<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I'm a current high school student who aspires to go to law school someday. I was randomly wondering, how much time does a full-time law student spend on school every week? Does a full-time law student usually work in addition to attending law school?</p>
<p>Most, if not all, law schools will tell you that holding a job is not advisable as a full time day law student. The amount of reading and preparation is very time consuming and intense. It is generally best to get work experience during the summer through clerkships and/or internships.</p>
<p>Particularly in the first year, many will study 60 to 80 hours a week outside of the 15 in class and spend many other hours just thinking about the concepts. It is not necessarily volume because you can often spend 6 hours trying figure out the important concepts from a 3 page case report, and then go to class and learn that you didn't understand diddly squat. You become easily consumed and find little time for a social life, much less time to work. You also have to be constantly reviewing everything that has gone before in a semester because in most classes your grade will depend solely on how well you do on a 2 hour final given at the end of the semester that covers the entire semester. Some do it while having part-time jobs but even that is difficult.</p>
<p>Most law schools do not let first-years work... and, IMO, it's a good idea. </p>
<p>Generally speaking, unless you go to Harvard or Yale, your class rank will matter when you apply for jobs. It matters for law review, which matters for jobs. If you are on law review or have a killer class rank, you'll get offers for better jobs - which makes a huge difference in money. Be poor as a student, live in the library, and make it back later.</p>
<p>Hate to disregard your question, but i couldn't get past the first part of your post:
You're still in high school? Although it is great to know what you want to do when you grow up, trust me, plans change. I changed my major and my life aspiration after my freshman year in college, I know some people that have changed theirs 3 or 4 times. </p>
<p>Although it is great to work with a goal while in college as a way of keeping your grades high, be open to where life leads you. College is a great time to discover yourself and what you really want to do. And with so many really, really unhappy lawyers out there, I would make sure it's what you want before you go down that road. </p>
<p>Lastly, I found it very interesting that you said you "aspire to go to law school" and not "aspire to be a lawyer." Realize that although there are a few other jobs that a law degree is helpful for (gov't official, lobbyist, professor) law school is a means to an end. Make sure then end is what you are looking for before you get too wrapped up in preparing for the means.</p>