How old was the oldest person to graduate from law school?

Asked by: Alvina Marks MD  |  Last update: November 2, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (41 votes)

John VanBuskirk was the oldest law school graduate in 2018, completing his degree at the University of North Texas Dallas College of Law at the age of 71.

What is the oldest person to graduate law school?

While only a small percentage of law students are above the age of 40, there have been several successful older graduates. In fact, Alice Thomas graduated from the University of Pacific McGeorge School of Law at 79 years old, proving age is truly just a number when it comes to law school!

What is the oldest age to go to law school?

It's never too late in life to apply to law school. Although most applicants are under 25, about 1 in 5 are 30 or older and a much smaller proportion are over 40.

Is 33 too old for law school?

You are never too old to go to law school!

Who is the oldest Harvard law graduate?

Walter Seward '24 ('27), Harvard's Oldest Living Graduate. Some honors take longer to attain than others. More than 75 years after graduating from law school, 108-year-old Walter Seward '24 ('27) has earned distinction as Harvard's oldest living graduate. Born in Toledo, Ohio, on Oct.

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15 related questions found

What degree did Obama get at Harvard Law School?

In the summer of 1990 he worked at Hopkins & Sutter. Also during his law school years, Obama spent eight days in Los Angeles taking a national training course on Alinsky methods of organizing. He graduated with a J.D. magna cum laude from Harvard in 1991 and returned to Chicago.

How old are most lawyers?

The legal profession skews older than most occupations in the U.S., according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median age for lawyers was 46 years old in 2023, which means half were younger and half older.

At what age do lawyers retire?

In some ways, retirement for lawyers is similar to retirement in any other profession — it's an end to your working life to enjoy leisure time. This usually comes later in life — around 65 or so — and may be because of desire or health reasons. But for lawyers, there's some extra work involved to retire.

What type of lawyer makes the most money?

Patent Attorney Salary

Patent attorneys are the highest-paid type of lawyers, with an average salary of $185,351, ranging from $119,88 to $285,530. Various factors contribute to a patent attorney's average salary, including experience, firm, location, and subject matter expertise.

How hard is the LSAT?

This process is not only time-consuming but can be very expensive as well. So yes, the LSAT is hard, and it is designed that way. It's not so much a test that requires a student to remember random facts, but instead, it is a test that showcases a student's thought process.

How hard is the bar exam?

The bar exam is hard. In fact, it may be one of the most difficult challenges you ever embark on. You must memorize numerous laws and consume a lot of knowledge to answer questions correctly. For many, it feels like trying to hold sand in your hands, knowing that you'll inevitably lose much of it.

Is it worth going to law school in your 50s?

At the age of 50, your life experience and maturity can be valuable assets in your legal education. Draw from your real-world experience and apply it to legal concepts and case studies.

What is a good LSAT score?

According to U.S. News, law school admissions experts recommend striving for at least a 150; however, for a top-ranking law school, you should aim for a 160 or better. For a Top 10 law school, a 170 or more is desired. Of course, this all depends on which schools you are applying to.

Can I become a lawyer at 40?

If you are asking whether the rules allow one to enter the legal profession at age 40, the answer is yes. However, I see where Frank is coming from but I think it is a little one-sided in my opinion. If you are looking solely from a financial standpoint, being a lawyer does not make sense.

How long is Harvard law school?

The J.D. (Juris Doctor) at Harvard Law School is a three-year, full-time, in-person rigorous program of study that first gives students the intellectual foundations for legal study and practice, and then gives students the opportunity to focus their studies on areas of particular interest through advanced classes, ...

Who is the youngest woman to graduate law school?

Haley Taylor Schlitz graduated from the SMU Dedman School of Law at 19 years old. That's only one of many things you should know about her.

Can lawyers make 300k a year?

Well, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for attorneys in the US is just over $125,000. The highest-paid lawyers (10% of the legal workforce) make over $208,000 However, the top 1% of attorneys make $500,000 or more per year.

What field of law is most in demand?

Which Legal Fields Are in Demand?
  • Intellectual property law. ...
  • Family law. ...
  • Immigration & naturalization law. ...
  • Real estate law. ...
  • Contract management. ...
  • Compliance. ...
  • Labor and employment. ...
  • Corporate transactions. Also known as mergers and acquisitions, or M&A, this work navigates the buying and selling of companies and their assets.

What is the highest paying job in the world?

Topping the list, being a CEO gets you the highest paying job in the world, no matter where you work. A CEO is the highest-ranked position in any organisation's structure. Irrespective of the company's size, a CEO handles all its day-to-day corporate affairs, manages resources and handles all managerial processes.

How old is the average new lawyer?

As more lawyers delay retirement until their 70s, baby boomers continue to represent a significant portion of the senior partnership at many major law firms. At the same time, the average age of law school graduates is 27, meaning that many junior associates today are millennials or members of Generation Z.

Do lawyers get retirement money?

They will retire with a pension and some savings, and will likely have a retirement similar to any other government worker.

What age do doctors retire?

In this analysis, we delve into a comparative review of the retirement age for various physician specialties. A 2016 survey by the American Medical Association (AMA) reports that the average retirement age for doctors in the United States is roughly around 66 years.

What state has the least lawyers?

The states with the least number of lawyers are:
  • Wyoming (1,673)
  • North Dakota (1,694)
  • South Dakota (2,027)
  • Vermont (2,198)
  • Alaska (2,268)

What is the average age to pass the bar?

Its demographics show the average age of attorneys admitted to the state bar was 31 in 2022.