Thinking About a Second Career as an Attorney? Here's What You Need to Know

While it is true that the majority of law school applicants are in their early 20s and fresh from college, nearly a third of the pool each year is composed of older hopefuls. The fact is, older graduates regularly succeed in this field by combining their newly-acquired legal education with the skills and insights gained in a previous career.

That is not to say that the transition is always without its challenges. Older students in law school likely have different priorities than their counterparts in class. As such, numerous law schools have chapters of an organization called "OWLS," short for "older, wiser law students," where such students can share experiences and advice and provide support for one another.

There are a few things that older law school hopefuls ought to bear in mind when considering an application, namely, their overall career goals, the way they plan to present themselves to admissions committees, and any personal obstacles that may have derailed their plans for a legal education earlier in their career.

Career Goals and Expectations

While it is true that law school admissions staff are not typically asking applicants for a concrete career path in mind, older applicants may need to be a little more specific about why they wish to matriculate and what they expect in terms of a career after graduation. They should be able to outline a concrete reason why they seek a career change and demonstrate why law is the right choice.

Application Specifics

When it comes time to submit the actual application materials, older admissions prospects may find it difficult to obtain the academic transcripts and professor recommendation letters that are almost always required. As such, it is important to begin the process as early as possible. When reaching out to former professors, they should be prepared to provide details about their prior scholarship and what they have achieved since leaving college.

It should also be noted that law school admissions staff may not place as much emphasis on college grades that were received many years prior, so it is best to be able to point to other realms of intellectual achievement that may be more recent. Work experience in which analytical, problem-solving, and research skills played a key role in success should be highlighted where possible.

Those considering applying to law school must also understand that they will need to sit for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). This is a standardized test designed to measure verbal and logical reasoning skills and reading comprehension and proficiency. While this is often considered among the most daunting parts of the admissions process, when approached in a methodical manner, it need not be.

The good news for those who have been out of school for some time and are nervous about the prospect of such an examination is that there are numerous high-quality commercial LSAT prep courses available. These classes combine expert instruction and voluminous practice tests that can help raise scores considerably by the time exam day rolls around. Becoming very familiar with the structure and design of the LSAT is the best way to master it and get the kind of score necessary for law school acceptance.

Compelling Personal Narratives

For some older applicants, law school does not represent a second career path as much as it does a second chance at a productive life. Many incoming law students possess personal histories that include incarceration, drug addiction, and the like. These students are valued by admissions counselors because they have a different kind of experience with the legal system and are often highly motivated to succeed.

Older applicants in this category can use their personal statement as a way to expand upon their circumstances to make it plain why they believe law school is the right fit. They need to articulate an acknowledgment of the challenge law school will surely pose and explain why they believe their background has prepared them for that type of rigor.

Statistics have suggested that older candidates have lower rates of law school acceptance and matriculation than younger applicants. However, that is thought to be more the result of personal variables than it is of discrimination based on age. Because experienced applicants are not typically free to move far away to attend school, they often focus their admissions efforts on nearby institutions that may not be as closely aligned with their credentials for acceptance.

Regardless of their reason for pursuing a legal education later in life, older applicants should move forward with confidence, knowing that students who have gained experiences in other realms of life can and do bring extraordinary value to each incoming class.