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From Our Alumni: Tips from a Non-Traditional Law Student
Published May 26, 2021
Law School is a daunting challenge all by itself, but the thought of attempting to take it on as a non-traditional student and a mother of two was especially frightening. Should I try? Or, like many others, should I run for the hills accepting less than I wanted or quite honestly deserved? I chose to push forward, beating back doubts and overcoming obstacles. Nothing has been more satisfying!
A quick background on me—I am a single mother of two brilliant and sometimes vexing children who I co-parent with their father. As president of the parent group at my daughter’s school, a pet owner, and a property owner, I am faced with persistent distractions. This gives you an idea of the challenges many non-traditional students must maneuver throughout their time in law school. Keep reading for my tips on how to navigate this exciting but challenging time.
Set Expectations and a Strict Schedule
I realized law school would be time consuming, just not how time consuming. It quickly became apparent that I would need to make some adjustments to my time management routine. I needed to set a schedule that would be consistent and uninterrupted. That meant getting together with my family and setting some ground rules and expectations. Since there was going to be less of me to go around, some responsibilities would need to be handled by other family members. We became Team Vicki with one goal: graduating law school. There would be less family time, so I tried to make sure that when we were together it was special. I had to be certain that they knew I was busy, not unloving; that was a balancing act all on its own. This was one of, if not the most, difficult hurdles.
Brace Yourself for the Unexpected
As clear as schedules can be, there are going to be unavoidable diversions. I could never have predicted that my mom would have a brain aneurysm and that my daughter would be diagnosed with thyroid cancer. It was my strict schedule that helped me through, and I knew I could make up for lost time in other areas. I made sure I had my work with me everywhere. If there was something I had to do, be it a doctor’s appointment or get the car tires rotated, my books were with me. You will find that you can get a lot done when you take advantage of multitasking.
Make Time to Get Involved
Although it seems counter intuitive to your already hectic schedule, joining trial teams and/or clinics are a fantastic way to measure your gained knowledge. Finding time to attend functions where you can meet those who can help you advance or give you advice is also a great idea. I never imagined myself attending a bourbon tasting but there I was with my wine palette sipping Kentucky whiskey among my law school professors and fellow students. It was fantastic.
Set Up a Private Workspace and Establish Alone Time
The one lesson I learned late but was one you must do is to set up a private office or workspace. If it’s just a table in a room that can be closed off from everyone else, that’s perfect. You want to be away from dogs needing to go out, kids making lunches and the drone of the television. Having some white noise like music without lyrics was best for me. Turn off your cell phone if you can and let friends and family know when you’ll be studying so they don’t distract you. Lastly, make sure to schedule some alone time each week. For me, it was when I did my weekly grocery shopping.
You’ll find what seemed so scary at first to be routine, and your sense of accomplishment will grow as you close in on your goal. Your family and friends will begin to see you in a new light, factoring in your hard-earned accomplishments.
The University at Buffalo School of Law is a family. The professors and staff want to see you succeed. Being a non-traditional student helped me quickly realize this and I am proud to now be an alumna and welcome new students to our family. Good luck!
