Part-Time Programs Forum

[LS-Hopeful]

I am a CPA and would like to continue to work at my current job while attending law school part-time. Will I have the same opportunities as the full-time students come OCI?

[nealric]

Yes, although the only PT programs that have much of an OCI are Georgetown and Fordham.

[LS-Hopeful]

Yes, although the only PT programs that have much of an OCI are Georgetown and Fordham.

Does that mean that a part-timer would not be able to apply for the same interviews as the full-timers at schools with part time programs other than Georgetown and Fordham?

[kalvano]

Where do you work now?

[CanadianWolf]

Where is your current job ? Seems as if that's important since you want to continue working there during law school ?

[LSATclincher]

I'm going the part-time route, too. But I'm currently working in law and continuing to search for a better position in law. I think you need to use the 4 years in school to gain legal work experience. That way, you can compete with your peers, who gained internships during school. Also, PT programs will continue gaining respect. As the investment aspect of law school continues to weigh on people's shoulders, more people will consider PT programs. Hiring firms will not look down on you for recognizing the need to earn income while in school. If anything, they will probably admire it.

While GULC, GW, and Fordham have the best PT programs, there are some decent schools offering in-state tuition: Maryland, George Mason, Temple, and Rutgers. These are all good regional schools, with huge alumni bases.

[nealric]

Does that mean that a part-timer would not be able to apply for the same interviews as the full-timers at schools with part time programs other than Georgetown and Fordham?

At least at Georgetown, part-timers can apply for the same interviews. They are viewed as equivalent to the FT students.

[dr123]

Quick Question to current PTers: is it tough to look for a job and do 1L pt, as in more difficult than 1L ft? I really wanna do pt and work but the barrier seem to be that my local LS doesn't offer a pt program

[LS-Hopeful]

Where is your current job ? Seems as if that's important since you want to continue working there during law school ?

I'm in Finance at Intel. The pay, flexibility and satisfaction I have working there makes it really hard to just leave for 3 years with no income. I realize that a good job after LS will be worth the opportunity cost, but I wouldn't want to compromise by going PT and subsequently losing out on good OCIs

[geoduck]

I don't know about Fordham, but GULC and GWU are both very friendly toward PT-FT migration, at least between the 2nd and 3rd years. At GULC you have to pay back the difference between PT and FT and take a summer course to get up to speed and I believe you just have to pay for a summer course for GWU. That way you can try out the PT school, FT work arrangement for a semester to see if it works for you. As far as I am aware, once you switch to FT it's as if you were always FT concerning OCI.