Why You Should Not Go to Law School

April 3, 2023

Law school might seem like a prestigious path, but the reality of the legal profession is far more complex. Here are 5 good reasons why you should not go to law school:

1. The Shrinking Job Market:

 

  • Demand for lawyers is slowing down, while the number of graduates continues to rise. This means tougher competition and fewer job opportunities.
  • Technology is changing the game. Online legal services and AI tools are making some legal tasks easier for people to handle on their own.
  • Jobs for new graduates are often doing public interest law, such as the public defender’s office, prosecution offices and aiding low income people. None of these jobs pay well.

2. Skyrocketing Costs (and Debt):

 

  • Law school tuition is astronomical, and those student loans add up fast. The average law grad carries over $140,000 in debt, impacting their financial future for years.
  • And that’s not all! Bar exam fees and prep courses add thousands more to your bill.
  • Every year, you pay to renew your license, attend classes and have insurance — which are all super expensive.

3. Earning Potential Isn’t What It Used To Be:

 

  • While some lawyers earn high salaries, the median income is less impressive, especially considering the debt you’ll be carrying.
  • Your location and practice area matter a lot. Lawyers in big cities and specialized fields often make more, but starting salaries for many are lower than you might expect.
  • Because of the many, many new grads, small offices and governments have starting salaries of less than $60,000 per year. This works out to be an hourly wage of $20-30 per hour.

4. Prepare for Stress (and Lots of Paperwork):

  • Lawyer life is often demanding. Long hours, high pressure, and difficult decisions are part of the deal.
  • Think you’ll be spending your days in court? Think again. Most of a lawyer’s time is spent in the office, dealing with clients and endless paperwork.

5. Intense Competition Starts Now:

  • Even graduating at the top of your class doesn’t guarantee a dream job. Many grads struggle to find work in their preferred field or location.

 

So, its probably not worth it to go to law school. As much as I enjoy my career right now, it took me 15+ years to reach a place where I was not a overweight, stressed-out, miserable excuse of a human. I would rather have those 15 years back to have worked in a field I could enjoy. That all said, I do enjoy what I do now, which lets me be a much different attorney than most you might speak with. My office is only a click or a call away, but so that I can continue to enjoy what I do, I only work un uncontested cases, appeals and mediation.

 

Disclaimer: This blog post is a resource for general information, not legal advice. If you have a legal issue, please reach out to a qualified attorney for personalized guidance. Reading this post does not create an attorney-client relationship.