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Anyone used prestigious acceptances to leverage a short-term, summer 0L paralegal gig? I'm currently a paralegal for an individual attorney and I wanted to get something that paid more to save up money for school. Has anyone done this successfully?

I doubt that anyone has done this. I don't think a firm would be interested in training someone for a few months, if even that, knowing the person will be leaving soon. It doesn't make sense to do that. Many firms need paralegals to be paralegals, not future law students. I don't think the acceptances would impress a big firm into hiring you for a short time period.

You may be able to find some temp work but nailing down a paralegal position is not going to happen. I've had 5 interviews for paralegal jobs at v100 firms in the past six months and every one of them wanted a commitment of at least 18 months.

I tried it last year and it didn't do anything.

I've actually done it - I'm there now. Not 'paralegal' though, legal assistant.

rman1201 wrote:I've actually done it - I'm there now. Not 'paralegal' though, legal assistant.

I wouldn't be looking in a major market. I also have a year's worth of experience working with commercial leases and everything that goes with them. The firms that I would be applying to are the best in the city, but a large percentage of their clerks and new-hires come from the two so-so local schools in the region. My thinking is that perhaps they will want make a good impression on me so that I might come back to apply for a summer clerkship. Is that idea totally off-base?

Should I mention that I've been accepted to X, X, and X in a cover-letter and that I'm just looking for a short-term gig that meshes with my previous experiences, or would that be too cocksure?

Also, some family friends are partners at a few of these firms. How do I make the best of that situation without seeming like I'm looking for a handout. Send them my resume first? Apply and then tell them I've submitted an application. Ask their opinion about applying? What do you all think?

It would be a great networking opportunity if nothing else, so it would likely help when it comes to landing an SA, at least as a back-up.

I included my school acceptances in my cover letter, one of them was the owner's alum, so it can probably help if that's a factor.

Talk up the family friends. Don't even look/ask for anything in particular, just ask for advice regarding law school, the legal market, finding a job, etc and they'll probably give it, and if they want to help they'll offer.

Moral_Midgetry wrote:You may be able to find some temp work but nailing down a paralegal position is not going to happen. I've had 5 interviews for paralegal jobs at v100 firms in the past six months and every one of them wanted a commitment of at least 18 months.

This. Unless you can commit 18-24mos at least. These jobs are extremely hard to come by. I'm sure your connections will tell you the same.

I know people who have done this and I don't see why it's not worth trying.