It has recently come to my attention that everyone is getting married (quite scary, really). I'll have to chalk up this phenomenon to summer associate salaries. After a few weeks of this massive cash influx (with a little outflow devoted to large-screen televisions, video games, and stereos), it seems that most of the boys have found a little room in their bank accounts to pick up a nice little diamond on the side. Of course, it's easier for the involved parties to get hitched right after the bar exam, before work starts -- wouldn't want a little thing like a honeymoon interfering with that firm job!
But this post is decidedly not about the mating habits of law students (which are, in general, quite pitiful). It's about money. Serious wads of cash. The moolah. The stuff that buys the serious bling-bling. The filthy lucre that enables lawyers to engage in ridiculously lavish lifestyles. Or at least pay off their student loans.
Indeed, it seems that I have some loans to pay off, to around the tune of one hundred thousand dollars. That kind of money is just more than I can really think about. (I discovered recently that any amount over about $3,500 is all the same to me. Don't ask.) This situation might have been ameliorated somewhat if I had worked as a summer associate this year, but for a variety of reasons, I did not. Now, as fall recruiting is starting to gear up (well, I've been revising my resume, which counts in my book), I am suddenly struck with the realization that I have never had a real job. And certainly, I've never had any real money. Not that I need a particularly large amount, mind you, but a certain flexibility would be awfully nice. And so would paying off those loans. I've watched my best friend struggle to keep up with oodles of loans on a beggar's salary. She and I both know she'll have to suffer this ordeal for the next twenty years or so, and I'm not sure if it's something I'm prepared to do. After my experience this summer (that is, all of my friends buying nice new toys and women), I'd like to live it up, too, if only for a little while. Hell, even high school students are doing better than I am (scroll down).* That's just not right.
So, I suppose my disillusionment has reached a new level. Or I am disillusioned with my disillusionment. Or I misunderestimated my disillusionment. I'm not really sure, and I don't think it matters too much. It's time for me to stop pretending that I'll be a student for the rest of my life and move on. (Besides, students don't get secretaries, which I desperately need.) I haven't quite figured out what exactly what route I'm going to take, but I think it might be a little different than I had originally planned. So, stay tuned for Alice's wild ride through job-hunting hell. It'll be interesting, if nothing else!
* I find this singularly disgusting. High school kids are getting paid more than I am to do office work or some such stuff while I much through theoretical garbage on a daily basis. I don't begrudge these students the money. I should get paid more. They have no degrees. I have almost two.
once again, amen sistah.
having just finished my undergrad career and facing mountains of loans and the prospect of getting a job while still considering attending law school, i think about a few things.
a)my roommate is making more money at a retail game store than i will be at an internship for a magazine (the only work i can find so far).
b)i like the idea of going to law school. i dont like the idea of how much it costs. i like the idea of making money as a lawyer to pay back all these loans and having a comfortable lifestyle. i dont like the idea of selling my soul to a firm to the tune of 80 hours a week. i like the idea of becoming a lawyer to do something worthwhile in the world. i dont like that you dont get paid much to do the truly worthwhile things.
anyway, im glad there are blogs of people a couple years ahead of me in their academic careers so i can watch them flounder through such madness before i figure out what the hell im going to do.
good luck :)
Posted by: eric on July 1, 2003 03:04 PMboy, am i glad my girlfriend didn't read this post...
Posted by: mr. pizzle on July 1, 2003 08:09 PMDo try to find something that you'll find rewarding, especially if you're going to be spending a lot of time at it, and pay attention to your gut feelings. That's really general advice, but it's good advice.
I'm feeling that pain. My loans are smaller -- $60,000 or so if you count the bar study loan and don't count my car loan. Still, paying everything on its longest available payment schedule, I have to cough up about $600 a month in debt service, and I ain't making the big bucks.
Ah, but I could go on about this for a while.
Posted by: tph on July 2, 2003 12:30 AMOh dear.
I wish you'd told me the mating habits of law students were quite pitiful before I signed on, I might not have.
I'm looking at how to finance the $150K or so it's going to take me to get through law school. (My parents have no money to support me, but enough assets that I'll never get need-based aid.) It doesn't seem so scary now. I think, though, that it's less scary if you've already had a job and financed debt with it before entering into law school. Near as I can tell, it's the best investment I can make.
At least, if I'm wrong, let me live with the illusion a little longer. :)
Posted by: A. R. on July 2, 2003 05:44 PMDon't worry, although it seems like 100K is a lot to pay off, with careful planning, and a decent spouse - you too will be able to drive a used jaguar...
When I get worried (and I worry b/c I left a good job to go to law school and have come to realize that I will be lucky to make what I made before when I am through w/law school) I remind myself that I have ten years to pay off my student loans and that the military is always hiring...
Only chumps go to law school with a view towards making a lot of money. But don't worry, you'll do all right. All that debt seems daunting, but remember, it's a long career. You have probably never done anything for more than five years. You can say, "school", but yopu know full well that undergrad is quite different from law school. And have you noticed how much faster your life seems to be moving? Trust me, it doesn't slow down. Your loans will be paid off, and you will be on your third or fourth career track before you realize what happened.
Just remember to enjoy the ride.
Posted by: Bill Altreuter on July 3, 2003 04:56 PMHas anybody for whom it is not too late considered a public law school? I'm about to attend one here in the San Francisco and my first semester bill is 5K.
Posted by: Tbone on July 18, 2003 06:05 PMi'm doing a project for school and i was wondering what does it take to become a lawyer, and how much do they get paied every year? if you could answer these questions for me i will be very happy. thankyou,danielle
Posted by: danielle on August 9, 2003 03:39 PM
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