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I'm a 2L. Was just offered a clerk job for the first half of the summer. I've been at the same small law firm for 9 months and was planning on staying for the summer if I don't take the new job. The new job pays slightly more and is in a better practice area. I'm currently planning on leveraging my current firm for a raise to match the new firm and if they won't do it leave. Is this a terrible idea? Is it possible that the new firm may keep me on longer than one month? The interview was originally for the whole summer.

which one is more likely to lead to long-term employment that you're happy with?

If they are only hiring you for 1 month it seems unlikely that they would hire you for longer, though it is possible. While the 2nd firm might pay more, it seems like you can work a lot more at the 1st firm since you can work all summer and probably all of 3L since they are having you work as a 2L.

That said, your focus should be on setting yourself up for a postgrad job or, if possible, a postgrad job that you prefer. If the 2nd firm has a decent chance of turning into a postgrad job then it's worth considering. If the 1st firm definitely won't lead to a postgrad job then it may also be worth leaving if the money isn't important since you can always fill your semesters with other jobs to pad your resume (e.g. interning somewhere that could lead to a postgrad job such as some DAs offices).

OP here. I'd be happier at the new firm. Both probably won't lead to long term employment. I'm really just terrified of not having a job for the second half of the summer and having a resume gap especially during 2L summer.

It doesn't necessarily have to be a resume gap since you can say "Summer 2014" and even if you list the months it will likely still cross 2 months (e.g. "June 2014 - July 2014").

OP here. Thanks for the advice. I'm still thinking of asking for a raise in light of the new offer. I've been working there for 9 months. Is this a ridiculous idea?

As much as I understand the impulse to ask for a raise, I think that extra money should be the last thing on your mind. You should be focusing on which is more likely to lead to employment after graduation. The small amount of extra money you might make for a few weeks in the summer is really unimportant in comparison.

OutCold wrote:As much as I understand the impulse to ask for a raise, I think that extra money should be the last thing on your mind. You should be focusing on which is more likely to lead to employment after graduation. The small amount of extra money you might make for a few weeks in the summer is really unimportant in comparison.

+1 for this, and you don't want to sour your current employer on you for asking for a raise after 9 months of work accompanied by a threat to leave. If things don't work out and you need your current employer for longer-term employment, you don't want to burn that bridge.