Should I go to law school?
First post ever on Reddit but I am feeling really lost. I was accepted into a regional school with a scholarship that will cover a bit more than 2/3 of the tuition. My parents will cover the remaining tuition. I currently work in insurance at a wfh job making around $55k. There isn’t much room for growth, I think the most I can earn in my current position is about $60K, but I like that it is wfh, isn’t very stressful, is extremely flexible, and good management. I am enrolled and should be starting 1L this fall but part of me feels like it could be a huge mistake. I’m in my 30s and my partner and I are planning on getting married this year. We want to buy a house within the next 2 years and plan to start a family in the next 3 or so years. Even with the tuition covered, considering the loss of earnings with quitting my job and the other expenses included like books, gas, new clothes, test prep materials etc, law school will still be a huge financial burden. I worry about having to rely completely on my savings, partner, and family for money and I don’t know realistically how I can accomplish the other goals I have with family/marriage/home buying with the mental and financial stress of law school + the time I will need to commit to it. I also worry that once I graduate we’ll immediately want to have kids and I won’t be practicing initially after having kids, especially in the beginning when I’m supposed to be grinding it out in the first few years of practice.
I applied because I love reading, research, and writing, want a career that is stable and mentally stimulating, always wanted to continue my education, think law is interesting, I like the prestige of this career, and want a job where I can help people and have a higher earning potential. Part of me gets excited about being in the classroom again but I worry I will hate the actual practice of law. I am an extremely sensitive person, I’m shy and a bit awkward, and I worry the long hours, need for constant networking, and high responsibility of this career will lead to burn out. I also worry all of the work of law school could lead to a similar salary as the one I am currently making (I live in KY), just with more stress, hours, and responsibility. I want a job that is fulfilling but not one that consumes my entire life. I’ve talked to multiple lawyers who have quit or are begrudgingly still practicing and tell me it was a mistake to go to law school. But I also know a few practicing attorneys who have a love hate relationship with the job and think it was worth doing. It just feels like a huge risk and I guess I am wondering if law school even seems like a good idea with the concerns listed here. Looking for advice from anyone who might have had similar concerns or a similar situation.