Most students, approximately 80 per cent, depend on loans as their principal source of financial aid. First-year students are discouraged by law schools from working during the school year. In the schools' view, these students need to devote their energies solely to adapting to the rigors of a legal education. Scholarships, both merit and need-based, are very limited in number for law students. A Preliminary Guide, published by the Law School Admission Council and available at law school financial aid offices.
Legal education consists of a three year course of full-time study.
Although the approach to the study of law varies somewhat from school to school, the Socratic method of instruction has been widely adopted in law schools. This method, used extensively in first year courses, involves the presentation of course material through a series of appellate decisions presented in casebooks. Students are assigned to read these cases and are called upon in class to summarize an assigned case. The instructor will ask the student questions about the case or about a hypothetical set of facts similar to but not identical to those of the case. By bringing out the arguments for or against particular legal rules, students develop the ability to think for themselves.