Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lawyer here.

Law school is three years, but you aren't really great at practice, especially litigation, until you've done it for at least a few years. By the time you are of much use to clients you'll be approaching, if not beyond, US life expectancy. And criminal defense can be a rough-and-tumble practice. Make sure you aren't romanticizing it; it's more DUI and vandalism than what you'd see on an episode of Law & Order.

That said, we need committed, passionate public defenders. Our system is adversarial and it doesn't work without them. If you can get a law school to let you in (what are your credentials? LSAT score?), and you can afford the tuition, and don't need to make much money, you might be able to do some good. I'd start by taking a practice LSAT if you haven't already -- that will give you a good sense of where you stand, regarding how competitive of a candidate you might be and how suitable a career in the law might or might not be.

My DH went to law school at Catholic in the night program in his late 30s; he says it wasn't easy (but he was working full time as a CPA in a big accounting firm as well). I attended a 1st tier law school and considered myself an "older" student at 29, lol. We had a couple of folks who were late 30s I believe. No one older than that. Doesn't mean you can't do it, though.

But OP said night school. That is much longer. Plus bar exam

Night school is an additional year. Bar exam is a month after graduation (assuming you pass the first time)

Anonymous wrote:Lawyer here.

Law school is three years, but you aren't really great at practice, especially litigation, until you've done it for at least a few years. By the time you are of much use to clients you'll be approaching, if not beyond, US life expectancy. And criminal defense can be a rough-and-tumble practice. Make sure you aren't romanticizing it; it's more DUI and vandalism than what you'd see on an episode of Law & Order.

That said, we need committed, passionate public defenders. Our system is adversarial and it doesn't work without them. If you can get a law school to let you in (what are your credentials? LSAT score?), and you can afford the tuition, and don't need to make much money, you might be able to do some good. I'd start by taking a practice LSAT if you haven't already -- that will give you a good sense of where you stand, regarding how competitive of a candidate you might be and how suitable a career in the law might or might not be.

My DH went to law school at Catholic in the night program in his late 30s; he says it wasn't easy (but he was working full time as a CPA in a big accounting firm as well). I attended a 1st tier law school and considered myself an "older" student at 29, lol. We had a couple of folks who were late 30s I believe. No one older than that. Doesn't mean you can't do it, though.

But OP said night school. That is much longer. Plus bar exam

I went to CUNY law when I was 50.

https://www.law.cuny.edu

Not everyone is looking for a stepping stone to something else. I already had a few million in the bank. I work in educational policy. State employee. It's way less stress than my old job.

I would called admissions. I believe there are only X number of slots for new students, so you might be ruled out based on not enough slots from younger students. But if they have a slot and you have money to pay I would guess they would admit you.

One thing I have learned with older people in the classroom, especially in east coast universities, is that kids are very impatient with older students asking a ton of questions or asking for something to be repeated. So if you do get in, be quick minded.

GL

Anonymous wrote:My friend's mom started law school after the last of her six daughters left for college. They were all super supportive. She was in her 50s but people are living longer now. Why not take 1 or 2 classes as a trial run?

Law school doesn't work that way.

OP, are you retired? Are you so wealthy that basically throwing away the tuition and book money won't matter to you? You will likely never be paid to work as a lawyer so it would be a vanity exercise. Could you take up fulfilling volunteer work instead?

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?

Starting law school at age 68/69 is not a good idea. Plus--sorry to say--there is a good chance that you'll be viewed by other students & by law profs as a pain in the butt with time consuming questions that are best left for socializing over coffee.

Too bad for them then. If OP can get in and can pay they belong as much as anyone.

I'm not a lawyer, but for those who are: Could this person contribute by volunteering or working as a paralegal?

OMG do it!!! Love that you want to help the world!

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?

Starting law school at age 68/69 is not a good idea. Plus--sorry to say--there is a good chance that you'll be viewed by other students & by law profs as a pain in the butt with time consuming questions that are best left for socializing over coffee.

+1 to taking a practice LSAT.

Anonymous wrote:So, you have a strong urge to be an attorney, you're in the later stages of your working career and you've decided to rely on an anonymous message board about universities for guidance? Seems better than speaking with, I dunno, Public Defender's offices, lawyer, law firms.

+1.

I don’t understand why OP, who wants to be a public defender, no less, so quickly caved. “Whatever you say, anonymous people!”

Anonymous wrote:I know a lady in her 80s who still practices real estate. Louise Hay started "Hay House" publishing house in her 70s. Follow your passion, OP. Its never too late.

My dad is still practicing in his 80s. He loves it still.

But the real question is can you afford it, and are your expectations reasonably realistic. If so, why not?

I thought all the area law schools had night school?

If you have the money, the time, and the desire, I'd say go for it. But more for the love or interest in learning -- and fully accepting that employment after graduation may or may not come.

Lawyer here.

Law school is three years, but you aren't really great at practice, especially litigation, until you've done it for at least a few years. By the time you are of much use to clients you'll be approaching, if not beyond, US life expectancy. And criminal defense can be a rough-and-tumble practice. Make sure you aren't romanticizing it; it's more DUI and vandalism than what you'd see on an episode of Law & Order.

That said, we need committed, passionate public defenders. Our system is adversarial and it doesn't work without them. If you can get a law school to let you in (what are your credentials? LSAT score?), and you can afford the tuition, and don't need to make much money, you might be able to do some good. I'd start by taking a practice LSAT if you haven't already -- that will give you a good sense of where you stand, regarding how competitive of a candidate you might be and how suitable a career in the law might or might not be.

My DH went to law school at Catholic in the night program in his late 30s; he says it wasn't easy (but he was working full time as a CPA in a big accounting firm as well). I attended a 1st tier law school and considered myself an "older" student at 29, lol. We had a couple of folks who were late 30s I believe. No one older than that. Doesn't mean you can't do it, though.