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1L with OK grades clueless about what to do this summer
Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 1:20 am
by thexfactor
Hey guys, I am really clueless as to what I should be doing this summer. I go to a school ranked ~50. Made Dean's list first semester and should prob be around 20%tile. Mid 3.4x
What kind of jobs should I be looking for. Do you think I have enough to apply to the SEC? Are Judicial Internships worth it?
Also, does it matter if i did especially well on one subject matter as compared to others?
My parents have a family friend who is a partner at a midsize firm (200-300 lawyer firm in the midwest). He said my grades were decent this semester and that he would take me on as an unpaid volunteer. He also hinted that I would get an interview next year if my second semester grades are similar.
Re: 1L with OK grades clueless about what to do this summer
Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 2:44 am
by postitnotes
SEC is pretty prestige-whorish and wants top students from top schools (T14), so probs not. You should highly consider that hook-up.
Re: 1L with OK grades clueless about what to do this summer
Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 9:43 am
by thexfactor
do you know anything about judicial internships? are they worth doing?
Re: 1L with OK grades clueless about what to do this summer
Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 11:52 am
by ScaredWorkedBored
For something legal on your resume, they're always worth doing. In terms of experience gained, it varies widely. You can be an office gofer, or you can essentially be a clerk.
Your odds of getting paid work this summer are very, very low. I would take the unpaid intern position at the big firm. You'll learn a lot just by going to lunch with some of the people there.
Re: 1L with OK grades clueless about what to do this summer
Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 1:42 pm
by thexfactor
ScaredWorkedBored wrote:For something legal on your resume, they're always worth doing. In terms of experience gained, it varies widely. You can be an office gofer, or you can essentially be a clerk.
Your odds of getting paid work this summer are very, very low. I would take the unpaid intern position at the big firm. You'll learn a lot just by going to lunch with some of the people there.
Yea i think you are right. My grades aren't that good and my school is ranked in the 50s.
Which volunteer position will look better on my resume?
Re: 1L with OK grades clueless about what to do this summer
Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 6:32 am
by postitnotes
thexfactor wrote:do you know anything about judicial internships? are they worth doing?
I'm working for a federal judge this summer so I am not exactly sure what the work entails. However, I pretty much only applied for judicial externships. From what I have heard, they are worth doing for the experience (research/writing). People have also told me that in the past you were given somewhat of a leg up for judicial externships over certain types of summer jobs at OCI. (Supposedly, after the biglaw contraction, there isn't as much of a "plus" at OCI and grades are ever more important.)
I think you should probably work for your connection though. This is because in case your grades can't land you a paid job via OCI, he might be able to hook you up.