RE: Is law school totally out of reach for me?
Hi. Like a previous poster said...if you really want to go to law school...then I am sure you can find a way to make it happen. I am a lawyer (although switched career fields a few years ago to get more flexibility, and do not currently practice...but still pay those bar dues every year just in case I go back :)).
The first part of your question goes toward "getting in." As prevously posted, you need to make sure your grades from this point forward are stellar and you also need to try to rock the LSAT. I would say that when the time comes...a prep course will be a must. Most law schools, like many undergrad programs, are "ranked" into tiers and so the requirements for each law school you are considering may vary (ex. minimum LSAT score, minimum undergraduate GPA, activities, work experience, etc). Many people identify their first choice school, a middle ground school and a safety or two. A local library should have resources that can help you learn about the requirements/standards for different schools.
A few things to note:
Law school does take a TREMENDOUS amount of time. The law school I went to frowned on and basically forbade first years from having outside jobs during the school year. Moreover, a part time class schedule was not an option. That first year can be a real grind, but it can also be incredibly rewarding.
Do you know what about the law appeals to you? I loved law school, but I found I did not love practicing law.
Regarding age...yes, some top firms do tend to like the younger guns. However, I have seen many success stories of new lawyers graduating from law school in their 40s+ do very well and have great careers. Again, depending on whether you envision practicing with a firm or government practice...things like partnership tracks/promotional opportunities, etc. can vary greatly. For example, the firm I was with had a 10 year partnership track with a standard expectation of at least 2000 billable hours per year. (I found it very surprising how I could be at work for 10-12 hours in one day, but only be able to "count" 7 or so hours as billable).
Another consideration may be paralegal school. You could certainly attain a paralegal degree in 1/3 the time of a law degree and also be able to work in the field to get your feet wet to decide if you really like it. I have a lot of friends who are lawyers and about half of them have now segued into different fields and are no longer practicing law. The ones who are full time attorneys do love what they do, but it is interesting how many of us did not find the day to day practicing as a good fit.
Whatever you decide...good luck! If you decide that you want to pursue it...I am sure that you can find a way to make it happen. Plus, there are many law schools out there these days that do offer more flexible part-time programs. HTH Heather
Heather:
Mommy to DD (2005) and DS (2007)