> I wish I had practiced law for the past 7ish years instead, because at least all of my skills would still be relevant.
I get the sentiment. I really do. I have been both a programmer and a lawyer. I was a programmer for about 5 years in the late 90s/early 00s. Then I was a lawyer for more than 10 years.
Being a lawyer is not better than being a programmer. For the overwhelming vast majority of lawyers, you either make a lot of money killing yourself with lack of sleep and high stress and wasting your life doing the same shit over and over again, or you make a loooooooooot of money doing that same thing but making a bunch of assholes even more money in the process, or you make very little money but not proportionally less hassle/stress/life-wastage. Yes, your skills do retain relevancy for quite a long time though. There is that. But so what? Still gotta do shit-tons of CLEs every year. Still gotta keep up with the laws and chase clients (unless you're the super rare rainmaker or are okay stagnating).
After I got tired of being a lawyer, I went to be an experimental scientist. This has been nice, but it's not for everyone, of course.
I was going to continue on to a PhD, though my circumstances have changed enough that I am no longer sure if I can do that, as much as I want to do that. I have been thinking long and hard about what to do lately. Having had experience as both a lawyer and a programmer, I tend to lean towards going back to being a programmer.
My only real point though, is, the grass is always greener. :)
In the end, I really do sympathize. I'm not trying to be critical at all.
I have a friend who is a lawyer. 10+ Years experience in corporate litigation, works long hours, and pulls down less than half of a software dev salary of equivalent experience. And most of the job is rote memorization plus dealing with clients. And every minute of her day must be accounted for.
I don't know many lawyers making anywhere close to what I make as a software engineer.
Software development isn't perfect, but the compensation, hours, freedom, time off, potential upside, even stupid stuff like being able to wear normal clothes or get flights paid for if you want to go to a conference. It's a pretty sweet gig.
I get the sentiment. I really do. I have been both a programmer and a lawyer. I was a programmer for about 5 years in the late 90s/early 00s. Then I was a lawyer for more than 10 years.
Being a lawyer is not better than being a programmer. For the overwhelming vast majority of lawyers, you either make a lot of money killing yourself with lack of sleep and high stress and wasting your life doing the same shit over and over again, or you make a loooooooooot of money doing that same thing but making a bunch of assholes even more money in the process, or you make very little money but not proportionally less hassle/stress/life-wastage. Yes, your skills do retain relevancy for quite a long time though. There is that. But so what? Still gotta do shit-tons of CLEs every year. Still gotta keep up with the laws and chase clients (unless you're the super rare rainmaker or are okay stagnating).
After I got tired of being a lawyer, I went to be an experimental scientist. This has been nice, but it's not for everyone, of course.
I was going to continue on to a PhD, though my circumstances have changed enough that I am no longer sure if I can do that, as much as I want to do that. I have been thinking long and hard about what to do lately. Having had experience as both a lawyer and a programmer, I tend to lean towards going back to being a programmer.
My only real point though, is, the grass is always greener. :)
In the end, I really do sympathize. I'm not trying to be critical at all.