What percent of people regret law school?

Asked by: Lou Nienow  |  Last update: September 16, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (41 votes)

Law School Regret by the Numbers Only 35 percent said law school prepared them well for practicing. Only 20 percent strongly agreed that their law school was worth the cost. Thirty-eight percent said they were struggling financially; 30 percent said they were "suffering"

What is the failure rate for law school?

The 2023 law school attrition rate was 3.8 percent, varying across demographics and institutions.

What percent of people quit law school?

The decision to attend law school shouldn't just be financially driven. You'll also want to consider the high dropout rates of law school, particularly among minorities. Overall, dropout rates are over 6% for first-year students. For American Indian, Hawaiian native, and Black students, the dropout rate is 11% to 13%.

What is the depression rate in law school students?

Nearly 10% of students begin law school depressed, which climbs to 40% by the time they graduate, according to data published by the Dave Nee Foundation.

What are the odds of failing law school?

Most law schools only kick out around 3% of the first class. So out of a class of 100 students, only three might go home, and usually, those three are really not great students.

Do I Regret Becoming A Lawyer? | Do I Regret Going To Law School?

44 related questions found

What is the hardest year in law school?

Law school is an academic challenge; most students agree the first year (“1L” year) is the most difficult. In part, this is because law school is taught using methods entirely different than the lecture method used in most college classrooms.

Do law schools reject quickly?

In rare cases, some applicants may receive an answer within a few weeks, but the process typically takes 2–4 months. If your application is placed on hold or if you are placed on a wait list then it may take several additional months to receive a final decision.

Which law school are students happiest at?

Here are the schools with the best quality of life, per Princeton Review:
  • Samford University Cumberland School of Law (no change)
  • Duke University School of Law (no change)
  • Stanford University School of Law (no change)
  • Boston College Law School (no change)
  • Vanderbilt University Law School (ranked #3 last year)

Which school has the highest depression rate?

Most notably, this article finds that Penn has the most depressed student body in United States, topping a list of 50 other schools in the country.

How much debt do most law students have?

The average law school graduate owes $130,000 in student loan debt.
  • 71% of law school students graduate in debt.
  • $119,292 is the average amount students borrow just to attend law school.
  • $92,267 is the average amount borrowed to attend one of the top 10 law schools in terms of salary-to-debt ratio.

How many people regret going to law school?

Law School Regret by the Numbers

Only 35 percent said law school prepared them well for practicing. Only 20 percent strongly agreed that their law school was worth the cost. Thirty-eight percent said they were struggling financially; 30 percent said they were "suffering"

Is being a lawyer worth it financially?

Lawyers have the opportunity to earn a lucrative income. The average annual income for an attorney in the United States is $127,990 per year as of 2021 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor.

Is law worth it in 2024?

Ultimately it boils down to what you want to do and why. Law is extremely worth it for some people for a range of reasons. Other times it isn't worth it at all. If you just want a quick paycheck and aren't actively interested in law specifically then do some research and decide if nursing or something else is better.

Is it normal to struggle in law school?

The law is an ever-changing field, and many law school students are expected to master a wide range of legal concepts. Third, the competition in law school is hard and fierce. Law school is a highly competitive environment for most people, and students are constantly vying for grades and job opportunities.

Do law firms care where you went to law school?

Your Previous (On-the-Job) Training

Certain firms have the reputation for training people very well—and everyone knows that they have high expectations for the people there. If you get a good job right out of school or thereafter (with a major law firm), firms no longer really care about where you went to law school.

Is law school declining?

When first-year enrollment rises or falls in sequential years, those effects multiply. Today, overall JD enrollment has roughly stabilized at a level not seen in over 40 years. Compared to the peak in JD enrollment in 2010 (147,525 students), overall JD enrollment was down 20.8% in 2023.

What college has the unhappiest students?

Top 10 Unhappiest Colleges in the U.S.
  • United States Naval Academy.
  • St. ...
  • Illinois Institute of Technology. ...
  • Seton Hall University. ...
  • Pace University. ...
  • CUNY Baruch College. ...
  • Cornell University. ...
  • Clarkson University. To top off this list, Clarkson University is a private research university located in Potsdam, NY. ...

Which major has the most depression?

MEDICINE MOST STRESSFUL MAJOR

Right behind them were the law, social work, and engineering majors. While business students ranked fifth in terms of depression, with a 3.1% increase in depression over the past five years, medical students faced a staggering 35.3% rise in depression from 2019 to 2024.

What percentage of high school girls are depressed?

Pearson's chi-square test showed that the detection rate of depression in girls (53.1%) was significantly higher than that in boys (42.7%) (p < 0.001).

What kind of person does well in law school?

The personal qualities that law schools value include maturity or life experience, emotional intelligence, an ability to get along with different kinds of people and communication skills, she says.

What is the most difficult class in law school?

First-year law school classes tend to be the most difficult of any that you will experience in your three years of law school, as you are getting used to new subject matter and heavier readings. Some of the hardest classes in law school, according to current and former students, are: Constitutional Law. Civil Procedure.

Is law school really stressful?

The combination of long hours, competing with peers, and pressure to perform at a high level can lead to law student burnout. Stress is also a key contributor. Unmanaged stress leads to burnout in any industry, and most law students report significant stress—even when compared to other graduate students.

Am I smart enough to get into law school?

According to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), students need a GPA of at least 3.59 and an LSAT of 162 or more to get into any top 10 law schools. However, that is the bare minimum, and you should aim higher if you want to increase your chances of getting into the top 3.

Is it hard to get hired after law school?

Many law students and graduated law students struggle to find a job after law school. It is no secret that the legal job market is at an all-time low. Law students and new lawyers compete for the few jobs that have openings.

What is the fastest way to finish law school?

Find an accelerated program

Some law schools offer a fast-track degree you can complete in two years. These degrees typically contain the same program requirements, including external internships. If you have legal experience or prefer to learn at a faster pace, this may be an especially useful option.