Hi, I'm an RN, BSN thinking about law school. I'm interested because I see it as being intellectually stimulating and possibly a good career move.
I'm a little hesitant because I realize the job market in recent years for attorneys has been bad, but I'm thinking that since law school attendance is currently down, perhaps the job market would improve with fewer attorneys graduating.
I'm looking for any nurse attorneys out there who could give insight into this. Is it worth $150K in tuition and 3 years spent in school for the outcome? Those who have done it, would you do it over again? I'd appreciate any insight any one might have.
I am an RN/JD and it has worked out great for me, but I got very, very lucky. I would only recommend law school if you are a very good student, you get a high LSAT score, you can afford to go to school full-time and you can get in to a top 50 law school. I went to a top 50 school, graduated in the top 10% of my class and landed a big firm job doing health care law (regulatory and corporate stuff, not med-mal) back in 2003.
I'm a second career RN, 5 years in. I considered law school at the same time I was considering nursing. Based on the research I did at the time, I would echo what RNJD65 says about only going if you can get in a top law school, and you think you would finish near the top of you class.
RNJD65 - Thank you so much for your response! I was hoping to hear from a nurse attorney. I'm glad things worked out for you. Your path sounds difficult but rewarding. I am very fortunate to be in a position where I would be going to law school full time, if I were to do it. When I was thinking of possible career options I was thinking in-house counsel at a hospital, but it sounds like you may need experience in a big firm to get those types of jobs. Is that true? Thanks again for your response!
Most in-house counsel jobs at hospitals do require firm experience first. Whether or not that needs to be at a "big" firm depends on the hospital system, but you would certainly need to have experience doing health care law which usually requires being at a firm of at least 25 people or so. The good thing about being at a firm first is that is gives you an opportunity to network like crazy with other folks in health law, which is how you can eventually land an in-house gig. I went in-house with a hospital system that I did a lot of work for while I was in private practice. I will say my mentor is also an RN/JD and she stayed in private practice at a huge 1000+ attorney firm. She's an excellent lawyer and makes a lot of money. Like me, she was lucky to get in to a good school, do very well there then land a good job afterwards which is how she got where she is. Best of luck deciding; health care law is lots of fun and in demand if you are able to break in to it.
I am an RN/JD and it has worked out great for me, but I got very, very lucky. I would only recommend law school if you are a very good student, you get a high LSAT score, you can afford to go to school full-time and you can get in to a top 50 law school. I went to a top 50 school, graduated in the top 10% of my class and landed a big firm job doing health care law (regulatory and corporate stuff, not med-mal) back in 2003. All that was possible because I had the opportunity to do summer internships and get other experience that only a full-time student experience really allows you. I also found I tested well in law school (you just take 1 big exam at the end of each class, so it is a lot of pressure), but some of that was just luck -- many of my classmates, who are very smart and worked hard, did not test well and did not have good job prospects. I started out making almost 3x my salary as a nurse, but I worked a TON of hours and had to prove myself for 7 or 8 years. I then jumped to an in-house counsel position at a hospital system and got promoted to a VP position from there. I now make a very nice living, work reasonable hours and have an in-demand skill set, but if I had it to do over again, I would not do it because I know I got very lucky and might not have that same luck if I had to do it again. I also was able to get significant scholarship money for law school because of a strong GPA and LSAT score, so I had less than 50k in debt after law school which I was able to easily pay off in a few years.
Would you please define what you consider to be a "high LSAT score?"
My D is taking the LSAT on Saturday. Of course, yesterday she was diagnosed with strep and is pretty sick.
Would you please define what you consider to be a "high LSAT score?"
My D is taking the LSAT on Saturday. Of course, yesterday she was diagnosed with strep and is pretty sick.
When I was going through, anything at 160 or above would get your into a top 50 school. I understand there are less folks applying now, so I would bet a 158 or so might do the trick.
Good luck to your daughter; the LSAT is super stressful! I will say if she ends up feeling awful on Saturday, she might want to reschedule. They don't take your highest score, they average them if you take the test multiple times so you want to get as high as you can the first time you take it.
When I was going through, anything at 160 or above would get your into a top 50 school. I understand there are less folks applying now, so I would bet a 158 or so might do the trick.
Good luck to your daughter; the LSAT is super stressful! I will say if she ends up feeling awful on Saturday, she might want to reschedule. They don't take your highest score, they average them if you take the test multiple times so you want to get as high as you can the first time you take it.
Thanks, very helpful. She took it once and made a 158 and was devastated. She's been making 167-169 on her practice tests the past month. Hopefully, she can keep it together Saturday.
kristie778 - I received your PM but can't respond because I haven't been active enough on Allnurses. If you PM me your e-mail address I'll e-mail you a response.
kristie778 - I received your PM but can't respond because I haven't been active enough on Allnurses. If you PM me your e-mail address I'll e-mail you a response.
RNJD 65 - I got your PM. Thank you so much, that was so helpful.
When I was going through, anything at 160 or above would get your into a top 50 school. I understand there are less folks applying now, so I would bet a 158 or so might do the trick.
Good luck to your daughter; the LSAT is super stressful! I will say if she ends up feeling awful on Saturday, she might want to reschedule. They don't take your highest score, they average them if you take the test multiple times so you want to get as high as you can the first time you take it.
Horseshoe, I found a website that gives you the median LSAT scores and GPA of accepted students at various schools (and lots of other stats) Here's the link:
You should definitely go to law school if you have a passion for it. No one can make that choice for you, but yourself. I know a couple RN's who went to law school and landed great jobs here in Houston. If you decide to go to law school, make sure you have a high GPA, good recommendations, and be on the top 10% of the LSAT's. Like everything else, you have to work hard at it and have really good grades. The jobs are available at least here in Texas. The good schools are available and the pay is so much better than staying as a nurse. But ultimately it will be your decision on what to do for your future.
Specializes in Informatics, Med-Surg, Trnsplnt, HemeOnc.
I have seen many attorneys and their paralegals being laid off right and left over the last 6-7 years; I interviewed attorneys for non-legal industry temp jobs equivalent to $30K annual salary, so they were serious about getting work until their next attorney opportunity. Many moved across the country to get work.
If you want to be an attorney, find your niche; it should be well-defined and unique. Many lay-offs are intended to cull the dead wood (read: non-productive).
Skip extra education to work in the legal world as a nurse; just get started doing it. Follow the attorneys, RN attorneys and legal nurses and ask questions. Then decide which educational route to take
SC_RNDude
533 Posts
I'm a second career RN, 5 years in. I considered law school at the same time I was considering nursing. Based on the research I did at the time, I would echo what RNJD65 says about only going if you can get in a top law school, and you think you would finish near the top of you class.