Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:You're wasting a spot. You won't actually do anything with the degree; this is not a whimsical degree or just a brag point for a cocktail party. Don't take a spot away from someone who actually needs it.
Gross presumption here. And a person who actually “needs” a spot should earn it and if nothing else should want to have earned it.
Anonymous wrote:Isn't the annual tuition at a school like American or GWU $56ish so the full program is about $160K, not $100K?
Anonymous wrote:^^I also want to say this (this is a take on what I say to myself often about many things; I'm just inserting "You are" for "I am")
You are among the luckiest person who has ever lived. You are a woman born in a rarified time and place--an exclusive time and place where you are not conscripted by race, gender, status of birth or social class. You are allowed to be whatever you want to be, where you can learn whatever you want to learn--all doors can be open to you. Your ancestors would kill for one-tenth of the opportunities that are laid before your feet, daily. Your only job is to to take those opportunities that have been given you and not limit yourself because of some artificial cage you have created for yourself..."it's too late; I'm too old," for example. Someone has to be the oldest new lawyer in America; it might as well be you. Go for it.
Anonymous wrote:You're wasting a spot. You won't actually do anything with the degree; this is not a whimsical degree or just a brag point for a cocktail party. Don't take a spot away from someone who actually needs it.
Anonymous wrote:^^I also want to say this (this is a take on what I say to myself often about many things; I'm just inserting "You are" for "I am")
You are among the luckiest person who has ever lived. You are a woman born in a rarified time and place--an exclusive time and place where you are not conscripted by race, gender, status of birth or social class. You are allowed to be whatever you want to be, where you can learn whatever you want to learn--all doors can be open to you. Your ancestors would kill for one-tenth of the opportunities that are laid before your feet, daily. Your only job is to to take those opportunities that have been given you and not limit yourself because of some artificial cage you have created for yourself..."it's too late; I'm too old," for example. Someone has to be the oldest new lawyer in America; it might as well be you. Go for it.
Anonymous wrote:Do it. You will be working into your 70's regardless. Yes, it will cost a considerable sum. My advice- attend the best law school that admits you.
Anonymous wrote:Law school - crazy. Expensive, long, and very difficult to recover your costs.
paralegal - great idea. Money is pretty good, work can be interesting, and there are jobs.
Anonymous wrote:OP: I'll give you the other point of view. If this is something you've wanted to do your whole life, AND you have clear and realistic goals for what you want to do with a law degree, AND you won't be going into debt - then go for it.
What's the alternative - you spend the next 20 years still wishing you'd done this when you were young?
But I would only do this if it won't hurt you financially, and you know what you are going to do with the degree. Otherwise you will be just like the miserable 25 year old law grads except also facing age discrimination.
Don't become a paralegal unless it's what you actually want to do, or unless you really do need the $$.
Anonymous wrote:Start working towards being a paralegal. Get a job in a small firm as a receptionist. Psy attention. Learn everything you can. Volunteer to take on extra projects. Study. And then let the supervising attorney know you are interested in paralegal work. A trained paralegal can do everything an attorney do except give legal advice, set fees, and represent clients in court. And you can represent clients at certain administrative hearings. You'll meet with clients, work on investigation and discovery, research, draft pleadings, communicate with opposing counsel, assist the attorney in court ..... If you are a litigation paralegal, you'll work long hours but the pay is usually very good.
Something to think about.
Anonymous wrote:I've always wanted to go to law school. Got derailed after college into another career, then had kids and SAH for a lot of years. Kids in high school now, soon college. I can afford in-state tuition at local, not very prestigious law school, but would it be worth it to start now? I'd be almost 60 when finished -- what then? I took the practice LSAT and did very well on it, FWIW. I've always been interested in law and politics. I am healthy and hope to work into my 70s. Is this just a crazy idea? Will it be a waste of time/money? BTW, no one wants to hire me in my old field. I'm too old, skills too rusty. Age discrimination is alive and very well.
I am not the OP, but also looking for a change. I worry that if I were in the position of being a good paralegal, I wouldn't have an "inferiority complex", but might be resentful if I felt I were doing the lion's share of the attorney's work, while he got the lion's share of the money.
Anonymous wrote:OP: I'll give you the other point of view. If this is something you've wanted to do your whole life, AND you have clear and realistic goals for what you want to do with a law degree, AND you won't be going into debt - then go for it.
What's the alternative - you spend the next 20 years still wishing you'd done this when you were young?
But I would only do this if it won't hurt you financially, and you know what you are going to do with the degree. Otherwise you will be just like the miserable 25 year old law grads except also facing age discrimination.
Don't become a paralegal unless it's what you actually want to do, or unless you really do need the $$.