The Great Print Debate: Print Shop vs. DIY — Which Saves You More when printing the LSO materials and LexPD indices?
- Liran Kandin
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
As you gear up for the LSO licensing exams, you’re faced with a mountain of materials. With the LSO study materials totaling approximately 2,120 pages and a comprehensive set of LEXPD indices adding another 950 pages, you are looking at over 3,000 pages of essential reading.
The question isn’t if you should print them (having physical copies to tab and highlight is a proven strategy), but how to do it without breaking the bank.
Today, we’re crunching the numbers: Is it better to head to a local print shop or invest in your own hardware?
Option 1: The Local Print Shop
Most students head to a big-box print center (like Staples or a local copy shop) for convenience. However, "convenience" comes with a per-page premium.
Average Cost: $0.10 to $0.15 per page (double-sided).
The Math: 3,070 pages x $0.12 = $368.40
The Pros: No maintenance; professional binding options.
The Cons: High cost; you have to travel to pick them up; any last-minute index updates mean another trip and more fees.
Option 2: The DIY Home Office Printer
Right now, there is a compelling case for buying your own machine. A reliable workhorse, like the Brother HL-L2460DW Monochrome Laser Printer, is currently on sale for $179.99 on Amazon.ca.
Unlike inkjet printers, laser printers use toner, which doesn't dry out and offers a much lower cost-per-page.
The DIY Investment Breakdown:
Toner: The starter toner usually covers 700–1,200 pages. Two high-yield replacement (approx. $40) covers another 6,000 pages.
Note: Brother is famous for having affordable third-party replacement toner available online.
Total DIY Cost: ~$240.00 to $300.00 (including the printer, paper and toner!)
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Lie
Expense | Print Shop | Buy Your Own Printer |
Total Cost for 1st Print | ~$368.40 | ~$260.00 |
Asset Value | $0 (You have paper) | $180 (You own the printer) |
Future Updates | Full Price Again | Only the cost of paper + toner |
Why the DIY Route Wins for Bar Candidates
1. It Pays for Itself Instantly By printing just one full set of LSO materials and indices, you save nearly $100 compared to a professional print shop. You essentially get a "free" printer and still have money left over for coffee.
2. Automatic Double-Sided Printing (Duplex) The Brother model mentioned above features automatic double-sided printing. This is crucial—it keeps your binders thin and manageable, and you won’t have to spend hours manually flipping 1,500 sheets of paper.
3. Surgical Updates (The Home Advantage) Indices are highly detailed. If a single page is updated or you find a specific section you want to re-print with your own annotations, the home printer is a lifesaver.
Note: You don't need to reprint all 950 pages! Having a printer at your desk means if a page changes, you can simply swap out that one specific sheet in seconds. At a print shop, the minimum fees and travel time often make small updates more trouble than they're worth.
4. Post-Exam Utility Once the bar exams are behind you, you still own a high-quality wireless printer for your future law practice or articling work.
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