Those are big questions, right? As you choose a career--particularly one that requires as big an investment as law school--it makes sense to engage in a little introspection.

The three big questions you should be asking right now are

What are your strengths? Are you a good communicator? A natural leader? Do you have that sort of "big picture" vision? Are you detail-oriented? Be honest with yourself.
What are your values? Is it important to you to make a lot of money? Is it important to you to have a flexible, family-friendly career? Are you passionate about justice? Are you a rule-follower?
What do you enjoy doing? Do you like to engage in research and writing? Do you like working one-on-one or in small groups with other people, or are you a more independent worker?

Think hard about these issues, and use the resources offered by the Career Center if you need a nudge in the right direction or support for sorting it out.

Next, using this information about your strengths and values, think about the record you will be presenting to the world when you go to apply? What sorts of activities, courses, and degrees are going to highlight your strengths?

Think about the following questions as you begin going deeper into the process of deciding whether to apply and what are the bigger issues beyond the application.

Why do I want to go to law school?
Have I talked to actual lawyers about their day-to-day work?
How much do I know about the practice of law and different areas of substantive practice?
Do I want to practice law—or do I just want to delay a career decision?
Am I applying because I truly want to be a lawyer—or because others expect me to?
How does a law degree help / hinder me with my short-term goals?
What would I do if I did not get into law school?
What do I want my life to look like in 10 years—and does law school help or complicate that vision?
Do I need a law degree to achieve my long-term career goals?
Would a different graduate program (e.g., MPA, MBA, or MSW) help me get me there more efficiently or affordably?
Am I passionate about legal work or just good at arguing and writing?
Do I understand the financial cost of law school, and the debt I might incur?
Am I comfortable taking on student loan debt?
What kind of law do I think I want to practice—and why?
Do I have the academic stamina for three years of intense study?
Can I see myself working in a high-stress, high-responsibility field?
Have I researched job placement rates and salaries for the schools I’m considering?
Have I prepared for the LSAT, and how competitive are my scores and GPA?
Have I talked over this important decision with people I trust, friends, and family?
Do you have people who support you in this decision?

Pro-Tip: Did you know that about 50% of us apply to law school without planning to be an attorney? There are so many careers that are adjacent to the practice of law where a law degree comes in handy. What does that look like? A 2016 Harvard Study of Harvard law students found that as many as 25% of their graduates were not practicing law 10 years after graduating.