Expert: William Payne - 6/1/2007

Question
Hi, I am a recent graduate of The Citadel, and am trying to decide between going to law school, which is something I have always wanted to do, or going into law enforcement, which is something I have always wanted to do, and which one I should do first.  I want to make clear that I do not necessarily want to become a lawyer in private practice, I would like a career in law enforcement... but getting a JD I think would be a tremendous help to me if I decide to go into federal law enforcement work.  My question is this...is it a good idea to get a job as a Sheriff's Deputy, while at the same time going to law school part-time, or should I just go to law school first, then go into law enforcement?  As of now, I am applying for positions with two south carolina counties, and am planning to work there 3 or 4 years, then transfer to a location near a law school, where I would be able to work while in school.  Is this a good/bad idea and would I be better off going to law school first??  THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!

Answer
Justin,

Thanks for the question.

It will be difficult at best to get a law degree while trying to work as a full-time police officer (Deputy Sheriff). It can be done, but will be very hard.

If you choose to become a Deputy Sheriff first, you might have to contend with rotating shifts or getting the time off to attend classes. You may not be eligible to attend classes until you have passed your probationary period of employment.

If you are lucky enough to get hired at a Sheriff's Office with a good Sheriff you might be able to pitch a proposal to him/her such as: Let me attend law school while working for you and I will give you a minimum of three-five years of service upon completion of the degree. Upon completion of the degree and passing the Bar Exam, you could assist the Sheriff's Department with trials, court cases, law suits, and etc.

I Completed two Master of Arts Degrees while working full-time and it was not pleasant, but I was able to do it, and a lot of others have been able to as well.

I would probably try and work as a Deputy Sheriff while attending law school. There are a few grants out there that might assist you with some financial resources. The Sheriff's Office also may offer some sort of tuition reimbursement.

The easy way of course would be to attend law school first full-time and then try to get hired with a Federal agency upon completion of your degree.

I hope this helps out.

Good luck and best wishes!