Law schools are in the business of graduating people with the academic qualifications which, along with admission to a state bar, permit them to practice law. State bars require graduation from law school for anyone who wants to be admitted. So it’s a neat little package. Law school is school for lawyering.
Almost any life experience, of course, can work to your benefit in a totally unrelated endeavor. Law school is no exception. Law school hones analytical ability and imparts a general familiarity with legal concepts. Would that come in handy if you wanted to become a fiction writer? Possibly. A fisherman? Maybe. A bond trader? Could be.
But that’s besides the point. Military veterans often hearken back to their days in uniform as excellent preparation for all sorts of undertakings. Running a marathon is a great way to learn about dedication, commitment to a goal, and managing pain. Five years in prison builds character, too. You’re not about to do all or any of those things, however, just because there are some incidental benefits to them.
You will hear statements to the contrary. Some people would have you go to law school in order to obtain a fancy, "doctorate" version of a business degree. "With an M.B.A., you’re just an M.B.A., but with a J.D., you’re a lawyer," says your Uncle Jay, chomping on a stogie has he dispenses another pearl of wisdom.
Uncle Jay’s right, but his point just begs the question. A lawyer is a lawyer, not an M.B.A. If you want to go into business management, marketing, or finance, you won’t learn how to do those things in law school. Nor will your post-graduation application for employment be received by corporations or investment banks as a "better" version of a business-school grad. They will see your résumé and see a lawyer, and for good reason. You will have been trained for something, but not for business. But isn’t it true that a large percentage of top business executives are lawyers?
Yes. They’re lawyers. Get it? These are inevitably people who have performed at the top of the legal field, practicing law, for anywhere from five to 30 years before making their way into the boardroom. Their experience in law, and practical experience in business (of course, they may also have M.B.A.s) qualifies them to run a company, or division, or studio. They will, however, have been lawyers first, and good ones.
There’s no reason to beat around the bush: For 99% of the population, the only reason to consider attending law school is to become a lawyer.