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?

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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

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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.

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Have always wanted to practice law so this is the driving force for me to consider this

My wife always wanted to be a doctor. When she was in her early 30s, she left her accounting job (at MSG - free tix to any event), and was admitted to a local state med school. She has never looked back on her decision.

That’s not apples to apples

I'd just like to know how to reach that type of salary with that type of WLB. Please let me know.

Go for it! I am almost done with my BA in IT, and I'm 53.
I'm

I chose grad school over law school. Had my own EHS consulting firm for 10 years. It's not all about what feeds your wallet, it's what feeds your soul. Being happy is priceless. You can't take it with you.

Im no lawyer, but I read an article yesterday that AI is capable of completing the work of a lawyer fresh out of college in 2026 and some firms are already using AI to replace junior staff. Fast forward 2-4 years, it will be uncharted territory for young professionals fresh out of school with mountains of debt.

No. You are good. Don't do it

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