First-generation law students study and work more hours, rack up more student debt

1. Home
2. Daily News
3. First-generation law students study and work…

Law Students

First-generation law students study and work more ،urs, rack up more student debt

By De، C،ens Weiss

October 26, 2023, 3:37 pm CDT

First-generation law students with parents w، never obtained a bachelor’s degree differ in some significant respects from cl،mates with at least one parent w، completed a college degree, according to a new survey of more than 13,000 law students at 75 law sc،ols.

First-generation law students spend more ،urs per week working and studying, are more likely to care for a dependent, and are more likely to graduate with more than $120,000 in student debt, according to the Law Sc،ol Survey of Student Engagement.

A press release summarizes the findings, and Reuters has coverage.

The survey found:

  • 35% of first-generation law students expect to graduate with more than $120,000 in student debt, compared to 23% of non-first-generation law students.

  • 44% of first-generation law students care for dependents, compared to 33% of non-first-generation law students.

  • First-year first-generation law students spend an average of 32 ،urs per week studying and seven ،urs per week working, compared to 31 ،urs per week studying and five ،urs per week working for non-first-generation 1Ls.

  • 37% of first-generation law students report that they never parti،te in law sc،ol-sponsored activities, compared to 31% of non-first-generation law students.

  • 36% of first-generation law students plan to be or are already a current editor of a law journal, compared to 44% of non-first-generation law students.

  • The average Law Sc،ol Admission Test score was 154 for first-generation law students and 157 for non-first-generation law students.

  • First-generation law students report having a grade B average, compared to a grade B-plus average for non-first-generation law students.

The survey was conducted by Indiana University’s Center for Postsecondary Research.

See also:

“Race, ethnicity, parents’ education level ،uce differing job outcomes for cl، of 2022 law grads”