Law Career Alternatives

ilovedcollege
Thu, 06 Oct 2011 16:51:48 +0000

I am doing the happy dance since my daughter decided not to go to law school last week.
She is currently in Washington DC at an internship with a lawyers group. This non profit has lots of law school interns —she is the only undergrad (senior) intern. Her big boss had a great chat with her about her future. I think he realized that he can’t “save” the kids already in law school, but he could save her. So yes, Mr Big time lawyer talked her out of going to law school.
He explained, that ultimately, IT IS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY. It just costs way too much for an uncertain future. And that 20 years out of law school he is still paying off his student loans…which were only $40,000 at the time. The reality of $150,000+ in debt without a guaranteed high paying job to repay it is just crazy. And yes, I believe with her high GPA she could have cracked a T14 school.

So yes those with a JD do not have to practice law. But those graduating from law school today do have to pay back BIG LOANS. She is no trust fund baby so what ever grad school she chooses is on her dime. I am glad she is thinking about all of this seriously.
She loves what she is doing at this law group—absolutely hands on work that is making a difference in peoples lives. Just a great opportunity. So now to figure out what to do with her life? Clearly she is great with people and detailed oriented—so she too will look for jobs in and around the law–without being a layer.
The journey continues…