Thank you Teyani. It's never too late to explore a new direction and I'm glad I am. It certainly won't be an easy one, but nothing good is. I appreciate your support. I figured I'd change things up with a photo in a tux rather than with my camera.
I'm excited about this new journey. Law school is tough. You're tougher. Maybe you'll have less time for birding for a couple of years, but the birds will be there for you when you need them.
Congratulations on starting law school! I was also a nontraditional law student — 29 and had just gotten married. I've been practicing for about nine years and love being a lawyer. I did not love law school; I think a lot about it is unnecessarily stressful in ways that have little to do with the reality of practicing law. (I will stop myself from pouring out all of my opinions.)
I really liked that "help" was one of the verbs you used in the beginning. When I was applying to law school, I kept seeing the advice that law school is not for people who want to "change the world." This is totally wrong. Law school, perhaps even moreso than the practice of law itself, can be challenging and alienating for such people, but now that I am a public interest lawyer — I just love it so much. I love that I have tools to actually help people in ways I could not ten years ago.
Thank you so much! This was great to read. I too have come across the notion that "wanting to help people" isn't a reason to go into law. Coming to this later in life, that's my biggest driver. Public interest law is something that interests me! I am trying to keep myself open to all types of law, but it does seem a great way to help people.
Hi James. I love your story. Apologies for doing this in your comments but sleep is the most important health lever we have and some people don’t see DMs. I was a chronic nonsleeper for decades until I did the work to make great sleep my number one priority. I shared all my work, findings, and suggestions in a recent post Secrets to Great Sleep. I pray you’ll find a little something that finally gives you the rest you need.✌️
Oh reading this makes me smile! I have NO doubt that you will fly high on this new adventure. And yes, neuroplasticity will be your lifelong friend. I got to and lasted an hour at our local No Kings event yesterday, a new personal best for me, with yesterday being the 9th anniversary of my TBI. Spread your wings, James, and soar!
Thank you, Diana! Neuroplasticity is absolutely a lifelong friend. Every time something is difficult or new I remind myself I am just giving neuroplasticity a new experience to use as a tool for growth. Congratulations on lasting an hour at your local event! I’d say happy 9 years but it’s not right to call it happy. Maybe steadfast 9 years, or I commend you on moving forward after your TBI for 9 years. Here’s to many more years of proving our TBIs wrong. Thank you, Diana.
Thank you for sharing this new beginning with us, James. I wish you the best of success in law school and hope you’ll have a few minutes to keep us posted. I really like reading about your commitment to lifelong learning and seeing you take flight.
I worked at Jerry Spence’s Trial Lawyer’s College in Dubois, Wyoming. There I met a woman attending law school in Laramie. She’d always wanted to practice law, but she had kids and life demands she needed to meet, so stuck with her career. Eventually, she retired, applied to law school, and got a full scholarship. She was 65 years old when we met.
Thank you for sharing that experience, Joshua. It's never too late to chart a new course. I'm not 24 but 32 is definitely not prohibitively old and I really don't have any reasons not to do this.
It sounds like that rage you described is being transformed into a deep relentless momentum and motivation carrying things forward through law school and beyond. Best wishes on law school and beyond, James and looking forward to reading and learning more about this new direction.
James, you have got this. Thirty-two years old is a great age to be starting law school. You've got live experience and direction that you wouldn't have had if you were younger. I am very excited for you. I also hope we will be able to meet up before you move to school.
Thank you so much, Pamela. I am glad to bring the decades of life I've lived to this new chapter--had I done this at a younger age I would've been motivated by different drivers than I am now. I have my new place by school, but I'll still come back by Maudslay and the refuge to see my family. We can find a time to meet I am sure.
You are a year younger than my youngest son. He recently completed a PhD program. It was very hard and very worthwhile. I wish you well in your becoming an attorney. The building of a new professional identity is an awesome task and a beautiful one. 🌱
Thank you, Baird, and congratulations to your son! A PhD program is a big challenge, but one of growth and excitement. At any point in life, we all have the option to go in new directions and remake ourselves.
I love that you are doing this for yourself.
I went into graduate school for my MA in Clinical Psych when I was 40. And I enjoyed almost 33 years of practicing in that field. I’ve loved it.
You’ve got this James.
Love that last photo of you. You look so dapper!
Thank you Teyani. It's never too late to explore a new direction and I'm glad I am. It certainly won't be an easy one, but nothing good is. I appreciate your support. I figured I'd change things up with a photo in a tux rather than with my camera.
I'm excited about this new journey. Law school is tough. You're tougher. Maybe you'll have less time for birding for a couple of years, but the birds will be there for you when you need them.
Thank you Nate. The birds aren’t “there for us,” but they’re the for us
Congratulations on starting law school! I was also a nontraditional law student — 29 and had just gotten married. I've been practicing for about nine years and love being a lawyer. I did not love law school; I think a lot about it is unnecessarily stressful in ways that have little to do with the reality of practicing law. (I will stop myself from pouring out all of my opinions.)
I really liked that "help" was one of the verbs you used in the beginning. When I was applying to law school, I kept seeing the advice that law school is not for people who want to "change the world." This is totally wrong. Law school, perhaps even moreso than the practice of law itself, can be challenging and alienating for such people, but now that I am a public interest lawyer — I just love it so much. I love that I have tools to actually help people in ways I could not ten years ago.
I look forward to reading about this new chapter!
Thank you so much! This was great to read. I too have come across the notion that "wanting to help people" isn't a reason to go into law. Coming to this later in life, that's my biggest driver. Public interest law is something that interests me! I am trying to keep myself open to all types of law, but it does seem a great way to help people.
Hi James. I love your story. Apologies for doing this in your comments but sleep is the most important health lever we have and some people don’t see DMs. I was a chronic nonsleeper for decades until I did the work to make great sleep my number one priority. I shared all my work, findings, and suggestions in a recent post Secrets to Great Sleep. I pray you’ll find a little something that finally gives you the rest you need.✌️
Thank you Cori! I will absolutely look more at your post. I'm tired of feeling tired and don't want to ignore the cause of my tiredness.
Congratulations on embarking on a new great adventure!
Thank you so much!
Oh reading this makes me smile! I have NO doubt that you will fly high on this new adventure. And yes, neuroplasticity will be your lifelong friend. I got to and lasted an hour at our local No Kings event yesterday, a new personal best for me, with yesterday being the 9th anniversary of my TBI. Spread your wings, James, and soar!
Thank you, Diana! Neuroplasticity is absolutely a lifelong friend. Every time something is difficult or new I remind myself I am just giving neuroplasticity a new experience to use as a tool for growth. Congratulations on lasting an hour at your local event! I’d say happy 9 years but it’s not right to call it happy. Maybe steadfast 9 years, or I commend you on moving forward after your TBI for 9 years. Here’s to many more years of proving our TBIs wrong. Thank you, Diana.
Thank you for sharing this new beginning with us, James. I wish you the best of success in law school and hope you’ll have a few minutes to keep us posted. I really like reading about your commitment to lifelong learning and seeing you take flight.
Thank you Heidi! Learning, improvement, curiosity, creativity—great things that never need to end. Might as well fill our lives with them!
I worked at Jerry Spence’s Trial Lawyer’s College in Dubois, Wyoming. There I met a woman attending law school in Laramie. She’d always wanted to practice law, but she had kids and life demands she needed to meet, so stuck with her career. Eventually, she retired, applied to law school, and got a full scholarship. She was 65 years old when we met.
Thank you for sharing that experience, Joshua. It's never too late to chart a new course. I'm not 24 but 32 is definitely not prohibitively old and I really don't have any reasons not to do this.
Can attest that going back to school in the 30s is incredibly fulfilling. Can’t wait to see all you continue to accomplish!
Thank you, Mads! I am glad to know your return to school has been a rewarding and fulfilling one.
So excited for your next adventure. Great move!
Thank you, Susie!
It sounds like that rage you described is being transformed into a deep relentless momentum and motivation carrying things forward through law school and beyond. Best wishes on law school and beyond, James and looking forward to reading and learning more about this new direction.
Thank you, Neil. Appreciate you reading, your perspective, and your support.
James, you have got this. Thirty-two years old is a great age to be starting law school. You've got live experience and direction that you wouldn't have had if you were younger. I am very excited for you. I also hope we will be able to meet up before you move to school.
Thank you so much, Pamela. I am glad to bring the decades of life I've lived to this new chapter--had I done this at a younger age I would've been motivated by different drivers than I am now. I have my new place by school, but I'll still come back by Maudslay and the refuge to see my family. We can find a time to meet I am sure.
You are a year younger than my youngest son. He recently completed a PhD program. It was very hard and very worthwhile. I wish you well in your becoming an attorney. The building of a new professional identity is an awesome task and a beautiful one. 🌱
Thank you, Baird, and congratulations to your son! A PhD program is a big challenge, but one of growth and excitement. At any point in life, we all have the option to go in new directions and remake ourselves.
Best of luck James! You've proven again and again that you can accomplish anything you put your mind to.
Thank you very much, Sandra. I appreciate your support.
Good advice for anyone doing anything. Thanks for that.
Thank you for reading!
"I’m where I’m supposed to be, when I’m supposed to be here."
Exactly so, James. And you have arrived in this new chapter of your life with exactly everything you needed to bring to this moment in your story.
Thank you, Ann. Everything up to now has led me here, and the same thing will be true of coming moments in my life.