spinoff to law school question

is law school impossible if you already have kids? and also, once you get a job do you have to put in 100 hours a week to establish yourself? TIA

Re: spinoff to law school question

No and No.

There were plenty of moms in law school with me. In fact, our validictorian had a baby WHILE were were in law school. It can be done.

And its mostly the big firms where starting salary is $250,000 expect you to work insane hours. Many smaller firms are much more reasonable.

Re: spinoff to law school question

Re: spinoff to law school question

Re: spinoff to law school question

Message edited 1/23/2008 3:07:44 PM.

Re: spinoff to law school question

I couldn't agree more with Shelly.

Law school and the law profession itself is often not at all what people imagine it will be. To make it through the experience you REALLY have to be in love with this stuff and have an ache in your heart to do it.

I do know, however, plenty of people who had babies in law school and thinking back, I"m envious - I wish I had done that. Your schedule, while crazy with studying, is still more flexible than it would be while you are working, particularly if you're a working lawyer. I saw many of my friends do it, quite succesfully.

As for the hours, it's by your own choosing. If you work for a large law firm, you'll make the big bucks, but you'll also be expected to produce the high billables. If you work for a smaller firm, the money isn't as good, but the demands aren't usually as high. It also has a lot to do with your field - in litigation, the hours can be very demanding. It's not quite the same kind of demands as a transactional attorney.

I'm a civil rights attorney with the federal government. It get the best of both worlds - pretty good pay, but easy hours. I work about 35-40 hours per week.

Re: spinoff to law school question

Posted by Shelly

Posted by JTK

thank you!! is it ridiculous to think i can do this at my age of 31? i know i have a long way to go but its something i have always wanted to do.

Its definitely not ridiculous. My best friend is applying now (shes a teacher and 30). I went straight from college and was one of the younger students. If you really want to, you should do it.

But honestly, think long and hard about it. Figure out what kind of job you want after law school, and talk to people in that frield to see what life is really like for them. 4 of my closest friends have already stopped praciting law, and we have only been out 7 years.

The reality of the matter is, the fantasy of being a lawyer doesn't always add up to the reality. While I LOVE the Court stuff, writing motions and briefs, there is a lot of BS. And the worst part, you have to work for other lawyers But if you have the right job, it could be everything you want it to be.

Re: spinoff to law school question

what do most lawyers get their undergraduate degree in? i know some nurses that have gone on and done well on the LSATS but i'm just curious.

Re: spinoff to law school question

Please please PLEASE think long and hard about this. The time, the commitment, the money....

Most attorneys are extremely dissatisfied with their job - very high rate of drug use and depression in the field. Many stop practicing after a few years. I would not recommend going to law school/becoming an attorney to anybody who does not have a deep burning desire for law.

Re: spinoff to law school question

I agree with both Shelly and Beth

To add to what they said, I think the actual practice of law can be more time consuming and demanding than law school. Don't get me wrong - the first year of law school is rough. But once you get the hang of it, it's really not that bad.

However, depending on where you work, the hours can be downright brutal. And, you must consider the cost of attending law school. A law school education can easily cost $100,000 and there is no guarantee that you are going to make a six-figure salary when you graduate. There are MANY lawyers who are paid far less than that!

But, if this is something you want to do, then go for it!!!

Message edited 1/23/2008 3:41:29 PM.

Re: spinoff to law school question

Re: spinoff to law school question

I completely agree with all the other posters. It is a huge commitment but one that isn't reachable. There are alot of people I know who had more then one kid while going to law school. There was a woman in the year ahead of me that wanted to go to law school her whole life and finally went at age 71. If it is a desire then go for it but at the same time weigh all the options and figure out why you want to go because like other posters not everyone out of law school makes those crazy salaries that city attorneys do but they also aren't putting in crazy hours either.
Good luck in whatever you decide.

Re: spinoff to law school question

Re: spinoff to law school question

I think you really need to ask yourself about your quality of life too. I'm not in law school, but I am finishing my doctorate while working FT. People in my program had children, but I cannot tell you how many birthday parties and weekend events I had to miss because of papers and studying. I feel like I barely saw my DH for the years I was in classes because I spent so many nights and weekends with classmates studying or doing projects, or working on papers.

My brother graduated law school a couple years ago and is at the top paying firm, but he got that by going to an ivy school and being editor of the law review. And he works over 12 hours a day in litigation, which for him is very unpredictable. He is sent all over the world on a moment's notice, and has a minimum billable hour amount. For him it was worth it because he really felt like he was working with some of the best lawyers in the world, and he needed to pay back loans.

I'd just say do your research...See what types of jobs people get from the schools you are looking at. If you are narrowing your choices to those on LI (Touro or Hofstra), your options are limited. It's too late for Fall 2008 so you are really looking at 2009.

I don't know...I'd think really long and hard about quality of life. A lot of people I know are leaving other fields to become nurses because of the hours. The flexible law jobs that pay well are great, but incredibly hard to come by. You may be giving up a guaranteed job for an uncertain future.

Re: spinoff to law school question

Message edited 1/23/2008 5:20:40 PM.

Re: spinoff to law school question

Re: spinoff to law school question

Re: spinoff to law school question

I am 36 and have struggled with this decision for a long time. I have always wanted to go to law school but DH and I are TTC right now. I have over 50K in undergraduate student loans and going to law school would bring my student loans over $160K. Realistically, a first year associate is going to earn around $80K and work around 80 hours a week. My logic is that's two full time jobs paying $40K a year. I'm currently a paralegal in NYC making nearly that amount and working 35 hours a week. After crunching the numbers and factoring in my quality of life (its hard enough commuting into NYC and having 12 hours days as it is), I've decided not to go. Another factor is that if you dont want to work at a larger firm your first year out of law school you'll be averaging $44K-$50K. you need to consider whether you can afford to pay your student loans with that money.

With all of these things aside, COULD I manage a p/t law school program? Yes but I'd be tired. Evenning classes at Touro are 6:30-10:00 Monday thru Thursday. I wake up at 6am to get to the city by 8:30 and usually walk in my front door by 6:10. I could manage to get to CI by 6:30 and then ultimately be home by 10:30...then I'd have to study (four hours a night for 1st year) but for argument sake in bed by 12:30am....sleep for 5 1/2 hours and do it all the next day. All things to look at...

Re: spinoff to law school question

It's definitely doable, I knew many mom's that attended law school but. most of them were not working at the same time. I do, however, think your in a unique position as an RN and the addition of a JD will make you very marketable to heath care companies, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals and many firms that have practice areas where medical knowledge is helpful. I would explore those options before deciding.

Re: spinoff to law school question

I am 31 years old and work as a lawyer at the NYSE. It pays welll but the hours arent bad. My friends who work at Firms can not leave work before 7:30. I know I could double my salary if i worked at a Firm but I love being able to leave at 5 and see my little man.

I went to law school at night and it was rough. But there were moms in my class --I swear they were more focused than others in my class

I would go for it

Re: spinoff to law school question