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How much printing does the typical law student have to do each year? Is it enough to justify buying a printer, or should students just pay to print each page?

We get 1000 pages included on our account per semester. It probably varies from school to school. But I never printed anything except writing assignments (like memos) and my outlines at the end of the semester. I didn't get anywhere close to 1000 pages.

Depends on the school, probably. I ended up spending about $40 on printing each semester, at 6 cents per page. So that's like, what, 670 pages per semester? I have a... deviant study/test-taking method, though, and would bring between 50 and 200 pages of printed material to each open-book test.

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We had to pay for every page, like $.10 or something outrageous, so I bought a laser printer instead and it was definitely worth it. I've gone crazy printing since then, 1500 pages maybe.

I think having your own printer is more of a convenience thing than an economic thing (assuming your school allows a certain amount free). When you finish a memo or something at 3am, you can print it out and go to bed, not worry about getting to school early enough to get in the queue at the library printers.

I also had bad experiences in UG, when printers never worked and were always out of paper. I'll be buying my own.

You'll probably have cheap or free printing at the law school for big printing jobs like notes and outlines. That said, I would absolutely get a printer for home. It doesn't need to be expensive or fancy (I just have the one that came with my printer) but it's a lifesaver for printing out a last minute resume for an interview, or printing something to proofread when you don't feel like going to the library or whatever. Definitely worth it to have one.

If you are getting a printer you should get a wireless laser printer. I print everything and inkjets are way to pricey when it comes time to buy refills. I love being upstairs and printing downstairs to my office which I walk through everyday on my way out the door. Convenience and efficiency are the most important things to me.

having a printer for memos and writing assignments, or for last minute things right before an exam is invaluable. your school should give you free printing though, and if youre the kind of person who highlights and reads on paper, use their printers for other stuff because supplement cases and old outlines can reach 1000+ pages a semester. but yeah, the 50/semester investment is worth it IME.

School provided free printing up to a certain amount (never exceeded it)

Printed maybe 400 pages per semester for outlines and 100 pages per semester for LRW related materials (research, drafts of briefs, etc.)

jared6180 wrote:If you are getting a printer you should get a wireless laser printer. I print everything and inkjets are way to pricey when it comes time to buy refills. I love being upstairs and printing downstairs to my office which I walk through everyday on my way out the door. Convenience and efficiency are the most important things to me.

I agree except that it need not be wireless as long as it's a networking printer. I've used a HP Laserjet MFP1522nf for years with no issues at all; it's ethernet networked, so it's just hooked up to the wireless router's wired outlet and I can print from anywhere. Add to that the high capacity auto-feed scanner and fax and it's indispensible. Genuine HP toners run about $60/cartridge, but the off brands are more like $25-30 and you really do get about 2k pages out of a single toner.

Used ones run about $200. You can get some of the smaller laser MFPs for about $120 used, though they won't necessarily have networking. Of course these days there are plenty of inexpensive wireless routers with built-in print servers.

One extra thing for laser printers: you can get a kit online for about 10 bucks or so that'll refill your cartridge. Save yourself $50.

It helps the environment as well. Less carbon footprint and all that. I have a PoS (~$100 on sale) laser printer that's traveled across the country with me. It's been in use for four years, and is showing no signs of slowing.

I print out all my notes and mark them up with highlighters. Also print out like 3 or 4 old outlines and mark them up too. Laser printers are cheap and convenient, I see no reason not to spend a little $$ on one.

You can get a wireless Brother laser printer for around $100. Ink cartridges cost around $40-50 each, but they last about a year each in my experience.

Mick Haller wrote:I print out all my notes and mark them up with highlighters. Also print out like 3 or 4 old outlines and mark them up too. Laser printers are cheap and convenient, I see no reason not to spend a little $$ on one.

You can get a wireless Brother laser printer for around $100. Ink cartridges cost around $40-50 each, but they last about a year each in my experience.

I got one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Brother-HL-2270DW ... er+printer

Performs like a champ. The stock cartridge the printer comes with doesn't print that many pages, but after putting in a standard $40 cartridge, I haven't had to replace it in months.

bhan87 wrote: I got one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Brother-HL-2270DW ... er+printer

Performs like a champ. The stock cartridge the printer comes with doesn't print that many pages, but after putting in a standard $40 cartridge, I haven't had to replace it in months.

Yeah that's a good one. Mine is the previous model, 2170DW.

Good price too.. those usually sell for around $100.

bhan87 wrote:

Mick Haller wrote:I print out all my notes and mark them up with highlighters. Also print out like 3 or 4 old outlines and mark them up too. Laser printers are cheap and convenient, I see no reason not to spend a little $$ on one.

You can get a wireless Brother laser printer for around $100. Ink cartridges cost around $40-50 each, but they last about a year each in my experience.

I got one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Brother-HL-2270DW ... er+printer

Performs like a champ. The stock cartridge the printer comes with doesn't print that many pages, but after putting in a standard $40 cartridge, I haven't had to replace it in months.

^ Got the same one. Toner did about 700 pages.