3L Provides Tips on How to be Successful in Law School as a Part-Time Evening Student
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Christine “Chris” Drew, a 3L enrolled in UIC Law’s Part-Time Evening J.D. Program, shares valuable insight about her law school experience at UIC Law and offers advice to those looking to take on the challenge as a part-time evening law student.
Drew’s experience in the legal profession began after receiving her master’s in public service management from Depaul University. She worked as a corporate account manager where she was able to still be connected to the law through various activities. She handled employee related matters, department of labor concerns, and issues related to federal employment law, later leading her to pursue a certification in paralegal studies.
13 years later, Drew is still making an impact as a paralegal, having gained valuable experience in various sectors of the law, including white-collar crime, medical malpractice, personal injury, and most recently, civil defense, where she has been for the past eight years.
Drew’s decision to apply to law school stemmed from the encouragement of co-workers who acknowledged that she had already been doing the work of a lawyer. Once accepted into UIC Law’s part-time evening program, Drew recalls being refreshed to join a cohort of other working adults.
“Being a part-time evening student is not easy, but there is something to be said about making the decision to take time out of our ordinary lives to do this. We were all here for specific reasons,” Drew recalls the refreshing feeling of studying law amongst other adults who worked full-time.
Though she had a lot of previous experience with multiple facets of the law, Drew credits the law school for refining the avenues that she never thought she would be interested in pursuing and being flexible enough for her to still get involved and enhance her law school experience through extra-curricular activities.
While in law school, Drew was able to satisfy her experiential learning requirement through the Restorative Justice program, was Executive Justice on Moot Court, served as both External Affairs Commissioner and Part-Time/Evening Student Liaison for the Student Bar Association, a mentor for new student orientation, and a BARBRI head rep for UIC.
Graduating in May 2025, Drew hopes to combine her work experience in the corporate and political arena with her legal experience to develop policy and legislation that addresses concerns facing her community. Post commencement, Drew will stay at her Chicago-based civil defense firm, transitioning from her paralegal position to law clerk and upon passing of the bar, she will become an associate.
Earlier this year, Drew published an article with the Chicago Bar Association with “Tips for Being an Evening Law Student.” Take a look at her advice below:
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Ask Questions
You are there for yourself and as such you must be your own advocate. There are no silly questions, and your classmates likely will appreciate someone asking, rather than no one asking. Take advantage of your professors’ office hours. They are available for a reason, even if it is just to go in with a few questions about the assignment you just finished. Your writing is likely going to be tailored to what that specific professor wants, so why not ask the question about expectations ahead of time. However, make sure that your questions are on topic during class, and you come prepared to office hours. Nothing is worse than time wasted.
Connect With Other Students
Take the opportunity to connect with other evening students, specifically the ones who have made it through that first year of balancing it all. They will be some of the best resources on how to successfully navigate the law school atmosphere, long night classes, and handling the balancing act required to make it.
Find Your Niche and Use Your Knowledge/Experience
Many organizations [at UIC Law] have expanded their access so that evening students can be involved. If there is no organization on campus that meets your interests, then start one. You never know who also might be interested. Now, we all are busy with school, work, life etc. but sometimes that extra outlet provides connections, untapped networking, and an outlet where you can talk with fellow classmates who have the same interests, but you might not have had a chance to cross paths with previously.
Click the link below to read more of Chris Drew’s tips.