Law schools are continually changing in the face of rising tuition costs and the makeup of their classes. Although most law students historically have entered law school right after college, many students now spend time working before enrolling. No one thought law school classes would ever be held online, but then came the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, a few schools have built online programs.
Another change that has been occurring over time is the increase in part-time law school programs. The popularity of these programs is growing for several reasons. Some aspiring JDs want to work during law school, for example, while others are choosing to pursue law later in life and have other responsibilities like a family.
Does a part-time law school make sense for you? In this blog post, we at Stratus walk you through how to make that decision.
Consider Your Needs and Program Options
Geographic location
Many students who attend law school part time need to balance their studies with their family responsibilities. Applicants in this situation might be more geographically limited regarding school selection. For example, if someone has three kids in school, they are unlikely to relocate their entire family to attend law school. Such an applicant would be more interested in local law schools. If this applies to you, make sure that the part-time programs in your area offer the legal skills you need and the job placement that you want. If they do not do so but a full-time program does, it could be worth the three years of extra sacrifices.
Program stats
Speaking more broadly, as with any law school, you should investigate the employment numbers, student debt, and bar passage rate of part-time programs. Unfortunately, schools generally do not separate these numbers from their full-time program numbers, but there is likely to be a relative correlation. If a full-time program has poor numbers, you should assume that its part-time program has weak numbers too.
Program structure
Moreover, part-time programs have varying structures. The most traditional one takes four years, has a reduced course load each semester versus a full-time program, and offers the ability to schedule most or all courses in the evening so you can work during the day. But there are some programs where you only have to meet in person every few weeks or months. Consider which of these options makes more sense for you, but do not base your decision solely on course schedule—a school’s employment stats are still crucial.
Potential Repercussions of Working While in Law School
Poor academic performance
The fact that part-time programs pique your interest does not mean they are the best option for you. Although it may be nice to be able to work and potentially have more time for your family, it does not change the fact that law school demands a lot of time and is very stressful. If working during law school will tank your grades, you might struggle to get a job after graduation. Similarly, if you have to work at your job during all of your summers in law school, you could miss out on internships that might either lead to job offers or at least give you further credibility in the job market.
Poor job performance
Conversely, if the amount of time demanded by law school negatively impacts your job performance, it could hurt your professional reputation. Also, if you truly care about your work, you could be letting down the company as well as its product and clients by not doing your job proficiently. Poor performance could also get you fired.
Mental health/social impacts
Even if you can balance everything—classes, work, and your family and social life—working while attending law school could still take a toll on your mental health, as doing so can be overwhelming. Similarly, many people enjoy the social aspect of law school, such as living on campus, spending time at the library, and participating in on-campus activities. If you do not have any time for this, you could miss out on a key release from the stress of law school.
This all might seem to cast part-time law programs in a negative light, but that is not our intent. Law school is stressful and involves a lot of work regardless of whether you enroll in a full- or part-time program. There are many outstanding lawyers who could not have become lawyers if part-time programs had not been available to them. But you should understand that part-time programs can make the already stressful situation of law school even tougher.
If you need help deciding what type of law school program is right for you, consider signing up for a free consultation with a member of the Stratus team!