[Law School Drop-Out]

Just 9 years ago, tuition at UC Berkeley Law was $11,000/year for in-state and $21,000 for out-of-state. Flash forward to 2010, and you are looking at $44,220/year for in-state and $52,220 for out-of-state for ONE YEAR. So if you graduated in 2001, you could have graduated with a law degree for under $33,000 for three years, which is a fraction of what you would pay now for ONE YEAR!!

Something is disturbingly wrong with this picture. How is it that we freak out when gas prices go up a few cents at the pump, but we as a society are so complacent when tuition at one of the nation's premier law schools jump 250% in less than a decade? Would anyone be okay with a gallon of gas rising from $3 to $10 in 9 years? Or milk? Or any other good on the face of the planet? Why is it that demand for law school is so inelastic to the point that these schools can raise prices as much as they want and still know that thousands of students will still apply each year and continue to pay what is now over $150,000 in tuition alone (and rising)?

Unfortunately this is not isolated to law schools. Cost of higher education is going up across the board even though the job market is completely saturated and the value of one's degree is steadily going down as competition increases. It is unfortunate that people have to essentially mortgage their lives to go to school nowadays. Something desperately needs to be done.

Meecat,

You're absolutely right. The amount of debt students are asked to shoulder in the U.S. these days is insane. In fact, as I reflect on my decision to leave law school, one of of my many comforts is the ridiculous amount of money I saved.

I found a great blog about tuition inflation at law schools, at the following link: http://esqnever.blogspot.com/

If you have time, you should also youtube: the Law School Carol. It's kind of eerie how spot on it is.

--E.C.

[Law School Drop-Out]

smd76,

Thanks for sharing your story, and for the show of solidarity.

In the interest of catharsis, could you elaborate on the reasons why you felt you did not want practice law?

In my story, I did not feel that I could effect the social change I wanted as a lawyer. Your point about spending 30 years in a cubicle definitely struck a chord in that respect.

Thank you,

E.C.

Well, I finished law school, but never took the bar--taking that stand against the pressure of friends and family was one of the hardest things I've done. I knew half way through that I didn't want to practice law and my judicial clerkship just confirmed it. (EVERY lawyer I met wished they had done something else. My favorite was the local small-town prosecutor: "I should have gone to dental school!") But I finished and lucked out by getting into one of the biggie online legal research companies and getting myself a nice little niche job in the company after a couple of years.

I've managed to stay employed in non-legal jobs that still require a JD. But now I'm aiming in a new direction. It's a big leap, but if it works, I'll be able to be in the academic world I love full time, and be able to support my family doing something that doesn't seem as mindless as sitting in a cubical all day for 30 years. My job now is fine, not fulfilling, but fine. Ok money and I can support my son and I. And the hours are way better than practicing law which works well with a family.

And the best part is...the field I'm aiming at is super short of PhDs to teach. So if I can pull it off, I can double my income and actually pay off law school some day. :-D

I agree that law school/lawyers are glamorized. I enjoyed school itself, but practicing law is NOT something I could do and be happy for several reasons.

So I'm going to lump myself in with the drop-outs.

[Law School Drop-Out]

To Daniar:

Sorry about not replying earlier, but I've been having some trouble with my account.

In answer to your question, I don't have to apply until this upcoming fall. However, instead of going back to school right away, I am actually going to Europe to teach English for a year. And depending on how I like it, I want to go to Latin America afterwards.

Also, I know my profile suggests that I want to teach at the University level, but I am actually divided right now about whether or not the high school level is a better fit. One of the main reasons high school is looking so attractive is the bleak state of American academia. In my situation, money is paramount, so we'll see.

What about you? Are you set on the university level?

E.C.

[Law School Drop-Out]

Daniar,

It takes a lot of courage to make such an unpopular decision.

It seems that one of the main similarities between your experience and mine is strong familial pressure to becoming a lawyer. They obviously mean well, but I am guessing that most of them are basing their advice on totally unrealistic depictions of the legal profession in the media. In the US, at least, it's been elevated to a status well above what it actually deserves. Very few people outside of the legal profession realize that the majority of lawyers aren't wealthy, and that the work isn't particularly glamorous, either in content or in practice.

I was aslo very suprised to find that lawyers aren't necessarilly intellectuals. Unfortunately, the stereotype about them as "wheelers and dealers" pretty much sums up what they do.

Good luck to you, too, Daniar.

E.C.

[Law School Drop-Out]

BCEmory08,

Thank you for sharing your story. It feels great to know that I am not the only one!

Since leaving there is literally no one I have been able to talk to about this. People who've never been to law school have no idea what it's really like, and current law students, as well as lawyers, won't listen to any criticism, for obvious reasons.

It's also great to hear that you've been able to move on. I have hope that I will too, but I also know that it will take some time.

Just out of curiosity, what are your specific areas of interest in U.S. History?

Thanks,

E.C.

[Law School Drop-Out]

Hey Everyone,

Last November I dropped out of a top 20 law program, right before finishing my first semester. There were many reasons why I chose to leave law school, but the most powerful was that I found the professional culture of law unappealling and the work unstimulating. I am now considering entering an M.A. program in U.S. Labor History or Mexican History, with the goal of moving on to the P.h.D.

I guess you could say that I am still in mourning over my break with that path. I know in my heart that it was the right decision for me, but I still can't help doubting myself. In fact, I am nagged by what happened every day.

So I was hoping that maybe this thread could generate some therapeutic discussion about issues stemming from a career in the legal field.

Thanks,

E.C.