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Would being a marine in the reserves while attending law school destroy any chances for top grades and finding summer employment? It would involve leaving early Friday afternoon (occasionally Thursday) and returning late Sunday night once a month and leaving for 2 weeks in the summer (sometimes there’s a winter option).

I’m not too concerned with time management. I think one weekend away won’t be a huge deal, but maybe I’m wrong about that?

Also not concerned with deploying due to the accelerated draw-down.

Would having a 2 (possibly up to 4) week commitment in June/July kill any chances at finding good summer employment? I know some people split summers between multiple positions. Is this only after 1L?

Thanks for the help.

Whether you can split summers depends more on the firm than if you are a 1L or 2L. Some firms split, some don't. Finding summer paid employment at a firm during 1L is difficult anyway. I personally wouldn't stay in the reserves, but only you know your capabilities and your ability to manage time.

I think it can be done pretty easily. Its once a month for a weekend. As long as there is no finals i do not see a problem. Shit most weekends I didn't do anything anyway. Your probably way better at managing ur time then the average 1L anyway.

how are you going to deal with mandatory attendance?

TheThriller wrote:how are you going to deal with mandatory attendance?

Attend.

on the fence wrote:Would being a marine in the reserves while attending law school destroy any chances for top grades and finding summer employment? It would involve leaving early Friday afternoon (occasionally Thursday) and returning late Sunday night once a month and leaving for 2 weeks in the summer (sometimes there’s a winter option).

I’m not too concerned with time management. I think one weekend away won’t be a huge deal, but maybe I’m wrong about that?

Also not concerned with deploying due to the accelerated draw-down.

Would having a 2 (possibly up to 4) week commitment in June/July kill any chances at finding good summer employment? I know some people split summers between multiple positions. Is this only after 1L?

Thanks for the help.

I'd say the only real question is how flexible those two weeks are. Summer jobs don't cover the whole summer, and you will be able to take 2 weeks off.

Taking a weekend a month off also isn't a big deal, but you need to be very disciplined about having your shit together. You may find that the weekend falls in the middle of a two week writing assignment, or you might have an exam that Monday.

The two weeks are not flexible, but you know when they are scheduled months in advance.

As for weekends, I know it may suck at times, but I believe I can stay on top of my stuff.

on the fence wrote:The two weeks are not flexible, but you know when they are scheduled months in advance.

As for weekends, I know it may suck at times, but I believe I can stay on top of my stuff.

I guess some employers will work around it, but for some employers you'll be out of the running. Don't know of anyone who's tried. Good luck

guano wrote:

on the fence wrote:The two weeks are not flexible, but you know when they are scheduled months in advance.

As for weekends, I know it may suck at times, but I believe I can stay on top of my stuff.

I guess some employers will work around it, but for some employers you'll be out of the running. Don't know of anyone who's tried. Good luck

That's basically what I figured. Thanks.

on the fence wrote:

guano wrote:

on the fence wrote:The two weeks are not flexible, but you know when they are scheduled months in advance.

As for weekends, I know it may suck at times, but I believe I can stay on top of my stuff.

I guess some employers will work around it, but for some employers you'll be out of the running. Don't know of anyone who's tried. Good luck

That's basically what I figured. Thanks.

I don't know too many employers that are going to say hey your serving our country I'm not going to let u take time off to do so. Especially first summer when its unpaid. Second summer might pose more problems. However, I'm sure they'll accommodate and that will not be the reason for a no offer. If anything your military experience will probably be looked as a plus not a negative. Just my take tho. Reasonable minds can disagree.

Lacepiece23 wrote:

on the fence wrote:

guano wrote:

on the fence wrote:The two weeks are not flexible, but you know when they are scheduled months in advance.

As for weekends, I know it may suck at times, but I believe I can stay on top of my stuff.

I guess some employers will work around it, but for some employers you'll be out of the running. Don't know of anyone who's tried. Good luck

That's basically what I figured. Thanks.

I don't know too many employers that are going to say hey your serving our country I'm not going to let u take time off to do so. Especially first summer when its unpaid. Second summer might pose more problems. However, I'm sure they'll accommodate and that will not be the reason for a no offer. If anything your military experience will probably be looked as a plus not a negative. Just my take tho. Reasonable minds can disagree.

Some summer programs are quite rigid
Come OCI, OP should contact recruiters prior to bidding to inquire.
Added bonus: great excuse for contacting recruiters prior to bidding

Also worth noting: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniformed_ ... Rights_Act

hlsperson1111 wrote:Also worth noting: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniformed_ ... Rights_Act

That doesn't affect whether OP can get a job

I know a reservist who killed it in law school. He works at a top firm now. The firm bent over backwards to accommodate him from what I could tell. In almost all scenarios, military obligations are a valid excuse, including for missing classes and missing two weeks of a summer associateship.

guano wrote:

hlsperson1111 wrote:Also worth noting: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniformed_ ... Rights_Act

That doesn't affect whether OP can get a job

You're wrong. From the DOL website:

USERRA prohibits employment discrimination against a person on the basis of past military service, current military obligations, or intent to serve. An employer must not deny initial employment, reemployment, retention in employment, promotion, or any benefit of employment to a person on the basis of a past, present, or future service obligation. In addition, an employer must not retaliate against a person because of an action taken to enforce or exercise any USERRA right or for assisting in an USERRA investigation.

The pre-service employer must reemploy servicemembers returning from a period of service in the uniformed services if those servicemembers meet five criteria

(source: http://www.dol.gov/compliance/guide/userra.htm)

I agree that no law firm is going to deny employment because you're a reservist. It's obviously illegal and just downright un-American.

on the fence wrote:

TheThriller wrote:how are you going to deal with mandatory attendance?

Attend.

How can you attend if your leaving thursday or friday once a month? Unless I misunderstood you and this is ONLY for summer months.

TheThriller wrote:

on the fence wrote:

TheThriller wrote:how are you going to deal with mandatory attendance?

Attend.

How can you attend if your leaving thursday or friday once a month? Unless I misunderstood you and this is ONLY for summer months.

He won't miss many classes, and they'll excuse the absences. Plus, top schools don't really give a damn about the ABA attendance requirements, and we can only hope OP is going to a top school.

Currently set to attend flaship regional with $$ in fall, but considering looking for a transfer and applying next fall to T14 (after the wisdom of TLS. Auto-admit at several lower T14 with my numbers).