RN planning on going to law school

Specialties Legal

Updated:   Published

Hi,

I'd like to get in touch with some nurses who are also practicing attorneys. I wanna hear their experiences, their struggles, their success stories. Before becoming a nurse, I majored and graduated with a degree in political science. I was gonna attend law school right away but decided to go to nursing school instead because I wanted to earn money right away. My nursing career did not disappoint financially but I can't fully commit to it, constantly thinking about going back to my real passion, which is law. I'd like to know how full time nurses who are also single parents managed to succeed in law school. Also wanna know how they handled their finances while in law school.

Thanks.

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I have been a nurse for about 13 years before going to Law School. I wanted to go to Law School more for myself as a personal goal and was also interested in the law in general. I think it would be very difficult to go to Law School working full time. I managed to squeak by working part time; however, it was very difficult. Law School is very competitive, and I would say most of my classmates did not work (besides having an internship/externship). You will be in class most days the first year, then studying at night. The second and third years, you will probably want to do an internship or externship; this does not leave much time for working. I do know some classmates were single parents, but think it will be impossible to go to Law School with a small child and no family (single parent).

All in all, I think I made a good decision to go...even in the bad job market. Yes, I have a lot of student loans. I still work as a nurse from time-to-time, but I love practicing law.

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I have not had the experience of attending law school, but a long-time boyfriend went to law school quite a few years ago while we were living together, so I had a "front row seat" for his experience. It was significantly more time-consuming and rigorous than my experience of nursing school (it feels silly to me to even have to say that, but you never know), and this was not a particularly competitive or prestigious school (my boyfriend wouldn't have been able to get into a really good law school; this was a third or fourth tier school). No one in his class was working. I was not aware of any of his classmates (that he was friendly with; obviously, I didn't know everyone in his class) having children. They were nearly all fresh young things fresh out of college, single, and with no other responsibilities (that I was aware of) other than attending school. There was one person in his group of friends who was married. My boyfriend was 32 when he started, and he was considered the "old guy." FWIW, we ended up breaking up by the end of his first year, which is not that uncommon (it was his idea).

My boyfriend took out student loans to cover all of his school costs and his share of the rent (we split the rent 50/50, and I covered all the rest of our living expenses, so subsidized him a fair amount but didn't just support him outright). I have no idea how he managed after we split up; I guess he had to take out more in student loans.

Best wishes for your journey.

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Hi there,

I am a practicing attorney who is leaving the law for nursing! i just finished all my pre recs and applied to nursing school to start this spring. While I am not a nurse yet, i am an experienced lawyer so please feel free to message me if you have questions about law school or the legal profession.

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I was an RN for 7 years when I started law school. I graduated in 2009. I worked 16-20 hours all three years. I needed health insurance. I was also a single mom. I had no social life and lived on Red Bull and anxiety. I graduated in the top half of my class which I was disappointed about but with the lack of time commitment, it was what I earned. I worked as a Legal Intern for 3 semesters and a full summer. (Two semesters were at a Disability Law clinic at my school for credits). When I came down with mono, I bought health insurance from the school and reduced my work hours.

If I could do it all over, I would not have worked and would have tried to write onto Law Review and improved my resume. I worked as an RN full time until 18 months ago when I found my dream job. I had a solo practice prior and spent the days and evenings I was not working as an RN handling client matters.

Many of the problem solving skills are similar in the nursing and legal arenas. Law School is labor intensive. Treat studying for the bar like a full time job. I practice Social Security Disability law as a claimant's attorney. I use my nursing knowledge and skills every day. I have crushing 6 figure student loan debt and am at about 75% of my final nursing salary. It was worth it though. I love being a lawyer.

I do not work as an RN any longer for physical reasons but maintain my license.

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I'm taking my LSAT next Saturday. I am a pretty new nurse, and absolutely love working in my speciality (adolescent psych.) When faced with making decisions about grad school and going further with my education, other than my BSN, I really have no desire to to get my MSN. My JD just "feels right" even though I don't know what I'll do with it just yet. I started nursing school without knowing what in the world I would want to do in nursing, either. Thankfully, I found psych! Words of encouragement are welcomed!

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Heylove, how'd you do on your LSAT?

I'll finish my BSN this winter, but am at an impasse about what I want to do next: APRN or law school. I'd love to become an FNP, but based on my own experience as an RN, my dream is to become an employment and labor attorney that represents healthcare professionals and students in employment discrimination matters; or work as a litigator for federal agencies such as the EEOC or DOL.

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Specializes in MICU, Burn ICU.
BSNandThen said:
Heylove, how'd you do on your LSAT?

I'll finish my BSN this Winter, but am at an impasse about what I want to do next: APRN or law school. I'd love to become an FNP, but based on my own experience as an RN, my dream is to become an employment and labor attorney that represents healthcare professionals and students in employment discrimination matters; or work as a litigator for federal agencies such as the EEOC or DOL.

Follow your dream.

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I chickened out of the February 2018 LSAT. I didn't feel prepared because I did not study. I rescheduled and took the LSAT in September. I did attend an LSAT prep course, but it really didn't help as much as online Kaplan (free) material. I am turning in my application TODAY for law school and they may ask me to retake the LSAT for a higher score. We will see. I plan on attending the part-time law program, and I work weekend option.

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Heylove can i just ask how do you like the adolescent psych? It's a specialty i am considering deeply because i love psych

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Just a quick update: I am waitlisted for UMKC's law school for fall 2019. I did poorly on the LSAT in September, and I know if I retake it to get a higher score, I will more than likely be admitted for fall 2019. The test is HARD!

Thenurseguy88 - there is a whole forum for psych nursing allnurses. I absolutely love adolescent psych. I love my coworkers and my patients, and usually am very happy to be going to work.

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Hello Everyone!

I am sitting for my LSAT in November or January; I have been a nurse for 8 years and am emotionally and physically spent! My dream has always been to become an attorney, and now that my kids are adults, it's Momma's turn. I love the encouragment here. I wish you all the very best!

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