Dine's Ethos

I’ve had several people reach out to me, wanting to discuss their interest in law school. They’re curious about my journey: Why did I choose to go to law school? What am I doing now? What challenges did I face? What were the pros and cons of my experience? Would I recommend it? And if I had the chance to start over, would I make the same choice? But the question they all ask is: Should they go to law school?

Most of the people who reach out to me are older—some just a few years, others by decades. They often circle back to the same question: “Should I go to law school?” Underneath that question is a belief that they’ve missed their opportunity. They worry it’s too late, that they’re too old. Law school is a three-year commitment, and it’s expensive. My response is always the same: It’s better to try and fail than to live with the regret of never having tried at all.

I believe there’s no bad reason to go to law school. If your goal is to make money, that’s fine—there are other ways to do it, but if law is your chosen path, then go for it. If you want to make a difference in the world, fantastic! There are plenty of avenues for that too, but if law is your way of making an impact, pursue it with confidence.

Worried that law school seems intimidating? Do your research and make a game plan. Concerned about student debt? Apply for as many scholarships as possible—BYU is a great option. If you still need to take out loans, plan ahead. Consider working for the government or a non-profit for 10 years to qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). Alternatively, you can work for a big law firm and dedicate a significant portion of your income to paying off your loans quickly.

The bottom line is this: whatever your reason, if law school is what you want, make a plan and commit to it.

Since law school, my daily routine has involved reading, writing, researching, advocating, persuading, communicating—and then repeating it all over again. If these tasks don’t excite you, and if the idea of doing them every single day makes you want to hurl, it’s worth reflecting on whether becoming an attorney is truly the path you want to pursue.

In my graduating class, 50% were women, 14% were first-generation college graduates, and the oldest graduate was 55 years old. We had single people, married individuals, parents, and those juggling jobs. There’s no “right” time, “right” age, or “right” circumstance to pursue your dreams.

If you’re feeling like it’s too late to pursue law school—it’s not. Everyone’s journey is different. If you’ve been agonizing over the decision to go to law school, go for it! Sign up for the LSAT, start studying, and do your research. I know there are several attorneys in American Samoa who would be eager to meet with aspiring law students to offer guidance and advice. So, put yourself out there!

Now that I’m an attorney, I couldn’t imagine being anything else.