Comments on Veritas Prep Blog: The WSJ on Law School and the Recession -- A Deepe...

Hi Raff, I'm never opposed to the idea of retaking...

2009-04-09T09:52:00.000-07:00

Hi Raff, I'm never opposed to the idea of retaking a few courses to show renewed focus, but going for a whole new major doesn't make a ton of sense to me. I think you are better served getting the very best LSAT score you can, because that, combined with your work experience, will leave just one major question: lack of focus, due to your lower GPA.

Focus/discipline is something that can be offset not only by work experience (showing maturity in an alternative setting) but also by writing a great personal statement that showcases how disciplined you can be when the task requires it. In fact, it sounds like you've been balancing work and school, which is the germ of a great personal statement right there. We help clients all the time in building personal statements that address these themes. Be sure to email us at law@veritasprep.com and we'd be happy to help you position yourself in the most effective way possible.

this is a great post... i'm pretty sure this isn't...

2009-04-08T23:14:00.000-07:00

this is a great post... i'm pretty sure this isn't the appropriate place, but I had a quick q regarding law school... I currently have a 3.1 gpa from a small public school in nyc... my mentor, who is a lawyer, suggests that i stay in college an extra year (i'm currently wrapping up my last semester) and work towards an economics major (which i started, just by taking courses that interested me). i don't really care to obtain an eco major, but the goal would be to increase my gpa.

with that said, i don't care to work in big law... i worked at a midsize firm for about 8 years and there's a chance i can gain legal experience there... my concern is should i spend the next 1-2 years getting an eco major while increasing gpa, or would my time be better served prepping and doing as well as i can on the lsat while gaining more work experience?

my nyc rent isnt cheap and the idea of continuing to work part time while getting more college credits isnt too appealing, but is it worth the sacrifice? I would perosnally be fine going to any top 100, im guessing my lsat score will determine how high or low i go.

sorry for the ramble... thanx for any advice

Hi JG, we were just discussing this within our own...

2009-03-27T14:10:00.000-07:00

Hi JG, we were just discussing this within our own offices yesterday. The cost/benefit analysis extends beyond just schools within the top 14 (Chicago vs. Duke being the example above) and to tiers as well. I think you really need put the end at the beginning, meaning: understand what you want out of your law degree. Fordham will open a few more traditional doors, but still isn't a BigLaw minting type of school. If you are thinking big law firm, you are going to need to finish near the top of your class at either school. And if you are leaning toward any other kind of career, it is going to come down to networking and being creative anyway.

For me, if you like the school at all, I say you take the money and go to Brooklyn. It's a reputable program with plenty of alumni working in NYC and other East Coast markets and your risk level is going to be so much lower if the job market isn't what you want it to be. Again, this is no knock on Fordham, but it's not such a force of nature that it will offset the debt consideration. That's my take.

If you would like to talk about this in greater detail, please feel free to email me at law@veritasprep.com.

Great article. I'll be a law school student in th...

2009-03-27T11:42:00.000-07:00

Great article.

I'll be a law school student in the fall, so maybe you can tell me whether I should do Fordham with no scholarship or Brooklyn with nearly a full ride? I've gotten so much conflicting advice, and I just don't know what to do.

I agree that students should think long and hard b...

2009-03-24T14:01:00.000-07:00

I agree that students should think long and hard before becoming lawyers, even in a recession. I just published a book entitled Firm Conviction: A Case Against Private Law Practice. It is available on www.eloquentbooks/FirmConviction.com or Amazon.com. Thanks, Lisa S. Lane, Esq.