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Still no job for the summer, struck out at OCI. Top 10% at lower tier 1, on journal with 2 years work experience prior to law school. Does anyone have advice at this point? If I end up waiting tables and working as a research assistant part time, am I screwed when it comes to applying for clerkships and full-time jobs? Everyone's been telling me that that's usually the case, at least in previous years, but I'm hoping with the economy in the tank and firms cutting SA positions, the fact that I can't get a SA gig won't have such an adverse impact this time around.

I don't think you'll be any worse off than most. I'm at a T2...barely anybody has full blown summer associate positions. Me and some others are working as law clerks for smaller firms. Half the school can't even seem to get a paying position at all.

Did you do anything other than OCI to find a job?

Working as a research assistant would be a good way to get a recommendation for clerkships.

I'm not really sure what else you could do at this point; it's so late in the game.

ggocat wrote:Did you do anything other than OCI to find a job?

Working as a research assistant would be a good way to get a recommendation for clerkships.

I'm not really sure what else you could do at this point; it's so late in the game.

I just got a call back from the FCC today about an interview with them... I applied back last September for this and actually had thought they had already rejected my application. I'm not even going to call them back to tell them I'm not interested because it is ridiculous that they are just now contacting me about my September application. williamwallace, you should apply to the FCC. You can take my spot (they are obviously still hiring). I actually wouldn't be surprised if other federal gvt agencies have been slacking on hiring students as well so just apply everywhere and see if anywhere bites.

Anonymous User wrote:

ggocat wrote:Did you do anything other than OCI to find a job?

Working as a research assistant would be a good way to get a recommendation for clerkships.

I'm not really sure what else you could do at this point; it's so late in the game.

I just got a call back from the FCC today about an interview with them... I applied back last September for this and actually had thought they had already rejected my application. I'm not even going to call them back to tell them I'm not interested because it is ridiculous that they are just now contacting me about my September application. williamwallace, you should apply to the FCC. You can take my spot (they are obviously still hiring). I actually wouldn't be surprised if other federal gvt agencies have been slacking on hiring students as well so just apply everywhere and see if anywhere bites.

This makes no sense. You were interested in September but now you aren't interested because they've taken a while to get back to you?

rekopter wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

ggocat wrote:Did you do anything other than OCI to find a job?

Working as a research assistant would be a good way to get a recommendation for clerkships.

I'm not really sure what else you could do at this point; it's so late in the game.

I just got a call back from the FCC today about an interview with them... I applied back last September for this and actually had thought they had already rejected my application. I'm not even going to call them back to tell them I'm not interested because it is ridiculous that they are just now contacting me about my September application. williamwallace, you should apply to the FCC. You can take my spot (they are obviously still hiring). I actually wouldn't be surprised if other federal gvt agencies have been slacking on hiring students as well so just apply everywhere and see if anywhere bites.

This makes no sense. You were interested in September but now you aren't interested because they've taken a while to get back to you?

I assume Anonymous is not interested because he/she has other work lined up, right?

rekopter wrote:This makes no sense. You were interested in September but now you aren't interested because they've taken a while to get back to you?

He/she probably already accepted another offer.

I may have a shot at working at a personal injury firm over the summer. I swore that I'd never do it. Would judges and future employers look down on personal injury work? Would it be better if I just worked as a research assistant over the summer?

williamwallace wrote:I may have a shot at working at a personal injury firm over the summer. I swore that I'd never do it. Would judges and future employers look down on personal injury work? Would it be better if I just worked as a research assistant over the summer?

Personal injury carries a bad stigma, and if you know you don't want to do it, i'd go with the RA gig.

thuggishruggishbone wrote:I may have a shot at working at a personal injury firm over the summer. I swore that I'd never do it. Would judges and future employers look down on personal injury work? Would it be better if I just worked as a research assistant over the summer?

The PI attorneys I've met work hard and make lots of money, both while "standing up for the little guy." I'd recommend trying it out over the summer if you know the PI attorney is respectable.

I don't think either one (PI or RA) will look "better" to a future employer. Also, you never know--you might end up liking PI and want to do it.

Why not try the local public defender's office or something?