So You Want to Go to Law School

[@koolaidman6251]

10 years ago this video pushed me over the edge to declining the law schools I had been admitted to. BEST DECISION EVER! My friends who went are $100k+ in debt and work like 14hrs a day. I have no debt, make decent money, and work less than 7hrs a day.

[@DavidKazzie]

OMG - what a comment - glad you found happiness away from the law! I honestly had no clue this video would become so big, I didn't even know what a viral video was back then!

[@koolaidman6251]

@@DavidKazzie Dude, this video became huge at my company. Then people started using xtranormal to make videos making fun of problems in the office ("so you want to check your code in") and the good videos actually got those problems fixed. And then there was of course this one, still funny to this day, called "I want an iPhone 4" kzbin.info/www/bejne/epLbhmOrqZqni9k It's on a different account so I guess it's not yours?

[@DavidKazzie]

@@koolaidman6251 yeah that iPhone video was someone else but it gave me the idea to try the law student v. lawyer dynamic. I had NO CLUE it would ever blow up like that.

[@lovedaddy1582]

Hey Koolaid man, are you being serious? Your friends got in a tight place like that?

[@DividendFiend]

It's an oversaturated field so yes you made the right decision.

[@ThePaperSun]

"I am very committed." "I think you should be committed." LMAO

[@hairbeauty8083]

I think that line blew past a few

[@WheelsRCool]

@@hairbeauty8083 YEP, I didn't catch it until just this comment!

[@biccat]

"Science cleared that guy, a lawyer put his ass in prison" What a great line.

[@mipp0]

"So you were pre-med, and got a C in Organic Chemistry" -- LOW BLOW.

[@hairbeauty8083]

So true

[@RKWWWW]

"Science cleared that guy. A lawyer put his ass in jail." lolz

[@PhiveofThree]

LOL "you will be one of these poor people." *dead*

[@ATHERON11]

"Whats fascinating is that you will be one of these poor people" lol that made me laugh

[@xMyaxMassacrex]

"You realize they're all guilty, right?" "They cant all be guilty" "ALL of them"

[@hairbeauty8083]

Well even if you arent guilty you are guilty in the eyes of the law and even those credible jail house witnesses are better than you

[@DavidKazzie]

Thanks to everyone for the gigantic response to this video. And thank you to law school and 11 years as a lawyer to give me the material to come up with this.

[@baskybask6327]

"Yeah. Law students are an awesome bunch."

[@needparalegal]

I still have $20k on my student loans and I graduated in 1998! No joke.

[@aalegalfocus]

Are they paid off now? Sorry to hear...

[@zoonpolitikon1648]

That's awful. Are you finally free?

[@BlackMaleSpirituality]

Let's face it, every career path has bad things about it. I can tell you one thing, it sure beats living on the street.

[@hairbeauty8083]

Does it thooooo??? Haha i mean some homeless in cities that dont freeze in the winter dont look so bad

[@BlackMaleSpirituality]

@@briananderson5102 I probably can understand the video more now than I did back when I commented. I will say that I make a good living being a lawyer though.

[@MattMulholland-k4b]

Science cleared that guy,a lawyer put his ass in prison. Lol😂🎉

[@psychicbyinternet]

My mom was a lawyer and the office layout of this video actually looks just like her office.

[@Stainddiablo]

I went to law school. I am a lawyer. This video pretty much nails it.

[@programmer437]

Someone's never been to a law-school mixer. All the coolest people.

[@MikeBohlmusic]

"science cleared that guy, a lawyer put his ass in prison"

[@Jlyblylvr]

Hello, 911? I'd like to report a murder

[@lexdiamondz1991]

It really is this bad though. Half of all graduates don't get legal jobs and only a small number get jobs which pay enough money to reasonably pay back their debt.

[@mathew633man]

not everyone wants to be engineers or doctors. maybe people should just do what they want and see what happens. but it's important to know the reality of the profession you are getting into. if you take out a loan of a hundred grand and you have to spend 3 years studying, you'd better make sure that this is what you want, not what you think this is what you want. there's a big difference. i also don't think people should take the 'easier' path because there's none. every job has ups and downs

[@awcindy]

Hahahahaha, this is like watching me after law school talking to me before law school. And those calling a lot of lawyers wimps...know that that definiton of wimp means anyone who doesn't want to work 70 hours a week.

[@1776TomPaine]

Ah, one of the all-time great KZbin videos. I think this might have been the very first video I ever saw on KZbin. It got me hooked. One of the funniest.

[@DavidKazzie]

Thanks!

[@yalelaw]

1st video really

[@hypatia77777]

That is too funny. My decision to go to law school was definitely the worst decision I ever made, and it's been plaguing me and my family for over a decade.

[@69Jadran]

I can truly, deeply, and profoundly relate.

[@69Jadran]

This is brilliant. Wish I had watched it BEFORE ruining my life.

[@robcole24]

"If you say its a living, breathing, document, i may kill myself.." BEST LINE EVER

[@livelyfamify]

This is hilarious. As an attorney practing for 15 years at firms, I have to laugh. Some of the things he describes are so spot on. Awesome.

[@156central]

I agree--this is absolutely BRILLIANT!!! So funny and so true (except the coke addict part). I am a Columbia Law School grad who gave up law after practicing for 10 years because I decided I wanted to have a life.

[@HollyGoLightly1978]

OMG this is SO PERFECT. As a nonprofit lawyer with a ridiculous amount of debt who hated law school, I can appreciate this SO MUCH.

[@tylersnard]

"My daughter is addicted to painkillers and wine from a box." lolll

[@fooming9915]

Thanks for sharing an informative video regarding law school and legal education basically this involved as part of a process for becoming a lawyer...this kind of video helps for interview as well.

[@charlessimpsonjr]

This really hits the nail on the head. Law careers are mostly born by default. That is, a lack of imagination and a poor grade in the physical sciences. Fact is: the US has too many lawyers, and the decreasing wages and growing hours requirements will continue to go in the wrong direction. Law practice is nothing like law school. The only thing worse than the subject matter is, usually, opposing counsel, the folks you work with every day =)

[@brainboy109]

So instead of law school what do lawyers suggest young people do? I hear all the time "don't do this, don't study that" etc etc. But it's rarely followed up with advice on what to do alternatively. I agree that plenty of people who want to go to law school have no idea what they are in for and what being a lawyer really means, but not everyone.

[@kevinrogers2695]

I tell people to either go into the computer technology field or the medical field. Both fields are very broad. Law is fairly narrow, which narrows your chance at a job.

[@wavebreak22]

Kevin Rogers Disagree 100%. Law is not narrow at all. It's one of the more broad fields. JDs are used in hundreds of different jobs.

[@wildthistle535]

I went to law school. What I tell people now is "Do what gives you joy." If that's law, great. If not, do something else. Money isn't the most important thing.

[@wildthistle535]

***** "I went to law school. What I tell people now is "Do what gives you joy." If that's law, great. If not, do something else..."

[@brainboy109]

***** Well said! Spot on!

[@tastic44]

"do you move your lips when you read?" PLEASE

[@bluecanary1212]

Yes, this about sums it up (well, it actually paints a rosier picture than reality). I ignored every lawyer I knew and went to law school. Biggest mistake of my life.

[@PandaPulse4]

This vid still slaps 12 years later

[@DavidKazzie]

All -- Thanks to all of you for helping make So You Want to Go to Law School the No. 22 Most-Viewed video this month on KZbin's Film/Animation section. Amazing.. Please come back Sunday morning as I debut BRIEFS, a weekly series of videos following Carrie-Ann as she starts law school. No matter what Oscar told her, she couldn't help herself -- just like the rest of us lawyers and law students out there.

[@aalegalfocus]

Are you still practicing? Great video! Still relevant in 2022.

[@DavidKazzie]

@@aalegalfocus I sure am, although I also have written 8 novels in that time as well. Hard to believe the video is 11 years old, crazy that it’s still relevant! 😀

[@jenfine]

I graduated from law school 11 years ago and ended up not practicing because I didn't want that hellish life. I really wish I had never gone - I will be paying off those loans forever and I don't even use my license. Waste of money. Thanks for this video - it made me laugh so hard because its so right on!

[@69Jadran]

Same.

[@WestIndianAK]

I was in 1L when this video first went up...it cracked us all up LMAO

[@aalegalfocus]

How did law school work out for you?

[@Sewblon]

Breach of contract cases actually sound less soul crushing than constitutional law. I can understand "You promised to do something. But you didn't do it." or "Ambiguity in a contract benefits the party that did not draft it." I can't understand "substantive due process" or "ordered liberty."

[@WestIndianAK]

Have you actually gone over one of those contracts, or studied the body of law that governs them? Believe me, it can get veeeeeery soul-crushing. The kinds of things the lawyer talks about in this video (e.g. 2:02) aren't totally made up LOL

[@mnhepcat]

I actually went Harvard Law, lasted less than a year in Big Law, as did some of my friends. Despite the pedigree, law school was the worst decision of my life. Choices were to hate my job for a decade or two, or leave and be stressed about debt. I chose the latter. Either way leads to a lot of unhappiness. I wish I had seen this 5 years ago before I went to law school. At least if you go to a school you can afford, you can just chalk it up to experience. The law is miserable for 99% of people.

[@EuclidianProposition]

I'm applying to law school in the upcoming cycle. It's so nice to know that there's so much to look forward to.

[@69Jadran]

Did you do it nonetheless?

[@xXxBladeStormxXx]

"My daughter is addicted to painkillers and wine from a box" fucking genius!

[@mattc398]

I do not like my blackberry I would like to torture it until it begs me to kill it - hahahahhahhaha so sad but so funny at the same time

[@angelaau8029]

im in law school now, this is hilarious and so so true

[@powertrip1050]

aussie ex-lawyer says: this is gold !! :)

[@pizza88]

the transcript is most accurate i've ever seen o.o

[@mattmul5335]

Science cleared that guy,a lawer put his ass in prison!!

[@SuperGreatSphinx]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science

[@clearfish]

GREAT WORK!! The "Let me guess, you were PreMed and got a C in Organic Chemistry" line is DEAD ON!!

[@6idangle]

I am at the end of my 1l year and I rather enjoyed it .... a few things to keep in mind though 1) I was fortunate enough to get into a middle of the pack tier 1 schoo,l it isn't harvard but still highly ranked 2) Prior to law school I always read dry case law and did fantasy scotus and supreme court oral arguments in undergraduate 3) Prior to law school I was a big us political history 4) I am fortunate enough t o have 0 debt and a near full ride 5) I was a really good well rounded undergraduate student So basically if you want to go to law school I think rule one ought to be only do so if you really really enjoy very technical and dense reading about issues some might consider boring, I would only go if you get into a decently ranked school, and even when you go keep your eyes open for non law school opportunities. I am interviewing for summer work and I will be better in a position to inform people and how my job works but all in all I have thoroughly enjoyed law school even during exam week. Law school isn't that bad the bad part is spreading yourself too thin, being hyper obsessive, taking on too much debt, and failing to see life outside of the law. If you really really like the law like I do then study hard in undergraduate, do awesome unique extracurriculars , and do the best you can on the lsat then write your own story. If you can get through law school with no debt like myself then you are in an awesome position of flexibility to explore what you wanna do as a person. Don't let anyone dissuade you if it is your dream and you like the material.

[@schmetterlink]

"Yeah. Law students are an awesome bunch"

[@RadioFreeWisconsin]

I'm very close to getting my MA in History and talk to people like this all the time. They talk about going to Graduate School and they just look at it like a continuation of college. They have no idea about the many many years of sacrifice, poverty, and hard work to make it. Most of them either drop out, don't go, or else take the "no Thesis option" meaning their degree means nothing.

[@Phractal]

This is brilliant. She sounds like all my classmates. Truly excellent work.

[@SolicitorsInEaling]

This animation rocks! This video animation is something very helpful for someone wanted to go to a Law school. Very good analysis!

[@tokyotammy]

This video brought tears to my eyes from laughing. I really wish someone had made me talk to this guy.

[@jenzoe]

This is brilliant. The pre-med thing KILLED me.

[@DonnaAngeloPixieAngelo70]

Once you have decided you don't want to be a lawyer and law school did nothing to prepare you for how badly it would suck, you are so far in debt with school loans that the only job that will pay for it...is being a lawyer. You cant default or you will lose your Law License. Hence the addiction problems.

[@BlackMaleSpirituality]

What's stupid is how people constantly expect their job to be perfect, always fun and without any stress. Whether a job is perfect, fun, or without stress is irrelevant. The only things that matter is whether you can successful complete the necessary degrees for said job, are competant at said job, and whether the job pays the bills. For me, I think the legal professin meets those requirements. And I don't care what you say, no job is so bad that being in poverty is preferrable.

[@stygiansun3318]

My mom is a lawyer so this made me laugh a ridiculous amount. So true, all of it.

[@ginnylicious2]

Law school can be pleasant, and so can the legal profession, but one thing is true: we can't have it all. I have a nice pay, I love my cases, and I actually enjoy my job because I am able to spend hours focusing on things that interest me and keep my mind away from the fact that: 1. I'll probably never get married, 2. I'll probably never have children, and 3. I'll die alone and most probably miserable. In truth: me + my briefs = present glory // me + my briefs = vein-cutting future I am still hoping one day I will find a way to not be an old rich maid, and still conserve the career I so love; too bad they don't teach us that in law school (:

[@mathew633man]

if you don't mind me asking, what type of law do you specialize in?

[@ginnylicious2]

corporate

[@kimjack1000]

matthew Yeah, too many non-lawyers in this thread. I don't think people realize exactly how bad it is out there. We're talking Top 10 LS'ers unable to find jobs. We're talking about people who received 175+ LSAT scores with little effort, whose resume makes yours probably look vile unable to even score an interview.

[@criticalthinkersarescarces3365]

Well it depends on your reasons. Do you want kids and a partner because it is expected of you and society encourages women to want that? Or is there a desire within yourself that says you want kids and a husband? Personally I cannot relate since I made the decision not to have kids and am happy with it. :) Some introspection on what you want and why you want it may be helpful, if you have the time.

[@ginnylicious2]

That's cute; I actually do know what I want and why (;

[@KA218]

The lady reminds me of me before law school. The guy reminds me of me after law school. HAHAHA

[@ChristmasInjuryLawyers]

"I think you should be committed." That's hysterical. Many people fall into the television storyline that being a lawyer is exciting. Yes, there are some aspects that can be. However, let's face it. Lawyers are essentially paper pushers. Period.

[@EvanLevow]

Taking out a few loans is only part of it. She should also realize those loans will likely total six figures.

[@InstTaxSolutionsLLC]

Students attend law school for a variety of reasons, but the reason that usually tops the list is they want to help people. For those who choose to pursue a career in tax law, this can be especially rewarding.

[@antoinelebelge]

I'm graduating this year from Law School and I love it !! This video is hilarious but so cliché.

[@ChesapeakeAreaParanormal]

These animated cartoons are hilarious.

[@LouiseRobinsonLay]

the voices make it unintentionally funny!

[@spoony88888]

Being a lawyer at a major corporate firm, this is TOO true.. wow

[@UltraProle21]

bachelor's degree: 4 years of high tuition that you'll have to take out loans for, and not to mention you won't be able to find a decent job afterwords. law degree: 4 years of high tuition that you'll have to take out loans for, 3 more years of extremely high tuition that you'll have to take out loans for, and not to mention you won't be able to find a decent job afterwords.

[@MrAaronvt]

Yea, I'm fairly certain I said most of those exact same things before law school. Oh well, still happy I'm here.

[@nbanolfkid]

I am an attorney 28 years and this is pretty accurate. If you work for a large law firm life will be unfulfilling and miserable. If you can get enough clients and work for yourself life as an attorney can be good. I'd do it all over again.

[@shantayhightower8850]

I forgot about this video.

[@DavidKazzie]

It is eternal 😂

[@basilisk4]

Go back and watch this video after you've been out of law school for a few years.

[@modernprivacy]

LOL HILARIOUS!! I absolutely LOATHE law school. But surprisingly, I found working at a full service law firm to be really, challenging and satisfying. But I admit those were not my intention when I was a naive youngster applying to law school

[@jli95]

I haven't laughed this hard in months!

[@childlawil]

You can make a difference, at a cost, but not the cost of your dignity. I have been a lawyer 20 years some up some down...but never looking over my shoulder.

[@LTDANMAN44]

4:25 LOLOL science cleared that guy, a lawyer put his ass in prison. LOLOL

[@mnhepcat]

@dwkazzie Thank you, you are a genius. This is going into the "1L" category of law school folklore. I wish this had been around to make me think twice.

[@MorningSong8]

I. CAN'T. BREATHE!!!!!! Thank you from one lawyer to another!

[@MrScottJJohnson]

The is the most amount of emotion you'll ever get in court excluding all the Plaintiffs, Defendants, family and friends of them.

[@Jake-Day]

"How can I read these documents without reading these documents." - Every Attorney

[@blurped1952]

Amused brainstorming additional dialogues for this: "Have you ever. jumped out. of a window?" "No." "It would be. good practice." .

[@acceptitasitis]

If you like to argue for the sake of arguing and can do it whether or not you know you are right, a career in the law is perfect.

[@twilitesos]

Hahaha what made this awesome was the very monotone voice and sarcasm lol XD Loved the Blackberry part hahaha XD

[@FreezeKick]

I laughed ... and then that laughter turned to tears.

[@writerhtb]

"whats fascinating is...that you will be one of these poor people!" PRICELESS and true

[@pvsg1990]

I like these type of videos. They show the negative aspects of every career. The reason why many individuals end up hating their career or not getting a job in their field is because they don't do research before choosing a major. And, you have young folks all surprised or upset because they cant find work in their field after getting a degree in psychology? There are still many psychologist majors that are not aware that they will need a phd.

[@EvaSantograal]

I am an ex-lawyer. I quit this job last year after many horrible workaholic years. I would really suggest that everyone, who is considering becoming a lawyer, would really think their life priorities through before making this career choice. :)

[@Gunnanmon]

Her answers are priceless!

[@Kosh800]

"He blew a .24" LMAO! Wow ... awesome.

[@pumpkin6429]

"You're gonna make me orphan my daughter." XD

[@margaret9776]

i cannot believe this video was only five minutes long. felt like a lifetime

[@AntoinetteChanel]

“I’m very committed.” “I think you should be committed.” 🤣💀

[@thechino]

You're gonna help people alright. Help them make more money than they already have, that is.

[@seabasspappas]

LOL. I couldn't stop laughing. God that's good.

[@DalecooperZ]

Forgot to mention that the bigger more "elite" firms are just more organized lucrative frat houses... The bar measures your ability to take test... The ethics board of the supreme court of any state gets more funding than any other branch... The most litigated facet of the law is legal malpractice... And my "favorite" quote from law school friends - "I want to be a lawyer cuz I just love to argue!" I'll wave to you on the short trip down friend.

[@Gildedbutterfly1976]

My lawyer friends and I peed our pants when we watched this!!!!!! I want to meet the person that came up with this movie LOL because I know he or she would be so cool. You are so right on!!!

[@divalizzous]

"It must be so fascinating to help poor ppl w/ their legal problems"... "What's fascinating is that you will BE one of those poor ppl, except u will have $100,000 in law sch debt"...."I'm not doing it for the money". Sadly enough she reminds me of myself b4 the real world knocked my ass down to ground level. This shit is so true.

[@elwoodthebulldogman]

That is why I dropped out of emory law - I did not want to do this shit. Haha - I became a master in social work which is much worse

[@Trelane574]

"You let me down, man. Now I don't believe in nothing no more. I'm going to law school." - Jimbo, The Simpsons (episode "Homer the Vigilante")

[@elenchus]

@NathanJSweet the big downside is that the average starting salary in public is about $40k a year. At my particularly law school, the average private salary starting out is $120k. So it's a massive difference to get on the loan forgiveness program.

[@MediatorKen]

This is one of the funniest things I've ever seen! I've had the 3 am DUI call TWICE, and I don't even do criminal law!

[@SheilaPlank]

This just goes to show that any fool can write a script, but it takes actors, directors, and numerous others to make that script into a movie. Wow. It's just hillarious!