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The structure of my program entails taking courses during the summer of 1L year. This means that I am only able to work very early (early May to late June) in the summer, prior to most typical summer programs beginning (Govt. summer volunteer programs, firms, etc..) Does anyone have insight on what type of legal employers would be willing to work with a somewhat unorthodox schedule?

Public interest places or small places without established summer programs will accomodate this, if you are willing to work for free. Sounds like a terrible program though.

Anonymous User wrote:Public interest places or small places without established summer programs will accomodate this, if you are willing to work for free. Sounds like a terrible program though.

To above poster: It's a 3-year JD/MBA program. And to my understanding during OCI the relative lack of 1L experience isn't looked on negatively since employers understand that your program is structured this way and you didn't have a choice.

To OP: Also some judges. But I would ask older people in your program what they did. That will probably give you some good leads.

Yeah, some judges won't care how much or when you work. I worked 8-5 throughout the summer, but my judge explicitly told me I could work as little or as much as I wanted.

imchuckbass58 wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:Public interest places or small places without established summer programs will accomodate this, if you are willing to work for free. Sounds like a terrible program though.

To above poster: It's a 3-year JD/MBA program. And to my understanding during OCI the relative lack of 1L experience isn't looked on negatively since employers understand that your program is structured this way and you didn't have a choice.

To OP: Also some judges. But I would ask older people in your program what they did. That will probably give you some good leads.

ah, that makes more sense. OP, can you do term-time internships? It's relatively easy to do so in a normal JD program, and it would help make up for what might be a lackluster 1L placement. You could also be a research assistant for a professor during 1L summer, which is typically extremely flexible.

MBZags wrote:Yeah, some judges won't care how much or when you work. I worked 8-5 throughout the summer, but my judge explicitly told me I could work as little or as much as I wanted.

My judge was the same way (unless you were getting credit and needed to meet certain hours requirements). I ended up working about 25 hour weeks. Twas pretty awesome.

Anonymous User wrote:ah, that makes more sense. OP, can you do term-time internships? It's relatively easy to do so in a normal JD program, and it would help make up for what might be a lackluster 1L placement. You could also be a research assistant for a professor during 1L summer, which is typically extremely flexible.

Yes, I plan on taking a course offered by the school which places students in positions with corporate counsel's offices in the local area during the summer term.

imchuckbass58 wrote:To OP: Also some judges. But I would ask older people in your program what they did. That will probably give you some good leads.

My program is pretty small, so I was hoping that TLS would have a broader perspective on possible legal employers. Students in prior years have externed for judges, and that sounds somewhat appealing, but I wanted to see if there were any other ideas.

Anonymous User wrote:Public interest places or small places without established summer programs will accomodate this, if you are willing to work for free. Sounds like a terrible program though.

I am willing to work for free, but I don't really have any interest in traditional PI.

My ideal 1L summer employment would have been DOJ AT division or FTC BoC, and I am still going to try to pursue these, but I am not super confident that either will work out. A big firm gig would have been nice too, but my discussions with classmates have convinced me that this is even less likely.

Do smaller firms tend to have more flexible summer programs?

bdubs wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:Public interest places or small places without established summer programs will accomodate this, if you are willing to work for free. Sounds like a terrible program though.

I am willing to work for free, but I don't really have any interest in traditional PI.

My ideal 1L summer employment would have been DOJ AT division or FTC BoC, and I am still going to try to pursue these, but I am not super confident that either will work out. A big firm gig would have been nice too, but my discussions with classmates have convinced me that this is even less likely.

Do smaller firms tend to have more flexible summer programs?

lol those are what you are shooting for? just lol.

Anonymous User wrote:

bdubs wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:Public interest places or small places without established summer programs will accomodate this, if you are willing to work for free. Sounds like a terrible program though.

I am willing to work for free, but I don't really have any interest in traditional PI.

My ideal 1L summer employment would have been DOJ AT division or FTC BoC, and I am still going to try to pursue these, but I am not super confident that either will work out. A big firm gig would have been nice too, but my discussions with classmates have convinced me that this is even less likely.

Do smaller firms tend to have more flexible summer programs?

lol those are what you are shooting for? just lol.

Is it easier to get a position with a judge in a major city then it is to get a volunteer position with DOJ? I'm constrained to Seattle, Chicago, or DC for judicial externships.

When I read that DOJ had 1,800 volunteer positions open I figured it wouldn't be as hyper competitive as the SLIP or Honors Programs.

You might also consider working for a professor. Research assistant jobs generally have flexible hours, so you might even be able to continue working while your summer courses are starting.

bdubs wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

bdubs wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:Public interest places or small places without established summer programs will accomodate this, if you are willing to work for free. Sounds like a terrible program though.

I am willing to work for free, but I don't really have any interest in traditional PI.

My ideal 1L summer employment would have been DOJ AT division or FTC BoC, and I am still going to try to pursue these, but I am not super confident that either will work out. A big firm gig would have been nice too, but my discussions with classmates have convinced me that this is even less likely.

Do smaller firms tend to have more flexible summer programs?

lol those are what you are shooting for? just lol.

Is it easier to get a position with a judge in a major city then it is to get a volunteer position with DOJ? I'm constrained to Seattle, Chicago, or DC for judicial externships.

When I read that DOJ had 1,800 volunteer positions open I figured it wouldn't be as hyper competitive as the SLIP or Honors Programs.

Absolutely.

You have several Fed district judges for each district, several for each Fed CoA. When you get to the state level there are 100s of judges. Coming from NU you should not have an issue getting Fed D.Ct. in Illinois or Washington State. DC could be hard but either way, judicial 1L gigs are much less competitive than DOJ positions

judicial externships are not clerkships. they are not nearly as competitive, prestigious, and in some cases you won't even be interacting with a judge at all, just clerks (though in some you will).

DOJ volunteer externships are the only jobs offered for most components, typically require 10 weeks, and are treated exactly like SLIP positions in most cases.

quiver wrote:

MBZags wrote:Yeah, some judges won't care how much or when you work. I worked 8-5 throughout the summer, but my judge explicitly told me I could work as little or as much as I wanted.

My judge was the same way (unless you were getting credit and needed to meet certain hours requirements). I ended up working about 25 hour weeks. Twas pretty awesome.

This, but stay at the district court level. The CoA judges where much more formal about hours.