As we get closer to May, many upperclassmen are forced to start thinking ahead to post-undergrad life. A lucky few of us will find jobs in our fields, and some will struggle to find any employment. Others will move on to do some kind of postgraduate study, and law school is a popular choice among that crowd. But is law school really worth it?
The facts are pretty clear. Today, only 55 percent of law school graduates are able to find a job as a lawyer within nine months of graduation. This means that if you are just an average law student, you might not be able to find employment. That number isn’t so low that you shouldn’t consider law school, but it is definitely low enough for you to think twice.
Law school also costs an enormous amount of money. For a nonresident, USC’s School of Law costs a whopping $43,000 per year, and many other law schools have even higher tuitions. Many lawyers make enough to eventually pay those costs back, but if you are one of the 45 percent unable to find high-caliber work, then you will be in serious trouble. Even Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has stated he didn’t pay back all of his loans until his third term on the court.
Plenty of students can afford it through scholarships or other means, and others can take out loans and be lucky enough to land jobs. But if you’re like the rest of us, save yourself the trouble and stay away from law school.