Any Lawyers Here?

[Miscue]

I'm nearly done with my masters degree and was planning on going for a PhD - but I don't want to teach. I've been reconsidering this lately, and have been thinking about law school instead.

I think it would allow me to go into an entirely different field - and have other advantages. I don't know how long I can do computers without burning out... and I'd have to move out of state to start making good money... which I'm unwilling to do.

If I did make this jump, I'm thinking that IP or Computer Law would be a speciality I'd like to pursue.

So I guess my question is this: After graduating, how difficult is it to get a job doing this? And the other thing is, it would have to be 70k+ for me to at least break-even and financially justify a career change... is this out of the question... or an unrealistic expectation?

Trying to figure out what I'm going to do for the next few years...

[Ole Unka Phil]

if you wear a tie to keep the foreskin from riding up over your face.... your all ready for the Bar exam.

Do it kiddo. Good profession. Go for it.

[spantol]

Depends how good you are. Or, more to the point, how well-connected you become in law school. I work for a reasonably large law firm (1,000ish attorneys), and we're paying first-year associates $140,000.

For a first-year associate in a big firm, this works out to be about $40 an hour.

So I guess my question is this: After graduating, how difficult is it to get a job doing this? And the other thing is, it would have to be 70k+ for me to at least break-even and financially justify a career change... is this out of the question... or an unrealistic expectation?

[Miscue]

Depends how good you are. Or, more to the point, how well-connected you become in law school. I work for a reasonably large law firm (1,000ish attorneys), and we're paying first-year associates $140,000.

For a first-year associate in a big firm, this works out to be about $40 an hour.

Well, I'm hoping that a CS and MS/CIS degree will help me find a job if I manage to get into computer law... I've heard this combination is rare and sought after. I also got into CompSci before everyone started losing their IT jobs left and right... and making way less... so I take these info tidbits with a grain of salt.

[spantol]

There are a few IP lawyers at my firm that went that route. It's a good combination.

I mentioned the going rate to show that $70k wasn't infeasable, and also to contrast it with the hours involved. Big firms pay better, but work you to death.

If you haven't already, I'd recommend reading this.

Well, I'm hoping that a CS and MS/CIS degree will help me find a job if I manage to get into computer law... I've heard this combination is rare and sought after. I also got into CompSci before everyone starting losing their IT jobs left and right... and making way less... so I take these info tidbits with a grain of salt.

[BlackVCG]

You have the logical mind and the desire that would make you a great mechanical engineer. This is kind of a drastic change and would probably take at least 2.5 years to complete, but the paths you can take in this field are endless. I'd at least think about it if I were you...

[Miscue]

You have the logical mind and the desire that would make you a great mechanical engineer. This is kind of a drastic change and would probably take at least 2.5 years to complete, but the paths you can take in this field are endless. I'd at least think about it if I were you...

If I didn't do CS, I probably would have done ME. It's appealing, but the thing is: I can work and do a JD or PhD at the same time... not so for the ME locally.

[Ole Unka Phil]

on a different slant.... if your might consider Computer Engineering... check with Fatman. He is faculty in that here at Clemson. Might be an assistantship or something coming open. Ya never know...

[Kevmaster]

from what my family lawyer keeps telling me....

people who can translate between 'computer nerd speak' and 'law bs language' and well written english are some of the most valuable people to a law firm.

she used to work in a law firm in NYC doing corporate law. she = second smartest person I know.

then again, this has always been her way of complimenting my computer knowledge quest....so i take it for what its worth.

but to some extent, its prolly true.

i can tell you, the company im working with now, the people who make the decisions regarding IT dont know jack about IT. they are the board membres and partners and blah blah blah. we, the IT people, have to raise our requests to a parter and get him to fight for it. we have to be good at putting our computer isssues into his language: $$$