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Many students are drawn to law school in pursuit of a lucrative career. Unfortunately, this can be an expensive decision with substantial debt attached.

To decide if it’s worth the investment, you should compare the cost of attending law school to the average salary earned by graduates. You can do this by calculating a school’s salary-to-debt ratio using SoFi analysis.

1. It’s an investment

Financially, law school can be a real obstacle for some. But if you can manage your debt during school and find employment after graduation, then the investment in yourself will be worthwhile.

Recent research revealed that less than one in four law graduates believed their degree was worth the financial cost. This could have been due to having too much debt to afford the salaries they hoped to receive or because they felt their education didn’t equip them with enough skillsets for successful career pursuits.

For the best law school experience, consider attending a school with experiential learning programs that enable students to apply their knowledge. These may include legal clinics, externships, and more.

In addition to providing practical learning, these experiences can also aid in building a strong resume and increasing employment prospects after graduation. By applying your education in an effective way, you will develop essential legal and business competencies that will position you for a rewarding legal career.

ONU Law offers students high-impact training through its law clinics and externships, giving them the chance to attend client meetings, write legal briefs, argue oral arguments in courtrooms, and more. When selecting a law school it’s essential that they offer experiential learning as this makes the academic process more relevant and meaningful.

Recent SoFi analysis ranked law schools based on how much more students expect to make in salary than what they owe. Brigham Young University emerged as the top school for this metric, boasting a salary-to-debt ratio of 1.7x.

Before enrolling in law school, do your due diligence and research the type of law you wish to practice, your financial situation and which schools have a great reputation for graduating lawyers. Doing this will guarantee that the experience is worthwhile.

Another factor to consider is whether the college you’re attending specializes in a particular interest or program. If you’re passionate about pursuing that major, reach out to faculty and alumni for assurance that it will meet your requirements.

2. It’s a career

A law degree is a highly sought-after credential that can distinguish you from other candidates. It also serves as an invaluable career asset, helping you secure high-paying and influential roles.

Law schools are known for their rigorous academics and demanding curriculum. Professors often employ the Socratic method, a teaching style that involves questions and discussions in class; some even require you to prepare answers prior to starting the session. While this method can be an excellent way to learn material, it can also prove overwhelming at times.

Most courses are graded primarily on exams. The exception to this rule is legal research and writing classes, which tend to emphasize homework assignments more heavily.

You must plan your time wisely and manage your workload effectively. Create a study schedule to guarantee you meet all of your objectives.

Hard workers will likely do well in law school. That is because law schools emphasize analytical and logical skills that you will use throughout your legal career.

Selecting the ideal law school is a critical decision that requires careful consideration of your personal preferences and goals. Finding the ideal fit will determine your success in school and throughout your legal career.

Your choice of law will have an immense effect on your decision. A great place to begin is researching the legal markets in various cities; Boston boasts a bustling tech sector and New York City houses some of the world’s premier financial districts. Conversely, Washington, D.C. could provide great opportunities if you wish to focus on politics and policy matters in your legal career.

It is essential to take into account your financial situation and how it may impact your ability to afford law school. This is an expensive investment, and you need to find ways of paying it back over the course of your legal career.

Another thing to consider when making your decision about law school is your mental health. If you are feeling stressed out, overwhelmed, or depressed, law school may not be the right fit for you. The opportunity cost of three years in school is too great and prolonged periods of stress or negative feedback (like receiving an unfavorable response to a cold-call question in front of several dozen classmates) can have detrimental effects on your mental wellbeing.

3. It’s a challenge

One of the greatest challenges law school presents is its steep learning curve. You will be expected to read cases, hornbook chapters and class lectures at an impressively fast rate in order to absorb material. This knowledge should then be stored in long-term memory so you can access it days, weeks, months or even years after learning its rules for reference.

This challenge can be difficult to overcome. The only way to succeed in law school is through persistence and diligence in your study efforts. To stay organized, plan out your time efficiently, break projects into manageable pieces, and set achievable objectives.

Another way to help you stay focused is creating a schedule that accommodates both your legal classes and work hours. Additionally, talk with your employer about taking off time during the semester and make sure there are no unnecessary restrictions on your educational pursuits.

Though it may be challenging to stay on top of your law school coursework, your efforts will be rewarded with a competitive job market and the potential for higher earnings. Studies have indicated that those with law degrees experience faster growth in earnings compared to those without degrees, particularly later in life.

By specializing in one area of law, you can open up a world of possibilities for yourself. For instance, you could focus on immigration law, intellectual property law or civil litigation.

Your specialized knowledge and skills will enable you to add value in the workplace, leading to higher pay and benefits. Furthermore, law schools typically provide career resources that can help secure a job after graduation.

Though law school offers many advantages, there are also some potential drawbacks. One major downside is that students often make decisions they wouldn’t have made prior to entering the profession which may lead to harm in other ways. Although this can be an exciting opportunity for change, consider how your choices will impact yourself and others before making them.

4. It’s a lifelong learning experience

Law school can be a time of commitment, but also provides an invaluable chance to form meaningful connections with professors and classmates. Peer relationships can open doors for you to potential employers, internships and full-time employment after graduation. Furthermore, they may give you access to career development opportunities such as pro bono work or summer fellowships that otherwise wouldn’t be available to you.

Your first year of law school will consist of core courses covering foundational topics like contracts, torts, civil procedure, constitutional law and legal writing. These topics will be explored using a case method approach which involves reading numerous judicial opinions that provide explanations behind legal decisions.

In addition to these courses, most law schools provide various opportunities for experiential learning that can give you valuable real-world experience before ever entering a courtroom. These may include clerkships, internships, summer fellowships and moot court exercises.

The first year of law school can be an intense time, and many students struggle to adjust to the fast-paced environment. To stay on top of your coursework, create comprehensive outlines and join study groups for support.

If you’re having difficulty comprehending the material, reaching out to professors and other law students can be beneficial. They can offer helpful insights and outlines that can help you better comprehend the materials.

Additionally, you should take advantage of any resources offered by your law school such as Themis Bar Review’s free Law School Essentials program. It provides comprehensive review materials, issue-specific lectures and assessment questions to assist you during the first year of law school.

Due to the ever-evolving practice of law, it’s essential for lawyers to stay abreast of current developments in their field. Doing so exposes you daily to new ideas and perspectives which can make you a more knowledgeable and innovative attorney.