Debate over 34-year-old judge candidate with no work history

Studying until 34 to become a judge: triumph or life failure?

Is it worth dedicating your best years to preparing for civil service exams only to start working in your thirties? The case of a 34-year-old candidate who passed the Spanish judicial entrance exam (*oposiciones*) without ever having worked or contributed to social security has sparked intense debate about the opportunity cost of these exams. While some celebrate it as a success, others argue that decades of personal and professional life were sacrificed for a salary that, according to calculations circulating on the forum, does not compensate for the time lost.

The triggering case: 34 years old, single, childless, and no contributions

The discussion stems from a specific case: a 34-year-old woman who just passed the judicial exam. According to a user's account, she has never worked, has no partner or children, and was financially supported by her parents throughout this period. It is argued that studying for these exams is a job in itself, incompatible with any other activity. Her proud father presents this as a social and economic triumph.

However, some reach a bitter conclusion: "She lived until 34 leeching off her parents, has less than €20 in the bank, owns no property, has no partner, and certainly no children." The lingering question is why she wants to be a judge at that age, when other aspects of life seem to have been left behind.

Opportunity cost: Nurse at 22 vs Judge at 34

One of the most repeated arguments concerns opportunity cost. The case of a nurse, who can start earning "quite well" at 22 with a whole life ahead, is compared to that of a judge who will never catch up to the nurse in terms of accumulated time and experience. The advantage of starting young is enormous.

Similar examples include a doctor finishing their residency (*MIR*) at 29-30, but at least earning during those years. Candidates, however, may spend years studying without any guarantee of passing. "You might never pass," it is warned.

How much does a judge really earn?

There are discrepancies regarding judges' salaries. While some claim they "earn peanuts" and that social prestige doesn't translate into money, others state that a judge in Spain earns an average net salary of over €4,000. The reality, according to some, is that while judges have prestige, their economic capacity does not match their status: they will take time to buy a car and may never afford housing commensurate with their perceived standing.

It is also mentioned that the temptation to corruption is high precisely due to this gap between responsibility and remuneration.

Personal life: the price of lost years

The most painful aspect of the debate is personal. At 34, it is argued, forming a family is very difficult. "That girl at 34 will hardly form a family; she almost certainly won't have children (or maybe one if she hurries)." The biological window narrows, and priorities change.

Some predict she will end up "at 40, stuffing herself with Prozac, wine, and cats." Others, more optimistic, note that "it's still time to do everything" and that she will now seek a partner among prosecutors or lawyers. The question remains whether professional success compensates for personal emptiness.

Access to the judiciary: an obsolete system?

One of the harshest criticisms targets the access system. "It is shocking that in 2025, entry to the judiciary still works the same way as it did 100 years ago," it is said. Proposals include requiring a minimum of 18 months of contributions in private companies, an Erasmus exchange, and psychotechnical tests to ensure judges have real-life experience before judging others.

The underlying idea is that someone who has never worked or faced everyday difficulties is not prepared to administer justice with informed judgment.

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Ultimately, the prevailing conclusion is that everything has its time and that no future money compensates for lost years. But it is also acknowledged that, in a precarious labor market, civil service exams are the only exit for many. Life's ironies: success can be the most elegant form of failure.