Is 68 too old for law school?

[Anonymous]

Go for it. More time for reading at that age. Not rocket science, so even if one has lost a step should still be doable.

[Anonymous]

Why don’t you volunteer at some type of legal aid clinic. I think most law schools provide some service to the community. They might love a brighter dedicated volunteer.

(Or the innocence project?)

[Anonymous]

I was thinking the same. There are a number of avenues for child advocacy in the legal system. By volunteering, you might just prevent a child in an untenable circumstance from needing a criminal attorney as an adult. To satisfy your intellect, pair it a night class or two, and then assess?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of Lawyers responding negatively feel this is an insult - this guy thinks he can do what we do? as a hobby? at 70?

Well - you don't have to be good at law in general; you just have to be good at one thing in law to be useful. I doubt that would take decades.

You want to heal people - you can do that within a 1-2years; you wont be doing surgery or get appointed to the head of ...
You want to code - 6 months on a narrow technology; you are coding.
You want to build something - be very particular in your engineering field and sub-field. And you are building.

But law is different? You need decades to help someone fill a form or advise them of their options? We need more legal help to those that can't afford it - even minor things go a long way.

I'd say go for it - since it will give you satisfaction of helping others. Just be very very narrow on how you want to help.

You don't need law school to get good at helping people fill out some forms. The local library has clinics all the time where non lawyers volunteer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Do you have a job offer, or are you going to start your own business?

[Anonymous]

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?

You’d get out at 72 at the youngest. Then it’s very very hard work, especially criminal law when you’re literally tasked with keeping clients out of jail. Yes you’re too damned old.

But not too old to get the education. You can always assist a non-profit.

[Anonymous]

You only live once. If it is your dream and you can find it. Go for it. Your obit can list Lawyer too. I love reading obits where the people live varied lives with many careers and whatnot.

[Anonymous]

Fund it (not find)

[Anonymous]

Start watching matlock or something but don’t spend $200k of your family’s inheritance on law school then be too old to practice. Unless there’s some pass/fail/audit way you can take the classes cheaper so you’d be going essentially to make friends and have good conversation and not be lonely. Or if you have the money to practice pro bono and really make a difference in some lives. Maybe go somewhere great and get your grandkids into a top 10 as a legacy so someone benefits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Start watching matlock or something but don’t spend $200k of your family’s inheritance on law school then be too old to practice. Unless there’s some pass/fail/audit way you can take the classes cheaper so you’d be going essentially to make friends and have good conversation and not be lonely. Or if you have the money to practice pro bono and really make a difference in some lives. Maybe go somewhere great and get your grandkids into a top 10 as a legacy so someone benefits.

I say this as someone whose dad got into Duke Law at 68 but hasn’t went. If he does, my kid is going to Duke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OK, thank you. I wanted to be an attorney -- in particular, a public defender. I don't need to make money. But if the thinking here is no, I'd accept that. Thank you.
-- OP

I bet you could get a job at a public defender’s office though

[Anonymous]

I had a 50 year old doctor in my law school class.

[Anonymous]

Only you can gauge whether you are too old. I say go for it OP. You are only too old if you think you are, and it seems you don’t! Good for you! Life is short. Go get what you want! Age be damned!

[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?

honestly it seems like you are too old. why don't you see if you can volunteer or do something else in this realm other than be an attorney.

[Anonymous]

What about UDC ?