Legal Study in Business

[tloonya]

Hey!
Kid just asked me what do I think if she takes Legal Study in Business. She says she read 'its unique way to law school' - that I didn't understand.

What is your opinion on this one please?
Like I said she is a good public speaker. Social. Likes to be center of attention and not shy to tell her opinion.

Thanks

[Colleenz]

Your business surely represents a case to study. It could even be her thesis!

[susanb]

If your daughter is interested in law school, she doesn't need to find a "unique way" in. A 4 year degree, high GPA and high LSAT scores will open that door. What she needs to consider is a unique way out of law school (as in her exit/employment strategy after graduating). Employment for law school graduates is pretty bleak right now.

[Deleted]

What is it?

[midjd]

Nov 5, 2012 13:34:59 GMT -5 susanb said:

If your daughter is interested in law school, she doesn't need to find a "unique way" in. A 4 year degree, high GPA and high LSAT scores will open that door. What she needs to consider is a unique way out of law school (as in her exit/employment strategy after graduating). Employment for law school graduates is pretty bleak right now.

Law schools really couldn't care less what classes you took or even what your major was... and unless you have zero foundation in civics/government, there aren't many high school or undergraduate classes you can take that will give you a huge leg up in law school.

[hoops902]

::Law schools really couldn't care less what classes you took or even what your major was::

This has been my experience too...so given that...doesn't it make much more sense to take a "unique way to law school" rather than go pre-law or something? Then if you decide not to pursue law school, you've got a different degree which might better suit your needs for the kind of job you want.

The traditional way in would be pre-law, or something similar. I would think a "unique way" would offer a lot more alternatives if law school doesn't pan out given the thought process that they don't care what your major was.

[midjd]

This has been my experience too...so given that...doesn't it make much more sense to take a "unique way to law school" rather than go pre-law or something? Then if you decide not to pursue law school, you've got a different degree which might better suit your needs for the kind of job you want.

The traditional way in would be pre-law, or something similar. I would think a "unique way" would offer a lot more alternatives if law school doesn't pan out given the thought process that they don't care what your major was.

I would think a "unique way" to law school would be a major in Biology, or some STEM field, or maybe business. The class Tloony described in her OP sounds like a single course, not a program - and if that's the case, one course isn't going to make an iota of difference in the admission process.

I was an English/Soc major and we were a dime a dozen in law school (along with PoliSci majors). A few of my classmates had degrees in accounting and went on to do tax law (which sounds horrific to me, but they were a lot more employable than most of us), and a couple had backgrounds in nursing, which also seemed to help them gain some traction. I think a business or marketing degree would be useful to anyone who had any desire to go into business for him or herself at some point.

[hoops902]

::I would think a "unique way" to law school would be a major in Biology, or some STEM field, or maybe business. The class Tloony described in her OP sounds like a single course, not a program - and if that's the case, one course isn't going to make an iota of difference in the admission process.::

True, I guess I read into it that it MUST mean a program of study as opposed to just one class, because one class wouldn't make any sense to make a difference.

Loony - let's start with this, what's her major?

[swamp]

I went to law school with a nurse, she now does Medical Malpractice plaintiff's cases. I also went to school with a couple of engineers, they do patent law.

A biology major now does healthcare law.

It doesn't make a bit of difference what you major in if you want to go to law school.

[tloonya]

Nov 5, 2012 13:34:59 GMT -5 susanb said:

If your daughter is interested in law school, she doesn't need to find a "unique way" in. A 4 year degree, high GPA and high LSAT scores will open that door. What she needs to consider is a unique way out of law school (as in her exit/employment strategy after graduating). Employment for law school graduates is pretty bleak right now.

But wouldn't that course give her an idea about what's law really is and how much she likes it/hates it?
And wouldn't this course benefit her in future just because she took it?
Or putting it differently - which course would be better? Any that gives you ALL?

[hoops902]

::But wouldn't that course give her an idea about what's law really is and how much she likes it/hates it?::

Probably not. I've taken several Business Law classes. It's a basis in law, but probably not a good indication of what practicing law is.

::And wouldn't this course benefit her in future just because she took it? ::

For general purposes, yes probably. But it probably doesn't do a lot for law school. But most courses will benefit someone in the future if they are about broad topics that most people should know (like basic business law).

[swamp]

Nov 5, 2012 14:52:23 GMT -5 tloonya said:

Nov 5, 2012 13:34:59 GMT -5 susanb said:

If your daughter is interested in law school, she doesn't need to find a "unique way" in. A 4 year degree, high GPA and high LSAT scores will open that door. What she needs to consider is a unique way out of law school (as in her exit/employment strategy after graduating). Employment for law school graduates is pretty bleak right now.

But wouldn't that course give her an idea about what's law really is and how much she likes it/hates it?
And wouldn't this course benefit her in future just because she took it?
Or putting it differently - which course would be better? Any that gives you ALL?

No. Law classes, college or law school are nothing like practicing law. To find out if she wants to practice law, she should probably intern at a law firm.

[midjd]

But wouldn't that course give her an idea about what's law really is and how much she likes it/hates it?

The best way to see what the practice of law is really like is to shadow a practicing attorney (or if that's not possible, work as receptionist/clerk in a law office).

A lot of people make it halfway through law school before realizing they really don't want to be an attorney. Problem is, at that point, the time/money investment is too great to turn back.

I don't think a college-level business law course is going to give you much benefit in law school. Law school (and 'lawyering' in general) is much less about knowing the actual laws than it is about knowing how to apply the laws to specific facts and learning how to research. You're not going to get that in an introductory college class.

[swamp]

Lawyering is knowing how to tell people how those facts they've given you and applying to the laws as they exist will affect them.

Sometimes I feel like a social worker.

[tloonya]

Nov 5, 2012 15:04:22 GMT -5 swamp said:

Lawyering is knowing how to tell people how those facts they've given you and applying to the laws as they exist will affect them.

Sometimes I feel like a social worker.

So you would tell your child to nevermind it?

[swamp]

I would never tell my kid whether to take or not take a class. I would try to discourage them from going to law school

[hoops902]

Nov 5, 2012 17:39:00 GMT -5 swamp said:

I would never tell my kid whether to take or not take a class. I would try to discourage them from going to law school

I would insert medical school into that conversation also. After all, every stripper I've ever seen has been dancing to get through medical or law school. Do you want your kid to be a stripper?