Should you go to law school part time?
In this episode of The Whole Lawyer, Akeem shares his experience working full time while attending law school as an evening student for four years and breaks down what that path actually looks like.
Part time law school may sound like the easier option, but there was nothing “part time” about the workload. Akeem discusses balancing a full workday with evening classes, studying on weekends, finding time for internships, and making sacrifices while still trying to have a life outside of law school.
He also breaks down why keeping his job as a paralegal became one of the biggest advantages of his law school experience. Working in the legal field allowed him to gain practical experience, build relationships with attorneys, develop his professional reputation, and see how what he learned in the classroom translated into actual legal practice.
But the evening route comes with tradeoffs. From missing some OCIs and internships to having less access to student organizations and networking opportunities, Akeem explains what prospective evening students should consider before committing.
If you're considering law school while working full time, raising a family, changing careers, or simply trying to determine whether a traditional three year program makes sense for you, this episode will help you think through the decision.
Timestamps
00:00 Should You Go to Law School Part Time?
02:24 Why I Chose the Evening Program
04:03 How Moving to DC Changed My Plans
06:20 Why Relationships Matter in Your Legal Career
08:20 Why I Kept Working During Law School
10:40 Your Job and Law School Have to Work Together
13:04 What an Evening Law School Schedule Looks Like
14:43 Working Full Time and Going to Class at Night
17:05 Time Management Is Everything
17:46 Your Weekends No Longer Belong to You
19:24 The Biggest Benefits of Being an Evening Student
21:47 How Working Helps You Build Your Legal Reputation
23:51 Connecting Law School to Real Legal Practice
24:56 The Downsides of Part Time Law School
26:16 Internships and Opportunities as an Evening Student
28:43 Do Law Schools Prioritize Evening Students?
30:45 A Typical Day in My Life During Law School
33:27 Do You Actually Have the Capacity to Do This?
34:00 The Financial Benefits of Part Time Law School
35:52 Final Advice for Prospective Evening Students
02:24 Why I Chose the Evening Program
04:03 How Moving to DC Changed My Plans
06:20 Why Relationships Matter in Your Legal Career
08:20 Why I Kept Working During Law School
10:40 Your Job and Law School Have to Work Together
13:04 What an Evening Law School Schedule Looks Like
14:43 Working Full Time and Going to Class at Night
17:05 Time Management Is Everything
17:46 Your Weekends No Longer Belong to You
19:24 The Biggest Benefits of Being an Evening Student
21:47 How Working Helps You Build Your Legal Reputation
23:51 Connecting Law School to Real Legal Practice
24:56 The Downsides of Part Time Law School
26:16 Internships and Opportunities as an Evening Student
28:43 Do Law Schools Prioritize Evening Students?
30:45 A Typical Day in My Life During Law School
33:27 Do You Actually Have the Capacity to Do This?
34:00 The Financial Benefits of Part Time Law School
35:52 Final Advice for Prospective Evening Students
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