Law Enforcement ($) vs Lawyer ($$$) and being Catholic

[j2c99]

Hi everyone! I’ve been very stressed lately as I am winding down my college career and trying to see where I want to, or should, go afterwards. My parents are very positive for me and pushing me toward a professional degree (doctor, lawyer) direction, and have great intentions in mind, but I feel sometimes I want to try some other things out before I settle down for those big money careers. I’m a smart kid, have a high GPA, good leadership skills (been a leader in a fraternal organization on campus, to name one thing), and sort of feel like God has blessed me with the ability to be good at whatever I put my mind to and truly want to accomplish, as well as God blessing me with parents who have helped me tremendously with love and finances through college. My divorced parents are both very loving; dad is a successful criminal lawyer, my mom is struggling at paying the bills and having enough food to eat for her and a new family she started since the divorce when I was young.

Recently ideas of becoming a local officer or federal agent have been popping up again, with intense research involving me reading books about the police life, entrance into agencies like the FBI, reading numerous forums and gaining insight in salaries, job descriptions, and long-term details. I would like to make enough money where I will not struggle, yet I appreciate the comfortable life and enjoy the simple things God can give me and I really want to give back my love to God, and helping/defending others (I thought about becoming a priest for the spiritual defense of the Church too, so I feel being an officer is that same position, but in the physical world sense). I also recently have given my heart to the Lord, after being a moderate Jew/agnostic my whole life.

Are there any police officers or other LE that are Catholic and have advice for this 21 year old ‘almost college grad with decent grades, was going to go to med school, switched to law school, was going to be a corporate lawyer in Miami or lobbyist in DC with my family’s connections, but now wants to help others instead by being a police officer’?

Thank you for any advice, prayers, knowledge, wisdom, or help you can bestow upon me!!!

 

[Angel_Bradford]

HI, I have been an law enforcement officer for 22 1/2 years (which means before you were born ) and I have loved almost every minute of my career. I truly believe that this is a vocation. Like any career, money comes as you move up the ladder. Fortunately, there is usually ample opportunity to make good money with part-time security jobs. These jobs will usually pay more per hour than your regular LE job.

You won’t ever get rich moneywise in law enforcement, but you will have many opportunities to make a positive diference in so many lives. And that is priceless.

 

[j2c99]

Angel Bradford, thank you very much for your comments. I appreciate them alot and I really have been thinking to myself that yes, it IS a vocation of itself. I’ve been checking this thread constantly, craving for guidance, hoping someone would post. This morning I had a feeling I would wake up and maybe I’d get one post to help me. Thank you for being that post. I really do want to make a difference in lives, and I feel like sometimes well ‘why dont I just let someone else do that! Get shot at for other people? Lose years off my life and my health for others? There will always be cops applying to do that job.’ But then I realize how selfish that is, and how becoming one in the force will put my money where my mouth is, so to speak, and then it will humble me before the Lord even more than I would have in being a lawyer.

I now just have issues with creating a family during all this, but I know the Lord will work a way for me if that is meant to be.

Thank you very much, Angel Bradford, and bless you.

 

[Mark77]

Pray for guidance, go to Eucharistic adoration and listen to what Jesus puts into your heart!

Law enforcement is a truly noble vocation, although in today’s world, a good Catholic attorney could fight for the rights of the innocent that are being taken away daily by the “progressives” in our government.

i would talk to as many law enforcement officers and attorneys as i could, but in the end, as long as your primary focus is serving Jesus and others faithfully, then your occupation is secondary, as it should be.

Do not base your decision on ($$$)!!! i would rather be Mother Theresa than a billionaire!

God Bless you!

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, Ora Pro Nobis Peccatoribus!

mark

 

[zaramarie81]

Pray for guidance, go to Eucharistic adoration and listen to what Jesus puts into your heart!

Law enforcement is a truly noble vocation, although in today’s world, a good Catholic attorney could fight for the rights of the innocent that are being taken away daily by the “progressives” in our government.

i would talk to as many law enforcement officers and attorneys as i could, but in the end, as long as your primary focus is serving Jesus and others faithfully, then your occupation is secondary, as it should be.

Do not base your decision on ($$$)!!! i would rather be Mother Theresa than a billionaire!

God Bless you!

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, Ora Pro Nobis Peccatoribus!

mark

Like you, I was raised by a lawyer, a devout Catholic lawyer, and have found that it too can be a very noble profession especially if you are committed to the faith. It also opens doors for you to have influence in areas you wouldn’t normally have influence, gives you a voice in the cultural issues we’re facing as a nation and within the local community. That said… I think others are right in saying to pray and bring this to Jesus. Law enforcement is equally great, just in different ways. Money stressors can affect a family but… that needs to be considered, but it’s not the only factor to consider. And some solid money management skills can greatly ease that stress. So… yeah… keep praying. And remember… you can always switch careers. It’s not always easy, but there are husbands and fathers who go to law school in their 30’s or older.

 

[j2c99]

Thank you Mark and zaramarie for your insight and useful help. I was considering going to law school anyways, and even though I’d have more time to discern during those years, I could become a LE local or federal afterwards. A JD is something to fall back on I hope, and even being a lawyer after a 20-25 year retirement run with LE would be amazing.

Thank you, and I’ll continue to pray and thank you for your prayers.

 

[zaramarie81]

What kind of law are you practicing? All the Catholic lawyers I know are thankful for their degrees and their training. I do think anyone going into LE or becoming a lawyer needs to prepare themselves to be working with people in trouble a lot. You’re going to see a lot of brokenness. Some are not called to spend their days immersed in people’s problems. I once thought I was called to be a family counselor, but I now know I cannot handle that kind of work. I am more suited to helping families as a writer.

 

[zaramarie81]

Hmm, I’m sorry to hear you’ve had such a terrible experience as a lawyer. In my time at working in a law office, I saw a mix of good and ugly. I’d have to disagree with the statement that all people lie. My father has had some great opportunities to defend some innocent people in need of help. And in his practice, he never has to agree to cover a lie. Perhaps the OP should take into consideration that different kinds of cases offer different kinds of challenges. I’m sure his family can help him sort out the area of law that best suites him.

 

[Walden]

To the OP…do what makes you happy. I’m in the midst of studying for my 2L finals (obviously not studying that hard). Despite what you hear, not all lawyers are rich. Law school is something that you have to be sure you want to do, or you won’t be happy. It is NOT undergrad!!

I’m just hoping that I can make a decent living doing what I like to do. Who cares if they make a million if they’re miserable? Like someone said before, law school will always be there. I have several “family people” in my class (people who waited until later in life).

Pray about it. Take a year off to see what you really want to do. If you’re like me, there’s always time to rack up the student loans.

 

[j2c99]

Thank you SO much for all the great advice, insight to your own lives and opinions on law school and life. I am fortunate to have a great family that I believe will ultimately be supportive of me wherever I go, but I’m getting the push to go to law school from them, and then I can do whatever after that , they pretty much say. Well I’ll say to them SURE I’ll do that, as long as you all front my law school loan bills too .

I am starting to drift towards LE more and more every day, and definitely law school at some point, if not before I go into LE or during, or after. Most law schools have a time limit on how long you can be in, sometimes around 7 years. I have some extensive military (non-US) history on my mom’s side and my dad’s side has been business or law. Now if I put two and two together, thats LAW + Military = Law enforcement or military law! I have a drive to defend others, whether it be physically or verbally, and I enjoy firearms and all the stuff that comes with LE, before I was even contemplating law as my direction. I used to be set on being a doctor and all the MD jazz, but that fizzled out once I got lazy and didn’t do too well on my MCATs.

Thank you so much everyone, every little bit of info or related opinion to this is of such huge importance to me. I’ve been praying extra lately, crying at times with this massive decision looming over me. Thank you everyone.

 

[pnewton]

HI, I have been an law enforcement officer for 22 1/2 years (which means before you were born )

Wierd. Me too. (September 1986)

To the OP. Here is my advice, although I am stealing it from a notorious anti-catholic. “Delight yourself in the Lord.” Do all God asks. Attend Mass turn your heart, your time and your life to Him. Do all that you know already that is the will of God.

“…and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Then, what it is you want to do, that you do. Trust that it is God that put inside you the guide to where you need to go. For me, my sense of justice is the strongest of my gifts. I could do no other than I do now.

 

[Catholic90]

My parents are very positive for me and** pushing me **toward a professional degree (doctor, lawyer) direction, and have great intentions in mind, but I feel sometimes I want to try some other things out before I settle down for those big money careers.

My advice…do what YOU want to do, NOT what your parents want you to do!! (I am speaking as a parent of a son now looking at colleges for his future career!)

This is YOUR life, not your parent’s life! Sure, listen to their advice, but ultimately choose what you want, not what they want.

My DH was pushed into his career by his parents. He has been miserable in his career for most of it, since it was never something HE wanted to do; instead he did it to please his parents. They can’t understand that, since it similar to what my FIL does, except that FIL loves his job. He can’t understand how his son dislikes the same career so much. :shrug:We are determined to not do that to any of our kids.

 

[Angel_Bradford]

Wierd. Me too. (September 1986)

Me too!..To be exact, I was sworn in on September 29 which is the feast day of St. Michael, Patron Saint of Police Officers. Now that’s what I call a sign from God.;

 

[zaramarie81]

Thank you SO much for all the great advice, insight to your own lives and opinions on law school and life. I am fortunate to have a great family that I believe will ultimately be supportive of me wherever I go, but I’m getting the push to go to law school from them, and then I can do whatever after that , they pretty much say. Well I’ll say to them SURE I’ll do that, as long as you all front my law school loan bills too .

I am starting to drift towards LE more and more every day, and definitely law school at some point, if not before I go into LE or during, or after. Most law schools have a time limit on how long you can be in, sometimes around 7 years. I have some extensive military (non-US) history on my mom’s side and my dad’s side has been business or law. Now if I put two and two together, thats LAW + Military = Law enforcement or military law! I have a drive to defend others, whether it be physically or verbally, and I enjoy firearms and all the stuff that comes with LE, before I was even contemplating law as my direction. I used to be set on being a doctor and all the MD jazz, but that fizzled out once I got lazy and didn’t do too well on my MCATs.

Thank you so much everyone, every little bit of info or related opinion to this is of such huge importance to me. I’ve been praying extra lately, crying at times with this massive decision looming over me. Thank you everyone.

I’m glad to hear you’re getting some clarity! It sounds like you do know what your strengths are and there are a variety of ways you can serve God in either profession. You know, my grandfather was in LE before becoming a lawyer. He was the first one in our family to become a lawyer and started a trend (5 lawyers that span 3 generations!). But, in his 20’s he was a motorcycle-riding police officer. He’s had a great career and his LE background was an asset to his later career as a lawyer. Of course, in “those days” you didn’t need a bachelor’s degree to go to law school. His LE background was enough (if I remember correctly) to get him into law school. Ah, if only it were still like that.

 

[j2c99]

I’m glad to hear you’re getting some clarity! It sounds like you do know what your strengths are and there are a variety of ways you can serve God in either profession. You know, my grandfather was in LE before becoming a lawyer. He was the first one in our family to become a lawyer and started a trend (5 lawyers that span 3 generations!). But, in his 20’s he was a motorcycle-riding police officer. He’s had a great career and his LE background was an asset to his later career as a lawyer. Of course, in “those days” you didn’t need a bachelor’s degree to go to law school. His LE background was enough (if I remember correctly) to get him into law school. Ah, if only it were still like that.

Very interesting, zaramarie. Thank you for all your help and I know God will place me in the situations and career He wants me to, with my working at it of course.

I feel that LE drive burning inside me!!!

 

[w2bp88]

I think you should do what makes you happy but what also brings in enough income to support a comfortable environment for yourself as well as your wife

 

[Toribus]

For a thousand years Christendom covered half the world. Starting in the British isles, spanning the entirety of Europe (from the Scandinavian nations in the north all the way to the mediterranean in the south), all of North Africa, the Germanic tribes, Asia Minor (now the Balkans), Greece, the Slavic peoples of Eastern Europe, right through Russia to the Pacific.

In all that time, and across all that space, there was not one job that society needed which couldn’t be done by a good, faithful Catholic. I think the best advice I’ve seen here was to sit before the blessed sacrament, pray silently for an hour, and ask the Lord to tug your heart.

 

[SonofMonica]

Some cautionary advice from a lawyer, a young one, but practicing in two states:

I am not going to tell you NOT to go to law school, but you need to consider this. Law school will do two things, for sure: (1) it will cost a lot of money, and (2) it will change who you are and how you think as it tests your faith.

The fact that it will cost a lot of money may not be of importance to you if you are independently wealthy, but if you have to take out loans to go to law school, then it almost inevitably becomes important to find a good paying job in order to pay back those loans. Often these good paying jobs are not the do-good, criminal prosecutor, serve-the-poor jobs, but are quite cutthroat. It’s alot more expensive to go to school than when your dad went to law school. Just something to keep in mind.

The fact that it will change you and your thought processes is more important, because it can affect you one of two ways: it can either make you conscious of the importance of the rule of law and authority (and thus make you more appreciative of the way that the Catholic church relies upon Tradition for its precepts) or it can make you very skeptical in your analytical processes to the point where you become very agnostic. I personally experienced the latter. I went through a very agnostic, if not atheistic bender, because of the way that law school made me question sources of authority and truth. In the end, though, it led me to the Catholic Church because of my appreciation for concepts of authority. I am glad that the latter effect did not last, by the Grace of God. You need to do a thorough examination of your faith before you make any decision, because law school will test it, and test it thoroughly.

That said, having talked to law enforcement officials in the course of my practice, I understand that their line of work often causes them to be jaded, introduces them to racism, and generally causes distrust of the populace as a whole. This is coming from cops themselves. I don’t have the personal experience, but just letting you know that because it’s been relayed to me, and I want you to know that those experiences are out there.

Best of luck to you. Hope this helps.

Mark Duch, J.D.

 

[j2c99]

Some cautionary advice from a lawyer, a young one, but practicing in two states:
…

Best of luck to you. Hope this helps.

Mark Duch, J.D.

Thank you very much, Mark. Quite a helpful post and reitterated some things I was going through in my head about law school choice, cost, how to pay off the loans, etc. I have been heavily weighing each option, and money is a big attribute to look into toward the law school direction of my choices.

Thanks again and God bless.

 

[j2c99]

For a thousand years Christendom covered half the world. Starting in the British isles, spanning the entirety of Europe (from the Scandinavian nations in the north all the way to the mediterranean in the south), all of North Africa, the Germanic tribes, Asia Minor (now the Balkans), Greece, the Slavic peoples of Eastern Europe, right through Russia to the Pacific.

In all that time, and across all that space, there was not one job that society needed which couldn’t be done by a good, faithful Catholic. I think the best advice I’ve seen here was to sit before the blessed sacrament, pray silently for an hour, and ask the Lord to tug your heart.

I will do more blessed sacrament as I can, and I know the Lord will send me in the direction I need to go. Thanks for the advice, Toribus.