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Part-Time
Programs vs. Full-Time Programs
In addition
to traditional three-year, full-time J.D. programs, many law schools
offer part-time degree programs as well. For those students interested
in law school but not ready, willing, or able to make legal education
their exclusive focus for three years, part-time programs can provide
a valuable option. For students who are considering both, below
is a brief overview of the two types of programs.
Full-Time
Programs
The typical
full-time program at most American Bar Association-accredited law
schools requires 12 - 15 credit hours earned for each of six semesters,
meaning that most full-time students complete their legal studies
in three years. The ABA does not permit full-time students to work
more than 20 hours per week while attending law school, and some
schools don’t allow full-time students to work at all. These
prohibitions do not extend to summers, during which many students
enter legal internships, and some schools do offer summer courses.
Part-Time
Programs
At schools where
part-time programs are available, classes are often offered during
evenings and weekends and can take longer to complete than standard,
full-time programs. Many part-time programs require students to
take summer classes as well, but these programs do not generally
place a cap on the number of hours students are allowed to work
during their legal studies. The average course load for a part-time
program is between 8 and 11 credit hours per semester.
Important
Considerations
• Finances
A common concern for law students is the financing of their
legal education, and the two types of programs offer different benefits
and constraints. Full time programs limit the hours that students
are allowed to work, and at some schools law students aren’t
permitted to work at all during the school year. For students who
are not able to pay for law school, or to secure sufficient financial
aid, part-time programs offer the option of working while pursuing
one’s degree. While part-time programs can provide greater
flexibility, however, they can also cost more overall. Because they
take longer to complete, this can also mean entry into the legal
field one year later. Another important consideration for those
seeking aid is that law schools tend to set aside a larger portion
of their grant and scholarship funds for full-time students.
• The
Academic Experience
Many students contemplating a part-time legal education have
concerns about the comparability to a full-time program. Because
the majority of opportunities in law school are based on academic
performance, part time students may miss out on certain resume-building
activities, such as law review, if employment interferes with their
schooling. Further, programs may provide more limited course selection
for evening and weekend classes. On the other hand, professors who
teach in part-time programs and those who teach in full-time programs
are typically drawn from the same pool. At Georgetown, for example,
law professors are rotated between full- and part-time programs,
so the quality of any given class is likely to be comparable.
• Opportunities
after Graduation
Where employment opportunities are concerned, there are potential
advantages associated with both program types. Part-time programs
take place over a longer span, and require fewer credit hours per
semester, leaving more time to research, network, and interview.
On the other hand, the summers off during a full-time program are
typically used for legal internships, which allow students to gain
experience while demonstrating their abilities to potential employers.
For many full-time students, the legal internship between 2nd and
3rd year can lead to full-time employment with a firm after graduation.
Schools that
offer Part-Time J.D. Programs
The following is a partial list of law schools that offer part-time
programs:
American University (Washington)
Brooklyn Law School
Cardozo-Yeshiva University
Case Western Reserve University
Catholic University of America
Duke University
Fordham University
George Mason University
George Washington University
Georgetown University
Georgia State University
Hofstra University
Illinois Institute of Technology (Chicago-Kent)
Indiana University—Bloomington
Indiana University—Indianapolis
Lewis and Clark College (Northwestern)
Louisiana State University—Baton Rouge
Loyola Law School
Loyola University Chicago
Marquette University
Mercer University
Rutgers State University—Camden
Rutgers State University—Newark
Seattle University
Seton Hall University
Southern Methodist University
St. John's University
St. Louis University
Syracuse University
Temple University (Beasley)
Tulane University
University of Connecticut
University of Denver (Sturm)
University of Houston
University of Louisville (Brandeis)
University of Maryland
University of Miami
University of Missouri—Columbia
University of Nevada--Las Vegas
University of San Diego
University of the Pacific (McGeorge)
University of Wisconsin—Madison
Washington University in St. Louis
Yale University
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