Questions To Ask Before Starting Your Job Search

1. WHY SHOULD YOU GET A JOB?

There are several great reasons to work during the school year. First, a job during the school year can help ease the burden of those heavy loans that most law students carry. Second, a job can round out the law school experience by balancing what at times can seem like a very abstract academic schedule with real-world, tangible experiences. Third, a job during the school year can give you an arena to practice and hone weekly the skills and tools that you are learning in your classes. Finally, for students who start law school directly out of college, a job during the school year may be necessary to keep you from getting "burned out" from many years of nothing but schooling!


On the other hand, you should think very carefully before you decide to take on a job during the school year, especially during the first year. During the first year of law school, students have little time to do anything but study. Many law schools even have restrictions against first-year students working during the school year. Furthermore, most law students intern or clerk during their summers and thus working during the school year is not the only way to get good legal experience. Finally, most law schools offer a wide variety of extracurricular activities, such as writing on a law journal, getting involved in a special interest group, or participating in the law school student government. Working during the school year may prevent you from taking full advantage of those activities.

2. WHAT TYPE OF JOB SHOULD YOU GET?

The first thing you should decide is whether you want a legal or non-legal job. If your motivations for getting a job are purely financial, a non-legal job may be a welcome alternative to "legalese" and the Socratic Method. Furthermore, this may be your last chance to be a house painter or a bartender. Finally, non-legal jobs are often less stressful than legal ones. Not all legal jobs are stressful, however, and as long as you are working, you may want to do something that "boosts your resume."

I have chosen to work in a non-legal position because it is non-legal. Despite my love for the law, it is a relief to know that I have a couple of hours each week during which I do not have to think about law and during which I stop analyzing everything I hear, read, and write. This year, I decided to waitress at a country club in my hometown, and, although waiting tables can be stressful at times, it is a different kind of stress. It is busy work that amazingly prevents my mind from wandering to legal issues. Well, sometimes I think of potential slips and falls, but mostly I simply welcome the opportunity to get away from studying law, reading law, writing law, and breathing law. Furthermore, working in a non-legal position provides me with the opportunity to associate with people who do not have law constantly on their minds. If you are thinking about working during the academic semester, consider a non-legal job. Waiting tables, for example, is flexible and easy, and the pay is pretty good. If you are afraid that choosing such a job will prevent you from gaining legal experience, do not be concerned. There is plenty of time during the summers to gain that experience. The most important thing is that the job you do choose, legal or non-legal, should be fun and, above all, should not detract from your studies. -JULIE CURRAN, FORDHAM LAW SCHOOL

If you decide to pursue a legal job, there are several types: volunteer, research, and paid. The different types suit different interests and needs; thus, it may be useful for you to determine exactly why you are getting a job before you decide which type to pursue.

Volunteer work, though non-paying, can be very sophisticated. Chances are, you do not have much experience in the legal field. Volunteering is a great way to get good experience. After all, most people will not turn down free work. Volunteering can also be fulfilling because you may be working for public interest groups or indigent clients. Finally, volunteering can occasionally lead to a paid job, either after law school or further along in your law school career.

A research position is also a great job because, while it is still very academic, you will be rewarded for your labors beyond a mere grade on your report card. Research jobs can be either paid or for-credit. In addition, if your research ultimately leads to a publication, you will usually be credited for your work. Most research jobs are for professors at your law school, but there may also be research jobs available with lawyers and law firms associated with your law school. Some research positions may even be non-law related. One thing you will become an expert at by the end of law school is research, and others will want to take advantage of that expertise.

Paid jobs are usually the most sought after for obvious reasons, and therefore the most difficult to procure. They can range from clerking at a law firm or government office to working at your law school's cafeteria. Some types of paid work are obviously more demanding than others, and the level of commitment required usually correlates with the amount you are paid.

TIP: Most law schools offer an abundance of legal jobs, especially for second- and third-year students. If you want a legal job, seek one out through one of the resources listed below. While paid legal jobs are a little more difficult to find, they are still fairly abundant, if you are not too picky.

3. WHAT ARE SOME JOBS YOU CAN GET?

The range of jobs that are available to law students is endless. You have a college degree, and for many of you, law school is a second career. Thus, you are qualified to do a lot more than when you were in college. There is nothing to stop you from taking a professional job outside the law profession. The problem with such a commitment is that someone who has not been through law school may not understand how demanding law school is and may require more of your time than you can give.

Probably the easiest types of jobs to handle are on-campus jobs, such as working in your cafeteria or library. These jobs often do not pay much, but they offer flexible hours that are usually very compatible with your school schedule. Examples of on-campus or school-related jobs include:

Food Service Jobs: Duties include serving meals, preparing food, and performing custodial work.

School Library Positions: This may entail working at the reference desk, shelving books, or even doing research for university faculty.

Tutoring Positions: This may involve tutoring other law students or, if your school has an undergraduate program, tutoring undergraduate students.

Residence Hall Positions: Most schools need residential advisors for both their undergraduate dorms and their graduate housing. The best part about this job is that it often includes free room and board.

Clerical Work: Many departments need students who have office skills, such as typing.

Bookstore Jobs: Employment in your law school bookstore may be a good way to get a discount on those oh-so-expensive law books.

Administrative Work: Often the dean's office or other administrative offices may need help managing their administrative duties. Work may include inputting information in computer systems, organizing files, and keeping track of records.

Teaching Assistant Positions: This may involve working with a first-year writing class or other similar class. Your university may also allow you to apply for a teaching assistantship at the undergraduate school.