Switching careers - lawyer to a teacher

[Anonymous]

If your serious about teaching, OP, do NOT look into alternative certification programs. They do not have enough courses in classroom management, teaching methods or pedagogy. It isn't enough to know a subject well, you need to learn how to teach well.

[Anonymous]

Teach Now is a good program. It is online and is less than one year.

TNTP is a horrible program (I have personal experience with it).

Also, the charter schools in DC don't require a teaching license, so you can check those out.

[Anonymous]

OP, the DC and MD area independent schools have many former lawyers working as teachers. Look at the bios online. Maybe you could network with some of them?

I think private would be far better if you are prepared for the pay cut. Though some (like Landon, I think) offer housing right on their huge campuses.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks so much for all of the helpful responses. I really appreciate it!

[Anonymous]

God Bless you for considering this. Geez, I know so many miserable attorneys. So glad I never took that route.

[Anonymous]

I made the switch from consulting to teaching middle school math. The only time I have a smidgen of regret is when I look at the pay check, but on a daily basis I absolutely love what I do.

Definitely look at the full certification program. I went to a night/weekend masters program that took 2 years going every other weekend. I worked full time during the coursework, and quit when I began my student teaching. I cannot imagine stepping foot into a classroom without experience.

I worked with a guy who was a lawyer for 30 years and began teaching middle school math, but he had volunteered in the school for a couple years before, doing tutoring and remediation, so he knew what he was getting into. He still comments on how overwhelming it was, and how unprepared he felt.

I am in my 4th year now, and I generally work 7:30-4:30, come home, put baby to bed, and work 8-11 or so. It's tiring, but I love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I made the switch from consulting to teaching middle school math. The only time I have a smidgen of regret is when I look at the pay check, but on a daily basis I absolutely love what I do.

Definitely look at the full certification program. I went to a night/weekend masters program that took 2 years going every other weekend. I worked full time during the coursework, and quit when I began my student teaching. I cannot imagine stepping foot into a classroom without experience.

I worked with a guy who was a lawyer for 30 years and began teaching middle school math, but he had volunteered in the school for a couple years before, doing tutoring and remediation, so he knew what he was getting into. He still comments on how overwhelming it was, and how unprepared he felt.

I am in my 4th year now, and I generally work 7:30-4:30, come home, put baby to bed, and work 8-11 or so. It's tiring, but I love it.

Before you do it, check out those hours, you will have no life. I loved teaching but realized I can't do it anymore, I was literally surviving on so little sleep to be effective it was taking a toll on my health. To get to work before the endless photocopy queue I would get to work just before 7:00 a.m., leave at around 5:30 pm and take a nap then work til late or all night if I slept for more than 5 hours. So it depends on your age, if you have a partner, or children, if you are going to work in a title I school or a charter school or WTOP. It is the most exhausting thing I've ever done and sadly I just can't do it anymore.

[Anonymous]

I did! Went back to school for a certification in early childhood ed and I am now a part time preschool teacher and absolutely love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You cannot be serious.

I seriously considered it because I was miserable as a lawyer and loved tutoring. You might have a very narrow view of lawyers through movies. Most real lawyers out there are not the litigators and there are way too many of them, so of course, there will be some that want out. I don't know why I'm even posting a reply to this post, it'll be a waste of time.

[Anonymous]

OP:

I'm not a lawyer, but I made the switch from editing to public-school teaching 5 years ago. I now teach middle school.

Assuming you'd like to teach in public schools, where the pay is twice what it is in private, I agree with the people who warned you against alt certification programs that do not require at least 6 months of student teaching. I went through one myself, and there are two major pitfalls: (1) the major school systems don't want to hire people with provisional teaching licenses, which is what you come out with initially and (2) when you do get hired, you will lack the classroom experience (classroom management, understanding testing/data collection that is a much bigger part of the job than you may realize, etc.) that others have.

Also, it's true that social studies jobs (which include government and civics) are the hardest jobs to come by in the public schools. This is one more reason to go for the full teaching license, and not the alt certification type. I don't know how old you are, but it can also be tough to get high-school jobs if you are over 35 or so--they definitely look for younger people, especially those who can also coach sports after school.

It is a very difficult time to become a new teacher, because of the increased scrutiny teachers are under at every level: legislators, parents, and principals. But if this is what you want to do, it is worth it. Going to work every day to do something meaningful is a wonderful thing.

The best place to start is by signing up to be a substitute teacher. Being a sub doesn't usually involve developing lessons, but at least you'd get a sense of the rhythm of the day, the unpredictability, how well the kids relate to you, etc. You could do it as your schedule allows. Also, start volunteering in related areas as much as possible (tutoring, teaching ESL at a church/etc., serving as juror for academic contests such as debates and science fairs).

Good luck, OP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you will love it. I wish I had pursued teaching, what an impact you will make.

lol @ that statement!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You cannot be serious.

I seriously considered it because I was miserable as a lawyer and loved tutoring. You might have a very narrow view of lawyers through movies. Most real lawyers out there are not the litigators and there are way too many of them, so of course, there will be some that want out. I don't know why I'm even posting a reply to this post, it'll be a waste of time.

Tutoring is not the same as teaching a class of 30 underachieving students.

so sad how people can be so clueless

Go find a legal position in a nonprofit or with the Feds. You'll be happier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, the DC and MD area independent schools have many former lawyers working as teachers. Look at the bios online. Maybe you could network with some of them?

I think private would be far better if you are prepared for the pay cut. Though some (like Landon, I think) offer housing right on their huge campuses.

But pedagogy is not important at private schools. If sit and get is your style, you'll do fine. If not, it's better to become a TRAINED professional. Just b/c you attended school doesn't mean you can teach w/o being trained.

[Anonymous]

I am a lawyer who did this-- got my master's degree, then taught for less than a year in a local school district (one of the supposedly "nice" suburban districts, but they all have large pockets of poverty these days). I got sick from working in a moldy trailer classroom. One of my students threatened to rape me. Two others threatened to falsely accuse me of sexual abuse. I went running back to a law firm (a few years ago, when the job market for lawyers was better). There were rewarding moments in teaching, but it wasn't worth the possibility of having my life ruined by mentally ill delinquents. Don't do it, OP.

[Anonymous]

I think you will love it. I wish I had pursued teaching, what an impact you will make.


lol @ that statement!

Why say such a bitchy thing? Seriously uncalled for.