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If you’re considering a career in law (or one that would benefit from legal education), you might be asking, “Should I go to law school?” This is a legitimate question—after all, law school could be one of the most impactful decisions of your life, and there are many factors to consider before applying.
To become a lawyer, you’ll need to graduate from law school with a Juris Doctor (J.D.). But a legal education can benefit other career paths as well. To help you decide if law school is worth it for you, this article covers the benefits of attending law school and what you should consider before you apply.
Deciding whether or not law school is worth it is a major decision that requires careful consideration of the pros and cons. As someone who has thought extensively about this question myself, I hope I can provide some useful insight.
The Potential Benefits of Law School
There are several compelling reasons why law school may be worth it for some people:
Broad Career Opportunities
A law degree opens doors to a wide range of careers, including being a practicing lawyer judge, politician, banker, businessman law professor, and more. The analytical thinking and communication skills learned in law school are valued across many industries.
Strong Earning Potential
Lawyers earn a median salary of $126,930 per year, substantially higher than the median salary for all occupations ($41,950). Salaries vary greatly by location, firm size, and specialty, but overall the earning potential is quite high. However, earning potential should be weighed against debt and quality of life factors.
Prestige
Being a lawyer carries prestige in our society. Lawyers are seen as intelligent professionals who understand the legal system. For those who value public perception and prestige, a law degree commands respect
Opportunity to Help People
Practicing law provides the chance to help people in need by ensuring their legal rights are protected. Public interest lawyers and criminal defense lawyers have opportunities to greatly impact people’s lives.
Engaging Work
The work lawyers do, like conducting research, writing briefs, negotiating deals, and arguing in court, can be intellectually stimulating for those who enjoy analysis, debate, and complex problem solving. Each day brings new challenges.
Professional Flexibility
Lawyers have flexible options like working at firms, in-house government non-profits, solo practice, and more. Attorneys can tailor their career path based on interests and priorities. The skills are transferable across settings.
The Potential Downsides of Law School
However, there are also several reasons why law school may not be worth it:
High Cost
Law school tuition has soared, causing most students to take on tremendous debt. The average debt for law school graduates is around $110,000. Paying this off can take years and reduce quality of life.
Tough Job Market
The availability of legal jobs can fluctuate with the economy. Although the market has improved since the 2008 recession, legal employment remains competitive, especially at large firms. Only about two-thirds of graduates land long-term, full-time legal jobs.
Stressful Work Conditions
Working as a lawyer often involves tight deadlines, long hours, and high-stakes projects. The work can be mentally exhausting and stressful, leading to above-average rates of anxiety, depression, and substance abuse among attorneys.
Delayed Financial Payoff
Given the upfront costs of law school and the modest salaries at entry-level legal jobs, it takes time for the investment to pay off. Breaking even financially may take 5-10 years.
Opportunity Costs
The time spent in law school delays earning income from full-time work. It also prohibits pursuing other degrees or career paths during those 3 years. There is a big opportunity cost of not working or training for another field.
No Guarantee You’ll Practice Law
Many law graduates do not end up practicing law long-term. After experiencing the realities of legal work, some prefer to switch to alternative careers better aligned with their interests and strengths.
Key Factors to Consider About Law School
When weighing the pros and cons, here are some key factors to consider:
Career Goals – Make sure a law degree aligns with your short and long-term career aspirations. Research legal career paths that appeal to you.
Finances – Calculate total costs, projected debt, and salary outcomes to determine your return on investment. Compare law school financials to other fields.
Work-Life Balance – Legal work involves long hours and stress. Determine whether the tradeoffs are acceptable to your lifestyle vision.
Motivations – Take time to reflect on what draws you to law school besides prestige or money, such as intellectual challenge or helping people.
Legal Interests – Shadow attorneys in fields that intrigue you to get a sense of daily legal work. Make sure it engages you.
Opportunity Costs – Consider what experiences and income you may forgo by attending law school now instead of pursuing them.
Alternatives – Research whether comparable careers match your goals without needing law school, or if a master’s degree makes more sense.
Preparedness – Honestly assess your academic abilities and affinity for legal thinking to determine if you are primed for law school’s demands.
The value of law school depends on each person’s unique situation and priorities. For those drawn to legal work who position themselves to maximize career outcomes or find public interest roles fulfilling, law school can be a worthwhile investment. But due to the high costs, it makes most financial sense if you are confident you want to practice law for the long-term. Take time to realistically self-reflect on your motivations, skills, lifestyle needs, and career aspirations to determine if the pros outweigh the cons for your circumstances. There are no universal answers – you must weigh the tradeoffs and opportunity costs based on what matters most to you.
Consider the Financial Investment
How much is law school? According to LSAC data, public institutions charged in-state law students an average annual tuition rate of $30,554 and out-of-state students $43,590. Private law schools cost an average of $55,963 per year—and these figures do not include living expenses or other educational costs such as textbooks.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, tuition and fees for all graduate programs cost $20,513 per year on average. This means law school is significantly more expensive than most other types of graduate school.
All that considered—is law school worth it? This depends on how you fund your education and what you do with your degree.
What To Consider Before Applying to Law School
There are many aspects to consider before applying to law school. Law school is academically competitive, and you need to consider how this commitment would fit into your finances, interests and schedule. Mull over the following factors as you determine whether you should go to law school.
Is Law School Worth It?
Is Law School expensive?
While law school is clearly expensive, you do have opportunities to make it less expensive or fund it. The majority of law school students don’t pay sticker price. According to the most recent data from Law School Transparency, nearly 78% of law school students had some kind of tuition discount, whether merit-based or need-based.
Is law school worth it?
To become a lawyer, you’ll need to graduate from law school with a Juris Doctor (J.D.). But a legal education can benefit other career paths as well. To help you decide if law school is worth it for you, this article covers the benefits of attending law school and what you should consider before you apply.
Is a law degree worth it?
According to a Gallup-commissioned poll of 10,715 adults who obtained a law degree between 1941 and 2017, 88% said obtaining a law degree was ‘very valuable’ and ‘valuable.’ With the average law school debt coming in around $145,500, according to the most recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics.
How much does a top 10 law school cost?
And going to a top law school will cost you even more. The average annual cost to attend a Top 10 law school is $71,000. Just take a look at Columbia Law School’s charges for tuition and fees, and you’ll see that tuition alone is only part of the actual cost to attend:
