Self-study
Hi everyone. Studying law is something that I've always wanted to do. I have a few family and friends that are attorneys and always enjoy discussions with them, both in general and about the law that they practice. It's always been an attractive career to me; however, I went to school for computer science and am currently a software engineer.
While I do love that job as well, I don't know that it will be my forever career, and I have been looking to make a career change into other fields that interest me, while retaining software engineering as just a hobby. Hobby programming is when I enjoy it the most anyway.
However, at this point in my life, I'm five years out of college. I started college two years late, and did a 4 year degree, so I'm almost 30 years old now. I may be able to do complete law school in three years, but in order to keep working at least part-time to support my family, I may need to do a four-year evening program at my local college's law school. If I study for the LSAT and start school next year (Fall '27), I would be done in 2031, at 35 years old. I'm all for it, but want to be practical. If this is a fool's errand, I'd like to at least know before I get started.
This is something I really want to do, and if I had no other concerns, I would just quit my job and get into the best 3-year law school I could and just enjoy it. With other responsibilities, I'm wondering though if this is even feasible. If anyone here has done something similar or if they know someone who's done something similar and made it work, would love to hear about that experience.
For what its worth, I'm historically a pretty strong (though unapplied) student and learner in general, although I can definitely tell I'm not as sharp as I was 5+ years ago :( But thats just to say I don't have pre-existing struggles with academics that would hinder me further in this.
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33 comments
Ofc. I'm 32 and applying for a college. I already changed my career once (was in military), and I don't feel old. "Almost 30 years" isn't old at all.
your engineering background is really important in patent law and IP law!
My boss went to law school at 35. You are never too old. It seems like this is something you really want to do. DO IT!!!!!
Dude. Law will be my 3rd career. All of it has paid tribute to this being a final career chapter. 35 this year. Married. Newborn. Making a documentary. Doing everything. Go for it.
I am older than you Go for it
@bilingualspeechpath107 not old just older but its important for me to go you too
I’m 33 and hoping to start my second career. Do it scared is my motto! I have 4 kids, work full time, my husband travels extensively for work, I’m applying part time distance programs to best fit my life at this time.
@KristenLaPlante Wow that is great to hear. Definitely encouraging to see other people in similar situations. What type of law are you looking at? I wonder if there are better and worse types of law to practice at later stages in your life.
@danjpeach96 Good question. I plan on practicing Disability and Civil Rights law. It ties really nicely with my career now as an American Sign Language Interpreter. I love my current career but I’m starting to loose my hearing, genetics are not working in my favor, so I need to pivot. No one wants an interpreter who can’t hear haha. I actually had planned on going to law school right out of my bachelors but chickened out.
What type are you thinking about?
@KristenLaPlante My mom and brother are ASL interpreters as well, that is pretty cool. Personally I am looking at contract law, maybe estate law, idrk yet though. Those are just things I feel I'd like. I have a seminar tmrw. Should learn more then.
Dude go for it...I work in the court houses as a Deputy Court Clerk and the amount of attorney's that have started law school after their 20s is crazy...people start in their 30s, 40s, and 50s. You are just 30... And also a good amount of people that I have seen have started studying law after their first career.
Examples: Law Enforcement, court clerks, computer science, etc.
@OmarAbuaita Awesome TY for that. One of the attorneys I know started practicing at 30, but I haven't met anyone who started school at 30. Yet. I'm going to an in person seminar at my local law school this Friday. Will see what the age ranges look like there.
Im in my mid thirty. You got this!
Bro , I started at 55 to study for LSAT. You better work it . Your only 30's.
@DSB Are you practicing now? What type of law did you pursue if so?
@danjpeach96 no im not im studying for the LSAT
I sure hope so, since I'm trying it at 46.
I am 36 years old and also work in software development. I'm taking the LSAT this week and planning to start school part time in August while I continue working full time. I have 4 kids. It's gonna be hard, but we've decided to make the sacrifices necessary to make it happen.
@HeathHughes Nice, I should have started this process last year so I could start this year. I don't think its feasible or recommended to try to get a start this August when just starting now.
@HeathHughes My daughter is in college and I am doing it. Pro se resume is extensive and I have deeply personal reasons...
@HeathHughes We’re both in similar situations. I’m 33 and have 4 kiddos, have to keep working full time during. We can do it! I’ll be taking my 2nd LSAT on Saturday.
@KristenLaPlante Yes we can! Best of luck on Saturday.
@danjpeach96 I've been scrambling to go from zero to LSAT ready in 2 months. At least shooting for next year you have plenty of time to work up to your best LSAT score.
@HeathHughes yeah I wish I’d started last fall so I could go to school this fall, but it seems its too late for that now.
Anything is possible, brother. If anything, it seems law schools would rather have older applicants with more experience. Go do it!!!
@ChristopherTobin Really, first I'm hearing of that. Is that the non-top schools? It seems like those are targeted at fresh grads
I'm 31 and will, hopefully, attending law school next year as well. If it is something you want to do, then go for it! You have the advantage of having work experience, which, in my opinion, it's a great asset. One of the things that I consider the most is the cost of going to law school. You are not alone in this my good friend.
@AdamLaw Yeah the cost is gonna suck. At least part of it will need to be student loans, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it
@danjpeach96 We'll be fine. The LSAT is an opportunity toi get a free ride
If it makes you feel any better, I'm in a similar boat only older. I'm 36 going on 37 and studying to try and get into law school next year. I'll be taking the June LSAT since I bombed the January one. And since I have a home and kids and can't move, or go to law school near me, I'll be applying to schools that offer an online 4 year program with minimal site visits. Good luck! I don't think its as rare as one would assume.
@APBookninja Thats awesome, good luck on the June LSAT. Are you seeing a lot of improvement in drills/practice since the January one? Has 7sage been really helpful to you. I'm only a day in, but I really like the platform. Imagine if actual education platforms were built this well! And yea, I'm hoping that its not actually that rare to start law school at an older age. It can definitely be a bit discouraging seeing all these young kids getting started so young.
@danjpeach96 Thank you! I've definitely seen improvements overall, especially with my BR. It harder for me because I have almost no time alone to study so I know that's a factor in why I'm not doing as well as I would like. I am getting a lot faster at answering questions and I'm able to identify some of the patterns even if I can't put it into words. I'm also working on learning when to skip question types that I waste too much time on. Previously, majority of my BR would be for incorrect answers and now a lot is just changing my answers or taking a little too long on answering. I'm never able to get through more than a few questions without having to pause for something so going straight through while timed has been my biggest challenge. But that's more to do with my family and work. This platform has been a huge help! Good luck in your journey and I hope it works out well for you.
Oh also: I've just started, got suggested a 15-week pace. If anyone else is starting right now on the same pace, lets be study buddies/an accountability group to stay on track