This forum has been an amazing resource for me over the last several months, but I finally have a question that I have not seen answered definitively here or elsewhere so I am hoping for some direct advice. I quit my most recent job more than a month ago in part so that I could focus on preparing essays, applications, etc. for this cycle. The decision made perfect sense at the time because I also had a tentative offer lined up for a temporary position a few weeks out that I thought would be interesting to pursue over the next several months until school started next fall. My application materials were ready to send off a couple of weeks ago, but I thought it would be better to wait to submit everything until I started my new job in order to demonstrate that I was doing something productive while awaiting responses from schools. Unfortunately the job opportunity fell through several days ago, so now I am concerned that this will have a negative impact on my prospects since my resume effectively ends prior to when my applications will be submitted. I am worried that most other applicants to T6 schools especially are currently working in a fascinating or prestigious field and not having a job at the moment will really stand out.

Am I just worrying too much or will applying while not currently working or in school severely hurt my chances? Assuming that this is less than ideal from the adcom's perspective, is this the sort of thing that would turn a presumptive admit based on other factors into a deny, or would it just be viewed as a slight negative when compared against someone with similar numbers?

Would I be better off waiting a week or two to submit applications assuming that I could find a temporary job first? It likely won't be an impressive position or correspond to my previous field, but I am going to start looking for something along these lines anyway. Or would it be better to just submit my applications ASAP because the disadavantage of applying later outweighs applying while unemployed?

If it influences your answer, I am applying to most of the T14 and and my GPA and LSAT are competitive at all of the schools that I am considering.

Relax. It is nothing to panic about!

You are lucky if you have any type of job at this moment.

Apparently this is completely normal, especially now. I wouldn't worry in your case. I wrote an addendum about the gap in my work history, but only because I was out of out of commisch for 8 weeks due to surgery.

I'm also unemployed and applying. I've sent off about half of my apps with absolutely no reference to having no job, but I'm wondering if I should send updates or something to the schools when I (hopefully) get a job? Or should I add something about future plans to my resume? I know Michigan wants you to address that on your resume, but should I send that to other schools?

OP, don't worry about this too much. When it comes down to it, work experience (current or past) is essentially another soft, so if you have the #s, most schools could probably care less, except for maybe Northwestern. If I were in this situation, I just wouldn't focus on it too much in the app. Beyond looking at your LSAT/GPA and PS, I would guess most adcoms spend a few minutes at best scanning through your jobs/activities. If you get held or put on a WL, getting a job might be something good to put in a LOCI, but that's probably about it.

If you are unemployed, it may be even more useful to explain why law school is your next natural step in life. Otherwise, it could appear as though you are applying simply because you don't have other options (i.e., work).

I'm thinking about writing an addendum for this. I've been working for a temp agency for awhile, and I'm worried it looks bad on my app. In reality, it's a pretty good situation; it pays well and they keep me constantly employed, often with pretty substantive work.

I just got WL'ed from the PT program at Duke with decent numbers, and this issue and my PS are the only things I can really see doing that to me.

Personally, I wouldn't write an addendum for this. At best, it will provide adcoms with a little more background about your current situation, but at worst, it could magnify something only slightly problematic. I think most people realize the economy and the job situation is pretty bad and they don't need to be reminded of it in an addendum.

yeah, i don't think i'm actually going to, i just think they get this picture that i'm sitting around on my ass all day and working every once in awhile when that is not the case. I mean, my numbers definitely weren't auto admit so who knows. Guess the PT program isn't the rubber stamp everyone said it was.

ANyways, good luck OP. I'm sure if your numbers are competetive over most of the T14 you'll get in somewhere good.

I wouldn't do it. My situation isn't terrible different. I had meaningful employment until the well... you know. And now I finally got hired in retail. It isn't exactly something I want to put on my resume, so I'm just leaning on that last meaningful job and hoping they fill in the gaps with their imagination.

i was unemployed when i sent in apps too, don't really think they'll care. my job had ended the month prior so...not too worried about it. i'm sure it won't be unusual this cycle, unfortunately...