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Would appreciate some advice. I know pretty much nothing about applying to firms (took the public interest/gov't/non-profit intern route in law school). I'm waiting for Bar results and thinking I could use this time to ask firms if they need temporary extra work done in specific legal areas I'd like to get more experience in/that would make me more marketable. I'm in a large city, so there are quite a few firms in my areas of interest. Here are my questions:

(1) Is there any way to offer to work for a firm short-term or does anyone here have some advice on the proper approach? No idea if this would just annoy firms or waste time.

(2) If it's okay to approach firms about short-term work, who do I contact/send my info to at the firm? (Again, sorry. Totally new to this.) If it's okay, I'm planning to target quite a few firms.

The difficult thing is I want to work in public interest work, but need to make money now. Most PI won't hire me without passing the bar, and a firm probably doesn't want to train me just to see me leave. I could work at a firm anywhere from 2-3 months to 7-8 months (worst case scenario if I have to re-take the Bar in February). Of course, I'm hoping to pass the Bar and get PI employment shortly thereafter, but of course no guarantee there.

Thanks for any assistance.

Generally, firms aren't interested in short-term employment because it's a losing proposition. Coming right out of law school, you're going to be behind the 8-ball for 6 months until you actually get up to speed, and if you're looking for a 2-8 month deal, they're losing a lot of money on you without the following upside of having a productive attorney.

Really, the only way I'd see that happening is if it was a small firm with a specific project, and the pay was at part-time law student salary ($10-15/hr)

OP here, thanks for the reply. Yeah, that's what I was afraid of. Alright, well, might not turn up much, but I'll poke around to some legal recruiters in the area and see if I can find anything through them. I suppose they're generally the type of place to know more about some of those small projects you're referencing.

Temp work from large law firms is doc review. It's a nightmarish and dark corner of the profession.

The opportunity to gain exposure and try things out, unfortunately, was the two summers during law school. And legal recruiters really don't have much to offer to fresh graduates without experience - firms fill those needs via summer associate programs or from direct full-time applications. Law schools are still churning out thousands more graduates than there are entry level positions, meaning all of the power is in the firm's hands.

Having said all of that, it probably still makes sense to apply directly to firms for full-time positions if you have any interest at all. You'll have to sell them on a desire to stay, but of course you'll be within your rights to lateral (and recruiters will absolutely work with you there) or switch practices. Already having a job, unfortunately, is by far the most important thing you can do to help a job search.