Millions of students attend college every year, but after four or more years, some students are interested in continuing their education, especially if they are passionate about the law.
A law school degree might seem premature for some underclassmen, but on Friday, Feb. 19, SMU hosted a law panel that answered questions students had on the process and offered advice for their future.
The law panel consisted of three panelists—Katherine Tullos, John Limberakis, and Megan Dredla– and was organized by the Political Science Symposium. Joseph Kobylka and Dennis Simon, are the advisors to the program, which organizes panels, similar to this one, annually.Around
35 individuals of various ages attended the panel to hear Tullos, Limberakis, and Dredla talk about their experiences in law school and to ask questions ranging from the admission process to how much of a social life they have.
Tullos, SMU graduate and current student at Dedman School of Law, told the audience that “law school is very grade related” and that “it’s a full time job, plus more.”
She also talked about her time at SMU as an undergraduate and joked that she majored in extra-curricular activities, noting her key involvements were in student government and her sorority.
Although she said she loves law school, she stated, “Law school has made me boring,” leaving her with little time for a social life.
When asked about her weekend plans, Tullos said, “My weekend plans are working on my 45 page-paper,” which came as a shock to many in the audience.Limberakis, another SMU alumni who stayed here for law school, recommended that students take as many LSAT prep courses as possible before taking the test.
“You’ll see a 5-10 point jump in your score,” Limberakis said. In addition, he also stressed the importance of grades and connections when applying to schools.
When asked about law school and debt, Limberakis quickly replied, “Go to the best school you can get into, worry about the debt later.”
In regard to his social life, Limberakis shared the shocking statistic that 50 percent of students who go into law school with a significant others, are divorced by the time they’re out, which personally effects him because he has both a wife and children. However, Limberakis isn’t concerned.
“We have goals,” he stated. But the immediate goal is to get him through law school. Dredla, 2002 SMU graduate, and a Washington University in St. Louis graduate in 2005 is currently an associate of Little Pedersen Fankhauser LLP.
She stated that people don’t realize how much of a commitment the law process is. “Self- reliance is all you got in law school and in the profession,” Dredla said. “It really is a commitment…time… and sanity.”
As a law school graduate, Dredla commented on the fact that “there is no right major for law school” and once you’re accepted, you only have “one grade for an entire semester for each one of your classes.”
In essence she said, “You either make it or break it.”In one of Dredla’s last remarks, she said that, “The law is a jealous mistress,” alluding to the fact that she also has a decreased social life like Tullos and Limberakis.
Among all the advice given by Tullos, Limberakis, and Dredla, Kobylka said the major aspect students took away from the panel is that “there are no shortcuts. To succeed in law school, as well as to succeed in life, you have to prepare for it, work at it, and not expect things to go your way. No one owes you anything. You have to earn it.”
At the conclusion of the panel, Lauren Malone, a sophomore business major, learned that “grades take more weight than extra curricular activities” and that “getting into a top law school is important.”
She understands that she has to work hard for both and that these will not be handed to her as Kobylka stated.
“The shortcuts you take today may deny you access to the paths you want to travel when you ‘grow up,'” Kobylka said. “Grow up now.”
