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About Sally A. Kane
Expertise
As a recent law school graduate who excelled in law school, I can answer questions regarding the law school experience including preparing for and applying to law school, excelling in law school, law review, legal writing tips, the law school curriculum, exam success, financing law school, balancing work and school, clerkships and externships, job interviewing and more. I do not answer homework questions.
Experience
I have thirteen years’ experience in the legal field, ten as a litigation paralegal and three as a corporate attorney. During law school, I juggled many priorities including a full time job, law school and a newborn baby. In law school I served as a law review editor, wrote for student publications and completed two externships, one with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and one with the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Publications
I have published law and career related articles in a variety of publications including Legal Assistant Today, The Legal Intelligencer, Juris and The Journal of Legal Nurse Consulting.
Education/Credentials
I possess a B.A. in Writing from Edinboro University, a Paralegal Certificate from Duquesne University and a J.D. from Duquesne University School of Law.
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You are here: Experts > Jobs/Careers > Lawyers > Law School > Time Requirements of Law School
Law School - Time Requirements of Law School
Expert: Sally A. Kane - 9/4/2008
Question
I've been going back and forth for years about attending
law school and pursuing my JD. I've always been a great
student - meaning that I breezed my way through my
Bachelor's in Accounting and through the few grad level
classes I took. I know law school is a different animal
when it comes to time requirements and difficulty.
I'm self-employed and do a bit of traveling for work. My
wife is pregnant with our first child due in January and
we're planning on a relocation in March. I'm concerned
about overextending myself but at the same time, I'm tired
of putting this off. It's something I've wanted for a very
long time and something that I believe I will be very good
at. Anyone have some rough figures on time spent
researching and completing assignments, etc. during their
first year?
Answer
CF,
If you have your sights set on law school, you should go for it! You are right that law school is not like undergrad or grad school. Law school is not conceptually difficult but it is a tremendous commitment. In addition to class time, first year students are typically assigned 3 hours of homework per credit hour – about 45 hours per week (not including class time) – and are required to read 300-450 pages a week. Law Review, moot court, externships and extracurricular activities are another drain on your time.
I would not recommend holding a job if you are planning to attend law school full-time. However, you can work full-time if you attend a part-time evening program. I attended law school part-time and juggled a job and a newborn baby. It can be done although you will have little time for your wife, baby or outside activities. However, if you are really committed to becoming a lawyer, law school is certainly worth the effort.
For more information on the first year of law school, see: “Preparing for Your First Year of Law School” at http://legalcareers.about.com/od/educationandtraining/a/lawschoolprep.htm.
Sally A. Kane, J.D.
About.com Guide to Legal Careers
http://legalcareers.about.com/
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