Looking for advice on going to law school in my mid 30s. Went into consulting out of undergrad and settled into a role with solid pay/WLB (325k TC/remote/45 hrs week). I have the LSAT/GPA for T14, but struggle with the idea of taking on debt/ giving up $1M in career earnings. Thinking of doing a top part time program, but unsure how I would pivot into a well compensated law job after graduation. Would you trade solid pay/WLB in the middle of your career for higher comp on the back end of it?

No it will be many many years before you can make that kind of $$ for that amount of hours/week. I would have killed to be making that in my 30s for 45 hours a week. The grass is greener where you are

I feel like OP is on a low-key humble brag mission to shame actual lawyers who have to show up at the office in full Brooks Brothers garb and Patrick Bateman sanity mask over 120 hours a week to bill out like 75 quality hours of demonstrable client work to ratchet up that 200K base salary to 325K.

If my suspicions are correct, then well done OP.

If not, then… dude — what are you thinking? You’ve actually got it made at this point. As long as AI is not about to roll out a more elite version of OP, he better stay put.

If you Love there idea of investigation and are driven no matter how many hours it takes to possibly solve a case it can be rewarding. I was a paralegal/law assistant for many years. I enjoyed discovery and investigation. But the stress and hours I saw the attorneys endure would give me pause. However, in any career...if you do what you love it will love you back.

If it’s just for financial opportunity, absolutely not. It will take you another 10 years to start seeing the returns that will make up for 3 yrs out of the workforce at your current level + the cost of actually going to law school. To go the kind of school that *guarantees* a big law job, it will probably cost something (not to say you can’t get into big law from elsewhere, but even more of a risk). + you’ll start out in big law making less than you currently are and working a ton more. If you truly want the challenge of law school/ practicing and are feeling stagnant in your current role, go to the best school you can part time. I actually like being a lawyer and I get the desire so if it’s for a reason other than “I can make more money as a lawyer,” you should find a way to make it work. If it’s just the money, you will be very disappointed

The long view guy: The law can be fascinating, but there are so many ways to get involvement through volunteer work and reading. Make friends with a nice attorney. They exist and they need a non-law friend so much! Beginning at a law school that may treat you like a plebe or just impersonally might be unpleasant once you’re already very accomplished elsewhere. Law can be very hierarchical - and often less encouraging of you asking challenging questions than you might suppose. You are at a time of life already when each year is more valuable than the last. Along with the idea of starting as a 1L, please think about other ways to satisfy your fascination with the legal system.

I genuinely appreciate all of the input! Thanks for your perspectives on this

Dozen years in law (not just big law) I make nearly $2m as an NSP. Anything is possible and I didn’t go to T14 or have that elite pedigree. I had $300k with wlb for years. Got bored. Need the adrenaline. But that’s just me.

The real issue is that this career is hard, really hard. But so is doing anything you really want to succeed at.

Is work one’s life? No. But it’s a big part. You gotta do what you gotta do to plod your own path. Good luck!

If you can afford to, go for it!

Are you happy now? Why do you want to pursue laws? read the posts here, there are so many unhappy lawyers working 60+ hours with a compensation lower than yours. With your situation, unless you don’t care financially and being a lawyer is your dream and can also make you much more happier, then don’t do it.

Stay. Don’t go.

Your story sounds too good to be true (i.e. envy bait), if it is, good for you. Can you elaborate on what sort of consulting you do that nets you this salary and WLB? What are your biggest impact skill sets? Sales, communication, high level problem solving, and coolness under pressure?

I will say this, if you love the law that much, then become a paralegal AS A SIDE HUSTLE. Less debt, still enough law to satisfy your cravings and then you get see how bad the law profession actually is !!

I would not, you have great life balance now and it won't be that way when you practice. It's the complete opposite. You make great money most attorneys only dream about only working 45 hours per week.

You need to reflect long and hard on why you want to make this drastic career change. For pay cuts and student loan debt, all the hard work of law school and becoming a lawyer from the ground up with no experience or career contacts, then the big job search. Sounds very impulsive to me...why?

As the mother of a law student who is graduating in a few weeks, dive deeper before committing to changing paths. My son was making more with a bachelors degree than he will make as an attorney and has secured a role but several of his peers are still struggling to find a role. If you do, apply for scholarships. The cost of law school (all inclusive, books, study materials, bar exam, inability to work, TIME) is much more than the average person thinks, although you may be able to afford it. Be careful before you make a change and really do a deep dive. Law school and even studying for the bar is not as easy as it looks and it by far outweighs college course work. It is nothing like college. Just make a good choice and make sure it's something you'll love, that will make the HUGE sacrifices worth it if you do change paths.

If this is a dream of your's then do it. If you are trying to fill time and space then don't do it. Don't wait till you are 50 and 60 years old trying to do it. Or, looking back wishing you would have. The money is going to be there. First, if you are not going right now, then let me help you out. You need to know what you are doing before you go. Everybody in law school is smart, so they grade you on how well you test. I am putting you on game because no one did it for me. Get this book: "Mastering the Law School Exam," by Suzanne Darrow-kleinhaus. Also get Critical Pass MBE flashcards. They are structured how you will write your outlines. Go over them like your life depends on it. Because, truly, your life does depend on it. When you are done with law school you will feel very accomplished because it ain't for the faint of heart, but with the head start I gave you and your smarts, you will be A okay.

YES! We work for the majority of our lives and why not choose something you are passionate about. It makes your days exciting. That is worth more than money. In addition, you will be choosing a career that actually makes good income. You will have a setback at first but at the end of your life, you will know that it was all worth it. My dad was a CPA accountant, then a business owner and did go back and get his law degree and graduated at 59. He is still going strong at 85 and loves it. Good luck!

I had a direct report go to Law School part time,. the company paid for part of his tuition. I would check to see if you can get your company to subsidise some of that expense. And "Lawyer " doesn't mean you can't go the corporate lawyer route!

DO NOT DO IT

Hello. I'm curious to know how you got into consulting.

Don’t. I hate to say it but you are too old at this point to make it financially viable for you.

I think you should. Just because you are in your mid 30’s does not mean anything. If it is what you truly want to go for then do it. You may reflect and be sorry if you don’t. I’m in my early 60’s and have one month left for my bachelor in healthcare administration and management. I started out as a Clinical Registered Medical Assistant and wanted to continue on in medical but a different path. I say go for it. Good luck. I wish you well.