That's an easy misconception to have if you haven't ever spent that much time on the road, but 300 days on the road trumps 80 hour work weeks... by a long shot. I've done my share of 80 hour weeks. And I've had a job where I spent 150+ nights in hotel rooms every year. There is no comparison as to which is harder on a family.Cupidity wrote:As stated above, the kind of law where you will make money to justify this investment is the kind where you'll have less time than you have now.
Do I think that the OP should go to law school? Nope. But it isn't because big law will be as hard on his family as his current job (it won't be). I think it is simply a bad financial move. The best case is break-even income at year 4... but break-even doesn't start paying down the cost of school. Partner is a long shot even for an intelligent and motivated associate - and even if it pans out, how many years down the road will it be before the opportunity cost of law school is recouped? It looks like a bad financial move to me... and the reward, although present, isn't huge. The big law life will be better than the 300 days on the road life... but not by enough to justify the costs.
In your situation OP, I would stick it out until the house is paid off (and whatever other financial targets you set are reached) or until your wife simply can't stand it, whichever comes first. And then I would move into that teaching gig.
