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How are hours at Simpson Thacher LA?
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Mentor
If you can get into a T14, you have a very good shot at a job which you may not enjoy but will justify your investment from a financial perspective. If you get in anywhere lower ranking than that, the math just doesn't math unless you (i) could somehow guarantee you will finish at the top of your class (you can't); (ii) have a connection (family) that guarantees you a Biglaw-paying job at graduation; or (iii) have a good scholarship. Otherwise, your odds are just not good of making enough money to justify the time and money of law school.
I know this sounds elitist, but from what I know of the legal industry, this is the truth. This is not to say it's impossible for you to get a good job coming out of a lower ranked school; nor to say that there aren't reasons to become a lawyer which have nothing to do with money. But from a purely financial perspective, the odds are stacked against folks who go to lower than T14 schools.
Mentor
Like, you either got lucky or - more likely - worked harder than you would have had to if you'd gone to a higher ranked school. Also, you're a specialist, so your experience is not typical. Congratulations, in all seriousness, I respect what you have accomplished even more than I would if you had gone to a T14, but if you came to me today and asked if you should go to law school I would give the same advice I did above because the statistics say I should.
Enthusiast
If you can get into a decent school with a scholarship, it’s worth it.
Enthusiast
I agree with most of that, but my point is that employment outcomes are publicly accessible and objective to a certain extent, although incomplete. There are lower-ranked schools worth attending based on their placement numbers alone. For instance, if OP were black, his odds of lading market-paying biglaw out of Howard would be very high. Depending on where OP wants to practice, UCLA or UT might be better for him than Cornell. From a purely economic standpoint, CLS and UChicago are equivalent to YHS and perhaps even superior to HLS in some aspects. I would also argue that any law grad from a T50 (if not TT) school with low or no student loans has better financial prospects than a paralegal.
Note that I am assuming for purposes of this reply that OP’s question is about income because he/she posted in this bowl.
The most likely outcome of going to law school is that (1) you’ll end up with lots of debt, (2) in a job that you don’t like, that (3) pays less (if not far less) than what you envisioned when you went to law school and (unless you avoid 1) now need to service that debt and have a life. If you can avoid 1, I’d consider law school, but unless you end up in a very high ranked law school, then at least outcome 3 will be a very real possibility. Factoring in lost opportunity cost, I generally advise against going to law school, but if you really are set on it, then for now just prepare for and take the LSAT and see how you do.
Subject Expert
There’s been a 20% increase in law school applications. So you’re not alone in considering this.
Law school was the best thing I ever did, for unexpected reasons. Working as a lawyer is oftentimes miserable due to the work culture, but the knowledge that comes with practicing law is incredibly powerful.
I say go for it, and then find a way to use your law degree in a creative way in a work culture you enjoy.