I completely agree w/ Tamar, though I missed the original post where this was brought up.

As one who did the college-dental-residency deal all in a row, I, too, met many people of all walks of life in dental school. I totally admired those who chose to take a less direct path in search of their goals. Many were 'older' than the usual 20-somethings that made up the majority of the class, but they each brought something so much more to the table. They seemed more ethical, honest, grounded, etc.

I once heard, as Tamar suggested, that if sit back and see how old you'll be after 3 years of law school, you must realize that after three years of not pursuing your dreams, you'll still be that age - MINUS the higher degree! When DH and I told my skids about my being pg w/ our first several years ago, the youngest smirked and said, "Great, when this kid's my age, I'll be 30..." I said, "In 15 years, you'll be 30 anyway. I hope it will be nice to have a younger brother or sister to share the journey with...."

All the best,
Dana

True, the oldest student in my medical class was 53!
He did well, and actually most of my class was older and had previous careers. The older students typically made better grades, because they were more focused and had fewer distractions. I went straight through, like Dana.

Totally agree! The older students I went to college with were SO much more substantial (not surprising, I guess) and were much better students. They brought their life experience to the classrooms with them and were able to ask much more probing questions. You will get so much moreout of it than a 20'something, and your re-starting salary will reflect that.

If you can swing it life-wise and financially, Go For It! You'll feel so amazing doing something like that for yourself!

I went to law school right out of undergrad and have had a very non-traditional career since.

I would say that the issue is not whether one is too old. The issue is whether your attendance will help you accomplish what you are trying to accomplish. I've heard many reasons for going to law school -- some of which are neither based on a true understanding of the function of law school nor an understanding of what lawyers really do. Whenever someone tells me that they want to go to law school, my first question is ALWAYS, "Why?"

I'm not a hater of law school or anything. I say that because, honestly, some folks should be discouraged from attending law school, but not on the basis of age.

I think I like your style? I'd love you to elaborate. I believe I understand from where you are coming about the usual suspects you hear want to become attorneys. My house in college/dental school was very close to the law school at UF. Therefore, I often had law students as housemates. I saw all types, but predominantly those that I imagine will become the lawyers who give the profession a bad name.

In my practice, I have a number of attorneys as patients, and maybe one out of the bunch would be the type like Jim Carrey in "Liar, Liar." Lol.

Mom of 4: Pursue your dreams. Getting back into the routine of studying will be the biggest obstacle (just judging from my own experience w/ CE courses these days - but it all depends on the interests, etc.) if you have the support of your family. But, I think you'd snap back into that swing in no time! Good luck.

Dana

Wow-
I really just threw that comment out there on the ages post to illustrate the old being in the eyes of the beholder theory. I know I am not too old... it is just a little intimidating to really make a decision like that and know one way or another it is going to effect my life... and then start thinking about actually studying and school work and all that jazz again.

But, law is something that has always been close to my heart and no, I do not have any fanciful law and order ideas about it... nor do I have that aggressive we will make loads of money theory... I want to help people and the best way for me to do that is to go to school so I know the law backwards and forwards ... and can establish a career that actually allows me to do so. There are things that I do not like and do not think is fair and there is only one way to effect change... so I have to start somewhere.

I absolutely have the support of my family. My parents have wanted me to go back to college since I dropped out when I was pregnant with my daughter... and my hubby asks me every day if I have signed up for classes yet. The only thing that is currently delaying me is money. With us moving in oh two weeks now school will have to wait... for a few more months at least. I am going to pay for classes on my own for as long as I can without getting myself into debt for as long as I am able.

Thank you so very much for the words of encouragement! It means a lot to hear so many different people say go for it!

Your post was really provactive, especially in my household right now. My older SS, who is starting his junior year at Wisconsin (he transferred there after an unhappy two years out east), just told us he wants to go to law school. His BioMom told me he asked her if she would write any entrance essays he would need (she wrote his college ones, shame on her!). I asked DH, "I wonder why he didn't ask me?" DH said, "He knew you'd say 'no'." Anyway, my dear SS is a history major with probably a solid B average, and he doesn't do that well on standardized tests. He has been asking me for advice. Although I am a SAHM, I did graduate at the top of my class from Northwestern Law, I did work for a major international law firm in Chicago, enjoying a six-figure income as a first year associate. I really didn't enjoy the work, but the money helped pay back my student loans.

I didn't go to law school to do corporate law. I wanted to be the next William Kunstler. My SS, on the other hand, wants to make a lot of money. I haven't tried to discourage him, but I am a realist. I know that he probably won't get into the kind of law school he would need to in order to get job offers from large firms. And I also know there are a lot of underemployed attorneys.

This past summer was the third summer since SS's high school graduation that he wasn't able (willing?) to obtain steady employment. Granted, he did take one summer school class, but still ... He is lucky his father (DH) is willing to continue to subsidize his spending money. Son did mention to me, while we were talking about law school, that it seemed to him a lot of people take a year off from undergrad before starting law school. I told him some do, most don't, and if he was sure he wanted to go to law school, he should just go straight through. If he wasn't sure, then he probably shouldn't invest the time and money right away, but that he should have some other plan that would provide him an income that includes medical benefits for that gap year.

And they say I'm too harsh! LOL!

:-) I couldnt imagine asking my mom to write essays for me ever... it seems that is a sure sign that law school is not necessarily where he really wants to be....

I dont know, for as long as I can remember I have been told that I should go into law or politics. (which these days seems to be close to the same thing) I have resisted both just because I didnt want to do what everyone else said I should. However, I have most recently realized that in order to achieve one, making a difference. I would need the other, a degree and law school. So here I am, a little late, but by far not to late making a decision and going for it.

I am just amazed at the level of accomplishments of the
women on this site.

I usually keep my background under wraps, because I am suddenly treated differently.

Also, I have attended those women's professional she-woman man haters clubs, that also make me feel out of place. Or, of course, there are the supper clubs, where all of the male physicians go into the den and all of the women go into the kitchen to talk about how to get out formula stains. No disrespect, but which am I? Neither, really.

It's nice to have a great group of really accomplished women
to talk to.

Well done, ladies. : )

Hi ladies!

Let me elaborate, as requested:

From Mom of 4: "I want to help people and the best way for me to do that is to go to school so I know the law backwards and forwards."

As much as I hate to say this, your words above identify a MAJOR misconception about law school. Actually, 2 misconceptions: (1) that the best way to help people is to be in school for three years preparing for a career in law, and (2) that you will know the law backwards and forwards as a result of going to law school.

Let's talk about the second misconception first. I can assure you that you will know very little about the law of any state, anywhere at the end of your law school tenure. Why? Because that's not what law school is designed to do. Contrary to popular belief, law school is supposed to train you how to THINK like a lawyer. You're supposed to learn the law . . . later . . . after . . . somewhere donw the road. And you'll do that (after you pass a bar exam) through a lot of self-study and through working with other attorneys (depending upon what career path you choose).

The truth is that a person, if they were to spend time reading about a field of interest for the same three-year period, would know boatloads more than a graduating law student on ANY GIVEN LEGAL SUBJECT. So, if you want to know the law in a particular area well enough to be in the position to argue for change, you could accomplish that much quicker and more effectively if you simply studied the subject on your own.

Regarding the first misconception: Mom of 4 may be different from most, but very few of the people I know who went into law school with intentions of going into public interest, actually entered the public interest field after law school. Law school, from what I observed, is not, necessarily, the most direct road to "helping people." Lobbyists help people; members of non-profit organizations help people. Law students who start with the idea of helping people seem to get distracted with the realities of student debt and the pressure to go into practice with a prestigious firm (especially when one goes to a top-ranked law school). I've seen people with your good intentions get sidetracked.

TAMAR 422 - I think you're right on with your thoughts about your SS. Folks don't seem to understand that the prospects for graduates from top schools (I went to the University of Virginia) can be very different (i.e. waaaaayyyyyy better) than those of folks who graduate from average or below average schools. And, let's be honest, if it's about the money, he might be better off getting an MBA. :-)

analytical, thankyou for your advice...

I know full well, that law school isnt the end all for what I want to accomplish in the long run. But, it is the starting point for where I want to go. In order to do what I want I need to have the degree backing me up... with all of the knowlegde in the world people take you much more seriously when you have those nifty pieces of paper that say you know what you are talking about.

And, currently I do work for a non profit org and have done so for several years... the problems with non profit orgs are that they are so rigid in their exact field that there is little chance to do anything other than what is in exactly black and white. Also, non profits are so very very concerned with losing their funding at almost every juncture that you find yourself dealing with paperwork and labeling people into demographics and numbers that it almost seems like the very people you went in trying to help are the last item on the menu. It's very dissappointing but very true.

You're welcome. I just tell people what I wish someone had told me.

It sounds like you know what you want and believe you've identified a way to get it. I hope all works out as you have planned.

UVA - Awesome.
Wahoo Wah

I LOVED the way you dissected the two major misconceptions about law school. So true! And you were spot on with your observation about law school debt and the pressure to take a position with a prestigious firm. Even by third year, I still hadn't convinced myself that I wanted to spend 70 billable hours a week drafting joint venture agreements for multinational corporations. I still wanted to be that "true believer."

I would love to be able to say to my SS, "Look, I love you, but you are an above average student, at best, and chances are that your grades and LSAT score won't get you into a top tier law school. The opportunities that I had probably won't exist for you. Plus, you hate writing, and critical thinking is not your strength. Maybe you would be better off pursuing an MBA." Of course, that would be a real downer, and I would be accused of being negative and not supportive. I do believe that dear SS is thinking about law school as another way to put off working for an additional 3 years (well, 4 years, if he takes that year off that he hears so many people do ...)

I'm envious of the way your brain still works like a lawyer. In the almost 6 years that I've been SAHM, my brain has turned pretty mushy. What is your non-traditional career path?

For what it's worth --

When I was getting ready to start law school, the thing I hated above all else was smug people who asked me "Why?" -- especially lawyers. They weren't really curious; they were just wanted to dissuade me. They couldn't wait to tell me I didn't know what I was getting into, it wasn't what I thought (never mind that I come from a family of many lawyers, including my brother), I'd just end up doing tedious work at a sweatshop firm rather than really helping anyone, etc., etc. It was a no-win situation; whatever I answered, they'd pounce on me and try to talk me out of it.

Well, guess what? I went to law school, and I loved it. I was at the top of my class and the managing editor of the law review. I clerked for two federal judges. I ignored the offers from the big firms and went on to have a fun, rewarding, useful career, mostly in public service law -- civil liberties, civil rights, constitutional law, criminal defense -- including Supreme Court practice, advising on legislation, writing articles, and teaching. I got bad law changed; I got innocent people released from prison; I helped misused people put their lives back together. I, too, have seen other people lose track of their original goals, but I know many more that went into public service and did great work that really helped people. I can't think of any who regretted it. For that matter, I also know many people who work for big litigation or corporate law firms and love that. Almost all of them also do fascinating public interest work pro bono.

I am glad I didn't listen to the people who tried to talk me out of law school. I could see at the time that they were the ones who weren't happy themselves, and one or two who were just the type of people who like to throw cold water on other people's plans. The people who were doing work they loved all encouraged me.

So I am encouraging you. Law school is a fascinating education -- but not for people who just want it to be trade school. analytical1 and tamar are exactly right that it isn't about training for practice; you really have to learn that while working. And NO ONE knows the law, in any field, backward and forward (unless it's some incredibly obscure, narrow field, I suppose). I guess that's why other countries have sort of apprentice programs after law school. Anyway, I have noticed that the people who like law school are those who approach it as an academic degree, not a professional program. It's so interesting, and after the initial shock of the workload wears off (that takes at least a year!), you realize you are capable of a lot more than you'd dreamed -- like giving birth or running a marathon. People who just want a license are restless; the people who seem to like it the most are those who aren't even planning on practicing when they finish. That describes my brother, my mom, and myself, in fact -- none of us planned to practice law, but all of us did.

Including my mom. As I mentioned on another forum, regarding whether you were "too old" -- she started law school at age 70, graduating at 73. She loved it, she did great, her fellow students and the faculty loved and respected her, she clerked for a federal judge, and she is a brilliant lawyer today (almost 78). She said she actually thought it was if anything easier for her than for the younger students. And they weren't all so very much younger, either -- many were in their 30s and some in their 40s. The year after her, there was a guy in his 50s -- he thought everyone was going to make a big fuss over him; boy, was he disappointed! He could almost have been her son.

So you go for it, mom of 4! You sound to me like someone who would really enjoy law school and make the most of it. You can always quit if you don't like it, you know. But I think you will, and I think you'll do very well. And I will be proud to call you colleague. Welcome to the club!

I agree with Gellchom in many respects. I just don't know many people who had the financial wherewithall to pursue public interest. And I certainly don't know any lawyers in my age range who love biglaw careers. They love the biglaw money, but don't love what they are doing. The fact that you do know these folks, is great.

I have to be honest. I don't ask people why they go to law school out of curiousity. I'm not at all "just curious." I'm not aiming to dissuade them either, though. I'm simply attempting to get them to really think about what they are considering. I know too many folks (myself, included) who treated law school as a default career path. The path by which I simply "couldn't go wrong." After all, that's what the smart folks who weren't going to medical school did - they went to law school. Lol. I subscribed to what my parents and others (who really had no basis of knowing) told me, which was that law school is a degree that I could use to do "anything."

Instead of taking the time to do some serious self-analysis to truly figure out the path I wanted to take, I jumped into a ridiculously expensive default that not only changed my financial position, but also significantly affected the way I think. The weird thing was that, once I got to law school, I realized that many folks there (especially folks who went straight from undergrad to law school) were just like me.

Don't get me wrong. Law school and law practice can be wonderful, as gellchom pointed out - FOR PEOPLE WHO SHOULD BE DOING IT. So, when I ask a person why they want to attend law school, it is not, necessarily, to discourage them, but, rather, TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO HAVE THE COURAGE TO BE INTROSPECTIVE AND ASK THEMSELVES THE TOUGH QUESTIONS. I tell them that if they know what they REALLY want to do in life, then, they should just . . . do that. Don't waste time in law school if it's not, ultimately, what you truly want to do. While there is noting wrong with pursuing academia just for the sake of doing it, I think that learning to think like a lawyer is not something that one should take lightly. This may sound crazy, but . . . it truly is a different way of looking at things. It's a way of thinking that is hard to keep isolated in just your professional life. It permeates EVERY area of your life. Some people view it as an argumentative and negative way of thinking. Well, what do you expect from someone who has been trained to argue well and identify the things that aren't right about a situation? (I know I probably sound like a nut case - lol).

Here's an example: If someone tells me that she knows she wants to be an entrepreneur, I tell her that she has to understand that by going to law school, one skill she will learn is how to identify and anticipate everything that could possibly go wrong in a situation. That, while it is a valuable characteristic, is contrary to what entreprenuers do to succeed. Successful entreprenuers often rely on intuition and optimism to make calculated risks. Law school, however, teaches one to be more risk averse because that's what our clients pay us to do - identify risks. The business folks are the ones who choose which risks to take seriously and which to disregard. We, as lawwyers, however, are supposed to think of all of the drawbacks and "issues" that could come up.

That's just an example. Again, for me, it's about encouraging folks to purposely pursue their dreams, instead of falling into a default career because its "respectable" and potentially lucrative. If law is the career for them, I think they should go after it wholeheartedly, as Mom of 4 has opted to do. If not, there's no need to spend time and money getting a JD.

As for me, I got lucky. After my first year of law school I was certain that I didn't want to practice law. And, after graduating from school (Wahoo Wa!), I didn't practice for years. I did a variety of different things in an attempt to figure out what I really wanted to do. I, eventually, decided to try a career in commercial real estate, and loved the industry. It was then, after finding an area that I really enjoyed, that I decided to practice law . . . and still do. Commercial real estate. For years, I dealt with the critisism that I was wasting my top ten law degree. But, more than anything, I wanted to find happiness in a vocation, and I didn't care that I had spent a gazillion dollars on my education.

Whoa! I don't think I've ever written this much in a post of any kind, anywhere!

Tamar__422 - Lol, you definitely don't want to come across as the SM who steals the sunshine. I think you're taking the right approach. Thanks for the compliment. Can you give me some tips on what I need to do to be a SAHM (when I have some kids)? :-)

YES - you CAN do it! I'm in law school now - starting my third year, but will be in for four since I am in a part-time program and still work during the day to pay my mortgage. While I have been in school I also met my BF (and his son) and we are ring shopping and talking marriage probably before I graduate. I'm working harder, doing more and have a fuller life than I ever thought I'd have. Some days I resent the work and the sacrifices that I make to do the work, but I keep in mind that it's where I'm meant to be and what I'm meant to be doing.

I worked in Human Resources for almost eight years after graduating from college and hated many things about it, but loved, loved, loved the legal part. I became the "go to" person to research local laws that would impact employment decisions we wanted to make so that our team was prepared when speaking with the in house counsel. I also was the unofficial "go to" for state law benefit information and research on changes in the law. I thought about law school for 10 years and eventually got up the courage to apply - to one school - and got in. I am, and still am, convinced that it is the path I was always meant to be on, although where I'll end up afterwards has become slightly less clear over time.

Here's what I've learned/experienced while in school as a slightly "older" student:

1. It changes your life in ways you will never expect.

2. You find out you have stamina you never thought you had (although being a mom of 4 you may already be well aware of your own stamina).

3. You sacrifice A LOT of your personal life over the course of the program. It is critical to have a good support system of people who are willing to be patient and lend a hand with the little things in your ordinary life. I have had some friendships fade away with those who don't have the patience to wait around for me and I have sacrificed A LOT of social and "fun" activities for the darn books. I just keep telling myself it's worth it.

4. Don't listen to the hype. There is a certain "fear" element involved in law school that is promulgated by pracitioners, students and faculty alike. You'll hear a lot of "you MUST do X to be successful" or "you'll NEVER get a job unless you do X...". Take everyone's advice (even mine!) with a grain of salt. Listen to your gut - search out reliable resources, network with good people and follow the same instincts that led you to apply to school the first place, and you'll be fine and find your own way.

5. Your "standard of living" while in law school will change - my house is never clean, I live out of laundry straight from the dryer, and my fridge hasn't been cleaned out in about 3 years. :) Why spend time cleaning the house and folding clothes when I would rather spend my spare time with friends and family?

If you have a school nearby that offers an "evening" or "part time" program, I would recommend checking it out. The students in our evening program are generally older students who have significant amounts of life experience behind them before they came to school. Without meaning to offend other posters here who went straight to law school from undergrad - I think it's probably a more satisfying experience to go back to school with some "life" under your belt. We have real world situations to bring to the class room and the quality of the classroom conversation is richer and benefits from our experience.

Even though I think you will have to sacrifice some family time with your kids, it can be done. I'm in class now with at least 5 people who have had children since starting law school (men and women - 3 of them on law review) and other folks who have purchased homes and gotten married. Law school certainly makes living a "normal life" difficult for 3 years, but it's worth it in the end! :)

Beware - not all legal employers recognize the benefits of life experience and they are often much more interested in class rank and GPA. It's frustrating that the legal industry seems so archaic in so many ways - their own employment practices are a little behind the times. If you know what area you want to practice in, talk to some people who already do what you want to do and check out the job market before you even start. It might change your focus while you're in school.

Also keep in mind that the pressure of grades and class rank is very real. The students in my school are actually very cooperative and collaborative with each other, but the forced ranking system can be brutal on your self esteem if you let it get to you.

I would disagree somewhat with analytical1's comment about "thinking like a lawyer" - they tell you that all the time but never really tell you what it means. :)

I would agree though that if it's purely academic curiosity you seek - law school is probably not the place. It's the most time consuming, energy consuming, expensive, euphoric, depressing, challening, stressful, energizing experience of my life. If I just wanted to learn for learning's sake, I would have just picked a few books and learned it on my own. The idea of working so hard for something and then getting to put it to action in the real world is the thrill and the reward - regardless of what area you end up practicing in.

Wow, you ladies rock!

I found this site after googling "too old for law school" and this is definitely a gold mine of valuable experiences and perspectives from successful women.

I have been a paralegal/legal sec'y all of my life, and now I'm a 44-yr-old single mother. I have made excuses for not going to law school from day one of my career, and now I'm DONE!!! I sit for the LSAT on 9/29, and I'll see where I stand after that score comes in. I finished my undergrad late in life also, 10 years ago, but I feel that made me a much better student.

So don't despair Momof4, I say GO FOR IT! At least you have the support of your entire family, that is a rich blessing all of it's own.

To Tamar, hlmhr and analytical1: Thank you for your in-depth commentaries, I have been looking for this kind of info all over the Web. Would it be alright if I queried you for more law school info from time to time? Your opinions and advice are just what I need!

lbossy - ABSOLUTELY! Please feel free to send any questions my way. I would be happy to share any information - personal experiences and practical tips alike.

GOOD LUCK on your LSAT! It's a big step in the process, both exciting and stressful. Once you get it under your belt, you feel like you're really underway on the journey.

Mom or 4: I wouldn't let age stand in the way of your dreams. If you are sure that law school and being a lawyer is right for you...go for it.
My story briefly. Got a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago when I was 32. I was divorced and co-raising our 5 year old son. Met an man and married him. The eight years of marriage consisted of his getting his MD from UofC, went to Boston where he did his residency in ER. I worked the entire time in desktop publishing. With the understanding that once he finished, I could quit work and concentrate on rediscovering my dreams. Long story short. He left me for a female med student in his last year of residency. By then I was 40 years old. Totally lost. Felt that he left me because I wasn't a professional, i.e. doctor, lawyer. Had no self esteem left. So I decided to try law. I become a court appointed special advocate for children-CASA volunteer- in Chicago. Spent time observing and talking to lawyers there. Decided it wasn't for me. So I got a job with a small law practice as a paralegal trainee. What an eye opener. I stayed for 6 months after which time I was convinced that I really did not want to be a lawyer. I just liked the idea of it. So glad that I took the time to find out what I DIDN'T want.
I am currently approaching 50 yrs. old. Still doing graphic design. Still unsure about what I want to do when I grow up:) (I'll figure it out eventually).

I guess the moral of my story is to be aware of your reasons for wanting to go to law school. And perhaps try and get some practical experience in law (either volunteer or work in a law office) so that you know what it's really about. Good luck to you. I hope you find your answer.
Susan

Susan,
OMG! I have been reading about your SS, and I just read your story briefly. Despite the fact that I am a law school educated SAHM and you are a graphic designer, we lead similar lives. My ex-husband let me pay off his student loans before he let me catch him cheating, I found out I liked the idea of being a lawyer much more than I liked actually practicing (probably had to do more with the area I was practicing), I have 2 SSs who have been heavily into drugs (thank goodness that phase seems to be coming to an end), and I have been thinking about how I will spend the majority of my days now that all my kids are in school, and I have seriously considered CASA in Cook County.

Oh, and I also live in suburban Chicago.

LBOSSY -

I'd be happy to help in answering your questions.

Good luck on the LSAT. If you have questions that I can answer, I'd be more than happy to help. I am 20 years out of law school and a SAHM (oh my goodness, has it really been that long???), but I might be able to pull out an answer or two.

analytical 1 - the most important tip I can give you for when you are a SAHM? Get good lumbar support in your car. You will be spending ALOT of time in car pools, LOL! Also, keep a pair of reading glasses in the car, for waiting in the car pool line, so you can at least read the paper and not feel that you are sitting there, wasting time.

Hi Tamar,

Sorry I did not respond to your post yesterday. I was and still am very upset. My husband and I are splitting up. I am very scared and sad. I feel like a 3 time loser.
If you want to read about it, it's in the Getting a Divorce post of this morning.

You might really enjoy CASA. The case I had involved getting financial support for a woman who opened up her home to take care of two little girls who came from an abusive home. Unfortunately, I really was not very effective. She really needed a lawyer. I think most of the CASA cases, focus on child safety. Most CASA workers make frequent home visits to ensure that the kids are well taken care of and not abused. With social service professionals heavy case loads, the CASA workers help them out in this way.

Thanks,
Susan

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Everyone,

I need some advice on this topic. I am 42, started back to college last year and will graduate in the spring with a history major, english minor. Since back I have a 3.8 gpa but averaged in with my previous work it comes to a 3.2. I would love to go to law school, have the funds, the drive, the study skills, but would one accept one as old as me with a cumulative gpa of 3.2? I have been studying the LSAT prep book for a week and feel as though I shouldn't bother (although I've been scoring pretty well on the practice tests).

Who would accept a 42 year old?

Thanks, Kirsten

Hi Kschipper621 -

Don't know where you live, but have you researched law schools with evening programs? I stated in an earlier post that I'm in an evening program and am probably on the younger side of the class at 32. My study partners are 36, 43 and 45 (I think). I'm also quite good friends with at least 3 other women in their 40's - one has a son who just graduated college himself, one has 2 small girls and the third is single, never married. At least 2 men in my class have daughters my age. I don't think you're ever too late for law school.

Some of my older classmates often joke that no one under 30 should even be allowed to apply.(Again, no offense intended to those who went at younger ages - each person comes into it in their own time and for their own reasons, but you know how the old fogies like to joke...).

So I would encourage you to seek out programs that welcome non-traditional students. They are becoming more popular and slowly (very slowly) the legal community might be starting to recognize the value of the life experience and legal training that we bring to the work place. It is probably especially helpful if you want to practice in a field that you have some past related work experience or if you have some business/marketing experience. It seems that there have been more and more articles written lately about the importance of being able to network and build a client base for the firm - especially if you want to work in a private firm.

If you want to go into public interest or social justice work, you might find that it's even more acceptable and easier to get work. Those jobs tend not to pay as well and there can be a great deal of emotional stress dealing with some of the clients in those areas, but that's where your background and maturity can come into play and really be a benefit.

Evening programs tend to draw those of us who work during the day and/or those who want to be in a class with older, more non-traditional students. However, I know at our school at least, you are not forced to remain in the evening program during the course of your schooling. I started taking a mix of day and evening classes this semester and was able to flex my work schedule to accomodate some scheduling variety at school.

So, no, you're not too old and your GPA is the same as mine was when I applied. I think given your age and life experience, a well written and thoughtful personal statement coupled with strong references would be important and could get you over the hump if you're worried about your scores. I can't say that it worked exactly that way for me, but my scores were somewhere in the bottom of what they accepted and I feel like I wrote a very good letter of personal intent and had some great personal referneces who knew me quite well professionally and personally.

I was a Teaching Assistant for a first year class at our school and that program is linked with a special admissions group of students who maybe don't have the top scores but have personal/professional experience that makes the school think they would make good attorneys. Those students who are accepted under the special admissisions criteria are placed into the TA sections and receive some additional assistance and resources to help them be successful students. After being a TA for about 20 of those students, I'm not sure I really saw a difference - they were really energetic and very devoted to their academics. It was a great program that lends some extra support where needed. I'm fairly certain that my school is one of the schools to pioneer the program in the country and we've received awards from the ABA in recognition of it's success.

ALSO - final tip - submit your application EARLY in the timeframe that they accept them - ESPECIALLY if it's a school with rolling admissions. Time is on your side if you get it in early.

Wow - I babbled a bit, and I sound like a recruiter for the school, which I'm not, I just really like my school. So I say, go for it! You'll never know unless you try.

Oh, to add on to my last post, here's an example of how some of the profs really love to have older experienced students in class:

I'm in a Medical Fraud class this semester and and at the end of our first class last night he asked each of us to tell him about our experience in the medical/insurance/claims field and about why we chose the class. There are several folks in class who have directly related experience in the field. The woman who sat next to me is probably somewhere in her young 40's and she has actually done some fraud investigation in the medical claims field. When the prof heard that, it made him so happy he became practically giddy and almost jumped out of his shoes. (You know she's going to get called on like crazy this semester). The students who answered "I'm only here to fill up my schedule" were generally on the younger side and although he was courteous to them, he was much more interested in the people who either have past related experience or who want to work in the field.

im 40 and am taking the sept 29 lsat.
im worried that by the time i graduate, i'll be 45 and
top firms will pass me by, optiing for graduates in their 20's.
sure their will be firms hiring old grads but i guess thats what im up against.
i was thinking of taking a 1 yr program that was equally as satisfying and thats it. but this law thing is always tugging me back.
god i hope its one of those things that was'meant to be' and not just a simple case of bad decision making ( ive made those ).
i wish u all the luck mom of 4...me too.

Miamimom --

too old at 42? Read my post above about my mom, who was 70 when she began.

She felt it was an advantage, by the way.

NO-NO-NO YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD FOR LAW SCHOOL!!!

That is the good news. There are age limits on entering med school(I think), but none for law school. I started at 40, and am still in it, with a ways to go.

The pressure of final exams and the essay structure of most of them can be difficult (the entire semester being based on one 3-4 hour writing sample); the class ranking and minimum GPA is another downer; and I highly suggest evening classes if you want to be there with more mature students. But the value of being an actual officer of the court, able to go before a judge and argue on a person's behalf, will (hopefully) be worth it. Life is too short to spend it regretting things you still have control over. Do You!! It's your life, live it!