Tips for a JD about sociology PhD?

[eri_jd]

Hi everyone. So, despite being aware of problems in academia, and knowing professors who hate their lives... I really want to get a PhD in sociology. I hate that I want to be in academia, but my gut keeps telling me it's what I want.

I have a BA in sociology with a social work minor and I just got my JD. I really enjoyed studying the law, and while I liked working with clients, I'm much more into researching legal issues. I'm interested in the sociological study of the law, crime, gender, labor and economics, with a particular interest in prisons. I did take the bar in July and won't know for a few weeks if I passed. I've had zero luck when it comes to jobs, so why not go into something with even fewer jobs? ? I'm not trying to entirely give up on being a lawyer right now (after all, I graduated only a couple months ago), but I want to keep the possibility of a PhD in the back of my mind, and perhaps prepare for it while I've got nothing else to do. My GPAs weren't particularly stellar for my BA or JD, unfortunately. Both are around 3.2/3.3.

I'm mostly interested in UConn and schools in Western Mass (though I might consider the Boston area too). What should I be doing to prepare? I'm not planning on applying this year or anything, but I want to have some kind of plan, even a loose one. I'm hoping to get at least one article published in my law school's law review; they love publishing student/alumni work and I think it would show my research and writing abilities in law and social science. I'm not sure what else I could do in the meantime (besides beg myself to not do this. Everyone said "don't go to law school" and I went and now I'm a "don't go to law school" person too. I guess I like torturing myself).

[juilletmercredi]

I don't think you should limit yourself geographically or focus on a specific area. Especially since you have a specific area of research interest (as you should), the best schools for you might be elsewhere. For example, I think the University of Virginia has a great sociology and law program, IIRC.

Do you have any sociology research experience, either from undergrad or from the ensuing years? Did you do any legal research in law school outside of taking classes?

[high_hopes]

I recommend thinking who your reference letter writers will be and booking meetings with them to see what they think is feasible for you to pursue. If they are professors you have lost connection with, showing up again will be helpful. Also, drafting a SoP will help you focus on what your research interests are, and you can meet with your referees and discuss it with them. Sociology of law and criminology are areas that are receiving increasing prominence and the job market for criminology professors in particular is quite good.