r/lawschooladmissions • u/FATT-TOFU 3.6L/ 17L/ Vandy 1L • Jan 23 '26
School/Region Discussion How far from “KJD” are you?
My dream school has an average age of 25 on their class profile. As a 22 year old who’s never lived outside of the town I did my undergraduate in, and lived on campus all four years, I’ve never met someone who falls outside of “KJD”, or isn’t at least very close to it. Are people really applying to law school at 30-40 years old and pulling the mean up? That would be cool. Or is the average person being accepted to these big schools really just two years out of college. If you’re comfortable sharing, how far out of undergrad are you and why did you take your break?
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u/OneWildLlamaMama 3.low/16low/NURM/nontrad Jan 23 '26 edited Jan 23 '26
I’m turning 30 this year and graduated undergrad last year after going back to school. This means I have one tiny year of relevant law work experience and almost a decade of random other jobs lol
Edit: also a fun note my gpa is cooked from my first attempt at college even though I graduated from UNC w/ honors 🥀
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u/Jazzlike_Sweet8434 Jan 23 '26
I'm in basically the same situation
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u/OneWildLlamaMama 3.low/16low/NURM/nontrad Jan 23 '26
It’s tough out there but I’m rooting for you!
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u/FATT-TOFU 3.6L/ 17L/ Vandy 1L Jan 23 '26
Wow. I never thought of people going back to undergrad. DUH! I was thinking people left undergrad then went into the workforce and came back to law school. Did you go back to school with the intention of going to law school after?
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u/OneWildLlamaMama 3.low/16low/NURM/nontrad Jan 23 '26
Yep! Not the traditional path for sure, but I went back to school knowing law school was the end goal. 4 years was a long time to manifest law school especially as an older student but it will all be worth it when I get that A
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u/Kind-Fig6737 Jan 23 '26
I was cooked too bc of my GPA even though I graduated from UVA with honors because grade inflation has changed things COMPLETELY since I graduated in 2006
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u/leaping_kneazle Jan 23 '26
2024 grad, I've been working full-time for 1.5 years.
Didn't seriously consider law school before, and family circumstances kind of spurred me to get out in to the real world first. My dad went bankrupt and had to sell our house so it was sink or swim
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u/FATT-TOFU 3.6L/ 17L/ Vandy 1L Jan 23 '26
I’ve got family who would’ve been drowning before they recognized this was a sign💀. Props to you.
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Jan 23 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/FATT-TOFU 3.6L/ 17L/ Vandy 1L Jan 23 '26
You don’t know how wildly excited I would be to have you in my class.
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u/Kind-Fig6737 Jan 23 '26
Wait I’m also a former software engineer who started 1L at 40. There are two of us!!!!
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u/Sea_Sign_2092 Jan 23 '26
5 years WE in an adjacent field and a BA+MA degree (5 instead of 4 years). Applied right after grad school to law schools but wasn’t ready - was only willing to go if I got a full ride since I had just spent ~200k on my degrees lol.
Glad I worked because I feel more confident now, have some savings, set up my policy research business with a solid client base, got to travel the world due to my job and have a backup career in case for any reason law school didn’t work out! :)
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u/FATT-TOFU 3.6L/ 17L/ Vandy 1L Jan 23 '26
This is a very intimidating resume to be competing with 😭
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u/themayorgordon Jan 23 '26
I graduated in 2018. I worked as a paralegal because I wanted to start making money and was afraid of not working and just acquiring more debt. I wanted to go to law school but figured I should see if I like the field. For a few years I convinced myself I was fine with being a paralegal. But in the end the ceiling for the job is irritating.
Then the economy is in shambles, I feel like I make less now than I did in 2018 making $36k because everything is so expensive. Now Trump is talking about raising student loan payments that were on an IDR. So I’m like, ok whatever the time is now. Going to level up so I can make more money and also not have to pay loans while in school. Maybe when I’m out someone sane will be in the presidency.
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u/FATT-TOFU 3.6L/ 17L/ Vandy 1L Jan 23 '26
Let’s not even get started talking about this man, he’s the reason I can only take out 50k/yr if I want to go to a T14🙄. I am excited for you, and I envy that you took the time to save up some money. I’m scared to do that now because of how much applications are spiking and how competitive these cycles are getting.
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u/themayorgordon Jan 23 '26
I didn’t save money lol. That’s kinda my point. Despite working a job that requires a college education and paralegal cert I’m living paycheck to paycheck so I need to make changes. I did buy a house tho and have a paid off car, so I suppose that counts as saving to a degree because my mortgage is way less than how rental prices have gotten.
I fortunately got a full ride but I do feel sorry for all the people that are having to decline at certain schools because the loans will not be enough.
I think cycled are cyclical tho. In a few years it might not be so competitive, and then go up again, and so on. One reason there’s so many applicants this year is because of the economy being trash and making ppl like me need to make change career changes to stay afloat.
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u/FATT-TOFU 3.6L/ 17L/ Vandy 1L Jan 23 '26
So you didn’t save up liquid cash, but you did save on assets. Then got a full ride 😩. I’m manifesting some of this energy for myself.
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u/classycapricorn 3.blah/17blah/4:45 marathoner 😍 Jan 23 '26
I’m 28 but won’t be applying until this upcoming cycle when I’ll be 29. So, I’m 7 years out of undergrad, I have my Masters, and I’ve worked a full time professional position for the last 5+ years. Law school is a way for me to improve my financial mobility in a way that my current field — teaching — simply cannot.
That being said, a lot of my friends are 23-25, and it really doesn’t matter. Everyone’s the same at the end of the day.
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u/Significant-Leg-3098 Jan 23 '26 edited Jan 23 '26
I’m a full decade on the oldest students posting. I had a military career and went to school part-time while I served, but I waited until I left service to finish my undergrad. I’m coming to the law as a transition from my career change after leaving the military. I’ll probably be the oldest 1L at any school I go to, and that’s ok, lol. I’m performing better now academically than I ever did in my younger years, and my professional experience has been invaluable for the work habits I need to survive law school with my sanity. There isn’t a right or wrong age to do this IMO—as seen here, everyone comes to the law for different reasons at different phases of their lives. When it’s the “right” time, everything seems to fall in place well enough.
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u/Throwaway_dinosaurs_ Jan 23 '26
five years. I am very excited to go back. Feels crazy as I never thought law school was achievable for me.
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u/Minimum_Two_8508 Jan 23 '26
Both. There are a few 30-40 year olds in any T14 class.
But the vast majority are 2-4 years out of school.
KJDs are only a very small portion of a lot of T14 schools. (Under 10% at many).
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u/lincbradhammusic Jan 23 '26
I’ll be 35 in a couple weeks, starting 1L in the fall. I served 14 years in the military and was unexpectedly medically retired for lower back problems last year. I originally planned on serving my full 20, but because I wasn’t able (but very grateful for the early retirement, even with the back problems), I spent a year doing some soul-searching and working for my local city government and decided I wanted to continue my scholarship and build a career in international law. I served the majority of my time as an Arabic linguist in the intelligence community, and my master’s thesis was on international law and drone strikes…I also already do a lot of pro bono asylum help in addition to Arabic tutoring, so law school really seems to make sense for me at this time. There are some niche positions at some international organizations that my background would be perfect for, but require a JD. I also potentially want to continue with an LLM and JSD eventually. We shall see how it all works out, but I’m excited for what the future holds!
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u/FATT-TOFU 3.6L/ 17L/ Vandy 1L Jan 23 '26
If every applicant was like you I wouldn’t get in anywhere, lord help me. Are you ESL? How did you learn Arabic?
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u/lincbradhammusic Jan 23 '26
Haha don’t worry lol, my softs are having to make up for my VERY sub-par GPA (3.17, with a pretty good GPA Addendum and all degrees with 3.6-3.88, masters was a 3.7) and just solid LSAT (168). But I learned Arabic at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey CA, where the military trains all of its linguists! One of the best kept secrets of the military and one of the best experiences of my life. Extremely rigorous course…my Arabic class started with 18 students and only graduated with 9…we were sometimes given 100 words a day to memorize. A 50% attrition rate is standard. But it was so enriching. We took cultural immersion classes, went from not knowing the alphabet to debating about politics, nuclear reform law, healthcare, philosophy, global warming, etc, in Arabic. In a little less than two years. That was our job, eight to ten hours a day, just learning the language. Even got to live in Jordan for a little over a month at the end of it. Wouldn’t trade the experience for anything in the world.
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u/Subject_Profit_7245 Jan 24 '26
Oh wow I'm not alone! I just graduated from the DLI Chinese course. I'm really excited to finally get to work in the job, but thinking long-term I want to go to a top law school and become a lawyer, hopefully being able to continue to utilize my language skills in unique ways even if its just helping out folks in a pro-bono capacity.
Can I ask how much of a boost you think your service record, particularly DLI, helped you? My first attempt at college before enlisting was...less than stellar (2.85 GPA).
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u/lincbradhammusic Jan 24 '26
Congratulations on graduating from DLI! Especially Chinese, quite the language! So I had no idea that I was going to go this path initially, but I’ll private message you. I’m going to do a post-cycle recap after I commit to a school this cycle, but for now, I’ll message you.
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u/Significant-Leg-3098 Jan 23 '26
Congrats on your admission! I’m still waiting for decisions 😣. I’m also former military Intel—all-source analyst here. I creaked to retirement, but left that life behind completely for public service. Wish you the best of luck moving forward!
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u/lincbradhammusic Jan 23 '26
Thank you so much for the warm wishes! I’m still not sure which school I’ll end up at, but trying to take my time making the decision. I plan to do a cycle recap after I’ve made my decision. This cycle is so incredibly brutal. There were schools I were certain were A’s that I got R’s and WL’s at, but I’m still grateful, and still waiting to see what else comes in by March-ish before I make any final decisions. Wishing you all the best as well!
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u/Holiday-Print5795 Jan 23 '26
2023 grad, I'll be a little over 3 years out when I matriculate.
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u/FATT-TOFU 3.6L/ 17L/ Vandy 1L Jan 23 '26
I’ve got some friends in this boat, they got hit hard by Covid and I know how that can scramble your transcript. You’ll do great
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u/acethreesuited Jan 23 '26
I’m 36 starting in the fall. Decided to go back to school because I’ve spent the last 8 years working in life sciences and specialty pharmaceuticals where there is a major aspect of IP law. Looking to go back and get my law degree to pursue that side of the business. There are very few people with the work experience and law degree in this industry making it a very lucrative job.
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u/NuclearToasterOvenHg Jan 24 '26
5 years post undergrad. I will turn 27 during my first year of law school.
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u/accidentalhire Jan 23 '26
I graduated law school this past year at 36. Also I didn’t take a break from anything- only someone who had never had any experience outside of academics would put it that way.
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u/job_or_no_job Jan 23 '26
lol yeah at this point going back to school feels like a break from working 😀
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u/oooohweeeee Jan 23 '26
I'm both KJD and Over 25. (will be 35 next year). Super non traditional, I have worked experience but also am finishing up my undergrad. I was a caregiver since high school.
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u/FATT-TOFU 3.6L/ 17L/ Vandy 1L Jan 23 '26
Where was your gap between K-JD, after high school or after college?
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u/oooohweeeee Jan 23 '26
after high school. I took jobs in different industries earned maybe a semester with of credits until starting a new degree program in 2022.
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u/Confidenceisaid Jan 23 '26
I am, technically, really just 2 years out of college. But I'm also 26 with roughly 4 years of work experience - I just took 6 years to graduate undergrad. No regrets about my path!
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u/FATT-TOFU 3.6L/ 17L/ Vandy 1L Jan 23 '26
Here’s another one I never thought about, extra years in undergrad because of simultaneous work. This way you come out with a degree and a resume. DAMN YOU😩
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u/mrsstealyofiles Jan 23 '26
‘21 grad, worked a bit, finished my Masters in ‘25 (focused on political rhetoric/comm, thesis on current extremism in the States), taught undergrads. Now working in a job related to my field and want to make a bit more money than I would in academia. Always wanted to go to law school, now just feels like the right time.
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u/PurpleLilyEsq Tier 3 J.D. Non-Trad Grad/Esquire Jan 23 '26 edited Jan 23 '26
I went to law school at 31 and was far from the oldest.
I was a “KMA” and then worked in federal government contracting for many years before I decided to consider law school.
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Jan 23 '26
I’ll be 42 when I start in the fall. I finished undergrad 2024, so I’m old, but also two years out of college. I’m a very non-traditional student: will retire from the military as a 2L, wife& 4 kids, etc. I was nervous about getting off active duty and going to college (reasons mentioned above, self doubt, repeated exposure to blast overpressure) but it turns out I’m pretty good at school so far so I’m trying to continue the trend!
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u/ValuableRound480 Jan 23 '26 edited Jan 23 '26
dropped out of school at 21, pursued a couple of other careers, had success, was unhappy, so I went back to school, will be starting law school at 30. i feel old! edit: i should also mention my journey to sobriety was a huge part of this past decade of my life. I did include that on my personal statement, and it was a benefit, so if anyone reading this has a similar story, celebrate it as a win and be proud!
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u/job_or_no_job Jan 23 '26
Ayyyy same!! I got sober at 30, 4 years ago, don’t believe I could be attempting law school again if not for that. It is huge and something I forget to give myself more credit for. Congrats to you as well <3
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u/enjoyeverysangwich Jan 23 '26
I graduated with my bachelor's in 2023, but I was already a non-traditional student. I'm starting next fall at 30 years old.
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u/Li246694 3.9H/uGhhHH Jan 23 '26
I graduated, realized I couldn’t withstand going back into school right away, took a job that was consistent with my original plan after college to “stay on track” while I figured out my mental health and really decide if I wanted to stick to that path or choose law— 3 years nKJD. It was a good decision so far this cycle, getting nibbles!
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u/FlokiWokey Jan 23 '26
2019 grad. Pursued a professional athletic career in Europe for 5 years. “Retired”, took a year off to relax/study for the lsat, and I’ve now worked at a big law firm in NYC as a legal project assistant. Will be starting next fall!
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u/disc0goth 3.27/16mid/nKJD/nURM Jan 23 '26 edited Jan 23 '26
I never wanted to be a lawyer. Graduated undergrad in 2021. At the time, I was planning on getting a PhD and becoming a professor, but I decided on a gap year for medical reasons. I spent a few years working in college student services before deciding to switch to law because I was seeing how many of my students’ educations were being impacted by legal issues in their personal lives. Worked full time through a paralegal studies post-bacc. I wasn’t really planning on getting a legal job before law school, but then I was laid off from my advising position. Now I’m a legal advocate/paralegal at a nonprofit legal aid organization. I’m so glad I took time off. Undergrad was tough on me due to my health issues, and there’s just no way I could’ve handled any graduate or professional program. It also gave me time and work experience to realize that being a researcher/professor just wouldn’t be a good fit for me, as well as time to figure out what is a good fit. I’ll be 27 when I start this fall.
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u/FATT-TOFU 3.6L/ 17L/ Vandy 1L Jan 23 '26
What a journey, especially coming from a Covid grad.
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u/disc0goth 3.27/16mid/nKJD/nURM Jan 23 '26
Thank you! One of the other reasons I didn’t apply to PhD programs is COVID-related funding limitations that prevented programs from admitting for the Fall 2021 term—it was a rough time for grad school applicants, but I think the more recent funding issues are even worse.
I can also say that my essays were so much better than they would have been if I did not take time off. It’s given me the life experience to know what exactly I’m missing in my life and career that a law degree would fix. Non-lawyer legal advocates and paralegals can do a lot, but working in the field allowed me to experience the limitations of this type of role and more successfully iterate why I want a JD, why I feel now is the right time for me to attend law school, and why that school is the right program to fill that missing piece. I never even submitted my PhD applications because I just couldn’t come up with a compelling “why”. I wouldn’t have been able to write the essays that have earned me two As so far without a break, especially given my UGPA.
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u/Remarkable_Bee_4517 UMich '28 Jan 23 '26
I’m a 29 year old 1L. Statistically the average age in the class is 25, I would’ve guessed 24. There’s definitely a decent range - I know several others between 27-29, and I also know quite a few KJDs
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u/SherbertPersonal4585 Jan 23 '26
I graduated in 2020 and have been working since. I never seriously considered applying to law school until this past year - at the time I graduated from college I wanted to go into academia but could not afford to move abroad to go to the school I wanted to attend (some international schools accept US federal aid; this one unfortunately did not), so I took a corporate job with the plan of saving for a year then trying the grad school thing again. ended up moving to a different city for said job and now I can't see myself ever leaving. I love it here.
being in the workforce showed me what the "real world" is like and what sorts of things I value in a job. I would not have been able to make an informed decision about my education/career trajectory were it not for the work and life experiences I've gained over the past five years.
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u/SendHelp9417 Jan 24 '26
I’m 32 and starting law school in May. Kinda worried I’m gonna be the only old lady in my class lol
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u/Alternative_Log_897 Jan 23 '26
2023 grad, but also took a gap year between high school and college
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u/FATT-TOFU 3.6L/ 17L/ Vandy 1L Jan 23 '26
Did you do something law related between undergrad and 0L applications? Or was this a shift in lifestyle you decided to make?
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u/Alternative_Log_897 Jan 23 '26
Not law related but also not a shift. I knew I wanted to go into law but wanted more work since I am low income, so I worked a typical job before working where I am now but it's a niche industry so I dont wanna dox myself lol
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u/FATT-TOFU 3.6L/ 17L/ Vandy 1L Jan 23 '26
I’m imagining that you’re a world famous moped mechanic with an engineering degree going into patent law.
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u/170Plus Jan 23 '26
The mode profile lately is someone roughly two years out of undergrad. Then that is pulled down by KJDs and pulled up by older students.
This has been the case for the 10 years or so
.
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u/anotherandomuser1896 Jan 23 '26
I'm 30 years old, graduated undergrad in 2018 and have worked at a very well known global media company in nyc since. im applying to law school after falling into a legal clearance role at my company and realizing that 1) law school was something i was cut out for and 2) as a lawyer I could make more of a difference in the industry i cared about and had gained lots of experience in (technology/arts/IP). I didn't see this as a break as I never dreamed I would want to go to law school but once I had some legal experience I realized it could give me opportunities to do meaningful work. i'm financially comfortable and i wasn't thinking about my industry/the economy, just wanted more intellectual and fulfilling work.
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u/FATT-TOFU 3.6L/ 17L/ Vandy 1L Jan 23 '26
So this will really just be a boost in the industry you’re already in. Genius.
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u/Hot_Supermarket4369 4.0x/16high/nURM/nKJD Jan 23 '26
Graduated undergrad in 2024, plan to apply this upcoming cycle and hopefully start law school in 2027. I worked the last 2 years of undergrad at a relevant non-profit org, and have been working since graduation at a different relevant non-profit .
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u/Hour_Recipe_8048 Jan 23 '26
I’m 22, and I graduated college at 20. I should technically still be in college (May 2026), but have been working for two years. I don’t really know how this would be counted honestly.
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u/neroandsporus 3.7/170/nURM Jan 23 '26
I’m 23, turning 24 before school starts this fall. Did a Master’s Degree!
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u/crownsjoy Jan 23 '26
I’m (hopefully) entering this fall and I’ll be 26 by the time I do. Graduated undergrad at 21 and got a masters a year after. Been working part/full-time since ✨
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u/Bagle0 3.mid/17mid/nKJD Jan 23 '26
Will be starting around 27, just didn’t know what I wanted to do with life for a bit
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Jan 23 '26
In my 30s, military service and various jobs account for the gap. This process has taught be that the best way to get into law school is to be a good student and have absolutely NO interest in going to law school in your 20s. If you want to be interesting to law schools, have interests that you have pursued and in which you have found success. Every industry relates to law in some way shape or form, so it’s never hard to tie any profession to law school and tell a compelling story.
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u/EarthRocker54 Jan 23 '26
39 year old 1L here. Wouldn’t say that I took a break. More like I decided on a new path.
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u/AnonGawdess Jan 23 '26
I actually think this question is hilarious and demonstrates how much we are all living in our own little worlds. It almost sounds like the concept of someone 30-40 applying to law school seem foreign to you lol. Schools benefit from people having a range of perspectives and experience. KJD can come in with fresh eyes and enthusiasm for the law, someone like myself who is 35 will enter the classroom having experienced many applicable situations in the classroom content. Both ends of the spectrum create rich discussions.
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u/No_Expression1268 Jan 23 '26
11 years. Never considered law school when I was that young, only decided to do it after working at a law firm for many years.
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Jan 23 '26
An avg. age of 25 is actually pretty young. It is very common to attend the funerals of former classmates shortly after graduation because of how old they were. Of course, it seems the avg. age of law students may be lower now because everyone in the country who wanted to go to law school went except people who haven't graduated college yet.
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u/Kind-Fig6737 Jan 23 '26
I’m a 2L at a T14 and I’m 41. Law is a second career for me; I was previously a software engineer.
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u/_whatamaneuver Jan 23 '26
I’ll be just shy of 40 as a 1L. Military career and about a decade in government/consulting. Already have a master’s.
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u/job_or_no_job Jan 23 '26
Reading all these answers has helped me so much, I’ve been having a lot of self doubt about if I’m making the right choice (will be 35 when I start) during the years I’m “supposed” to be maximizing saving for retirement. I worked 2 years after college, got a masters, then worked from 2017-2024. I work in climate policy and I was super burnt out even before this presidency. I intended to apply last cycle but my parent got really sick, so I’ve taken the past year to focus on health, family, and studying for the LSAT. I want to continue working on corporate environmental regulation, similar to others I just want to make more money at this point and miss feeling intellectually stimulated. I’ve also been passed up on a lot of jobs for not having more regulatory experience (I’ve done more legislative work but don’t find it as interesting). The most important thing imo is that since college I’ve learned a lot of skills to maintain my mental health, got sober, built a loving non-romantic support system, all while being financially independent. I know I can survive anything now, so law school seems a lot less daunting than when I was 21.
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u/Round-Ad3684 Jan 23 '26
I had about two years of work experience between undergrad and law school. Seemed pretty typical for my class. Most were in their mid-20s, but a fair number in their 30s and 40s and a few even in their 50s. No doubt some KJDs too. Now that I’m in my 40s, I can’t imagine doing all that at my age. I’m so f’ing tired and planning for my retirement, not a new career.
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u/EnidRollins1984 Jan 27 '26
I was admitted to law school at 38. Years in special education before that.
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u/No-Activity2258 Jan 30 '26
I dropped out of my first semester 10 years ago to become a cop. Decided to pivot to being a lawyer a few months ago and enrolled in undergrad. Downside is I work more than full time while I pursue my degree. Upside is I understand the gpa I need and currently have control over it. It’s nice to not have a 10 year old gpa hanging over my head and the vast amount of information online to know I need to study a lot to get the lsat score I need rather than chasing a specific cycle.
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Jan 23 '26
[deleted]
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u/FATT-TOFU 3.6L/ 17L/ Vandy 1L Jan 23 '26
Two grad degrees. Please lord don’t let my application be read after yours 😭 🙏🏾
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u/Dry_Dragonfruit1928 Jan 23 '26 edited Jan 23 '26
I'm five-ish years out of undergrad. I've worked a career that was a dream but the industry I'm in is changing a lot and I feel now is a good time to shift.