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What do firms pay you for during 1L SA? 1L's aren't attorneys. Is it basically paralegal work (I.e., research and writing and making calls)? Is it goodwill or a real investment of the firm in a future associate?

I haven't personally experienced it, I am starting law school in the Fall so I have just looked into the topic and talked to a few firms I am interested in working with. They pay during the summer and also, it seems like they hire their interns more then likely.

But why pay the interns?

Law firms have to pay people that work there.

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whereskyle wrote:But why pay the interns?

Firm positions aren't internships, they're jobs.

An in-house legal job at a brokerage firm in NYC offered me $500 a week So just above minimum wage. Most small firms pay 20-25/hr from what I've seen, and big ones pay 50-80. Paying people like shit is generally bad business practice, and firms bill people out for way more than they pay them, so they don't need to pinch pennies.

Top firms pay between $2K and $3K for 1Ls if they take them. NALP appears to be updating their salary information (that's why there is nothing there for most firms) but usually you can look up a firm there to get the exact number. Most anyone else who pays is paying $10-$15 an hour.

http://www.nalp.org/pre-law_timetable

Thanks for the responses, everyone. I was under the false impression that firms were paying law students much more than that. Minimum wage makes better sense.

Cellar-door wrote:Top firms pay between $2K and $3K for 1Ls if they take them. NALP appears to be updating their salary information (that's why there is nothing there for most firms) but usually you can look up a firm there to get the exact number. Most anyone else who pays is paying $10-$15 an hour.

This means per week. SAs at top firms pay very well. It's not because law students can do work no one else can do, it's to get an early opportunity to connect with top students to hire after law school.

Very few firms do hire 1L SAs, though.

A. Nony Mouse wrote:

Cellar-door wrote:Top firms pay between $2K and $3K for 1Ls if they take them. NALP appears to be updating their salary information (that's why there is nothing there for most firms) but usually you can look up a firm there to get the exact number. Most anyone else who pays is paying $10-$15 an hour.

This means per week. SAs at top firms pay very well. It's not because law students can do work no one else can do, it's to get an early opportunity to connect with top students to hire after law school.

Very few firms do hire 1L SAs, though.

Yeah, sorry for not qualifying that, I did mean per week.
Of course getting those few available jobs is brutal.

Basically, top of your class at T14 Fall Semester 1L, you may get one of the sweetest deals? Do Spring grades factor in at all?

whereskyle wrote:Basically, top of your class at T14 Fall Semester 1L, you may get one of the sweetest deals? Do Spring grades factor in at all?

Nope, 1L hiring for firms is Feb and Mar.

Are 1L SA gigs even a thing outside of Texas?

A. Nony Mouse wrote:

whereskyle wrote:But why pay the interns?

Firm positions aren't internships, they're jobs.

Yup. In AZ I made good dough during 1L summer internship/SA

gaud wrote:

A. Nony Mouse wrote:

whereskyle wrote:But why pay the interns?

Firm positions aren't internships, they're jobs.

Yup. In AZ I made good dough during 1L summer internship/SA

Admittedly, many of my classmates were unpaid for theirs. Just got lucky I guess

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sublime wrote:

kalvano wrote:Are 1L SA gigs even a thing outside of Texas?

There seem to be some here, in StL, even though they are heavily diversity based. We even have a 1L OCI.

1L OCI? Lol that's crazy

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I worked in-house at a public company and got paid pretty well, although not at big firm levels.

kalvano wrote:Law firms have to pay people that work there.

i've def seen symplicity postings for "volunteer" positions at for-profit firms, ugh. a buddy of mine worked at an immigration boutique firm for free her 1L summer.

BlueLotus wrote:

kalvano wrote:Law firms have to pay people that work there.

i've def seen symplicity postings for "volunteer" positions at for-profit firms, ugh. a buddy of mine worked at an immigration boutique firm for free her 1L summer.

They aren't supposed to but since when has that stopped anyone?

kalvano wrote:

BlueLotus wrote:

kalvano wrote:Law firms have to pay people that work there.

i've def seen symplicity postings for "volunteer" positions at for-profit firms, ugh. a buddy of mine worked at an immigration boutique firm for free her 1L summer.

They aren't supposed to but since when has that stopped anyone?

yeah, i'm kinda disgusted my law school would give such firms a platform.

kalvano wrote:

BlueLotus wrote:

kalvano wrote:Law firms have to pay people that work there.

i've def seen symplicity postings for "volunteer" positions at for-profit firms, ugh. a buddy of mine worked at an immigration boutique firm for free her 1L summer.

They aren't supposed to but since when has that stopped anyone?

Technically, a for-profit could follow the six criteria that the DOL sets out and have an unpaid intern.