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Gosh, working full-time during 1L seems so impossible. I can't really recommend that. I also wouldn't really recommend going to law school at all with that high of an opportunity cost. Do you like your job? Is it something you could see yourself doing long-term?

Cashing in a presumably not too intensive $110k/yr job (I'm assuming that based on you thinking it's even possible to work full-time during 1L) for at least some cost (much more if you do t14) and a 30-50% chance at a $160k/yr job does not seem like the best plan to me.

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When you say you "interested in the law", what exactly is your interest and career goals?

If your company is covering fees + books, is there any expectation of you returning to the company post graduation?

If more corporate work (seeing as you mentioned corporate counsel friends), the "traditional career" route is 3-5 years in a biglaw firm then move inhouse somewhere. Biglaw will start around $160k, but inhouse will be substantially less. Long-term you can make a decent amount inhouse, but at first you won't be making more than you probably are right now (around $110k). Be sure you don't just have the "grass is greener on other side" mentality before taking this route over what you currently have. Lots of people find this work incredibly dull and regret taking it.

If patent law, you have patent prosecution vs. patent litigation. You'll be in a firm for a number of years at first probably regardless. Patent litigation will most likely be a big law firm, but this will be different than what you have been exposed to. A lot of drafting motions/discovery/other litigation things. Patent prosecution you can find smaller firms doing it. Will be drafting actual patent applications, maybe doing some PTAB/IPR stuff which is more like litigation. Pay at boutique firms can actually be pretty good, although still heavy hour expectations.

Patent guys go in house too, but you will be handling patent portfolios and that sort of thing, not doing corporate counsel work.


As far as UH and PT vs. Fulltime:

I wouldn't do PT. Handling a job when grades are most important (regardless of your background) will suck a lot. You won't get as good of grades as you can.

If you are planning to stay in TX and you got a fullride to UH, just retake or go to UT on a smaller scholly. UT's degree power is much better in TX and will give you much more employment options (from biglaw to small law) across TX. "Programs" at schools are generally bs. Everyone takes the same classes 1L year, and everyone can take patent/IP classes later on.

If you are planning to go back to the Northeast, I would be pretty worried about the mobility of a UH degree. Even with a UT degree, most still stay in TX. T14 will be the much better option if that is important to you in the long run.

Unless you hate your job an incredible amount, I really can't recommend law school for you. And even you do really hate it that much, maybe try to switch to something else first (something with less of an opportunity cost to end up with a job you'll probably hate just as much).

Thanks for the replies guys. My company ended up making the decision easier for me, as I'm acquiring new responsibilities that will involve a decent bit of travel and make part time impossible.