Do you have to read a lot in law school?

Asked by: Phyllis Conn  |  Last update: December 6, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (52 votes)

It is typical for students to be assigned anywhere from twelve to twenty- five or more pages of casebook reading a night in each class. Not count- ing legal research and writing assignments, most first year law students meet with three classes on average per weekday.

Does being a lawyer require a lot of reading?

We lawyers spend much of our days reading. We read for multiple purposes: discovering facts, finding legal authority, developing advice, learning about a client, editing a document, preparing for a meeting, studying a new law.

Does law school require a lot of memorization?

One prevalent misconception is that law school is solely about memorizing vast amounts of legal rules and cases. While memorization is a part of the process, law school emphasizes critical thinking, analytical skills, and the ability to apply legal principles to real-world scenarios.

Does law school require a lot of studying?

First, the workload is heavy. Law school students are expected to read hundreds of pages of legal text each week, and they are often required to write long essays and research papers for their law school classes. Second, the material you'll need to learn to become a lawyer is complex and non-intuitive.

How much reading per class in law school?

Unlike in undergraduate school, law students spend countless hours preparing for classroom instruction. Along with reading around 100 pages a week per class, you'll want to review your notes and create outlines. Plus, many law students find they need to read the same material a few times to grasp it fully.

MY STUDY ROUTINE - study routine of a law student

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How many hours of reading a day in law school?

Law school typically has a heftier work load than undergrad.

You should treat it like a full-time job, dedicating at least 40 hours (or more) to reading and studying each week. And you should make sure your study and time management skills are up to snuff too.

What is the hardest year of law school?

Law school is an academic challenge; most students agree the first year (“1L” year) is the most difficult. In part, this is because law school is taught using methods entirely different than the lecture method used in most college classrooms.

Is law school harder than med school?

Each path demands extensive education and a commitment to rigorous training before becoming a qualified professional. Although both law and medical schools present their unique challenges, it's generally accepted that medical school demands a higher level of intense coursework and thorough training.

Am I smart enough to get into law school?

According to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), students need a GPA of at least 3.59 and an LSAT of 162 or more to get into any top 10 law schools. However, that is the bare minimum, and you should aim higher if you want to increase your chances of getting into the top 3.

How many hours should I study in law school?

All in all, however, law students typically spend around 30 – 40 hours per week studying. That may sound like a lot, but a good rule of thumb is that you should be studying at least two hours for every one hour of class time per week.

How many fail out of law school?

The first-year law school attrition rate nationwide is 3.8% in 2023. 15 Enrolling in law school but failing to finish offers no greater marketability than a bachelor's degree.

How do lawyers memorize so much?

Spaced Repetition

The less often you visit a location, the harder it is to remember how to get there. In the same way, reviewing a law every day, then every other day, then every week, will leverage your mind's tendency to prioritize information that frequently appears over a prolonged period.

What is the most difficult class in law school?

Civil Procedure. C​ivil Procedure is notoriously the most difficult class you'll take in law school. I concur. The rules are complex, the procedural formalities are maddening, and keeping track of cases is nearly impossible.

How smart do I have to be to be a lawyer?

On the totem pole of skills essential to being a good lawyer, intelligence is pretty low. Organization, time management, customer service, and an ability to influence people are all more important than how smart you are. The “wins” don't always go to the person who got the law perfectly right.

Do lawyers need good handwriting?

Good handwriting isn't a relic for the legal profession; it can still prove invaluable to many attorneys in a pinch.

Do you need to be good at math to be a lawyer?

Another potentially helpful subject is mathematics. Although not directly linked to legal studies in a formal sense, studying mathematics can definitely aid in the development of thinking and problem- solving abilities, and such skills are essential in the field of law. Philosophy and ethics are a third useful area.

What GPA do law schools like?

The average GPA for law school is between 3.91. However, like LSAT scores, it's important to understand that the specific average GPA can differ depending on the law school and its level of competitiveness. Top-ranking law schools often expect higher average GPAs, typically ranging from 3.8 to 4.0 or even higher.

What type of lawyer makes the most money?

Patent Attorney Salary

Patent attorneys are the highest-paid type of lawyers, with an average salary of $185,351, ranging from $119,88 to $285,530. Various factors contribute to a patent attorney's average salary, including experience, firm, location, and subject matter expertise.

What IQ is needed for law school?

Believe it or not, the American Bar Association used to track this stuff. Law requires only a high average (IQ 115–130). High intelligence is desirable (because it makes the training easier) but not absolutely required.

Is it faster to become a lawyer or doctor?

After completing your bachelor's degree, it takes an additional 4 years to complete a medical degree. However, it only takes 3 years, after your bachelor's degree, to complete a law degree.

How hard is the bar exam?

The bar exam is hard. In fact, it may be one of the most difficult challenges you ever embark on. You must memorize numerous laws and consume a lot of knowledge to answer questions correctly. For many, it feels like trying to hold sand in your hands, knowing that you'll inevitably lose much of it.

How old are most law graduates?

Although most applicants are under 25, about 1 in 5 are 30 or older and a much smaller proportion are over 40. Many older law school graduates build fulfilling second careers that draw on preexisting skills and experiences.

How hard is the LSAT?

This process is not only time-consuming but can be very expensive as well. So yes, the LSAT is hard, and it is designed that way. It's not so much a test that requires a student to remember random facts, but instead, it is a test that showcases a student's thought process.

What is the hardest subject in a law degree?

Some of the hardest classes in law school, according to current and former students, are:
  • Constitutional Law.
  • Civil Procedure.
  • Contracts.
  • Federal Courts.
  • Federal Income Tax.
  • Administrative Law.
  • Partnership Tax.