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Weigh the Pros, Cons of Part-Time Law School

By U.S. News & World Report

Life is full of demands — from family to career to other obligations or interests. Prospective law students may wonder how they can balance these responsibilities and attend law school full time.

Fortunately, many law schools offer part-time programs. As you consider whether to pursue a law degree on a full- or part-time basis, it is helpful to look closely at the key differentiating attributes — and the related benefits and drawbacks — of a part-time legal education. Here are several key aspects to consider.

[Get more tips on applying to law school.]

Time

The time factor differs dramatically in full-time vs. part-time law programs, and it is the aspect with the most consequences to consider. While most full-time students will receive a J.D. after three years of studies, part-time students typically take four years to complete their degree requirements.

— Benefits: One primary benefit of attending law school part time is flexibility in your schedule. Most part-time law programs offer evening classes, which allow students to keep working, meet responsibilities or pursue other interests at the same time.

For example, a commencement speaker and graduate of Loyola Law School Los Angeles‘ part-time program this past year was a new mom when she started her law studies.

Weekend programs are also an option for prospective law students. At least three law schools — including Loyola University Chicago, Seton Hall University and Mitchell Hamline School of Law — now offer weekend-only J.D. programs. Loyola began its weekend program in fall 2016, and Seton Hall’s and Mitchell Hamline’s weekend programs started this academic year.

[Discover 10 law schools popular with part-time applicants.]

— Drawbacks: The flexibility baked into part-time law school programs also has drawbacks. Most obviously, you won’t graduate as quickly as your full-time peers.

You may be drawn to this type of program because you can technically work, take care of your family or pursue other interests at the same time, but it is important to think about the potential toll on your well-being as a result of juggling these obligations.

Keep in mind, too, that part-time students should still expect to spend 30 to 40 hours per week pursuing their law degree, including classwork, homework and other school-related activities. Consider how you will balance competing demands and think about putting in place any support structures you will need in your lives to do so without losing your mind.

Likewise, some opportunities afforded to full-time students may be unavailable to part-time students because of class timing and the difference in course-load requirements. Specifically, part-time students may have limited ability to participate in journals, clinics, moot court, externships, on-campus interview, student organizations or other extracurricular activities.

Most significantly, part-time students who work full time or who must take classes in the summer may not be able to secure summer clerkships, which serve as the most common first step to securing postgraduate private sector employment.

Money

Depending on how you look at it, a part-time legal education is either less or more financially burdensome.

— Benefits: Because part-time programs take an extra year to complete, you will be able to spread out, and therefore reduce, the financial burden of your legal education. That extra year to draw out the payment may be critical to you.

Moreover, working during law school — even part time — can help offset your education expenses. This may also help you take out fewer loans, reducing your postgraduation debt.

— Drawbacks: On the flip side, given you’ll spend an extra year in school, the overall cost of your part-time legal education is greater. Part-time students may also forgo eligibility for academic scholarships that can help lower costs.

[How to decide if you should work during law school.]

Admissions Criteria

You may have better admissions chances with part-time programs, but consider the programs’ relative prestige and potential impact on employment opportunities.

— Benefits: Part-time law programs typically have more lenient admissions criteria than full-time programs.

Specifically, admissions committees for part-time programs are more forgiving regarding LSAT scores and undergraduate GPAs, placing more weight on prospective students’ professional and other accomplishments. This makes sense, since part-time programs are generally geared toward professionals who have spent time in the workforce already.

For applicants whose LSAT score or undergraduate GPA falls short of the ideal range of a particular dream law school, a part-time program could serve as an appealing alternative. Consider, too, that part-time programs’ heightened focus on applicants’ professional achievements and other soft factors for admissions could result in a more diverse and enriching student body, which could potentially have a farther-reaching benefit throughout law school and beyond.

— Drawbacks: Because part-time programs place less emphasis on the objective LSAT score and undergraduate GPA value, employers may view these programs as less impressive. This judgment could, in turn, impact your employment prospects as a part-time student.

Additionally, while some top-ranked law schools, such as Georgetown University, offer part-time programs, the majority of these program offerings are at less prestigious schools. In our experience, this more generally has a corresponding impact on employment options.

Since part-time law school programs differ from full-time programs in terms of time, money and admissions criteria, be sure to carefully weigh the benefits and drawbacks to determine whether a part-time legal education meets your needs and serves your best interests.

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Weigh the Pros, Cons of Part-Time 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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