Whether you’re a 1L or 2L student, not having a summer job lined up right about now may feel rather scary. First thing’s first … “don’t panic.” Not having a legal job during the summer isn’t an end-of-the-world scenario.
The fact is you can make up for not having a summer job in a variety of ways:
Seek out volunteer opportunities
When final exams wrap up, if you don’t have a job to go to, don’t throw in the towel. Think legal aid societies, public interest firms and non-profit organizations.
This is also a great opportunity to explore an area of law you may not have considered. The Department of Justice has several volunteer internships, as most judges have clerks (many of whom are recent law school graduates) who take on summer interns. This is a noteworthy internship for law students interested in a career in litigation. You’ll learn about the various sides and phases of litigation from a unique perspective, plus networking with a judge can be a great lead-in to a clerkship upon graduation.
Other places to consider include your State Department, administrative agencies and legal aid societies in your current location or the location in which you hope to practice. You may also want to consider a public interest organization. Even if your long-term career goals don’t align with the type of advocacy, public interest internships can provide hands-on interaction with clients along with research and writing opportunities.
Take advantage of networking events
One of the biggest benefits of a summer job is the networking potential; however, you can still network outside of a summer job. There will be networking events all summer for young lawyers and law students. Do some investigating, find a few to attend. You’ll be surprised how quickly these networking moments can turn into possible employment leads for the future. Networking is a crucial tool for any job search and according to the U.S Bureau of Labor and Statistics, nearly 85% of jobs are filled by networking. So take advantage of the time you have to network wherever possible.
Do more during the school year
Your school has opportunities to provide you with experience during the year, like field placements, internships and externships. Talk with your career services office to find out what they can offer you as far as placement help. They may also be able to help you request reciprocity from a law school in another state if you’re seeking out-of-state jobs. This can give you access to another law school’s career services office and their job or internship directory. Either way, you can get help with everything from resume and cover letters to field placement and more.
Speak with your professors
One of your professors may still need research assistants or may introduce you to someone who would like some summer help. Collaborating with a professor will not only allow you to gain valuable experience (and possibly some school credit) but may also help you identify a mentor, and ultimately more networking contacts. Your professors might even have some sage advice on how to find that elusive summer job.
Consider alternative legal career options
The law touches every aspect of our lives. Use this to your advantage as you navigate job postings both for legal work opportunities as well as for your other resources (think LinkedIn, the American Bar Association, your law school’s career services and other job search platforms). Many legal-related organizations and companies have legal departments that might be of interest. Keep in mind that law can be combined with several other disciplines in fields such as management, business and healthcare.
Sharpen your skills with summer classes
Whether you want to consider legal classes, a graduate program specializing in a specific area of interest or even a study abroad program, the summer can be the perfect time to branch out. Legal classes can take the form of classes at your current law school or distance learning opportunities such as BARBRI Legal Ed that further your academics (think litigation or drafting classes), interests or even help you start to tackle a difficult bar exam subject. Your college or university may also have graduate programs in niche areas such as healthcare or entertainment law.
If you’re interested in studying abroad, check with your school on the availability of programs. Set up a time to talk to your academic advisor to determine how your classes or programs fit into your curriculum and whether scholarships will apply.
Above all else, remember that you can still make an impactful summer, whatever path you choose. Plus, your summer doesn’t need to be a single undertaking. Many of the above options may only take a portion of your summer, so you can pair several to create a valuable couple of months.
You never know when an opportunity may turn into something even greater. You could find yourself working as a runner in career services during On-Campus Interviews (OCIs) during which you could network with the attorney interviewers. Or, you could find a volunteer opportunity that ignites your passion to drive your future legal career. Make the most of your summer, wherever it may lead you.
For tips on internships and more, you should check this out!
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