Pregnant in Law School?

[saradsun]

I guess everyone is different. 

Yeppers. The problem is, until you hold that baby and care for it for a few weeks, you really don't know which way you'll go.

[1rakayla]

I am due at the end of June, which will give me a little time before law school.  I couldn't imagine having a baby right when school started. Just trying to find a daycare that will accept a baby before 6 weeks old can be very difficult.  On the other hand, 2 of my friends had babies in the middle of the semester while in grad school, so it definetely can be done. In the end, you know yourself best and you know what you are capable of handling. Make the best decision for yourself and your baby. Congratulations!!

[gemini0608]

Hi, I just came across this board as I was googling information for myself and I thought I'd give you my two cents.  I am a 1L and I'm 5.5 months pregnant.  Luckily, I'm not due until June, so hopefully the timing works out and I'll be done with finals before he decides to make his appearance.  I can't really offer you much advice on being a student-mommy (at least until Aug!) but I can tell you from my experience that I spent most of last semester sick and totally exhausted, and it was hard enough to keep up with the workload.  I couldn't even imagine doing it with a newborn!  In fact, I have a friend who had started last year after having a baby and she ended up deferring after just a few weeks of class.  She started again this past fall and it is much more manageable.  I guess my point is that the decision is totally yours, you know yourself better than anyone else, but also realize that law school is probably unlike anything you've ever done and waiting one more year won't be the end of the world! Congratulations on your pregnancy, and good luck with whatever you decide to do! 

[Wishful Thinking]

Congrats!

My supervisor had her daughter during the middle of her law school days.  The school was very willing to work with her and she ended up taking a leave of absence for a term so that she could get the hang of being a single mom.  Mind you that she was going to school PT and also working FT. 

I would venture to say that you'd be better off deferring until next year; am not a mother myself but have seen enough pregnancies to know that nothing can really be planned where this is concerned.  The last thing you want is to be trying to juggle a newborn alone and starting law school at the same time - oh, and right when your hormones will be going nuts. 

If you're desperately trying to start ASAP, I'd see if your school has any options regarding a January start.  If they don't, why don't you just postpone school for a year while you're getting to know your son or daughter?  Raising a child primarily by yourself and doing law school is going to be difficult enough, but I would think it would be slightly easier if your child was a year old and you two had already established a routine.  Also, you'd likely be feeling better, you child would be sleeping more regularly, and there will be fewer surprises that could adversely affect your law school performance.

Good luck with your decision and best wishes for a healthy pregnancy!

[Rhymnoceros]

From what I understand, Ruth Bader Ginsburg did law school while being pregnant and a new mom.

Other interesting facts about Ruth Bader Ginsburg:

* Ruth Bader Ginsburg doesn't read casebooks. She stares them down until she gets the information she wants.
* If you have five dollars and Ruth Bader Ginsburg has five dollars, Ruth Bader Ginsburg has more money than you.
* There is no 'ctrl' button on Ruth Bader Ginsburg's computer. Ruth Bader Ginsburg is always in control.
* Ruth Bader Ginsburg is suing Myspace for taking the name of what she calls everything around you.
* Ruth Bader Ginsburg destroyed the periodic table, because she only recognizes the element of surprise.
* Ruth Bader Ginsburg can kill two stones with one bird.

 
I actually lol'd. Mainly because I love RBG. And I'm excited that i got to see her at Gtown's ASD

With all of the references to RBG in various aspects (mainly as the prime exmple of choosing Columbia over Harvard) I should have known it was just a matter of time before she became a Chuck Norris-esque mythical figure.
Personally i like:
Apple pays Ruth Bader Ginsburg 99 cents everytime she listens to a song.
Contrary to popular belief, America is not a democracy, its a Ruthtatorship (this also works as a critique of judicial activisim for you high brow types.)
Ruth Bader Ginsburg is currently suing NBC claiming tha Law and Order are trademarked names for her left and right legs.

Man they all work with RBG! Anyway, sorry for the totally off topic reference to a month old response (which was also off topic). Ahem, continue your discussion.

[SunnyG]

The lady who covers the supreme court for usa today ( i can't remember her name) recently spoke at my school.  She explained how she went to law school while she was pregnant. At Georgetown.  I thought that was rather impressive.

An associate attorney at the law firm I work for also successfully completed law school after getting pregnant. 

[armyjag]

If I remember right, I think Wyoming's valedictorian from last year actually delivered her child during first semester finals and wrote all her tests. 

[HippieLawChick]

I know three people who have had babies during law school.  While they don't recommend it, it is not impossible.  It just depends on how good your baby is, and how easily you adapt to parenthood.  If you can defer, you might want to do so. However, don't give up on your dream!

[memamma]

I've been thinking quite a bit about this topic for the past several years.  I have a few suggestions -- though take them as just that.  Everyone is different and you have to do what feels right for you.

I am a 3L and am expecting my first child in March.   I seriously considered having my first during my first year of law school, but decided against it.  These are my reasons:

1. Your first year grades are THE most important grades during your entire law school career.  Firms hire based on them.  You will interview for your 2L summer job by October of your 2L year, and if you receive an offer (again, based solely on your 1st year performance and resume) for a summer position and do well that summer, you are almost guaranteed work upon graduation.  Luckily, that's what happened for me.  But I worked my butt off 1st year.  I'm talking 8am-11pm, weekends too.  I cannot imagine trying to care for a newborn during that time.

2. 2L and 3L years are, relative to 1st year, a piece of cake. If you've set everything up right, and it's worked to your favor, you'll have a job offer and won't have to be a grade monger to make it out there in the work force.  If you do have a summer position lined up, you can likely pull good enough grades with like 3 hours of homework per weekday (excluding Fridays -- who can concentrate after a hard week!), 1 whole weekend day off, a few hours of work on the other weekend day.

3. Since this fall, the legal market has started to dry up a bit, likely due to fears of an impending recession.  This was not in effect when I interviewed, but I think it will likely play a role in the decisions employers are making for this next crop of interviews.  The number of slots open was already limited when I interviewed, but now it's even more of an issue.  I've heard anecdotal evidence verifying this.

SO: I say take a year "off"    and enjoy your little one.  Looking back, I wish that's what I had chosen to do.  The timing of my pregnancy couldn't have been better in terms of when to have a little one during school (not during 1st year, for reasons stated above, and not during second year, and 'cause firms discriminate against 2L summer associates who are preggers, no matter what they say -- I have seen it happen).  However, I'll have to contend with studying for the bar exam when he's only 3 months old.  That'll mean a lot of family support and praying I'll have some sleep somehow (hopefully my husband will take over the night shift??).  Plus, you'll have the fabulous flexibility of THREE years of law school during which you can see much much more of your little one than when you work at a firm.  Maybe the 1st will still be tough, but the second and third years of law school are very very doable.
 
It is truly such a blessing to be bringing a child into the world -- soak up all the time with them you can!!

All that said, I have a friend who had her 1st child during 1L year, and another during her 3L year.  She's working at a top firm, and says she's happy with her life balance (and I actually believe her -- she seems to be).   So anything is possible.

Whatever you choose, congratulations and best of luck!!!

[upwithmontana]

Odd, but related and true, story:

My GF's cousin's friend got accepted to Michigan LS a couple years back. She was pregnant during 1L.  The only problem is that she didn't know it until SIX MONTHS in!!!  I'm not an authority, but I can't see how she could've missed it.  I've never seen her; maybe she was already somewhat heavyset.  Still though, I thought a lot more changed than only a woman's weight.

Anyway, I thought I'd share since she's probably long into anonymity by now.  Goes to show that one can be very smart and very stupid at the same time....