Law Schools

Thinking About Doing An Accelerated J.D. Program? Read This.

Weigh your options and ask to talk to people who have been through the program you are considering.

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So, you’re thinking about going to law school. Back in the day, it used to be a pretty simple process. You’d apply to a few places, get accepted to some of them, and then decide where to enroll. That was it. Now, you also have to decide what kind of program you want to do. Full-time? Part-time? Residential? Online? Fall start? Spring start? Summer start? SO MANY CHOICES!

One decision in particular that I see students hastily make is joining an accelerated J.D. program. Over the last 8-10 years, accelerated J.D. programs that allow students to complete law school in 2 to 2.5 years have become increasingly popular. But, in my experience, many students see this option and think, “yay, faster” without really weighing the pros and cons of participating in an accelerated program. Luckily for you, I love a good pro/con list and have weighed the options for you below!

Pros

(1) You get through law school faster

The biggest appeal of an accelerated J.D. program to most students is the fact that you finish law school sooner. What is that Winston Churchill saying about going through hell? Oh, that’s right, “keep going.” And law school has been compared to hell on more than one occasion (and not just by me). An accelerated program definitely achieves this goal.  

(2) Smaller class sizes for 1Ls

In my opinion, the best perk of an accelerated J.D. program is that they typically come with smaller class sizes in the first year. This is great because 1L year can be super intimidating and going through the experience with a smaller class can make it more manageable. You’ll feel less reluctant to speak up in class and you’ll have an easier time accessing your professors. Having a smaller class size will also allow for more personalized attention from your professor.

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(3) Potentially cost saving

While accelerated J.D. students still have to reach the same amount of credit hours and the actual cost of law school tuition is usually the same, there can still be some economic benefits to an accelerated program. Specifically, graduating sooner means working sooner (hopefully), which means making money sooner as well. In the grand scheme of your life, getting into the workforce sooner ultimately means more money in your pocket.

Cons

(1) Accelerated = more difficult

The main thing that is lost on most students is that an accelerated program is generally more rigorous than a traditional program. This is not in terms of the actual coursework, but in some of the demands. For example, there is generally very little time off between your first 3 semesters. This is rough because there is a giant learning curve and you don’t have a ton of time to acclimate to the law school experience. Not to mention the fact that you don’t get very much time to recover and relax between semesters, either.

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(2) Less time for internships

Due to the previously discussed jam-packed schedule, there is often less time for internships for accelerated J.D. students. Many students do their first internship during the summer after their 1L year.  However, accelerated students are generally taking classes at this time and aren’t able to participate in internships until their 2L year. Having “real world” experience is more important than ever to potential employers, and this can be a setback. Now, this is not the kiss of death for getting a job or anything remotely close, rather just something to be aware of and to plan for if you choose an accelerated program.

(3) There is a more limited social aspect

Obviously, socialization isn’t the number one priority in law school. However, there is no denying that it happens. In fact, I made some of my very best friends in law school, and I met most of them during my 1L year. There is also an important networking aspect to law school, which starts to form early on. If you join an accelerated program, it is possible that you will start classes during an otherwise quiet time at the law school (like summer), and you may miss out on making those initial connections with students outside of your class.

Ultimately, the choice is yours. Weigh your options and ask to talk to people who have been through the program you are considering. Remember, speed is just one factor. You should weigh all of the factors and make an intelligent, informed decision with so much time and money on the line.

Kerriann Stout is a millennial law school professor and founder of Vinco (a bar exam coaching company) who is generationally trapped between her students and colleagues. Kerriann has helped hundreds of students survive law school and the bar exam with less stress and more confidence. She lives, works, and writes in the northeast. You can reach her by email at info@vincoprep.com.

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