British law degree to JD Forum

[atarar]

I agree with the TLS consensus - age isn't really a big deal for admissions, but > 40 might be tricky for job hunting purposes depending on the market or employer. Without a reportable gpa the LSAT will dictate a huge portion of the outcome here. I wouldn't worry about recommendations outside of HYS - I didn't use any academic letters, and I performed to my numbers in the T14.

Thanks for the input

[atarar]

I'm confident if you score a 170 you should be able to get a full ride. You may get in with much less albeit with no money. I'd suggest you don't give up until you get a 170. I know time is a concern but don't leave money on the table.

Thanks for the tips
I wasn't planning to apply with a sub 170 score anyway as my target is really t6
Scholarship money would be nice, but I won't mind paying for the pleasure if it's a T6

[atarar]

If you get a 170 you will get into some t14 with $$. The "why law?" Question is a good one. The schools won't ask you but employers will. Some big law firms will be cautious about hiring you (I say this as someone in his 30s) because they will be concerned you either won't be able to do the hours or won't fit in. So why this career change?

Thanks for the insight

[Icculus]

I think a 170+ gets you in. But why have you not answered the "why law" question?

[Icculus]

So I'm going to ask a different question - why law? Is there something you don't care for at your current job? Starting an entirely new career at 42-ish is very challenging. You will be going from management to taking direction from people almost half your age. It's a hard adjustment.

Are you reasonably happy with your current job and salary? If so, I would take a long, hard look at whether you want to commit yourself to law school and Biglaw and the reasoning behind the decision.

I'm 35 years old with a family, and I just graduated a couple years ago. I got what is, by all measurements, a "unicorn" job and I very much enjoy it, but it's difficult at times. I don't get to see my kid as often as I would like, and frankly, at 35, it isn't as easy as it once was to keep up with the pace that will sometimes (or oftentimes) be required in most firms. It was a hell of a lot easier at 24 or 28 to keep up with that kind of pace. That's going to sound like old man talk to people under 30, but no matter what kind of shape you stay in, your body just slows down in your 30's. If you started in Biglaw at 27 and are well on your way to partnership or a cushy in-house gig by 35, then it works out well. But starting as a first year at 42 would be much tougher.

All of which is a long way of saying be damn sure this is what you want, and then sit and think about that and be double-damn sure. It seems as if your numbers will get you into a very good school, but the best case scenario coming out of that school may not ultimately be that great for your situation. Just because law school is an option doesn't mean you have to go. Unless you're working 65 hours a week for $15.00 an hour, I'd very carefully examine why you want to go to law school.

I have to agreed with this. I started big law at 34 and by all accounts I am a younger 34 than I think most people (single, no kids, fairly energetic) but the grind is tough and I gotta day would have been way easier as a 27 year old. I have literally had 2 days off over the last month and a half and have been working 10-12+ hour days for most of that. I actually had a partner remind me there were 24 hours in a day and that I could work weekends because they needed help on some big project and I was already swamped. And I work at a firm that is considered to be easier to attain a work life balance at

[mr_toad]

Lower T6 is possible especially these days with fewer 170+ scores going around. That said, without a GPA to help, you'll be a straight up 170 (170 plus 3.9 might get Chicago, but probably not a 170 without help). Probably Penn or Duke is as high as you're likely to get in, and you should get great money at Georgetown or Cornell. With similar numbers and age I received 60k from both four years ago when 170 was a much more normal number; nowadays I'd think you might do better, say 75k-90k.

that said, the above poster is spot on. I'm mid-late 30s as a first-year, and the grind is definitely harder than it would have been. But if you think you can handle it, I suppose it's worth the try. For me it was, but you'll be five years older than me.

Good luck!