Is 68 too old for law school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, however if you have money and time, it could be a good hobby.

Law school and the first decade of working are anything but a hobby. It’s a grueling boot camp of training combining long hours and high stress situations.

But maybe the situation is different if you're not going to be gunning for the best grades and Law Review and a prestigious job? Again, assuming OP is independently wealthy and is fine with a possibility of not getting hired somewhere and just doing pro bono. I agree there are other options she can do without a law degree and she should pursue those. However, if she has money and can get accepted she can do a semester and see how she feels about it. I found law school really boring but some people like it.

[Anonymous]

If you have the money, energy and patience for it, sure! But I’d be very realistic about what you might be able to do after graduating and (hopefully) passing the bar exam. Public defense is very demanding with high case loads and criminal litigation is stressful.

I work in legal aid and we had a volunteer that graduated from law school in her 70s. She had been an accountant for 30+ years and wanted to challenge herself. She sat for the bar three times and never passed, then gave up. She was still a great volunteer but never did become an attorney as she’d hoped.

If you’re interested in criminal justice issues, maybe you can complete some type of certificate program and get involved with advocacy work. Would be much less stressful than trying to enter the legal profession at that stage of life.

Good luck, whatever you decide!

[Anonymous]

All of these posts about lawyers continuing to practice into their 70s and 80s are completely irrelevant because they involve lawyers with decades of experience - not lawyers who didn’t even get out of law school until after they were 70. C’mon man get serious.

Also, as a lawyer who retired in my early 50s my experience is that most lawyers who continue to practice into their 70s and 80s are doing it because their entire sense of self is wrapped around being a lawyer and they don’t know what else to do with themselves and it’s pretty pathetic.

[Anonymous]

Lawyers don't become useful until they have been practicing for 5-7 years. No one will hire you OP because they don't want to spend years training someone only to have them quit/retire/die. It's a poor investment of their time and energy. They want to train someone who can then grow a career for decades.

Your options post-law school will be pro bono or legal aid volunteer work, and even doing that will be challenging with no experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a strong urge to study law and become a criminal law attorney. I'm in D.C. which has several law schools, with at least one (Catholic) having a night school. Yes? No?

Starting law school at age 68/69 is not a good idea. Plus--sorry to say--there is a good chance that you'll be viewed by other students & by law profs as a pain in the butt with time consuming questions that are best left for socializing over coffee.

Do you really have to be an ageist @zzhat? My 18yo complained vehemently his first year college about all the "dumb" questions and "when would it stop?" Nary a person over 25 in his midst.

Sounds like you & your kid are ageists.

That's a dense take.

Right back atcha.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OK, I get it. Thank you.
-- OP

Get what? You are getting mixed responses.
If analysis of this DCUM thread is challenging for you, I'd say skip law school.
It seems like you want us to say, 'No- that's crazy!'?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you have the money, energy and patience for it, sure! But I’d be very realistic about what you might be able to do after graduating and (hopefully) passing the bar exam. Public defense is very demanding with high case loads and criminal litigation is stressful.

I work in legal aid and we had a volunteer that graduated from law school in her 70s. She had been an accountant for 30+ years and wanted to challenge herself. She sat for the bar three times and never passed, then gave up. She was still a great volunteer but never did become an attorney as she’d hoped.

If you’re interested in criminal justice issues, maybe you can complete some type of certificate program and get involved with advocacy work. Would be much less stressful than trying to enter the legal profession at that stage of life.

Good luck, whatever you decide!

Did that woman regret law school?

[Anonymous]

No. You never know when knowing the law can be useful if not personally maybe you can help your kids or a grandkid later with legal questions if they decide to do the same program

[Anonymous]

Go to UDC why waste the money on fancy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a strong urge to study law and become a criminal law attorney. I'm in D.C. which has several law schools, with at least one (Catholic) having a night school. Yes? No?

If you can afford to go to law school, I'd say go for it. Age is just a number; some people are sharper in their seventies than others in their twenties. Studying improves brain function, and you would learn all sorts of interesting new things. People will say, "But you'll graduate at 72." That's true, but if you don't go, you'll be 72 and NOT have a law degree. And, who knows, you might find yourself in a new field that you love and find extremely rewarding.

[Anonymous]

Rule #1 to be a good attorney you will need to filter out the noise of opinion from the peanut gallery and do what makes sense for you. Remember there is rampant ageism in our culture as well. Do what is best based on your unique circumstances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have the money, energy and patience for it, sure! But I’d be very realistic about what you might be able to do after graduating and (hopefully) passing the bar exam. Public defense is very demanding with high case loads and criminal litigation is stressful.

I work in legal aid and we had a volunteer that graduated from law school in her 70s. She had been an accountant for 30+ years and wanted to challenge herself. She sat for the bar three times and never passed, then gave up. She was still a great volunteer but never did become an attorney as she’d hoped.

If you’re interested in criminal justice issues, maybe you can complete some type of certificate program and get involved with advocacy work. Would be much less stressful than trying to enter the legal profession at that stage of life.

Good luck, whatever you decide!

Did that woman regret law school?

I think since she had the time and money, she didn’t regret going to law school but I sensed she was frustrated with being unable to pass the bar exam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. You never know when knowing the law can be useful if not personally maybe you can help your kids or a grandkid later with legal questions if they decide to do the same program

What the heck? This is definitely not a reason to go to law school!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, you have a strong urge to be an attorney, you're in the later stages of your working career and you've decided to rely on an anonymous message board about universities for guidance? Seems better than speaking with, I dunno, Public Defender's offices, lawyer, law firms.

There are more lawyers here than any of those places.

[Anonymous]

I will be graduating with a pre-law degree in a few days at age 72. I'll finish with a 3.70 gpa. Wish I would have started 30 years earlier, but will apply my skills toward case analysis and research. Things that the principles don't do anyway.