Just finished 1L..cant find a summer internship...HELP Forum

[BoSox0407]

I'm freaking out over everything, cant find anything for the summer. What advice do you guys got? I just need something even if its 20 hours a week for the next 6 weeks. Dont really care exactly what i do as long as its in the legal field.

[leobowski]

Screw making calls or sending e-mails/ snail mail. Wear a shirt and tie on tuesday. Print off 30 copies of your resume. Go around to everywhere in town and put in your resume. Explain that you would work for free, and ask to speak to attorneys, not just the secretaries. Talk to people at your school too (general counsel, professors, etc.). Talk to companies that have a legal dept. It sucks looking for a job like this, but swallow your pride and get out there.

Good luck and godspeed!

[BarbellDreams]

You waited till NOW?! Most internships have either started last week or are starting on tuesday. Call every place in the city and see if they have spots. This is really really late in the game but it doesnt hurt to try.

[BoSox0407]

No moron, i didnt wait until now. Sent out a lot of applications but haven't got anything.

[FeelTheHeat]

No moron, i didnt wait until now. Sent out a lot of applications but haven't got anything.

I can see why

[20121109]

No moron, i didnt wait until now. Sent out a lot of applications but haven't got anything.

Probably best not to be a dick to those actually trying to help you.

[BoSox0407]

Barbell knows this only applies to him. He's one of those on this board who constantly loves to put people down. Everyone else who is helpful certainly has my respect. Probably should have just PMed that but oh well haha

[shepdawg]

I second the in person door to door approach.

[BarbellDreams]

Barbell knows this only applies to him. He's one of those on this board who constantly loves to put people down. Everyone else who is helpful certainly has my respect. Probably should have just PMed that but oh well haha

This actually made me laugh for two reasons:

1. You PMed me months ago about this and I spent time explaining in detail all your possibilities. In fact, you PMed me 4 times about it, seems like I was pretty helpful back then if you kept coming back.

2. If this is how you are in real life I doubt there is anything you can really do to get a job to begin with.

Its basically June so unless you have sent out 500+ apps by now you simply didn't send out enough. At this point I would send out apps around the country. If I was offered a job in Oregon, Maine, Rhode Island, New Mexico, doesn't matter, I would take it. Lawschooljobs.net posts random jobs around the US which are actually looking for people. Not sure if they post anymore considering its already summer but I would give all the places that posted within the last month a call cause those are place that aren't one people think to apply to. Get a better attitude and apply to 50+ jobs per day, something will come up hopefully. Good luck.

[TaipeiMort]

Another idea:

Write public defenders offices in areas which are pretty much out in the middle of nowhere. Directly write the PD, finding his email on the internet. Look especially for those not near any schools.

[I.P. Daly]

Did you check with your school's career services office? Desperate employers contract our school's career services office throughout the summer looking for help. Some attorneys get slammed with extra work, want to take vacations, lose their summer help, etc...

[seatown12]

It will be harder to take a position out of state at this point because you will have to set up living arrangements on ridiculously short notice.

Go door to door 8 hrs each day until you have something. Start with small or even solo offices because they are more likely to have their hands full and need help. Tell them you are willing to come in and even just do 10 hrs/week or whatever they need, obviously volunteering. You will probably have to do a lot of filing and other menial BS, at least until they get to know you. At this point you can't be hoping for a great experience, just something to put on the resume.

Good luck! Stay positive. You are offering free labor, everyone should want to bring you on if you sell it right.

[kalvano]

Start calling local non-profit public interest place and see if you can volunteer. And don't act in interviews like you're acting on here. This obviously isn't something you put a lot of thought into.

[Borhas]

call alumni of your LS and UG, get a list from your OCS and just go down the line explaining your situation

[TTH]

OP is mad.

Beg your profs to let you do research for them.

[windowshopper]

You should see if your school has a pro bono program. You may not be able to get 20 hours a week from a single project, but at least you will be able to get some legal experience this summer.

[Triangles]

I'm in the exact same position. Started applying for 1L jobs in late December, been on interviews, went to job fairs, applied to be a research assistant, etc etc and still don't have anything. My career services said they would help me find something, but so far none of the counselors have been able to find anything for me either. Never thought it would be so hard to find someone to let me work for free.

[BoSox0407]

Yup...half my friends have nothing either. I did get started a tad late but sent out dozens of resumes, cover letters and received one callback that only told me they were all full for this summer but would be happy to talk about something in the fall.

[shepdawg]

These questions are for my 1L advice compilation I am publishing.

What regional market did you shoot for?

When did you start applying?

What was your 1st semester gpa?

How many applications did you mail, email, send through OCS system?

What does your resume look like?

What was your cover letter approach?

How many interviews did you go on? If any, what did you wear, and what would you change about your answers and questions?

What types of jobs did you apply for (criminal, big law, sole prac, paid, unpaid)?

[NotMyRealName09]

"No moron, i didnt wait until now. Sent out a lot of applications but haven't got anything."

Someone beat me to this, but perhaps you have a personality disorder. Do you find people not "liking" you and you think its because "they" are jerks?

[fatdouche]

Ask your professors for help

[kalvano]

I'm in the exact same position. Started applying for 1L jobs in late December, been on interviews, went to job fairs, applied to be a research assistant, etc etc and still don't have anything. My career services said they would help me find something, but so far none of the counselors have been able to find anything for me either. Never thought it would be so hard to find someone to let me work for free.

Contact your local PD or Legal Aid office. They always tend to need help.

[SOCRATiC]

No moron, i didnt wait until now. Sent out a lot of applications but haven't got anything.

You're a douche.

[SOCRATiC]

"No moron, i didnt wait until now. Sent out a lot of applications but haven't got anything."

Someone beat me to this, but perhaps you have a personality disorder. Do you find people not "liking" you and you think its because "they" are jerks?

That would be more interesting. But I'm more convinced that he's just a sore loser and a douche.

[seatown12]

Ok, you know what, it was kind of moronic to assume OP waited until now to try to find a job.