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trooper10538 wrote:I am a 49 year old man, who has 17 years experience as a Texas State Trooper. I'm currently going through the process of retiring due to two back surgeries. I am no longer able to wear all the equipment etc. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice with a Major GPA of 3.90. I haven't taken the LSAT yet. Will my age hurt me during the admissions process? I will be considering University of Texas Law, University of Houston Law, South Texas College of Law and Saint Mary's Law in San Antonio. Thanks for any input. Ed

mcmand wrote:

trooper10538 wrote:I am a 49 year old man, who has 17 years experience as a Texas State Trooper. I'm currently going through the process of retiring due to two back surgeries. I am no longer able to wear all the equipment etc. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice with a Major GPA of 3.90. I haven't taken the LSAT yet. Will my age hurt me during the admissions process? I will be considering University of Texas Law, University of Houston Law, South Texas College of Law and Saint Mary's Law in San Antonio. Thanks for any input. Ed

Get as high of an LSAT score as you can, and go to the school that will give you a JD with minimal debt (lots of scholarships + no strings attached to said scholarships (i.e., no minimum GPA required, since law school is curved and people lose their scholarships that way)). The law schools probably won't discriminate against you based on your age, but employers might, since age discrimination is sadly very common everywhere, even in the legal field. Best to have minimal financial exposure in the event that you are hustling to find work. (And that's additional hustling on top of the tough hustling/competition for legal jobs as the market exists now.)

Is there a particular line of work you're trying to get into as a lawyer? Are you wanting to stay in criminal law? Prosecution or defense? Trial work or appellate? If you are sticking to criminal law, you probably have lots of good contacts who can answer these questions better than many of the folks on here. There are a lot of current students or 0Ls who dole out advice (current 3L here). There are grads and lawyers, too, but I see that less frequently. You need information from the people who actually have it, which would be practicing attorneys in Texas.

If you're looking to step away from criminal work and get into something different, start researching now and getting to know lawyers now in the practice areas you're considering. They can give you the scoop on starting law school as a second career, connect you with someone who has done the same, and foster more connections for you in your immediate geographic area.

Reach out to your contacts, and maybe start sending some cold emails to lawyers doing work you're interested in about getting coffee and bending their ear for a little advice on how to succeed as a lawyer in Texas starting a little later in the game than everyone else.

This forum's advice is usually a variation of: take the LSAT, retake the LSAT, get 170+, go to Harvard/Yale/Stanford, and if you don't, you're doomed. It's not very uplifting. It's realistic, but only to a point and only if one's conception of success is quite narrow.

zot1 wrote:Getting into law at your age sounds like a nightmare to me, but perhaps you'll find joy in it. Get a good LSAT and you'll be in. But please go to a ranked school with a good rep and a giant scholarship.

trooper10538 wrote:

zot1 wrote:Getting into law at your age sounds like a nightmare to me, but perhaps you'll find joy in it. Get a good LSAT and you'll be in. But please go to a ranked school with a good rep and a giant scholarship.

Nightmare huh.....I don't mind hard work....Always wants to go to law school just never seemed to work out before. Time to hit the books.

trooper10538 wrote:I am a 49 year old man, who has 17 years experience as a Texas State Trooper. I'm currently going through the process of retiring due to two back surgeries. I am no longer able to wear all the equipment etc. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice with a Major GPA of 3.90. I haven't taken the LSAT yet. Will my age hurt me during the admissions process? I will be considering University of Texas Law, University of Houston Law, South Texas College of Law and Saint Mary's Law in San Antonio. Thanks for any input. Ed

kalvano wrote:Preface: 36 years old, 2013 grad, work in Texas (Dallas), private practice.

Not a thing in the world would make me give up a good career at age 49 to go to law school and take a crapshoot at getting a job. Is there some deep, driving motivation behind this, or is it just something you want to do? You'll take a pay cut (relatively large, I would think) and essentially be starting over at the bottom without 17 years to catch up.

Mcsale02 wrote:My view be different from others, but I may have a better understanding of the driving factors behind your decision. If there's nothing stopping you, I say go for it. You are at a point where you have to start a new career, so regardless of what you decide you will be starting from the bottom at a later age -- make it something you think you'll thrive at and enjoy. Study hard and do great on the LSAT. If you can get in to UT with a scholarship I'd say you're golden. I will say that I'm right there with you, so I might be a bit bias. I'll be starting law school at the age of 46, which means I will also be starting a new career late in the game. I am too old for my current career. However, the GI Bill will be paying for school, so I will graduate with no debt.

A. Nony Mouse wrote:

kalvano wrote:Preface: 36 years old, 2013 grad, work in Texas (Dallas), private practice.

Not a thing in the world would make me give up a good career at age 49 to go to law school and take a crapshoot at getting a job. Is there some deep, driving motivation behind this, or is it just something you want to do? You'll take a pay cut (relatively large, I would think) and essentially be starting over at the bottom without 17 years to catch up.

I mean, if he's retiring from being a state trooper, he'll have to find something else to do regardless.

kalvano wrote:

A. Nony Mouse wrote:

kalvano wrote:Preface: 36 years old, 2013 grad, work in Texas (Dallas), private practice.

Not a thing in the world would make me give up a good career at age 49 to go to law school and take a crapshoot at getting a job. Is there some deep, driving motivation behind this, or is it just something you want to do? You'll take a pay cut (relatively large, I would think) and essentially be starting over at the bottom without 17 years to catch up.

I mean, if he's retiring from being a state trooper, he'll have to find something else to do regardless.

I feel like there has to be other open doors with 17 years as a state trooper that will allow him to put those skills to use (and likely pay more / have a better quality of life). I could be wrong, though.

trooper10538 wrote: Thanks for info. I want to stay in public service prosecutor (federal, state, county). The schools I listed are within reason for me, as far as, moving etc. What materials would you suggest I obtain for the LSAT? Was thinking about February, but may wait until June. I know classes are available are those worth the money? UT would be my best option because I wouldn't have to move at all, but it will be the most difficult to get into. Appreciate the advice. Ed

kalvano wrote:Preface: 36 years old, 2013 grad, work in Texas (Dallas), private practice.

Not a thing in the world would make me give up a good career at age 49 to go to law school and take a crapshoot at getting a job. Is there some deep, driving motivation behind this, or is it just something you want to do? You'll take a pay cut (relatively large, I would think) and essentially be starting over at the bottom without 17 years to catch up.

Mcsale02 wrote:My view be different from others, but I may have a better understanding of the driving factors behind your decision. If there's nothing stopping you, I say go for it. You are at a point where you have to start a new career, so regardless of what you decide you will be starting from the bottom at a later age -- make it something you think you'll thrive at and enjoy. Study hard and do great on the LSAT. If you can get in to UT with a scholarship I'd say you're golden. I will say that I'm right there with you, so I might be a bit bias. I'll be starting law school at the age of 46, which means I will also be starting a new career late in the game. I am too old for my current career. However, the GI Bill will be paying for school, so I will graduate with no debt.

trooper10538 wrote:

kalvano wrote:Preface: 36 years old, 2013 grad, work in Texas (Dallas), private practice.

Not a thing in the world would make me give up a good career at age 49 to go to law school and take a crapshoot at getting a job. Is there some deep, driving motivation behind this, or is it just something you want to do? You'll take a pay cut (relatively large, I would think) and essentially be starting over at the bottom without 17 years to catch up.

I'm being forced to retire because of a medical condition I'm not giving up a good career.

kalvano wrote:

trooper10538 wrote:

kalvano wrote:Preface: 36 years old, 2013 grad, work in Texas (Dallas), private practice.

Not a thing in the world would make me give up a good career at age 49 to go to law school and take a crapshoot at getting a job. Is there some deep, driving motivation behind this, or is it just something you want to do? You'll take a pay cut (relatively large, I would think) and essentially be starting over at the bottom without 17 years to catch up.

I'm being forced to retire because of a medical condition I'm not giving up a good career.

Is there something else you can do with your experience, though (sorry, posting later at night doesn't always get to what I meant)?

A. Nony Mouse wrote:

kalvano wrote:

A. Nony Mouse wrote:

kalvano wrote:Preface: 36 years old, 2013 grad, work in Texas (Dallas), private practice.

Not a thing in the world would make me give up a good career at age 49 to go to law school and take a crapshoot at getting a job. Is there some deep, driving motivation behind this, or is it just something you want to do? You'll take a pay cut (relatively large, I would think) and essentially be starting over at the bottom without 17 years to catch up.

I mean, if he's retiring from being a state trooper, he'll have to find something else to do regardless.

I feel like there has to be other open doors with 17 years as a state trooper that will allow him to put those skills to use (and likely pay more / have a better quality of life). I could be wrong, though.

But maybe he wants to be a lawyer.

zot1 wrote:

A. Nony Mouse wrote:

kalvano wrote:

A. Nony Mouse wrote:

kalvano wrote:Preface: 36 years old, 2013 grad, work in Texas (Dallas), private practice.

Not a thing in the world would make me give up a good career at age 49 to go to law school and take a crapshoot at getting a job. Is there some deep, driving motivation behind this, or is it just something you want to do? You'll take a pay cut (relatively large, I would think) and essentially be starting over at the bottom without 17 years to catch up.

I mean, if he's retiring from being a state trooper, he'll have to find something else to do regardless.

I feel like there has to be other open doors with 17 years as a state trooper that will allow him to put those skills to use (and likely pay more / have a better quality of life). I could be wrong, though.

But maybe he wants to be a lawyer.