My undergraduate degree is in Computer Engineering (1996) and I've spent the last 16 years in the Atlanta, GA area as a software developer. I will graduate later this year, at the age of 43, with a Master's in Computer Science with a concentration in Information Assurance. Before I started the program, I was acquainted with a couple of guys in the forensics area and thought forensics would be interesting, but now that I'm taking a course in forensics, I think I'm falling in love with it. Graduation will be here before I know it and I'm looking ahead toward all of the decisions associated with the question of whether or not to change career paths.
Before deciding to change specialties from software development to forensics, I want to make sure I really do like it as much as I think I would. I'm willing to gain experience in the same way I'm approaching my formal education right now – spending evenings and weekends learning the ropes. I'd seriously consider working on a voluntary basis and have someone mentor me for a period of time. What would you suggest?
My other question is "what is a day in the life of a computer forensics professional like?" What percentage of your time, if any, is spent 1) in the lab, 2) writing reports and doing other "paperwork", 3) in meetings with clients and/or coworkers, and 4) other (what else do you do?)
Thanks for any input you can offer. I appreciate your time.