Why I did not enjoy studying law online

I didn’t enjoy studying law online.

I studied law online for 4 semesters during my degree. A huge reason for that was COVID and its lockdowns.

So, I’ve got a few things to say about the experience of studying law online.

Honestly, studying law online has its own pros and cons. But in my personal experience, the cons outweighed the pros.

One of the good things about studying law online was the flexibility. I saved time from commuting to campus, especially when I lived far. The time that would’ve been used for commuting, I was able to use for other productive things.

However, these were the cons (for myself):

1 – Missing the social aspect of law school

I’m not just talking about societies/clubs and making new friends on campus. I’m also talking about the social aspect of being in an in-person class.

I found that when it was online classes, for example, if we were put in the breakout rooms, there were instances where no one was talking (no one would have their camera and mic off). In an in-person class, when you’re put in a group, you’re basically forced to talk.

2 – The feeling of being in an actual class

Yes, some tutors/teachers would ask you to turn on your camera online, but some classes weren’t so strict on that. But when the cameras were off, you don’t get that social aspect feeling.

I felt like when I was doing in-person classes, it felt more beneficial. I don’t know what it is, but when I’m doing discussions with people in-person, I feel like I consolidate the information better.

3 – Self-discipline and motivation have to be 10x

What I mean by 10x is that you need to put in the extra effort to get motivated and disciplined. When you are at home doing your classes and studying, you are surrounded by comfort distractions (e.g., TV, bed), and sometimes, you hardly have anyone around you (at least those who are also studying).

Compared to when you are on campus, and you’re in the library or something, when you see other people studying, it makes you want to study. The motivation and self-discipline feel more effortless compared to when you are at home.

What if you have no choice but to study law online?

Understandably, studying law online is the more convenient option. Maybe you live so far from campus, or online is better for your schedule.

When I moved 3 hours away from campus, I had to study online because it wasn’t practical to go to campus. But there were a few things that helped:

1. Going to a public place: these included the local library or cafe. Again, motivation and self-discipline feel more effortless compared to trying to study online.
2. If I am studying at home, having a different environment OR squeaky neat: If I had to study at home (e.g., for discussion-based classes where I shouldn’t be in public), I would either make sure that I have a different room or area to study, or my room is super neat.

To Wrap Up

I’m always going to be pro-studying in-person. For some people, they may prefer studying online, but since we are talking about my personal experience, it didn’t work for me because:

1. Missing the social aspect
2. Missing the feeling of being in an actual class
3. Having to 10x motivation and self-discipline

If you are trying to decide between studying law online or in-person, there are so many factors to consider. While I do recommend that you go in person because it’s more beneficial for your learning, and the self-discipline is effortless (especially since there is a lot of work), not all hope is lost if your only option is to study law online.

P.S I suggest reading these blog posts next:

• Resume and CV Tips for the Legal Field
• How I Make Time for Myself as a Lawyer
• 6 Simple Things that Make My Work Day Better

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