Considering law school? Here are some pointers and suggestions to help you decide if a law degree is right for you.

Smart Choices

The effects of the recession are still lingering in the legal industry, but many partners at large law firms agree that the market has nearly stabilized. Intellectual property and energy law continue to be lucrativeand competitivespecialities. Most law schools also offer dual degrees, such as J.D./M.B.A. and J.D./M.A. degrees in a variety of fields, which give students greater interdisciplinary expertise that may be a benefit in the workforce.

[Find out what a dual J.D./M.B.A. can add to your education.]

Insider Tip

If you are set on a career in public interest law, don't let finances stop you. Many schools offer debt repayment options to students who work in the public sector, if their salaries are low enough. Low Income Protection Plans (LIPP) and Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAP) at schools help students who work in the government and at nonprofits pay back their student loans through loan forgiveness, lower interest rates, or postponed payment plans.

Students with good credit can also fund their entire law education with a mixture of Stafford loans and Grad PLUS loansboth of which are government-run borrowing programs. Better yet, to keep your repayment plan affordable, the government will now tie it to your income, if it's low enough. If you're still working in the public or nonprofit sector after 10 years and you've stayed on top of your payments, the rest of your debt can be wiped clean.

[Read more about paying for law school.]

Getting In

Study hard: High LSAT scores and GPAs continue to set top students apart in the admissions process, especially at the most highly selective schools.

Read the original here:
Law School Tips for Success