| Topic Name: |
Public Interest programs |
| Message Name: |
public interest |
| Date Posted: |
10/14/2001 |
| In Reply To: |
I'm busily sorting through a stack of catalogs from schools who all claim to have a deep commitment to public interest, some offering concentrations and yet most turn out about 2-3% public sector attorneys? Aside from the obvious salary reason, is there something else I'm missing? Is this nice language for the brochure but not actually a priority for the schools to turn out public interest attorneys? I was hoping that my professional goal of public interest law would help me get into a good school but now I'm not so sure. Thanks to anyone who can offer advice. |
| Message: |
It has more to do with the students than with the school. A lot of people come into law school with interest in public interest law and change their minds. It's hard to pay back student loans on a public interest salary, and not every school has a loan forgiveness program. Plus, there is kind of a lemming mentality - the "get with the biggest, most prestigious firm possible" that starts before 2L recruiting season. It's great that you have a goal of public interest law, but law school adcoms see many, many essays that profess this goal and they know that most students will change their minds. If you are going to write about that in your personal statement, make sure your resume reflects a STRONG commitment to public interest (volunteer activites and the like).
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