Making a Mid-Life Career Transition to Law | Portia Koptish (Medical Malpractice Trial Lawyer)

You don't have to fit the norm of what people expect a law student to be.Portia Koptish had a long career in nursing before deciding, after the turmoil of Covid-19, to transition to a completely new career in law. She went back to school for the first time in 25 years, but with decades of life experience behind her.She is here today to share this unique perspective on law education and the legal profession, an inspiring story that reminds us that, for all intents and purposes, it's never too late to pursue a career in law. You can be a lawyer when you're seventy-five, and on your second or third "career." Imagine the breadth of skills and experience that someone so well-rounded brings to the table.This speaks to the underlying message of Portia's story: transitioning careers can lead to fulfilling opportunities. And taking time off before law school can provide valuable life experiences. Portia, Sharif and special co-host Nathan Hittle each share stories of lessons learned about careers and life, from pursuing interests, to surprising twists and turns, a few regrets along the way, yet gaining valuable understanding on how to make the best decisions for you, in the moment."Go do something else, have fun, get life experiences in all kinds of ways. You will be so much further ahead when it comes time to start law school." - Portia KoptishIn this episode, we discuss:◼️ Why taking time off before law school can be beneficial.◼️ How law school can be less challenging than parenting!◼️ That personal experiences can enhance understanding and effectiveness as a lawyer.◼️ How law school teaches you to think critically and understand multiple perspectives.◼️ Why the process of learning is often more valuable than the final product.◼️ That finding joy in the legal profession can lead to a fulfilling career.Chapters00:00 The Long Journey to Law School09:55 Experiences During COVID as a Nurse19:48 Navigating Law School and Career Aspirations27:12 The Value of Taking Time Off Before Law School33:39 The Evolution of Legal Thinking39:32 Effective Study Strategies for Law Students45:16 Building Relationships and Networking in Law School49:01 Balancing Life and Law School Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers Available on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and at RVATrialLawyers.com Based out of Richmond, Virginia, Courtroom Stories & Tactics by RVA Trial Lawyers exists for lawyers who try cases to juries on behalf of people. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers.If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us.Thank you!Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki