Deciding on a graduate degree is a daunting task. In the ultra competitive job market of 2011 many people find that after a college degree is not sufficient for the level of work and compensation that they are seeking. Graduate degrees (Law School included) offer a focused training and provide the expertise that yield upper level job opportunities. However, the very process of narrowing one’s focus can be anxiety producing for someone who feels that their strengths could be suited to multiple opportunities.
If you feel like this describes you, a Law Degree may be just the answer. The study of Law both provides the training for multiple career avenues and renders you extremely hire-able in the short term. If you are interested in Public Policy, Management, Sports, Entertainment, and Politics (and the list goes on) a Law degree can open up doors, and provide you with the critical thinking training to excel. If you go to law school, it doesn’t necessarily mean you will end up a lawyer; however, that is also always an option for you.
In addition to the professional benefits of the degree, law school is a wonderful training ground for the mind. The fundamentals of argument, critical analysis, ethics and assessment make up the core of the law education. However, Law School and the rigorous, black and white admissions process that accompanies it are not for everyone.
Entry into Law School is a numbers game as candidates are judged heavily on their score on the LSAT. Once admitted, students are ranked in their law class according to grades which are almost solely based upon students’ performance on comprehensive final exams. All of this is even before facing the Bar Exam. If this kind of educational atmosphere gives you nightmares, then Law School may not be the road for you. As in any education and professional path, fit is not universal, and you should be honest with yourself before you even attempt the law school application process.
