JD, MLS, or nothing at all
Hello, I have a senior role at an advocacy organization working on issues I'm passionate about. However, I often wish I had gone to law school to be more effective at my job, especially when we're pursuing strategic litigation, filing amicus curiae, publicly weighing in on constitutional issues, etc. A JD would give me more expertise and confidence in those areas, not to mention a bit more authority. Instead, I have a Master's in a non-legal, though relevant field.
I am in a weird position where I already have the job I want, but would benefit from additional knowledge and skills. I just don't actually need a degree or to pass the bar... So it seems my options are:
1) Go to law school in the evenings and keep my job.
Pros: Confers expertise and authority, might open up more career paths down the road, backup option to actually become a lawyer
Cons: Takes forever, accrues debt, I have two young kids and am already in my mid-30s
2) Get an MLS
Pros: Shorter, cheaper, get to take the classes that interest me and not stuff like contract law that I'll never need
Cons: Not sure these degrees have any value tbh and likely offer no financial assistance
3) Don't go to school, just read every relevant book I can get my hands on
Pros: Cheapest and least team intensive, no real risks
Cons: Limited hard benefits
Option 3 is definitely my most likely path, but I'd like to hear from others, especially anyone who went to law school mid-career. Any other key questions I should ask myself?