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As a late bloomer myself and someone who has always defied the conventional (whether intentionally or not), I would say it’s never too late.
I only advise that you do thorough research and speak to many folks who are currently practicing (join the Law and Big Law bowls if you haven’t already).
A few things to be aware of:
1. The BigLaw (BL) salaries are only paid to those who join the “market paying” large firms. Having said that, those are the firms that are more likely to see you as a replaceable part (not to say others won’t) and you will be asked to be available 24/7 (they’d ask for more if they could!). Non market paying firms might pay the same as market for years 1-3, but most drop off significantly from market after that (e.g. I am currently at an AmLaw 100 firm that is paying me $100k below market as a 6-7 year).
2. Understand what your role will
be through the first few years of your career. At larger firms as a transactional attorney, you may be putting together signature pages and making checklists for a couple years while observing (not the worst thing for being paid $215k out of law school). The next couple will be spent incrementally increasing your responsibilities IF the partners you work with believe you can handle it. Remember just bc they say you can’t doesn’t mean you can’t, but their word matters for that. At smaller firms you may have more substantive responsibilities and client context early on (I would recommend this, although each has its pros and cons).
3. The profession is full of very smart people but there are also a lot of odd personalities (you may be used to this as an engineer). Law firms reward attorneys for business generation, not management capabilities. This regulars in people who have zero idea how to manage others being put in management roles (e.g. group heads, office managing partners) and can lead to an lot of frustration and job hopping (I am a prime example, although my personality has contributed to that as well).
4. With respect to choosing law schools, others may have different advice, but choose the school that provides the best balance between cost and reputation in the geographic region where you may want to practice (I believe this matters less than ranking, particularly of late). I will never tell anyone they won’t make it to a market-paying firm bc I eventually did, but statistical odds are that you won’t; this means you’ll be taking on a lot of debt and not necessarily getting $100k bonuses to get it paid off quickly.
Having said all of that, if you truly want to pursue this, do it! It’s never too late.
Happy to discuss or provide any guidance or further advice if you’d like. Feel free to DM.
It is never too late if you are passionate about a career in law. One of my colleagues went to law school at 52. That colleague is doing very well right now and enjoying the work. I personally went to law school at 28 and still enjoy what I do.
Don’t do it I beg you
I’m currently in law school and had many a person in my 1L section who was 35 and older (some of which we didn’t learn their age til later in the year). They’re all doing well (socially and career wise) and seem less stressed than many of the younger people. I also know some law schools have clubs for older students so that they can build community. I think if you want to do it you should!
Never too late! But do your homework on schools, costs, and career placement, and make sure you want to go to law school for the right reasons and that law school will provide the benefits you desire. Good luck!