Navigating Law School at 31 and Beyond: A Personal Perspective
When considering law school, age is often a moot point. Academically, the rigor of law school does not change based on your age. It remains challenging, whether you are 22 or 31, the latter being the age that many people in the U.S. complete college. However, life experiences and priorities brought on by age can significantly influence your law school experience. In this article, I will share my personal journey and insights into navigating law school later in life.
Academic Rigor: A Consistent Challenge
From a purely academic perspective, the curriculum in law school is designed to challenge students regardless of their age. Just as it would be for a 22-year-old fresh out of college, the workload and expectations remain the same. However, factors such as work-life balance and personal experiences can impact your ability to excel. For instance, I graduated from law school and became a lawyer at 33, and in my eyes, it was just as hard, if not more, than it might have been at 22.
Real Life Experience Counts
One of the significant advantages of going to law school at a later age is the wealth of real-life experience you bring with you. In my case, I had 7 years of corporate work experience, living independently, and paying my own rent before embarking on my law school journey. This experience allowed me to dive deeper into the nitty-gritty of legal concepts, especially in areas such as contracts, torts, wills, and trusts, as well as family law. For example, owning houses provided me with a practical understanding of mortgages, amortization, depreciation, actual value, and fair market value. These real-life experiences made studying these areas much easier and more relatable.
Prioritization and Self-Care
Another crucial factor is the ability to prioritize and take care of oneself. Law school, particularly in the United States, involves a rigid academic schedule, with classes held Monday through Thursday, and Thursday evenings reserved for bar review sessions. Many older students, who might have already been through the rigors of their twenties, find ways to manage their time more effectively. For instance, I had a classmate who, at 43, the oldest in her law school class, opted for a massage every Thursday evening and slept for 10 hours to recover. Friday mornings, she was fresh and ready to tackle her studies. This balanced approach to self-care can make a significant difference in both academic performance and overall well-being.
Choosing the Right Path
Another advantage of older law students is the clarity in choosing the field of law that interests them. Having a clear career path can help in selecting the right courses and focusing on areas that are most relevant to your goals. For example, my boyfriend, also in law school, had a PhD in chemistry and was heading towards intellectual property and patent law. This set him up for a successful career in Silicon Valley. Older students are more likely to have a well-defined path, making the law school experience more focused and rewarding.
Mental Resilience: The Final Frontier
The mental and emotional challenges of law school can be overwhelming. However, older students often have more developed coping mechanisms. They understand that law school is just one aspect of their lives and can manage stress more effectively. I observed that younger students often struggled during finals, feeling sleep-deprived, anxious, and over-studied. In contrast, older students have a broader range of life experiences to draw upon and can navigate stress more calmly. This mental resilience can be a true advantage when facing the demands of law school.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while law school challenges remain the same regardless of age, the advantages of real-life experience, prioritization, and mental resilience can make the experience more manageable and successful for older students. Age is indeed just a number, and the life experiences and maturity brought by later-age entry into law school can significantly influence the learning journey. Whether you are 22 or 31, the key lies in leveraging your life experiences to excel in your legal education and career.