STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Magnolia · BCBG

Calling all lawyers and law school students!

Alikat · Kate Spade

I'm not in law school, but I did graduate a bit early.

My advice is get as much out of your undergraduate education as you can... once its over, its over. I studied abroad which was an amazing experience, and very affordable way to experience another country. Take advantage of the programs your school offers.

Whether you plunge straight into law school is up to you... but I don't think taking time off hurts, and might give you a firmer grasp of what working full-time is all about.

I don't think you should work while in law school, except during the summer and breaks. My friends barely have time to call me back during school session.

Dizzy · Marc Jacobs

Is it possible to work a bit and go to law school... NO! It is NOT. Possible. At all. They won't even allow you. And you'd be selling yourself very short because first year grades (determined by ONE test for each class, btw) pretty much determine your hierarchy in the legal world at graduation (first year grades get you your first job - all classes are graded on a strict curve, so it's not like everyones-a-winner - 30 percent are winners and the rest of us have to learn to live with ourselves)

Is it better to work a bit or go to school right away... Depends. I worked first. And the people who worked for a few years in my classes tend to be more motivated and generally higher up on the curve. But there are trade offs, including the fact that once you get used to having a paycheck, student life really sucks. And I have many friends who came to law school straight from undergrad and love it, and do really well. Teh most unhappy group, imo, seems to be the people who sort of "filled in time" doing two or three years at something they thought would look good to the admissions committee before coming back to school. But that might be the type of person who doesn't know who he or she is, and so is less likely to enjoy themselves anywhere. Hard to tell.

Would it be a good idea to be a law student at the age of 20... I don't think so, but that's based on anecdotal evidence only (a guy in my class went to a TOP college at 16, achieved high grades all the way through, had a pretty hefty scholarship here and flamed out SPECTACULARLY this year - they didn't even let him take his finals. Law school is very different from undergrad, and he clearly didn't like the adjustment at all, plus, I'm guessing but it seems likely, he was used to being at the tippy-top and didn't like being one of a crowd in the middle after first semester grades came out).

Good luck!

woo · Nine West

Is it possible to work at least part-time and go to law school at the same time or will it consume my life like others have been telling me?

It is possible to work at least part-time and go to law school at the same time. At least in the DC area, many schools (Georgetown, American, GWU, George Mason . . .) offer part-time law school programs. It is actually somewhat common in the organization for which I work to attend law school part-time and work full-time. However, those that are working, attending law school, and doing well at both find it tough and have little or no time for anything else. It generally takes 4 years to graduate. Anyway, it is doable, just not largely recommended. hth!