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Whether you're clamoring to save money while pursuing a law degree (and who wouldn't be?) or you're seeking some insights into how to court the attention of prospective employers, you're in the right place at the right time. Here are some tips and tricks that can help you survive those years of study — and beyond.
Working part-time during the school year helps with your financial aid
The American Bar Association regulations limit law students to no more than 20 hours per week of part-time employment while they're taking more than 12 credit hours in a semester. On top of this, many law schools discourage first-year students (1Ls) from working at all. However, within these parameters, you can easily make enough money from 2L and 3L school-year part-time work to at least offset some of your living expenses.
Choosing best-in-class study group members
As a 1L, you probably won't initially know anyone with whom to form a study group. If you don't have any friends who you can ask to join you early on in the first of your classes, then focus on figuring out who are the more competent members of your class and corral them into your group as early as you can. The best way to do this is to listen intently in class. Who seems to know what's going on? Who provides insightful and well-thought out comments? You could approach them after class or in an e-mail and say something like, "I really appreciate your comments in class. Would you be interested in forming a study group with me and/or a few others to toss more ideas around?"
Getting friendly with professors early ensures good references later
Every law student needs references when applying for summer jobs, permanent jobs, or clerkships. Because most law classes are large, and you don't really get to know your professors in class, you need to work at cultivating good relationships with them outside of class. A few tips for getting started are
- Making yourself stand out in class in a good way. Raise thoughtful questions; doing so impresses professors more than someone who's perpetually eager to answer their every question.
- Attending office hours frequently. Because so few students ever take advantage of this opportunity, you won't only stand out, but you'll also spend valuable one-on-one time with your professor.
- Trying to land a research assistantship position. A research assistantship is the ultimate opportunity for cultivating meaningful relationships with your professors, so they can comment on more than your achievement on one final exam or classroom participation.
Considering externships for credit
Many schools offer opportunities to participate in externships for course credit. An externship involves working at a public-interest organization, courthouse, or governmental organization for credit but no pay. You can often take externship coursesduring the summer and during the school year. Not only do you gain hands-on work experience, but you're also afforded a refreshing break from classroom-based theory. On top of that, you can cultivate another valuable reference from your supervising attorney or judge. Another plus about serving an externship in summer is that it can enable you to take a lighter course load one semester in the next year.
Getting course outlines by joining a club
An added bonus of joining a law school club is the opportunity it offers for gaining access to a bevy of course outlines — a juicy tidbit that many students miss out on. Many club officers maintain a club folder of outlines from past members and make them available to all current club members, as long as they pay their annual membership dues (which usually amounts to only a nominal fee). With outlines, the more you have, the merrier, so don't overlook this fabulous opportunity to score some extras.
Graduating in December sometimes gives you a leg up
Only a handful of students elect to graduate in December at law schools that make doing so an option. Those who do often find more receptive job markets. Students who graduate in December, after 2-1/2 years of law school, usually have taken summer school, studied abroad to gain extra credits, or started early, in the summer before their first full year at schools that offer summer starter programs.
Understanding why December graduates often have a leg up isn't hard. Competition for jobs during winter months is much less than in the late summer and fall. December grads may have a better shot at responding to postings in their schools' career services offices and want ads in the paper, because fewer people are likely to be job-hunting at that time of year.
Making use of alumni while job-searching
The majority of jobs are found through connections; not through want ads or job postings at your career services office. This is true for both traditional legal and alternative jobs. Employers like to hire people who are personally recommended to them, rather than taking a chance on some unknown entity whose résumé just happens to land on their desk. If you have an alum (either who works there or who is known to the hiring staff member) pulling for you, it can make all the difference between an offer and a rejection. This is true regardless of whether you're looking for summer jobs after your first and second years or permanent jobs.
 | The best way to find alumni connections is to sit down with your career services staff and tell them what type of work you're interested in and in what geographical location. Using information in electronic or paper alumni databases, they can match you up with alums in your area of interest. Alternatively, on your own, you can go to Martindale.com, and use this extensive free database to type in your law school's name, your preferred practice area, and your geographical location. In the search results you'll find names and firms of lawyers who went to your law school. Just compose a quick e-mail requesting an informational interview to find out more about their work and gain advice on entering that field. |
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