them everyday is pretty much what I have been telling my 2 oldest children and that is get your education first get a stable career going for yourself then worry about all the pleasures life has to offer. Its no fun trying to do all the nicer things in life with no nicer things in life kinda money to do it. I have also instilled in them that you have to learn how to take care of yourself so that you don't have to be dependent of folks to take care of you.

[AK]

Chuck, I applaud and respect your decision. It is a difficult time for law students and law grads right now, although I won't speculate as to where the market might be in 3-4 years when you would be done. Above all else, my advice would be to go for what you can best see yourself doing and enjoying, rather than potential financial rewards and perceived status.

[Chuck P]

you make your own choices, but, using the above makes no sense at all, botton line, you don't get it

well, its not for the weak, or the uninformed, for that matter

I'm disappointed in the notion that because I have chosen a different career path based off of credible information and research that I have somehow become weak and/or uninformed, my decision was based off of my research and what I considered to be the best move for me at the time, this was not a diss to the profession because if circumstances for me were different, I'd be going to law school regardless of the current climate............

Because I have 16yrs already in law enforcement the IT degree would be more immediate and give me the flexibility in my current position that will take me to the next level relative to what I'm doing right now, I understand you go hard on cats who have differing opinions than yours, but I'd be remiss if I didn't say that those adjectives you've chosen to use to describe my decision are disappointing especially since you were one of the brothas I reached out to before I even completed my undergrad.........

[mhd]

I'm disappointed in the notion that because I have chosen a different career path based off of credible information and research that I have somehow become weak and/or uninformed, my decision was based off of my research and what I considered to be the best move for me at the time, this was not a diss to the profession because if circumstances for me were different, I'd be going to law school regardless of the current climate............

Because I have 16yrs already in law enforcement the IT degree would be more immediate and give me the flexibility in my current position that will take me to the next level relative to what I'm doing right now, I understand you go hard on cats who have differing opinions than yours, but I'd be remiss if I didn't say that those adjectives you've chosen to use to describe my decision are disappointing especially since you were one of the brothas I reached out to before I even completed my undergrad.........

c'mon man, not calling you weak at all, that would be absurd, but, your reasoning is flawed, using that salary example makes zero sense in this discussion, so, to me, you are uninformed, which is very typical at this stage of the game. as for your circumstances, only you know that, if its about speed, more power to you, if its about anything else then you are making a mistake, its a calling despite what you hear, cream rises to the top in any profession, if you see yourself as a chicago public defender, then maybe you should get a masters in it, but, there are a whole lot more options than that, trust me, i've gotten hundreds of people jobs in the legal profession, many are chillin on six figures working nine to five erryday, if its about money, if its about something else, i don't know, maybe justice, maybe freedom, liberty, or some other high minded concept, then, you got all my support, as always

[DaveR]

... using that salary example makes zero sense in this discussion ...

... cream rises to the top in any profession ...

... there are a whole lot more options than that ...

Agree

most definitely

absolutely

[Fletch]

c'mon man, not calling you weak at all, that would be absurd, but, your reasoning is flawed, using that salary example makes zero sense in this discussion, so, to me, you are uninformed, which is very typical at this stage of the game. as for your circumstances, only you know that, if its about speed, more power to you, if its about anything else then you are making a mistake, its a calling despite what you hear, cream rises to the top in any profession, if you see yourself as a chicago public defender, then maybe you should get a masters in it, but, there are a whole lot more options than that, trust me, i've gotten hundreds of people jobs in the legal profession, many are chillin on six figures working nine to five erryday, if its about money, if its about something else, i don't know, maybe justice, maybe freedom, liberty, or some other high minded concept, then, you got all my support, as always

His heart seems like it's in the IT field, from the postings!

[däp]

Above all else, my advice would be to go for what you can best see yourself doing and enjoying, rather than potential financial rewards and perceived status.

this is the crux.

Best of luck to you Chuck. Very few are born knowing what they want to be in life. IT is a very broad field. You will have time to decide on a focus area while wroking toward your goal. DePaul has excellent programs.

[Doug]

you make your own choices, but, using the above makes no sense at all, botton line, you don't get it

I guess I don't get it either. He did his due diligence and made a sound decision IMO. He can always go back later.

I don't disagree that the cream rises to the top, but I see the cream getting rejected and laid off regularly at my shop. Case in point - today I gave a mover and shaker at my firm a resume that I thought was very impressive: Joint JD/MBA, VA Supreme Court clerkship with recommendations from sitting justices, multiple awards for moot court at the state and national level, extensive prior work experience, etc. It was rejected inside of 10 seconds. And yes, I know there are other opportunities out there, but there's no question it's become increasingly difficult in recent years to secure employment paying a decent salary right out of law school (i.e. at least enough to pay law school loans and live comfortably). JMO.

[Steven Stewart]

I guess I don't get it either. He did his due diligence and made a sound decision IMO. He can always go back later.

I don't disagree that the cream rises to the top, but I see the cream getting rejected and laid off regularly at my shop. Case in point - today I gave a mover and shaker at my firm a resume that I thought was very impressive: Joint JD/MBA, VA Supreme Court clerkship with recommendations from sitting justices, multiple awards for moot court at the state and national level, extensive prior work experience, etc. It was rejected inside of 10 seconds. And yes, I know there are other opportunities out there, but there's no question it's become increasingly difficult in recent years to secure employment paying a decent salary right out of law school (i.e. at least enough to pay law school loans and live comfortably). JMO.

I hear you Doug, however it seems the law world needs to sip a cup of reality. It's apparent the old business model of law firms have to change in this new economic environment. If the candidate you presented had some clients, and positioned himself as a potential "rainmaker" then he probably would have been looked at differently. The days of hiring new law school grads based of graduation merits are over. This person you proposed quite frankly probably should look at alternative employment opportunities. The JD/MBA combo speaks to starting a business, versus trying to work at a firm...JMO.

[Chuck P]

One thing for sure is that I most definitely thank you all for your kind words, well wishes, and your concerns as they are much appreciated......

As I was nearing the completion of my Undergrad degree, I found it to be quite informative to pick the brains of people whom I trust as well as complete strangers in order to adequately gauge the scope and climate of my next scholastic decision as I fully knew and understood the importance of it.........

As I began to research my options, it was painfully obvious that the IT degree just made the most since for reasons that I spoke on in previous posts, that was not to suggest that a law degree has some form of diminished capacity because I don't feel that way and NOBODY I spoke with regarding the aforementioned stated that to me either, but FOR ME, with my current place professionally and not wanting to make an arbitrary or impulsive decision, I sided with those who believed with me that the Master's in IT would be a powerful instrument for me in the law enforcement field and would again net me immediate gains...........

I used examples of a couple positions that I researched only to show that research had been done and that I'm not speaking from an uninformed position, I don't believe for a second that there are some cats who are going to graduate and progress through their law careers with speed and success, but I ended up making the best decision for me..........

Cream rises to the top, that's for sure, I graduated Summa Caum Laude so I know that there is nothing that I cannot tackle and conquer from a scholastic standpoint, my drive and determination will never let me fail, so again thx for the kind words and varying positions as they are always welcomed..............

[dj kelvin]

One thing for sure is that I most definitely thank you all for your kind words, well wishes, and your concerns as they are much appreciated......

As I was nearing the completion of my Undergrad degree, I found it to be quite informative to pick the brains of people whom I trust as well as complete strangers in order to adequately gauge the scope and climate of my next scholastic decision as I fully knew and understood the importance of it.........

As I began to research my options, it was painfully obvious that the IT degree just made the most since for reasons that I spoke on in previous posts, that was not to suggest that a law degree has some form of diminished capacity because I don't feel that way and NOBODY I spoke with regarding the aforementioned stated that to me either, but FOR ME, with my current place professionally and not wanting to make an arbitrary or impulsive decision, I sided with those who believed with me that the Master's in IT would be a powerful instrument for me in the law enforcement field and would again net me immediate gains...........

I used examples of a couple positions that I researched only to show that research had been done and that I'm not speaking from an uninformed position, I don't believe for a second that there are some cats who are going to graduate and progress through their law careers with speed and success, but I ended up making the best decision for me..........

Cream rises to the top, that's for sure, I graduated Summa Caum Laude so I know that there is nothing that I cannot tackle and conquer from a scholastic standpoint, my drive and determination will never let me fail, so again thx for the kind words and varying positions as they are always welcomed..............

Yo man when you done we will find us a spot and open our own IT firm....

[mhd]

I guess I don't get it either. He did his due diligence and made a sound decision IMO. He can always go back later.

I don't disagree that the cream rises to the top, but I see the cream getting rejected and laid off regularly at my shop. Case in point - today I gave a mover and shaker at my firm a resume that I thought was very impressive: Joint JD/MBA, VA Supreme Court clerkship with recommendations from sitting justices, multiple awards for moot court at the state and national level, extensive prior work experience, etc. It was rejected inside of 10 seconds. And yes, I know there are other opportunities out there, but there's no question it's become increasingly difficult in recent years to secure employment paying a decent salary right out of law school (i.e. at least enough to pay law school loans and live comfortably). JMO.

not sure how you can say its a sound decision, for me, there are not enough facts to draw such a conclusion, as for your example, i've seen us supreme court clerks rejected, firm life is just a small sliver of employment options and far from being the best option for most, as for due diligence, maybe that means something different to different people

[DaveR]

... the Master's in IT would be a powerful instrument for me in the law enforcement field and would again net me immediate gains ...

Chuck ... no decision you make for academic advancement is a bad one ... I think you're getting a lot of flack here, b/c your delivery did unfairly dis the law profession ... I'm no lawyer, and I was kinda cringing at the delivery

e.g. immediate gains ... man, I have a longtime friend in CT that was a cop for 10-15 years ... he went to law school, graduated, passed the bar, and opened his own (criminal defense) practice immediately ... his practice went in to orbit in year 1 -- and when I say out of this world, he probably pays that $95K IT salary in quarterly estimated taxes ...

... his windfall was b/c everyone flocked to him for representation, b/c as an x-cop & a lawyer, there isn't anyone in the court system (all the way up to the judges) who's ear he doesn't have

... yes, that's 1 case, and 1 case might not be the norm, but I'm just sayin'

[mhd]

Chuck ... no decision you make for academic advancement is a bad one ... I think you're getting a lot of flack here, b/c your delivery did unfairly dis the law profession ... I'm no lawyer, and I was kinda cringing at the delivery

e.g. immediate gains ... man, I have a longtime friend in CT that was a cop for 10-15 years ... he went to law school, graduated, passed the bar, and opened his own (criminal defense) practice immediately ... his practice went in to orbit in year 1 -- and when I say out of this world, he probably pays that $95K IT salary in quarterly estimated taxes ...

... his windfall was b/c everyone flocked to him for representation, b/c as an x-cop & a lawyer, there isn't anyone in the court system (all the way up to the judges) who's ear he doesn't have

... yes, that's 1 case, and 1 case might not be the norm, but I'm just sayin'

jes sayin...

[mhd]

if circumstances for me were different, I'd be going to law school regardless of the current climate............

jes sayin, cosign what dave said, any decision to advance is a good one, but this statement above is puzzling

[Bill Blake]

Hope everything goes well Chuck.