After university I never thought I would have the time to maintain a full-time job while studying for the Legal Practice Course (LPC). Full-time work alongside part-time study seems impressive. You’ll need to be on top of your game to handle both.

After working a five-day week, I go on to study the LPC once a fortnight on a Saturday. LPC providers recommend studying 20-25 hours a week on the part-time course, whereas you can normally expect to be studying between eight to 16 hours a week during an undergraduate law degree. Initially, studying for the LPC was difficult and tiring, as it is a massive commitment to study in the evenings and weekends. Due to lockdown restrictions, my classes have been solely remote, which has reduced the pressure of commuting to the City. 

Whichever route into law you pick, you will see yourself undertaking work experience alongside your studies. I for sure, have gone from having ample time to socialise to finding myself studying in my free time. As I mentioned in a previous blog post, studying is all about balance. Finding balance while you’re in full-time employment is a challenge, but achievable for all and the norm for most students.

Plan your workload

Learn to manage a high workload. This skill will come in handy for life in practice. Make sure you know all your exam dates and work around them. Try not to miss lectures. Doing this will only increase the amount of time you need to spend trying to catch up. Planning your revision in advance will help you to determine what hours and days you can study. If you know your study patterns (ie, whether you are a night owl or a lark) it’s best to fit in your studying during your optimal times.

Don’t overcommit to shifts

Employers will often expect employees to be flexible. Try to anticipate busy periods at university and work. For example, try to reduce your hours around exam season in advance. It’s also best to reduce your overtime – studying comes first. You are investing a lot into your qualifications, so be honest with your employer when the job becomes intense.

If you are investing more time into paid work than studying, this can become a problem. With more and more firms announcing flexible working patterns, picking a firm that allows for this, will give you the opportunity to study, work, and be flexible around this – the commute to the coffee shop from the office (or library) will save every law student’s time.

Study leave versus annual leave

Many employers do offer the luxury of study leave – sometimes paid. For apprenticeships, employers will usually state that you’ll be in the office four days a week, with one day to study. Often, this can be seen as a better alternative to using time from your annual leave. When choosing to embark on an undergraduate, postgraduate course or apprenticeship, it’s worth considering whether you’ll need additional leave to sit your exams. It may even be worth negotiating with your employer for the entitlement for a number of study days so that you can prepare accordingly. 

Get support from your employer

It is important to pick an employer that is understanding and willing to be flexible. If you’re already working in the legal industry, you may consider seeking support from your employer. If you’re planning to qualify with your current employer, studying alongside work will benefit both you and them. Your commitment to your studies will stand out.

On the LPC, many practical legal skills can be applied in practice, from drafting to legal research. You can get feedback on your performance from your employer, which may help you to perform better on your exams. And remember that they have been through it. 

From my own experience, if you have the passion and determination to qualify and succeed, that will supersede any hardships you may encounter. So, don’t try to operate against your studies, try to work with them, with the backing of your employer.