Not sure if this is the right place to post, but....

**acox68** · 11-13-2010, 02:48 PM

Just wanted to pop in and say "hi" to everyone!

I haven't been visiting or posting here for a while. I just tend to get on and off the frugal way of life and want to stay in denial about our finances sometimes. However, this is keeping us from reaching our life's goals now. Mind you, we never had goals like this before....maybe that's why we didn't do anything right with our money. We never had a concrete plan or a plan that we could envision over the next 5 years.

Anyway, my husband and I are graduating with our bachelors degree next year and he wants to go on to law school, possibly out of state if he can get some scholarships. I am going to continue working and have decided not to go on to my masters degree. It would mean taking out additional student loans, and I don't see the benefit financially at this point. I'm 42 years old and my career is at least 1/2 over. Don't think I could recoup the kind of money it would take for graduate school. My husband, on the other hand, can make more as a lawyer, so I think it will be a good investment for him, especially if he can get into a good school and have some scholarship money sent his way.

Our goal is to move out of Michigan by the time he gets done with law school. I *should* be at the point where I can take an early retirement from my job because I'll be 45 years old and will have 25 years of service with the company. I would also be eligible for health isurance, which is the main reason I am staying behind while he goes on to law school. We would LOVE to move to Portland, OR. The weather seems more mild than here and they haven't been hit as hard with the recession as Michigan has. The plan right now is for him to go to law school @ Lewis and Clark in Oregon or whereever he can get scholarships from.

I'm going to start posting a LEAST once a day! I think it will help me stay on track now that we have some goals laid out.

Thank you,
Andrea

**MaryCarney** · 11-13-2010, 04:07 PM

Don't be too sure about him being able to make significantly more as a lawyer. MANY recent law school grads are jobless here in Indiana - and our unemployment is not quite as high as the national average. Just be SURE!! Esp. if you are planning to take out loans. You do not want to be paying student loans out of your retirement income. YMHO

**TheresaRHPS** · 11-13-2010, 05:58 PM

Congratulations on making a plan and setting goals!

However, I'd also make sure you and/or your husband really research the decision to go into law. Since you'd like to move to Oregon, go on one of the many job outlook sites and see what the need for lawyers in that area is...I know when I was a pre-law major, one thing they really stressed to us is that there were way too many lawyers, lol. It was awhile ago, but the ratio was some outlandish figure...I believe they quoted maybe NYC, where there was one lawyer for every 15 citizens or something, lol.

But...if its a field he loves, I'd say go for it. I love the legal field, and regret that I had to leave school before I could finish. I did get my paralegal degree and certification, but its not the same...not by FAR. He just might end up having to spend several years working as a public defender before something better comes along!

**Debbie-cat** · 11-13-2010, 09:12 PM

Good to hear from you again! Good luck with your goals.

**Imarachne** · 11-14-2010, 04:37 PM

Good luck to you both and congrats on your academic progress !

**Squidge** · 11-18-2010, 10:59 AM

Congrats on your impending graduations

It's awesome you are thinking carefully about this and I'd re-enforce what has already been said in terms of thoroughly researching what the job market is like now and, as best you can, what it is likely to be when your husband finishes with law school.

Best of luck

**acox68** · 11-18-2010, 09:02 PM

Thank you all for your welcome back and advice.....both are greatly appreciated!

DH has done tons of research on this already and is looking at the job placement rates at the schools he's contemplating. The one school in Oregon he wants to attend (Lewis and Clark) has a 97% job placement rate. He just has to make sure that the market isn't oversaturated in whatever area he chooses to speicalize in. I know he will be a good lawyer though....he is a critical thinker naturally and a great debater, so this will help him in his field. He seems to excel at whatever he does and has great people and networking skills, so this will be a great asset to him.

The major thing that concerns me at this point is his age. He will be 45 years old when he graduates from law school, so this might be a potential area of concern. We're still researching though and doing our best to make the right decision for our future.

Thank you again,
Andrea