I just turned 30 and also just got accepted to law school. I’m excited b/c I got excepted on my 4th attempt, but now am feeling like the window of oppurtunity may have just passed me by b/c of my age. On the other hand, it’s something I’d really like to do (considering I don’t really care for my current job; accounting). So, is this a good move? I make good money now and have grown used to it, but going to law school, although expensive, intrigues me. Is 30 to old? Worthwhile? I’m nervous about this decision b/c it’s for 3yrs of school…Any of you who have been to law school in your 30’s would help…oh, I’m unmarried and have no kids…
My husband is a 34 almost 35 y.o. 2L. He has no regrets (or at least if he does, he hasn’t articulated them to me, and I assume I’d be the first to know…) I’ll be 27 when I finally get my BA, and be 30 when I’m done with law school myself. Being unmarried you’ll fit in even more.
IOW, go for it!
I turned 30 a few weeks after being sworn in as a member of the bar. It’s not as unusual as you might think. My class had one guy in his 60s, and several in their 30s or older.
I’m a cynical burned out lawyer, and would choose otherwise given the chance for a do-over. Then again, there’s not a large amount of heavy lifting, and even those of us that don’t have any shot at the plush corner office with a beamer and trophy mistress still eat regularly. Once in a while you can help somebody that needs it.
Paging Spoons! Paging Spoons!
Spoons went back to law school and he’s married and in his forties.
On preview, I see that I’m being paged. Thought I heard something. Hi, Sunspace!
CoolHandCox, thirty is not too old. I started law school when I was 45.
I’d spent over 20 years as a technical writer and trainer, and got burned out on it. I had always wanted to go to law school, and it seemed a good time to do so. So, I wrote the LSAT, filled out all the applications, and did the necessary other things for the schools I wanted to go to. And I got in.
I’m currently in my second year. It’s been a bit of a challenge, to return to school, but not impossible. My classmates are all younger than I am, but I am accepted as one of them–my worry was that I’d be the class “old fart” but that hasn’t been the case. In fact, in some ways, my “real world” experience has made things easier for me: since I was a writer and speaker, I don’t worry at all about writing any papers or presenting material to the class or speaking at a moot. The workload is heavy, but rewarding, and we’re getting there.
Don’t worry about your age. Go for it, and good luck!
Hi Spoons! How are MrsSpoons and the cats? 
My advice–and I think this is the same advice I gave to Spoons:
Really, really know why you want to go. Find out as much about the kind of law job you think you want as possible. If it still appeals, go. Do not go just because you think it will be great money, or because being a lawyer flatters your vanity, or because it’s what Dad always wanted for you, etc. I don’t say those things to insult you. Unfortunately, they seem to be the most common reasons for going to law school. Certainly, this is the mistake I made.
That said, the older students I went to school with usually had one up on the fresh out of college kids. They usually knew why they were there, had a life plan/goal, and their real-world experience helped them both in the classroom and when they went to set up their new practices after graduation. For example, a 30+ architect wanted to go into a commercial real estate practice. A 30+ engineer became a patent attorney. A 30+ woman with a history degree realized that, after having a few different real-world jobs, she wanted to have a career where the people were smarter, the pay was higher, and her desire to work really hard would be amply rewarded.
To sum up: your age can actually be an advantage. Many of the happiest lawyers I know were 30+ when they went to law school. But they also knew exactly what they wanted, and had experience to back up their reasoning. And that’s really the measure of whether someone belongs in law school or not.
(Harvard Law, JD, 2002. Washed up, IA, 2004. Believe me when I say that being smart just isn’t enough.)
I’d forgotten what it was you used to do. Guess what I’m doing now that I’m not lawyering anymore? Technical writing.
And you want to pass up the chance to get with 20-something law students? 
I thought about going to law school when I was 32. I did very well on the LSATs but decided to pursue my original interest - collecting large sums of money (mostly from lawyers) as a consultant. Plus I already have an MBA. Age was never a consideration.
Besides, I would think that being a 26 year old lawyer offers no particular advantage over being a 35 year old lawyer. In fact, I would think looking like a young kid would be a disadvantage.
I have a question, I’ve seen Ally McBeal and I really like musicals, so I’d also like to become a lawyer at some point. Problem is, I rushed my way through my last years of my undergrad and didn’t get a very good GPA. What are my options? Go back and redo stuff? Do something new? I think it might be fun to go back and do a few more courses, get a lesser accounting designation (CMA, CGA or some such) and bump my grades up. Thoughts?
It sounds like we should be in a sitcom or something: “She a lawyer turned technical writer. He’s a technical writer turned lawyer. Together–they’re detectives!”
Seriously, Q.N. Jones, I must thank you again for the advice you gave me a few years ago. CoolHandCox, you would do well to heed it. My experience at school every day bears it out–the older students tend to know what they want to do in law; some (not all) of the younger ones have no idea what they want to do. A few wonder why they’re there. Any idea what kind of law you’d be interested in?
Good luck with technical writing, Q.N. Jones. Although I can see (from experience) where a law degree would be most helpful in that field, I’ll still be happy to answer questions or offer help with tech writing if you ever need it.
Aside to Sunspace: They’re doing well. I was speaking with them (yes, them–I could hear one cat meowing a hello while I was on the phone with my wife) a little earlier. Of course, we all wish the weather would warm up out here. [brrr smiley]
CoolHandCox, how about over 40 and in law school? Hello! There are several other people in their 30s and 40s in my class, too.
Yes, your age does give you an advantage over those young whippersnappers. You are more focused, you’re there because you want to be there, you already know what the “real world” is about, you’re no longer afraid to raise your hand and participate in class. Lots of good things.
kawaiitentaclebeast, I don’t get what your liking musicals has to do with entering law school, but if you had a low undergraduate GPA, all is not lost. First thing, prep yourself for the LSAT. A high score today will cause schools to overlook modest grades yesterday. Buy LSAT test prep books and/or take a test prep course, and allow yourself at least two months to prepare.
Second, know what range of students the law schools are accepting. The website of the Law School Admission Council (the people who write the LSAT) has a searchable database of law schools based on your undergraduate GPA and your LSAT score.
I think he’s joking about all the “should I go to law school” questions on this board.
I laughed pretty hard, anyway.
Well, I do like musicals… 
Anyway, would it be worth my while to go back and do some more courses to bump up my grades and work towards a CMA/CGA, if that’s even possible? Because I’d do it if gave me an advantage, and it certainly won’t hurt, I just don’t particularly want to be an acountant, that’s all.
I’ll be finished my law degree mid next year. I was 38 when I started and I’ll be 43 when I finish. You’re not too old CoolHandCox.
I’m not even sure that courses taken after you received your bachelor’s degree would count in the undergraduate GPA that law schools use.
So I’m basically branded for life with a low GPA then? Darn…
That’s what I get for being indecisive I suppose. I got out of school early to get into the workforce early, but it does seem to be limiting my options somewhat at this point. Would good work experience (I work in a quasi-legal field - property tax assessments, making a reasonable living.) and military service count towards law school admission?
Oh well, There’s always the LSAT I suppose.
Actually, my law school buddy Amy and I already write a serial detective story (via email) featuring us as detectives working for her insane mother-in-law in the wilds of Alaska. I may have to work in a law student character named Spoons in the next installment.
Glad to know you found it helpful.
I don’t know if it’s my new career or not. It’s a weird situation. Before law school, I worked for an environmental consulting firm, doing groundwater testing and some technical writing. After they heard I quit lawyering, they offered me a job to come write reports for them again. It may just be a temporary career. It might lead to bigger things. Who knows? One thing I will say: I make as much money per hour as I did as a lawyer, but I make my own hours, and my work environment is a million times more pleasant. Though maybe that’s not the kind of thing I should be telling a guy who just forsook technical writing for lawyering. 
Well, if you do, you’ll have to share. I’ll look forward to it!
Okay, on to the more serious matter:
How old are you? I see you are in Canada, so I would imagine you are looking at Canadian schools. Some of them have a “mature applicant” category, which still requires the LSAT and undergrad grades, but if you’re over a certain age, makes sure that they will consider your work experience in addition. Might be worth checking out some schools anyway.
I’m not sure if I qualify as a mature applicant, I checked out a few law school websites and they are all kind of vague about it. I guess I’m fishing on opinions on whether it’s worth a try.
I turn 24 next April. I’ve checked out Walloon’s LSAT database some time ago, and judging from their acceptance rates, I would just barely qualify to get in with a very high LSAT score. This is OK, since I don’t think I’m mentally deficient(well, I tried pulling that card in high school and they didn’t buy it), the reason I didn’t do so hot GPA wise was that I finished university in a tad under 3 years and worked 2 or 3 jobs throughout to ensure I wasn’t in debt and had some money saved up when I graduated. I’m doing OK financially, but feel very inadequate and outgunned in GD and GQ when every other poster is some kind of lawyer. 
Speaking of finances, I noticed that no one has commented on that yet. It is entirely possible that spoons et al are kept men, male Paris Hilton types with sugar mommies to subsidize their legal studies, so “you can do it” may or may not be applicable to average working schmoes like me.