In terms of admissions, work experience becomes more important the longer you have been out of school. If you are going to law school after another career, law schools may be very interested in what you have done in the workplace. If you are a recent grad, unless your experience has been extraordinary, it won t help you much. If the work has had real meaning for you, it could be fodder for the personal statement. If it has been detrimental to your academic record, it belongs in the addendum.
Some work experience does have an intrinsic value, though.
Lots of students enter law school knowing virtually nothing about what it s really like to practice law. That s one reason for the large numbers of lawyers who d rather be or are doing something else with their lives. Embarking upon a profession, especially one that s so costly to enter, without knowing anything about that profession is unwise and irresponsible. The smart pre-law student will get exposure to what lawyering is all about, either through a job or an internship. Think clear, concise, articulate, and persuasive.