How Old Is Too Old To Go To Law School?

I have absolutely no interest in going to law school. But last week someone told me I was "too old" to go to law school. Those were their exact words... "You can't go to law school. You're too old."

Now, maybe I should give you some context around how this comment came about... So that you don't think someone just came up to me out of the blue and said I was too old to do something.

Another person, whom I had just met, told me I had the personality to make a good lawyer.

"Ever think about going to law school?" they asked me.

"Hell-to-the-no," I said. "I love sticking up for the under dog when deserved. And I know how to make a great argument for anything. But law school? Books? Classes? That ain't for me."

They then told me I should rethink pursuing journalism, my first love. I said I would think about it, but made no promises.

When I was relaying this conversation to someone else a few hours later, I got to the part where my new acquaintance had mentioned that I would make a good lawyer.

"You're too old to go to law school now," they said.

I didn't have a comment back for them. I just walked away.

Too old?

I'm 34. What about my age makes me incapable of going to school and learning something new? Answer: NOTHING!

I will freely admit that what DOES make me incapable of going to law school and learning something new is my LACK OF FUCKING DESIRE to do it. But my age?

Wish I had had a better comeback at that moment than my silence. I just wasn't expecting that reaction to the story.

Comments

Arielle said…
My uncle, a 62 year old fairly successful immigration lawyer, went to law school around age 40. So no, you personally are not too old to go to law school, nor is anyone too old to go to law school ever.
Kori said…
Good Lord. I know several people who went to law school at age 50+.
Elisa said…
Bogus advice. Bikram yogis go to TT in their 60s. People become mommies in their 50s. And you can't go to law school 'cuz you're 34? Uhh, no.
Happy said…
I agree with all posters, but this is off topic (although we are so very obsessed with youth in the West; I myself want to be an elegant grand dame some day!), but are you going to be doing any more yogapedia entries? I just got into Anusara and am interested in knowing more about it and how it compares to other practices. And I'm always interested in reading more about Bikram! Thanks so much, Heather. Love your blog.
Me said…
LOL! I have been so busy lately that I forgot about Yogapedia. My day job and teaching the Bikram has kept me from writing much.

I will start that back up again soon though. I promise.
Anonymous said…
Haha! No way is that close to being too old. I was 40 when I graduated law school and I've been a successful attorney at a biglaw firm for 3 years. Clients and colleagues appreciate my past work experience and maturity - way different than working with a 25-year old...
bikramyogachick said…
That is absolutely ridiculous! I'm 40 and I'd go back to school for my masters in a heartbeat. I'd go to law school or medical school if I felt like it! What a moron to say that.....
Anonymous said…
Your friend was wrong. I graduated at age 29; my best friend and classmate who graduatesd with me turned 50 two weeks after graduation. She has a successful practice and her life experience makes her a better lawyer.

Often people trot out the whole "you'll never make partner in time to pay back the buy-in" argunment, but this disregards the fact that very few people practice law in a firm for their entire career. Also it ignores putting out your own shingle, going in-house, working for a non-profit, or simply parlaying your legal training into something else...like journalism.

I'm of a mind that legal training is valuable as a life-skill, and that no education is evr wasted that is valued byt hte student.

But like you I hate classes, school, the whole mess, and would find it hard to go back now (age 36).
April Elizabeth said…
one of my favorite prof in law school didn't attend until he was in his late 40s. There were plenty of ppl in my classes that were older than 34. What an ass.
True story: my mom did a year at New England School of Law in Boston (as you might know, a primarily nontraditional student body) when I was 10. Her oldest classmate was a woman in her 70s -- I think her name was Josephine. Really nice and intelligent lady who talked to me like I was an adult.

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