I feel like I could have written this three years ago (except for the spouse part, I didn’t have time to date because work). I went to law school after 8 years teaching high school. I loved teaching, but it was the best decision I’ve ever made. In my third year and I’ve got a job lined up with a good firm that will pay me nearly triple what I made as a teacher for basically the same hours I was working.

My advice is to make a plan and get out while you still have the steam to make a career change. Admin will suck you dry because they know you have a public service mentality; they’ll take advantage of it (and you) any chance they get. It’s criminal.