AboutEvelyn R. Calvoni Expertise I can answer questions about law school and the process of applying to law school. I recently graduated in May 2008, so it's all fresh in my mind. I can answer questions about how to apply to law school, the LSAT, getting letters of recommendation, writing your personal statement, etc. I can also answer questions about what life is like during law school and the different opportunities students should take advantage of during their law school experience, i.e., law review, networking events, moot court, clinics, internships, what classes to take, etc. I can also answer questions about what it's like to look for a job, what are good jobs to get right out of law school, and general questions about writing cover letters and resumes. I can also answer questions about judicial clerkships after law school.
Experience I am a recent law school graduate (May 2008). I have been through the process and have taken advantage of many different opportunities throughout my three years in law school. I've done internships, a clinic, been on law review, been on moot court, and participated in several moot court competitions. I am currently clerking for a state Court of Appeals judge.
Education/Credentials I have a BA in Political Science.
You are here: Experts > Jobs/Careers > Lawyers > Law School > 23 year old finishing CJ degree, already a police officer, want to go to law school
Law School - 23 year old finishing CJ degree, already a police officer, want to go to law school
Question I will be finished with my criminal justice degree after the fall '09 semester from New Jersey City University, I have been going part-time since 2006 as I became a police officer at this time. Once I finish this degree, I would like to enter law school. Some questions I have are, is it possible to attend law school of any kind with a rotating, day/afternoon/midnight shift work? What must I do now to start preparing to apply for law school? What are some good law school options in New Jersey where I can continue working as a police officer and go to law school, preferably northern New Jersey? What are the steps to entering law school? How can I gain assistance in paying for law school? If I would be lucky enough to complete law school, what would my options be afterwards, I am due to retire from policing in less than 21 years with a full pension? I realize this is a long winded question(s), but I greatly appreciate any help in advance. One more thing, from reading these posts I see that a 3.5 GPA is almost an absolute necessary, knowing I can bring my GPA to that level, will it hurt that I have withdrawn from two classes and failed one class due to police academy training and time constraints? Thanks again in advance.
Answer Hi Nick,
When I was in undergrad, I was President of the Pre-Law Society. In that capacity, I decided to create a detailed document of how to apply for law school, step by step. I'd like to e-mail you this document because I think it would be very helpful and would answer a lot of your questions. Would you mind providing me with your e-mail address so that I can send you the document? I believe you can make this message private so that only I will be able to see your e-mail address. If you don't feel comfortable giving me your e-mail address, that's fine. I can copy and paste the document onto the answer here, but it's pretty long (about 4 pages) so I thought it might be best for you to have it in Word format and be able to print it off.
So that document will give you a general overview of the steps you need to take. Now I'll try to answer some of your specific questions.
Most law schools are very strict in that they don't allow students to work during their first year. Typically, students will have a set schedule to follow (of day classes), and they don't have the opportunity to choose their own schedules during their first year. With that said, there are some schools (like mine, University of Denver) that have evening programs. These are designed specifically for people that have to work full-time. They go to classes in the evenings, take a lighter load of credits, and it usually takes them 4 years to graduate instead of the 3 because they're going at a slower pace.
If there's anyway that you can go to law school and not have to work, I would highly encourage it. Law school is not only intense, but in my opinion, it deserves the utmost respect and attention. I worked here and there during my second and third years, but I worked in law firms and did internships...and never during my first year, which is the toughest.
You should not have a problem getting financial aid for law school. I was able to get financial aid for all three years. I haven't heard of a student who hasn't been able to get financial aid. When I say financial aid, I mean loans, so keep in mind that you'll have to pay those back eventually. But there are also scholarships out there, and some schools will offer you tuition discounts for various reasons. If you know you definitely want to stay in NJ, research some law schools there, see which ones have programs you want, and talk to them about what they look for in a law student.
As for your GPA, I think anything above a 3.0 is safe. I don't think having failed a class would bar you from admission. Things happen. You can always explain them in your personal statement, which you have to write for your application. (Details on that are in that document I was telling you about.)
I'm not sure what you mean by "what are my options after law school?" You can pretty much do whatever you want. Some people graduate from law school and never practice law. A JD (juris doctor, the degree you get from law school) is a very versatile degree. It's definitely well-respected in the professional world so it can only help you. I suppose you could stay with the police department until you get your pension, if that's what you're hoping for. But if that's what you're planning on doing, I'm not sure law school would be a lucrative investment for you.
I hope this answers some of your questions. And I hope to hear from you with your e-mail address so that I can send you that document. I do think it will be very helpful.
