Unlike most traditional law students, the non-traditional law student is probably well established with career and family. There are a significant number of responsibilities that cannot be ignored during your law school career. This makes it all the more imperative that you begin planning for the future after law school now. Here are a few things you should be thinking about:

• How much debt will I have when I finish school?
  • You should also be mindful of how much of that debt is subsidized and how much is unsubsidized. When you are talking about debt possibly topping the $100,000 mark this becomes very important.
• How long will I have after my last term before the bar exam?
• Do I want to practice as a solo or for a small firm, or do I want to go into “big law”?
• Am I putting enough money away to take a short leave of absence from work to study for the bar?
  • The bar exam is the most important test you will probably ever take. Dedicate yourself to passing it on the first try.
  • Set aside enough money to take a professional review course as well as living expenses for at least two months (if at all possible).
• Always keep in mind that your ultimate goal is not to be a great law student but to be a great lawyer.

Some of these tips are more urgent than others, but they are all important things to keep in mind during your law school career. Don’t procrastinate on these important things or you will find yourself scrambling at the end of your schooling. This will create undo anxiety and stress that you will not need at that time. Have a great day and hang in there.