My law degree is from UTexas and I will completely concede that law school is like trade school. Its also a rough way to break into academics. The admissions are easier, but the internal competition is very high for the academic positions. The pay is very good to compete with the market, and thus the jobs are highly sought after. So, you have to out law school the other would be profs/psychotic over achievers, which is a hard path. Also, you end up teaching in the very manner you dislike learning in... I think sticking with your guns and attacking the grad school route is better. I went to law school thinking it would be like grad school. I practiced thinking it would be more like law school. On and on... until here I am going back to school for a PhD. I don't regret the JD or years in the field, but I don't think law school is a good sub for grad school.