Should I go to law school at 35?

Question

Should I go to law school at 35?

Hello frens. I need some advice.

I’m a 35 year old man who has been a paralegal since graduation college more than a decade ago. I am really good at the type of work that I do and perform advanced work that is normally handled by attorneys.

My salary is ok but not great. I range between like $75k and $105k depending on the year.

I had personal/emotional issues in my 20’s and thought I’d try making it with crypto. I took out big loans and lost it all. My net worth is zero. And I have bad debt now too.

In the women department I have no problems. One of my girlfriends was in med school but we broke up, partially because I was gambling on crypto and not going to law school.

When I was 31, attractive/accomplished women still took me seriously. But now, at 35, it’s just not the same. They definitely judge me for living in a studio apartment and being a male paralegal and not an attorney. It’s like I’m slowly becoming perceived as sort of a loser. At least in the eyes of attractive women.

I guess my self esteem has dropped in terms of who I’m perceived as. And I’m losing momentum being a paralegal.

I also want to make my parents proud. Honestly I feel like a loser.

I just took the LSAT and scored in the mid 150’s. It’s a low score but it can get me into a low ranked law school. A former law firm employer wants to higher me back and will almost certainly let me do night classes. If I do this I will be able to become a lawyer by 39.

I’m not trying to do big law or something. My connections and skill set are in Plaintiff’s side litigation, where money can be made if you are a mega workhorse (which I am). There are some Plaintiff’s lawyers who don’t make a lot of money though.

Something deep down is telling me to do this so that when I’m 40-45 I can finally be someone who has their shit together and possibly still be a respectable man living up to my potential.

Should I do it bros?

Seems like doesnt matter if it is the financial right decision to make or not, rather it is something you need for your self perceieved worth.

Either get therapy and fix your issues

or

Go to a low tier lawschool, and end up working for a similar amount of money with more debt.

I’ve talked to two different male therapists and they have both encouraged me to go to law school. One thinks it will solidify my sense of self and what I’m going to do with my life. The other thinks that it will be the “higher thing” as opposed to paralegal and that I’ll get more respect and have more purpose and that this is all important as a man.

I’m 29 and a paralegal. I’ve dealt with these same issues. Personally, I wouldn’t do it, but only because law is stressful as fuck and I’m not trying to do this for the rest of my life. Within the next few years, if I don’t make it from crypto, I want to start a business or some kind.
You might find purpose in that too instead of trying to be some faggot sociopath attorney.

Your net worth is really zero? No assets? How much are you able to save per month? Age doesn't matter as much as a single guy so if you want to get your JD, go for it; however, law school is also expensive so take that into consideration.

Can you get a scholarship or go to a cheap school? If not, you're going to end up with $150K to $300K in student loan debt, which isn't dischargeable in bankruptcy.

I tried that too man. Crypto and then starting a business. I came so close to making it in crypto, but I lost and couldn’t handle all those years of stressing so went into debt and lost more.

Then I quit drinking and started working out. I spent 18 months working on a business idea but man, business is hard!

So now here I am, and everyone in my life is like “why didn’t he just go to law school?”

I worked at a firm where the head attorney in a department either fired most if their paralegals or they quit. She is known as a tough lawyer. But she reached out to me recently remembering me as a great paralegal and asked me to come back. That firm has basically said if I go to law school they want me to be a lifer there and I have a job with them.

But you know how it is. Litigation sucks. I used to get really amped up on work in my 20’s and I would put my heart and souls into thinking about and writing lengthy demand letters and mediation briefs, plus doing a bunch of procedural work. And man, it sucks!

Ever heard of eDiscovery? I have a contact at a consulting firm who did they might be able to get me an interview for an eDiscovery project manager position. That might be better than being a litigation paralegal. And the pay is better too. But you work really long hours and can’t do grad school at night.

All the lawyers I know keep telling me to bite the bullet and that this is what I was meant to do. What do you think?

law school is also expensive

I mean, even shit-tier law schools like Golden Gate charge $42,000 per year for tuition. That doesn't include books and living expenses. Add in living expenses and that's $200,000 of debt.

The low ranked schools are starting to not do conditional scholarships anymore. You keep the scholarship if you pass. I’m probably high enough in LSAT to get a good scholarship at a low ranked school.

Yes my net worth is zero. Actually -$40k all from crypto gambling not from lifestyle expenses.

If it take this new job I could probably pay down like $1500-$2000 per month.

All those working years wasted to still be a paralegal and in this position. lol

Yo chill on the spacing brother this is Anon Babble you look better here if you only space block paragraphs.

I mean obvious advice is to take the LSAT again until you can at least get into a generic state school like at least University of Montana/Minnesota or something like that DO NOT EVER get a degree from Arizona Summit Law School. University of Portland tier schools might be okay. It needs to be real and have name recognition and alumni network not be like UofPhoenix Online.

I reread your huge post and you sound like a troll actually sigh wasted my time. If you are making average 85K debt free why would you ever think your life improves at 140K with 200K in debt? Believe me law is so competitive to get the 200K+ money.

Either save 30K yearly for five years and go at 40 to have low/no debt and go to tard school and see if prestige gets pussy OR do MUCH better at LSAT.

Instead of a JD, why not go for a CPA instead? Getting your CPA is all self-study, no need to take on student load debt.

You'll be miserable with a shit-tier degree that you paid your savings into. You'll be right back where you started, poorer. Figure out how to study in your spare time and keep your "real" job.

I am not a troll. I came here to get my ideas off my chest as they are business/finance related but also personal.

There are some low ranked law schools that are above the Arizona summit level that actually give big scholarships without gpa conditions.

I know this sounds nuts but it just feels like if I have a JD and can pass the CA or NY bars, then I will just have more confidence and be more respected in life. I know that sounds so dumb but it’s where I’m at psychologically right now.

I worked at one of the big personal injury firms in LA. Think Larry H Parker/Celino Barnes kind of firm. There was a 29 year old female paralegal who had been there a while and became the top paralegal manager. She was making like $130k. That’s not a joke. It was very high for a paralegal. She scored like 149 on the LSAT and went to a school like golden gate. No scholarship. She passed the bar and went to a different LA PI firm. I feel like she has really upped her game in life by doing the law ranked law school part time thing.

I know women are dumb sometimes. But every time I go on a date with a woman in LA they are clearly put off by the fact that I’m just this male paralegal who didn’t go to law school. They also tend to judge me for living in a $1800 studio by the beach.

I can’t figure out what to make of women’s expectations. 2 thoughts, 1) it’s all just Darwinism and they desire a man with resources who will be able to provide for a family and have winner genes or 2) these women are shallow as hell. Sometimes I think all those guys with MBA’s and doctors etc who made it and now have kids with some women have given away their freedom and signed up for a life of conditional love and hell, likely to lead to divorce and stress. But then I also think that I’ll be a loser in life if I don’t get a good career and money and start my own family eventually.

But yeah, not a troll. I’ve got $40k debt, 35 years old, and that’s my situation.

What do you mean by “real” when you put it in quotes? I didn’t get that part.

I’m not good enough at math for a CPA

i went to law school and will never recommend it to someone

I think a male paralegal is kind of a like male nurse. Good for you, or something.

This is exactly what I’ve been putting up with my whole adult life lol. I am actually good looking guy and over 6 feet tall. But I get so much shit about he paralegal thing, like I’m Gaylord Focker from Meet The Parents.

I was at a wedding once, and some accountant douche bag goes, “wait I don’t mean to be a dick but isn’t paralegal like a chick job?”

I’ve probably gotten like 50 comments like this in a decade. It sucks

KEK. Then DO something about it, brother.
WAGMI.

no homo

It’s to the point where when I go on dates with women I just tell them that I am an operations manager at a law firm and that i manage the paralegals and legal assistants.

No this is peak tard. If you're not going to a T10 school your job prospects are BLEAK. You will die full of debt working a shitty ass job

Scores mid 150

Checks out

T. 178 alpha

Fpbp

why dont you become the operations manager?

Or would you prefer to make the same amount of money and live in the same place but with a law degree and 200k of debt.

I honestly think there’s a good chance I can get an almost full scholarship at a really low ranked school witch my LSAT. Even though it’s not much higher than the average.

Maybe what I’ll do is try to be the operations manager, and then get the law degree on the side.

When I have children one day, I just want to be able to tell them that their dad is a lawyer. I want them to see me as something they can aspire to be like. I want social respect. I don’t want to feel like a loser.

Funny you are 35 and still haven't figured out that the BAR-association bullshit isn't "law", and that court is really just legal theater for sub-50 IQ plebs.

Contrary to what the jews tell you, you do not need to be a member of the BAR association to receive compensation for the time you spend to assist others with document preparation and even public speaking events.

Schware v. Board of Bar Examiners, 353 U.S. 232 (1957)

No such thing as a "license" to practice law. No state can compel such a thing. The BAR may have been given administrative agency over courts, but they are still bound to the Organic Laws of the United States. Things like EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW, which means they cannot compel self-serving contract to participate in court.

Maybe you should look into being a barista, if you didn't already know this.

Yes

I actually don’t work in litigation, but if you have some consulting thing lined up you should go after that honestly.
There isn’t an easy answer to your problem but I personally don’t care whether anyone “respects” me based on my job title. Don’t forget that attorneys are wages too. And I make less than you do, like if you’re doing above $80k and not in a big city you should be able to save enough capital to branch out into something else.

The same based tardmaxxer will tell you income tax is unconstitutional, that driver's licenses can't be required because you're just traveling and various other tardmaxxed ideas.

If you don't believe me, take his advice and fafo

In the women department I have no problems.

mary a rich women and never work, become accustomed to the life style so she has to support you the rest of your life if she divorces you. let the attorneys work for you

I read through your posts, and I think you have your mind made up. If being a lawyer is that important to your self perception and you can attain it with accruing minimal debt, it seems like you're ready for the four years of gruelling work that maintaining a career and being a full time student will entail. You don't seem disillusioned that a law degree is going to magically launch you into the top 1% income bracket, and seem to understand that this is a psychological goal that will improve your self perceived worth.

However, because of your existing debt, I don't think you should accrue any more until you pay the existing balance down, which seems possible given your situation. If law school isn't attainable without taking out loans, try considering promotions you can work towards that will elevate your social status. You mentioned telling people you're an ops manager; that is clearly a position you value more than your current one, so maybe start pursuing that instead of the law degree.

Another piece of advice that may not be applicable to your situation is that if you understand the regulatory environment you work in extremely well, start learning the software systems that organizations in your field use on a daily basis. I was a chemist for a decade, but the career trajectory was sooo slow. I learned the niche applications we used and the regulations governing my industry, and transferred into an IS department overseeing laboratory systems. Now I direct an ITIS department for $180k/yr (and could probably clear $200k if I hopped jobs). I'm 38 for reference.

I truly wish you the best, OP. You seem like an intelligent and hard working person, and I'm sure you'll find success whichever path you take. I had a goal to make $100k by 30, and I missed it by a mile ($70k). My self perception tanked, and your post resonated with how I felt around that time. It gets better, but your success might not be found on the most obvious path.

law is stressful as fuck

get law degree go into business. For some strange reason people believe lawyers are smart and its easy for lawyers to get top jobs just cuse.

The day is rapidly coming when you will have to choose between these two realities. Also OP is a giant faggot.

Seems like a job that's high on likelihood for getting replaced with AI in the next 5 - 10 years.

I know women are dumb sometimes. But every time I go on a date with a woman in LA they are clearly put off by the fact that I’m just this male paralegal who didn’t go to law school. They also tend to judge me for living in a $1800 studio by the beach.

I can’t figure out what to make of women’s expectations. 2 thoughts, 1) it’s all just Darwinism and they desire a man with resources who will be able to provide for a family and have winner genes or 2) these women are shallow as hell. Sometimes I think all those guys with MBA’s and doctors etc who made it and now have kids with some women have given away their freedom and signed up for a life of conditional love and hell, likely to lead to divorce and stress. But then I also think that I’ll be a loser in life if I don’t get a good career and money and start my own family eventually.

LA women are completely out to lunch desu. Super high expectations with not much to justify it. It's one thing if they're a 9/10 stacy in modeling or acting but the mid women also have extremely high expectations, hypergamy here is just that bad especially in the last year it seems to have gotten worse. You shouldn't really be doing any of this for women though, get a law degree if it will fulfill you (it probably won't but whatever) or improve your financial situation. It's unlikely to change how women perceive you much, it'll just move the goal post. Next they'll be asking you why you aren't from a T10 school and in big law like the other chad they met last week instead of a low tier normie lawyer not even making 200k.
t. 8/10 5'11" manlet king making >300k per year and sick of these womens' bullshit

You think you're struggling now with women? There's nothing more unsexy than a man who's more deep in debt AND who couldn't make it as a lawyer from a top tier school.
Fix your small dick problems without dropping more money first, retard. You're never gonna get a good woman regardless of your mentality currently. Men like you are dumb livestock who only live superficially.

I’m taking the LSAT too, can’t get out of the low 150s unfortunately. Your score is fine, and you can get into somewhere I’m sure. If it’s a dream of yours; work hard and go for it. I’m going for the same reason as you- status and nothing much else.

Your salary is pretty good already, maybe because I’m a poor Canadian, but that’s basically what lawyers make here lol.
As for women, a majority of them are vapid and materialistic, if they don’t accept you for who you are now, what do you think is going to change later? If you become a lawyer but don’t own a house? If you are a lawyer and own a house but it’s not nice enough. Never ends. Go for different women ( and I’m not saying become a passport bro)

Yes you can still go. I went at an older age. I can help coach you through the process for free because I like helping people. not even trolling. make a throw away email and I will contact you. Long story short you need to take the LSAT and then use your undergraduate gpa to determine where you rank in each schools admittance standards. go look at this at lawschooldata Dotcom. you need to be in the top 90% of the school your applying to in order to get a full academic scholarship but it can be done I've seen people do it. anyway do that and get letters of recommendation now.

Buy silver

Judge a married man by his total net worth, shame him for achieving lower than expectations, do it 999 times

Infinite money glitch

Ignore that anon and ignore therapists
Let me enlighten you a bit

60% of therapists are depressed and 35% of that 60% want to kill themselves
40% of therapists are jewish

The tools they teach you, they don’t apply to their own lives. That’s because it doesn’t work.
If not that they are literally teaching jewish propaganda meant to make you sad and prescribe drugs that placate your soul

If you want to be a lawyer, be a lawyer.
It will not fulfill you unless you make it fulfilling. You will have a title as lawyer and you could show it off to people who genuinely don’t care.

If you don’t go to a good school you will have 0 job offers. Certain large firms also won’t take you because you’re over a certain age but you most likely won’t qualify for those regardless.

It will make your parents “proud” if they’re some form of asian or brown. They will brag about you shallowly to their friends and extended family which have no affect on your life. If that’s something you’re looking for.

Overall it will not be the thing that makes you happy.
You are sad and measure your happiness based on how you and others perceive “success”. That is not real.

Happiness comes only when you allow yourself to be happy

Is huge debt at a mediocre school for slim job prospects in a highly competitive field worth what you think you’ll get?
How sure are you that you’ll get it?

I can’t figure out what to make of women’s expectations. 2 thoughts, 1) it’s all just Darwinism and they desire a man with resources who will be able to provide for a family and have winner genes or 2) these women are shallow as hell.

Why not both?

I had no problems getting dates when I was in medical school. When I dropped out to pursue computer science (because I had massive ADHD and couldn't handle medical school, but I didn't get diagnosed until years later, I just thought I hated medical school) suddenly all those dates evaporated because I was a "nerd".

Then the dot.com boom happened and suddenly I got first dates, until they figured out that I wasn't a Microsoftie or dot.com multibillionaire, at which point they ditched me.

It's unlikely to change how women perceive you much, it'll just move the goal post. Next they'll be asking you why you aren't from a T10 school and in big law like the other chad they met last week instead of a low tier normie lawyer not even making 200k.

LOL. One of my girlfriends dumped me because (exact quote) "you're not an executive and never will be and I only date executive type men." She somehow managed to glom onto a "Yale-educated lawyer" after me.

( and I’m not saying become a passport bro)

I kinda am. Because why not? Foreign chicks are just plain much more sane, not to mention they want their kids to be Americans.

It's mostly just addition and subtraction. The main thing is memorizing ridiculous amounts of rules that exist only because that's what some lawyers and accountants decided needed to be a rule.

Who cares, you're earning well and likely don't have half the shit lawyers have to deal with. Don't let women pressure you job wise.

I have a female accepted "good job" as a doctor and i fucking hate my life and wish I had a retail cashier job. It doesn't even mean anything for women as all the women i know have the same job anyway. Never once has a girl heard my job and said "let's fuck".

I just kidnapped a school girl and she is very happy when i told her i can give her the best ending she crave so hard for.