Trying to gain some information.

[sanantone]

Given your background and implied desire to test out as much as possible, you may want to look at either the BSBA in Computer Information Systems or General Management instead of a BS in Criminal Justice, which may not be one of the better majors for law school admissions.

I absolutely agree with this. Criminology, criminal justice, and pre-law students perform the worst on the LSAT. Math, physics, philosophy, and economics students perform the best. I don't know if this has more to do with the intelligence of the people who choose these programs or the fact that law requires strong analytical skills that usually aren't developed in criminal justice programs. CJ requires more rote memorization than analysis.

Well at the risk of adding salt to the wound or lightening to the rain (to stay on metaphor), I am a Paralegal and I will tell you that my greatest competition for jobs these days is ...attorneys. Go figure. Firms love them because they bring the benefit of their extensive Juris Doctorate preparation and the priceless expertise of their legal experience prior to being unemployed and desperate. No matter how impressive my little Paralegal resume may be, I assure you the employer will choose the attorney over the paralegal- they feel they're getting more employee for the money. The irony is, most attorneys are clueless about legal clerical tasks. Typically, a paralegal has done all the research and interviewing and prepared all the docs for them. :-) Go on any paralegal chat board and you will find this is currently the biggest lament: competing with attorneys for insultingly low wage jobs- the new normal. Having said that, I'm constantly amazed at how unimaginative JD graduates are in their job search. Lawyers don't have to practice law. In fact, they become far more attractive to employers when they bring their expertise to new, less traditional arenas. If you want to study law, I would suggest the following:

Find your job FIRST.
Armed w/ company info, seek your position aggressively and deliberately.
Identify and research several prospect companies.
Be prepared to volunteer for 5 or more hours a week.
Give the employer your 3/5-yr plan and enlist him/her in your future- ask if they will mentor you.
Ask if they will consider you for an internship once you've complete your first year.
Show your worth before you ask for wages

Forget the old way of doing busines- it's a new day.

If you really want to be an attorney, consider spending 6mos to take a self paced/DL paralegal program - this offers you the benefit of an introduction, and basic exposure to research and terminology. It also allows you to identify your legal strengths and to speak more knowledgeably about what value you will bring to the table. Your preliminary legal study also sends a strong message to the employer about your intent and level of commitment. Most of the unemployed recent graduates either failed to secure an internship while they were in school or worse, failed to impress their employer once they secured the internship.

Law is fascinating and fun. I backed into it from real estate. I cared less for the intricate stories about people's escapades and affairs, but I was endlessly intrigued by the history of the various plots of land. But I digress...

I would say don't be afraid to do what you genuinely desire, just be wise- set yourself up to win. Begin with the end in mind and within clear view. Then make a bee line in that direction and you're far more likely to hit your mark.

That said, free advice is worth what you pay for it, so all the best to you whatever you choose! :-)

The legal field is oversaturated with lawyers, so that is why some of them have to settle for paralegal jobs. You are right in that lawyers don't have to practice law and need to think outside the box. Some companies might desire someone in their human resources departments with strong legal knowledge. Many of the federal law enforcement agencies highly desire law school graduates.

[frankiebleyes]

Why bother with the criminal justice bachelor's? Locally here in Tennessee you can have a decree in any field and do well on the LSAT and get into law school. BSLA in English particularly seem to get admitted quickly. As far as job search after becoming a lawyer, well, there are as many fields as there are types of law. Corporate real estate, taxation and estate work, one that will be particularly needed in the future for us baby boomers will be estate lawyers (with a good understanding of tax consequences for our children and help in getting medical care) without losing all legal possessions we have accummulated.

I have been a nurse, a paralegal and several other things in my career. I enjoyed the law immensely and wished I had completed law school at an early age. My love was social work and I would have enjoyed working with the poor (not criminal), but poor in domestic situations, etc. To each their own. Money comes and it goes not everyone looks for the big paycheck and I wasn't one of those. Not to say it wouldn't have been nice, but I don't regret my life and I did enjoy the diversity of the work that I performed over the years. I particularly enjoyed accounting and tax law (read it like others read fiction books). Missed my calling, so wish you well in your endeavor. My advice pick out the law school you want to attend, study for the LSAT and get the quickest bachelor's you can obtain (with a gpa attached).

Best of luck in your future. Signed just another old foggy.

[Lindagerr]

I agree with most of the above, mostly be sure you will enjoy practicing law or a related field before going to law school. I say this to anyone going into any field be sure you like it before you buy it. I have known teachers who hated teaching and only realized it after it was to late to change programs, nurses who hated nursing and so on. Try volunteering a low paying job or any way you can "try out" the job 1st. My Father-in-law was a brilliant man who went to law school later in life. He did very well, passed the bar in NY, but never practiced law. He did very well in a HR department with disability and related work.

That being said if you are sure this is what you want, look into law schools requirements, some require a minimum number of graded credits. Make sure you can knock the LSATs out of the park and go for it.

Just the 2cents of another old fuddy duddy

[nflight]

Frankie Bleyes you are not an old foggy.
Linda Gerr, you are not an old fuddy duddy.
LaterBloomer, you ARE a ray of sunshune.
And Cookderosa, you are a kind and gentle giver.

I still marvel at this wellspring of information- this site is golden and you guys are great.

So.... :leaving: