Reentry Law Student, Capt. Darin Richter and his family. The devoted husband and father of four has a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering (with a concentration in aerospace design) from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. At CAE, Richter works primarily with the U.S. Air Force and Lockheed Martin on CAE's C-130 line of products. He said returning to school to pursue a law degree was a big decision but well worth it. "Both the Army and my current job required significant time away from my family, and as the kids got older, I realized that I was missing out on a lot. I needed an occupation where I could manage my own time, thus ensuring I had something left over for my family," said Mr. Richter. Stetson provided the perfect avenue for Richter's career objectives. As an added benefit, Richter was chosen to receive the first Emmitt Wilkes Scholarship, the largest award given to an individual student in the school's history. For the next four years, the award will cover all tuition, fees, and books for Richter and will provide an additional $38,000 annually for living expenses. The scholarship is given with preference to nontraditional students who are entering law school as a possible career change or who are raising families. "I think that as everyone gets older, their perspectives change and priorities shift. Unfortunately, by the time most of us figure it out, we're so far down the road in our current occupations that it seems too late to change," explained Mr. Richter. "I was fortunate that Stetson offers a part-time program, which provides a compromise. I can continue to support my family with my current occupation while transitioning to a career in law." Kristen David Adams is an Associate Professor at Stetson who has had Mr. Richter in one of her courses. She describes Mr. Richter as "hard working, diligent, and professional" and said he is "a strong contributor in classroom discussion," which she attributes to his real-life experience that he brings to Stetson. Professor Adams, who is co-author of the book, The Practice of Law School, said that students return to school for any number of reasons. The most common reasons are the need to gain additional training to enrich the student's opportunities in an existing job; an interest in changing careers or building on experience and expertise from a previous career and applying that to the legal market; or the desire (or need) to return to the workplace after several years of raising children at home. "My nontraditional students are typically quite focused in their studies. They often impress me with their level of professionalism, which probably comes from a strong understanding of the opportunity cost—both in time and in money—of their decision to pursue a legal education," said Professor Adams. "As students, the older group often compares quite favorably; they frequently garner top grades that are reflective of their strong skills in discipline and concentration." Reentry students are defined in general as being more than 25 years old and are often student-parents returning to pursue degrees after periods of work and/or child-rearing experience. Reentry students come from all walks of life, from teachers to law enforcement officers to medical doctors. Dr. Frank Averill, 47, is board certified in pulmonary medicine, critical care medicine, sleep medicine and internal medicine. Having graduated from New York Medical College 20 years ago, he cites his reason for attending law school as a need for lawyers with a deeper understanding of medicine, science, and healthcare issues. As a student at Stetson, he describes the experience as both challenging and positive. "In medical school, my only focus was on my academics. Now I must juggle my professional responsibilities, my family life, and school work, which is more challenging in many ways," explained Dr. Averill. "However, since I have so many things going on in my life, I have more perspective, and the law school experience is not so overwhelming." Dr. Averill, who will graduate in 2008, says as a doctor he is accustomed to working on little sleep and managing multiple tasks. He credits his wife for being so supportive and for the encouragement he receives from his two children. He said his law school experience so far has been enriching. And how has the experience been sitting side by side with younger students? "Younger students have been quite accepting but view it as odd that someone who is a successful and established physician who is making a comfortable income would want to go to law school. They look at law school more as a pathway to greater income potential and success. I view law school more as an opportunity for personal growth and challenge." At a number of law schools, reentry/nontraditional support groups are popping up to help ease the transition into law school. This is especially helpful for student-parents like Tammy VanHeyningen, a 3L at Washington University in the St. Louis School of Law. Ms. VanHeyningen, 35, who holds a Ph.D. in microbiology from Washington University, decided to go to law school because she said she saw a need for biotech patent lawyers and that she has always enjoyed writing and thinking about science. As someone who has spent 11 years between undergrad and starting law school, Ms. VanHeyningen knows the importance of support groups and serves as president of Second Career Law Students (SCaLeS). "At Washington University, non-traditionals are in the minority, and we started the SCaLeS organization to help the non-traditionals make contact and get to know each other. This was important because spouses and significant others tire of talking about law school and like to meet each other for support. Especially for first years, the transition to law school is all-consuming, and having contact with other students going through the same thing is helpful." Attending law school later in life can indeed be a major juggling act for students who are parents. Ms. VanHeyningen had one child when she began law school and just had her second child over the Christmas break. "I treat law school like a job. I get up in the morning, drop the kids at daycare, and I am a law student from 9-5. I fully admit I also put in several hours on the weekends, generally Sundays, and only when I have papers due or when exams are getting close. For the three weeks around exams, I disappear on weekends from 9-5 to study as well. I think having a real life helps me keep law school in perspective," said Ms. VanHeyningen. The job prospects look good for Ms. VanHeyningen, who will be graduating this May. She already has a job lined up at a big firm this fall where she will be practicing patent law. "Law school is expensive and a drain both emotionally and financially. Prepare for it. Read all the books about law school you can," she advises. "Three years is a very short time in the scheme of things. And it has flown by."

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