By Beth Goodbaum
University law students now have the option of taking later classes with the addition of the University School of Law’s evening division.
The program, which began last fall, “was designed for students with work and family commitments,” Maureen Kessler, director of Part-Time Programs and Graduate Admissions, said.
The division will provide new programs and additional faculty in the near future. For now, professors who normally instruct daytime courses have been assigned to teach the evening classes.
Kessler estimates that the law school will welcome at least eight new professors during the course of the program, but said the administration is still in the beginning stages of planning.
There are currently 93 students enrolled in the division, many of whom hold full time jobs.
“Students range from those who have just graduated college to those in their ’50s and ’60s,” law student Hanita Wishnevski said. “Most of us work full time and some are just going back to school, which makes this program great.”
Wishnevski said evening students are typically enrolled in three courses, with an option of taking a fourth, unlike daytime students who take five courses a semester.
Students in the program will graduate in four years, instead of the three-year schedule for daytime students. Evening students are also required to take a summer course in legal writing.
“Right now we want to ensure that evening students get the same quality education as those in day time classes,” Kessler said.

The University´s School of Law now offers evening classes, which consist of recent graduates to those in there 50s and 60s. (Harry Tanielyan/The Chronicle)