How to Become a Lawyer Later in Life | The Effective Lawyer Legal Podcast

Join Zinda Law Group CEO and lead trial lawyer, Jack Zinda, as he speaks with one of the firm’s senior trial attorneys, Jason Aldridge, about what it’s like to start law school and a legal career later in life. For attorneys who start law school in their 30s and 40s, it can be challenging, overwhelming, and even a little intimidating. Jason, one of the top trial attorneys in Texas, walks Jack through the process of applying to and attending law school later in life after having worked in many other fields. Jason also offers valuable tips for mid-career professionals who want to take the plunge into law and excel in a law firm environment.

Discussed in this Episode:

Life before law school
Why people with diverse life experiences make the best trial lawyers
What it takes to be a good trial lawyer
Making the most of free time
Finding a job after law school
Listening and having empathy
Accelerating growth
Identifying goals and achieving them

Life Before Law School

Jason served in the army after high school under the notion that it would lead to medical school. Once Jason left the army, he became a golf professional and then worked at a financial firm. Jason also waited tables and worked as a bartender. Eventually, he landed in Vegas and worked in the casino industry as a pit boss. After a while, he began to consider law school, even though he didn’t have college credits.

“I planned my degree like you can’t imagine. I took 30 credits in one semester because you can stack three, four, and five-week courses.”
Jason originally planned to be a prosecutor, but the application process took a very long time.

After law school graduation, he landed at Zinda Law Group and never looked back.

Why People with Diverse Life Experiences Make the Best Trial Lawyers

“I think every job is sales to some extent,” Jason said. “If you’ve ever waited tables and you’ve got to try to make five people happy…if you’ve ever done that, then you learn how to listen.”

At the heart of every trial lawyer’s career is the art of connecting with people. Jason also had supervisory experience as a pit boss working with diverse groups of people, which helped him relate to clients as a trial lawyer. His work in Las Vegas somewhat resembled his responsibilities as a trial lawyer today.

“You have to make sure you don’t make mistakes because those are very expensive. You have to make sure that you take care of the player within the limits of the rules."

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