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Assess Work-Life Balance Priorities Before Law School

By U.S. News & World Report

Long hours at the office are a staple of many legal jobs, especially during crunch times when attorneys are finishing projects for clients.

For instance, a litigator in the final phase of preparing for a trial or a business lawyer wrapping up a mergers and acquisitions deal will typically have an intense work schedule.

Nevertheless, some attorneys say they have achieved work-life balance in the legal profession.

[Find ways to get financially ready for law school.]

Criminal defense attorney Glenn Kurtzrock, a former homicide prosecutor, says he has paired a challenging legal career with a satisfying personal life, including significant time with his family.

“I’m happy with what I do for a living and I think I have a fantastic work-life balance, so it’s definitely possible,” he says.

Here are four things experts say prospective law students concerned about work-life balance should know.

1. The definition of work-life balance varies between attorneys. Experts say personal salary and lifestyle priorities will affect the kinds of legal roles appropriate for an individual attorney.

For instance, experts say many attorneys enjoy the pay and prestige associated with working for one of the nation’s largest law firms, commonly called “Big Law” firms.

Rachel Dawson, assistant dean of career services at Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law, says one common misconception about Big Law attorneys is the assumption that they are all overworked and stressed. “Big Law attorneys tend to work more hours, in many cases, but firms also offer a great deal of flexibility that is often unavailable in other settings, ” she said in email.

Dawson says prospective law students should focus on finding an area of law they are interested in, since attorneys who enjoy their work are less likely to burn out.

[Get law school application advice from recent law grads.]

2. It’s important to assess whether you’d enjoy the challenge of a legal career before applying to law school. “I would tell a law student that if you place a huge premium on a 9 to 5 job and clocking out when you’re done, then you might want to think twice before going into the law,” says James Goodnow, a shareholder, director and attorney with corporate law firm Fennemore Craig, which has offices throughout the Southwest.

The Harvard Law School alumnus says prospective law students should understand that a legal career is a demanding one. “The reality is there is a lot of work, and law firms that support managing that and individuals that can cope with that are the ones that are going to succeed,” he says.

Allie Petrova, the managing attorney of the Petrova Law boutique law firm, recommends every prospective law student shadow an attorney, gain work experience in a legal setting or conduct informational interviews with practicing lawyers before applying to law school.

[Check out three nonlegal careers for law school graduates.]

3. Some law firms offer flexible work schedules. “Law firms are trying to be more accommodating, because they realize that they need to be in order to attract and retain top talent,” says Lisa Bertrand, an in-house recruiter with legal services company Garden City Group.

Bertrand, who is also a law school admissions consultant, says prospective law students shouldn’t let anxiety about work-life balance prevent them from applying to law school.

“The key is finding a legal employer sensitive to employee needs,” she says.

Experts say some law firms allow attorneys to decide when they want to fulfill their billable hours requirements, offering the option to work these hours throughout the day. Firms also allow attorneys to work from home and switch between part-time and full-time positions, experts say.

Firms also vary widely in how many hours they expect attorneys to work, experts say, and attorneys who value leisure time should target firms that provide flexibility on hours requirements. Yale Law Women, a student-run organization at Yale Law School, publishes an annual list of family-friendly law firms.

Charles Volkert III, a senior district president at Robert Half Legal staffing agency, says firms expect staff attorneys to work substantially fewer hours than partner-track associates.

4. Attorneys without billable hours quotas generally have more free time. Seth R. Bradley says the key to his work-life balance as a personal injury attorney is not having a billable hours quota.

“I am fortunate enough to work at a firm that trusts that I am getting my work done, as compared to other firms that only care if you work a certain amount of hours,” says Bradley, who works for the Eason & Tambornini law firm.

Because government lawyers and in-house corporate attorneys do not have billable hours quotas, experts say these jobs may be a good fit for attorneys who value work-life balance.

Kurtzrock, the criminal defense attorney, says being a solo practitioner has allowed him to set his own hours. “If I want to take a vacation or a day off, and I don’t have any cases on in court, I can just do it without having to ask anyone for permission.”

Searching for a law school? Get our complete rankings of Best Law Schools.

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Assess Work-Life Balance Priorities Before Law School originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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