How to Deal With Critics of Your Decision to Go to Law School

Listen to them.

I know you won't, but listen anyway.  I had some folks telling me flat-out: "Don't go."  I didn't listen.  I still stand by not listening.  I felt like going to law school was the right decision for me, and I still feel like it was.  I know that sounds messed up given my most recent decision regarding law school.  But I gained a lot.  A lot of knowledge, friends, and general life experience.  An adventure, really sucky at times, well worth it.

So, listen to your critics, make a rational decision, or do neither.  Go with your gut.  Do whatever you feel is right.  My point: it's your decision.  I certainly don't mean by "Listen to them," that you have to do what they say.  I think you should at the very least factor it in.  I just hope you'll remember that if you get through the first semester or two and hate it, that you don't have to be stuck there.  Responsibly and seriously consider pulling out and exploring your other options.  Don't wait too long to reassess.

If law school is all you've ever wanted, I don't know what to tell you folks exactly.  I did not have the legal ambition until after I was already halfway done with undergrad.  So, I don't really know how to relate with you, but I suppose if you are reading this, just know that it's not the end of the world if you hate it. Don't be afraid to give it a year, and then reassess and determine if law school and the law is really what you thought it was.  Perhaps my advice means follow your dreams, until they're not your dreams anymore?

Legal education in this country could use a lot of improvements.  It's a hoop-jumping system that charges increasingly exorbitant amounts of money each year to teach you mostly things that will never come in handy after the bar is over.  But if you're taking your decision seriously, you already know that.  You're ready to jump.  I was, too.  I knew the checkmarks I'd have to get before I completed the somewhat arbitrary legal checklist.  As it turned out, my life didn't make it easy, and I realized that the hoop-jumping didn't feel like it was going to be worth it.  I felt in prison, and you just might, too.  Just be prepared for it not to be exactly like you may have always hoped it would be.

To George Mason's credit, they very clearly let us 1Ls know that the legal market and law school itself would not be a delightful diversion.  Many of my classmates commented that they were freaked out by how bluntly we were told that it was going to be rough.  I cannot say I was not fairly warned.

Just because I quit law school, does not mean that I hate everything about it, or that I think everyone should get out.  I still love some aspects of the law, and the great societal utility it can provide.  I had first-class, accomplished classmates who are headed for great things.  I learned that the law can be used in some very admirable and noble ways.  I had some great professors that taught me some things that will be useful for the rest of my life.  I worked with judges and lawyers that afforded me some unforgettable experiences and lessons.

I tried to fit the law into my life, but it wasn't working.  That's an oversimplification of everything that lead to me quitting, but I just want readers to know that I still condone some people going into the law.  It can be a great thing.  It wasn't for me.  Know that it just might not be for you, either.


Next time on How To Quit Law School:  How to deal with critics of your decision to quit law school.

How To Quit Law School

Quitting law school is done best in one specific way... as soon as possible.

Hi!  I am among the most recent class of law school dropouts and want to share my story to aid others who find themselves in the quandary of law school prison.  What is law school prison?  It's when you've decided you're going to stick with it.  You go for a while, you don't love it, but you tell yourself, "I can do this for a while.  I can just be a lawyer for a few years, then I'll move on to what I really want to do."  This shortly leads to "I hate this.  But I'm SO in debt.  How could I possibly do anything else now?"  Prison.  Law-school-debt prison.  Well, that's how I felt anyway.  There are a myriad other reasons to quit law school, and certainly I have many more of my own, but whatever your reason, you should know that you're not alone, that you're not hopeless, and that life will just keep moving.

YOU'RE NOT ALONE:  

• Law schools lose students every year:  
• Various schools' 2011 attrition rates 1st year / 2nd year:
• Akron:                                19.6% / 4.4%
• George Mason:                   16.2% / 1.7%
• George Washington:          6.4% / 4%
• Loyola Marymount:          11.5% / 2.2%
• Michigan State:                  14.5% / 1%
• Quinnipiac:                         10.4% / .9%
• Some are even advocating that students be paid to leave law school because legal education is such a mess!

YOU'RE NOT HOPELESS:

• Many successful people have dropped out of law school:
• Martin Luther  
• Al Gore   
• Demetri Martin  (HILAROUS!)
• Diane Sawyer
• Paul Simon
• Vince Lombardi
• Ronald Baron  (BILLIONAIRE)
• Carly Fiorina  (CEO of Hewlett-Packard)
• Billy Joe McCombs  (Dropped out to sell cars... BILLIONAIRE)
• Stewart Rahr  (BILLIONAIRE)
• Theodore Roosevelt
• Harper Lee
• Leslie Wexner (BILLIONAIRE)
• Even Supreme Court Justice Cardozo dropped out of law school!
• I'm not saying you have to be a billionaire, here's an article from a recent dropout who landed a decent job I wouldn't mind.
• Another post full of inspiration.

LIFE GOES ON:

• I'm still here.  Blogging this right now.  I didn't die.  I told all my friends and family.  I didn't die of embarrassment.  I didn't disappoint them to death.  My law school administrators were GREAT.  They worked with me and helped me talk it out, and come to the best decision for me.
• Yes, I'm going to have to get a move on, and find a job, move forward with other plans, but it's not terrible.  People sympathise with my situation, and are very willing to help.  
• People hate lawyers anyway, you can at least be glad to be done with lawyer jokes!

The comment from two different loved-ones that made the feeling that I've made the right choice really hit home?  

"YOU SOUND RELIEVED."

I am.

If you find yourself in the aforementioned prison, just shut the books, take the key off the wall, and let yourself out.  It might not be the easiest thing you ever did, but it won't be the worst.  Certainly, I am still fresh to all of this.  But hindsight right now is 20/20.  Without the specter of all things law school looming around me, I can see clearly that I should have done this a long time ago.

If you're still not completely convinced, take a break.  My law school was surprisingly chill about me taking a leave of absence.  I did, and it gave me a great chance to really think this over.  At the very least, talk to people!  Talk to your family, friends, school administrators, counselors, financial aid office,  professors, gurus, pastors, rabbis, priests, God, therapist... whoever!  (Me?)  If you keep it all locked up, you'll only get more miserable.  

Yes, some people are capable of hating their jobs, but still being successful.  But you don't have to be one of those people.  If you've just had a bad few weeks of school, give it some time and things may very well turn around.  But if you find yourself in prison, and you find yourself reading an article like this... give it a rest already.  Take a break or quit, but don't torture yourself any longer!

Next time on How to Quit Law School:  The legal-style memo I wrote myself to analyze quitting law school.