Re: Need Serious Help. Thinking about dropping out of law school.

I used to be interested in every field I learned about. I changed careers (not physically, just in my mind) soooo many times. I was never satisfied. But if there is something you can say you dislike...I'd say that is not the job for you.

You have SO much time to make a decision! I wouldn't stress about it. It sounds like you don't just dislike the school, but the idea of being an attorney altogether.

Aside from pleasing your family and friends...if you are concerned about the money, there is A LOT of money to be made in other fields. One guy at my job, who has a bachelor's degree...is making $125,000 on Long Island, as a financial analyst. I am a few years behind experience wise...but that is the track I am on. And our firm is very much into family and do not believe in long hours and never any weekends. We all generally work 9-5. I value people's businesses and licenses (usually people getting divorced) and I see what they all make and most of them make really good money...and are not lawyers. Some don't have any schooling. I hope I was helpful. Just don't stress out.

Re: Need Serious Help. Thinking about dropping out of law school.

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Posted by starhead

I have been an attorney for 3 years now. I hated law school. Really hated it, almost quit my second year - that's when a lot of people quit.
I work at an insurance co. instead of at a firm. I worked in firms and couldn't stand it. WOrking in house is a little better because there are no billables and normal hours.

If I knew then what I know now, I would not have gone to law school. It's tough to say it but it's true. I have so much debt right now, and I don't like my job, but I feel like I have to continue doing it because I need to pay off my loans (for the next 20 years!!!)

Seriously, it's a lot of work and what others have said is true. All my friends who are attorneys regret going to law school and are miserable!!

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Re: Need Serious Help. Thinking about dropping out of law school.

It sounds like you already made up your mind. There are other options with a law degree--I went to Cornell undergrad and a friend of mine who went there for law school is now teaching law at Hofstra. Very nice hours, not stressful...But no big bucks either, and after 3 expensive years there is a great deal of money in loans to be paid back.

It may not be as easy as you think, though, to find a job that is psychology-related on Long Island. Good luck in whatever you choose. I have to say after seeing my brother as miserable as he was after his first internship I had no regrets about the road not taken.

Did you intern this past summer? How did that go? Were you with a firm or a corporation? That would give you more of an idea of day-to-day life as a lawyer. My friends works in a firm that has a sign up that says, "If you are not in on Sunday don't bother coming in on Monday." I think you made up your mind when you decided a job is just a job.

Re: Need Serious Help. Thinking about dropping out of law school.

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Posted by tp329

I used to be interested in every field I learned about. I changed careers (not physically, just in my mind) soooo many times. I was never satisfied. But if there is something you can say you dislike...I'd say that is not the job for you.

You have SO much time to make a decision! I wouldn't stress about it. It sounds like you don't just dislike the school, but the idea of being an attorney altogether.

Aside from pleasing your family and friends...if you are concerned about the money, there is A LOT of money to be made in other fields. One guy at my job, who has a bachelor's degree...is making $125,000 on Long Island, as a financial analyst. I am a few years behind experience wise...but that is the track I am on. And our firm is very much into family and do not believe in long hours and never any weekends. We all generally work 9-5. I value people's businesses and licenses (usually people getting divorced) and I see what they all make and most of them make really good money...and are not lawyers. Some don't have any schooling. I hope I was helpful. Just don't stress out.

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Re: Need Serious Help. Thinking about dropping out of law school.

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Posted by nov04LIbride

It sounds like you already made up your mind. There are other options with a law degree--I went to Cornell undergrad and a friend of mine who went there for law school is now teaching law at Hofstra. Very nice hours, not stressful...But no big bucks either, and after 3 expensive years there is a great deal of money in loans to be paid back.

It may not be as easy as you think, though, to find a job that is psychology-related on Long Island. Good luck in whatever you choose. I have to say after seeing my brother as miserable as he was after his first internship I had no regrets about the road not taken.

Did you intern this past summer? How did that go? Were you with a firm or a corporation? That would give you more of an idea of day-to-day life as a lawyer. My friends works in a firm that has a sign up that says, "If you are not in on Sunday don't bother coming in on Monday." I think you made up your mind when you decided a job is just a job.

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Re: Need Serious Help. Thinking about dropping out of law school.

Ahhh I didn't realize you just did a semester. Do they start a class in the spring or did you go in the fall and take off the spring semester? As for the psych. jobs, I just meant many jobs in the field require a PhD in psychology. Good luck to you! I hope your family is supportive of your decision.

Re: Need Serious Help. Thinking about dropping out of law school.

Sure, anytime. Just don't lose sleep over it. From what you have said thus far, you definitely should explore other options. 24 is the age to explore all of those options. Let us know how it goes. I am SUCH an indecisive person. It is so hard for me to make a decision and I've always seeked approval on my decisions from other people, but I realized their advice might be good, but I am the one who has to make my own decisions and deal with the consequences in the end. Good luck!

Re: Need Serious Help. Thinking about dropping out of law school.

It really sounds like you want out of law school. If that's the case, it's so much better for you to recognize now with only 1 semester under your belt than 3 years from now and way, way in debt. Just to echo what someone else said, not every lawyer is a millionaire--in case you need to convince your family. I was very, very fortunate that I went to a top 5 law school and did well enough to get offers at many firms. However, anywhere outside the top 10 schools, it's often difficult to get offers at firms (where the big $$ is) unless you're in the top 10 of your class. This is the case both because 1) firms base a lot on what school you go to (wrong or right) and 2) many firms only do on-campus interviewing at certain schools so it's hard even to get your foot in the door if you're not at those schools. Good luck!