Q: My daughter is thinking about going to law school, and I have been thinking about getting an online degree of some kind. I have been out of school for 30 years, so I'm a bit nervous about being back in school. I thought an online class would be a way of easing into it. As for my daughter, I'm not sure what to tell her. I don't want to discourage or influence her decision, but I don't want her to make an expensive mistake. She was a good student, but not so good that she could get into a top 10 law school. Any guidance?

A: Ask these important questions regarding your daughter's going to law school: Can she get into a law school that is highly thought of, even though it is not among the top? Does she have a realistic view of the type of law she would like to practice, and does that view fit into the type of school she is able to attend? For example, a Stanford or Harvard law grad can do far more with her degree than practice law. She can go into a high-salaried business position at a large corporation. Graduates of top-tier law schools who do choose to practice law are often sought by the country's top firms.

There are certainly other highly respected law schools that allow for good opportunities and would be a good foundation for law or business positions. At the other end of the spectrum, if your daughter is barely getting into a lower-tier law school, is she prepared to become a sole practitioner, seeing as she may not be able to get a job at a firm large enough to pay a good salary? Law school applicants who don't think about these possibilities can be in for an upsetting reality check when they graduate (that is, if they graduate and if they pass the bar exam) and have to take any job just to be able to pay off school loans.

This is where having a passion for a particular field is necessary. Without that commitment, experiencing the hard times and failures can be crushing, if not permanently damaging. Your daughter would benefit from online networking with attorneys to hear firsthand advice from those who are floundering, as well as those who are successful.

You and your daughter have different goals and different paths regarding careers. Because you are questioning your ability to do well in school, you are smart to start slowly and not commit to a degree program. Check the evening and part-time programs of respected universities in your area. Many have programs with "student-at-large" status for adults who have never completed a degree or who would like an additional degree or certificate to enable a career change.

You have numerous options, depending on your goal — a goal that will change as you adapt to being a student and see how well you do. Whatever school you choose to attend, confirm that the school is accredited. Accrediting agencies are private educational associations of regional or national scope. The U.S. Department of Education does not accredit the schools, but it publishes a list of nationally recognized accrediting agencies so people in your situation can confirm accreditation.

Also check with outside sources (not just with the schools themselves) to make sure that any trade-related programs are accepted by their respective industries and that the courses you take are transferrable. Do your homework and get all the answers for potential scenarios before applying so you are not disappointed later if you change your interests and goals after starting.

Email your problems and questions to workplace expert Lindsey Novak at lindseynovak@yahoo.com, and follow her on Twitter @I_truly_care. To find out more about Lindsey Novak and to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.