Nice problem to have, right? $4,000+ to spend on my education, this year, but...

[Slobodan]

...gut says to leave it on the table...here's why...

I'm very close to having my bachelor's via Bellevue University (thanks to my employer's tuition assistance program, which pays $5,250/yr.); I'm down to only a pittance of gen ed and electives, which can be met by classes, CLEPS, DSST's, Straighterline, or Saylor Academy (though the tuition assistance only pays for "actual" classes (not sure is Straighterline is included, therein).

However, I've already just started in my first year of law school via NWCU School of Law. It's intense. I won't finish the classes until next year, so, my 2018 tuition assistance is mostly spoken-for.

The plan had been to use tuition assistance, this calendar year, in order to pay for classes at the University that will confirm my undergraduate degree, but I am feeling so behind and that I will not have enough time to study law, such that I may not pass the baby bar, which I must pass in June of 2018, in order to continue in the program, that I would be short-changing myself, for the longer run, if I do not just attend to my law studies, because that is going to be more important.

I am thinking that once I get used to the rigor of law studies that perhaps in the second or third year I can go ahead do the general education requirements either in online classes via Bellevue University or spend the time to take the clips or DSS T's, even though those are not paid for out of tuition assistance, and thereby finish up the JD and the undergraduate degree which will be in banking at about the same time.

Thank you to any who read this far, and then I advise you might offer. My feeling is that I need to take my time on the thing that will be most important and most visible to my employer towards my getting to the next position, in a few years, should I be able to do it in the minimum time available through nwcu, and bypassing all the bar exams.

Any feedback, advice, appreciated.

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[Pink Fuzzy Bunny]

Maybe I am misreading, but why do you want an additional bachelors degree in addition to law school? I am not in law school, but know several people who are - doing anything above and beyond law school is simply unfeasible.

[Slobodan]

not seeking add'l bachelor's - my u/g degree is not yet conferred, but, I was allowed to begin the law studies, regardless.

Thank you for reading

[Neist]

Is the continued enrollment in your law school conditional on you finishing your bachelor's by a specific date? If not, I suppose waiting to complete the bachelor's is certainly an option, with perhaps one caveat.

For background, I worked at a law school for over 10 years. I've never attended law school, but I'm pretty confident with my understanding of the rigors of law school. That said, if you can hold off finishing your bachelor's for now, I'd probably do it, personally. The first year of law school is pretty rough; each successive year gets easier. However, the later one progresses into a law program, the more important networking becomes. My caveat is that you need to allow yourself the time to network and pursue things like internships into years two and three. Doing so will greatly aid your finding a job after graduation. Grades definitely matter, but networking might matter just as much.

Of course, I could be horrendously incorrectly, but I'm at least moderately confident to give you that advice, given my experiences.

Edited February 9, 2017 by Neist
Typo.