Hi, I'm an RN, BSN thinking about law school. I'm interested because I see it as being intellectually stimulating and possibly a good career move.
I'm a little hesitant because I realize the job market in recent years for attorneys has been bad, but I'm thinking that since law school attendance is currently down, perhaps the job market would improve with fewer attorneys graduating.
I'm looking for any nurse attorneys out there who could give insight into this. Is it worth $150K in tuition and 3 years spent in school for the outcome? Those who have done it, would you do it over again? I'd appreciate any insight any one might have.
It was worth it? How so? What are you doing with it?
It is always worth it. I went back to nursing and really knew how to protect myself legally. I am planning to go into private practice with another lawyer.
It is always worth it. I went back to nursing and really knew how to protect myself legally. I am planning to go into private practice with another lawyer.
So, it was worth tens of thousands of dollars, all that work, time away from things you enjoy, to learn how to protect yourself as a nurse?
So, it was worth tens of thousands of dollars, all that work, time away from things you enjoy, to learn how to protect yourself as a nurse?
What kind of practice are you going to attempt?
Actually I really enjoyed studying law so it was not a matter of taking time away from the things I enjoy and it did not cost tens of thousands of dollars. It sounds like you are really not very committed to this path. It does take a lot of work. I am able to read fast and remember everything I have read and I am able to synthesize what I have read and apply it to other situations. If you are a concrete thinker, this is not the path for you. If reading hundreds of pages of material daily and trying to simplify what you have read and put it all together in a neat package is not an ability you have, this path is not for you. Circumstances were such that I was not able to practice upon graduation, personal circumstances which I choose not to share with you, because, quite frankly, they are not your concern. Do whatever you wish.
I am an RN/JD and it has worked out great for me, but I got very, very lucky. I would only recommend law school if you are a very good student, you get a high LSAT score, you can afford to go to school full-time and you can get in to a top 50 law school. I went to a top 50 school, graduated in the top 10% of my class and landed a big firm job doing health care law (regulatory and corporate stuff, not med-mal) back in 2003. All that was possible because I had the opportunity to do summer internships and get other experience that only a full-time student experience really allows you. I also found I tested well in law school (you just take 1 big exam at the end of each class, so it is a lot of pressure), but some of that was just luck -- many of my classmates, who are very smart and worked hard, did not test well and did not have good job prospects. I started out making almost 3x my salary as a nurse, but I worked a TON of hours and had to prove myself for 7 or 8 years. I then jumped to an in-house counsel position at a hospital system and got promoted to a VP position from there. I now make a very nice living, work reasonable hours and have an in-demand skill set, but if I had it to do over again, I would not do it because I know I got very lucky and might not have that same luck if I had to do it again. I also was able to get significant scholarship money for law school because of a strong GPA and LSAT score, so I had less than 50k in debt after law school which I was able to easily pay off in a few years.
And herein lies the formula to your success, your attitude, commitment and work ethic. I didn't hear any cry for work life balance, just ambition with the willingness and ability to match.
And herein lies the formula to your success, your attitude, commitment and work ethic. I didn't hear any cry for work life balance, just ambition with the willingness and ability to match.
It is a big commitment. If work life balance is what you want, it is probably not the career for you. If you are so hesitant, it is probably not the career for you. You do have to be very smart and very committed to your studies. If I were you, I would just stay where you are. You likely would not even get into law school so don't even waste your time. You could try becoming a nurse legal consultant. That might be a better choice for you. And if you graduated in 1987, you are not that young anymore so that would add to the difficulty getting in law school, staying in, graduating, and securing a position unless you start your own independent practice. Whatever choice you make, I wish you well.
It is a big commitment. If work life balance is what you want, it is probably not the career for you. If you are so hesitant, it is probably not the career for you. You do have to be very smart and very committed to your studies. If I were you, I would just stay where you are. You likely would not even get into law school so don't even waste your time. You could try becoming a nurse legal consultant. That might be a better choice for you. And if you graduated in 1987, you are not that young anymore so that would add to the difficulty getting in law school, staying in, graduating, and securing a position unless you start your own independent practice. Whatever choice you make, I wish you well.
The 1987 reference, are you speaking to me? I have no intention of law school.
I went to law school and received my JD before going to nursing school and getting my ADN then BSN. I have always worked in psych which requires a lot of legal knowledge especially forensics.
I don't think I would do law school again. I currently owe $100,000+ in student loans. I enjoy nursing more. I have been considering taking a bar review course, taking the bar, and trying LNC on the side.
I went to law school and received my JD before going to nursing school and getting my ADN then BSN. I have always worked in psych which requires a lot of legal knowledge especially forensics.
I don't think I would do law school again. I currently owe $100,000+ in student loans. I enjoy nursing more. I have been considering taking a bar review course, taking the bar, and trying LNC on the side.
It was not that expensive when I went. I am not sorry I took it. It is just that my personal circumstances were such that I was not able to practice immediately upon completing th bar ad course. So I took further law studies and got another law degree. I have two law degrees, entry level and post-graduate. I was unable to secure the type of position I wanted due to the market ebb and flow at the time. I needed to work part time and that was not feasible at that time, so I went back to nursing. I have never regretted all the education. It has served me well in my nursing career and I loved the mental discipline of legal studies.
I went to law school and received my JD before going to nursing school and getting my ADN then BSN. I have always worked in psych which requires a lot of legal knowledge especially forensics.
I don't think I would do law school again. I currently owe $100,000+ in student loans. I enjoy nursing more. I have been considering taking a bar review course, taking the bar, and trying LNC on the side.
Let's say, for argument's sake, that you could have done it exactly the same BUT had zero debt. Would you still say you wouldn't do it again?
Actually I really enjoyed studying law so it was not a matter of taking time away from the things I enjoy and it did not cost tens of thousands of dollars. It sounds like you are really not very committed to this path. It does take a lot of work. I am able to read fast and remember everything I have read and I am able to synthesize what I have read and apply it to other situations. If you are a concrete thinker, this is not the path for you. If reading hundreds of pages of material daily and trying to simplify what you have read and put it all together in a neat package is not an ability you have, this path is not for you. Circumstances were such that I was not able to practice upon graduation, personal circumstances which I choose not to share with you, because, quite frankly, they are not your concern. Do whatever you wish.
Would you be kind enough to share where you earned your JD without spending a ton of money?
SC_RNDude
533 Posts
It was worth it? How so? What are you doing with it?