In this series, the MerusCase team has interviewed four different legal professionals, all of whom are on different parts of the spectrum when it comes to post-JD careers. Today we're dishing up honest and thoughtful advice from Mary Redzic, In-House Counsel at Vionic Group, about the path to law school: what you should major in, how to decide on a school, and when you should start preparing. Have your own questions for Mary? Leave 'em in the comments below!
Q. What should I major in during college?
A. This is entirely up to you. You can major in anything and still pursue a JD; however, if you plan on becoming a patent attorney, you do need to have a science or engineering background. Generally, you need to major in biology, computer science, civil, electrical or mechanical engineering (this is not a complete list). I would look up requirements for becoming a patent lawyer and make sure you meet the qualifications. The great thing about having a science background is that even if you decide not to pursue law after all, you’ll have great career opportunities.
Q. Do my undergraduate grades matter for law school admissions?
A. Yes, but it is difficult to say to what extent. Law schools generally publish their GPA and LSAT score requirements, but it is difficult to say how strictly they enforce them. If you meet the requirements, you definitely have a higher chance of acceptance than someone who does not; however, I would also take your degree into consideration, your extra curriculars, and your admissions essay. For example, if you are a computer science major, you may have a slightly lower GPA since that is an extremely difficult major, but you may still have a chance of being admitted if your LSAT score is high enough. I would discuss your options with your counselor and proceed accordingly.
Q. What kinds of internships or experiences will help me get into law school?
A. Unfortunately, there is not one a straight path to law school admission. I would simply focus on your own interests to gain experience and knowledge, and that should be sufficient.
I worked at the Study Abroad Office for 3 years during my undergrad, started an international club, and joined another social club. Honestly, I don’t think it mattered which club or organization I joined, but the fact that I was a member did help. When the admissions counselor saw the organizations I joined, she recommended I pursue international law. I did not follow her advice, but the organizations you join or internships you pursue can be telling of what your interests are and which area of law to focus on. Even now, part of me wishes I followed the admissions counselor’s advice, but it's important to keep your interests in mind when you choose what courses you want to take in law school. For example, if you love science, patent law may be your calling.
Q. When do I apply to law school?
A. I would apply only after you have done your research and made sure it's the right decision for you to pursue law. Ultimately, I would keep 3 things in mind: (1) the price of going to law school; (2) the law school’s post-graduation employment rate; and (3) your reason for going to law school. The first 2 points on the aforementioned list are objective measures and you can research these fairly easily; however, the 3rd point is subjective and is the most important part of the test.
If you are going to law school because "it's the next step for anyone in your major" (i.e. political science), then I would take a year off, try to find a job, and really make sure that law school is what you want to do. Just because it's what everyone else does, does not mean it's what you should be doing as well: law school is a serious decision and should not be taken lightly. If you're questioning your motivation, I would recommend making a list of your interests, your strengths and weaknesses, what else you would be doing if you did not go to law school, as well as what your long term goals are. If all choices point to law school, then you should absolutely start preparing your application! If not? It might be wise to take a little more time to think about alternatives.
Q. What is the LSAT and how should I prepare for it?
A. The LSAT is the Law School Admission Test and, unfortunately, it is not a test you can “study” for and prepare, as it does not test your knowledge of a particular subject, but it tests your reasoning skills.
In order to "prepare," I would recommend logic and reasoning courses during your undergraduate career as well as taking an LSAT prep course. It’s been a while since I took the test, but I am sure there are several online options that are affordable and useful. If anything, I would buy a test prep book and do a few practices tests just so that, at the very least, you know what to expect. As with most tests, I would recommend taking a few timed exams so that you have an idea of how quickly you should answer each question and which part of the exam you need improve on.
Q. How long is law school and what will I learn while I’m there?
A. Law school is a 3 year program. Amazingly, it flies by. You will learn case law, various areas of law, and how to analyze a case and any situation. It will definitely change the way you see the world and how you think. The difficult part is the bar exam. The bar exam tests the subjects that you study your first year, but you will not get tested on them until after your third year. Unlike the LSAT, prep courses for the bar exam are a must.
Like your undergraduate career, you will have required courses and electives. Which area of law you focus on is entirely up to you; however, I would strongly recommend taking at least 1 writing course. Despite what you see on TV shows, most of your time as a lawyer will be spent writing legal documents, so writing skills are extremely important. Lastly, keep your goal in mind: if you want to be a family law attorney, take family law courses; international business, take international law courses, and so on. If you’re lost, make the same list I recommended before you considered going to law school and focus on your strengths, weaknesses and your passion. What do you care about and where do you see yourself in 5 years? If you can answer those questions, it can be a good indicator as to which area of law you should focus on (if any). Worst case scenario, you can be a generalist and take any course that sounds interesting, and figure the rest out later.
Q. How much does it cost to attend law school?
A. Law school is expensive, and you have to be prepared for the amount of debt you will have after law school. Depending on your situation, you can face up to $250,000 of debt once you graduate, which is essentially a mortgage without a house.
This is one of my biggest criticisms of law school: they do not adequately prepare you for the debt you will have after you graduate. I believe every degree should have a personal finance course to teach you how to manage your debt, how to minimize it, and how to mentally prepare for it. I am still paying off my student loans and I have been practicing law for 5 years. I have found every method and trick in the book to minimize the debt, but it is still difficult. I hope to be done paying it off by the time I’m 40.
Q. Do I need to go to law school right away or is it normal to take a break after undergraduate studies?
A. You definitely do not need to go to law school right away! I would actually recommend working in the "real world" first and making sure that pursuing law is what you truly want to do. I would even work at a law firm to get some experience and to see what you will face once you are done with law school. The other benefit of working before law school is that you gain experience that will make you more marketable, and you can save up money to minimize the amount of debt you will have once you start law school. Lastly, it is possible to pursue law school part time and make money while pursuing your law degree (though this path can be challenging and isn't for the faint of heart).
Q. After I graduate from law school, how do I become a lawyer?
A. Once you graduate, you have will still have to pass the bar exam. Only 3 jurisdictions (Maryland, Wisconsin and Puerto Rico) allow you to practice law without taking the bar exam; however, I believe that they do require you to go to law school in those particular jurisdictions. The remaining states generally require that you attend law school and pass the bar exam. You will have to look up your state laws to see what the requirements are.
The bar exam is generally a 2-3 day exam that covers various subjects you studied throughout law school, focusing on the first year courses. It has a multiple choice and written component, and it is a difficult exam that requires a lot of studying and practice tests. If you do not pass on your first try, you may retake it; however, you will have to study again and wait another 3 months after taking the exam to receive your results. This can delay your job hunt and employment, so take it seriously and put in the time the first time around.
Q. Does the law school I attend affect what job I get after I pass the bar?
A. It definitely can. If you are in the top law schools (as ranked by USA Today), you will definitely have an easier time getting a job, which can significantly impact your post graduation experience in terms of paying off your debt, and job security. This is not to say that you will not get a job if you do not attend the top tier schools, but it can have a significant impact. If you are in the top 1% of your class, you will generally have an easier time getting a job regardless of which school you attend; however, it still will not be as easy as attending Harvard or Yale. Definitely keep this in mind, and make sure you discuss the employment rates after graduation with the admissions office.
Several law schools have been in trouble recently about misrepresenting the employment rate post graduation because they considered a law school graduate working at a coffee shop rather than a law firm as “employed.” With that in mind, do your research and make sure that your law school will give you the kind of career prospects you're looking for and that the cost of law school will be worth it in the end. You will owe up to $250,000 of debt no matter which law school you attend, but not having a job after you graduate will significantly impact your personal life and ability to pay off the debt, so choose carefully.
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A huge thank you to Mary for sharing her insights on law school and everything you need to know before you take the plunge and pursue a JD! That's all we have for today, but stay tuned: we'll be back on Thursday with an interview on law school success with Della Shaker, Attorney at Mesriani Law Group.
P.S. Have you seen Mary's review of MerusCase on her blog, disrupt.legal? If not, now's your chance to check it out!
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