Author Deborah Schneider spent $90,000 on law school, only to discover she didn't want to be a lawyer.
Now, Schneider is determined to make sure others don't make the same mistake.
She discussed and signed a book she co-wrote, Should You Really Be a Lawyer? The Guide to Smart Career Choices Before, During & After Law School at the Penn Bookstore yesterday.
Among those in attendance were prospective and current law students and career advisers, among others.
An avid writer, Schneider was told as a child that she would make a good lawyer. But after three years of law school at Washington University and experience in the field, she knew that there were other careers she would enjoy more. She now works as a consultant and lecturer in the San Francisco area and frequently counsels people on the decision to pursue law.
Schneider talked about how at law school, many students think, "I don't want to get my MBA, I'm not good at math, I cringe at the sight of blood, so I don't want to be a doctor -- so all that's left is law."
Law should never just be "the next logical step," Schneider added.
So, how do you decide if you really want to be a lawyer? According to Schneider, it is crucial to talk to lawyers.
"I've met people who haven't spent two minutes talking to a lawyer," Schneider said.
If a student is still interested in law after speaking with a lawyer, Schneider suggested looking into "practice settings" -- such as private law firms, government organizations or corporations -- and "practice areas" such as tax, sports law and litigation.
The next step is to participate in hands-on work experience in a legal field of interest as an undergraduate. This is an essential element that 80 percent of students neglect to do before attending law school, Schneider said.
Only then can a person really have a good reason for going to law school, according to Schneider.
Schneider explained how she had the opportunity to shadow a lawyer while she was an undergraduate at the University of Michigan, but decided to take a road trip with her boyfriend instead. "Then," she said, "I went into law school unprepared."
Those in attendance took Schneider's advice to heart.
Jennifer Petrina, a 25-year-old Drexel University MBA student currently on leave, said, "I realize I don't want to be an MBA. ... I feel like I have a passion to fight for other people and women's rights. ... I want to make sure I go to law school for the right reason. ... This has inspired me to do my research before deciding on law school."
