What to do over the summer? Forum

[macattaq]

I've got what may turn out to be some good options for this summer. There are three things I can do, four if study abroad is included, but I don't think that is a particularly viable option for financial reasons. That being said, I would like to get an idea of how to consider my possible options, because I will start hearing back from potential employers soon. I want to be able to eliminate or choose one having considered all possible reasons for doing so, in order to prevent myself from making a "wrong" choice. So, assuming all options are available to me to choose from, I'd like your input. More importantly, what ever choice you make, give me a few sentences saying why you chose that particular option. Hopefully you will be able to raise points I either have not articulated or have not thought of. A little about me: I'd like to do civil rights/civil liberties work or do a combination of soft IP+general business law (tax, licensing, business entity-crap, etc.) for small businesses in general, and musicians in particular. Thanks in advance!

So, here are my options:

1) Summer school. This is probably the safest of the four. At our school, we have three semesters of legal writing. In the third semester, you write an appellate brief. This takes up an insane amount of time, especially if legal writing is taken concurrently with Conlaw. I can eliminate some of my fall and spring workload by taking seven units in the summer. This would likely be an IP survey course (which will unlock copyright, trademark, etc.), and evidence. Taking evidence will open up the possibility of Rule 9 certification, meaning I will have access to a wider array of jobs, because I will more or less have the powers of a licensed attorney (by proxy).

2) Clerkship. This is a clerkship with either Microsoft, T-Mobile, or a mid-size local firm. The plus to this is that I will get a lot of practical training and experience, but this experience is more applicable to a firm job. This has the potential of opening a 2L clerkship, although that is by no means guaranteed. I'll make a minimum of 10k for the summer, and accrue no debt, neither of which are bad. Networking opportunities will be like low hanging fruit, and it will likely be an all around great experience. All of the pluses aside, I don't particularly care to work in a mid or large-sized firm during my career.
2.5) USMC/USN JAG 1L Internship. This speaks for itself. Upside: commissioned officer in either the Marines or Navy, won't have to look for a job. Downside: the next six years of my life are spoken for, and in the Marines there is the possibility of seeing combat. I'm not opposed to combat, but its not something to scoff at. The big plus is that military experience plus JAG experience equals awesome private sector opportunities.

3) Internship. I just interviewed for a position developing policy for a community organizing institution. I really like this opportunity a lot. I may not make as much as I would through either the clerkship or JAG, but I'd be working to help develop policy for a number of community organizing groups nationwide. This experience would lend itself more towards going into politics at some point, but would be particularly beneficial for PI work. This is the closest option to what I would ideally like to do, because it involves significant contact directly with the populations to be served.

4) Study abroad. I'd probably go to China to study with my torts professor. No further explanation needed, really.

[ahshav]

FYI - by and large, clerkship means full-time 1-2 year position with a judge; the term is commonly misused when referring to summer internship with a judge. It usually does not mean a position in-house or at a firm.

[macattaq]

FYI - by and large, clerkship means full-time 1-2 year position with a judge; the term is commonly misused when referring to summer internship with a judge. It usually does not mean a position in-house or at a firm.

Actually, the name is "____ _____ Clerkship". Who am I to argue with the people who named and administer the program, especially when those same people are attorneys?

[worldtraveler]

Do you have all of these offers, or are you just assuming you will have all these choices?

[macattaq]

I am assuming that these are all on the table.

[Aeroplane]

FYI - by and large, clerkship means full-time 1-2 year position with a judge; the term is commonly misused when referring to summer internship with a judge. It usually does not mean a position in-house or at a firm.

It's quite common in my home city for smaller firms and in-house depts to call their jobs-for-law-students "clerkships," whether they're summer positions, or year-round (many hire law students for PT work during the school year).

[Renzo]

Don't so the summer school. It's important to put something law-related on your resume. Any of the other choices are good.

I have been led to believe that all of the JAGs are very competitive right now, so this might be much less of a sure-thing than you think (unless, of course, you already have an offer). It also might be more attractive, depending on your career preferences.