Realistic.

[drussell]

I am a 47 yr.old Caucasian Male. Graduated in 2005 with a sub par English Lit. Degree. Been working and raising kids since 2011. Currently employed with a good job making 70k a year. Always wanted to be a lawyer, be engaged in meaningful work. What options don’t have changing careers, getting in to law school, etc. 

Thanks. 

[canuckfanatic]

5 minutes ago, drussell said:

What options don’t have changing careers, getting in to law school, etc. 

Do you mind re-wording your question? I'm not entirely sure what the ask is here

[drussell]

Yeah sure. What do I have to do to get into law school? Besides write the LSAT and apply. What are my options? 
 

Thanks.

[canuckfanatic]

13 minutes ago, drussell said:

Yeah sure. What do I have to do to get into law school? Besides write the LSAT and apply. What are my options? 
 

Thanks.

Certain details vary school to school, but across the board (outside of Quebec) you need (a) a LSAT score and (b) at least a couple of years towards an undergrad degree.

Some schools have "mature" or "discretionary" applicant categories under which admissions committees will consider other factors such as age, work experience, etc. Applying under these categories will improve your chances, given your age and the amount of time that's passed since you were in school. Check the websites of the schools you're interested in to get specific details.

Other commenters might chime in to point out the opportunity cost of law school vs. the earning potential. I'm just going to assume you've already thought about that/will think about that before you dive in.

Edited February 14 by canuckfanatic

[MyWifesBoyfriend]

I am a sort of mature student, so I’ll add another consideration. Law school can be a lot. It’s not just a financial burden, but a time burden. If school doesn’t naturally click for you (it isn’t for me), then you’ll likely end up spending north of 50 hours a week. You should consider what your current family obligations are now with your current job, and decide if you could keep up with these with a potentially busier week.

 

That’s not to say you can’t just coast and ride the curve. But assuming you want to do well and get your money’s worth, it’s going to be an onerous time investment as well. 

[LMP]

I'm not going to opine on opportunity costs or dollars and cents. 

Instead I'm going to say, take the time to be sure that this is a career you want.

If you haven't already try and spend time learning what the average day to day is like for most lawyers. Especially for juniors. I find people often have a perception of the profession that doesn't match reality. So before you make any big jumps make sure you grasp what the day to day looks like and that it is something you think you'll enjoy.

[SNAILS]

At 47 years old and making $70K per year, you should not be going to law school for the money. You may do great in law school and make double what you are currently making, or you may end up making about the same. By the time you make up for lost income and tuition alone, you'll be in your mid 50s.

You say you want to be engaged in "meaningful work." I think you need to do some deep soul searching about exactly what you envision yourself doing as a lawyer. Is this a passion to make a difference for marginalized people? Is it a matter of proving to yourself and others that you can do it?

There needs to be a real passion for this to be worth it for you.

If you were 25 years old with an undergrad and no career prospects, the law school question would be much different. In that case, getting a $70K job to start with great protects for pay increases would be very much worth it, even if the work were less than exiting. For you, you need something more.