Law School Is a Full-Time Job

Going to law school requires a serious time commitment. Many of the top schools in the country have long traditions of academically rigorous instruction. It is not uncommon for a first-year law student to spend 60 hours per work or more devoted to their studies. Class lectures, research, study groups, and writing assignments are a huge drain on students' time, and should not be ignored by those thinking of law school as an option. Over the past few decades, law schools have increasingly tried to accommodate the schedules of students who have other commitments. The increased prevalence of night and weekend classes, part-time curricula, and online courses do indeed make it easier for one to juggle law school and full-time employment. However, law school hopefuls should note that, as of this writing, it is generally not possible to obtain a law degree completely online. Of all the U.S. states, only California offers 100% online law degree programs. The consensus among legal professionals and instructors is that the field of law truly requires in-person lectures, presentations, debates, and other activities; many top law universities may offer a few online classes, but the courses deemed to be the most important will almost always be in a traditional classroom setting.