Importance of Working during Law School

To Work or Not to Work

Working during law school can be very rewarding if you find the right job, with the right hours and the right pay. It can help round out your law school education and give you the practical real-world experience that your classes can't give you. It can also help ease the financial strain that most law students feel. Perhaps most importantly, a job during law school can give you a good perspective on what it's like to be a lawyer and show you that "yes, there is life outside of law school." The decision of whether to get a job during the school year is not an easy one, however, and you should fully consider your options before you decide to embark on the job search.


WHERE DO YOU LOOK AND WHOM DO YOU ASK?

I have had great luck finding jobs while attending law school In the spring of my first year, when I found myself with a little more time on my hands, I decided to get apart-time legal job. I had started law school straight out of college and therefore did not have a lot of experience under my belt. At that point, although I needed money, my priority was just to get some legal experience. I went to the Pro Bono Students of America office and expressed my interest in environmental law. Within about a week, I had procured a non-paying internship at a government agency right down the street from my law school I worked there pro bono all spring, and then they offered me a paid position for the summer. I am a third-year student now and I still work there part-time during the school year as a paid law clerk.

During my second year, I was in the financial aid office one day when one of my first-year professors walked into the office. When he saw me, he asked me if I was a work-study recipient, and I said yes (at my law school, only work-study students can be research assistants). He said, "Great! I need a new research assistant and you're just the one for the job!" I was feeling especially crunched financially that semester, and the extra money from being a research assistant really helped out. You never know when a job is going to pop up and bite you on the nose, so keep a lookout! -JOANNA L. GIORGIO, FORDHAM LAW SCHOOL

Remember that you don't know when a job is going to pop up, so make sure you explore every possibility. Any situation can be a networking opportunity, so get used to taking advantage of those opportunities when they present themselves.

PROFESSORS

One of your greatest resources for finding a job is your professors, especially your first-year professors, who tend to know you particularly well. Don't be afraid to approach your professors for work. Most professors hire one to two research assistants per semester, sometimes more. If a professor likes and respects you from having you in her class, she will surely be happy to hire you as a research assistant. Moreover, many professors do consulting work for outside law firms or organizations. They may need students to help them in this research as well. Even if your favorite professor is not hiring any research assistants at the moment, she will probably be happy to recommend you to a colleague who does need an assistant. Remember that your professors also have many connections to the "outside world" and thus may be able to help you get your foot in the door at a law firm, government agency, or judge's chambers. Professors are a great networking resource, and helping you get a job is ultimately one of the things they are paid for-don't be afraid to ask them for help!

TIP: Another great reason to work for a professor is that working together provides a perfect way to get to know your professor well enough so that he or she is willing to go to bat for you should you need a recommendation for a judicial clerkship or other legal position.

CAREER SERVICES

While at most law schools the career services office is geared toward helping students find summer or permanent placements, it is still a great resource for finding work during the school year. Your career services office may have postings of job opportunities within your community. It also may have information on law firms or organizations who have hired students in the past. Even if these employers are not presently hiring, sending them a copy of your resume can't hurt and often leads to a job a few months down the road. Finally, your career services office is generally helpful in providing you with a good strategy to find a job that is perfect for you. The career counselors most likely know about all the different types of legal jobs and the pros and cons of each type. You may want to sit down with a counselor before you start your job search to discuss the possibilities.

PRO BONO STUDENTS OF AMERICA

Pro Bono Students of America (PBSA) is an organization that acts as a liaison between your law school and your legal community. It is designed to connect students who want to work during the school year with public-sector employers who are looking for legal help. Your PBSA office will have access to a database with a wide variety of opportunities that match your interests, whether you are interested in animal rights or health care law or something else entirely. You can also access PBSA directly through the Internet. The only potential drawback is that "pro bono" means "for good" or, in lay terms, "for free." A few of the jobs are paid, but most are not.

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TIP: Most law schools have an internal public interest organization, similar to the National Association of Public Interest Law (NAPIL), which may provide funding for students who work in the public sector. Thus, even if your pro bono job is a non-paying job, you may still be able to get a stipend through your school's public interest organization. Additionally, if your pro bono job is a qualifying work-study job, and you are a work-study recipient, you can fund your job that way.

If you are a work-study recipient, you should have no problem finding a job. Your financial aid department should have a listing of all legal and non-legal jobs available for work-study recipients. In fact, many of the on-campus jobs are available only to work-study students.