SAHM 7 years out of workforce--should I go to law school/grad school?

[Anonymous]

Paralegal jobs are MUCH easier to come by than lawyer jobs nowadays... by leaps and bounds. By working at a big firm, you may be able to make closer to 6 figures eventually, without the debt and stress (much less the awful job prospects) that would come with going to law school and trying to find an entry level lawyer job (that prob pays just $55k, to $150k in law school loans).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Paralegal jobs are MUCH easier to come by than lawyer jobs nowadays... by leaps and bounds. By working at a big firm, you may be able to make closer to 6 figures eventually, without the debt and stress (much less the awful job prospects) that would come with going to law school and trying to find an entry level lawyer job (that prob pays just $55k, to $150k in law school loans).

So true! Here's my story. I have a Bachelors in Elementary Education. Through a friend of a friend, I was offered a part-time job working in a small law firm on a special project. It didn't require any legal knowledge. It was mostly managing large amounts of data. I worked with a wonderful paralegal who started teaching me how to perform legal research. I loved it! I absolutely fell in love with law and seriously considered law school. One of the attorneys offered me a permanent position at the firm after the project was over. I continued to work with the paralegal and learned everything I could over the next two years.

I realized after about a year that I really didn't want to be an attorney. I respect what they do. But it's not what I wanted to do. I found that I loved spending time with clients. I was really good at reassuring the nervous client, preparing a client for trial, explaining case progress and legal terminology, research and writing and mediation. I love the investigative phase of the case. I enjoy pouring over discovery looking for that final piece. I like prepping for trial and supporting the attorney at trial. BUT I would hate to be center stage. I don't have that personality. I like working behind the scenes.

I went back to school and got my Masters in Legal Studies. As a paralegal, there were many, many months when I made more than the junior attorneys. And I don't have crippling law school debt. There are so many attorneys either out of work or working as paralegals right now. And many of the ones who do have jobs aren't making a lot of money.

Paralegals (with at least a Bachelors Degree) have become the nurse practitioners of the legal field. They can do many of the things that an attorney traditionally does as long as they are under attorney supervision. Clients aren't always willing or able to pay $600+ an hour for an attorney. My attorney billed my time at $90 an hour and passed that savings on to the client. A paralegal can do everything an attorney can do except 1)Provide legal advise (as opposed to information) 2) Set legal fees and 3) Represent clients in court. And a paralegal can represent clients in court during certain administrative hearings. If you just want to work in the legal field, it's worth considering.

If you can get into a great law school and graduate towards the top of your class. And you can do it without going into debt, it might be worth considering. Otherwise, go to grad school.

[Anonymous]

Go to trade school or try something entrepreneurial. Seriously. Professional and graduate degrees are mostly a freakin waste of time and money. Money maker for schools though.

[Anonymous]

And OP, not for nothing, but you have been out of the workforce for 7 years. You aren't going to get a high paying job right away. There are people who have been in the workforce for the past 7 years competing with you for jobs.

[Anonymous]

At your age and with family, I would not take on debt for any degree. If you can swing pay as you go or can nab scholarships, sure, although you still need to make sure the degree is worth your time.

[Anonymous]

oh heck, take the darn LSAT (prep course first though, you've been away from testing a long time). If you score very very well, some schools do give meaningful amounts of aid to a few. Have friends that got full rides at GW quite a few years back, not sure who all does this now. I do agree w all the previous posters who say NO if involves big or even moderate debt. But PR folks often have the strong writing, summarizing, and yes, people skills that many law jobs require. Oh, and many federal agencies have fine law jobs - often accessed directly/indirectly through internships really only available to law students in the dc area. And yes, do, before you agree to pay anyone for 3 years, find a way to work in an agency or firm's law department as paralegal, librarian, marketer, anything, to get a little familiarity with at least that corner of the legal world. Do you have lawyer friends, will they agree now to help you when you finish up?

[Anonymous]

I agree with figuring out what you want to do next, what really interests you, and then figuring out a plan to accomplish that goal, which may include going back to school or doing some specialized studies.

I was much younger but decided, after graduating from college, that I really wanted to do something other than what I had studied and felt like if I earned an MA in my new field I would have the credentials to at least get into the business. So I went back to grad school, got an MA, and made a career change at the age of 25. Best thing I ever did, by the way - not sure where I'd be today if I didn't just go after it.

I wouldn't base anything on future earnings - seems silly. If you have been a SAHM for 7 years then presumably your household can function without your contributing to it, so why not do something you like, even if it is less lucrative?

[Anonymous]

OP how long have you been looking for work? Even people without gaps in their resume are taking 6-12 months to find new jobs. I started looking for a job in fall 2008 after 8 years of being a SAHM when my DH was laid off. It took me 6 months of solid looking to find a job and it was definitely below the level I left at. My degree is STEM though, so my field is a little easier to get back into than marketing.

I also know SAHMs in my area who work at their kids schools in various capacities. I know 2 moms who work as substitutes. It was kind of shocking to me how little they had to do in order to become qualified as subs. But other moms work as playground monitors, lunch supervisors, etc. All of these are paid positions.

And for those recommending OT and SLP, these are several year programs with masters degrees recquired. Cheaper than law school though I suppose.

[Anonymous]

Lawyers = dime a dozen here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:oh heck, take the darn LSAT (prep course first though, you've been away from testing a long time). If you score very very well, some schools do give meaningful amounts of aid to a few. Have friends that got full rides at GW quite a few years back, not sure who all does this now. I do agree w all the previous posters who say NO if involves big or even moderate debt. But PR folks often have the strong writing, summarizing, and yes, people skills that many law jobs require. Oh, and many federal agencies have fine law jobs - often accessed directly/indirectly through internships really only available to law students in the dc area. And yes, do, before you agree to pay anyone for 3 years, find a way to work in an agency or firm's law department as paralegal, librarian, marketer, anything, to get a little familiarity with at least that corner of the legal world. Do you have lawyer friends, will they agree now to help you when you finish up?

Really? Given that OP is 41, by the time she applies and gets into law school will likely be 45 at the earliest if she goes FT. I guess there is a small chance she can get funding, but that is a long shot. So she graduates at 45 with some debt, or even if she pays up front, 120K or so less than she had. I just can't imagine why anyone would think this was a good idea at this time. Maybe 10 or 20 years ago but it's a different time now.