MDs making the switch to law Forum

[seeyoung]

Are there any of you out there? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Grizz]

Be a doctor.

[Spinozist21]

This is actually a really weird choice...especially with the money in medicine and the lower amount of working hours (post residency). It can be done, but MOST of the information you will get around here will be "DONT DONT IT!" "LAW IS TERRIBLE" "UNLESS YOU GET A 175 LSAT YOU WILL MAKE NO MONEY"

If you have good reasons for wanting to make the switch or if you are wanting to do both...like health law or go into academics then go ahead and make the switch.

[tea_drinker]

How far are you in becoming a MD? Pre-med? Medical school? Residency?

[pocket herc]

why are you considering making the switch? If you have come to believe the practice of medicine simply does not suit you, I can understand that, but what draws you to the legal field then? are you considering health law?

[lawschoollll]

flame...

[bk1]

flame...

Jumpy are we.

[lawschoollll]

flame...

Jumpy are we.

Nah. Just pretty certain that no one would *actually* consider what the OP is asking about.

[buckilaw]

We have no idea what area of law the OP is interested in. It is quite possible that he is not trying to get into biglaw and wants to focus on public interest work. In anticipation of arguments that this is still a bad idea, consider that even if he took on a large amount of debt and can not get PI he can always go back to medicine to pay of his debts, so his risk is arguably not as bad as someone straight from undergrad.

However, if the OP is looking to go from medicine to biglaw I would advise against it.

[seeyoung]

I have my MD. Almost done with residency. I am interested in Medical IP/malpractice/disability law.

Not that it matters (I am going into pediatrics), there really isn't money in it. Plus, I wasn't planning on completely abandoning medicine, just for a little while.

Unless you or someone you know has made this switch, please dont respond to this tread. I have good reasons to why I would like to switch. And trust me, I have taken into consideration, the money, the debt, the time..

[paratactical]

Unless you or someone you know has made this switch, please dont respond to this tread.

Why do people think they have the right to state "rules" like this in threads?

[CanadianWolf]

What are typical earnings of a pediatrician ?

[seeyoung]

Depending on the area, pediatricians make anywhere from 110K-180k. Not much considering exactly how much you work.

[seeyoung]

Unless you or someone you know has made this switch, please dont respond to this tread.

Why do people think they have the right to state "rules" like this in threads?

Why not? I don't want to have to sift through a bunch of pointless "dont do it" "law sucks" replies to find anything substantial.

[paratactical]

Depending on the area, pediatricians make anywhere from 110K-180k. Not much considering exactly how much you work.

And you think being a lawyer will be better?

Why not? I don't want to have to sift through a bunch of pointless "dont do it" "law sucks" replies to find anything substantial.

Because you have no authority here. NYAH NYAH NYAH NAYH.

[seeyoung]

Surprisingly, I don't feel like it is all about the money.

And you are right, I don't have the authority. I do have the maturity tho.

[Ginj]

My dad is a MD/JD, focusing now solely on Medical Malpractice. Over the course of my life, he's been able to go back and forth between the two fields... from a doctor at a family practice to a local law firm associate and back again... there's certainly a great deal of doors that open up with that kind of thing.

I don't know. He seems happy. He lives comfortably. Naturally, he thinks he's the authority on everything.

It can be done.

[bk1]

flame...

Jumpy are we.

Nah. Just pretty certain that no one would *actually* consider what the OP is asking about.

That seems absurd. While it may be exceedingly rare, I do think there is a possibility that a small, small amount MD's may actually consider switching to a JD.

[lparker]

Depending on the area, pediatricians make anywhere from 110K-180k. Not much considering exactly how much you work.

First of all, you're peds. not OB. Your hours are sweet! I know that peds is the lower/lowest paid, but you sure have gone through A LOT to switch. And, I don't know about you, but I'm the spouse of a 4th year med student and we have A LOT of student loans. Can't you pay off your loans first?

[seeyoung]

I don't have any loans. I've worked for years in research. I have the luxury of not having to worry about tuition. I am not an OB so I don't have to take call often, but there is nothing lax in working 80-110 hours a week.

[lparker]

but there is nothing lax in working 80-110 hours a week.

I'm certainly NOT diminishing your residency work load. But you're almost done...

[seeyoung]

I don't plan on quitting. I didn't come this far... I will finish residency first. Good luck to your husband in the match.

[09042014]

It's not worth 200K to delay adulthood another 3 years.

[CanadianWolf]

A difference to consider is that physicians are always in demand & always have work & always get paid since much of doctors' compensation comes from insurance companies or from the government.
When quoting medical practioners' earnings is that before or after malpractice insurance payments ? (I assume after since hospitals often cover that expense.)

[seeyoung]

That salary is based on pre-tax and no malpractice.

Delay adulthood. I wish I could. I'm married with kids.