1L Summer Job Search Forum

[Blessedassurance]

I don't know if there's an existing thread. Might be a tad early but you know what they say about the early bird, worms etc.

I figured we could perhaps share strategies, advice, the mechanics of drafting targeted cover letters, tips etc.

In case it wasn't obvious in the heading, this is specifically for the 1L summer job search (Private Firms and Public Interest/Internships).

Happy hunting and ______ help us all!

[20130312]

In for the jerbs. Already have my list of judges in Excel for the mail merge.

[Blessedassurance]

In for the jerbs. Already have my list of judges in Excel for the mail merge.

You should probably offer a dummy's guide to mail merging...

[minnbills]

In for the jerbs. Already have my list of judges in Excel for the mail merge.

Gunner.

[Anonymous User]

In for the jerbs. Already have my list of judges in Excel for the mail merge.

Don't be this guy. Nobody does this.

[20130312]

In for the jerbs. Already have my list of judges in Excel for the mail merge.

Gunner.

Outed

Mail merge is pretty easy. Fill out an Excel spreadsheet using the fields with the double arrows in the image below:



Then go into Word. These instructions are copy pasted from my school's career planning website. Your school probably has something similar or have more info in Symplicity:

1. Open Cover Letter
2. Go To Tools
a.Letters & Mailings
b.Mail Merge
3. Select Document Type – Letter
4. On Bottom Right Click Next
5. Click Next Again – Select Recipients
6. Go Up To - Use Existing List - Browse
7. Select Data Source Window Appears – Choose List
8. Select Table Window Appears – Click OK
9. Mail Merge Recipients Window Appears - Click OK
10. On Bottom Right - Click Next – Write Your Letter
11. Go Up To - Click More Items
12. Insert Fields Window Appears
a. Name – Click Insert – Close
b. Hit Enter
c. Click More Items
d. Repeat Steps ( a b + c ) using appropriate fields
13. On Bottom Right - Click Next – Preview Your Letters
14. On Bottom Right – Click Next - Complete the Merge
15. Go Up To - Edit Individual Letters
16. Merge to New Document Window Appears –Click OK
DONE

[minnbills]

Go have a drink dude, jesus.

I haven't heard anyone here say a word about summer internships (none of us are getting actual jobs.)

[AllDangle]

Tag

[20130312]

Go have a drink dude, jesus.

These things aren't mutually exclusive. I go out drinking a couple times a week. This takes an hour to set up. Either worry about it now or worry about it during finals. Your choice.

[stressed2010]

2L here...there's nothing wrong with starting too early. Pretty sure I got my 1L job, an internship with a Fed. district court judge because I got my stuff in waaaaayyyy earlier than everyone else. I got hired and I didn't even have my fall 1L grades yet. I'm not a particularly impressive candidate either. I worked for 2 years as a paralegal and went to a top 20 liberal arts college where I had solid grades. So it's definitely because I got my stuff in before other people. Not to mention I go to a tier 2 law school so that wasn't why I got the job either.

[PlessFightsFire]

But no one cares what you do 1L summer

[20130312]

But no one cares what you do 1L summer

Tell that to the DA's office.

[minnbills]

2L here...there's nothing wrong with starting too early. Pretty sure I got my 1L job, an internship with a Fed. district court judge because I got my stuff in waaaaayyyy earlier than everyone else. I got hired and I didn't even have my fall 1L grades yet. I'm not a particularly impressive candidate either. I worked for 2 years as a paralegal and went to a top 20 liberal arts college where I had solid grades. So it's definitely because I got my stuff in before other people. Not to mention I go to a tier 2 law school so that wasn't why I got the job either.

When did you apply? And 2 years WE plus a good school is solid.

[thelawschoolproject]

How many different employers are y'all planning on applying to? From what I've heard everyone is doing 10-20 places (for firm jobs specifically). Not sure if this is a good plan or not.

[Anonymous User]

Tagged.

[Anonymous User]

2L here...there's nothing wrong with starting too early. Pretty sure I got my 1L job, an internship with a Fed. district court judge because I got my stuff in waaaaayyyy earlier than everyone else. I got hired and I didn't even have my fall 1L grades yet. I'm not a particularly impressive candidate either. I worked for 2 years as a paralegal and went to a top 20 liberal arts college where I had solid grades. So it's definitely because I got my stuff in before other people. Not to mention I go to a tier 2 law school so that wasn't why I got the job either.

I'll take the (semi) opposing point of view. 1Ls should listen to both, take both with a grain of salt, and then make the best decision for them.

My Advice: Don't do anything until after finals. Your 1L grades (and especially your 1L Fall grades) have a disproportionate impact on your employability short and long term. The higher your GPA is, the easier your job search will be. I didn't do a lick of job searching until after new years. I ended up splitting between DOJ Anti Trust and V25 NYC from a T25 law school, in no small part because I got top grades 1L Fall.

Couple caveats: 1) There is no (good) reason to postpone job hunting until after New Years. I missed a number of deadlines for ideal DOJ offices because I did not send in application in late December after finals. 2) There could be a benefit to getting a 1L job locked down before you have grades at all, especially if you think your grades won't be great. However, the GPA is almost definitely more helpful to getting you a post-graduate job than your 1L summer job so I still think it's better to maximize GPA as much as possible. Most 1L jobs that you can get without a GPA will not translate to a job after graduation.

If there are a couple opportunities where you have or would like the inside track that won't require much time to apply or a GPA, applying early might be worth it. But I would definitely avoid a full scale, pre-finals, job hunt. Your #1 priority is grades.

[Pokemon]

Grades trump 1L work experience.
By applying late you do miss a few good opportunities.
By applying early you do miss a few good opportunities because many places do not post until later. I missed a pretty decent, inhouse, paid opportunity because I said yes to another unpaid offer earlier in the year.

Overall, do not stress too much about it. If you are diligent during winter break, you will be fine.

[IAFG]

2L here...there's nothing wrong with starting too early. Pretty sure I got my 1L job, an internship with a Fed. district court judge because I got my stuff in waaaaayyyy earlier than everyone else. I got hired and I didn't even have my fall 1L grades yet. I'm not a particularly impressive candidate either. I worked for 2 years as a paralegal and went to a top 20 liberal arts college where I had solid grades. So it's definitely because I got my stuff in before other people. Not to mention I go to a tier 2 law school so that wasn't why I got the job either.

I don't know how hard it is to get an unpaid job with a judge from a T2 but before spending a bunch of semester-time effort finding an (unpaid) 1L job, I'd want to know it's necessary. For me, it was pretty easy to find an unpaid respectable-enough 1L job without having to gun it.

[jackattack17]

I'd say be diligent with it now. As in, get your resume polished up, get a couple of generic cover letters written (depending on the audience), and make a list of judges or other places you'd like to apply to. BUT that doesn't mean sacrificing outlining and studying time. So do it now (or very soon) or wait until (immediately) after exams.

I sent out resumes and cover letters to different judges in my home state (I'm a 2L at a T1) the week after xmas, got an interview for the first week of January, and got the internship offer on the spot. Before I had any grades. All I had on my resume was pro bono experience, UG stuff (granted, decent GPA from a good school), and my one year of meh post-UG work experience.

My $.02

[FlanAl]

One thing about the unpaid jobs is that getting them in a place where you can be unpaid can be tricky. The stuff I looked for in California seemed to be snatched up really quick. Also if you're hoping to work where you'll be for christmas, giving them more time to schedule an interview is always good.

[gaud]

Tag

[franklyscarlet]

So, one of my professors just casually drops into a conversation about jobs "and if you're interested in healthcare topics, find a summer internship at a hospital legal department." That's me. I want that. No idea where to even begin to look for such a thing.

also, tagging this.

[FlanAl]

you should talk to the prof about it. i've heard that profs are usually pretty happy to hook it up.

[franklyscarlet]

you should talk to the prof about it. i've heard that profs are usually pretty happy to hook it up.

yeah, I'm going in to her office hours tomorrow. I'm not sure if she said it kind of off-hand or if it's something she'd actually be able to help me with.

[Pokemon]

Children's Hospital hires in Chicago. I apologize for taking a look at your profile.