It remains fairly unusual for undergraduates who move straight from school to university to study for their first degree part time. However, in the past two years an increasing number of graduates who want to qualify as solicitors are choosing to undertake the next stage of training (the GDL and/or the LPC) on a part-time basis. Far from being a fallback option, this route can make a great deal of sense and for more than just financial reasons.

The main reason for studying part time is financial. Most people graduate from university in a substantial amount of debt. There is no student loan funding for the GDL or LPC and the course fees are considerably higher than at undergraduate level (the GDL costs from £4,000 to more than £8,000 and the LPC costs from £7,000 to £12,500). The part-time route takes two years instead of one, which means that only half of the fees need to be found each year and students can also earn to fund their fees and living costs.

Financially, therefore, the part-time route through the GDL and/or LPC is attractive; but does it make sense in terms of course demands and your future career?

Both the GDL and LPC are intensive courses. There is a lot to learn and assimilate, and on the LPC assessments take place throughout the course. Unlike at undergraduate level, it is impossible to pass by focusing on selected areas and skimming over others, or by cramming for exams at the end of the year. You need to know, understand and be able to apply what you have learnt across the whole curriculum.

There are different attendance models for the two courses, taught at evening classes or in weekend blocks. If you are considering the part-time route, think carefully about which option would suit you best. If you intend to earn at the same time, your hours of work will inevitably influence which model you choose. But there are other considerations too. Do you work at your best in the evenings? Are you able to commit to attend every week? This is crucial, because you really do need to attend every class in every subject. Would the total immersion method of intensive weekend teaching suit you better? Many people find that they learn better this way because they focus entirely on the course during the blocks. But be warned - the weekends are demanding and you have to maintain your study between the blocks of attendance.

Some LPC providers offer a combination of part-time and full-time attendance. From 2009 it became possible to study the core practice areas full time and switch to part time for the electives or vice versa. This option allows you to tailor your mode of study to suit your circumstances.

If you studied for your degree full time you will be used to having a set timetable that provided a structure for your life. Normally there is a great deal of flexibility in how you spend the rest of your time and when you choose to study. On the part-time route, if you are also earning you will need to be very disciplined. Your job will require you to designate specific time for study outside the classroom. You must treat the course as another job and timetable your study with particular objectives to be achieved in each session. It's important not to fall behind, because there is no opportunity to catch up later.

Earning while studying can have more benefits than simply helping you to meet course costs. Obtaining a training contract has become increasingly difficult, so any part-time work you can get in a legal environment will add crucial experience to your CV. A legal environment need not mean a solicitors' firm; banks and building societies, insurance companies and local authorities all have legal departments, as do many large companies. Even working in a non-legal environment can be useful.

Law firms value a business-focused approach. Work experience in a commercial environment allows you to develop this outlook, to understand how businesses operate and the contribution that individuals make. You can also develop other skills that will help you in your future career, such as time management, communication and teamwork.  It is important that you make a conscious effort to develop these skills. For example, think about how you are managing your time and how you could do this better. Ask for feedback and try to learn good working habits from colleagues.

It is also worth considering doing some volunteering. Law centres, court-based projects and advice work can help you to develop your skills in a legal environment. Check whether your law school offers opportunities to take part in pro bono activities, which are an excellent way to gain hands-on experience and put what you're learning at law school into context.

Part-time study takes longer than the full-time course, which can make it an unattractive option to many. Previously, it made better financial sense to borrow money to fund the GDL and/or LPC because upon qualification your salary would be much higher. However, this calculation was based on securing a training contract immediately upon completion of the LPC, which today is an even greater challenge.

The economic difficulties that law firms are currently experiencing mean that it may be advantageous to take an extra year to complete your GDL or LPC. Many large firms have asked some (often as many as half) of their September 2009 trainees to defer for six months to a year. This means that in September 2010 there will be few training contracts around, as those who have deferred will take up their places. Firms may also decide to put off their 2011 recruitment until nearer the time, depending on how swiftly the economy recovers. It could therefore be better to work and study for two years, rather than studying for one and incurring a larger debt only to have to wait for another year before commencing your training.

But how does this method of study look on your CV? Will firms be put off because you chose to study part time rather than full time? Not if your decision is presented as a positive and reasoned one.

If your decision to study part time was driven by financial reasons, there is no shame in saying so - it demonstrates that you took a realistic, businesslike approach. Use your CV to highlight how part-time study allowed you to gain valuable work experience. Specify the skills that you acquired, concentrating on those relevant to your legal career. Part-time study requires strong motivation, organisation and commitment, so be sure to stress this.

A fortunate few are sponsored through their GDL and/or LPC with the promise of a training contract at the end. That number will decrease in the future as law firms cut recruitment. For the majority who have to self-fund their training, part-time study is becoming more attractive in financial terms. Thoughtfully planned to combine with relevant work experience, part-time study can give you the edge in the increasingly tough battle for a training contract.

Fiona Cunningham is head of strategic development at Nottingham Law School.