I tell people now it’s not worth it unless you’re going to an elite school and willing to ride out big law for 3-4 years or you get a massive scholarship - Lincoln and Pickle Smoochers both carry a ton of risk unless you’re going for nearly free.
1. I absolutely agree on the full ride. Full ride at average law schools ranked in the 60-100 range >>> paying full price for an above average law school in the 30-60 range. Only going to a top 30 law school is worth taking out student loans for a JD. (In my opinion)
2. Caveat: if you’re going to practice in a “rural” (meaning not in a metro) part of any Midwestern, Southern or Great Plains state than that State’s flag ship school is actually a better choice than fancy pants school. Example: in rural Kansas a law degree from KU/Washburn > Univ of Chicago Law.
Of course this is a fairly rare example and if someone planned on going to a rural part of one of these states they would likely just go to the state school anyways.
3. Pickle Smoochers sucks. Every stupid kid I knew in undergrad that was trying to go to law skewl ended up at Pickle Smoochers, UMKC, Tulsa, OKC law or any of the other bottom tier law schools.