1. Why do you want to go?
This may be obvious, but most people wish they had thought more seriously about this before they spend time and money applying to law school. Why do you really want to attend graduate school, and law school in particular? Do you want to put off the real world for a few more years ,or do you think an added degree will help you find a better job in this economy? Is it that your friends all have a direction and you think applying to law school will help you find your path too? Or is it that you have witnessed friends and family who work in the law and you know this is the only career for you?Whatever your rationale is, just make sure you know what it is before you start the arduous process of applying. You’ll need a concrete answer to this question, not only for the essay portion of your application, but also to remind yourself why you are staying up late studying and working on endless legal writing assignments throughout your first year. DO NOT attend unless you're about as sure as you can be that you want to be here. A LOT of people attend primarily because they don't know what else to do and end up not liking it. It's a HUGE investment of time and money. Taking some time off is definitely recommended if you're not so sure.
2. How badly do you want it?
If your motivation for applying isn’t going to be enough to get you through the classes, internships, and crippling debt, then maybe you should start thinking of alternative options. The legal job market is completely different than it was even a mere five years ago, and people applying to law school now will work harder for the same opportunities, such as a typical law firm job or a way to pay down your debt in under ten years, that every law grad was practically guaranteed in the 90s.Could you be just as happy doing something else? Are you willing to network every weekend to get a job, or are you only willing to go into it if you think you’ll come out in the end with a direct path to making partner? Would you consider interning at a law firm before school to get experience that might add to your application? Determine just how much work you are willing to put in to get the results you want—nothing is guaranteed anymore.
3. What are you going to do if it doesn’t work out?
Jobs are not easy to come by in any industry. You need to do research into each school’s post-bar employment statistics (which aren’t necessarily a complete representation – ask current or recent law grads of that school if possible!) You need to decide what areas of law you would be comfortable practicing if you pass the bar exam and you can’t get an interview in your chosen field.You should also think about how hard you’d be willing to work to get a legal job instead of changing your career entirely. It might take hundreds of resumes sent, hours of attending state bar events and mingling with other lawyers, and even just some dumb luck to get a job these days. What will your steps be for making ends meet if that doesn’t work out as in your ideal scenario?
There’s a saying about going into acting that I’ve heard several times, and it is beginning to apply to law school as well: “If you can see yourself being happy doing anything else, then do something else.”
I’m not here to discourage you from applying to law school, but you need to be sure before you take on the additional burden of the time spent and the debt you might incur. If you are sure this career path is for you, you can make it work, and it will be a great experience. However, if you are thinking of it as a boost to your resume, or a mini-vacation from the bad economy for three years, then you may be better off waiting to apply. Think about these three questions, be honest with yourself about the answers, and you’ll make the right choice!