Is law school reading hard?

Asked by: Nelson Stanton DVM  |  Last update: December 23, 2025
Score: 4.9/5 (52 votes)

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 long should law school reading take?

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 class in law school?

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.

Is law school mostly memorization?

Misconception #1: Law school is all about memorization

Instead, it's about taking that information and applying it to new situations. The focus is on developing a deep understanding of the law and learning to think like a lawyer, rather than rote memorization.

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

The ability to read and absorb large volumes of written material is one of the most important skills to get through law school and later in almost any career in law. If you don't like reading and are not much better than average at it, law may not be the career for you.

What we wish we knew about UK Law School - applying, structure, LNAT, Watson Glaser and acing it all

32 related questions found

Is there a lot of reading in law school?

Not count- ing legal research and writing assignments, most first year law students meet with three classes on average per weekday. Thus, an average reading load could range from thirty-six to over seventy-five pages of reading on "school nights" - well over 2,000 pages of dense reading a semester.

Do lawyers need a lot of math?

One of the first questions that come up in Google relating to becoming a lawyer is the question “Do lawyers need to be good at maths?” The answer to this question is actually quite simple; no, you don't need to be good at mathematics. You do, however, need excellent analytical skills.

What's 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.

Do you have to be really smart for law school?

Getting into law school takes work but you don't need to be the smartest person in the room. You just have to be willing to study, work hard, be dedicated and stay focused. Take prep courses where possible and connect lawyers or those currently in law school to get some pointers on how to best prepare.

What percentage of people pass law school?

JULY 2022 EXAM RESULTS. In July 2022, a total of 7,164 applicants sat for the bar exam, with approximately 66 percent having earned a JD from a California law school.

How many students fail law school?

How race and ethnicity play a role in law school attrition. The 2023 law school attrition rate was 3.8 percent, varying across demographics and institutions. This article delves into the types of attrition, the schools with the highest rates, and the impact of these rates on student choices and institutional policies.

What is the easiest law degree to get?

The easiest law degree to earn is a Master of Legal Studies degree. For more information about earning a Master of Legal Studies or for help finding a program, reach out to Learn.org today.

Is one C bad for law school?

In the first place, one poor grade has never kept anyone out of even the most competitive law school, and secondly, you should be willing to explore. You may find that once you are exposed to unfamiliar territory, it may become an exciting academic interest.

Is law school harder than college?

Law school is very hard—harder than college or university. This is due to a heavy course load, a high-stress environment, and difficult course material. But completing law school is not impossible; over 40,000 law students make it to graduation each year.

How many pages a week do law students read?

The rumors are true: law school is a lot of work! You should expect to be assigned anywhere from 10 pages to 200 pages of reading for each class! Then, multiply that number by 4-5 classes, and each class will likely meet 2-3 times per week! This is in addition to other assignments that you will have to work on.

How many hours do you study a day in law school?

Law Students' Average Daily Study Hours

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.

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.

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.

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 age do most finish law school?

What Is The Average Age Of Law Students? The average age of law students is 25 or younger. Only 20% of law students are 30 or older. While only a small percentage of law students are above the age of 40, there have been several successful older graduates.

What GPA is required for law school?

Obtain High GPA & LSAT Scores

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.

Is law school really stressful?

The combination of long hours, competing with peers, and pressure to perform at a high level can lead to law student burnout. Stress is also a key contributor. Unmanaged stress leads to burnout in any industry, and most law students report significant stress—even when compared to other graduate students.

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.

Do lawyers have to read a lot?

Much of what we think of as legal work involves reading. Oftentimes, it literally is the work; lawyers are regularly re- tained to read documents. Clients send materials to lawyers, instruct them to read the documents, and take action based upon what the lawyer has to say after reading them. We are paid to read.