Student Interview: Why Choose to Become a U.S. Lawyer?
Note: The following interview is a simulated interview transcript based on common student motivations. It is intended to help present the program's ideas on the official website and does not claim to be the actual words of a real student. Before publishing a real interview, written authorization should be obtained from the interviewee, and all admission, score, and employment information should be verified.
Interviewer: Your undergraduate major was not law. Why did you think about becoming a U.S. lawyer?
Student: I studied computer science as an undergraduate. When I took part in a data privacy project during my sophomore year, I realized for the first time that technical issues often end up becoming legal and institutional issues. Engineers can design systems, but questions such as who has the right to collect data, what responsibilities companies must bear, and how to provide remedies when an algorithm makes a mistake all require a legal framework. I did not want to leave technology entirely. I wanted to become someone who understands both technology and rules.
Interviewer: Why not study for a master's degree in law in China, and instead apply for a JD in the United States?
Student: My long-term goal is to participate in legal work for U.S. technology companies and cross-border businesses. The JD is one of the core paths in U.S. legal professional education, and it usually allows students from different undergraduate majors to apply. Over three years of study, students can systematically take courses such as contracts, torts, civil procedure, constitutional law, corporate law, and intellectual property, and they also have more time to participate in internships and recruiting.
I also considered an LLM, but I do not have a Chinese law degree and am not a typical LLM applicant. For me, although the JD requires a larger investment, it better fits my long-term career goals.
Interviewer: What worried you the most?
Student: First, English. My TOEFL score was good before, but legal English is completely different. It may take a long time to read one page of a court opinion, and professors will keep asking follow-up questions in class. Second, cost. Tuition and living expenses for a three-year U.S. JD are very high, and I do not want to be forced by debt to choose only high-paying work. Third, international student immigration status and employment uncertainty.
Interviewer: How did you address the cost issue?
Student: I did not look only at rankings. Instead, I used the official LSAC guide and ABA disclosure data to compare each school's tuition, scholarships, employment outcomes, and Bar passage rates. The ABA publicly releases each law school's Standard 509, employment, and Bar information, and applicants can use these materials to assess actual risk.
I divided schools into three groups: reach, match, and relatively safer options. The LSAT is very important for scholarship competition, so I would rather prepare for a few more months than rush to apply with an immature score.
Interviewer: What was the hardest part of preparing for the LSAT?
Student: It was not a specific question type, but changing the way I read. In the past, I mainly read English to understand the general meaning. The LSAT required me to judge conclusions, evidence, and the scope of logic precisely. If one word changes from "some" to "most," the answer may be completely different. Later, I stopped merely recording how many questions I got wrong and instead wrote out why each wrong answer choice attracted me.
Interviewer: What expectations do you have for the U.S. legal profession?
Student: I hope to start with work related to technology transactions, privacy, or intellectual property. But I will not now say, "I will definitely enter Big Law." The U.S. legal market varies greatly. Big Law, boutique firms, in-house legal departments, government, and public interest organizations all work differently. After entering law school, I want to understand through courses and internships what people actually do every day, and then decide on a direction.
Interviewer: Is a law license obtained automatically after completing a JD?
Student: No. Graduating from law school is only the education stage. After that, you still need to take the Bar Exam according to the rules of the target state and complete other admission requirements. Taking New York as an example, applicants may also need to address the MPRE, New York law requirements, pro bono service, skills requirements, and Character and Fitness. The New York State Board of Law Examiners publishes the relevant rules and application information.
Interviewer: What advantages do you think Chinese students have?
Student: Chinese language ability and a China background are not automatic advantages. They have value only when they can help clients, a team, or a business. For example, I understand technology and also understand how Chinese companies and engineering teams communicate, which may help with cross-border projects. But the premise is that I first have qualified U.S. legal research, writing, and client service abilities.
Interviewer: Would you recommend becoming a U.S. lawyer to all motivated students?
Student: No. The JD is costly and competitive, and legal work is not just courtroom argument. A great deal of time is spent reading, researching, revising documents, and handling details. If someone is interested only because being a lawyer sounds respectable or pays well, it may be very difficult to persist.
I would suggest that students first experience real work: talk with lawyers, participate in internships, and read court opinions or legal documents before deciding whether they like this way of thinking.
Interviewer: Why did you ultimately choose this path?
Student: Because I hope to gain a professional ability that can accumulate over the long term. Legal training makes me ask not only "Can this technology be built?" but also "Should it be built, who bears the risk, and how can credible rules be established?" Becoming a U.S. lawyer is not the endpoint. It is the starting point that allows me to participate in more complex issues.