Becoming an ADA at 50 Forum

[ADAat 50]

I posted this in another forum and was directed that it should be here:

Ok, so I need some advice on whether I should pursue becoming an ADA. Here's the rundown of my situation:

I will be 50 (4 years from now) upon graduating law school and am concerned my age will preclude be from getting hired on.

I would like to retire at 65 and spend my retirement providing legal services to economically disadvanted people.

I currently work for the federal government (not in a legal profession) and will have a decent retirement from that at 65.

I would prefer to work at the state level but could be content working at a local level. Some of the local counties in my region hire part time ADA's which would be acceptable.

I'm currently planning on attending cooley law school. I am aware of it's reputation but I can get a 100% scholorship based on my LSAT and considering my age that is huge. Even the LRAP programs at other colleges only cover so much. Also, cook county does on campus interviews at cooley so I'm assuming that the reputation it has is less important to DA offices.


So I'm really asking if there will be a reasonable opportunity after graduation?

thanks

[chuckbass]

no.

[ADAat 50]

no.

Just "no"? Could I ask you to be a little more helpful? Like:

Is the age going to be a huge issue even if only looking for a part time position at a small county?

If it was a different school would that dramatically change the opportunities?

Have you seen a similar situation and what happend?

Is there anything I can do to increase my chances at picking up an ADA spot?

I'm going to attend either way and if I can't become an ADA at all I won't waste my time on the classes. I would focus more on family law.

Thanks

[twenty]

Calling troll on the fact that you know what LRAP programs are, but just happen to be naive enough to think Cooley is a good plan. :/

[MKC]

I'm currently planning on attending Cooley Law School.

no

Edited out the irrelevant facts

[ADAat 50]

I thought I had explained that in my original post. Even if I go to a different school and take an LRAP I will likely have to pay a significant amount of money. Yes, I have done some research on it. Because of my age I would prefer to keep the debt level as minimal as possible which makes cooley the most likely candidate at this point. I have no interest in doing Big Law and have no doubt that there would be some age discrimination there (probably with good cause).

I would like to take an ADA position pretty much anywhere on the east side of the country. I would appreciate any advice on making this happen or maybe being given a contact to someone that has made this happen under similar circumstances.

Thank You

[BigZuck]

I thought I had explained that in my original post. Even if I go to a different school and take an LRAP I will likely have to pay a significant amount of money. Yes, I have done some research on it. Because of my age I would prefer to keep the debt level as minimal as possible which makes cooley the most likely candidate at this point. I have no interest in doing Big Law and have no doubt that there would be some age discrimination there (probably with good cause).

I would like to take an ADA position pretty much anywhere on the east side of the country. I would appreciate any advice on making this happen or maybe being given a contact to someone that has made this happen under similar circumstances.

Thank You

You probably need to go to a real law school to make it happen. Cooley is not a real law school. Whatever state you want to be in, go to that state's flagship law school on a full ride, hustle, and pray. The age will likely be a hindrance I'm guessing, but maybe the experience working in government will be helpful. There's not exactly a lot of government hiring going on these days so it'll be tough.

You should probably just keep the day job in my opinion.

[butlerraider1]

Because of my age I would prefer to keep the debt level as minimal as possible which makes cooley the most likely candidate at this point.

What is your GPA/LSAT?

[ManoftheHour]

no

[ADAat 50]

Because of my age I would prefer to keep the debt level as minimal as possible which makes cooley the most likely candidate at this point.

What is your GPA/LSAT?

3.87/163

[BigZuck]

Because of my age I would prefer to keep the debt level as minimal as possible which makes cooley the most likely candidate at this point.

What is your GPA/LSAT?

3.87/163

Retake

I'd assume that'd be good enough for most state flagships though

[deadpanic]

Assuming this is legit, for the love of all things holy, STAY AT YOUR CURRENT JOB. You have it made. You will be taking a pretty big gamble with poor odds it works out for you. Even if you come out with no debt, you will have lost a great job for only a very small chance of getting a (likely) worse job.

Your age will likely be a hindrance. Your law school choice will also be a hindrance. Even if you do everything 100% right, there is no guarantee you will land an ADA gig--getting a prosecutor job is a lot about luck, timing and who you know.

BigZuck's advice is credited.

[butlerraider1]

Because of my age I would prefer to keep the debt level as minimal as possible which makes cooley the most likely candidate at this point.

What is your GPA/LSAT?

3.87/163

Impressive GPA and decent LSAT score that shows potential. Also, with your stats as is you can get a full ride to MUCH BETTER schools than Cooley. Check out lawschoolnumbers.com

[ADAat 50]

Because of my age I would prefer to keep the debt level as minimal as possible which makes cooley the most likely candidate at this point.

What is your GPA/LSAT?

3.87/163

Impressive GPA and decent LSAT score that shows potential. Also, with your stats as is you can get a full ride to MUCH BETTER schools than Cooley. Check out lawschoolnumbers.com

Thanks for saying impressive but I don't really consider it so. I might agree solid. I know those numbers would get me into another school but I didn't think it would be on a full ride. I will checkout the website immediately. Thanks!

[MKC]

IBretake

[LeDique]

IBretake

You know the "b" means "before" right?

[MKC]

IBretake

You know the "b" means "before" right?

Fuck I didn't see Zuck's post.

I was kind of amazed the thread got this far without devolving into retake.

[ADAat 50]

IBretake

You know the "b" means "before" right?

Fuck I didn't see Zuck's post.

I was kind of amazed the thread got this far without devolving into retake.

I've considered retaking but wasn't sure it would really do me much good. I really appreciate the assistance in selecting a different school. I'm still not sure about the age factor though. I'm not sure that any office will want to hire someone who only has 15 working years left before they retire. If that's the case I may be better off either going part time or taking a leave of absence from my job then going back to it and using my law degree to do legal work for the economically disadvanted, which is what I want to do with my retirement anyways.

[TheSpanishMain]

Why on earth would you want to leave (what I assume is) a decent federal gig to go to a crapfest like Cooley?

Where do you live? If there is a decent part time program near you and you can go without going into debt, fine. It's still probably not a great plan but you do you. Just do not quit your job.

[ADAat 50]

Why on earth would you want to leave (what I assume is) a decent federal gig to go to a crapfest like Cooley?

Where do you live? If there is a decent part time program near you and you can go without going into debt, fine. It's still probably not a great plan but you do you. Just do not quit your job.

<walloftext>
Yes, I have a "decent" federal gig and I don't hate my job. However I have always wanted to be an ADA and I am at a point in my life where I can pursue another career. My last child is out of the house at the end of this school year, I have enough time in with the federal government to have an ok retirement at 65, and I have enough to live on for 3 years while I attend law school. Plus, I have really thought about my retirement and don't want to spend it playing golf or sitting at home doing nothing and I can only travel so much. I really believe there are a lot of people that need legal services that can't afford them so I think that's a good plan for my retirement. With all that being said, why wouldn't I at least try to do what I have always wanted to? I don't have my heart set on Cooley, it just offers something I'm looking for. I came on here to get some help/guidance but a LOT of people are stuck on the "you mentioned cooley you must be a troll" mode instead of offering true help. With that said there are a few like butleraider and bigzuck that were actually helpful.
</walloftext>

[Wingtip88]

3.87/163

Your GPA/LSAT are so far and above the point where the word "Cooley" should even be entering into your thought stream that it isn't funny. Forget Cooley. Cooley doesn't exist. Cooley is a fucking clown college compared with the schools you could get into.

State flagship schools should be the "worst" option that you ought to be considering. UIUC, for example, has a reputation for giving huge scholarships to folks with numbers like yours and their selectivity has declined substantially in the last few years. That's just one example.

[TheSpanishMain]

Where do you live?

I'm a former federal employee myself, so I have some understanding of the retirement system. Working and adding to your pension is almost certainly a better use of your time. If you really want to attend law school and can do that without jeopardizing your retirement, go for it I suppose, but recognize that ADA gigs aren't there for the taking to anyone with a pulse, and certainly not Cook County. Go look at the Prosecutor/Public Defender thread; there are plenty of people from top schools gunning to be DAs.

If law school really is an altruistic endeavor for you, the first contribution you can make is to never write a check to a scam "school" like Cooley that exploits the ignorant.

[iamgeorgebush]

dftt now...

[schmelling]

Post removed.

[03152016]

provided without commentary

New York City DA's offices hire 40-50 new attorneys a year out of thousands of applications. Smaller counties may not even hire one a year out of thousands of applications.

[source]

Sadly, the lowest paid person in a Massachusetts courtroom is a newly minted assistant district attorney. Working up from the bottom, the next lowest paid employee in the courthouse is the custodian. And the third lowest paid person in the courtroom is the public defender.

[source]

Thomas M Cooley Law School Employment Score: 22.9%

Thomas M Cooley Law School Underemployment Score: 46%

[source]