Dropping/Deferring/Transferring after first semester. Forum

[davidkentclark]

So I'm in my first semester of my first year, just about to take midterms. My wife and I own a business, and an opportunity arose with the business that would take business elsewhere and would require me to drop out of school after the first semester. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity that will end up being much more lucrative than practicing law, but I don't want to throw away a semester of law school, so my question is this:

After finishing my first semester, can I drop out, but still preserve my credits and either defer to a later date a few years down the road (in the event that the business opportunity doesn't pan out) or even take that single semester of credits and transfer to another school?

Had I known of this opportunity I wouldn't have started school, but I don't want to throw away the credits, nor the money, just in case I want to revisit law school if the business opportunity doesn't pan out.

[sesto elemento]

Depending on the law school, it might be better to just drop out w/o finishing the semester.

[FSK]

You should drop out. Law school will always be here.

[davidkentclark]

Depending on the law school, it might be better to just drop out w/o finishing the semester.

Thanks for your response. What would be the benefit to dropping out before hand? Would having a semester work against me? I understand that the option to go to law school will always be here, but I'd like, if possible, to at least secure what money i've invested into it so far, by preserving what credits I will have earned by the end of this semester.

[Jchance]

You can definitely take a break in between law school's semesters. I think I read somewhere that you have 6-7 years to finish law school, so taking 3-4 years off in between is perfectly ok.

[BVest]

You can definitely take a break in between law school's semesters. I think I read somewhere that you have 6-7 years to finish law school, so taking 3-4 years off in between is perfectly ok.

ABA allows schools to allow up to 7 years (specifically 84 months) except in extraordinary circumstances, but schools can limit you to less if they so choose. That said, depending on where you're attending school, you may be better off dropping out prior to completing the semester. If you're at TTT/TTTT, drop out

Here are some of the considerations as I see them:

Dropping out now:
Pro:

• Allows more flexibility in schools when returning
• Unlimited Field: Can apply to better schools -- especially where you were a bubble-out applicant before and this opportunity turns you into bubble-in
• Return to law school with clean slate knowing what to expect

Con:
Tuition is sunk cost



Staying through finals:
Pros:
Receive credit in exchange for tuition paid

Cons:
Can only return to current school or schools that accept mid-1L transfers (with your grades)

[XxSpyKEx]

It makes the most sense to drop out, unless you (1) are at a t14, (2) are going to have killer grades, and (3) know for a fact that you're okay with returning there for law school if the business thing doesn't pan out. If you're at a top 3 law school, you might as well finish out your first semester (you're not very likely to move up much in the rankings when you return anyways).

It sucks to throw away a semester's worth of tuition, but if your business opportunity isn't likely to easily cover that, then maybe it's not a very lucrative business opportunity.