Am I "old"? Forum

[AlaskaJD]

It looks like I will be a few days short of turning 30 by the time I start law school in fall 2014. Is that really old for law school? At what point does age become a liability? I see Sandra Fluke was 31 as a third-year law student at Georgetown (not that I particularly admire her), and I think Obama was 29 or 30 when he graduated from Harvard. I'm just trying to get a context for where I would fit in. Also wondering if being "older" could actually be an advantage in admissions. As an aside, I can't believe how quickly the time has gone since college. Wow.

[warandpeace]

You're only "old" if that's what you think.

[karich]

I'll turn 30 a few weeks after I start and I'm not too worried about my age. However, i started undergrad at 25 so I'm pretty used to being the oldest guy in the room.

[TTRansfer]

You can be a young 30 or an old 30. You seem like an old 30 if you are asking that question.

[WhiteyCakes]

This may be a helpful resource for you:

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 1&t=143047

[2014]

You would be one of the oldest 5-10 in my class but not by much. All depends on how you carry yourself, some of our olds fit in perfectly because they know how to relate to people 5-8 years younger.

[Lincoln]

I was 29 when I started. My best friends here are anywhere from seven years younger to the same age. No one cares unless you do. Also, assuming you've done something worthwhile with your years, it will only be an asset once recruiting rolls around.

[Pete Venkman]

I was 27 when I started at a T6 and I felt old. But I think I'm the only one who cares. Just be ready for an atmosphere which may resemble high school more than graduate school at times.

[rinkrat19]

I'm a 33yo 1L and I feel younger than some classmates who are married. I don't, however, have the energy to party like the 20-somethings do. (I would say "anymore," but I don't think I ever did.) So I pick and choose times to go out and be social, and times to be old and watch TV with my cat.

I also found a group with a range of ages that has a variety of interests, so it's not just "let go get shitfaced" every week. Sometimes we'll get together for potluck dinners or making pizzas and renting a movie, and sometimes we'll sign up to run a 5k. And yes, sometimes we'll go out drinking.

[AlaskaJD]

I don't feel old. I was just asking to get a context. I feel incredibly young where I am living now, because it has one of the oldest median ages in Alaska. And I still look like I'm in high school ... or junior high.

[ThreeRivers]

I was 27 when I started at a T6 and I felt old. But I think I'm the only one who cares. Just be ready for an atmosphere which may resemble high school more than graduate school at times.

I'm 24. One of my good friends is 21. We laugh at how much the atmosphere is like high school, so idk if even that is an age thing

But just to answer OP's question (by repeating what others said). Yea, you will be one of the oldest ones, but not "that old guy."

No one will notice, I'm sure you will be invited out with your classmates to social things... many of the older ppl seem to not really go out though because they feel awkward in those situations (but they seem fine / well liked in the school), some do interact more with everyone and I'd never guess their age. Just recently I found out someone was 31 (I thought he was like 23 tbh)

[CanadianWolf]

The good news is that there is no mandatory retirement age.

[09042014]

At Northwestern that would put you just above average. Plenty of 30 year olds, and it's not weird at all.

[ScottRiqui]

I'll be 44 when I start in Fall 2014. I'm not bothered by it, though - the way I see it, I'll be 44 whether I'm in law school or not. My mom didn't get her undergrad degree until she was 50, and even after earning her terminal degree, she was still taking classes at 78.

Also, being in the Navy and working with junior sailors for 20 years has kept me young (or as my wife puts it - immature ).