Flying and becoming a lawyer question

[gomntwins]

question for ya'll. I'm tryin' to figure out what to do... I love flying, and I want to make my career as a pilot (I'm currently a full time CFI), but at the same time, I'd really like to go to law school, mostly for a personal goal (I would like to practice law, but not as my sole income). My fear is not being able to maintain a flying job and go to school at the same time. Does anybody have any feasible options for me? Wait until I'm 61 would be one option I know... but I don't really like that option. Any ideas? Thanks!

 

[LostComm]

The first year of law school is the worst, and flying may be a VERY part time activity then. Subsequent years shouldn't be a problem CFIing. It might also be worthwhile to take some elective classes in aviation law and perhaps even clerk with the FAA (yes they have attorneys) to learn the process of adjudication in violation cases concerning pilots.

LC

 

[SteveC]

There's a guy from Grand Rapids that's an attorney, specializes in aviation related issues I believe, and is an active pilot as well as doing some writing for aviation periodicals. Rick Durden is his name. You might try contacting him and see what advice he offers. Maybe see if he wants to hang out at JC as well....

Here's his bio from his column on AvWeb:
[ QUOTE ]
Rick Durden is a practicing aviation attorney who holds an ATP Certificate, with a type rating in the Cessna Citation, and Commercial privileges for gliders, free balloons and single-engine seaplanes. He is also an instrument and multi-engine flight instructor. Rick started flying when he was fifteen and became a flight instructor during his freshman year of college. He did a little of everything in aviation to help pay for college and law school including flight instruction, aerial application, and hauling freight.

In the process of trying to fly every old and interesting airplane he could, Rick has accumulated over 6,000 hours of flying time. In his law practice Rick regularly represents pilots, fixed base operators, overhaulers, and manufacturers. Prior to starting his private practice, he was an attorney for Cessna in Wichita for seven years. He is also a regular contributor to Aviation Consumer and AOPA Pilot.

The rest of Rick's columns are available in The Pilot's Lounge.

[/ QUOTE ]

I've heard him speak a couple of times at local functions, but never really met him one-on-one.

Here's a link: "The Pilot's Lounge" Index

 

[sopdan]

Durden is definitely a good guy. He used to teach the aviation law class at WMU, and had many interesting stories to tell about certain cases. I would second Steve C's suggestion of contacting him.

 

[Soonermurph]

Law is hard to go into without making it your life. I know because I practiced law for nine years before leaving everything to fly. If you like spending weekends at the office, going over depositions or drafting pleadings, then law is for you. Oh yeah, if you litigate, you will get a heathy dose of stress to go along with it. I would rather play with airplanes. Fortunately I made it to the regionals while I am still young enough to make a career out of it. It took two and a half years and a lot of sweat and blood to get here but I have never regretted the change. Just my 2 cents.

 

[scoobs]

Congrats on Mesaba.

 

[Minnesota_Flyer]

First, my standard reply to anyone thinking about law school:

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Second, it would be very difficult to flight instruct during the first year of law school. Until you get your feet under you, you will want to give 100% focus to learning the law. During the second year, your free time will depend a lot on what you want to accomplish in law school and after. By they you'll have a handle on the course work, but journals, moot court, finding a summer clerkship, and other extra-curriculars suck up a lot of time. The third year is, by and large, a piece of cake. The coursework is now old-hat, there are less law-realted extra-curriculars, and many people already have a job in hand. I would think that it would be pretty easy to instruct on the side during your third year (if you didn't want to have some law-related part-time job), and maybe even in your second year (if you didn't do the journal/moot court thing -- although some schools require it).

I found this mantra to be very accurate: the first year they scare you to death; the second year they work you to death; and the third year they bore you to death.

Actually practicing law and flight instructing on the side: this would depend entirely on what kind of law you did. Working in a law firm setting, you almost certainly would not be able to accomplish this (at least not until you become a partner or a more senior associate and can push work down to lower-level peons). As someone else said, law firm practice involves too many unplanned weekends and evenings in the office. You would not be able to keep a regular schedule with your students. In other areas (gov't, non-legal jobs, etc.), you might be able to swing it (although my only experience is in a law firm, so I can't say for sure).

I know of a few lawyers in the Cities who also are pilots for NWA. I do not know whether they were lawyers first or pilots first, or how they got to where they are.

Hope this helps.

MF