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Law school after military - getting into law school after military
A military background before law school surely adds more points to law school application. Law schools look favorably at veterans. Law school admissions staff usually thinks that military background helps to succeed in law school and as an attorney.
Plus, such experience may add more points to future job applications and opens doors otherwise closed for people without military experience. For example, law school grads who want to join the FBI, DEA, and other federal government services are more likely to get in if they served in the military, were on active duty and in combat. That means – good employment statistics for law schools. Do not hide your military background.
Therefore, you absolutely should capitalize on that experience in your admission paperwork – resume and/or personal statement (essay). It does not mean you can slack on LSAT – make sure you drill LSAT prep as good as if it were a boot camp, and then pass LSAT with flying colors. And, everyone says that you should avoid military jargon in your application paperwork and in law school.
In my experience, most of the ex-military types were doing well in law school. Discipline and usually lack of bad habits (no drugs) helped them to study well and obtain good grades. A couple of my professors were ex-military too.
Military experience may increase your chances to get into a top school.
Law school for veterans - law school after military retirement
When you are in, law school often treats veterans with little more respect. Often, law schools also have military clubs, where ex-military now law students help each other. In fact, two groups whose members helped me the most in law school by giving outlines and providing valuable advice were ex-military law students and LGBT, although I do not belong to either group. Just saying as an appreciation.
If you were accepted in law school and you intend to attend it – make sure to go to their military club or organization right away, even before the start of the first school year. It will do you plenty of good because they are likely to help to prepare to hit the ground running from day one.
Some veterans spend their GI bill on law school. I don’t know if this is a good idea or not. Maybe it is. I would rather spend it on real estate, but that is my thing. You must decide for yourself. On the other hand, I think the GI bill has limitations like you can spend it only on in-state tuition, or it has an annual cap – please correct me if I am wrong. If you spend your GI bill on education, make sure you choose the area well and fully commit to studying and finding a job.
I am not going to elaborate on the differences in law school after navy or law school after the army, but I have seen both types of veterans succeed as attorneys. Take it with the grain of salt. One of the former military guys in my class dropped out after the first semester of 1L. I did not ask why but reasons are probably low exam GPA and/or lack of interest in continuing law school.
So, going to law school after the military is easier for the reasons above. After you graduate, pass the bar, your military background will kick in as leverage in the job application process. You have two choices – government or private. So, make sure you aim as high as possible.
Either try to get into top law firms if you made the grades and LAST score for it, or join some good federal government service after graduation. Because your first job will be a major stepping stone for your future career – the higher you jump initially, the higher you will go in your career.
Most of the advice applicable to ex-military also applies to ex-law enforcement personnel, and the opposite is true. So, keep on reading.
Military-friendly law schools
This topic is not so clear cut as you may think. Here is a deal. In the US Midwest and South, some schools are actively accepting ex-military and they have military clubs, groups, and other perks. Some large coastal and large city schools also actively attract the military. But I can tell you from my personal experience, that your political orientation may matter.
For example, my law school – Rutgers School of Law – was quite liberal-oriented overall.
At least, that is what I think of it. Other very liberal schools include Berkeley, Stanford and more. Some ex-military and naturally have very conservative political views which may not be met too warmly in some law schools, where many law students come to law school with illusions about this world.
So, for you folks – just get mentally ready that you may need to put some extra effort to fit in. In the Midwest and southern law schools, things seem to be easier for students with conservative views, from what I have seen. This is not critical, but the important point for you to remember because you will need to build connections and professional networks while in law school – you probably want to hang out with like-minded people, right? If you are not a staunch supporter of any political spectrum then it does not matter.
Some schools go out of their way to welcome people from service. University of Chicago, Georgetown, Florida Coastal University law schools have veteran’s centers, societies, clubs, even dedicated staff to help such students. University of Sandford school of law, Texas university law school, also have special services for ex-military law students.
This is off-topic, but the American Bar Association has a military help center where veterans can obtain legal help.
Law school after law enforcement
It is worth noting that law degree plus attorney license can open new doors for law enforcement professionals – police officers, correctional officers, etc. Law degree with law enforcement may open doors for working in the federal government, including FBI, DEA, ATF, Department of Justice generally, and other such federal agencies. District attorney’s office is also a place where new attorneys with policing experience can apply for the Honors program. State prosecutor career is also an option with a law enforcement background as well as state investigative agencies, which also may offer good salary and benefits.
I had a classmate in law school who was a seasoned highway patrol officer before he decided to obtain a law degree. Not only he was bench-pressing something like 420 pounds, but he was also very disciplined and worried about his grades in the first semester. Then he got into the top 10% of the class and probably did not worry as much anymore. I don’t know which career he took after law school, but I am sure that he succeeded in his professional endeavors.
Now, it is important to note that it will be impossible to work full time in law enforcement and attend law school. Therefore, you have two choices: either drop out of law enforcement and go to law school full time throwing all your time and energy into studying, or you can try to do evening part-time JD program at the law school which offers it. You will probably have to cut down your work hours, in either case, to keep up with school assignments and preparation for exams.
Police officers who become lawyers
There was a story about New York cop who went to Harvard School of Law. He should have graduated by now. So, do not shy away from applying to top schools. I guess that admission officers know that you may come back to law enforcement if anything, therefore, you will be able to get employment after graduation helping law school stats.
On the other hand, you may move into fields like national security, for example.
Maybe even the State Department or CIA or NSA, especially, if you speak some foreign language or two. There is nothing wrong with dreaming as long as you put some logical analysis and factual reasoning behind those dreams.
By the way, I have not mentioned other areas of law like criminal defense, or litigation, or whatever – you can try any of those after graduation. Although, I am a firm believer in professional background leverage for applications because HR people are too lazy to figure out your inner natural abilities. They simply look at the one-page resume of job history and, quite frankly, do not give a damn about anything else. Please, forgive me.
When I had to hire people for a firm, I always did it myself, because HR people were too robotic to find gems. And I found a few amazing people who had no good background on the paper, but who eventually proved themselves as superb and reliable professionals.
Now, a law grad, now prosecutor, can keep established relationships with police, use investigation skills learned while in law enforcement and also apply knowledge of the state criminal (penal) code and procedures. That is very helpful for new prosecutors to hit the ground running.
A cop with a law degree
I have heard of law graduates entering the police force and serving as regular police officers. A police officer with a law degree can be a valuable professional. There is nothing wrong with that. It is an honorable move, which also pays off your student loan because you work for the public interest agency. Hence, the major point – taking a government law enforcement agency job after graduation will help you to repay your student loan. And with a bad job market for young attorneys, this may be a wise move.
Law degree and police detective is also a good mix, but previous law enforcement work experience is almost always required.
Law Degree for government jobs
I will not indulge here in excruciating details because this topic deserves a separate article, so this will be a little bit of an overview. For example, the Justice Department has the Attorney General’s Honors Program which is open to new lawyers with military or law enforcement backgrounds. It is open to other grads too, but from what I have heard, military or law enforcement experience is a big plus factor there. By the way, the Department of Labor and Securities and Exchange Commission have large legal departments too.
Numerous other agencies are also seeking such law grads – from OSHA and Environmental Protection Agency to the State Department or even Department of Defense. Again, these are federal agencies. Each state also has local state agencies that may hire such graduates.
Good thing for fresh attorneys is that attorney positions are exempted from regular hiring procedures and examinations, and agencies often can hire attorneys directly.
Which one is the worst of government jobs? I am not sure, but my guess would be the public defender’s office. I have heard this is not glamorous at all. Low pay, petty criminal clients, huge workload, not many career opportunities, but this is not a bad place and can provide solid training if someone wants to eventually become a criminal defense attorney.
County Counsel’s and City Attorney’s offices, on the other hand, usually handle a large share of civil law matters. I even heard of someone who got an internship at one of City Attorney’s offices and kept extending his internship for a total of a couple of years, then he was hired. When people asked him what the hell he was doing there for years, he answered that he had a blast of a time doing that work.
With State Department please note that you may be sent to places like Iraq or Afghanistan without much of your consent. I think the rotation is about two years. If you have been there as military, you may find it kind of strange to come back as a civil employee.
Law school and government career
The better law school you go to the more chances you have to land a nice government position. I know of a few of my friends from smaller rural law school. Some went to public defender’s, some to local townhall to work. But at least one or two went into law enforcement wearing helmets and bulletproof vests knocking on doors of drug dealers and busting drug deals.
I also know of an ex-military ex-teacher who served in Iraq, who got really good grades in law school, but was denied by several federal government agencies, including FBI, either at application or interview level. He said the competition for those jobs is huge – many ex-active combat officers were applying for those jobs. That included ex-special ops and more. And he said it was tough to beat them in the hiring process because many of those candidates were good in all respects.
I also know of someone who simply joined political circles while in law school, and then ran for a local elected position from that party. As far as I recall, he won the seat and started his political and later legislative career. Essentially, he outsmarted everyone else))
Law degree and government jobs
I suggest you do not give 100% trust into what law schools are posting in their marketing materials, but do your investigative search among government agencies, job sites, etc., to get a feel for the reality for yourself. For example, U.S. Department of Labor clearly states on their website that they have veteran’s preference program, and also that they are looking for already experienced attorneys. See for yourself at https://www.dol.gov/sol/jobs/
Still, inquire because they may have Honors programs for young attorneys, especially with law enforcement and military backgrounds. They also have student internships to get a foot in the door, and even offer paralegal and administrative jobs on that same page.
The EPA on its website states that not all attorney positions are posted on web-sites because such positions are exempt from such requirements. They state that they receive applications on a rolling basis and review them. That indicates that you should go ahead and apply even without an open advertised position. https://www.epa.gov/careers/legal-careers-epa
And that is the thing – not all positions are advertised, so the application would not hurt. If you want to get a feel of open positions and their requirements, you can check job sites like USA Jobs, which you can find at https://www.usa.gov/government-jobs
By the way, if you try the private sector and feel like you hate it, you may use your legal work experience to apply for a government position and have a more stable career with solid benefits and a nice future pension. Otherwise, you may work for 10 years at the agency, reduce your student loans, find all ins and outs, and then go and work for a private law firm that will pay handsomely for your knowledge and understanding of public agency’s inner workings.
And with your law enforcement or military background, or both, you already spent so much time essentially working for a government that you may fit in very well, and agencies know about it and give such candidates preference over others.
Now, I do not want to create a hope bubble here. Government law positions are quite competitive and it will be very hard to get in as a lawyer. Heads up. You may study their requirements very well and plan your career accordingly. Maybe get an internship. On the other hand, you may check non-lawyer positions with government, where they may value your Juris Doctor degree even without making you a lawyer.
Check their requirements, check their honors programs for new attorneys, get the experience they may need, like litigation experience, and even if you did not get in right out of school, you may try to get in few years. Just plan your work experience accordingly.
Max Feo JD, MBA, Tax LLM.
