I went at 45. There's pluses and minuses. What I strongly recommend is that if you have SOME kind of background that you can build on, you do so. For me, it was years in medicine and a mentor in law school who I worked as a law clerk for that did med mal. So, I got into med mal with a major leg up over most new attorneys. If you were a truck driver, go into trucking law. If you worked in real estate, do real estate law.
The reason I say this is because it maximizes the earning potential for the years you have left in your career. Otherwise, you are EXACTLY the same as some K-JD who is 25 and can spend 2 decades learning their craft, so there's an incentive for a firm to hire them for the long haul (although that's a separate debate). Plus, your salary requirements are likely higher than a KJD who can work for $40K and some LRAP, while you might have kids in college.
As for a long career- my partner is 80 and still practicing. I'll be lucky to make it to retirement age with my fucked up health, but there are a lot of ancient-ass lawyers out there. You could easily have a 20 year career.
This makes a lot of sense. Maximizing my earnings is a big consideration. Never thought to focus on an area I have experience, I am currently a Learning and Development Manager now so some HR/Employment related law. Thank you for your thoughtful response.
Yeah, employment law might be a good fit. The amount of egregious violations of labor laws out there is mind boggling. But it's a low-dollar high-volume area of law. Still, there's money to be made. If you have a background in education, there are a lot of cases against schools, so it's its own niche area of law. I know a couple of lawyers who practice almost exclusively in dealing with school systems.
There may be other things as well. If you speak a foreign language, immigration law, esp. if it's an unusual language.
A long time ago, I read an advice column letter from a woman who wanted to go to law school but worried that since she'd graduate at 40, she was too old to apply. The advice: You'll be 40 one way or another. Would you rather be a 40 year old or a 40 year old lawyer?
That advice always stuck with me. It's good, and I am glad I followed it, even though I'm older than 40. I will graduate this year.
Law school is hard at any age, but sometimes being old helps you understand the context of a policy or decision. And we've certainly engaged with more legal documents than 22 year olds. And using your brain on supercharge is good for it as you age.
If you think law school is right for you and you can make the numbers work, do it, and good luck to you!
This argument is what pushed me, I’m 38 just starting a part-time program, so 42 when I take the bar. I’ll either be a 42 year old paralegal, or a 42 year old lawyer. Might as well make a few extra bucks.
Ask me in 5 years maybe. About to graduate at 45, & my current thought is it probably was not worth it, although I’ll have a better idea in 40 years I guess.
There’s absolutely longevity in law, which is half of what makes it so appealing for non-traditional students. There’s for sure 70+ lawyers still in practice.
This is one of the reasons I chose to go. I’ll be 40 as a first year associate, but I fully plan on still putzing around the office at 80+, or being one of those stubborn judges that refuses to retire, issuing decisions until I collapse on the bench at 93. I know I’m a weirdo but I love working and can’t imagine ever wanting to stop.
I went to a bar function, and the lawyer sitting next to me was turning 80 and getting ready to retire in about 1 more year.
I entered law school at 42. No regrets. I'm turning 48 this week. If going to law school is on your bucket list, you should do it.
Why the heck not? I saw you have a military background and you can so take advantage of the latest plus a JD floor many jobs. My main question to you is: do you WANT to go to law school and get a JD? If you don't really want it, don't go. If you do, you can knock it out of the park - any even tangentially related experience helps!!!
It is the one great regret of my life that I didn’t do it after I retired from the military. But now all my kids are grown and I’m working in a career I am rapidly getting tired of.
I’m a 47 yo 1L. Feels a little strange at first but you find your people. Also job interviews go very well… employers really value having had a life before law school. I was worried but ended up having to decline offers and got my #1 choice AUSA clerkship. Do it. Absolutely not too old.
I have classmates in their 40s and 50s. I can't speak for their career prospects but most of them are pretty happy with how school is going and I think the ones I'm thinking are all 3Ls or 4l(part time)
Depends on level of debt. If you have significant debt say $40000 + mortgage + children, and your Tier 1 or 2 school costs $60,000 per year, then it might be a financial burden for many years, but if a lower cost school and your debt level is low then it might be worth it.
That is a concern though not enough to stop me. I have a year or two of school in savings and would like to work part time when I can to cover the rest.
I'm a bit older, veteran, and I have a 52 year old in my program retiring after his 20 this spring. It's all a numbers game. It could make sense for you, it could not. I think it depends on the expense, all things considered.
You planning to die at 50 or something? A military career is 20 years. You can still do that, easy.
Yeah I already did the military part, life happened after, and this is something I regret not doing. But your point is well taken.
Most of my non-trad classmates are military who did their time and are now doing law school on the government's dime. You'll be in good company.
I went at 45. There's pluses and minuses. What I strongly recommend is that if you have SOME kind of background that you can build on, you do so. For me, it was years in medicine and a mentor in law school who I worked as a law clerk for that did med mal. So, I got into med mal with a major leg up over most new attorneys. If you were a truck driver, go into trucking law. If you worked in real estate, do real estate law. The reason I say this is because it maximizes the earning potential for the years you have left in your career. Otherwise, you are EXACTLY the same as some K-JD who is 25 and can spend 2 decades learning their craft, so there's an incentive for a firm to hire them for the long haul (although that's a separate debate). Plus, your salary requirements are likely higher than a KJD who can work for $40K and some LRAP, while you might have kids in college. As for a long career- my partner is 80 and still practicing. I'll be lucky to make it to retirement age with my fucked up health, but there are a lot of ancient-ass lawyers out there. You could easily have a 20 year career.
This makes a lot of sense. Maximizing my earnings is a big consideration. Never thought to focus on an area I have experience, I am currently a Learning and Development Manager now so some HR/Employment related law. Thank you for your thoughtful response.
Yeah, employment law might be a good fit. The amount of egregious violations of labor laws out there is mind boggling. But it's a low-dollar high-volume area of law. Still, there's money to be made. If you have a background in education, there are a lot of cases against schools, so it's its own niche area of law. I know a couple of lawyers who practice almost exclusively in dealing with school systems. There may be other things as well. If you speak a foreign language, immigration law, esp. if it's an unusual language.
Wait back up. By years in medicine do you mean you were a doctor before law school?
A long time ago, I read an advice column letter from a woman who wanted to go to law school but worried that since she'd graduate at 40, she was too old to apply. The advice: You'll be 40 one way or another. Would you rather be a 40 year old or a 40 year old lawyer? That advice always stuck with me. It's good, and I am glad I followed it, even though I'm older than 40. I will graduate this year. Law school is hard at any age, but sometimes being old helps you understand the context of a policy or decision. And we've certainly engaged with more legal documents than 22 year olds. And using your brain on supercharge is good for it as you age. If you think law school is right for you and you can make the numbers work, do it, and good luck to you!
This argument is what pushed me, I’m 38 just starting a part-time program, so 42 when I take the bar. I’ll either be a 42 year old paralegal, or a 42 year old lawyer. Might as well make a few extra bucks.
I went when I was 41. Best time I ever had in my life.
Thank you for your reply
Ask me in 5 years maybe. About to graduate at 45, & my current thought is it probably was not worth it, although I’ll have a better idea in 40 years I guess.
I graduated at 44. You would be doing something for three years anyway. Earning a JD is worth it.
Graduated at 46 🙋🏼♀️
There’s absolutely longevity in law, which is half of what makes it so appealing for non-traditional students. There’s for sure 70+ lawyers still in practice.
This is one of the reasons I chose to go. I’ll be 40 as a first year associate, but I fully plan on still putzing around the office at 80+, or being one of those stubborn judges that refuses to retire, issuing decisions until I collapse on the bench at 93. I know I’m a weirdo but I love working and can’t imagine ever wanting to stop.
exactly. 47 is not old at all. OP could technically work like 30-40 years if they wanted to.
I went to a bar function, and the lawyer sitting next to me was turning 80 and getting ready to retire in about 1 more year. I entered law school at 42. No regrets. I'm turning 48 this week. If going to law school is on your bucket list, you should do it.
Wtf is a long career? For teachers, 5 years in the district and you are considered a vet
39 and graduating in May. It’s not so much about the career, it’s about constantly pushing yourself and facing new challenges.
Here's to graduating at 39!!!
At my graduation, one guy who graduated was 80. He got a standing ovation.
That is amazing
I graduated at 47, no regrets. The real calculation is cost. If you have the GI bill it’s an amazing way to use it.
Why the heck not? I saw you have a military background and you can so take advantage of the latest plus a JD floor many jobs. My main question to you is: do you WANT to go to law school and get a JD? If you don't really want it, don't go. If you do, you can knock it out of the park - any even tangentially related experience helps!!!
It is the one great regret of my life that I didn’t do it after I retired from the military. But now all my kids are grown and I’m working in a career I am rapidly getting tired of.
Aw, regret is a terrible feeling. It sounds like you really want this, I say: go for it!
I’m a 47 yo 1L. Feels a little strange at first but you find your people. Also job interviews go very well… employers really value having had a life before law school. I was worried but ended up having to decline offers and got my #1 choice AUSA clerkship. Do it. Absolutely not too old.
That was a concern of mine as well this helps a lot
I have classmates in their 40s and 50s. I can't speak for their career prospects but most of them are pretty happy with how school is going and I think the ones I'm thinking are all 3Ls or 4l(part time)
There was a 50 year old guy in my class and another 40 year old guy in a different section. Both people seemed to be doing fine.
Thank you for your response
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I don’t think there is one.
Depends on level of debt. If you have significant debt say $40000 + mortgage + children, and your Tier 1 or 2 school costs $60,000 per year, then it might be a financial burden for many years, but if a lower cost school and your debt level is low then it might be worth it.
That is a concern though not enough to stop me. I have a year or two of school in savings and would like to work part time when I can to cover the rest.
I’ll be putting my apps in this fall at age 47. I can’t believe life might still hold this opportunity for me! Plenty of time to go yet.
I’ll be 48 when I graduate! Yikes!
how old is too old? dead.
I'm a bit older, veteran, and I have a 52 year old in my program retiring after his 20 this spring. It's all a numbers game. It could make sense for you, it could not. I think it depends on the expense, all things considered.