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Do any old folks have some advice on a random résumé question (thanks @David.Busis for encouraging us to have that word correctly written)? I am 11 years removed from college. I won the same award as a high school senior and five years later as a college senior (it was a regional student-athlete award). It seems like a lot of the advice I have seen says to stay away from high school awards and accomplishments. Would I include the second time winning the award but not the first? Include both? Eliminate both?
Please next time add that you "ain't a knowing because you already done done that" which is absolutely one of my favorite southern phrases:)
http://previews.123rf.com/images/moodboard/moodboard0908/moodboard090800265/5404526-Group-of-Friends-Laughing-Stock-Photo-group-people.jpg
Edit: Picture updated to be way less uncomfortable. If anyone else caught that, my bad, lol.
http://media.tumblr.com/a2426c9d147b84a083b76f3c56e75281/tumblr_inline_mw7oghIpre1qcryb6.gif
I tried to start a thread and was pointed to this one. I only have a few days access left in this invaluable 7sage world, and thought it'd be good to reach out to the other ancient (35+ year old) folks who are likewise chasing their law school dream later in life. For me, I see it as a productive use of a mid-life crisis (sports cars depreciate much faster than JD degrees), and something I've always wanted to do. Whilst doing the school tours and tests I'm surrounded by babies/young whippersnappers, but I'm hoping once I settle into a part-time/weekend program the average age will increase a bit. Learning the test seemed a bit intuitive after having spent a decade or so working with lawyers and picking up how they think, but study time was always sandwiched between career, family and civic duties. 7sage was the perfect fit, and I watched my average score jump about 15 points from beginning to end of the course. I've talked a few friends into considering law school as well, and will be singing the praises of this site for years.
I'm a state government drone in what some may call a "JD advantage" occupation, tenured and bored out of my mind. Happily married with 5 kids (ages 10-18), local community theater director, and downtown revitalization advocate/activist. The ABA's approval of hybrid/weekend law schools renewed my interest. Did my Masters in Urban Planning with 4 kids, so what the heck, why not law school?
So what about you? What inspired the return to school? Challenges? Favorite schools?
Hi Folks,
It's been a while and I missed the 7sage community.
I am finishing up my 2L and so far it's been an incredible ride and I have loved every minute of it. I think if you still want to go to law school at this age (I was 35+ when I started), it IS something you are meant to do and you will not regret it!
I have made friends at school and in general law school is very supportive -- but you have to reach out. (If possible, I suggest you pay a school visit before deciding which school you want to attend. ) The best part about being older is that I have a different perspective and I don't get stressed out like those younger kids, which has made law school much more enjoyable.
@mimimimi Hi there, and welcome back!!
Thanks so much for stopping by. I'm 34 and just went through the application gauntlet, but decided to push back a year and reapply. It's really encouraging to hear from you!
That's one of my concerns going into school, the social/community aspect. I don't know if I'll be the sole old woman that the whippersnappers think is boring haha. Good to hear that it's been a positive experience for you though!
What did you do for your 1L summer? Have you seen any differences in how employers view you vs the youngsters? Any challenges there? What are your goals/plans for post-school?
I could probably pick your brain forever haha. I'll leave it at that.
Thanks for stopping in!
I'm 29, but I still consider myself "non-traditional," so I'm joining. I have a MA in Speech-Language Pathology and have been a practicing SLP for 3 yrs. I want to focus on educational law b/c I've felt powerless as an SLP seeing my kids either get super supported or super screwed in the schools. Thanks for digging this thread back out! It's nice to have some camaraderie w/ people studying while also adulting...
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!
Thanks @mimimimi for the inspiring and encouraging post! Happy to hear that the perspective that comes with age helps with the stress (as I have plenty of age to go around
And I appreciate your encouragement to join student organizations and get involved. Best of luck!
Love the thread, have read the previous posts, and am following it hoping to gain further insight.
Hate the fact that apparently a lot of people think that 30+ means you are an old timer
Its been a while since I was able to say I'm in my 30's...
Thank you at @mimimimi for the insight. i hope to have a good experience like you in law school!
@LSAT_Wrecker - I've learned to let go of my age, specially since I started studying for the lsat - i'm comfortable in that my age is "just a number" and if i'm considered an "old timer" well then so be it - I'll find a way to use it to my advantage
.
Hi guys!
Very reassuring to see a thread like this! I am currently 33 and will be 34 by the time i enter law school
I will be applying coming fall for admission in 2019. I am NY based so hopefully going to get into one of the part time programs here.
Any advice for the admissions process?
I have a solid career under my belt and hope to stay within my industry for law but do not know if they still will evaluate my admissions as if I am 22 years old.
Trying to get the highest score possible on the LSAT but its proving difficult with work and a kid to really dig in lately. Will my work experience help make up for certain aspects?
I will be 37 or 38 in 1L (depending on how this goes), so... Yeah.
Ha @AudaciousRed, add 10 more to your age, so...yeah.
Felt like this thread needed resurrecting as we're coming up on the new cycle. Where all my old folks at? Check in here!
Also, who is applying this year from the over 30 crowd? @LCMama2017? @LSAT_Wrecker? @AudaciousRed?
Checking in
@"Leah M B"
(raises hand)
29 years old. 30 this october. Applying this fall.
In it to win it this cycle. Testing on Saturday, hoping to hit submit on all apps by the end of the month.
It is very interesting coming at this later in life. I volunteer at a clinic and my oldest is older than some of the law students there. Not saying mature is better than youth or vice versa, its just an interesting perspective.
Will be 31 this December, applying this cycle.
Oh @"David.Busis", just a note because there always is a significant number of us old folks on 7sage, the Admissions course is awesome and I love it, but I often wondered how being an older, non-traditional student factored in to some of the lessons. Like, some people say that if you are a 30+ year old student, your PS should answer the "why law, and why now" questions. Do you have an opinion on that?
Thanks for resurrecting this thread. I want to apply this fall! Depending on my PT scores, I may take the January 2019 test. I keep pushing law school off year after year, so hoping I can set aside more time to study consistently.
@"Leah M B" heck yeah! This is it for me - must apply for 2019 to take advantage of the GI Bill otherwise I'm done.
Agree!!
Woo, get it mama!
@gkoski 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?
This is really helpful advice. Thanks!
I'll be 30 if I start Aug 2019! Good luck to everyone this cycle!
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. @"Chipster Study", we should talk!
Hi @"Leah M B" ! 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.
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 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.
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.
Bumping this thread for this new application cycle. Who are the 30+'ers applying this fall, and how's it all going for you?
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