The AALS today released a new report, Before the JD: Undergraduate Views on Law School, based on a survey with responses from 22,0000 college students and 2,700 law students.  The report discusses, among other things, the considerations that might drive college students pursuing advanced degrees to apply to law school over other advanced degree programs, when students first contemplate going to law school, and important sources of information and advice about law school and other advanced degrees to which undergraduates turn.

Some interesting findings include:

• Students considering law school are also likely to consider a PhD, Masters Degree or MBA instead of a law degree, but are much less likely to consider Medical School
• Only 15 precent of students considering a graduate degree were considering a law degreee
• Law was seen as better preparation for a career in politics, government, or public service than other options
• Compared to other advanced degrees, students are less concerned about time to completion for law degrees, but students are more concerned about work life balance in law than in other fields
• Debt /cost was slightly less of a concern for a law degree than for other advanced degrees
• Students interested in law school developed this interest early, often even before attending college
• Law was not seen as using cutting edge technology as much as other fields