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would like input on career change

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by jck

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Over the weekend, I was made aware of a situation that I had no idea would be made available to me.

For several years, I've pondered going into another field besides IT. I've messed with/programmed computers since Christmas 1982, when I got my C-64 and started absorbing computer info like a sponge. But after dealing with a napoleonic CS department chairman in college, and a few jobs who wanted to own me because they paid me a medioche salary...I think my time in IT is nearing an end. And, I think now is a good time to transition and do it before I get too old.

This weekend, I was speaking to my mother. She mentioned that she had told my aunt and uncle (who is an attorney in Texas) that I was pondering the possibility of going back to school to become a lawyer. When hearing this, my aunt and uncle thought that would be great. None of their kids pursued law, and my uncle has no one to sort of "hand over" the firm to when he retires. I think he'd like to keep things in the family, and I would be more than glad to move to Texas and maintain the practice he's spent over 30 years building.

So, my questions are this for any of you that have made a major career change (neilb...I expect to hear from you lol) from one field to another:

How did you go about transitioning? Did you just make a leap, or plan things out cautiously?

Do you have any advice for me in making such a career change? Do you recommend it?

I would appreciate input from anyone and everyone.

I'm looking for pre-law programs I can do on the internet in the evenings after work from my apartment, if anyone knows of any universities that offer such a thing.

Thanks.

jck

5 replies

by ic-it

You will need a BS before attending Law school. If you already have one great, if not consider a major that falls in line with your Uncle's current practice and/or that still will be useful should you have second thoughts.
Here is one of many links I found with a simple Google search for Law degree prerequisites. It also showed an on-line school however i didn't persue that one.
transitioning can be a bit scary, but with the support of friends and family, it can be exciting.
I did make a major career change after retiring from the USAF. Ran my own business for awhile and then (due to spouses health) decided to use the GIBill to attend three years of schooling to quantify my computer experience. I don't regret it for a moment.

Also by typing this I will give it a bump for someone elses attention. ;-)

http://www.colorado.edu/aac/lawprep.htm

by delbertpgh

You stumble into a lot of things, such as computer science, and get deep into them because your choices at the time seem limited. If you haven't been able to make a passion out of CS, maybe you never will. I was able to find a niche (investment management) that interested me a lot and a company where I could work in a freewheeling way, and I'll be happy at this until I retire. If you think you've grown up enough to know what you really ought to be doing, and that's the law, then you should go for it.

Be cautious, because there are a lot of wrinkles in any career field, and if you are in a bad spot you'll be miserable, either doing tasks that bore you or working for somebody who limits you. If I had a controlling boss or worked in a rigid environment, I'd probably hate what I'm doing.

Be careful about the law, because lawyers are hired to carry shovels of other people's crap. A lawyer finds honor in being a professional, not in the social or individual interests he advances. As a programmer, you usually don't have to worry about sleaze, unless you manage software for an Internet dating service. Programmers can be honest, and get away with pretending that is the key to integrity; lawyers know that a story that works and fits the facts is as good as the truth, and if it carries their client's water, that's the one they repeat. Under oath. If you're comfy with that, do it, but find the right niche, or you'll be lost.

by jck

He doesn't do criminal or civil defense. He is a family attorney, i.e.- does wills, land trusts, etc etc. But, he has hundreds of clients all over the state.

I'd never go into law having to be an attorney that would have to defend someone I know is guilty. That would bother me to no end to have to defend someone like John Cooey or Jeffrey Dahmer.

by jamesrl

Has been all over the place.

Having worked in politics, I considered law, and took some law courses in university that I did very well in.

I would do two things:
1) look carefully at your uncles practise. Law, like medicine has a number of specialties, and you have to know whether his practise is what you would enjoy. Real estate lawyers, for example, push a lot of paper, and almost never litigate or see a court room. Criminal lawyers are almost always in court.

2) get a practise LSAT and write the test before studying - see if you like that kind of study, because if you committ you will have to study hard to get into the school of your choice.

I've made big leaps. They haven't always worked out. I don't regret it though since I think wondering about what might have been is worse to me than trying and failing.

When there was a bit of an IT downturn in the late 80s, I tried going into stock brokerage. Studied for the exam, worked in the industry, then the market crashed in 87 and that option wasn't open to me(experienced brokers were being laid off in droves). I went back to IT and never looked back. But I still think I learned alot about the market in my time and enjoyed it.

But even in IT I moved around, from sales to marketing to technical to project management etc.

James

by dogged28

We all have our good and bad days in the feild and in the office. So it's easy to understand how we sometimes get burned out in whatever job we hold at the time. My concern is that you are already questioning yourself about the Law Firm move. Your focus should be on the move itself not should you be a lawyer. "If you have to ask, then you have already answered your own question." What all have you done in the IT world over the past few years? Have you checked into other areas of IT and came across something that really raised your eyebrows? What makes you happy at work now and what did make you happy in the past while on the job? These are only a few questions it seems you should answer before you decide to quit the IT world and move on to another career. I understand your point of view and I also understand your fear about switching like you want to, especially since that career switch affects your entire household. But, with your families support and love you will excell in whatever field you choose just remember that: "The job that makes you the happiest is the perfect job for you."

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