US Law Essentials

Thanks, I think you’re asking several different questions.  Here are some thoughts:

First, should you go to law school?  Only if you really want to be a lawyer.  Think about this for a bit.  Many lawyers in the United States are not happy.  They might not have known what their jobs would involve before they became lawyers.  Do you have any friends or relatives in South Korea who are lawyers?  Will they let you visit them in their offices?  Maybe that will give you a better idea about whether you should be a lawyer or not.  Please don’t misunderstand me.  If you want to be a lawyer I think that is terrific.  For many people it is a challenging and rewarding profession.  Please just consider a bit whether the profession is for you and try to gather some information before making your decision.

Next, if you decide you want to go to law school, where do you want to go?  Have you considered the possibility of attending a law school in a country other than the United States?  It might be less expensive.  Again, please don’t misunderstand me.  Many law schools in the United States are excellent.   The environment can be terrific.  But the world is a big place.  Let’s say your Aunt and Uncle live in England.  Maybe you should think about attending a school in England?

But let’s say you want to try to make a career oriented around the US and US law.  Once you have your heart set on the United States please consider the following.  The job market for US lawyers right now is horrible.  I’m sorry to discuss this sad news but many people who graduate from US law schools have trouble finding work.  There are statistics available on which schools are the best for job placement.  If you want a school that will enable you to get a job almost anywhere, you have to go to one of the best law schools.  And you have to graduate near the top of your class.  This means you have to score very high on your LSAT and to be ready to excel in law school.

Some lower ranked schools are fine for getting employed locally.  But let’s say you are looking to get into a top-ranked firm in a major city doing international work so that you can use your Korean language abilities.  I believe that you will almost certainly need to get into a top school and perform well.   

US-trained lawyers from South Korea might be in greater demand over the next few years as US firms move in.  My guess is that you will still want to make sure you attend a top school because the competition will probably be fierce. 

Should you go to a South Korean law school?  I’m a little hesitant on this one.  What are employment statistics like for graduates?

I hope I don't sound too negative.  Let me know what you think and if others want to chime in, I would appreciate other thoughts.