Does anyone know if there are law schools that offer more than one part-time option, e.g., students can take fewer credits per semester than is typical in a part-time program? I work full-time in a high-stress job, am the only breadwinner, and have a spouse and kid to feed; so reducing my workload isn't an option. Still, I don't want to be in class four nights a week and completely miss out on my kid's childhood. Would love to hear about experiences with flexible part-time JD programs. Thanks in advance.

I was admitted off the waitlist to my first-choice law school, where I was eligible for in-state tution. Nonetheless, the "cost of attendance" was nowhere near what I need to support my daughter. Even with my husband working part-time (and staying home with the baby during the week), we were looking at a $10K shortfall. This has made me really reconsider if law school will ever be possible, and if it is actually worth it to go $180K into debt when I know I want to work in the public sector.

So, my question is this: Has anyone applied to a school where they had a GPA and LSAT combo well over the average, and been offered a sizeable amount in scholarships and grants? I don't see any other way to finance law school and be free to accept a job in government or the non-profit sector when I graduate. Nonetheless, I always hear that schools don't really give out money for legal education, since they expect you to be rolling in cash once you're working as a lawyer.

Any advice/experiences are most welcome!

Thanks to each of you for the responses. I've been thinking that mbw has a great point in that day-care--especially a part-time arrangement--could actually be beneficial for our daughter once she is well into toddlerhood. I've also been looking at schools that offer a bit more flexibility than your average law school, and that may turn out in our favor, too. Thanks, again!