I'm changing careers after 22 years and trying to cram all of this in hoping to knock this June LSAT out of the park and get accepted for Fall 2018. Just wondering if anyone else out there is in the same situation.
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I'm changing careers after 22 years and trying to cram all of this in hoping to knock this June LSAT out of the park and get accepted for Fall 2018. Just wondering if anyone else out there is in the same situation.
65 comments
Hey y'all. I'll be turning 52(!) in a couple of weeks and I took the LSAT in Sept and Dec. I underperformed terribly. But, here's the kicker, even with my mediocre LSAT score and my so-so undergraduate GPA from the 1980's(!), I've been admitted to some solid schools with significant scholarships. Granted they aren't Tier 1 schools (although one is... barely.) But, at this point in my life, I don't need to go to HYS. Nor could I make enough money to repay my debts if I were to go to one of those schools. So, my point is, to all you non-traditional applicants, you can do it.
I wrote a diversity statement. It may have helped. But, I feel like writing is a strength of mine. So, any chance that a school gave me to demonstrate that strength, I took. I wrote something for every optional essay.
I'm pretty optimistic about law school. I'll get back to you in three years to let you know if I'm still so optimistic after I graduate and am seeking employment. :open_mouth: :smile:
Very happy to see this post! I am also a career changer and soon to be empty-nester. Like the OP, I am thinking of possibly Sept. 2018 but would be fine with 2019 too. Rutgers has a cut-off date of mid-July so if I feel good about my PT's and test in June, I will submit for this fall. I have an undergrad in the arts, on&off career in HR/Recruiting and Lower School Admissions. Had a real moment of clarity after losing my mom in 2016 (and after years spent attending to her health) and knew it was now or never! I feel very happy to be stretching myself in this direction though, it's like water in the desert... I cannot imagine having tried to do this when my kids were little! Those of you taking that on are amazing! Oh and I'm 51 - that should make all of you in your 30's and 40's feel good and young! :D
Another single mom here. I'll be 39 when I start law school. This is my second "life" after bozo left me and 6 kids, taking my career in his business with him. Went back to school for paralegal, and decided to keep on going. Not sure how I'll juggle everything, but doing it so far.
I'm in a similar situation. I left a career in business management to finish my B.S. and apply to law school. I'll be starting in Fall 2019. I'm also a single mom with two kids in middle school. Non-traditional? Yeah. That's me. It's a little scary, but I'm so happy I'm doing it. Best of luck to you!
I am another non-traditional future law student in my 50's. After 30 very successful years in the tech industry, I took the LSAT with only mediocre results. However, I already have one acceptance for Fall 2018 and waiting on another. Neither school is a Tier 1 but at this point it doesn't make sense to take on the debt for a Tier 1 especially when I have one child in college I am paying for and another there shortly. Regardless, after reading an article in AARP about second careers featuring a 65 year old going to law school, it made me realize 50's is not old at all. I have no intention of ever retiring and love to work and help others. Therefore, it is never too late to go after your passion and dream.
More or less, yes. I'm 33 and have been out of school for almost 12 years. Not quite as far along as yourself, but enough distance between me and undergrad to feel like a fish out of water when I think about going back to school. I know there's at least several of us in their 30s and I've seen a few beyond that too. You're not alone!
You are not alone! I am a 36 year old single mom. After working in law firms for the past 12 years as a receptionist, legal assistant and paralegal I decided I should be a lawyer by now dammit! :) good luck!
Well, I've been reading all the entries in this thread, thinking, nope! I'm not posting. But now, reading some of the entries, I feel heartened even though, clocking in at... 55, I still take the cake in the age department! I concur with the comments above about perhaps not being remotely capable of envisaging a career in law when I was younger. My trajectory has been in film and literature for decades. I've done well and in some way needed that life. Until now. For the last fifteen or so years, I have also worked as a court interpreter. Over the last year, taking stock of the future, I felt compelled to do apply to law school. Unlike others, I am single and have no children, no attachments. The notion of living another two decades say, and not being engaged with the needs of others really bothered me. I'm healthy and if I say so myself, reasonably bright. Working in the courts for so long has given me some understanding of how the justice system is working currently, and I guess my hope is to work for reform and/or to assist those that don't have the means to hire their own attorneys. All that said, the path ahead is often dauntingly long. The LSAT is such the first step. I'm taking it one piece at a time, but also seeing the end goal gives me courage and motivation and focus. Hoping to apply in 2018 and start in 2019. Fingers crossed. Good luck to all of us!
Me too. :) 48 is never too late!
I am a 54 year old grandmother who has worked in the industrial setting for my adult working career. I completed my associate degree in 2007. I have always made good money but never enjoyed or felt challenged by my job. Probably because it was a job and not a career. I will complete my studies for my bachelor's degree in August and write the LSAT in June. I have been overwhelmed at times and felt that I do not have the energy for law school but my heart tells me if I don't follow through on this, I will regret giving up my dream of getting my law degree, for the rest of my life. So, I just keep moving ahead one step at a time and I know I will get there. Besides, we all know how fast time flies after 30. I am inspired by all your stories, I thank you for sharing with us. I wish you all the best : )
Yes. I am in a similar situation. I seem to be the senior here...47. I've always wanted to go to law school, but chose to go the paralegal route instead. Honestly, I'm glad I did. I worked as a paralegal for about 15yrs with my last position at the U.S. Attorney's Office in Nashville, TN. I loved it! I gained quite a bit of knowledge and understanding from the "inside" so to say. I now work as a Compliance Specialist with a healthcare company. I enjoy it, but I miss the legal aspect. So I've made the decision to do what I've always wanted to do, go to law school. I hope to apply fall 2019. Well wishes to all us NTS!
I turned 40 last month :) Been working since 1998 and am currently in a management position with a top medical insurer. Widowed for the past 8 years and my kid is heading to college in August and so am I. Completed grad school for an MS about 15 years ago, but am ready for a new challenge.
After 25 years in the military, I'm applying to law school in the fall of this year (to start in 2019). Complete 180 degrees from my previous life. Good luck with your prep.
Yay for all the 50+ year young people going for it! I was thinking I was the oldest to apply at 54; so happy to see I have great company! Good luck to everyone!
@atdangcrash115 said:
I'm changing careers after 22 years and trying to cram all of this in hoping to knock this June LSAT out of the park and get accepted for Fall 2018. Just wondering if anyone else out there is in the same situation.
Hey There
I think I have you all beat. I am 48 years old, studying for the LSAT. I have owned my own company for the last 21 years and am now ready to make a change to the career I always thought I would have.
Never too old. Keep your mind nimble and ready to learn.
I am so in love with this thread! At 31, I thought I was one of the few older folks on here, its nice to know that there are more of us on here than I realized. :)
After working 13 years as a police officer, I finally found what my passion is. I love to advocate for people. I never fit in with the "cop culture" I just stuck around for the pay check. I have a 16 year old and a 2 year old, both girls. When I was pregnant with my youngest, my passion to do better ignited.I found a new energy and a new passion. Life didnt seem so dull anymore. I bought a Kaplan LSAT prep book while on desk duty 2 years ago, (I didn't know better). My goal is to start law school the year my youngest starts pre k. My oldest would be graduating from high school at that time. The idea that I am too old has crossed my mind and I have even been told I was too old. But the fact of the matter is that somebody will need this old attorney some day....I will be too old when Im dead.
another NTS checking in! I'm 43 and finishing my BA in Criminology in December 2018. I'll be taking the LSAT this July for law school fall of 2019. I'll be 45 when I start law school, about to turn 48 when I finish.
I have three children - 25, 22, and 10 - the 25 year old will be starting law school one year before me :) My husband is an appellate attorney with a corporate insurance defense firm (snooze fest if you ask me but he loves it). I've been working for the past five years as a photographer. I love the craft, hate the business (well, the advertising/networking/"look how awesome my work is you should hire me" part anyway). Prior to that, I've been a stay at home mom and a paralegal in a Workers' Comp defense firm.
I've always been fascinated with crime, ever since I was a kid. I've wanted to be a criminal prosecutor since I was about 11. With my 10 year old not really needing me to be a full time stay at home mom anymore, I needed to find something to do. I still work as a photographer, but I've switched genres and am only shooting stock photography now (which means I can work as much or as little as I want; consequently, it also means I'm broke). But I need something more cerebral. So here I am!
so glad to read all of these replies!! thank you so much for starting this thread!!
Thank you for starting this thread, @atdangcrash115. Considering law school when my youngest leaves the nest...I'll be 53! Love what you said about RBG and Elizabeth Warren, @jyarmo54. I'm lucky to know amazing, smart, creative women in their 60s and 70s who inspire me. Perhaps I'll ask them to be an advisory board.
Graduating with no debt will be essential, so starting LSAT prep early. Good luck to all!
39 years old here. I am taking 8 classes a semester to finish my Bachelor's degree and working full time (60+ hours a week). My plan is to finish my undergrad and start law school in August of this year. I just took the LSAT last week and signed up for this course that afternoon. Best of luck and remember where there is a will there is a way!
@jyarmo54 said:
Very happy to see this post! I am also a career changer and soon to be empty-nester. Like the OP, I am thinking of possibly Sept. 2018 but would be fine with 2019 too. Rutgers has a cut-off date of mid-July so if I feel good about my PT's and test in June, I will submit for this fall. I have an undergrad in the arts, on&off career in HR/Recruiting and Lower School Admissions. Had a real moment of clarity after losing my mom in 2016 (and after years spent attending to her health) and knew it was now or never! I feel very happy to be stretching myself in this direction though, it's like water in the desert... I cannot imagine having tried to do this when my kids were little! Those of you taking that on are amazing! Oh and I'm 51 - that should make all of you in your 30's and 40's feel good and young! :D
Wow!!! Good on you. This thread and the simple explanations on the course exercises have really made my anxiety drop. Wishing you the best of luck. I've been a chef for over 20 years and the way I look at it is, if I graduate at 43 that still leaves me with at LEAST 22 years of working in the field of law before retirement.
Hey,
Im 41 and I will be applying to law school for the fat 2019 term. I've always had an abiding desire to go to law school and now I'm finally able to go for it!!! I spend many years teaching high school mathematics and working on my real estate business and I now I fell financially stable enough to pursue my dream. I think that its never too late to go law school if thats your desire. Life is short and you never want to regret not achieving our goals
Im switching from chemistry to law, I think were all making a great decision. Im also in that mindset of lets knock this lsat out of the water, quickly, and move on to bigger better things!
This is a very comforting thread. Thank you! I am a professional writer and executive recruiter and decided to pursue my law career after a massive upheaval in my personal life made me really think about how I wanted my future to look. I tried as hard as I could to study for the LSAT, but did poorly in both September and December. I'm not sure when I'm ever going to get over those scores! Totally crushed my soul! I don't have the luxury of waiting until another cycle because I have major life decisions to make. It's either 2018-2019 or never. I put together my best application, wrote a diversity statement, LSAT explanation and sent in a writing sample. I also got the strongest, most persuasive, writers I know to write my LORs. I explained and took ownership that while I was studying, I went thorough about the greatest emotional turmoil a person could endure, worked full-time in my own business and was on deadline to complete a non-fiction book for my publisher...I truly gave it my all under the circumstances. I've been feeling pretty unsure about my chances. I applied to two school on 1/12 (I can't leave the state because I also care for my widowed mother) and haven't heard anything. I'm taking that as a good sign. So happy to know there are people here with an experience similar to mine! Whatever happens, I wish I just knew so I could start putting together plans. I've never been good at waiting, and particularly not so now. Good luck to all!
Just turned 46, and also a single mom. My kids are just old enough that I can now manage to leave them at home for a few hours at a time (no need for after school care, such a relief). I have a very non-linear path as well - was a PhD scientist, did well in research and teaching, then decided to become a stay at home mom for 5 years, then passed the patent bar and went back to work as an IP manager and contracts negotiator. I have wanted to go to law school for over 10 yrs, but the time was never quite "right." At this point, it feels that I've already done the "unthinkable" so many times career-wise, that going to law school seems pretty tame by comparison. I also have many non-traditional role models. My best friend had a high profile finance career, decided to go to law school four years ago, didn't like it after the first year, switched to social work grad school and loved it. She's now working again and loves every day she goes to work (she's the same age as me). Another friend of mine graduated from law school at age 50 and was voted the top IP law student in the nation her graduating year by the American IP Law Association. Honestly, for me, going to law school at 20 would have been too soon. I would have been settled in my career earlier, but I would not have been emotionally prepared for it all and probably naive about what type of law I was studying and why and where. Plus, the comfort of having had kids already is pretty substantial (I know a lot of people grappling with not being able to have them or not having the chance to be around them much). I have much more of an idea of what I want to do now and why, and no regrets about all the other cool stuff I got to experience along the way. I feel for those starting off young as well as old. Neither path is easy, and if the youngsters need to switch things around along the way, hopefully they'll understand it's going to be ok. Good luck to us all!