<p>If you have already established that your perspective is different from everyone else’s on here, why do you keep arguing with them and standing up for yourself</p>
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<p>Labarrister</p>
<p>your statement alone shows that I’m already on my way to becoming a lawyer. Isn’t that what they do?</p>
<p>My advice to anyone going to law school: if you’re independently wealthy, can get into Harvard, or can go for free, go; otherwise, do NOT go. This advice applies no matter how old you are. </p>
<p>A few years back (it may still be true), you couldn’t even volunteer at the local public defender’s office, because they were so crammed full of volunteer lawyers that they didn’t even have the space, lawyers, or capacity to take on anyone else. That is how overcrowded the profession is, and how dismal things are post-2008. </p>
<p>Let me also point out that the costs do not end once you pass the bar: there are annual bar dues, MCLE courses, liability insurance premiums, and the like. That is just to be a lawyer in good standing: at this point, you’ve yet to help a single client (pro bono or not).</p>
<p>To my eye, it looks like a California-accredited local law school or online program is the most sensible path for you. Otherwise, you need to finish your undergrad degree, and you haven’t said anything about wishing that you could go back to college, etc. They are considerably less expensive than most ABA-accredited law schools.</p>
<p>I don’t know what a lawyer really does. I’ve never worked inside a law firm. But I have a hunch that they drop sources like these when they don’t tell you what you want to know. </p>
<p>Have you no one to talk to who has “been there and done that”? I know some people offered anecdotes on here, but it would be so cool to go talk to someone in person who has done what you want to do! </p>
<p>In all honesty, I wish I could offer some advice, but I just can’t put myself, 21, in your shoes, so I won’t feign that I can.</p>
<p>Carol - </p>
<p>I am the same age, and I “get” the dream thing. If you can afford it without risk to your retirement or family finances, then go ahead. (I have a dream that I might pursue as well, even though to others it probably makes no sense at all. I always wanted to be a high school teacher instead of a lawyer, but the ability to make a lot of money and the need to support our family when my spouse was diagnosed with a degenerative terminal disease got in the way). </p>
<p>Realistically, in 10 years you’re going to be 70 and NOT HAVE a J.D., or you’ll be 70 and have a J.D. My guess is that your first step would be to get that four-year degree with great grades, and start studying for the LSAT.</p>
<p>It’s not unheard of. When I went to law school in the 70s, I had a classmate who was in his late 50s/early 60s. He had retired, and was pursuing the dream. Boy, was he a tough classmate. He made the professors earn their money, since he always had good questions based on life experiences. Go for it!</p>
<p>go to the forum top law schools.com and post your LSAT score plus old UG GPA.
Do not attend any law school if you’re going to come out with more than 20k in debt. Unless it’s Harvard, Yale or Stanford. OR unless you have 200k extra laying around and want to spend it for no reason but can’t figure out how.
That’s all…</p>