Law School after 40...

Has anyone associated with this forum undertaken, or contemplated, law school later in life? I've had some interesting discussions of late with the wife where she's basically "green lighted" such an undertaking. I have to admit, I am rather intrigued at the prospect.

Years ago, I remember sitting in the principal's office for a foster child. As I aimlessly looked around the room, I noticed that she had both a juris doctorate and an EdD. Probling a little, she informed me that her husband's family had once asked her what they could do to bless her academically and she had asked for law school. Furthermore, she said it was singularly the best academic experience she had ever witnessed.

Are there a fair amount of successful lawyers who get started in legal careers post-40?

Kindly,
Steven King, MBA, MEd

 

I have thought about it but $100K in debt, graduate when I am 44-45 and start competing with people half my age...does not sound so great for me.

 

I will be starting studies towards a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in September though I will not be setting foot on campus. I am now in the over 40 years of age club; where has my life gone?

There are basically three law school options from which to select: ABA-approved law school, state-approved law school, foreign law school. There was a recent thread about a student who earned a law degree via distance education, I think, who successfully petitioned the MA bar association. Some jurisdictions have special requirements for those who have earned foreign law degrees including law degrees from state-approved law schools in California.

I suppose the answer to your last question depends largely on how someone defines success and the area of law in which a lawyer chooses to practice. At 40 years years old entering private practice in a small law firm or the prosecutor's office are viable employment routes unless you like working 70-hour weeks in Big Law. Applicants to law schools in Canada for on-campus studies range in age from early 20s to late 40s based upon postings.

 

I would not let age dissuade you from pursuing something that interests you and you can financially afford.

There are far too many examples of folks getting an education and making a living late in life for me to believe it wouldn't be beneficial.

 

Good advice. Life is too short not to pursue your interests and with people living until 90 or older there is plenty of opportunities for those over 40. The only workplace were age could be a perceived disadvantage is Big Law (Wall Street, Bay Street, Fleet Street, etc.).

 

With your professional background you might actually be in an advantageous position relative to younger law school graduates. The opportunity cost cannot be discounted, however, healthcare law or information technology law are lucrative practice areas especially if hired as in-house legal counsel.

 

... but who would want to work until age 90, even if they did live that long?

 

I'm 41 and I don't want to work tomorrow

 

I'm in my later-middle 30's (that's right!) and will get a LLB as well - just not decided whether it's next year or the year after. If the only thing stopping you is age, don't let that stop you - as was mentioned earlier, folks who have other professional experience and have life experience have often a great insight that those in their early 20's who've had only academic life experience but very little beyond that. Check out other posts, make sure you know what you're getting yourself into in terms of committment and then make a sound decision.

Personally I am pulled towards law for several reasons - particularly the prospect of the possibility of working from home and being able to work without age restrictions.

 

Funny guys! I meant as a lawyer one could be self-employed and set their own hours and work environment. The work until 90 years old refers to the increasing average lifespan of the human population.

Careful, Randell, in this economy you could get your wish.

 

Alright - I didn't mean it!!

 

I knew a lawyer who specialized in personal injury and bankruptcy who went back to law school after 40, but he also had sold a large credit counseling operation and could afford the time off. His practice was fairly successful, though, he had opened his own office and recruited several younger associates to work for him. Bottom line, it can be done, whether it should be done or not depends on your personal circumstances and drive. Law school is a long, hard three or four year (part-time) slog, and your prize for graduating is entering one of the most overcrowded fields there is. But if it's where your passion lies, you will find a way to distinguish yourself and rise above, as my friend did.

Best of luck!

 

Still, who would want to work until age 90? Most sensible individuals would prefer to be long since retired by then.

 

If I ever retire I will still keep mind and body active lest I become senile or worse. One of the benefits of law or medicine is depending upon the area of specialization it is possible to maintain a small practice with well-defined hours leaving plenty of time for "retirement."

I agree nobody in their right mind wants to be working according to someone else's schedule past a certain age.

 

OK. But my theory is that, if I did own a law firm or a medical practice or any type of business for that matter, and if I did make it to the age of 90 still yet alive, I would hope that by then I would be retired, and if I had had kids at the traditional age of 20-something, maybe my kids would be retired too, my grandkids would own the business, and my great-grandkids would be finishing grad school and starting to go to work in the business.

Note: Since in real life I am 47 and childless ... and have yet to start a business ... I would naturally have to alter the ages that my kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids would be when I'm 90 years old ... or else substitute nieces & nephews, great-nieces & great-nephews, and great-grandnieces & great-grandnephews, i.e., my brother's lineage for my own lineage ... as well as get that business started. But you get the point.

 

Plenty of people go to law school over 40

To answer your first question plenty of people go back to law school post 40 years old, and go on to have succesful careers. My observation of persons over 40 obtaining their JD, is that they are doing so as a compliment to what ever endeavors they were previously engaged in before enrolling in law school. Currently the State of California is one of the few states that allows online and distant learning JD's to sit for their bar upon graduation, BUT there is a tide of legal research that could potentially allow online JD's graduates to sit for the bar in what ever state they choose upon graduation. Litigation on this very point will start in New York by late July or early August 2009 by yours trully, and hopefully filter to all states. I will keep you all posted. Frank Bazadier licensed attorney in the State of California SBN 226498.

 

Good luck to you!

 

Well I thought I'd check about Ross E. Mitchell - the chap who graduated from Concord and challenged the MA bar... well, it seems that Mr. Ross E. (douard) Mitchell passed the MA bar!

Definitely a huge step for distance law grads and students who want to take their law career outside of Cali!

Also, good luck to you Frank. We need more qualified people to challenge the traditional thoughts and ideas of the courts and legal systems who dictate the necessity of a B&M law degree. Nothing like making history, eh?

 

All this talk has me thinking about law school. Stetson is a local school and pretty well respected. Keep us updated as I would not rule out the DL option.

 

I vote yes

My $.02 worth: GO for it! My good friend in CA worked with me as an I.T. project manager and went to law school at night. She started at age 45. It took her four years but she did it. You'll still be older in 3, 4 or 5 years, you might look back and say "darn, I should've ........."

One of the speakers, a county judge, at my friend's graduation ceremony simply gave a recitation of U.S. and world events that occurred during the four years the grads had their heads buried in books. It was really hilarious -- her list included the OJ slow-speed car chase, his trial, all kinds of news that the grads probably didn't have time to hear or see. Now that was some speech!