nwr: career change!!?

KTnChris Posted: Dec 16, 2009 07:02 PM

nwr: career change!!?

So for the past 1.5 years I'm starting to question whether accounting is what I want to do for the rest of my life. Since graduating undergrad I've been toying with the idea of switching careers and going to law schoolm

At 27 am I too old??! I figure if I'm really going to do it I need to do it now before we start a family.

Seriously I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

pipermaru Posted: Dec 16, 2009 07:03 PM

Re: nwr: career change!!?

as a lawyer my advice is don't go to law school

latinaj Posted: Dec 16, 2009 07:07 PM

Re: nwr: career change!!?

Posted by pipermaru

as a lawyer my advice is don't go to law school

lol y??
these days serving jury duty make me want to go to law school!

regy_k Posted: Dec 16, 2009 07:24 PM

Re: nwr: career change!!?

I think its never too late to do what u really want to do
but try 1st just studying for LSATs, see if that is something u can do, time wise and effort wise - someone I know tested her desire to go to law school this way.

vv117 Posted: Dec 16, 2009 07:41 PM

Re: nwr: career change!!?

there are plenty 27+ year olds at law school. but law school S U C K S

i do estate planning and tax law so that's something you might consider doing since you're currently an accountant.

miamimerger Posted: Dec 16, 2009 07:51 PM

Re: nwr: career change!!?

As a student affairs practitioner, my advice is not to go back to school until you have a concrete idea of what you would like to do. that way, you discuss/learn/reflect and don't waste a lot of money in the process. Best of luck--what careers are you thinking of?!

GR2010 Posted: Dec 16, 2009 07:53 PM

Re: nwr: career change!!?

It is never too late to change careers. My mom went to college at 43 to get her undergrad in education and now at 49 she is finishing her Masters and just got her very first classroom!

It's funny piper says that about becoming a lawyer... anyone I know who is a lawyer has told me the same thing....

kimmaymb20 Posted: Dec 16, 2009 07:54 PM

Re: nwr: career change!!?

Posted by KTnChris

So for the past 1.5 years I'm starting to question whether accounting is what I want to do for the rest of my life. Since graduating undergrad I've been toying with the idea of switching careers and going to law schoolm

At 27 am I too old??! I figure if I'm really going to do it I need to do it now before we start a family.

Seriously I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I just went back to school at 26, If you feel you want to do something that is going to make you happy then DO IT! Dont get me wrong its tough sometimes working full time and going to school but Im doing it.

Diana12 Posted: Dec 16, 2009 08:00 PM

Re: nwr: career change!!?

I def. do not think you are too old. Make sure that this is something you absolutely wan to do.

JenBill61210 Posted: Dec 16, 2009 08:01 PM

Re: nwr: career change!!?

i agree it is never too late! i switched careers myself and i was hesitant at first but now i am SO much more happier! good luck!

NYYankeeGirl72 Posted: Dec 16, 2009 08:08 PM

Re: nwr: career change!!?

Hey my mom at about 45 years old was almost about to finish her bachelor degree in accounting. She was on her final semester. Well one day a friend of ours, who worked at NCC, asked if she could tutor some college students in Spanish. She said she could try.....well he saw she was doing a great job with them and he asked she ever thought of becoming a teacher?

Well she thought about it a lot. She loved the Spanish language and she really enjoyed interacting with the students....so she decided to change her major to education.....needles to say she has her masters and then some and has been teaching high school Spanish these last 13 years.

So it is never too late to change, you just need to know for sure in your heart if it is something you would love doing.

HTH

BLBride Posted: Dec 16, 2009 08:20 PM

Re: nwr: career change!!?

I would say, as a lawyer also, that you are definitely not too old and there were many people in my law school class who started around that same age. I think they said the median age in our first year class was 26-27. So, its very common. That said, as previous posters indicated law school is a rough 3 years and the job market is still pretty weak. I wouldn't rush into any decision. If you really think you might be interested in law, perhaps consider trying out a legal-type job first? I just some exposure could help you learn if its really for you or not. Good luck!

jmgoncal Posted: Dec 16, 2009 08:22 PM

Re: nwr: career change!!?

Posted by BLBride

I would say, as a lawyer also, that you are definitely not too old and there were many people in my law school class who started around that same age. I think they said the median age in our first year class was 26-27. So, its very common. That said, as previous posters indicated law school is a rough 3 years and the job market is still pretty weak. I wouldn't rush into any decision. If you really think you might be interested in law, perhaps consider trying out a legal-type job first? I just some exposure could help you learn if its really for you or not. Good luck!

As a lawyer as well, I completely agree with this advice. It's awful out there... I know a ton of attorney's who are unemployed and things still haven't even begun to turn around. FM me if you want more info/advice.

alli3131 Posted: Dec 16, 2009 08:50 PM

Re: nwr: career change!!?

I went to law school at the age of 31. And there were plenty of people there older than me. I did a night program so we all worked regular jobs and went to class at night. I loved law school and I didnt even think it was that hard.....and if I had actually put effort into it I would have had way better grades but I did fine with minimal work.

My advice.....if you want to be an atty go. Do not listen to others....there will always be people that do not like their career path so if you really want to do it go for it....just make sure it is what you want cause it is expensive. I came out of school with 160K in loans and DH (met him in school) has close to 100K.

The job market is tough but then again it is in any field right now so don't let that sway your decision....by the time you get done with school the market will probably have changed.

GL and FM if you have any questions

FutureMrsLMS Posted: Dec 16, 2009 09:26 PM

Re: nwr: career change!!?

I'm also a lawyer and agree with the above advice. 27 is not old for a career change (actually its still a young age) but I do not recommend law school unless

1- you have first worked at a law firm or some type of legal environment where you interact with real attorneys on a daily basis
2- you score well enough on the LSAT to get accepted to a good school or at least get a full scholarship at a lower ranked school
3 - you have $$ to pay for tuition so that you won't come out with debt.

Read the posts at JDnderground.com - there are plenty of unhappy graduates who have 160K in debt and entry level lawyer jobs that pay 40K. And thats for the lucky lawyers who actually found jobs in this economy.

Just something to think about.

JAAMS Posted: Dec 16, 2009 09:32 PM

Re: nwr: career change!!?

i don't think it's ever too late to change your career

JayBee216 Posted: Dec 16, 2009 09:36 PM

Re: nwr: career change!!?

I'm an accountant too, and I def have questioned what to do with my life. But luckily, accountants can do anything! Especially if you have your CPA. It really opens doors, you can work on the investment side of things, or in operations.

I think if you want to go to law school, do it!! But I would def think about what actual lawyers say (but think about it - what if someone asked you about how it is to be an accountant?) - I would say that I know corporate lawyers make a lot of money, but they work All. The. Time!

DWKSwed Posted: Dec 16, 2009 09:59 PM

Re: nwr: career change!!?

I'm in law school now, 3rd year, would never recommend that anyone go to law school unless you're really career driven and really want to be a lawyer knowing exactly what it entails. I agree with all the negative comments about law school and the profession but would also agree that your age shouldn't stop you if you wanted to do it, in the full-time day program there were plenty of people age 27-32 that I came across. If you go through the evening program it takes longer but you can still work during the day and there's more older students. Either way it's exhausting and I am in so much debt and don't know if it's what I even want to do anymore so I definitely regret it. Lots of my friends have work experience and can't get a decent job after graduating.

Clover23 Posted: Dec 16, 2009 10:30 PM

Re: nwr: career change!!?

Another lawyer here....

I would DEFINITELY go to lawschool... IF you are absolutely certain it is what you want. I started at 25 and was definitely not the youngest. I feel that I had an advantage only because I knew it was what I wanted as opposed to some others in my class who just went bc they didn't know what to do after college. and it's 100% NOT something you should do if you're not sure. because it is miserable. but if you do want it, it is all worth it in the end!!!! and $$ is something to consider also - if you have to take loans out you're going to wind up spending a lot of your income paying them back. and that's why we can't afford a house. and that is also miserable. but i love what i do.

i'm always available if you want to talk more!!

eta the job market for lawyers is pretty awful but in the amount of time that will pass before you'd graduate, i'm pretty hopeful it will be better