Late in life law school?

[Anonymous]

My sister did this at age 56 - after she retired from being a teacher. She took $80k in debt. Worked one year in estate law for $40k per year (not in DC) and hated it.

She did settle my mom's estate, and we we payed her.

She is currently unemployed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My sister did this at age 56 - after she retired from being a teacher. She took $80k in debt. Worked one year in estate law for $40k per year (not in DC) and hated it.

She did settle my mom's estate, and we we payed her.

She is currently unemployed.

Ouch

[Anonymous]

OP---here's a counterpoint to the naysayers--

I have been a lawyer for over 20 years. One of the most successful attorneys in DC specializing in disability rights was first a teacher prior to law school, so you are not crazy.

My suggestion would be to talk to a couple of the disability rights lawyers in town about their experiences. If feasible financially and time-wise, you might want to try to intern with one of them to see if that area of law is something that you really want to do before making the financial commitment to law school. Georgetown's night program might be a good choice for you.

[Anonymous]

Law is a second career for me. I started practicing at age 33. I worked full time during law school so I wouldn't have to take out many loans, but I didn't have a family at that point. When I started, the conventional wisdom was that there were too many lawyers and not enough jobs. I remember articles in the newspaper about the lack of law jobs and everyone at job would cut them out and put them on my desk. Early on in school, the president of our school, who was also my Contracts professor, told us of a quote from Abraham Lincoln - can't remember the exact quote, but it went something like this. I'm not sure if it's a good decision to become a lawyer because there are so few jobs out there.

Anyway, for me, I decided that I would rather try it than live my life and die wishing I had. Like you, I thought I would go into some sort of disability advocacy (my first career was in social work working with people with disabilities). In the end, I finished law school with very little debt, which I paid off in the first few years out. But I didn't go into the field I thought I would. I am very happy with my decision and with the type of work I do. I still consider going into some sort of advocacy, but probably won't until after I retire and then more in a volunteer capacity rather than a paid position. I have never regretting doing this, but I think I would have regretted not going.

[Anonymous]

You should get involved in a non-profit or public-interest job that helps pair legal help with those in need, particularly those with special needs or disabilities. These things exist I just don't know specifics. Perhaps reach out to the director of a clinic at a local law school and see if they'd be willing to meet with you to talk about a partnership or way to volunteer your time.

[Anonymous]

How do you plan to pay 180K?

What if you can't get barred or find a job? You are entering your 50s when typically employers won't hire you.

[Anonymous]

Just curious, OP. What do you plan to do with a late in life law degree that you can't do as a non-attorney advocate practicing before SSA?

[Anonymous]

get an employer to pay you to attend law school.

[Anonymous]

I graduated from law school at age 44. This is a second career for me. I'm practicing in the general area that I had hoped to, but I don't find my work particularly meaningful. I got turned down for a number of "dream" jobs - most likely due to my age - and finally just settled. I don't have debt and I make a decent salary for my field, but I have a dreadful boss and am looking around for a new job. It's pretty daunting. The market is flooded with law school grads who can't find work, most of them 10-20 years younger than I am. Going to law school took a huge bite out of my finances and my time with my kids. I'm still contemplating whether it was worth it from a number of vantage points. It's hard to go to law school in your 40s - for starters, everything is graded on a curve and it is impossible to compete with kids in their 20s who have nothing else going on in their lives but law school. Then you graduate and face the job market, which is awful for all lawyers, but worse if you're in your 40s and just starting out.

I would recommend, as others have, first getting a taste of the kid of work you'd like to do by volunteering/interning/working as a paralegal. You need to know if you love the work enough to make some serious sacrifices for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I graduated from law school at age 44. This is a second career for me. I'm practicing in the general area that I had hoped to, but I don't find my work particularly meaningful. I got turned down for a number of "dream" jobs - most likely due to my age - and finally just settled. I don't have debt and I make a decent salary for my field, but I have a dreadful boss and am looking around for a new job. It's pretty daunting. The market is flooded with law school grads who can't find work, most of them 10-20 years younger than I am. Going to law school took a huge bite out of my finances and my time with my kids. I'm still contemplating whether it was worth it from a number of vantage points. It's hard to go to law school in your 40s - for starters, everything is graded on a curve and it is impossible to compete with kids in their 20s who have nothing else going on in their lives but law school. Then you graduate and face the job market, which is awful for all lawyers, but worse if you're in your 40s and just starting out.

I would recommend, as others have, first getting a taste of the kid of work you'd like to do by volunteering/interning/working as a paralegal. You need to know if you love the work enough to make some serious sacrifices for it.

I'm a recent law school graduate and I have to admit that I often thought about this when I'd see older folks in my classes. I could not imagine getting through law school while having additional responsibilities. While there are exceptions, those at the top of the class tend to be those who put in the most hours. So if you can't work as much as the next guy, you're pretty much f*cked out of the gate. Also, your first semester grades are really the only thing that matters in terms of getting a job (crazy, I know), so if you have a long adaptation period you're setting yourself up for failure. By 2L year everyone catches on and the curve becomes much tighter, so those who were at the top of the class during 1L will stay there.