The problem with choosing law is that there's already a shitload of lawyers in the system as it is. It's a career filled with people not working the kind of law they wanted to do/studied for because supply exceeds demand, all of them with years' worth (10-20, depending on their loan structure) of student debt.
I strongly suggest you work backwards on this one. Instead of going to college, and then post grad, and hoping you'll land the job you want once you're done, find an advocacy group you admire and would like to join. Look up their openings, or, even better, talk to them. Ask them what kind of positions they have, what those jobs entail, and what skills and education are necessary for them. And if they say that you should become a lawyer, keep in contact with them as you progress through school. See if they have any internships available during your quiet months.
Finally, if you're working full time, don't expect to get your Bachelors in four years. It's just not going to happen. Why? Because not all classes are offered every semester. Also, mid-May and mid-December are finals. Like Jenny said, the workload is a lot crazier in grad school, so don't expect to work through that at all.
I'm not saying this to dissuade you, but to prepare you. 29 isn't too late for anything. I took classes with 40, 50, and 60 year olds. No one will look at you funny, think you're a loser, or anything else. Reality isn't a 1980s college humor movie. Also, employers are used to people changing careers in the course of their lives. It's actually becoming pretty common for people whose kids are grown and out of the house. 29 is nothing. You're still, almost, a kid.
The big question isn't whether you're too old, but whether you're willing to put in the time, effort, and debt to do it, and if it's worth it in the long run.
Being a lawyer isn't glamorous. My oldest brother is a lawyer. He studied to be an intellectual property lawyer. He doesn't do that. He does personal injury, wrongful termination, and police liability litigation. He also worked on the state's big tobacco case (against the cigarette companies). He's pretty successful for a non-partner. Has been doing it for ~15 or so years. He works a full 40 hours a week, and brings work home every night and on weekends. He's also still paying off his student debt.
Again, not trying to dissuade you, but I want you to have a clear idea of what you're thinking of jumping into. That's why talking to an advocacy group is very important. If you can help people, make good money doing it, without having many more years worth of debt with just a Bachelors degree, then that's the smart play. That's why Rhythm said the same thing.
I strongly suggest you work backwards on this one. Instead of going to college, and then post grad, and hoping you'll land the job you want once you're done, find an advocacy group you admire and would like to join. Look up their openings, or, even better, talk to them. Ask them what kind of positions they have, what those jobs entail, and what skills and education are necessary for them. And if they say that you should become a lawyer, keep in contact with them as you progress through school. See if they have any internships available during your quiet months.
Finally, if you're working full time, don't expect to get your Bachelors in four years. It's just not going to happen. Why? Because not all classes are offered every semester. Also, mid-May and mid-December are finals. Like Jenny said, the workload is a lot crazier in grad school, so don't expect to work through that at all.
I'm not saying this to dissuade you, but to prepare you. 29 isn't too late for anything. I took classes with 40, 50, and 60 year olds. No one will look at you funny, think you're a loser, or anything else. Reality isn't a 1980s college humor movie. Also, employers are used to people changing careers in the course of their lives. It's actually becoming pretty common for people whose kids are grown and out of the house. 29 is nothing. You're still, almost, a kid.
The big question isn't whether you're too old, but whether you're willing to put in the time, effort, and debt to do it, and if it's worth it in the long run.
Being a lawyer isn't glamorous. My oldest brother is a lawyer. He studied to be an intellectual property lawyer. He doesn't do that. He does personal injury, wrongful termination, and police liability litigation. He also worked on the state's big tobacco case (against the cigarette companies). He's pretty successful for a non-partner. Has been doing it for ~15 or so years. He works a full 40 hours a week, and brings work home every night and on weekends. He's also still paying off his student debt.
Again, not trying to dissuade you, but I want you to have a clear idea of what you're thinking of jumping into. That's why talking to an advocacy group is very important. If you can help people, make good money doing it, without having many more years worth of debt with just a Bachelors degree, then that's the smart play. That's why Rhythm said the same thing.
"I was thirsty for everything, but blood wasn't my style" - Live, "Voodoo Lady"
