Law school at age 35

[Anonymous]

Too late? Money is not an issue, and I'm not interested in going to BIGLAW. With that in mind, what's the law school experience and career prospects like for older students?

[Anonymous]

You will get a job paying about $45k. If you are really lucky and have some connections maybe a state prosecutor paying $55-60k.

[Anonymous]

The legal field is very uncomfortable with people who are non-traditional. It's ironic that the legal field is the one who fought against discrimination on age/sex/race.... and yet, traditional legal fields (and even non-traditional ones), are quite rigid in who they will hire. They envision the late 20-somethings being entry level and they often cannot imagine supervising someone older than they are (this is not unique to legal employers).

I would strongly encourage you to do some investigation of places you might like to work and then meet with people to find out more about the pros and cons of those types of jobs. Ask who they hire (i.e. what experience do they have to have).

To be totally honest, I think you might be better off getting a paralegal certificate.... but, if it is totally for your enjoyment and you don't care if you are employed... you might as well do the degree.

[Anonymous]

You could make $100k as a states attorney, do you time and then do petty criminal law (DUI) and make $150k not even trying.

[Anonymous]

How old are your kids?

I had an easier time writing my PhD dissertation with a baby/toddler in the house than I am having working full-time with a high school kid. Every family is different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You could make $100k as a states attorney, do you time and then do petty criminal law (DUI) and make $150k not even trying.

This is an exaggeration. I have two friends who do the state misdemeanor routine and both of them clear less than $100k.

[Anonymous]

I went to law school 30 years ago but there were a couple older people in my class (people in their 30s, early 40s with families). We all got along just fine, although obviously they weren't as much a part of the hanging out scene because they had families and houses to get back to. As far as job prospects, I don't know these days, but ask yourself why you want to go to law school and what you want to do with it (public service, non-profit, small firm, whatever) and do your research from there. The world has changed but how good a student you are and what school you go to and what you do with your summer breaks are probably still very relevant to your future prospects.

[Anonymous]

What if you're a financial regulator and will be sponsored (50 percent of tuition) to attend part time? I already earn over 170k. It would help me continue to move up. Would be a lot of work though.

[Anonymous]

I think it depends. If your job experience can directly relate to the field you want to go into (e.g., you were an engineer for 10 years and want to do patent law or oil & gas law), it could be seen as a great asset. But if you're just looking for a change and find the law "interesting," I'd be less rosy about your prospects.

I also think that you're on the cusp of what would be considered non-traditional. Lots of people don't go to law school right after college, but most start within 5 or so years of graduation. 35 is a stretch, but not completely out of the norm. Close though.

[Anonymous]

Two young ones, ages 1 and 4. Spouse works from home part-time.

[Anonymous]

Started at age 30. Ended up clerking for a Supreme Court Justice. Now enjoying non Big Law practice and being a parent who is active and present in DCs' lives. You can do anything with a law degree.

[Anonymous]

Started at 27 and graduated at 30. I was in the second-career group at law school (HYS) because the average age in the 1L class was 23. I was an "older student" at 27! Just to prepare you. You might want to look at non-traditional law programs (UMD has a night program).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Started at age 30. Ended up clerking for a Supreme Court Justice. Now enjoying non Big Law practice and being a parent who is active and present in DCs' lives. You can do anything with a law degree.

Please don't tell people this. You are breathing rarefied air that does not apply to anyone else. It's like the law version of "If they don't have bread, then let them eat cake!" (Even for SC clerks, it's not really true. I'm married to one and I probably know you since it's such a frickin' small world.)

For most people, taking out that much money to go to law school is not a good investment.

For OP, it may be, given that there's a clear career path and the employer will pay half. If it's half at a state school like George Mason, that's probably even better. (Half at Georgetown is still a lot of coin). But part-time evening law school is looooong slog, and with little kids at home, I think it would be really, really tough. Will employer make you pay them back if you can't finish? Will employer give you time off so you can take some day classes? Can you study during the day at work? If the answers are yes, no, and no, then I think I would NOT do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Started at age 30. Ended up clerking for a Supreme Court Justice. Now enjoying non Big Law practice and being a parent who is active and present in DCs' lives. You can do anything with a law degree.

Please don't tell people this. You are breathing rarefied air that does not apply to anyone else. It's like the law version of "If they don't have bread, then let them eat cake!" (Even for SC clerks, it's not really true. I'm married to one and I probably know you since it's such a frickin' small world.)

For most people, taking out that much money to go to law school is not a good investment.

For OP, it may be, given that there's a clear career path and the employer will pay half. If it's half at a state school like George Mason, that's probably even better. (Half at Georgetown is still a lot of coin). But part-time evening law school is looooong slog, and with little kids at home, I think it would be really, really tough. Will employer make you pay them back if you can't finish? Will employer give you time off so you can take some day classes? Can you study during the day at work? If the answers are yes, no, and no, then I think I would NOT do it.

OP -- please listen to this poster. The "you can do anything" poster is deluded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Started at age 30. Ended up clerking for a Supreme Court Justice. Now enjoying non Big Law practice and being a parent who is active and present in DCs' lives. You can do anything with a law degree.

Please don't tell people this. You are breathing rarefied air that does not apply to anyone else. It's like the law version of "If they don't have bread, then let them eat cake!" (Even for SC clerks, it's not really true. I'm married to one and I probably know you since it's such a frickin' small world.)

For most people, taking out that much money to go to law school is not a good investment.

For OP, it may be, given that there's a clear career path and the employer will pay half. If it's half at a state school like George Mason, that's probably even better. (Half at Georgetown is still a lot of coin). But part-time evening law school is looooong slog, and with little kids at home, I think it would be really, really tough. Will employer make you pay them back if you can't finish? Will employer give you time off so you can take some day classes? Can you study during the day at work? If the answers are yes, no, and no, then I think I would NOT do it.

OP -- please listen to this poster. The "you can do anything" poster is deluded.

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