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should i go to law school? what would you do?

so I'm in a serious dilemma, i have an offer from a top law school and a masters in public policy with a co-op option. Law school will command three more years of school one year of bar/articles before any money can be made. It will also put me in a debt of over 130 thousand dollars, not to mention my undergraduate debt which i already have. however, it would mean i am following my dreams, and will in the end have a prestigious if not too lucrative and powerful career. the masters in public policy will result in a comfortable government job, 9-5 work with a stable salary range of over 60-68 thousand dollars and is only a one year course followed by another year dedicated to co-op. My debt would only be roughly 20, 000 dollars for this program. this will give me a stable, and comfortable career with a good work-life balance, not necessarily glamorous or very lucrative. what would you pick?

Public Comments

1. follow your dream, its the best way to be happy.
2. I dont know what university it is but, that does not matter. If you want to go to law school then go- who gives a fig about that money. Do you know how many kids turn down their dreams because of money? many. So do not be one of those people. You have an oppertunity so seize it. Carpe Deiem - seize the day as the hindu's say.
3. Are you aware that if you graduate at the top of your class at a top law firm you can step into a biglaw associate position starting at about $165,000 a year + bonus? Not too lucrative? Not bad for most people! And believe me, as a first year you don't know nothin. $185,000ish for knowing nothing? Biglaw won't be 9 - 5, and it may not be stable (but in reality, very stable if you work hard), but then, neither are government jobs now. Maybe you can live comfortably on $70,000 where you are, so I take it you're in a small town or in the boonies? You know your situation and maybe how you want to live in the future, so let that help you decide. Write it all out, see it on paper. You can always work for a smaller firm, but the pay will be much less, and really, there isn't much difference in the hours in the end, especially with the difference in pay. In house is another option, and tends to be 9 - 5ish, but again, the pay is lower even at the biggest corporations, and there really isn't much room for advancement unless you are very aggressive and have other aspirations, like an attorney who really wants to produce working in-house at a studio. If you intend to be an attorney, you must be an excellent writer and have a good knowledge of history, literature, etc. It's really important that your work be clear, concise and readable for the judge (clerk). You must love to write, because even trial attorneys spend a lot of the day writing writing writing. What type of attorney would you be? Litigation or transactional? In which field? Just some stuff to think about. But remember, even the fields that might sound boring (health care, big time insurance - not small time, doesn't pay well) may actually be more interesting than you think. While the fields that sound fun and glamorous, like entertainment or IP, tend to be major pains in your bum. Me, I'd definitely go the biglaw route, but then, that is just me. In the end it brings much more freedom, once you're a senior associate or partner you can figure out your own hours (long as they may be), show up to all of your kids' stuff, take days off to chaperone field trips, etc. But one needs the right personality for it. Good luck with your decision!