4 answers
Carson
Student
Herrin, Illinois
2
Questions
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Is this feasible?
My career plan is to go to police academy, become a state trooper, then if I get enough funds, go to U of I law school. Is this a feasible career path?
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4 answers
Dr H
Dr. H's Research
1334
Answers
Australia
Updated
Dr’s Answer
Carson, hey again!
Well, This plan? Absolute gold man! You’re setting yourself up for success in a way that’s smart, strategic, and honestly kinda badass.
Becoming a state trooper first? Solid move. You get real-world experience, a steady paycheck, and a career that actually helps with law school. Plus, if you play your cards right, you might even get tuition assistance. That’s right—some departments will help cover your education costs if you’re pursuing a degree that benefits the job. And let’s be real, law school ain’t cheap, so that’s a major win.
On top of that, working in law enforcement first will give you a huge advantage if you go into criminal or civil law. You’ll have first-hand experience with the justice system—actual, real-life knowledge that most lawyers don’t get until they’re deep into their careers. When you walk into a courtroom, you won’t just be some fresh law school grad who read about traffic stops and criminal investigations in a textbook—you’ll have actually been there, done that. That gives you a serious edge.
One thing to consider, though—law school is no joke. It’s intense, expensive, and a full-time grind. So before you commit, talk to some cops who transitioned into law and see what they have to say. Maybe shadow a lawyer, sit in on some court cases, or even take some basic legal courses while you’re working as a trooper to make sure this is what you really want.
But honestly? This plan is more than just feasible—it’s straight-up brilliant. You’re thinking long-term, setting up multiple career options, and making sure you have financial stability before diving into law school. That’s some next-level planning right there.
So yeah, buddy—go for it. You’ve got the vision, now just take it one step at a time and make it happen. Wishing you all the best, and when you’re a badass lawyer who used to be a trooper, just remember this conversation and send me a virtual high-five. You got this!
Well, This plan? Absolute gold man! You’re setting yourself up for success in a way that’s smart, strategic, and honestly kinda badass.
Becoming a state trooper first? Solid move. You get real-world experience, a steady paycheck, and a career that actually helps with law school. Plus, if you play your cards right, you might even get tuition assistance. That’s right—some departments will help cover your education costs if you’re pursuing a degree that benefits the job. And let’s be real, law school ain’t cheap, so that’s a major win.
On top of that, working in law enforcement first will give you a huge advantage if you go into criminal or civil law. You’ll have first-hand experience with the justice system—actual, real-life knowledge that most lawyers don’t get until they’re deep into their careers. When you walk into a courtroom, you won’t just be some fresh law school grad who read about traffic stops and criminal investigations in a textbook—you’ll have actually been there, done that. That gives you a serious edge.
One thing to consider, though—law school is no joke. It’s intense, expensive, and a full-time grind. So before you commit, talk to some cops who transitioned into law and see what they have to say. Maybe shadow a lawyer, sit in on some court cases, or even take some basic legal courses while you’re working as a trooper to make sure this is what you really want.
But honestly? This plan is more than just feasible—it’s straight-up brilliant. You’re thinking long-term, setting up multiple career options, and making sure you have financial stability before diving into law school. That’s some next-level planning right there.
So yeah, buddy—go for it. You’ve got the vision, now just take it one step at a time and make it happen. Wishing you all the best, and when you’re a badass lawyer who used to be a trooper, just remember this conversation and send me a virtual high-five. You got this!
Kim Igleheart
Career Counselor | Police Officer
1773
Answers
San Antonio, Texas
Updated
Kim’s Answer
Carson,
Glad to see you like the idea! Now, instead of "IF" I get enough funds, it is "WHEN" I get enough funds. Think positive!
Is it feasible? Absolutely. But, you must keep your eye on the prize. Raising a family derails many plans. And, you need to define your terms. What does "Enough funds" mean? It's highly unlikely you will be able to pay cash 100% for law school. It's pricey. How much are you willing to go in debt? Define a % you want to pay in cash, perhaps 50%? Keep it realistic, and attainable. Then live a meager life - no fancy car - and sock away that money.
Kim
Glad to see you like the idea! Now, instead of "IF" I get enough funds, it is "WHEN" I get enough funds. Think positive!
Is it feasible? Absolutely. But, you must keep your eye on the prize. Raising a family derails many plans. And, you need to define your terms. What does "Enough funds" mean? It's highly unlikely you will be able to pay cash 100% for law school. It's pricey. How much are you willing to go in debt? Define a % you want to pay in cash, perhaps 50%? Keep it realistic, and attainable. Then live a meager life - no fancy car - and sock away that money.
Kim
Thank you!
Carson
Amber Lee
Tax Associate
49
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Amber’s Answer
Hi Carson,
As other people have already pointed out, having some real-world experience prior to law school would be beneficial. Whether this particular path is feasible would depend entirely on your circumstances. Will you have saved up enough to pay for law school plus all other daily expenses (e.g., rent, groceries, etc.)? As law school classes are extremely grueling, can you afford to not do any full-time work while you're a law student? Keep in mind that JD in the US is traditionally offered as a 3-year program (some schools offer part-time JD), and a bachelor's degree is also a prerequisite to applying to law school. All in all, you're looking at potentially devoting yourself to 7 years of college.
I understand your plan is to attend police academy, but I'm not aware of any law schools in the US that accept students without a bachelor's degree. Thus, I would encourage you to think about completing a bachelor's degree at some point if your ultimate goal is to go to law school. You will need to take classes that help you perform well in the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test), which is what Uni of Illinois requires as part of their application process. Some law schools offer generous scholarships to folks who perform well in their undergrad and in the LSAT, so I would also encourage you to look into other law schools when the time comes for you to start applying.
Law school is expensive. I'm pretty sure I paid a few thousand dollars just for the reading materials when I was a law student (I mostly only purchased used books), and I've also had to buy work clothes for all the job interviews and unpaid internships I've had over the years. I was privileged enough to not have to go into debt to pay for tuition, and I also received some scholarship from the school. So my advice to you is to do well in school, study for the LSAT, and try to get into a school that will help fund your legal education (even if partially).
Wishing you the best of luck!
As other people have already pointed out, having some real-world experience prior to law school would be beneficial. Whether this particular path is feasible would depend entirely on your circumstances. Will you have saved up enough to pay for law school plus all other daily expenses (e.g., rent, groceries, etc.)? As law school classes are extremely grueling, can you afford to not do any full-time work while you're a law student? Keep in mind that JD in the US is traditionally offered as a 3-year program (some schools offer part-time JD), and a bachelor's degree is also a prerequisite to applying to law school. All in all, you're looking at potentially devoting yourself to 7 years of college.
I understand your plan is to attend police academy, but I'm not aware of any law schools in the US that accept students without a bachelor's degree. Thus, I would encourage you to think about completing a bachelor's degree at some point if your ultimate goal is to go to law school. You will need to take classes that help you perform well in the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test), which is what Uni of Illinois requires as part of their application process. Some law schools offer generous scholarships to folks who perform well in their undergrad and in the LSAT, so I would also encourage you to look into other law schools when the time comes for you to start applying.
Law school is expensive. I'm pretty sure I paid a few thousand dollars just for the reading materials when I was a law student (I mostly only purchased used books), and I've also had to buy work clothes for all the job interviews and unpaid internships I've had over the years. I was privileged enough to not have to go into debt to pay for tuition, and I also received some scholarship from the school. So my advice to you is to do well in school, study for the LSAT, and try to get into a school that will help fund your legal education (even if partially).
Wishing you the best of luck!
James Hammond
Criminal Investigator at Dallas County District Attorney's Office
36
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
James’s Answer
Your plan sounds great. While you are a student you might consider checking with your local law enforcement agencies to see if they have a Law Enforcement Explorer program.