By Rhonadale Florentino
Layout by: Lou Margaret S. Nebit
12:47 AM
You are tired, and your eyes are heavy, but you cannot go to bed yet. Everyone in your house is already asleep, but for you, the second half of your day has just started.
For many working law students, this is the life that they have signed up for to achieve those coveted four letters – ATTY.
The Reality That No One Talks About
The traditional image of a law student, someone who is in business attire while skimming through thick books, has long been a dream for many; however, this is not everyone’s reality. While most might see law school as a pause from the daily grinds of corporate life, some see it more as a layer on top of their already packed and busy schedule.
Arlan is a first-year online student at SBCA, already in his second semester. He has multiple businesses under his belt and also happens to be a family man. He has long dreamt of becoming a lawyer, seeing it as a way of strengthening his ability to think clearly under pressure and make decisions even under difficult circumstances. Precisely because of his situation, Arlan is unable to commit full-time to being a law student.
Pee Jey, another first-year online student at SBCA, shares the same sentiments. A mom, a wife, and the eldest daughter charged with being the HR Manager of their business while also running a pre-school in Ilolo. It is hard for her to just put on the brakes and focus solely on law school.
For both Arlan and Pee Jey, their situation was not an either-or but a commitment to both – a commitment that, to some extent, was forced upon them in pursuit of their dream.
Your Time and Energy are Both Important
It would seem that there is one truth: the amount of reading and studying that you need to do can reach unrealistic levels. You will quickly realize that you may not be able to read everything. You cannot prepare perfectly. You cannot control every recitation outcome.
The acceptance that you are not in the same situation as full-time students is very important. This lets you shift your focus and your strategy. Given that you have to juggle work, family, and studies, you have to be very mindful of your time. Your time is a very limited resource, which means everything has to go to your calendar, and everything needs to be planned – from family dinners to your sleep routines up until your hours of work.
According to Arlan, being intentional and disciplined helps in making sure that you keep to your schedule. He adds that discipline should not depend on your mood.
Pee Jey agrees with this mindset, as she is also very intentional with her schedule at home and at work. She also adds that it is important to learn how to say “No” to things that are not that urgent or important, whether it be at work or at home. This ensures that you protect your energy since the more tired you are, the more likely you will find it hard to study or to keep to whatever schedule you have in place.
Do Not Be Ashamed to Ask for Help
Pee Jey chalks up her ease in juggling so many things to the support offered by her husband. Whenever she needs time to rest or just some peace and quiet to focus on her readings, her husband steps up to take care of breakfast and makes sure that the kids are ready for school.
Asking for help is not limited to your immediate family members. In fact, you can also ask for help from your classmates who might be good at creating review notes or case digests. You will be surprised at how much your blockmates will support you, as they do understand the challenges posed by law school. In some cases, consulting your professors and asking them for tips also work. They have gone through the same challenges as you, so they have an idea of what your life is like.
Be Strategic in Reading
One of the biggest mistakes working students make is trying to read everything all at once. Instead of this approach, which more likely will break you, focus on what matters. Identify first if there are landmark cases in your list of readings. Depending on the subject, start with the facts, followed by the issues. Try to figure out, based on the topic in your syllabus, where that particular case falls. Once you have figured it out, read the decision of the courts. This will help you better understand how the provisions were applied. Do not try to memorize the whole case. As mentioned by Arlan, “Not everything is important. You have to focus on what actually moves you forward.”
Most full-time students will tell you that you should start with the codal. Since you have limited time, the best approach for you would be to start with annotated books and commentaries. These books generally discuss the provisions in detail and, in some cases, provide examples on how the provisions are applied. These can prove to be helpful, especially when you are trying to familiarize yourself with the elements and requisites.
Build Systems, Not Just Effort
Some learners are visual, some learn better when they are able to spin a story. Try to figure out what kind of learner you are and match it with how you study your materials. If you are a visual learner, creating mind maps or drawings might help you remember doctrines easier.
Take advantage of technology. While it is not recommended to use ChatGPT when writing output, such as case digests, or during recitations, it is still a good tool to use if a provision is hard to understand. You can also tap NotebookLLM to create review notes, podcasts, or videos that can help explain cases in simple terms. The goal here is simple: simplify things and prevent reading fatigue.
Endurance Over Perfection
Most working students might operate in silence, and their struggles are often unseen, but it does not mean that they have it easy. They carry professional responsibilities and family obligations on top of academic pressures. Persistence is the key – not perfectionism, not effortless intelligence.
Law school is not about doing everything perfectly. It is about being consistent enough to keep going. If you are juggling a lot of responsibilities right now but still show up for class, you are already doing something extraordinary.
NOTE TO THE READERS: Volume XIX, Issue 2, penned and published by The Red Chronicles, is a Back Issue for the Publication Year 2025-2026. Note that the article contents thereof align with the events relevant to the previous Academic Year 2025-2026.
