Deciding whether to attend paralegal school or law school is not an easy task. Both have significant advantages and disadvantages, making the decision challenging. If you’re trying to decide between these two career paths, here’s some valuable information you can use to help you make your decision.
Advantages of Pursuing a Paralegal Career
Paralegal school is much more affordable than law school. In fact, many paralegals can start their careers with just three months of paralegal-specific training, provided they have the appropriate college education. Most paralegals start work with little school debt aside from the college loans most people have, compared to lawyers who graduate from law school with huge amounts of debt, often exceeding the six-figure mark.
Paralegals do not have to pass a school entrance exam. Those who take the LSAT and do not receive high enough scores to get into law school often have no choice but to enter the paralegal program, unless they want to continue taking the LSAT to improve their grades.
Paralegals also have less stress in the field than attorneys. Since they must work with a lawyer or attorney, paralegals answer to someone other than themselves for their actions. Also, working in law requires long hours. Paralegals can generally be paid overtime. This is not the case for lawyers.
Cons of a Paralegal Profession
Searching for paralegal school when you qualify for law school limits your opportunities for advancement. There is only so far you can go in the system as a paralegal. The highest you can earn in most markets is $90,000 a year.
Some people feel that the tasks assigned to paralegals are mundane and become routine over time. This takes some of the stress out, but it can also take the challenge out of the job. Paralegals typically operate in a shared office environment, which some may view as a scam for the job.
Advantages of attending law school
The two main benefits of attending law school are the unlimited career growth potential and the fact that a good lawyer has unlimited earning potential. If you are successful as a lawyer, you can grow in your profession and pursue a wide range of specialties. By starting your own business, you won’t be limited by the direction others want you to go.
A successful lawyer has many advantages. Secretarial support and help from paralegals are all benefits that leading attorneys enjoy. Lawyers often work in private offices and enjoy a wide variety of tasks throughout the day.
Cons of Law School
The main drawback to law school for many people is the tremendous cost. If your LSAT scores are high enough, you may be able to get help. However, most people end up graduating from law school with a lot of debt.
The other drawback is all the testing you will have to do. First, you’ll need high enough LSAT scores to qualify for a law school program. Once you graduate, you will need to pass the bar exam to become a lawyer. It is entirely possible for a student to complete law school and not pass the bar exam, which means that a career as a lawyer is impossible, despite the money spent on paralegal schools.
So what career path should you pursue? Only you can answer that question. If you want unlimited earning potential and feel you have the knowledge and resources to pass the rigorous tests required for law school, then look into that option. However, if you want to take the safe route, a career as a paralegal may be the best option. You now know the benefits and risks of each race, so you can make a more informed decision.
