Why do this when you can accidentally walk into a interview from a top law firm while dealing drugs and get hired without a college,law and bar certification.
I have graduated from a third tier law school than pursued an LLM in Corporate and International mergers and acquisitions. After completion of my education i became an stagiaire. In the beginning of carrer i earned 33K a year. Now its been almost 5 years and i make 91K a year. Its not about which school you graduate it is all about how motivated you are. Your clients wont question which school you have graduated but how many cases you won or lost.
Rich 91 They start off that way but the pay rate remains stagnant. Drs etc start off high but have the lowest income growth over the years. Lawyers, architects, engineers pay rate start low but grow over time and end up making far more than a Dr in the long run (according to a statistic where the average pay of a Dr was around $150k)
Well yeah people with clients make less my uncle worked at Kirkland and Ellis as an attorney I think it’s one of the bigger firms so yeah just join a bigger firm don’t be a litigator
Let me answer this for you. Is it your dream to be a lawyer? Go for it. Life is too short to not go for your dreams because of people telling numbers and percentages.
I loved law school, I absolutely hate being a lawyer. Those are two entirely different beasts. Unfortunately, much like those who are jacked up to be come a lawyer, I didn't understand this until it was too late. Save yourselves and stay away. Your future holds endless conflict with everyone about everything.
A few months ago this discouraged me from pursing a career as a lawyer, but then I realized, the more time you put into your job, and the more experience and connections you build, you can get into those large law firms, and make more than the median salary.
In thinking you don’t understand statistical analysis well. They literally said in the video that the average/median salary is misrepresented because there are 2 completely different groups represented in the same data set. If you are not in a tier one law school, you will be on the belcurve with a median salary of 50k. With experience you may get one standard deviation away from this median and make around 75k, but you will not get into big law firms or be on that second 160k median belcurve. Hate to be a downer, but if you are bad at math, you aren’t going to get into a tier 1 lawschool and have access to those law firms or salaries because you won’t get the LSAT to get in without strong math skills. Only study law if you understand that you will probabably make just slightly about national median salary for a job.
Ummm. You clearly know NOTHING about the real world for attorneys. You cannot just get experience and get into a large law firm. Most large firms only hire the top 5% of a law school class. Plus they tend to hire those under 30 years old who are willing to work 80 hours a week. The high salaries come at a very high price. I had a friend graduate in the top 15% of her class. I tried to talk her out of law school, but she didn't listen. She is in her 40s. Guess what? She passed 2 bar exams in 2 states and has yet to land a job as an attorney. She is now working in compliance and regrets going to law school. I'm an attorney and am very lucky to be where I'm at. I am the exception. Last time my company posted an attorney job, we received 1000+ applicants from all over the USA. We ended up hiring a former colleague of our general counsel. We get unsolicited resumes and calls all the time from unemployed attorneys. They even offer to work for free in hope of gaining any legal experience. I've seen resumes of top 10% applicants who moonlighted as baristas and uber drivers. The legal market is no joke. You might think you could open up your own practice, but that is very dangerous and expensive for a new attorney. Malpractice insurance is sky high and mandatory. Plus you have to pay overheads. Plus you have to be familiar with all of the court rules and state bar ethics rules. One innocent mistake could get you disbarred. The market is so sad and flooded right now that lawyers are competing for shit work at bargain basement prices. You might think that you could get a gig as a public defender or prosecutor, but they pay so low and also get flooded with applicants. The same goes with JAG. You may have a dream to be a lawyer, but you also have to be realistic. The odds are about the same as winning Powerball. The legal market is a hot mess right now. Run...do not walk..from law school. Oh...I suppose I should mention that most people I went to law school with graduated with 100k or more of non dischargeable student loan debt. Six figure debt with poor job prospects is the reality of a law degree. It's shocking to me how many people have their heads up their asses.
this is crap and discouragement at its finest. IF YOU WANNA GO TO LAW SCHOOL, GO. I BELIEVE IN YOU. I'm a 28 year old female who can safely say the odds are against me. I didnt know i wanted to go to law school until my now 4th year out of undergrad. I had to work in a field slightly related to it figure this out. I have considerable debt from school, I work a mediocre paying job that is stressful, but rewarding to be able to help the marginalized and vulnerable population in my city. I have to take care of my parents, pay all these bills, do photography on the side, maintain a social life, maintain a healthy life, yet I'M STILL WRITING MY FREAKING LSATS CAUSE GUESS WHAT LIFE IS SHORT ANNNNNNNND i want to be a lawyer, AND BASICALLY JUST FREAKIN DO IT, DONT LET SOME VIDEO DICTATE WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE SUITABLE TO BECOME A LAWYER OR OBTAIN A LAW DEGREE.
You got this babe! Go get it, make your goals your reality! It’s about how bad you want it, how motivated and dedicated you are! Plus knowing the law is always an added benefit! 😉
ditrinipersian this just sealed the deal for me!!! Thank you so much for this!! I definitely needed to see this and realize it’s time. I’m currently 28 and have been out of undergrad for nearly 6 years. I don’t even know how I’ll be able to afford it but I’m going for it.
#1 advise on if you want to do law: Don't fucking look at discouraging vids like this and still expect to maintain a positive mental vibe. Just do it if you really want it. JUST DO IT. Believe in you not the statistics.
Honestly this seems misleading. I looked up employment stats for the 2017 grad class and the median salary was 72k. Also 84% of people were full time employed
Law degree is 5 years here. But before that you got to do 4 years of undergraduate degree,take enough credits for social sciences and mathematics,passed the LAT and then apply for PhilSAT.
It's meaningless platitudes like this that will get your screwed over. Lawyers are miserable for a host of reasons. Those statistics represent many of those issues. "Just do it" is something a naive teenager with no life experience would say. Think long and hard before you go into law.
This video goes off of starting salaries. Just because you'll start off making 45,000 a year does not mean that's what you'll be making 10 years after you graduated. That is very misleading,I know plenty of lawyers who went to second and third tier law schools and easily make over 250,000 a year. No one makes a lot of money when they're young except people who go to ivy league schools or have very good connections.
+Ben Dantic IS you go to a better school, better program though you do tend to start with a much better salary. I know a women who after 1 year out of Harvard her starting salary was already 122000 a year. And she only 26
@Jswirv many of those elite employers simply don't interview outside of t14. Sure, one can still be proactive turning in an app to Skaden from Wayne state but good luck. Sounds harsh but it's the reality.
No shit, this is common sense. Why would big time firms choose to hire nothing but the best? This is like crying about Stanford hiring only excellent students. It's like when people cry about not getting jobs with degrees in film studies.
AR Routh But a law degree isn't a film studies major. People tend to hold illusions that a law degree automatically puts you way above the salary of someone with just a BA, which is why videos like this are important.
Exactly, Jen. Personally, I think most people set their law careers up for failure or misery when their only or primary concern is to generate great income.
exactly you gotta be good in any job to earn..lmao people be like you can't earn when a lawyer..some of the richest people are lawyers..you gotta have passion and experence and you can even earn in millions in this field
I love how almost every fucking career that makes good money has people saying "Don't do it": Doctors: "Don't become a doctor", Lawyers: "Don't become a lawyer", Dentists: "Don't become a dentist". The only jobs that don't do this are the depressing ones no one wants: janitors, garbage men, plumbers, teachers, etc. What the fuck are you supposed to do?
IT is where it’s at. You can make just as much as any doctor or corporate lawyer as a software developer or IT manager if you have the skills to pay the bills that is. That’s what I’m doing right now, but I’ve always had a passion for the law though, who knows. Perhaps there is a way for me to combine the two. Maybe find something in cyber Security.
Law should be thought in school along side with psychology. Yeah i know math and grammar is often useful, but knowing your rights in time of need is way more useful than being able to write orangutan without misstakes, or knowing Pythagorean threorem.
You don't need a three year course in psychology to know your rights.Law is soon enough gonna be looked in the same way as psychology. Both subjects are oversaturated and decent employment is challenging for a decent student. Btw why should stem degree be seen an a physiology degree. Stem is the reason that all the content you learn is physiology resists.
I agree. Basic legal concepts should be taught in social studies. Kids should also be taught about 4th and 5th amendment rights when dealing with law enforcement.
@@karlmarx809 "Social Studies" seems to be a catch-all term for subjects NOT taught by American high schools. Kids come away knowing little or no history or geography. Why not add nothing about the law as well?
I am a trucker who is home daily, working Mon-Fri. My highest form of education is a GED with some college. My base salary is 75k, although I make about 105k with overtime. I am thinking about going back to college to work my way into law school to become a labor attorney, not because of the money since I am already satisfied with my income, but to better protect the employees of the company I work for.
Law school was a very good investment for me. I work as an Administrative Law Judge now. My belief is that you like the type of work involved, than go for it. I am a Californian, did both undergrad and law school here in California, and passed the California Bar. I have had my fair share of pitfalls along the way, but -to me - that is life. I am a first-generation American and I grew up in fairly humble surroundings, including public housing and a housing shelter. Things in life are generally not always easy, so - if going to law school is a goal for a person - I believe a person should go for it. If you fall down, do your best to get back up and keep trying. Keep pushing. For me, I got to be a good example for my younger brothers and sisters, and I focused hard to stay away from gangs and drugs growing up. So it was a real honor for me to go to college, and certainly so to attend and graduate from law school. I think there are ups and downs to any goal or career, and I think that one should keep that in mind. In my opinion, if you have a goal, work hard to achieve it. You may even surprise yourself and exceed your own expectations, and perhaps accomplish things that others may have said you could not do.
I'm in law school currently and am interested in becoming an ALJ in the Philadelphia area. What kind of internship is best for gaining experience to enter this part of the legal realm?
***** in the UK, law is taught in almost EVERY single university (100+ unis). But only about 20-30 are classed as "Russell Group Universities" (google this phrase) - aka prestigious with top class research etc etc. I believe law should be taught only within the Russell Group where students have already achieved straight As in secondary school which is also the requirement of RG universities. In non RG universities, secondary school grade requirements are B - C - even D grades. Studying law and INDEED PRACTICING law requires a good work ethic and intelligence and so RG universities can have a cache of students who are already straight A types and thus more likely to excel especially in law. I'm not saying that only RG universities are the apex of higher education, it's just that the higher the requirement of entry (including even high non-academic requirements), the "brighter" the students. #UK law grad working in a law firm.
The moral of the story is - don't choose a career soly based on income potential, but it also has to be one you are willing to work your hardest to excel at. Putting in mediocre work will get you mediocre results.
Everybody acts like you have to get a job at a big company or firm. All the richest lawyers I’ve met work in small towns and are partners or were assistants to local private practice. That’s the way to go!!!
I choose a cheaper school because I'm not interested in working for some huge firm or corporation. I"ll work for somebody no more than 5 years.....then I'm off to start my own practice.
ZOECAHONTAS criminal justice is a useless nearly virtually inapplicable degree in the workforce. Please invest your energy in something better if you choose to get a bachelor’s in something. I know someone who is working as a legal assistant with a MASTERS in criminal justice and she gets paid pennies and regrets being in so much debt for something so useless.
I wish I had seen this clip before going to law school. I went to a Tier 1 school, 34th in the nation, and landed in the dead center of my 2018 graduating class. Of course, I thought I'd be in the top 10%, but the competition is fierce the first year. Looking back, landing in the middle of my class was a blessing in disguise. I'm pursuing a career in sales where I'll be making close to triple and potentially quadruple what I would make as a first-year attorney. I'm foregoing the bar and not looking back.
If you really want to go to law school just do it. But only if you REALLY want it. It is incredibly difficult academically, but also emotionally. It will change the way think, speak, and behave. Changes like that don't come without some severe growing pains. It is a humbling endeavor that should only be taken on if you are intensely committed to it for reasons other than money and power. Those things won't help you when you are crying in your shower because you have never been so ignorant, insecure, and incompetent in your life. Law school makes you question if anything you thought about yourself was ever true. By all means take it on if you want It, but spare yourself the misery if you are doing this for anyone but yourself.
Completely agree! I recently graduated from a prestigious law school in my country (South Africa) and it was a brutal experience. Going to law school solely for the income possibilities a career in law may provide, will not energize you enough to push through those difficult times while studying.
All this showed me is that those who can make it into any of the top 30 schools have a fairly high success rate. Law isnt for everyone and its not for the weak minded. Going to law school and being successful requires an extreme amount of effort and time spent studying. If you cant put in 110% dont expect 110% outcome. Its that simple. If you work hard, if you push to be the top 10% of your school you WILL get an amazing job and do great things. Dont let this video get you down.
Hamdan Qureshi Med school is harder to get into but if you do, and do it well, you're guaranteed a great job and salary. With Law school there are nothing as a good salary guarantee.
Movies with Matticus job security and earning a stable job after med school is far superior to Law school. The debt will eventually be worth it for med school but not for law (usually).
Something tells me a lot of the people in the comments couldn't get into a T14 or couldn't find any job offers with their degrees and are salty as hell.
Even with mental illnesses or disabilities, you can still accomplish such wonderful goals in life, success is something you need to work for, if you achieve being an expertise as a lawyer then you can work even harder and try trial for judges positions, if you work hard then I don't think it will take that long to get in trial, many people think you need to graduate and have a good past, it's not true, if you for example steal, if you turn your life around and work for your goals and success then people will start noticing that you're not a bad person or untrustworthy for working for big companies, it will take time but if you put effort in your education and knowledge then you can relax and say you've worked hard for this success, judge is a hard position but that doesn't stop you from becoming one, just learn and read books and etc, this is the first step and also law school for a couple of years.
When I was little, I really didn't know what to do in the future. I even decided I wanted to be an engineer. But nah! I realized its not my thing! My dad once encourage me to become a lawyer when j was only 3. I didn't listen! But after a few years, I found law amusing. Law is so interesting that I wanted to be a lawyer! My sister even tried to convince me not to be a lawyer because she said its very risky and hard. My mon even told me that its not good and that I should choose med instead. I cried after hearing those. But still, my decision won't change!! I will be a succesful lawyer
J Bullock is correct. That or find your niche, practice your strategies. Create value. Scale your model. Protect your product. Dominate. No law school degree needed. Remember that the most successful people learn by doing and succeed by never giving up.
김정유 I know right every single career I consider doing isn’t good somehow and people have to put me off doing it. I don’t know what the fuck to study too
I graduated law school last year (2018). I have passed the bar, and it has been about 9 months out. Thankfully, I do have a job. This figure does not give the entire picture. 9 months is really not that far removed from graduating law school. It should be noted that a large portion of these 9 months will be taken up by preparing for the bar exam, and then applying to jobs. In some states, bar takers wait around 4-5 months for results. That is almost half of the 9 month statistic. Also to be noted, is that the figure of people who have actually found a job is reflecting people who have a job that requires bar passage. Nationally, only around 50-60% of bar takers will pass the state's bar exam. Some states have higher or lower percentages. given this figure, if you have passed the bar, you will have a good shot of finding a job. In conclusion, law school is not a road that likely leads to nowhere. It is ultimately what you make of it. I do not regret going to law school. In fact, I am glad I did. I would not want to do anything else. That being said. Do not rush into going to law school because of some notion that you will be a millionaire over night when you graduate. You have to put in work, and really show that you actually understand and know how to apply the law in a given situation.
I've been a paralegal and worked for attorneys for years. You don't to work for a big firm after graduation or for years. You can work independently is what I am saying.
***** I am sorry are you speaking as attorney? You don't need another attorney to complete a living will, advocate for clients,or file motions. I am speaking as experienced paralegal. And I am starting law school in the fall.
You won't likely be successful? What are you a fortune teller? I worked at firms before. Some attorneys have balls when they finish law school and some don't. That's just the order of things. That's what separate the strong from the weak. The confident from the coddled. 25% of people that enter law school won't make it through the pack. The other 25% will not enter the profession for various reasons.
WHERE YOU START IS NOT WHERE YOU END UP. So what if you have to take a job at a small firm? They'll teach you to be autonomous faster. Also, a LOT of students take bar exams more than once or twice (at least in California where I practice law, and New York, New Jersey, and other "coveted" states). They don't get the big jobs coming out...but that does not determine the trajectory of their career - especially if they are entrepreneurial. DON'T LET THIS STOP YOU.
I hate when people release videos and discourage people dreams like idk it just makes me upset because I’ve dealt with people telling me that all my life but I will prove them wrong , mark my words.
This is a great and incredibly accurate video. Unless you literally cannot see yourself doing ANYTHING else with your life, then NO. As a young Australian lawyer myself who graduated from a top tier law school, I made a video about it and trust me, it's as dismal as this video makes it out outside of the USA as well.
Law schools offer scholarships to those with better stats to improve their US News Rankings, not necessarily because they think those students will snatch up highly coveted jobs.
There are a lot of people who make more money than lawyers, aren't lawyers, never been a lawyer, yet acomplised a LLB and would never had success without it.
I went for one semester and it was absolutely not for me so I decided to drop out. Pretty much the best decision I ever made in my life. I now have a job and career path that I truly love and enjoy!
I am so glad i am doing law school in canada. There are only 14 law schools here so getting in to any canadian law school is akin to a top 50 school in the states. And JD grads in canada have a 94% employment rate after one year.
Is law school worth it? Well......I'm just an average guy watching from the sidelines and when I drive across multiple states and see the same lawyer/law firm on the side of the road the message it conveys to me is the profession of being a lawyer doesn't exactly pay like it used to! Case in point: Here in the South I can drive across Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Tennessee and see the SAME lawyer(s) face(s) plastered on interstate billboards and reading between the lines it sounds to me like if you want to make the big bucks you've got to expand your reach otherwise you're not going to do all that well. Aside from that I've been hearing lawyers don't exactly make like they used to. On a side note I can tell you for a fact that engineers don't make like they used to. I looked into mechanical engineering a number of years back.....when I found out I was going to be making a mere $10K to 15K more than I make now I gave that bullshit the middle finger!
Am I the only one that realizes they read the first graph terribly, she said that a lot less make around $165,000, but if you read it correctly a lot more people make $165k than $45k
yeah this is a really weird graph. it kind of looks like between 35% of students make between 40k and 60k and 16% make around 165k? but you have to like add the percentages of the peaks between certain values on the x axis ... i feel like this graph could have been done better
These stats fail to account for so many factors. Some choose a public service position for the student loan forgiveness program. Some choose use their masters in other disciplines because they can more easily obtain those positions, or they pay better. Some students also continue beyond a JD and some attend a separate grad program. It also fails to mention those who start their own firms or companies, or those who join a private family practice.
1:46 tells us that if you want to find a job, you must pay your contribution first! It's like school is one big service that you have to also put work in to get a job in the end... You pay, you work.
Sounds off it’s all what you study for a do, I live in Md I’m black I’m going into criminal law but private not a Assitant. I’m not working with the state. So all to be consider
This is so miss-leading, don't the best schools have higher expectancies for applicants in the first place? I.e. Already filtering for those which later will have the highest chance to land the high salary positions?
+Matthias Y. Reich I'm not sure it's so misleading. If anything, I actually kinda suspect the data is still showing an over optimistic picture. I'm not sure because I haven't followed the legal field as closely the last two years, but from people I know, things feel even worse than what the data show. The word on the street 4 or 5 years ago when I was considering law school is that you need to get into the T14 to have a realistic shot at a good job. Problem is, a lot of the people I know who graduated from T14 schools after 2008 are NOT landing those "top" jobs. I know people who graduated from Columbia, NYU, Berkeley all striking out. In one specific case, the Berkeley grad worked with another Harvard grad (don't personally know this person) for no pay over 2 years in NY in hopes of one potential position. In the end, the law firm didn't need anyone and both the Harvard and Berkeley grad were let go. I don't personally know anyone who went to the T3 so I can't speak for them. On a slightly more optimistic picture, I know someone who graduated from Virginia (another T14 school ranked lower than the aforementioned schools) who got one of those 160K "top" jobs, but she quit her job after a year and has since completely left the legal field.
2/3 of the law schools in the US should be shut down. There should only be about 60 law schools total, making sure we aren't churning out a ridiculous number of law grads for the much fewer law jobs that exist.
I do not know why they said "top 15 schools." The schools that really out perform the others are the top 13 or 14 law schools. The 15th ranked school behaves much more like the 16-30 schools. If you want to be a lawyer you should probably restrict yourself to just the top 10 or 13 schools. I see a lot of people saying "hey! These statistics only apply to starting salaries." Ok, fair point. But, unless you're rolling in cash, you are going to have to pay a crap ton of money for your law degree. So going to a tier 3 school and taking $100k or more in student loans with an interest rate of 7% when you are only going to be making $30 - $40k for your first few years is not a wise career choice. Instead, if your LSAT is bad, study harder and retake. Is it still bad? Study even harder and retake. Don't stop until you can get into a school that can guarantee you success at the finish line. Or take a huge scholarship at a T20 school so that even if you're only making 60-70k, you don't have any loans.
It’s not always about being an attorney but rather experiencing rigorously competitive and intellectually rewarding environment. Some become entrepreneurs, politicians, actors, etc. Also, the state is the only institution with a monopoly on violence, therefore it’d probably be wise to learn as much as one can about it’s system - a buffer of protection perhaps. Lastly, Law school teaches you HOW to think. What you do thereafter is up to you.
I was thinking the same thing but I did additional research. 1. there are 206 or so law schools in the USA.... and if you have at least like a 3.0 GPA and a decent LSAT score you can get into one of the top 60 ones. WHat i'm saying is the people who come out of the bottom 140 or so or go into a school with a below decent GPA are greatly contributing to the unemployment statistic. 2. IK people in law who have all informed me that if you have at least again a 3.0 GPA and solid LSAT score you can get a good amount of scholarship money. Also there are schools that are maybe not top 20 but still in the top half that are way cheaper than the typical 200K or whatever cost that we hear some law students have. 3. common sense suggest that in any profession the kids out of harvard and yale and MIT get most of the top jobs... like even the big time business owners we know that dropped out went to a big time school initially. Again i'm not saying you have to agree with me..but at least go off more then just the video that's' what I did.
Struggle It shouldn’t be but considering how expensive law school is, income after graduation is something to consider when paying all those loans off.
Well honestly the prospect of being in long term debt is scary especially a school where tuition is 6 figures. Couple that with not being able to find a good enough job to cover all your expenses (especially if you have a wife and kids). It's scary to think about just making ends meet by 40.
Because law programs are very expensive and take a long time, which means opportunity costs in addition to direct tuitions costs. This has to be repaid, at high interest rates. And the debt collector will come after you... hard.
And now, private law schools are charging about $67000 a year just for tuition and fees. It's ridiculous given the low chances that the average graduate has of getting a high-paying real attorney job. Note that the law schools surely count doing document review as a "JD-required job," even though it typically pays $22-25/hour with no benefits and no job security. I went to Georgetown law school years ago and have seen many attorneys, including myself, struggle to find decent jobs, and I went solo because paychecks were bouncing at my old firm.
Did it 40 years ago as an English major. Didn't want to teach high school. Went to a state school. Made 13K my first year which was good then. I do injury law and if you want to do that it's a meat grinder. You can't do it on your own. Big firms ate me up as a small practice. If you go with them they (as well as other types of firms) burn you out and spit you out when you are exhausted. It's not like Atticus Finch anymore. Little thanks from clients or firms. Find a niche and be good at it.
Everything was right until the end. You can't assume you will be the best performers and get the best jobs just because a school offers you a discounted prices. The only schools that offer a good chance at big law are the Top 14, after that you can't really bet on that big salary to pay off your debts.
Romeo Reyes www.lstreports.com/schools/ www.top-law-schools.com/forums/index.php If you plan to go to law school I recommend you check out these sites.
That1Guy thanks it's not me going but I dated someone who is school now, this is his last year. I didn't want to tell him but the chances of him succeeding seems grim
I might be mistaken but I'm pretty they're saying from the school's perspective they think you'll do well. Either way, you shouldn't be going to law school without a substantial scholarship (at least 50%) from a strong school in your region, unless you're going to one of those top 15 or so schools in the graph.
This is very true. My former boss graduated law school and worked for the Public Defender's office in Arizona and made very little money for a few years, but then was able to get a job at a big law firm that paid considerably more money. She has always loved practicing law and followed her goal, so the thought of making a modest salary upon graduation did not deter her. Then, years later, she decided she did not like working at a big firm and went back to public interest law despite that meaning a considerable pay cut. I know a lot of people who went into law school only thinking about the money, and those are usually the ones who complain the most about the job market, and tell others not to go to law school. But if law, or anything else for that matter, is your passion, you should absolutely go for it.
So the highest Rank of Law Schools that you should go and pay tuition for is below 50, to plan safe for the $45K group as a medium. Scholarships are fucking important.
well, isn't that depressing. however, my situation is somehow different. i'm a filipino citizen aspiring to be a lawyer one day, i am only a high school student as of yet so my career path may change although it is not likely. anyways, the point is, statistics show that there are only about 50,000 or so living lawyers in my country. the fact that the philippines has a population of over 100 million makes the profession somewhat in need of new graduates. there are only about 10 prestigious law schools that companies offer exclusive high-paying jobs to, and, so long as you pass the bar exam, you can be sure to dramatically boost your salary and chances of being hired right off the bat. i am hoping to being able to get in one of these law schools should i decide to be a lawyer, and, perhaps with enough diligence and sacrifice, i can. so, my question is, do you guys think i should go for it? PS: money is not necessarily an issue in my family, as my parents told me they would support me in whatever career i choose the best they can, however, this doesn't mean it is a commodity that my family can simply waste without financial consequences.
If you play your cards right any decsion could be worth it. You have to play your cards right no matter what you do. Everyone is going to law school, so your no different then most. You have to be different. You have to work harder
If you don’t make it into a t14 school don’t go. If you make it into a t14 do biglaw for a few years to pay off debt and switch into what you love or stick with it and make partner. A partner at cravath for example can pull in $3m+ yearly.
Yes there are people who want to be actors and succeed. That doesn't mean trying to be an actor is usually a wise financial decision. Trying to be a lawyer by attending a mediocre school is the same. It won't usually pay off.
There's no way one has any kind of specialized knowledge to start their own private practice from the get-go. You don't have the specialized knowledge required - takes many years of hardcore difficult casework to achieve that.
Well what if someone works as a private lawyer and has their own law business. I would like to be a child support lawyer and have my own office so would I be considered not employed ?
You would be stated or showed as an unemployed lawyer, many people who do cases want employed lawyers who have experience and education, mainly the people who went college or law school. If you still went law school but didn't graduate then you would still be stated as a employed lawyer as you still have the experience and education, experience is the key and even if you don't graduate then that shouldn't stop you from taking on big cases. Graduation just shows you are mainly smart and eligible for big cases and companies i but as long as you work hard then you should be smarter in these areas, just build an image and work hard, as long as you do this then you will get knowledge and bigger companies will start noticing that you have the dedication and educational knowledge to work for them. Hard work will accomplish many goals in life, just remember that.
Jfc, I want to get into law school because I want to do the right thing and help the misunderstood. All those people who go to law school because it pays well should be banned to go to law school.
The video is half right but just half right. 1. there are 206 or so law schools in the USA.... and if you have at least like a 3.0 GPA and a decent LSAT score you can get into one of the top 60 ones. WHat i'm saying is the people who come out of the bottom 140 or so or go into a school with a below decent GPA are greatly contributing to the unemployment/low salary statistic. 2. common sense suggest that in any profession the kids out of harvard and yale and MIT get most of the top jobs... like even the big time business owners we know that dropped out went to a big time school initially. 3. There are schools that maybe are outside the top 50 but still below top 60 that are way below the typical 150/250K cost but additionally, IK/ have checked out lawyers that have said that if you have at least a 3.0 GPA and good LSAT score you can get a good amount of scholarship money for a decent quality school. Maybe it's not top 20 or whatever but it's in the top quarter which is good enough. 4.Most people in regards to schools in general go for the top school they get into rather then finding a medium between cost and quality. You see people in law schools or universities go for lets say Stanford but they barely got in so they don't have any scholarships or anything...instead of going for like ATM a quality school where maybe they had at least a half ride.
If you get into Stanford, you go to Stanford. Unless you have a scholarship offer from a similarly ranked school. Or if you also got into Harvard or Yale.
Basically don't become a lawyer unless you go to a top law school or already have the connections to get into a good firm. Going near 100k in debt is not worth it unless you actually love law enough to do it for 40k. PSA some kinds of UPS drivers make 74k. If money or not being good a math is your concern there are plenty of other fields to go into besides law.
100k debt for law school? Much more. The average in-state law program is about 50k/year. x 3 = 150k. Some programs much much more. Plus add in undergrad if you were foolish enough to rack up a lot of debt for the BA in lesbian dance theory.
Sandra Lozada There is a lot of them like that. I had a girlfriend who got a degree in law and worked in ice cream store cause she could find a job in her field. Job market for law is awful
Thanks for the warning video. I was thinking about enrolling Legal Studies, but noticed that there are hardly jobs in this field. So, I'll have to reconsider choosing another major.
@@ominous450 what if i tell you i know about 30+ lawyers in my family who did'nt expect to earn millions in the beginning as soon as they start off their careers.. and now are living their best lives after like 3-4 years of experience. honey you gotta be good and have a passion if you need to earn and do well...even glamorous film stars have gone for years in the start of their careers without basic amenities, and so have doctors,engineers architects etc.
Clearly, no. LS is great for people who lack creativity and can't think outside the box of traditional careers--no judgment, I was one since I'm unfortunately a lawyer now. However, I never quite fit in and did not volunteer to speak with potential students as I did not have the conscience to lie to them. I'm honest when others ask me now and would not in good faith recommend this field to anyone. Not b/c I don't want competition as I'm trying to leave this field ASAP. Please help me, God.
I’d say this is a little misleading because it doesn’t take into account long term career earnings. Yeah you’re making 40k but how much do you make in 5 years
It depends on where you go to law school. Let’s not kid ourselves, those who go to a really prestigious and good law school like Yale Law School or Harvard Law School have a much higher employment rate (around 90%) and much higher salaries as compared to smaller law schools in, say, Alabama, so try to get into a good one otherwise maybe don’t go
Why do this when you can accidentally walk into a interview from a top law firm while dealing drugs and get hired without a college,law and bar certification.
Basically you’ve just explained Suits lol
Law is not like Suites first episode.
Watch Better Call Saul
For those who don't get it, it's a 'Suits' reference
I have graduated from a third tier law school than pursued an LLM in Corporate and International mergers and acquisitions. After completion of my education i became an stagiaire. In the beginning of carrer i earned 33K a year. Now its been almost 5 years and i make 91K a year. Its not about which school you graduate it is all about how motivated you are. Your clients wont question which school you have graduated but how many cases you won or lost.
Bcuz in the end of the day, your client wants his or her shit to be done, they lack the interest to even ask about your god damn uni
Rich 91
They start off that way but the pay rate remains stagnant. Drs etc start off high but have the lowest income growth over the years. Lawyers, architects, engineers pay rate start low but grow over time and end up making far more than a Dr in the long run (according to a statistic where the average pay of a Dr was around $150k)
what you said is reality. honestly
Hi i have a question what type of law do u do
Well yeah people with clients make less my uncle worked at Kirkland and Ellis as an attorney I think it’s one of the bigger firms so yeah just join a bigger firm don’t be a litigator
Let me answer this for you.
Is it your dream to be a lawyer?
Go for it. Life is too short to not go for your dreams because of people telling numbers and percentages.
Tovey Media You know what? You just made my mind up for me. It is my dream! I’m going for it! I don’t care what the numbers say.
Alec Apelian You don’t care about low salary and student debt because law (made by man) is your “passion”. Alright, go for it
I loved law school, I absolutely hate being a lawyer. Those are two entirely different beasts. Unfortunately, much like those who are jacked up to be come a lawyer, I didn't understand this until it was too late. Save yourselves and stay away. Your future holds endless conflict with everyone about everything.
Tovey Media you'll care when you're 100000 in debt and can't afford kids or holidays
Tovey Media Thank you for this comment! It is my dream and I’ve decided to go for it. 💪🏾
A few months ago this discouraged me from pursing a career as a lawyer, but then I realized, the more time you put into your job, and the more experience and connections you build, you can get into those large law firms, and make more than the median salary.
Even then you can just build up your own practice over time.
In thinking you don’t understand statistical analysis well. They literally said in the video that the average/median salary is misrepresented because there are 2 completely different groups represented in the same data set. If you are not in a tier one law school, you will be on the belcurve with a median salary of 50k. With experience you may get one standard deviation away from this median and make around 75k, but you will not get into big law firms or be on that second 160k median belcurve. Hate to be a downer, but if you are bad at math, you aren’t going to get into a tier 1 lawschool and have access to those law firms or salaries because you won’t get the LSAT to get in without strong math skills. Only study law if you understand that you will probabably make just slightly about national median salary for a job.
Frodge dont let them stop you broo hardwork pays off Anything worth having is not easy to get
Ummm. You clearly know NOTHING about the real world for attorneys. You cannot just get experience and get into a large law firm. Most large firms only hire the top 5% of a law school class. Plus they tend to hire those under 30 years old who are willing to work 80 hours a week. The high salaries come at a very high price. I had a friend graduate in the top 15% of her class. I tried to talk her out of law school, but she didn't listen. She is in her 40s. Guess what? She passed 2 bar exams in 2 states and has yet to land a job as an attorney. She is now working in compliance and regrets going to law school. I'm an attorney and am very lucky to be where I'm at. I am the exception. Last time my company posted an attorney job, we received 1000+ applicants from all over the USA. We ended up hiring a former colleague of our general counsel. We get unsolicited resumes and calls all the time from unemployed attorneys. They even offer to work for free in hope of gaining any legal experience. I've seen resumes of top 10% applicants who moonlighted as baristas and uber drivers. The legal market is no joke. You might think you could open up your own practice, but that is very dangerous and expensive for a new attorney. Malpractice insurance is sky high and mandatory. Plus you have to pay overheads. Plus you have to be familiar with all of the court rules and state bar ethics rules. One innocent mistake could get you disbarred. The market is so sad and flooded right now that lawyers are competing for shit work at bargain basement prices. You might think that you could get a gig as a public defender or prosecutor, but they pay so low and also get flooded with applicants. The same goes with JAG. You may have a dream to be a lawyer, but you also have to be realistic. The odds are about the same as winning Powerball. The legal market is a hot mess right now. Run...do not walk..from law school. Oh...I suppose I should mention that most people I went to law school with graduated with 100k or more of non dischargeable student loan debt. Six figure debt with poor job prospects is the reality of a law degree. It's shocking to me how many people have their heads up their asses.
Nunya Biznazz what do you suggest doing to earn a lot money? Anything worth having is hard to get
this is crap and discouragement at its finest. IF YOU WANNA GO TO LAW SCHOOL, GO. I BELIEVE IN YOU. I'm a 28 year old female who can safely say the odds are against me. I didnt know i wanted to go to law school until my now 4th year out of undergrad. I had to work in a field slightly related to it figure this out. I have considerable debt from school, I work a mediocre paying job that is stressful, but rewarding to be able to help the marginalized and vulnerable population in my city. I have to take care of my parents, pay all these bills, do photography on the side, maintain a social life, maintain a healthy life, yet I'M STILL WRITING MY FREAKING LSATS CAUSE GUESS WHAT LIFE IS SHORT ANNNNNNNND i want to be a lawyer, AND BASICALLY JUST FREAKIN DO IT, DONT LET SOME VIDEO DICTATE WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE SUITABLE TO BECOME A LAWYER OR OBTAIN A LAW DEGREE.
thanks man.
This was motivating!!
You got this babe! Go get it, make your goals your reality! It’s about how bad you want it, how motivated and dedicated you are! Plus knowing the law is always an added benefit! 😉
ditrinipersian this just sealed the deal for me!!! Thank you so much for this!! I definitely needed to see this and realize it’s time. I’m currently 28 and have been out of undergrad for nearly 6 years. I don’t even know how I’ll be able to afford it but I’m going for it.
Props to you ! You got this you can do it
#1 advise on if you want to do law:
Don't fucking look at discouraging vids like this and still expect to maintain a positive mental vibe. Just do it if you really want it. JUST DO IT. Believe in you not the statistics.
ponke peter Disagree. Don't just plunge yourself into a grueling 3-year commitment and thousands of dollars of debt. Do your research, be realistic.
#1 advice from an actual lawyer: do your research because most graduate from law school with 100k+ in debt with poor job prospects. Few make it.
Honestly this seems misleading. I looked up employment stats for the 2017 grad class and the median salary was 72k. Also 84% of people were full time employed
Law degree is 5 years here. But before that you got to do 4 years of undergraduate degree,take enough credits for social sciences and mathematics,passed the LAT and then apply for PhilSAT.
It's meaningless platitudes like this that will get your screwed over. Lawyers are miserable for a host of reasons. Those statistics represent many of those issues. "Just do it" is something a naive teenager with no life experience would say. Think long and hard before you go into law.
This video goes off of starting salaries. Just because you'll start off making 45,000 a year does not mean that's what you'll be making 10 years after you graduated. That is very misleading,I know plenty of lawyers who went to second and third tier law schools and easily make over 250,000 a year. No one makes a lot of money when they're young except people who go to ivy league schools or have very good connections.
+Ben Dantic IS you go to a better school, better program though you do tend to start with a much better salary. I know a women who after 1 year out of Harvard her starting salary was already 122000 a year. And she only 26
If you make it rain, you'll set your own salary. Focus on meeting quality clients. Networking is KEY when you're in a service profession like law.
That's okay salary.
@Anon Non It's hard for liars to stop lying. . .
@Jswirv many of those elite employers simply don't interview outside of t14. Sure, one can still be proactive turning in an app to Skaden from Wayne state but good luck. Sounds harsh but it's the reality.
No shit, this is common sense. Why would big time firms choose to hire nothing but the best? This is like crying about Stanford hiring only excellent students. It's like when people cry about not getting jobs with degrees in film studies.
AR Routh But a law degree isn't a film studies major. People tend to hold illusions that a law degree automatically puts you way above the salary of someone with just a BA, which is why videos like this are important.
AR Routh is
And going $100,000 in debt for Medieval Poetry degrees - then complaining about no jobs.
just cause the school is ranked higher doesn't mean the students are smarter
@@buffymcmuffin5361 Y’all are so void of any sort of critical thinking skills. Embarrassing.
Work hard, earn the grades, network, don't be awkward= steps towards wealth
Michael Bradley Thank you. Don't let this bs fool you. It shouldn't even be about money first when it comes to what you really wanna be.
Exactly, Jen. Personally, I think most people set their law careers up for failure or misery when their only or primary concern is to generate great income.
“Don’t be awkward” yeah that’s why I couldn’t do law school or be a lawyer.
exactly you gotta be good in any job to earn..lmao people be like you can't earn when a lawyer..some of the richest people are lawyers..you gotta have passion and experence and you can even earn in millions in this field
I love how almost every fucking career that makes good money has people saying "Don't do it":
Doctors: "Don't become a doctor", Lawyers: "Don't become a lawyer", Dentists: "Don't become a dentist". The only jobs that don't do this are the depressing ones no one wants: janitors, garbage men, plumbers, teachers, etc. What the fuck are you supposed to do?
lots of people quit accounting because its boring and depressing. nursing school is like hell for some people
Leslie H. I agree but just throwing out some other professions to be considered.
IT is where it’s at. You can make just as much as any doctor or corporate lawyer as a software developer or IT manager if you have the skills to pay the bills that is. That’s what I’m doing right now, but I’ve always had a passion for the law though, who knows. Perhaps there is a way for me to combine the two. Maybe find something in cyber Security.
Ancar Willis You could be an intellectual property/patent lawyer.
Maurits True, those have the highest rate of alcoholics I think.
This shit just discouraged me
+msc14111990 what is CPA?
Jonathan coleman certified public accountant
Jonathan coleman the goal is to be a lawyer. not on how much you'll earn or how much time it would take you to be a lawyer.
Jonathan coleman Ha. Yeah, but there's a downside to everything.
@msc14111990 Account is shit. its a job for a lady, i can hire a maid just to do account, theres no need for degree
Law should be thought in school along side with psychology. Yeah i know math and grammar is often useful, but knowing your rights in time of need is way more useful than being able to write orangutan without misstakes, or knowing Pythagorean threorem.
šarunas Levickas true.
You don't need a three year course in psychology to know your rights.Law is soon enough gonna be looked in the same way as psychology. Both subjects are oversaturated and decent employment is challenging for a decent student. Btw why should stem degree be seen an a physiology degree. Stem is the reason that all the content you learn is physiology resists.
I agree. Basic legal concepts should be taught in social studies. Kids should also be taught about 4th and 5th amendment rights when dealing with law enforcement.
@@karlmarx809 "Social Studies" seems to be a catch-all term for subjects NOT taught by American high schools. Kids come away knowing little or no history or geography. Why not add nothing about the law as well?
I am a trucker who is home daily, working Mon-Fri. My highest form of education is a GED with some college. My base salary is 75k, although I make about 105k with overtime.
I am thinking about going back to college to work my way into law school to become a labor attorney, not because of the money since I am already satisfied with my income, but to better protect the employees of the company I work for.
Go for it! We need it
Heyy did you ever complete college
Literally what I am doing now. Good luck man
@@jonathanchowkai3654 I make over 150k now and I have two kids, so my focus is on my family now.
Law school was a very good investment for me. I work as an Administrative Law Judge now. My belief is that you like the type of work involved, than go for it. I am a Californian, did both undergrad and law school here in California, and passed the California Bar. I have had my fair share of pitfalls along the way, but -to me - that is life. I am a first-generation American and I grew up in fairly humble surroundings, including public housing and a housing shelter. Things in life are generally not always easy, so - if going to law school is a goal for a person - I believe a person should go for it. If you fall down, do your best to get back up and keep trying. Keep pushing. For me, I got to be a good example for my younger brothers and sisters, and I focused hard to stay away from gangs and drugs growing up. So it was a real honor for me to go to college, and certainly so to attend and graduate from law school. I think there are ups and downs to any goal or career, and I think that one should keep that in mind. In my opinion, if you have a goal, work hard to achieve it. You may even surprise yourself and exceed your own expectations, and perhaps accomplish things that others may have said you could not do.
What law school did you go to?
I'm in law school currently and am interested in becoming an ALJ in the Philadelphia area. What kind of internship is best for gaining experience to enter this part of the legal realm?
Best comment
Pls is there a specific choice of major in college for law school can I go for law school with an IT degree
How much in debt dis u got
really uplifting lol
Eh, they're just stating the facts. I think they come across as discouraging because the legal profession outlook is quite discouraging right now.
again, this is why law degrees should be restricted to certain schools just like medicine/dentistry
What do you mean restricted to certain schools?
I agree. Law schools should be a lot more competitive (almost impossible), to get in
***** in the UK, law is taught in almost EVERY single university (100+ unis). But only about 20-30 are classed as "Russell Group Universities" (google this phrase) - aka prestigious with top class research etc etc. I believe law should be taught only within the Russell Group where students have already achieved straight As in secondary school which is also the requirement of RG universities. In non RG universities, secondary school grade requirements are B - C - even D grades. Studying law and INDEED PRACTICING law requires a good work ethic and intelligence and so RG universities can have a cache of students who are already straight A types and thus more likely to excel especially in law. I'm not saying that only RG universities are the apex of higher education, it's just that the higher the requirement of entry (including even high non-academic requirements), the "brighter" the students.
#UK law grad working in a law firm.
WUEDXFEI bv xz
WUEDXFEI l vcvzzb
The moral of the story is - don't choose a career soly based on income potential, but it also has to be one you are willing to work your hardest to excel at. Putting in mediocre work will get you mediocre results.
Everybody acts like you have to get a job at a big company or firm. All the richest lawyers I’ve met work in small towns and are partners or were assistants to local private practice. That’s the way to go!!!
Takes a very long time to build up a practice...decades. unless your parents ran it and you inherit the business. Most folks aren't that fortunate.
@@oldtwinsna8347 I came out of law school and opened my own practice after 9 months, zero contacts...I never looked back and am doing very well
So basically: if you get into Harvard Law School, go. If you get into Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, don't fucking go.
Go ahead and go to WMU, and become an ambulance chaser.
I choose a cheaper school because I'm not interested in working for some huge firm or corporation. I"ll work for somebody no more than 5 years.....then I'm off to start my own practice.
Exactly what I was thinking! No way will I use my law degree for the benefit of larger corporations. I want to exploit and eliminate those people!
Genuinely asking, how is that working out?
Right now I am about to graduate and applyto MU, KU, and UMKC. I will let you know in three years how it went:)
Jacob Deperalta
I’m supporting this fam!
Keep me posted! I’m currently earning my AS in CJ, but I’m nervous taking it further...
ZOECAHONTAS criminal justice is a useless nearly virtually inapplicable degree in the workforce. Please invest your energy in something better if you choose to get a bachelor’s in something. I know someone who is working as a legal assistant with a MASTERS in criminal justice and she gets paid pennies and regrets being in so much debt for something so useless.
I wish I had seen this clip before going to law school. I went to a Tier 1 school, 34th in the nation, and landed in the dead center of my 2018 graduating class. Of course, I thought I'd be in the top 10%, but the competition is fierce the first year. Looking back, landing in the middle of my class was a blessing in disguise. I'm pursuing a career in sales where I'll be making close to triple and potentially quadruple what I would make as a first-year attorney. I'm foregoing the bar and not looking back.
If you really want to go to law school just do it. But only if you REALLY want it. It is incredibly difficult academically, but also emotionally. It will change the way think, speak, and behave. Changes like that don't come without some severe growing pains. It is a humbling endeavor that should only be taken on if you are intensely committed to it for reasons other than money and power. Those things won't help you when you are crying in your shower because you have never been so ignorant, insecure, and incompetent in your life. Law school makes you question if anything you thought about yourself was ever true. By all means take it on if you want It, but spare yourself the misery if you are doing this for anyone but yourself.
AMEN. A freaking Men!
preach. any job, even getting into the film industry involves stress.. but if you got the passion you can crack it
Completely agree! I recently graduated from a prestigious law school in my country (South Africa) and it was a brutal experience. Going to law school solely for the income possibilities a career in law may provide, will not energize you enough to push through those difficult times while studying.
All this showed me is that those who can make it into any of the top 30 schools have a fairly high success rate. Law isnt for everyone and its not for the weak minded. Going to law school and being successful requires an extreme amount of effort and time spent studying. If you cant put in 110% dont expect 110% outcome. Its that simple. If you work hard, if you push to be the top 10% of your school you WILL get an amazing job and do great things. Dont let this video get you down.
wanna know what's worse than Law school.......Med school
Hamdan Qureshi Med school is harder to get into but if you do, and do it well, you're guaranteed a great job and salary. With Law school there are nothing as a good salary guarantee.
Salaries might be better but you're carrying a lot more debt.
Movies with Matticus job security and earning a stable job after med school is far superior to Law school. The debt will eventually be worth it for med school but not for law (usually).
JustTooLit u think 500k in medical school debt is worth it?
I do. I'm not going to be in $500K debt tho. At maximum $200K.
Something tells me a lot of the people in the comments couldn't get into a T14 or couldn't find any job offers with their degrees and are salty as hell.
Even with mental illnesses or disabilities, you can still accomplish such wonderful goals in life, success is something you need to work for, if you achieve being an expertise as a lawyer then you can work even harder and try trial for judges positions, if you work hard then I don't think it will take that long to get in trial, many people think you need to graduate and have a good past, it's not true, if you for example steal, if you turn your life around and work for your goals and success then people will start noticing that you're not a bad person or untrustworthy for working for big companies, it will take time but if you put effort in your education and knowledge then you can relax and say you've worked hard for this success, judge is a hard position but that doesn't stop you from becoming one, just learn and read books and etc, this is the first step and also law school for a couple of years.
When I was little, I really didn't know what to do in the future. I even decided I wanted to be an engineer. But nah! I realized its not my thing! My dad once encourage me to become a lawyer when j was only 3. I didn't listen! But after a few years, I found law amusing. Law is so interesting that I wanted to be a lawyer! My sister even tried to convince me not to be a lawyer because she said its very risky and hard. My mon even told me that its not good and that I should choose med instead. I cried after hearing those. But still, my decision won't change!! I will be a succesful lawyer
great video but thanks for stressing me out
Roman Reigns The numbers are probably better now. This video used numbers from 2013 while we were still coming out of a deep recession.
narrator: the numbers were not better in 2018
@@nealhillam5622 yeah they are worse....as they say there is more law students than there is jobs.
so... what the fuck should we study?
김정유 we should study to be strippers, bartenders and instagram models. It's degrading but they make good and easy money
J Bullock is correct. That or find your niche, practice your strategies. Create value. Scale your model. Protect your product. Dominate. No law school degree needed. Remember that the most successful people learn by doing and succeed by never giving up.
김정유 I know right every single career I consider doing isn’t good somehow and people have to put me off doing it. I don’t know what the fuck to study too
I graduated law school last year (2018). I have passed the bar, and it has been about 9 months out. Thankfully, I do have a job. This figure does not give the entire picture. 9 months is really not that far removed from graduating law school. It should be noted that a large portion of these 9 months will be taken up by preparing for the bar exam, and then applying to jobs. In some states, bar takers wait around 4-5 months for results. That is almost half of the 9 month statistic. Also to be noted, is that the figure of people who have actually found a job is reflecting people who have a job that requires bar passage. Nationally, only around 50-60% of bar takers will pass the state's bar exam. Some states have higher or lower percentages. given this figure, if you have passed the bar, you will have a good shot of finding a job. In conclusion, law school is not a road that likely leads to nowhere. It is ultimately what you make of it. I do not regret going to law school. In fact, I am glad I did. I would not want to do anything else. That being said. Do not rush into going to law school because of some notion that you will be a millionaire over night when you graduate. You have to put in work, and really show that you actually understand and know how to apply the law in a given situation.
I think this is bull. Just go out and start advertising your services as a Bar certified Attorney.
I've been a paralegal and worked for attorneys for years. You don't to work for a big firm after graduation or for years. You can work independently is what I am saying.
if you don't mind my asking, how many hrs. on average, does your brother put in per week?
***** I am sorry are you speaking as attorney? You don't need another attorney to complete a living will, advocate for clients,or file motions. I am speaking as experienced paralegal. And I am starting law school in the fall.
TheDopestGamer I know someone who's school ranks 146 .. his chances are grim
You won't likely be successful? What are you a fortune teller? I worked at firms before. Some attorneys have balls when they finish law school and some don't. That's just the order of things. That's what separate the strong from the weak. The confident from the coddled. 25% of people that enter law school won't make it through the pack. The other 25% will not enter the profession for various reasons.
WHERE YOU START IS NOT WHERE YOU END UP. So what if you have to take a job at a small firm? They'll teach you to be autonomous faster. Also, a LOT of students take bar exams more than once or twice (at least in California where I practice law, and New York, New Jersey, and other "coveted" states). They don't get the big jobs coming out...but that does not determine the trajectory of their career - especially if they are entrepreneurial. DON'T LET THIS STOP YOU.
SUITS IS ALL
I hate when people release videos and discourage people dreams like idk it just makes me upset because I’ve dealt with people telling me that all my life but I will prove them wrong , mark my words.
This is a great and incredibly accurate video. Unless you literally cannot see yourself doing ANYTHING else with your life, then NO. As a young Australian lawyer myself who graduated from a top tier law school, I made a video about it and trust me, it's as dismal as this video makes it out outside of the USA as well.
Score 170+ on lsat, go to top 14 school, pass bar, work at bigfirm law, make 160k+
What precourse did you take before goibg to law school?
Law schools offer scholarships to those with better stats to improve their US News Rankings, not necessarily because they think those students will snatch up highly coveted jobs.
There are a lot of people who make more money than lawyers, aren't lawyers, never been a lawyer, yet acomplised a LLB and would never had success without it.
I went for one semester and it was absolutely not for me so I decided to drop out. Pretty much the best decision I ever made in my life. I now have a job and career path that I truly love and enjoy!
Anthony Iafrate What career bath did you choose?
Why don't more people become actors and social media stars??! Requires little education past high school and you earn an INSANE amount of money!
"Oh what do you do for a living?" "I post selfies online" yeah no thank you
Evelyn Ava You look like the standard internet star.
true
Social media stars are few and far between and the job isn't stable after over 10 years.
Tom Miller he does?lol
I am so glad i am doing law school in canada. There are only 14 law schools here so getting in to any canadian law school is akin to a top 50 school in the states. And JD grads in canada have a 94% employment rate after one year.
I am a Canadian as well! haha. However Canadian law market is ugly as well.
Is law school worth it?
Well......I'm just an average guy watching from the sidelines and when I drive across multiple states and see the same lawyer/law firm on the side of the road the message it conveys to me is the profession of being a lawyer doesn't exactly pay like it used to! Case in point: Here in the South I can drive across Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Tennessee and see the SAME lawyer(s) face(s) plastered on interstate billboards and reading between the lines it sounds to me like if you want to make the big bucks you've got to expand your reach otherwise you're not going to do all that well. Aside from that I've been hearing lawyers don't exactly make like they used to.
On a side note I can tell you for a fact that engineers don't make like they used to. I looked into mechanical engineering a number of years back.....when I found out I was going to be making a mere $10K to 15K more than I make now I gave that bullshit the middle finger!
We need such break up for MBA as well
Akarsh Dhaiya oh boy lol it'd be even worse
Am I the only one that realizes they read the first graph terribly, she said that a lot less make around $165,000, but if you read it correctly a lot more people make $165k than $45k
yeah this is a really weird graph. it kind of looks like between 35% of students make between 40k and 60k and 16% make around 165k? but you have to like add the percentages of the peaks between certain values on the x axis ... i feel like this graph could have been done better
These stats fail to account for so many factors. Some choose a public service position for the student loan forgiveness program. Some choose use their masters in other disciplines because they can more easily obtain those positions, or they pay better. Some students also continue beyond a JD and some attend a separate grad program. It also fails to mention those who start their own firms or companies, or those who join a private family practice.
Or those who join the military as JAGs
1:46 tells us that if you want to find a job, you must pay your contribution first! It's like school is one big service that you have to also put work in to get a job in the end... You pay, you work.
Sounds off it’s all what you study for a do, I live in Md I’m black I’m going into criminal law but private not a Assitant. I’m not working with the state. So all to be consider
This is so miss-leading, don't the best schools have higher expectancies for applicants in the first place? I.e. Already filtering for those which later will have the highest chance to land the high salary positions?
+Matthias Y. Reich I'm not sure it's so misleading. If anything, I actually kinda suspect the data is still showing an over optimistic picture. I'm not sure because I haven't followed the legal field as closely the last two years, but from people I know, things feel even worse than what the data show. The word on the street 4 or 5 years ago when I was considering law school is that you need to get into the T14 to have a realistic shot at a good job.
Problem is, a lot of the people I know who graduated from T14 schools after 2008 are NOT landing those "top" jobs. I know people who graduated from Columbia, NYU, Berkeley all striking out. In one specific case, the Berkeley grad worked with another Harvard grad (don't personally know this person) for no pay over 2 years in NY in hopes of one potential position. In the end, the law firm didn't need anyone and both the Harvard and Berkeley grad were let go. I don't personally know anyone who went to the T3 so I can't speak for them.
On a slightly more optimistic picture, I know someone who graduated from Virginia (another T14 school ranked lower than the aforementioned schools) who got one of those 160K "top" jobs, but she quit her job after a year and has since completely left the legal field.
That's like literally every school in every other profession.
whsie1 oh my gosh. it's serious put there people need to learn how to create work for themselves
I’m considering law school just for education purposes. Even if I don’t use the degree; I want to think and speak like a good lawyer.
2/3 of the law schools in the US should be shut down. There should only be about 60 law schools total, making sure we aren't churning out a ridiculous number of law grads for the much fewer law jobs that exist.
I do not know why they said "top 15 schools." The schools that really out perform the others are the top 13 or 14 law schools. The 15th ranked school behaves much more like the 16-30 schools. If you want to be a lawyer you should probably restrict yourself to just the top 10 or 13 schools. I see a lot of people saying "hey! These statistics only apply to starting salaries." Ok, fair point. But, unless you're rolling in cash, you are going to have to pay a crap ton of money for your law degree. So going to a tier 3 school and taking $100k or more in student loans with an interest rate of 7% when you are only going to be making $30 - $40k for your first few years is not a wise career choice. Instead, if your LSAT is bad, study harder and retake. Is it still bad? Study even harder and retake. Don't stop until you can get into a school that can guarantee you success at the finish line. Or take a huge scholarship at a T20 school so that even if you're only making 60-70k, you don't have any loans.
It’s not always about being an attorney but rather experiencing rigorously competitive and intellectually rewarding environment. Some become entrepreneurs, politicians, actors, etc. Also, the state is the only institution with a monopoly on violence, therefore it’d probably be wise to learn as much as one can about it’s system - a buffer of protection perhaps.
Lastly, Law school teaches you HOW to think. What you do thereafter is up to you.
Well....there goes my career plan....
I was thinking the same thing but I did additional research.
1. there are 206 or so law schools in the USA.... and if you have at least like a 3.0 GPA and a decent LSAT score you can get into one of the top 60 ones. WHat i'm saying is the people who come out of the bottom 140 or so or go into a school with a below decent GPA are greatly contributing to the unemployment statistic.
2. IK people in law who have all informed me that if you have at least again a 3.0 GPA and solid LSAT score you can get a good amount of scholarship money. Also there are schools that are maybe not top 20 but still in the top half that are
way cheaper than the typical 200K or whatever cost that we hear some law students have.
3. common sense suggest that in any profession the kids out of harvard and yale and MIT get most of the top jobs... like even the big time business owners we know that dropped out went to a big time school initially.
Again i'm not saying you have to agree with me..but at least go off more then just the video that's' what I did.
Im still going for it. Im going to apply to ASU! I say go for the gold. The doubters are the ones that doubt themselves first! So go go go
Garrett Gonzales how is it working for u man?
Garrett Gonzales Did you get in?
Why would anyone spend 200k to get a 80k/year job?
It's 190000 usd plus 15000 usd bonus ok for big law firm
why is everything in america so income-based. study law if you're interested in the subject, the degree is useful even if not required for the job.
Struggle
The degree is useful in becoming a teacher
Struggle It shouldn’t be but considering how expensive law school is, income after graduation is something to consider when paying all those loans off.
Well honestly the prospect of being in long term debt is scary especially a school where tuition is 6 figures. Couple that with not being able to find a good enough job to cover all your expenses (especially if you have a wife and kids). It's scary to think about just making ends meet by 40.
Because law programs are very expensive and take a long time, which means opportunity costs in addition to direct tuitions costs. This has to be repaid, at high interest rates. And the debt collector will come after you... hard.
And now, private law schools are charging about $67000 a year just for tuition and fees. It's ridiculous given the low chances that the average graduate has of getting a high-paying real attorney job. Note that the law schools surely count doing document review as a "JD-required job," even though it typically pays $22-25/hour with no benefits and no job security. I went to Georgetown law school years ago and have seen many attorneys, including myself, struggle to find decent jobs, and I went solo because paychecks were bouncing at my old firm.
Alot of lawyers don't realize they run a business. That's why so many make below 100k a year
i just watched a couple episodes of suits and now i'm here..
LOL
Dude same
Suits will do that to u
The answer is if you don't go to a T-14 law school then you have to question the worth. But if you go to the top 14, then your future is secure.
This video is simply too negative
J.D. 2011 St. Mary's University School of Law: most expensive mistake of my life.
Why?
Did it 40 years ago as an English major. Didn't want to teach high school. Went to a state school. Made 13K my first year which was good then. I do injury law and if you want to do that it's a meat grinder. You can't do it on your own. Big firms ate me up as a small practice. If you go with them they (as well as other types of firms) burn you out and spit you out when you are exhausted. It's not like Atticus Finch anymore. Little thanks from clients or firms. Find a niche and be good at it.
Everything was right until the end. You can't assume you will be the best performers and get the best jobs just because a school offers you a discounted prices. The only schools that offer a good chance at big law are the Top 14, after that you can't really bet on that big salary to pay off your debts.
That1Guy how do you know this??
Romeo Reyes
www.lstreports.com/schools/
www.top-law-schools.com/forums/index.php
If you plan to go to law school I recommend you check out these sites.
That1Guy thanks it's not me going but I dated someone who is school now, this is his last year. I didn't want to tell him but the chances of him succeeding seems grim
I might be mistaken but I'm pretty they're saying from the school's perspective they think you'll do well. Either way, you shouldn't be going to law school without a substantial scholarship (at least 50%) from a strong school in your region, unless you're going to one of those top 15 or so schools in the graph.
This isn't surprising, post grads don't usually make tonnes of money straight away regardless.
This is very true. My former boss graduated law school and worked for the Public Defender's office in Arizona and made very little money for a few years, but then was able to get a job at a big law firm that paid considerably more money. She has always loved practicing law and followed her goal, so the thought of making a modest salary upon graduation did not deter her. Then, years later, she decided she did not like working at a big firm and went back to public interest law despite that meaning a considerable pay cut. I know a lot of people who went into law school only thinking about the money, and those are usually the ones who complain the most about the job market, and tell others not to go to law school. But if law, or anything else for that matter, is your passion, you should absolutely go for it.
25 seconds in, I determined that it was not for me
Ambition is good, but the best way to ensure success is to work for it.
I will graduate from law school in two weeks
Update? Job offers?
You realize there are 100’s of jobs such as becoming a cop, social worker, et cetera that you can get only with a law degree... right?
So the highest Rank of Law Schools that you should go and pay tuition for is below 50, to plan safe for the $45K group as a medium. Scholarships are fucking important.
Mr. A you're right. way to go!
Keyword (Jobs Required to pass the bar) there are a lot of jobs that make 6 figures that having a JD will make you very qualified for.
well, isn't that depressing.
however, my situation is somehow different. i'm a filipino citizen aspiring to be a lawyer one day, i am only a high school student as of yet so my career path may change although it is not likely. anyways, the point is, statistics show that there are only about 50,000 or so living lawyers in my country. the fact that the philippines has a population of over 100 million makes the profession somewhat in need of new graduates. there are only about 10 prestigious law schools that companies offer exclusive high-paying jobs to, and, so long as you pass the bar exam, you can be sure to dramatically boost your salary and chances of being hired right off the bat. i am hoping to being able to get in one of these law schools should i decide to be a lawyer, and, perhaps with enough diligence and sacrifice, i can.
so, my question is, do you guys think i should go for it?
PS: money is not necessarily an issue in my family, as my parents told me they would support me in whatever career i choose the best they can, however, this doesn't mean it is a commodity that my family can simply waste without financial consequences.
Taylor Swift Hi im also from the philippines and i suggest you go for what you like since its hard to do something you arent passionate about. ☺️
If you play your cards right any decsion could be worth it. You have to play your cards right no matter what you do. Everyone is going to law school, so your no different then most. You have to be different. You have to work harder
so either go to a top 15 law school or don't go at all. got it.
If you don’t make it into a t14 school don’t go. If you make it into a t14 do biglaw for a few years to pay off debt and switch into what you love or stick with it and make partner. A partner at cravath for example can pull in $3m+ yearly.
Remus Pemus everyone knows ibanking>biglaw when it comes to money early on
Yes there are people who want to be actors and succeed. That doesn't mean trying to be an actor is usually a wise financial decision. Trying to be a lawyer by attending a mediocre school is the same. It won't usually pay off.
I agree!
Lawyers can fight for justice 🤔
I don't understand the drive to get a job at a law firm.
Why not aim to start your own practice?
What about starting off as a Public Defender?
There's no way one has any kind of specialized knowledge to start their own private practice from the get-go. You don't have the specialized knowledge required - takes many years of hardcore difficult casework to achieve that.
Well what if someone works as a private lawyer and has their own law business. I would like to be a child support lawyer and have my own office so would I be considered not employed ?
+Linguist502
yes you would be considered employed.
the fact you had to ask the question tells me you shouldn't bother going to law school.
+Russell Oriely Best reply ever
+Russell Oriely now you know you wrong for that. but I'm still LMAO!!A
That's correct. You'd be self-employed; an entrepreneur. DO IT!!!!
You would be stated or showed as an unemployed lawyer, many people who do cases want employed lawyers who have experience and education, mainly the people who went college or law school. If you still went law school but didn't graduate then you would still be stated as a employed lawyer as you still have the experience and education, experience is the key and even if you don't graduate then that shouldn't stop you from taking on big cases. Graduation just shows you are mainly smart and eligible for big cases and companies i but as long as you work hard then you should be smarter in these areas, just build an image and work hard, as long as you do this then you will get knowledge and bigger companies will start noticing that you have the dedication and educational knowledge to work for them. Hard work will accomplish many goals in life, just remember that.
Jfc, I want to get into law school because I want to do the right thing and help the misunderstood. All those people who go to law school because it pays well should be banned to go to law school.
preach.
The video is half right but just half right.
1. there are 206 or so law schools in the USA.... and if you have at least like a 3.0 GPA and a decent LSAT score you can get into one of the top 60 ones. WHat i'm saying is the people who come out of the bottom 140 or so or go into a school with a below decent GPA are greatly contributing to the unemployment/low salary statistic.
2. common sense suggest that in any profession the kids out of harvard and yale and MIT get most of the top jobs... like even the big time business owners we know that dropped out went to a big time school initially.
3. There are schools that maybe are outside the top 50 but still below top 60 that are way below the typical 150/250K cost but additionally, IK/ have checked out lawyers that have said that if you have at least a 3.0 GPA and good LSAT score you can get a good amount of scholarship money for a decent quality school. Maybe it's not top 20 or whatever but it's in the top quarter which is good enough.
4.Most people in regards to schools in general go for the top school they get into rather then finding a medium between cost and quality. You see people in law schools or universities go for lets say Stanford but they barely got in so they don't have any scholarships or anything...instead of going for like ATM a quality school where maybe they had at least a half ride.
Dumbbells Only top 60 haha. You need to aim for the top 15, not the top 60.
If you get into Stanford, you go to Stanford. Unless you have a scholarship offer from a similarly ranked school. Or if you also got into Harvard or Yale.
A simple solution to getting a job and making a lot of money after law school: Don't go to shitty law school
$45000!? i think that is good haul, considering there are people who wont be able to make that in their entire lives.
Its cool how there is injustice everywhere..still we do not need lawyers...
If you searched this up, it’s not for you...
Law school: the degree that promises you the world but gives you an atlas
Study in New Zealand. The education here is second to none
Basically don't become a lawyer unless you go to a top law school or already have the connections to get into a good firm. Going near 100k in debt is not worth it unless you actually love law enough to do it for 40k. PSA some kinds of UPS drivers make 74k. If money or not being good a math is your concern there are plenty of other fields to go into besides law.
100k debt for law school? Much more. The average in-state law program is about 50k/year. x 3 = 150k. Some programs much much more. Plus add in undergrad if you were foolish enough to rack up a lot of debt for the BA in lesbian dance theory.
=Some beautiful work and people:
=2011 +2012 = 0
=Law Profession= 0
= Patrimoniu Ro= 0
I knew lawyers in my town looking to get paid 10 dollars an hour cause they couldn't find a job
Sandra Lozada
There is a lot of them like that. I had a girlfriend who got a degree in law and worked in ice cream store cause she could find a job in her field. Job market for law is awful
Thanks for the warning video. I was thinking about enrolling Legal Studies, but noticed that there are hardly jobs in this field. So, I'll have to reconsider choosing another major.
if i just wanna go, not because of money but my passion?
Simon Decaffein go ahead then ? Who's stopping you ?
And I want a pony that farts rainbows
Won’t make sense if you leave with $200K+ in debt only have a $70K job to show for it
ominous450 that's assuming s/he will even get a 70k job. I've seen attorney jobs posted for as little as $18 per hour. Not joking either.
@@ominous450 what if i tell you i know about 30+ lawyers in my family who did'nt expect to earn millions in the beginning as soon as they start off their careers.. and now are living their best lives after like 3-4 years of experience. honey you gotta be good and have a passion if you need to earn and do well...even glamorous film stars have gone for years in the start of their careers without basic amenities, and so have doctors,engineers architects etc.
There is this thing call experience, dont expect to make top money rigth off the bat!
Tuition is payed by taxes in my country, so it’s really not about cost for me.
Insha Allah I'll still go when I'm old enough.
Watching this from Europe where getting law degree is free (socialized).
Jan Říha lucky
I get what you mean though this doesn’t apply to all countries.
Clearly, no. LS is great for people who lack creativity and can't think outside the box of traditional careers--no judgment, I was one since I'm unfortunately a lawyer now. However, I never quite fit in and did not volunteer to speak with potential students as I did not have the conscience to lie to them. I'm honest when others ask me now and would not in good faith recommend this field to anyone. Not b/c I don't want competition as I'm trying to leave this field ASAP. Please help me, God.
Violet Roy Sounds like you went to a shitty law school and had no plan of what to do when you got out.
This is meaningless to anyone who wants to do JAG.
Because everyone who wants to do JAG gets to do it, right?
I’d say this is a little misleading because it doesn’t take into account long term career earnings. Yeah you’re making 40k but how much do you make in 5 years
It depends on where you go to law school. Let’s not kid ourselves, those who go to a really prestigious and good law school like Yale Law School or Harvard Law School have a much higher employment rate (around 90%) and much higher salaries as compared to smaller law schools in, say, Alabama, so try to get into a good one otherwise maybe don’t go