Graduating law school at 30...too old? Forum

[mpj_3050]

I'll be 55. My ex-mother-in-law graduated from Case Western Reserve at 53 and is still practicing family law in Cleveland in her early 70s. I retired from a career in military nursing so I am not looking for "Big Law" but I don't think any age is too old. Good Luck.

That is really great that you decided to persue another avenue after retirement. As for me, I will be 29 at graduation probably going to a 50-70 ranked school with a little money. I know we are all going to have to work for many years so hopefully over the long haul this decision will pay off. If it doesn't then at least I will have plenty of neighbors next to my cardboard shack.

[legalease9]

30 is not too old. There are people graduating a lot older than that. It is a graduate school, so firms will be forgiving for some time off (so long as you spent it doing something).

[GettingReady2010]

30 is not too old. There are people graduating a lot older than that. It is a graduate school, so firms will be forgiving for some time off (so long as you spent it doing something).

Why would firms care anyway as long as you can do the job?

[testmachine45]

I'll have turned 29 when I graduate, given that I plan on "a" clerkship, if life is lucky - I'll be 30, maybe 31 - when I "start out in the real world" - my my, what a waste of three decades.

Ha. Total waste.

[reverendt]

I'll be in my late 30's when I finish.

Of course, I didn't graduate college until 4 years ago, so my resume will show college graduation in '06, 2 years of work experience, and then law school.

When they see me they can ask about what I did for 10 years before finishing college....but at that point I've got one foot in the door.

[happy187]

I'll be 33 (that actually looks kinda scary now that I type it).

[3ThrowAway99]

No, it's not. HTH

[mommylaw]

I hope not. I'm a nontrad student and older than most. I'm stepping out on faith with a commitment to work hard.

[Pip]

Was 31 when I graduated from Yale, started work 3 months after school ended... Friend at law school was 33 and was also employed after school... Both of us were pretty much slackers in school but finding jobs wasn't hard because of our age.

[tamlyric]

Was 31 when I graduated from Yale, started work 3 months after school ended... Friend at law school was 33 and was also employed after school... Both of us were pretty much slackers in school but finding jobs wasn't hard because of our age alma mater.

Fixed.

[danquayle]

I actually thought maybe firms considered it a positive thing because you're presumably more settled, more responsible and less likely to flee on them... particularly if you have a family. In my opinion, the 30 somethings usually outperformed the 20 somethings...

[Aggiegrad2011]

Not a big deal at all!!

[Adjudicator]

A couple of the law schools that I visited this summer told me that the average age of their entering class is 26.

I'm 26, going to be 27 before starting next fall. I'll be 30 when I graduate. So I hope 30 isn't too old.

[mommylaw]

I'll be 55. My ex-mother-in-law graduated from Case Western Reserve at 53 and is still practicing family law in Cleveland in her early 70s. I retired from a career in military nursing so I am not looking for "Big Law" but I don't think any age is too old. Good Luck.

Thank you for sharing! That's inspiring for me. I'll almost be 40. Now back to studying for the LSAT.. :shock

[fragged]

If you ask me (most younger people don't), I think us older students show more commitment simply because, as a general rule, younger people don't have as many responsibilities. It's a lot easier to bust your arse in law school when you're 22, aren't married, are willing to share an apartment with anyone, etc.

Whether or not people believe this is a factor during admissions, I think adcomms, especially older ones, appreciate that level of commitment.

[Ivan91]

I will be 26 when graduating.Will I be too old ?

[haus]

Been out of school 3 yrs....but by the time I graduate law school, I'll be 30. Is this too old? Is my life/career over?

How old do you you plan on being in three to four years if you do not go to law school?

For what it is worth I am 38 now and will not even start working on applying to law school until I wrap up my current graduate program.

[redsox421]

Obama graduated at 30...I think you'll be fine.

[clintonius]

Right, but if you finish top 50% at Cornell and are 30, its different than finishing top 1% at New York Law School at 30.

Wait. What? How did nobody ask what the hell this person is talking about?

[yepyep]

Right, but if you finish top 50% at Cornell and are 30, its different than finishing top 1% at New York Law School at 30.

Wait. What? How did nobody ask what the hell this person is talking about?

I was wondering that myself

[danquayle]

Right, but if you finish top 50% at Cornell and are 30, its different than finishing top 1% at New York Law School at 30.

Wait. What? How did nobody ask what the hell this person is talking about?

I was wondering that myself

I can only GUESS that finishing top 1% at NYLS gives the impression you're smart/hardworking/handsome/etc but just too busy to go into law school earlier than you did, and even then only went part time... and this somehow forgives your advanced age and decrepit suit collection. Whereas if you went to Cornell and performed average, then clearly you were just an aimless ne'erdowell who decided law school would be the next waste of time.

That's all I can guess...

[Bankhead]

Actually, top 1% at NYLS seems about equivalent to median at Cornell.

[Nulli Secundus]

I hope not. I am a rising 30. (AHAHAHAHAHA) And will be 33 at graduation. (Or rising 34)

[androstan]

I skipped 8th grade and took enough AP classes and summer community college that I finished UG in two years. Some of my friends finished UG while in HS though :/. Do you think I will be too old when I graduate law school (22)? I feel positively ancient next to these future 20 year old JD's.

[tas817]

Well I hope 30 is not to old b/c that's when I expect to graduate. In relation to struggling to find work it hard to use people graduating last couple of years b/c the economy is in a rare bad situation. Got to assume things will be better in 3-4 years if not don't worry about big law we all going to fighting for gov. and ticket clinics jobs. So my advice go kick ass and use age and experience as advantage. Good Luck