Prospect of going to law school midlife using existing carreer as transition?

I am seriously thinking of going to law school in mid life. My plan is going to a non ABA approved law school but approved by the California bar. The reason is that it's a LOT cheaper and closer to where I live and that the bar passage rate is 80%. I have a career in urban planning and that is a very specialized niche area of law with not a lot of attorneys in that field. I am told that most attorneys in this field only care if i passthe bar being I have graduate degree and a lot of experience in urban planning -the area of law I would go into. I just want to know if anyone has been able to sucessfully switched careers and gone to law school and utilized their already extensive background as a jump start in their legal career. I want to know what pay they got if it was above entry level because of their educational background and experiences already under their belt. This is for law in the Cailf- LA area but anyone can answer if it's applicable.
Additional Details
the advice about going to an ABA approved school won't work. I am not going to pay 150K student loans mid life. And in CA there many people who passed the bar in only Calif accredited schools. And yes, this school does have a 8-% pass rate. The reason is the school unlike ABA teaches you to pass the bar. That is what entices people to sign up. My question is people in the field I am in and the pay they get from the career change. If it's reasonable to expect more than you are making in your current field.

Spike

I'm currently in law school and can't help with the career change advice, but DO NOT go to the Non-ABA law school. It is well worth the money to go to an ABA school. When a school is not accredited, there is probably a reason. Also, why do you think it is so much cheaper? Again, there is probably a reason. Plus, I don't buy the 80% passage rate for Cal at that school - the California bar is one of the toughest the statewide passage rate is 61% - Stanford's is only 86% -

Don't go to a Non-ABA school

CatLaw

I did the midlife career change from IT director to lawyer. My past career hurt instead of helped because law firms looked at my previous salary and would not hire an entry level person at that amount. My age also hurt. I was told that law firms would prefer to hire young people who did NOT have any business experience because those type of people would be more likely to put up with the horrid long hours and 7 day work weeks. I was told to not even apply for the 6-figure assoicate jobs, it was a waste of time.

After law school I hired myself out as an independant contractor attorney to get legal experience. Legal experience is NOT provided in law school, no matter which school you go to. After several years I opened my own firm. My pay now is almost as much as I made in 1993 as an IT director.

Many people who go into the legal field at midlife find very similar experiences. With law schools putting out huge classes twice a year of young people who are eager to work 20 hour days, 7 days a week, law firms have no incentive to hire the older folk who would demeand appropriate work hours.

As for you going to a non-ABA approved law school -- I would stongly advise against that. Your law license will only be valid in one state, and that may change. You are really limiting yourself and if CA changes its approval you have wasted a lot of time and money on nothing. With your background you could get a nice job with the Federal government, but you would need a law license that is approved in all states. Good luck.

LawGeek

How specific is your post-law career plan? If you were hoping to go to a big firm, the salaries are set and non-negotiable, so prior experience will not matter. However, these firms only hire from ABA schools (and top ones at that). The smaller the firm, the more you will be able to get them to budge on salary.

Take a close look at the salary differences between different legal specialties - "the law" is by no means a homogenous field. Although going to a cheap school may save you money in the short term, it may cost you a great deal in the long run by cutting off the higher-paid legal careers. With standard salaries from top schools now at $190k and averages from lower-ranked schools at $40k, those student loans may not be as big a barrier as you think - at any age. (especially when you look at those who cannot find jobs at all) After only two years, you have already lost the low-tuition advantage.

You are going to need to post or inquire elsewhere, since I believe you will need to speak to someone specifically in urban planning law. Only someone in that specific field can tell you how your experience will translate, and how your employment prospects will be affected by the choices you are making right now.

remember me?

Go for it! A lot of people start new careers later in life, I've known college students in their 50's-80's. Whoever wants to make that sort of change, Power To Ya!! The secret to a long & happy life, never stop learning, my grandfather taught me that. He lived to be 101 & took care of himself, his busness, apt., etc. until 2 weeks before he passed. Keep growing!

Space493

I have a friend that earned a business degree and worked for a banks several years. When his father passed away he used the money get got to go back and get a law degree. Now he says it is the best thing he ever did.

Good Luck

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