Common Myths About Going to Law School Debunked

Here at S. Montgomery Admissions Consulting, I believe in increasing access to law school for students across race, gender, and socioeconomic status. I have compiled a list of the most common perceived roadblocks students have when thinking about the law school process, and have debunked these negative myths below.

I don’t like political science, politics, or government, so I can’t become a lawyer.

There are plenty of very successful law school graduates who aren’t interested in political science, politics, or government as it is traditionally thought of. While many well-meaning relatives and mentors may tell you that majoring in political science is the best way to get into law school, political science majors make up only about one-fifth of all law school applicants. There are many different kinds of law and lawyers. Many areas of law (such as family law, elder law, bankruptcy law, trusts and estates, child welfare, and personal injury law) focus on direct services representation and may be a good choice if political science, politics, or government doesn’t immediately peak your interest.

My high school grades aren’t good enough to “make it” as a lawyer.

Law school admissions officers care about your journey and your growth. Just because your high school grades aren’t as good as you would like them to be, does not mean that law school is out of the question for your future. Your high school grades are important (and they are one of the most important factors) for college admissions. Perhaps your GPA has impacted your ability to get into the top colleges that you want. That’s okay! All hope is not lost. Take it as an opportunity to apply yourself and work hard in the college that you end up enrolling in. Take advantage of career advising offered at your school, seek out internships, make connections with professors, and of course, do well on your LSATs. If you apply yourself and succeed in college, that will make a big difference in law school admissions.

I can’t get into a good law school if I start at a community college.

Perhaps your GPA is such that attending a community college is the right next step for you, or maybe it is the best decision for you and your family financially. There are many reasons for why community college is the right choice for some students. Starting at a community college, however, does not doom your law school chances. Apply yourself and be successful in your community college so that you can transfer to a strong four-year program. Perhaps your journey and growth will become part of your diversity essay or optional supplement essay in your law school application. There is no one right path to law school, everyone’s journey is unique.

I have to know what kind of law I want to practice before I can apply to law school.

There are many different kinds of law. Admiralty, child welfare, family, taxation, education, trusts and estates, First Amendment, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property, bankruptcy, elder, criminal, civil rights, entertainment, health, environmental, immigration, disabilities, international, employment, personal injury, military, real estate, and so much more. The point is, nobody expects you to go into law school knowing exactly what you want to practice. Much in the same way that many students change their intended major once they go to college, many students change their mind about what kind of law they want to practice. What’s more, many practicing lawyers will switch fields at some point in their legal career. What law school admissions cares about is that you can convey a compelling reason why you want to go to law school in your personal statement.

I don’t come from money, so I can’t become a lawyer.

As stated above, there are many paths to law school. It is important that lawyers represent a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds, because our clients will represent the complete range as well. As a first-generation, low-income student at Harvard Law School, I can tell you that there were many other students of similar backgrounds at Harvard, and you will likely find first-generational, low-income students at every law school in this country. I am heartened by stories such as the one published this week about the Stockton native gaining acceptance at Harvard Law School despite being previously arrested and serving time at a juvenile detention center. What’s more, there are programs such as the SEO Law Fellowship that helps students of color thrive, setting them up at a law firm the summer before they begin law school, and kick starting their legal career.

I have to study “pre-law” if I want to go to a good law school.

You can major in virtually anything and go to law school. There is no set curriculum you need to study to prepare you for law school. In fact, “pre-law” is not an actual major and mostly refers to the fact that law schools like to see strong reading, writing, and critical thinking, but those can be demonstrated through a variety of upper-level courses and curriculum. While there is no set academic coursework, pre-law societies at many schools can be valuable resources for LSAT tutoring and tips, speaker series, as well as law school application, interview, and resume advice.

I’m interested in the sciences or STEM fields, so I can’t be a lawyer.

Law schools are actually increasingly recruiting students from STEM majors into the field of law. With the growth of technology comes a growing need for lawyers who understand the technical intricacies of these products and services. Your personal statement is a great place to tell your story about why you want to go to law school and how you will leverage your STEM degree. Engineering and chemistry backgrounds can be great assets for patent and intellectual property law!

The Patent Bar is required if you want to be registered as patent attorney. Only patent attorneys are qualified to represent clients in preparing, filing or prosecuting patent applications. To take the patent bar exam, you have to prove that you "possess the scientific and technical training necessary to provide valuable service to patent applicants," and have a bachelor's degree in a "recognized technical subject," including studies in chemistry, biology, computer science, engineering, or physics.

I want to go to medical school (or any other professional school), so I can’t be a lawyer.

There are a number of dual degree programs available in law school. While a JD/MBA or JD/PhD might be more common, a JD/MD is a very valuable degree. Vanderbilt Law School states that their JD/MD students “work at the intersection of medicine, public policy, and ethics.” Having a JD/MD can be useful to those wishing to practice more academic medicine while focusing on the ethics and the law in primary practice. Prospective medical students who see themselves wanting to work in health care policy or who are passionate about patient advocacy would also benefit from considering a joint degree.

No matter your background, S. Montgomery Admissions Consulting can help you turn your law school dreams into a reality. Sign up for a free consultation today: www.smontgomeryconsulting.com/consultation