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sheisreeds -> Law School (8/26/2012 11:49:55 AM)
I am contemplating law school in about 4 years, I'd be pushing 40 by the time I'd had my JD. I am trying to decide whether or not I am completely insane. Anyone here in law school, highly considered law school, or has graduated? Anyone pursue a law degree later in life? I would love to here your thoughts and experiences! If you prefer to not disclose your profession on cm, I'd love a private message.

Baroana -> RE: Law School (8/26/2012 11:53:27 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: sheisreeds I am contemplating law school in about 4 years, I'd be pushing 40 by the time I'd had my JD. I am trying to decide whether or not I am completely insane. Anyone here in law school, highly considered law school, or has graduated? Anyone pursue a law degree later in life? I would love to here your thoughts and experiences! If you prefer to not disclose your profession on cm, I'd love a private message. I went to law school. I went with people much older than you, and being 40 at graduation is nothing. The real question is do you know why you're going, and are you aware of the fact that you might very well invest more money in that degree than you will ever get out of it?

sheisreeds -> RE: Law School (8/26/2012 12:06:57 PM)
I don't want to disclose all the reasons here, but yes I know why I am going, and would not go unless I thought I would get the kind of job I am thinking of with a fair amount of ease, and would thoroughly research that kind of job and decide if it is what I want. My current work leads me to court a lot, and I have developed a very deep appreciation for justice. I would be going into advocacy, or forensic mental health (ideally both!) I deal with lawyers, judges, as another kind of professional everyday, and think this would be a logical evolution of my career.

outhere69 -> RE: Law School (8/26/2012 12:35:14 PM)
Nowadays law schools are graduating twice as many people than there are positions. Many schools have crappy law (and business) schools just because they are huge money generators. However, the students don't often know about the low quality. The "employment" figures given by the school include any kind of employment, including flipping burgers. I'd check out what the breakeven is for your JD, especially if you'll need to take on loans. Here are a few sites that may come in handy: http://www.businessinsider.com/real-stories-behind-the-law-school-crisis-2012-4?op=1 http://insidethelawschoolscam.blogspot.com/2012/06/two-out-of-three-2011-law-school.html

Missokyst -> RE: Law School (8/26/2012 12:41:11 PM)
My view of any job is that you should love it. You should be interested in the subject and be willing to work for it no matter how old you are. I learned to be a computer tech after burning out on the retail trade (did that cause I LOVE helping customers). At the time being in my 40's AND female I knew it probably wouldn't be easy but I had the interest. Thankfully I did not have to pay for training, but I would have if it had come down to it. If you desire something, do it!

sheisreeds -> RE: Law School (8/26/2012 1:03:58 PM)
My alma matar has a very good law school attached, and actually has a dual degree program with the masters I already have. I'd be taking on loans, and will definitely be investigating the payments, though so long as the current forgiveness act remains in place I'd be able to get forgiveness for those loans in 10 years too, and would also likely qualify for income based repayment. I'm going to meet with the law school admissions office this fall, and get a sense of what I can expect in return for 3 years of my life and a whole lot of new debt. Thought with my other graduate degree I'm likely to be a shoe in for the places I want to be.

slaveluci -> RE: Law School (8/26/2012 1:50:09 PM)
Not law school but I just turned 40 and I began a masters program in the spring. It's never too late. Don't let your late start hinder you. I'm loving grad school and I wish you all the best. Go for it! There's really no good reason not to.......luci

myotherself -> RE: Law School (8/26/2012 2:25:54 PM)
I changed careers from engineering to teaching when I was 40. I spent a year at university and 5 years later I'm still paying off my student loans. I plan to start a part-time Masters course this year, and if it goes well, perhaps a PhD later on. If that happens I'll be 50 before it starts. I say go for it. If you feel it's right in your gut and in your heart, all the rest is just details to be worked out as they arise. Good luck!

cloudboy -> RE: Law School (8/26/2012 3:23:57 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: sheisreeds I don't want to disclose all the reasons here, but yes I know why I am going, and would not go unless I thought I would get the kind of job I am thinking of with a fair amount of ease, and would thoroughly research that kind of job and decide if it is what I want. My current work leads me to court a lot, and I have developed a very deep appreciation for justice. I would be going into advocacy, or forensic mental health (ideally both!) I deal with lawyers, judges, as another kind of professional everyday, and think this would be a logical evolution of my career. You are precisely the kind of person who should go to Law School b/c you are targeted (know what job you want) and are connected (are already working in the field.) This hopefully means: (1) you will be able to put your degree to use; (2) you will be able process the massive volume if legal information law school's teach in way to further yourself, namely you'll know what's relevant for you and what's not (except for exam taking purposes.) My wife just finished law school and graduated at age 41. She was a night student and felt more comfortable with the other night students because of their maturity, working experience, perspective, and commons sense. She disliked the 20-something day students. Demographically, she was in the oldest 5% of her class (if not higher) meaning that at least 95% of her classmates were younger than her. She went to law school because it offered a clear cut path to expanding her career with her current employer. The downside to law school, as you probably know, is how much of your valuable time and money it wastes to get the degree. You'll be forced to take a host of classes way outside of your field and job interests, and you will not be awarded any credit for your past job experience. You also don't gain much practical training or know-how in school, and the education system itself features large class sizes and a mill-like format of pedagogy.

sheisreeds -> RE: Law School (8/26/2012 3:46:53 PM)
quote: The downside to law school, as you probably know, is how much of your valuable time and money it wastes to get the degree. You'll be forced to take a host of classes way outside of your field and job interests, and you will not be awarded any credit for your past job experience. You also don't gain much practical training or know-how in school, and the education system itself features large class sizes and a mill-like format of pedagogy. Thankfully the school I'm considering has a 13:1 student to teacher ratio, and requires legal clinic as well as interning with public service agencies as a requirement for all law school graduates. Unfortunately I'm likely to be a day student, I'd want to go full time and get it over with, and per diem work with my current degree is more profitable evenings and nights. What does concern me is that I would be leaving my field where I am well connected and drifting into the shadows for a few years. Chances are I can get on a few committees, or consult, or potentially get part time work with the county oversight agencies (in which case I'd be a night student :) ) All this is years away, but I need to lay it all out now, one as insulation for my brain as reach compassion and emotional burnout from my current job, and to remain as financially solvent as possible.

LadyHibiscus -> RE: Law School (8/26/2012 4:04:52 PM)
I don't know your field, but 'drifiting into the shadows' for a woman, in today's economy? Risky, to say the least. Look seriously at those loans. My clients that got degrees later in life are all struggling with payments and the vagaries of a system that is more punitive than flexible.

LookieNoNookie -> RE: Law School (8/26/2012 4:10:50 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: sheisreeds I am contemplating law school in about 4 years, I'd be pushing 40 by the time I'd had my JD. I am trying to decide whether or not I am completely insane. Anyone here in law school, highly considered law school, or has graduated? Anyone pursue a law degree later in life? I would love to here your thoughts and experiences! If you prefer to not disclose your profession on cm, I'd love a private message. I plan on doing exactly that in about 7 or 8 years after I sell all my company's and "retire". I'll be 60+ at the time. I love the law...it's fascinating, logical, sequential. I carry a "Blacks Law Dictionary" with me on every flight I go on (upwards of 8 - 10 a year) and for about half the flight, I read it, highlight sections, tab things I want to later look up and learn more about. Law is a wonderful path to travel. It opens up your mind to a vastly different way of thinking (more Socratic). Wonderful stuff. And, when I do get around to doing it....it'll be for one purpose only: To learn.

Baroana -> RE: Law School (8/26/2012 4:34:30 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LookieNoNookie quote: ORIGINAL: sheisreeds I am contemplating law school in about 4 years, I'd be pushing 40 by the time I'd had my JD. I am trying to decide whether or not I am completely insane. Anyone here in law school, highly considered law school, or has graduated? Anyone pursue a law degree later in life? I would love to here your thoughts and experiences! If you prefer to not disclose your profession on cm, I'd love a private message. I plan on doing exactly that in about 7 or 8 years after I sell all my company's and "retire". I'll be 60+ at the time. I love the law...it's fascinating, logical, sequential. I carry a "Blacks Law Dictionary" with me on every flight I go on (upwards of 8 - 10 a year) and for about half the flight, I read it, highlight sections, tab things I want to later look up and learn more about. Law is a wonderful path to travel. It opens up your mind to a vastly different way of thinking (more Socratic). Wonderful stuff. And, when I do get around to doing it....it'll be for one purpose only: To learn. If you're doing it just to learn, then for heaven's sake don't pay for law school! You can get the same education for close to free. If you've been studying on your own, you're probably on your way there already.

Karmastic -> RE: Law School (8/26/2012 4:40:18 PM)
fr- i went to law school in my late 30s, it's never too late. i wanted to give my career a boost, and thought if i was going to get an MBA, why not do a bit more and just get a law degree. i always wanted to be a lawyer (i'm still not, and probably never will be). i took and passed the bar for what the heck value. by the time i graduated, i was making a shit load more money, and it just wasn't worth it for me to start all over as a grunt, doing legal research in a windowless office for peanuts. so, for me, it turned out to be a good growth and learning experience, and a $120k resume builder (i went to a cheap school). it definitely has enhanced my ability to garner higher fees and wages in my present field (not related per say, but can be integrated). since you can never learn all laws (hard enough to even master one field), what law school will do is teach you how to find out what the law is. it will help you problem solve, and help you be the one people go to for help when they're being taken advantage of. there's noting like citing a code or law in a "lawyer letter" that compels action. i imagine that 90% of your future work and benefit from law school will be advocating via phone and lawyer letters. and, by being legally educated, you can spot when people go on about this or that, or what you need to do, but they really don't know anything about the "law", let alone what approach or tack is best to take. don't even think about a position with a high paying blue chip firm unless you're in the top 5 or 10% of your class. and, if you start at even $150k a year, but are working almost 80 hours a week, then you're really only making $75k :( to avoid falling out of your present career path, you might want to consider going part time like i did. it was hell working full time, and did contribute to the decline of my marriage-like relationship (what i considered at the time a lifetime commitment). if there's a significant other in your life, please also discuss it with them; they need to be part of the "team" and buy into the plan. i literally carried law books around with me everywhere i went, to be able to put in the needed time reading and briefing cases. i look back now and lament how much play i skipped for studying. re your situation, seems like you should go for it! another benefit to starting out part time is not burning your bridges (quitting full time work) and just dipping your feet in. you may find you don't at all like law school, or the people. i went at night, but there were plenty of youngins. i kick myself at all the missed opportunities (both friends and lovers) cus i was too freakin busy. they really weren't too bad, but law school just isn't for everyone (plenty drop out). i'd be happy to answer any other questions here, or if too personal, take it to PM.

Karmastic -> RE: Law School (8/26/2012 4:44:45 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LookieNoNookie quote: ORIGINAL: sheisreeds I am contemplating law school in about 4 years, I'd be pushing 40 by the time I'd had my JD. I am trying to decide whether or not I am completely insane. Anyone here in law school, highly considered law school, or has graduated? Anyone pursue a law degree later in life? I would love to here your thoughts and experiences! If you prefer to not disclose your profession on cm, I'd love a private message. I plan on doing exactly that in about 7 or 8 years after I sell all my company's and "retire". I'll be 60+ at the time. I love the law...it's fascinating, logical, sequential. I carry a "Blacks Law Dictionary" with me on every flight I go on (upwards of 8 - 10 a year) and for about half the flight, I read it, highlight sections, tab things I want to later look up and learn more about. Law is a wonderful path to travel. It opens up your mind to a vastly different way of thinking (more Socratic). Wonderful stuff. And, when I do get around to doing it....it'll be for one purpose only: To learn. anyone who carries blacks with them rocks in my book! you rock!!! and here i thought you were just a clown. okay, please discuss diff between probative and dispositive :) and when some 20 something starts telling you about this "old guy" she dated when she was 19, pay close attention and don't shine her on like i did. and when 20 somethings keep intentionally bumping or rubbing against you, don't move somewhere else so that you can quietly read Roe v Wade without interruptions.

LookieNoNookie -> RE: Law School (8/26/2012 5:50:27 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Baroana quote: ORIGINAL: LookieNoNookie quote: ORIGINAL: sheisreeds I am contemplating law school in about 4 years, I'd be pushing 40 by the time I'd had my JD. I am trying to decide whether or not I am completely insane. Anyone here in law school, highly considered law school, or has graduated? Anyone pursue a law degree later in life? I would love to here your thoughts and experiences! If you prefer to not disclose your profession on cm, I'd love a private message. I plan on doing exactly that in about 7 or 8 years after I sell all my company's and "retire". I'll be 60+ at the time. I love the law...it's fascinating, logical, sequential. I carry a "Blacks Law Dictionary" with me on every flight I go on (upwards of 8 - 10 a year) and for about half the flight, I read it, highlight sections, tab things I want to later look up and learn more about. Law is a wonderful path to travel. It opens up your mind to a vastly different way of thinking (more Socratic). Wonderful stuff. And, when I do get around to doing it....it'll be for one purpose only: To learn. If you're doing it just to learn, then for heaven's sake don't pay for law school! You can get the same education for close to free. If you've been studying on your own, you're probably on your way there already. last I heard, you get what you pay for....however, it's still good advice. Quite a lot is online now. What's missing, of course, is the interaction among students, differing ideas...etc.

LookieNoNookie -> RE: Law School (8/26/2012 5:52:36 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Karmastic quote: ORIGINAL: LookieNoNookie quote: ORIGINAL: sheisreeds I am contemplating law school in about 4 years, I'd be pushing 40 by the time I'd had my JD. I am trying to decide whether or not I am completely insane. Anyone here in law school, highly considered law school, or has graduated? Anyone pursue a law degree later in life? I would love to here your thoughts and experiences! If you prefer to not disclose your profession on cm, I'd love a private message. I plan on doing exactly that in about 7 or 8 years after I sell all my company's and "retire". I'll be 60+ at the time. I love the law...it's fascinating, logical, sequential. I carry a "Blacks Law Dictionary" with me on every flight I go on (upwards of 8 - 10 a year) and for about half the flight, I read it, highlight sections, tab things I want to later look up and learn more about. Law is a wonderful path to travel. It opens up your mind to a vastly different way of thinking (more Socratic). Wonderful stuff. And, when I do get around to doing it....it'll be for one purpose only: To learn. anyone who carries blacks with them rocks in my book! you rock!!! and here i thought you were just a clown. okay, please discuss diff between probative and dispositive :) and when some 20 something starts telling you about this "old guy" she dated when she was 19, pay close attention and don't shine her on like i did. and when 20 somethings keep intentionally bumping or rubbing against you, don't move somewhere else so that you can quietly read Roe v Wade without interruptions. If I hadn't just moved and could find my dictionary...I'd tell you LOL. (My mind works like a perfect sieve :) ) (And by the way...the world needs funnier lawyers). (I suppose I could cheat and look it up online...but I'll wait til I find my book).

RemoteUser -> RE: Law School (8/26/2012 6:10:09 PM)
Go for it. You're not crazy if you've taken the time to look at fees and how you would adapt to the career shift. (I'm not in law myself, though I also have an appreciation for it. My girl, on the other hand, has one of her degrees in law.)

Kaliko -> RE: Law School (8/26/2012 7:07:19 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: sheisreeds I am contemplating law school in about 4 years, I'd be pushing 40 by the time I'd had my JD. I am trying to decide whether or not I am completely insane. Anyone here in law school, highly considered law school, or has graduated? Anyone pursue a law degree later in life? I would love to here your thoughts and experiences! If you prefer to not disclose your profession on cm, I'd love a private message. It doesn't matter at all that you're going to be pushing 40. You're going to be 40 either way, aren't you? You can be 40 with a degree, or without it. If you want to do it, do it! A little insanity is perfectly normal and vitally necessary.

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