Year off before law school Forum

[lawyerwannabe]

I am currently in my year off between undergraduate studies and law school.

It was my intention all along to take a year off then attend law school. However, would it look bad if you do not work a full time job during the year off?

To fill up time, I am a hired LSAT instructor (but that will not start until late January). Also, I am in the process of hopefully obtaining a part-time job as a stock room person and a temporary job as a package handler for UPS. I am pretty much trying to have two part time jobs to equal 40 hours a week.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. I know it isn't the ideal work experience before law school but I am just trying to make money. I am mainly curious because of all of the talk about having "work experience" before going to law school. Thanks.

[NZA]

I am currently in my year off between undergraduate studies and law school.

It was my intention all along to take a year off then attend law school. However, would it look bad if you do not work a full time job during the year off?

To fill up time, I am a hired LSAT instructor (but that will not start until late January). Also, I am in the process of hopefully obtaining a part-time job as a stock room person and a temporary job as a package handler for UPS. I am pretty much trying to have two part time jobs to equal 40 hours a week.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. I know it isn't the ideal work experience before law school but I am just trying to make money. I am mainly curious because of all of the talk about having "work experience" before going to law school. Thanks.

I think it would perhaps be a good idea to maybe spend a few hours a week volunteering at something like the ACLU or a Legal Aid Society...you know, something to show that you're doing something extra to learn about being a lawyer. I think Dean Z from U Mich had a pretty smart thing to say about it in her interview here on TLS.

Seems like a good idea to me, anyway. And even if you don't, remember that most of what matters are #s, anyway. Anything you do this year is just going to be gravy on top of your 4.0 and the 177 you'll get.

Good luck!

[crumpetsandtea]

Hey! I'm struggling with the same issue--most of the responses I've gotten have been to try and stay away from menial/storeroom/starbucks/retail/etc jobs and shift more towards things that demonstrate a potential to have gained in-depth knowledge on a subject/in a field. I think since you already have a job, if you're not worried about money it might be nice to do some volunteer work in a field perhaps related to the type of law you're interested in practicing.

But I'm applying right now so this is all speculation, take it with a grain of salt!

[txadv11]

I am currently in my year off between undergraduate studies and law school.

a temporary job as a package handler for UPS. I am pretty much trying to have two part time jobs to equal 40 hours a week.

Thanks.

I am doing the UPS gig right now. It reallllly sucks. Try to find something else.. the money is crap, long hours, overworked and underpaid and seriously the turnover rate is days...maybe weeks for this time of the year.

[theblackhand]

If I don't get the Fulbright I'll be drinking beer and relaxing on the couch. Hopefully, I'll become more active on TLS and life will be bliss. Why work when thats what you'll spend the rest of your life doing?