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Hey everybody,
Since many people have been clamoring for this I thought I'd start a new thread for the older and non-traditional future lawyers among us. Feel free to ask any questions you may have or share any stories or ideas you think would be beneficial to the non-trad community here. I'll bump this thread as needed for awhile to keep things going if people are lurking more than posting.
All that being said, don't despair old people! This is not business school so you are not getting dinged for your age around here. I know we are getting late in the app season but if anyone has questions for applying as an older candidate then bring them on and myself and other old timers will do our best to assist you!
Also feel free to talk about any other old people stuff you want (e.g.- marriage, kids, finding a reliable babysitter, etc.) and most of all have fun!
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164 comments
> @axjxmarvel987 said:
> Applying this cycle, but unfortunately missed the mark on the September LSAT and need to take for the third time in November.
Me, too! I scored well enough that I'm not worried about not getting into the schools I'm targeting, but I'm hoping to get closer to my PT average in November for scholarship purposes because that's a big thing for me. I'll be 33 before the year is out.
Will be 30 in February. Mom to a 2 year old. Applying this cycle, but unfortunately missed the mark on the September LSAT and need to take for the third time in November. First time was 2017, a few months after my son was born. Took my diagnostic on my due date, and had to pump in the break between sections on test day. Because if you’re not insane, do you even belong in law school?
Anyways, happy to find a thread with my people. And happy to *almost* be done with the LSAT and apps.
> @colwellana863 said:
> Wow!!! Congrats! That is a dream scenario. I'm 32 and work at a law firm as a paralegal. I absolutely love my job but I'm excited to continue along this career path. The law firm I work for is definitely not offering anything other than kudos and letters of recommendation (which I still greatly appreciate), so good on you not taking such a great opportunity for granted :) Taking the LSAT in January and *hoping* to get in somewhere fall 2020, but plan to reapply the following cycle if needed.
Thank you! I'm scheduled to take the LSAT in November, and plan to retake in January if my score is too low. Good luck with your studies and application!
I am an oldster but I think I am going to hold off this cycle to see if I can get my book finished.
37 in December. Looking to be finished with JD by the time I'm 45. Will be going part time while continuing to work. It leaves me 20 years to work. Ultimate goal...be debt free by the time I'm out....
Hi. I am 35. I am currently in a masters of social work program. I took the LSAT 10 years ago and didnt go because I score low. I didnt have much support or guidance, so I came at the test and admissions process very unprepared. Well I started dating a lawyer from a family of lawyers and now here I am. Taking the test in November. I decided last minute and I am also doing graduate work so I am really cramming. I have a 3.66 GPA which I am hoping will aid me in admissions. I think this time will be a little easier. I am more mature and financially stable enough to make the move.
Happy to be here. No matter what happens I like that I am challenging myself.
> @lizpil252 said:
> 31 year old here. I work for a law firm who are generous enough to put up tuition for me, I would be a fool to not take the opportunity! Never thought of myself as an old timer, I prefer to think I'm just very wise.
Wow!!! Congrats! That is a dream scenario. I'm 32 and work at a law firm as a paralegal. I absolutely love my job but I'm excited to continue along this career path. The law firm I work for is definitely not offering anything other than kudos and letters of recommendation (which I still greatly appreciate), so good on you not taking such a great opportunity for granted :) Taking the LSAT in January and *hoping* to get in somewhere fall 2020, but plan to reapply the following cycle if needed.
31 year old here. I work for a law firm who are generous enough to put up tuition for me, I would be a fool to not take the opportunity! Never thought of myself as an old timer, I prefer to think I'm just very wise.
34 next week, one masters (architecture), one dog, no kids. I have crazy respect for those applying as parents! My mom went to med school in her 40s and is still going strong 20 years later.
My partner is currently a 2L and turns 30 in December. Granted that she had just transferred into a t14 and is closer to the median age, she absolutely killed it during OCI. Having real work/real world experience and understanding things such as how to write a professional email, manage clients, dress for an interview (I heard horror stories), etc. was a huge benefit.
An attorney I spoke to earlier this year, when I was deciding whether to pursue law, shared a similar sentiment. He said age was not really an issue, and laughed at the notion that firms would be attracted to younger students that could work longer hours ("besides, if that were the case, would you really want to work there?") He was also more interested in someone who could work in a professional capacity than a star student, within reason (i.e., not at the bottom of your class).
Another thing to point out, or at least what I tell myself, is that if you're 30+ and take the time to study for the LSAT and apply to law school, YOU REALLY WANT TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL. Compared to a younger person who is just trying to "figure it out," you're much less of a liability.
37 this month. Parent. In at 2 schools (one with a full ride) and 4 more apps pending. It's no longer a matter of IF I'll go Fall 2020, but Where.
Thanks for bumping this thread. I was actually talking to a law school rep at a forum today about crafting a diversity statement based on age and experience. Some schools may laugh that out of the room, but she said they'd welcome it.
29 (will be 30 by next fall), Father of four, and a teacher. Hopeful to start fall 2020
31 years old and will very soon be a father. Finishing up my applications this month to being law school in fall of 2020. Any other parents up in here?
Turning 30 next spring, and in at dream school! Trying to be patient waiting for other schools and merit aid decisions.
Hey! I am a 30+ applying this cycle from Australia. So far the international thing has been waaay more difficult than the age situation. But glad there are some other 'old people' on here :)
Bumping this thread for this new application cycle. Who are the 30+'ers applying this fall, and how's it all going for you?
> @xadrianas6x881 said:
> Its been way too long since this thread popped up. I was doing some soul searching today and had a funny thought about age and perspective. I have two serious volunteer gigs, one at a local legal clinic and the other as a mentor in a veteran's treatment court. At the legal clinic, I feel pretty darn old when all the law students are around, as they all appear to be in their mid-late 20's. However, when I'm at my mentor meetings with the veteran's treatment court, I'm the only one who did not serve in Vietnam and feel like a baby. Moral of the story: Age is a relative thing, depending on which room you are sitting in.
Yes - great point! I was at a veterans ceremony recently and felt so fake being there because I was surrounded by WW2 and Vietnam vets! I feel like these guys sacrificed more than I did in OIF.
> @sm537 said:
> Hi all, I guess I've found my tribe. I am 43 and am sitting for the November test. I feel a certain amount of additional pressure because of my age and the time ticking away from me. I need to nail this and get my butt back in school.
Yes - the pressures we face are crazy. The anxiety I have at having to take this test is overwhelming. November is quickly approaching. Good luck.
Hi all, I guess I've found my tribe. I am 43 and am sitting for the November test. I feel a certain amount of additional pressure because of my age and the time ticking away from me. I need to nail this and get my butt back in school.
Its been way too long since this thread popped up. I was doing some soul searching today and had a funny thought about age and perspective. I have two serious volunteer gigs, one at a local legal clinic and the other as a mentor in a veteran's treatment court. At the legal clinic, I feel pretty darn old when all the law students are around, as they all appear to be in their mid-late 20's. However, when I'm at my mentor meetings with the veteran's treatment court, I'm the only one who did not serve in Vietnam and feel like a baby. Moral of the story: Age is a relative thing, depending on which room you are sitting in.
Hi @leahbeuk911 ! Sorry for the delay.. been slammed. Never decide to take a law class in an overloaded semester where the sessions are only 7 weeks long.
Holy. Crap. I thought I had no life *before*. This is the end of week 3, and my notes are already 35 pages long. LSAT training has sadly gone by the wayside these days, as well as weekend plans away from home and pretty much everything else :(
So... I'm still planning on retesting in November. It may be a mistake, but I'm going to give it a whirl. If it goes good enough, I'll apply for next year. If not.. I guess I'll be skipping a cycle.
I have a strong suspicion I'll be skipping a cycle. You can change your LSAT score, but you can't change your GPA, and right now, it's my strong suit. Gotta focus on that. It's certainly not the end of the world if I get another year of work history in, some savings, and more time to put towards LSAT prep. If I do delay, I won't consider doing the LSAT again until at least probably June or July 2019.
This is great! I'm 40 with an extensive background in medical billing. I currently am employed as an expert witness. Most likely will go into healthcare law. @aakritichaudhary506, we should talk!
I'll be 30 if I start Aug 2019! Good luck to everyone this cycle!
> @msirchia692 said:
> Hi Leah,
>
> My school has more 30+-year-old students than I expected (on their website I think the average age is 24?). We have a huge LLM program and the LLM students are usually more experienced and older -- after 1L, classes usually have mixed JDs and LLMs. If you commute to school, you probably will miss many school events, which are good opportunities to network. Living on campus will help you make more friends and stay connected. Sign up to join the student organizations at the beginning of the school year, you will get help and outlines from 2Ls and 3Ls.
>
> My interest is in public service and I have been able to connect to people and projects that I find really interesting. In public service, I think people care more about your passion and interest. Work experiences are generally helpful in big law job interviews (especially if they are law-related) but most employers still care most about 1L grades. As older folks, you only need to come up with good stories about why law? why law as your second career? The rest of the questions you get are pretty standard. Don't worry! Your school's career office will help you and they are very good!
>
> I want to apply for clerkship after graduation. After that, I have no plans yet and I want to keep my options open.
>
> Keep your mind open (I used to be very age-conscious but I am learning to do less of that), reach out and talk to people whom you find interesting, and never hesitate to ask for help!
>
>
This is really helpful advice. Thanks!
> @leahbeuk911 said:
>
> @gregoryalexanderdevine723 Awesome! Word of advice though, as someone who applied late last year (end of January and into February), depending on where you're applying and how debt averse you are, applying that late had significant set backs for me. If you are waiting until after that January score, you might want to hold off on applying until next year. If you're targeting regional schools though, the calculation might be different. I was looking for T20 and lower T14 last year, and the cycle really did not pan out. I got a few decent offers, but some WLs that I'm pretty sure were mostly because of the timing. Also missed out on applying to some scholarships that require separate applications and were all due in December. Just a heads up!
Can we engrave this in internet stone and plant it somewhere that everyone can see it, maybe highlight it around February?