Law or Aviation? That is the question.
01-28-2013, 12:14 PM
#1
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jan 2013
Posts: 3
Law or Aviation? That is the question.
First off hello to all of you and thanks for letting me be a part of your forum. I'd like to start with a little background about myself then get some feedback from career aviators. I am 26 years old and I work as a Sr. claims examiner for one the "big guys" in the auto insurance industry. I've been with the company for 14 months. I have just recently completed my MBA in finance. For as long as I can remember flying was always what I've wanted to do. I have very minimal training, about 12 hours total, I started on my PPL in high school and was too busy with the rest of life to ever try and complete it.
Now I've gotten to a stage in my life where continuing education of some sort will be my next step. While my boss/company have encouraged me to pursue a law degree (with reimbursement) to start my way up the ranks to become a staff attorney at said company. However if I'm going to ever become a pilot, I have to make that decision in the next 6 months. While I'm young enough to recover any loans I may need to take out in the process of flight school.
While I'm not trying to say that a "paid for" law degree is a bad thing, I just don't know that it's my dream job. On the flip side becoming a staff attorney and possibly becoming civil defense attorney with my own firm or as a partner at a firm would leave me a flying option as well. With that sort of income I'd certainly be able to entertain fractional ownership on a private aircraft.
So this is where I'm at, if anyone here has a similar background and is now flying for a regional or major I'd appreciate some insight on how you got there and some next steps to consider in helping me towards a decision.
Thank you,
Sheldon
Now I've gotten to a stage in my life where continuing education of some sort will be my next step. While my boss/company have encouraged me to pursue a law degree (with reimbursement) to start my way up the ranks to become a staff attorney at said company. However if I'm going to ever become a pilot, I have to make that decision in the next 6 months. While I'm young enough to recover any loans I may need to take out in the process of flight school.
While I'm not trying to say that a "paid for" law degree is a bad thing, I just don't know that it's my dream job. On the flip side becoming a staff attorney and possibly becoming civil defense attorney with my own firm or as a partner at a firm would leave me a flying option as well. With that sort of income I'd certainly be able to entertain fractional ownership on a private aircraft.
So this is where I'm at, if anyone here has a similar background and is now flying for a regional or major I'd appreciate some insight on how you got there and some next steps to consider in helping me towards a decision.
Thank you,
Sheldon
01-28-2013, 12:58 PM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: FAA 'Flight Check'
Posts: 13,837
While I'm not trying to say that a "paid for" law degree is a bad thing, I just don't know that it's my dream job. On the flip side becoming a staff attorney and possibly becoming civil defense attorney with my own firm or as a partner at a firm would leave me a flying option as well. With that sort of income I'd certainly be able to entertain fractional ownership on a private aircraft.
02-11-2013, 09:25 PM
#4
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Joined APC: May 2009
Position: on the beach
Posts: 66
Sheldon,
If you only have about 12 hours in your logbook, I would suggest you begin by recommencing your flight training. Aviation has changed quite a bit in the past few years, so you'll need to know a bit more about what the industry has to offer before you make such a big decision. Not to discourage your dream, but during your training you might discover that aviation isn't something you want to do full time.
Personally, the ability to earn a law degree on someone else's nickel would be hard for me to walk away from. Even if you later decide not to practice law forever, you'll still have a degree you'd be able to fall back on. These days, having an MBA or JD isn't a guarantee of a good job, but having both will open many doors to you that aren't available to the average person.
What you said about having your own firm and being able to fly privately is a viable way to get your dose of aviation. John Travolta has spent his career in front of the camera, yet he still flies jets regularly. Unlike airline pilots, he gets to decide when and where to fly.
Take a little time to weigh the pros and cons of your situation. Regardless of what you ultimately decide, just make sure you fully understand what you'll be giving up.
Looking for a pilot job? Check out my [URL="https://www.facebook.co
If you only have about 12 hours in your logbook, I would suggest you begin by recommencing your flight training. Aviation has changed quite a bit in the past few years, so you'll need to know a bit more about what the industry has to offer before you make such a big decision. Not to discourage your dream, but during your training you might discover that aviation isn't something you want to do full time.
Personally, the ability to earn a law degree on someone else's nickel would be hard for me to walk away from. Even if you later decide not to practice law forever, you'll still have a degree you'd be able to fall back on. These days, having an MBA or JD isn't a guarantee of a good job, but having both will open many doors to you that aren't available to the average person.
What you said about having your own firm and being able to fly privately is a viable way to get your dose of aviation. John Travolta has spent his career in front of the camera, yet he still flies jets regularly. Unlike airline pilots, he gets to decide when and where to fly.
Take a little time to weigh the pros and cons of your situation. Regardless of what you ultimately decide, just make sure you fully understand what you'll be giving up.
Looking for a pilot job? Check out my [URL="https://www.facebook.co
Last edited by vagabond; 02-12-2013 at 03:11 AM. Reason: deleted ad
02-12-2013, 06:54 AM
#6
Working weekends
Joined APC: Jul 2005
Position: Left Seat
Posts: 2,384
Originally Posted by 03SVTCobra
First off hello to all of you and thanks for letting me be a part of your forum. I'd like to start with a little background about myself then get some feedback from career aviators. I am 26 years old and I work as a Sr. claims examiner for one the "big guys" in the auto insurance industry. I've been with the company for 14 months. I have just recently completed my MBA in finance. For as long as I can remember flying was always what I've wanted to do. I have very minimal training, about 12 hours total, I started on my PPL in high school and was too busy with the rest of life to ever try and complete it.
Now I've gotten to a stage in my life where continuing education of some sort will be my next step. While my boss/company have encouraged me to pursue a law degree (with reimbursement) to start my way up the ranks to become a staff attorney at said company. However if I'm going to ever become a pilot, I have to make that decision in the next 6 months. While I'm young enough to recover any loans I may need to take out in the process of flight school.
While I'm not trying to say that a "paid for" law degree is a bad thing, I just don't know that it's my dream job. On the flip side becoming a staff attorney and possibly becoming civil defense attorney with my own firm or as a partner at a firm would leave me a flying option as well. With that sort of income I'd certainly be able to entertain fractional ownership on a private aircraft.
So this is where I'm at, if anyone here has a similar background and is now flying for a regional or major I'd appreciate some insight on how you got there and some next steps to consider in helping me towards a decision.
Thank you,
Sheldon
Now I've gotten to a stage in my life where continuing education of some sort will be my next step. While my boss/company have encouraged me to pursue a law degree (with reimbursement) to start my way up the ranks to become a staff attorney at said company. However if I'm going to ever become a pilot, I have to make that decision in the next 6 months. While I'm young enough to recover any loans I may need to take out in the process of flight school.
While I'm not trying to say that a "paid for" law degree is a bad thing, I just don't know that it's my dream job. On the flip side becoming a staff attorney and possibly becoming civil defense attorney with my own firm or as a partner at a firm would leave me a flying option as well. With that sort of income I'd certainly be able to entertain fractional ownership on a private aircraft.
So this is where I'm at, if anyone here has a similar background and is now flying for a regional or major I'd appreciate some insight on how you got there and some next steps to consider in helping me towards a decision.
Thank you,
Sheldon
2. Specialize or steer your law training towards bankruptcy law or mergers/acquisitions. Sadly (or maybe not) the world and aviation itself has a need for these lawyers. Your MBA plus pending JD will allow you to "speak the same language" as the other folks involved in these events
3. Work for employer a fair amount of time to justify the expense they spent on your. ??? 5 more years ???
4. Join another firm or open up firm yourself. Target date: 10 years from today. You will be an "old" age 36
5. Get PPL and Instrument. Seek to be a "professional" even if your ultimate career-goal is not pilot
6. Continue life, girlfriend, wife, kids, etc.
In theory, if done right, you could be 36 years old and own (or your firm own...) a corporate aircraft aka King Air/Citation/etc
02-12-2013, 09:22 AM
#7
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,277
I had to make a similar decision at one time (military would have paid for part of law or all of medicine) but I decided to stick with flying (I was already down that road a ways).
Given my experience I would say the safe course is the paid law degree and fly on the side, earning ratings up through CFI. That can be your hobby, and you should have time for it after first-year law (assuming you don't have a wife, house, and three kids to occupy all your time).
In ten years airlines should be hiring a lot for attrition, although you'll miss out on some seniority movement between now and then. So if you can build hours as a CFI on the side, you could still be ready to make the jump at age 36 or even sooner if you decide to just get-er-dun.
But please get a PPL and instrument rating before you decide on a flying career. It's a different game than buzzing around VFR.
Given my experience I would say the safe course is the paid law degree and fly on the side, earning ratings up through CFI. That can be your hobby, and you should have time for it after first-year law (assuming you don't have a wife, house, and three kids to occupy all your time).
In ten years airlines should be hiring a lot for attrition, although you'll miss out on some seniority movement between now and then. So if you can build hours as a CFI on the side, you could still be ready to make the jump at age 36 or even sooner if you decide to just get-er-dun.
But please get a PPL and instrument rating before you decide on a flying career. It's a different game than buzzing around VFR.
02-12-2013, 12:01 PM
#8
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2013
Posts: 103
And while working on your PPL, do your lessons back-to-back, spending nights away from home at a La Quinta Inn. Don't forget to switch your body clock back and forth, and accomplish this routine over some weekends while friends are gathering for parties, beach trips, etc. etc.
I'm not trying to sound overly negative about flying, at all, BUT, flying for work means you stand an excellent chance of enduring the above (or similar enough) for years. Be advised that professionals in other fields who enter our field often report astonishment at the hostile treatment they receive at the hands of their own company.
As someone more poetic than I said, "The flying I'd do for free. Everything else requires lots of pay."
IMHO, you could have the best of both worlds by being home (albeit with probable long office hours), and flying on YOUR terms and schedule, with maybe some corporate included, to give you your pro-piloting fix.
Congrats and kudos on the opportunity you've created for yourself! It's a good spot, to be wanted and sponsored, and I'm sure it wasn't an accident.
PS: this is a devil's advocate message, NOT intended to imply I don't like flying for a living. But stark realities abound, in our biz, and I'm happy to throw some light on them, when asked.
I'm not trying to sound overly negative about flying, at all, BUT, flying for work means you stand an excellent chance of enduring the above (or similar enough) for years. Be advised that professionals in other fields who enter our field often report astonishment at the hostile treatment they receive at the hands of their own company.
As someone more poetic than I said, "The flying I'd do for free. Everything else requires lots of pay."
IMHO, you could have the best of both worlds by being home (albeit with probable long office hours), and flying on YOUR terms and schedule, with maybe some corporate included, to give you your pro-piloting fix.
Congrats and kudos on the opportunity you've created for yourself! It's a good spot, to be wanted and sponsored, and I'm sure it wasn't an accident.
PS: this is a devil's advocate message, NOT intended to imply I don't like flying for a living. But stark realities abound, in our biz, and I'm happy to throw some light on them, when asked.
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