Rethinking career change ideas please...
Discussion
Hi all,
I'm currently going through an extended bout of career doubt. I graduated from uni in 2002, ignored my degree and got stuck into property, went self employed as a handyman and Sub contractor to fill in the voids between renovating and selling flats and learned a hell of a lot about all the various trades involved. Come July 2008 I emigrated from the UK to USA, just got married in November, green card is taking forever to be processed and I originally planned on going to Law School in San Diego or Orange County in autumn 09 or 2010 with the application starting the day I get my SSN and status sorted.
However...
I was helping out at an animal charity on Sunday and met several ex lawyers none of which had a pleasant thing to say about the profession. These views were also shared by several other lawyers I've spoken to since arriving here in SD. The general view is that for $150,000+ in school loans, 4 years of slaving away and another 1-2 years in an internship or clerkship isn't worth it to make $65k -> $100k for yet more 18hr days and no time for friends or a family.
My other thoughts are to do a proper 5yr apprenticeship in either plumbing/electrical/HVAC and go down the academia alternative career path?
Any sensible suggestions?
I'm currently going through an extended bout of career doubt. I graduated from uni in 2002, ignored my degree and got stuck into property, went self employed as a handyman and Sub contractor to fill in the voids between renovating and selling flats and learned a hell of a lot about all the various trades involved. Come July 2008 I emigrated from the UK to USA, just got married in November, green card is taking forever to be processed and I originally planned on going to Law School in San Diego or Orange County in autumn 09 or 2010 with the application starting the day I get my SSN and status sorted.
However...
I was helping out at an animal charity on Sunday and met several ex lawyers none of which had a pleasant thing to say about the profession. These views were also shared by several other lawyers I've spoken to since arriving here in SD. The general view is that for $150,000+ in school loans, 4 years of slaving away and another 1-2 years in an internship or clerkship isn't worth it to make $65k -> $100k for yet more 18hr days and no time for friends or a family.
My other thoughts are to do a proper 5yr apprenticeship in either plumbing/electrical/HVAC and go down the academia alternative career path?
Any sensible suggestions?
A mate of mine graduated with a Civils degree in 2000, he then worked for 5 years before doing a one year law thing, this was then followed by two years working for some law firm where I believe he passed his bar exam (or whatever) allowing him to specialise in Commercial Law or some such thing.
Anyway 1 year later and he is sick of it and looking to do something else.
I think the moral of the story is you only have one life so have a think about making any quick decisions!
You could always come back to blighty and be teaching in 6 months
Anyway 1 year later and he is sick of it and looking to do something else.
I think the moral of the story is you only have one life so have a think about making any quick decisions!
You could always come back to blighty and be teaching in 6 months
You are still young enough to get it right. You need to think lomg and hard about what you really want.
Sadly I am in a well paid profession but not doing what I really want to do. I want to be a doctor but am over 30 and well past re-training. I really regret not having pulled my finger out retraining in my mid 20s when I came to this conclusion
Sadly I am in a well paid profession but not doing what I really want to do. I want to be a doctor but am over 30 and well past re-training. I really regret not having pulled my finger out retraining in my mid 20s when I came to this conclusion
Maybe you should balance the views of disgruntled/failed lawyers with happy/successful ones.
I know a few in each camp. The ones who went into high street/family/criminal etc don't earn much and work as hard to scratch a living as those who did their TC in big firms and start on £50k-£65k as soon as they qualify.
Same with barristers. The poor ones tell you not to bother, there's no money in it etc etc . The succesful ones regale me with tales of their £3k fees for a half day in the family court.
You couldn't have picked a more expensive place to do it though!
If you have a degree already you could do the GDL (circa £8k IIRC) and then the LPC (circa £11k) - full time in two years. THen 2 year training contract to qualify.
Much cheaper than $150,000 US law school fees.
Good luck
I know a few in each camp. The ones who went into high street/family/criminal etc don't earn much and work as hard to scratch a living as those who did their TC in big firms and start on £50k-£65k as soon as they qualify.
Same with barristers. The poor ones tell you not to bother, there's no money in it etc etc . The succesful ones regale me with tales of their £3k fees for a half day in the family court.
You couldn't have picked a more expensive place to do it though!
If you have a degree already you could do the GDL (circa £8k IIRC) and then the LPC (circa £11k) - full time in two years. THen 2 year training contract to qualify.
Much cheaper than $150,000 US law school fees.
Good luck
Buy an investment, they'll give you a tax id and ss# so they can tax the dividends
(ss# probably not valid for work though, since they tidied up all the holes in their systems)
Your situation, yep law school is a tad expensive. But whatever you choose to do, it does say something about you. (capable of passing the bar)
I am making the assumption that your wife is well paid....so the cost of tuition could have a benificial effect on your taxes assuming you would file jointly. It would therefore negate a fair proportion of the cost.
PS you should really try to get a SS# before she files taxes this year(April),or file a delay 'til you do. Otherwise she will not be able to claim you as a dependent and will loose the deduction. Suspect you are already on that
Best of luck whatever you decide.
ETA I assume you are aware that any foreigh ed qualifications (your deg etc) would need to be accredited. That involves the Brit Embassy to say "yep it's one of ours" and a US university to say "yep it's an equivalent level" so if you do decide to do law then this would be require first (I think)
(ss# probably not valid for work though, since they tidied up all the holes in their systems)
Your situation, yep law school is a tad expensive. But whatever you choose to do, it does say something about you. (capable of passing the bar)
I am making the assumption that your wife is well paid....so the cost of tuition could have a benificial effect on your taxes assuming you would file jointly. It would therefore negate a fair proportion of the cost.
PS you should really try to get a SS# before she files taxes this year(April),or file a delay 'til you do. Otherwise she will not be able to claim you as a dependent and will loose the deduction. Suspect you are already on that
Best of luck whatever you decide.
ETA I assume you are aware that any foreigh ed qualifications (your deg etc) would need to be accredited. That involves the Brit Embassy to say "yep it's one of ours" and a US university to say "yep it's an equivalent level" so if you do decide to do law then this would be require first (I think)
Edited by jeff m on Thursday 12th March 14:39
Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff