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This is my 12th year in education and I love it. I also have a BA in History and considered pursuing law after undergrad, but decided to go Masters in Ed instead. I haven't regretted my career choice one. Aside from all the vacation time :-), (obviously I spend a ton of time working during the school year), the work is extremely rewarding.

With your background, I think if you picked up your teaching certification you would not have a problem getting a job teaching history/government/social studies--as long as you have a heart for kids!!

I don't have any advice, but I'm kind of in a similar situation. I'm a engineer, going on 10 years, but find myself daydreaming about being a teacher. Looking forward to hearing the responses.

I know someone who went from BigLaw to teaching social studies at a specialized high school in NYC and loves it. Obviously less money, but he seems so much happier. Before this school he taught at a private school, so I don't know if the outcome would be the same if he taught at a regular school. I would think a background in law would be a great asset for a school for courses in law and political science/government. Good luck!

I've been a lawyer for 8 years. If I could make a decent living doing anything else, I'd probably do it. lol

Your satisfaction with your job will very much depend on your district policies, school cultures, administration's style, and assigned classes (academic level, grade, size.)

I was certified in 7-12 SS and detoured into departmentalized 5th grade, getting a K-8 license as well. I taught various 5th grade subjects for 5 years. I liked years 1-2, loved years 3-4, hated year 5 and almost quit, moved to 8th grade, and LOVED year 6.

Pros: kind of your own boss, creativity in lessons, rapport with students, influencing the next generation, sharing your passions, having fun, not a desk job, vacations

Cons: paperwork, admin and parents that don't understand, NEVER being good enough for every kid 100% of the time, lots of work outside normal hours the first couple years, low salary (depending), not being treated like the professional that you are (maybe that's just in my district/school.... our PD is very repetitive and low-level)

My list of cons looks longer but the pros list holds more weight and is more concise haha.

I left a 7 year career in banking to become a high school special education teacher and I love it! I'm still new to the career, but I'm so sooo much happier! Also, now that I have a child, I feel like I have the right job for our family. I did take a pay cut to become a teacher, but I am currently pursuing my master's which will actually put me a little over what I was making before! I'm in the Midwest, so no advice on outlook for you... But I have a teacher friend from here who just left because she got a job at a boarding school in New Hampshire! Good luck to you!

@MrsClownfish: background: my husband is atty, I have an MA in English and am getting an MAT currently. My only caution would be assuming certification will be easy to obtain if you need to work while you obtain it. To do alternative certification in my state you have to be hired first, and in GA there were so many teachers looking for jobs that I was not getting anywhere, in spite of a master's in English and 8 years of experience teaching college. The systems are set up for certified teachers to apply (most applications require you Already have an ID number for example). For me it was easier just to go back to graduate school and get an MAT rather than spend a year or more hoping to get hired and possibly not in my geographical location. But getting an MAT required 21 weeks of student teaching (broken up over 3 semesters) so I could only work part time while doing that. Also my graduate school wouldn't transfer any credits from my MA to my MAT so I had to take subject area courses in person because they weren't offered online. My husband, who also has an MA in English along with a JD, has considered becoming a teacher and we've basically decided it wouldn't work until he can take the same path I am, which would mean me getting a job and him quitting his. Fortunately he seems to have settled into law so we aren't considering that anymore. He does teach paralegal classes at a local community college. There is a serious teacher shortage brewing so you may find schools are more open to hiring alternative candidates but then again there are a lot of grads who graduated during the recession who may be looking to grab those spots after leaving the field for a time so you will just have to feel it out.

@DesertDreams88: