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So I'm going to have to do something with my summer (my parents will not consider eating/sleeping/swimming/Netflix to qualify unfortunately) -- would attempting to get some type of gig at a law firm be the best course to take? I've been messing around on craigslist and have just applied to be a ranger at a golf course, a meat cutter at a supermarket, and a video checker in the security department at a bank. Somehow I am seemingly qualified for any of these. Anyway, would it make more sense for me to forego making a few thousand bucks this summer and instead getting some type of legal experience that I could then lean on when/if interviewing for 1L summer stuff, or will it be a negligible benefit since all that matters is grades? I could definitely use the money, but I am cognizant of the fact that improving my chances at getting a real job down the line is worth a whole lot more. Any thoughts are appreciated, sorry if this has been asked before.

SeriousLehigh wrote:So I'm going to have to do something with my summer (my parents will not consider eating/sleeping/swimming/Netflix to qualify unfortunately) -- would attempting to get some type of gig at a law firm be the best course to take? I've been messing around on craigslist and have just applied to be a ranger at a golf course, a meat cutter at a supermarket, and a video checker in the security department at a bank. Somehow I am seemingly qualified for any of these. Anyway, would it make more sense for me to forego making a few thousand bucks this summer and instead getting some type of legal experience that I could then lean on when/if interviewing for 1L summer stuff, or will it be a negligible benefit since all that matters is grades? I could definitely use the money, but I am cognizant of the fact that improving my chances at getting a real job down the line is worth a whole lot more. Any thoughts are appreciated, sorry if this has been asked before.

Try the bolded at small local firms, even though it's likely too late. You should still be able to volunteer at plenty of places though. Some branches of the ACLU, for example, will take volunteers on a rolling basis for almost any length of time.
You might be surprised how many places will take you if you shoot around your resume offering to work for free.

Regardless, don't work full-time, and make sure you get plenty of rest before 1L. Coming in psychologically fresh is more important than any potential benefit of working hard this summer.

If none of that works out, enroll for a couple free Coursera classes and convince your parents it's as much work as a job (which it could be if you actually gave a shit and did all the homework, which you shouldn't).

The ACLU suggestion is a good one. I called my local branch and ended up helping them out for about nine months. They only needed me for a few hours a week, and I had opportunities to do things at weekend events. It was a cool experience. The office only had a few employees, so I got to meet a lot of the attorneys and talk to them about law school. There were also some summer interns who just finished 1L. Very worthwhile.

ymmv wrote:Try the bolded at small local firms, even though it's likely too late. You should still be able to volunteer at plenty of places though. Some branches of the ACLU, for example, will take volunteers on a rolling basis for almost any length of time.
You might be surprised how many places will take you if you shoot around your resume offering to work for free.

Regardless, don't work full-time, and make sure you get plenty of rest before 1L. Coming in psychologically fresh is more important than any potential benefit of working hard this summer.

If none of that works out, enroll for a couple free Coursera classes and convince your parents it's as much work as a job (which it could be if you actually gave a shit and did all the homework, which you shouldn't).

Thanks for the response. In emailing my resume to local law firms should the verbiage be that I am looking for an internship? The ACLU as well?

To clarify, you see no scenario where working a stupid summer job for the $ of it is worthwhile? Or just lower on the totem pole from working unpaid at a law firm?

I did a 15 second Google of coursera and am unclear what the potential benefit is there. Just to expand my mind/learn stuff? I think that will be a really tough sell for my parents who disagree that an unpaid internship would be better than working at a grocery store.

Your parents are right: in your 0L summer, an unpaid internship IS worse than a job at the grocery store. Make a few bucks so you have bar money

Cicero76 wrote:Your parents are right: in your 0L summer, an unpaid internship IS worse than a job at the grocery store. Make a few bucks so you have bar money

Ok! Thank you for your answer, I'd much rather have a no stress job that is putting money in my pocket then one in which I'm worried about networking/making good impressions etc, especially when the latter doesn't pay.

I was definitely hoping that responses would trend this way, but I didn't want to waste my summer if I could be using it to improve my future prospects. I've got my fingers crossed for the golf course, working outside ftw.

SeriousLehigh wrote:
Thanks for the response. In emailing my resume to local law firms should the verbiage be that I am looking for an internship? The ACLU as well?

Yes, and throw in language about volunteering for the summer. Make it clear you're not asking for a real job or a long-term position so you don't get insta-dinged.

SeriousLehigh wrote: To clarify, you see no scenario where working a stupid summer job for the $ of it is worthwhile? Or just lower on the totem pole from working unpaid at a law firm?

There is very little chance of anything you do this summer making a substantial difference to your legal career.

SeriousLehigh wrote: I did a 15 second Google of coursera and am unclear what the potential benefit is there. Just to expand my mind/learn stuff? I think that will be a really tough sell for my parents who disagree that an unpaid internship would be better than working at a grocery store.

Basically. Working at a grocery store this summer is a complete waste of time unless the need the money to survive, since (a) they don't pay jack-shit and it won't be a drop in the bucket of your law schools loans and (b) working retail of any kind full-time can be soul-draining, mind-crushing stuff that will unnecessarily stress you out before you start the hardest and most important two semesters of your life.

Would your parents buy it if you take a bunch of useless legal-history and legal philosophy classes on Coursera or a similar source of free higher ed? It won't help your career in any way, but it will be a much more relaxing and beneficial way to spend your summer than mopping up vomit behind the produce aisle.

Look, your folks are just being unreasonable. If they are people of even average means they should have no problem with you bumming around for the summer before law school, particularly if they are not paying any of your tuition/housing during school.

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If you're going the ACLU route, they probably won't have any internships for 0Ls, so just ask about opportunities to volunteer. I did this and ended up assisting the communications director. But, like I said, the office was really small, so I got to interact with all kinds of people and learn a little bit about the law and that type of legal work.

Hey, another question. I have read advice elsewhere on this site to withhold the fact that you're going to law school in order to get a job and not give the impression that the employment is going to be temporary. Does this advice hold if the job specifically 'requires' a 6 month minimum commitment? I found a cool looking pet sitting gig that has this stipulation. I can obviously tell them I'm in long term, and then in 2 months say sorry something came up and only feel a little dickish, but is this more ethically problematic than withholding in a situation without a minimum commitment?

SeriousLehigh wrote:just applied to be a ranger at a golf course, a meat cutter at a supermarket, and a video checker in the security department at a bank

Do one of these. It'll be a cool experience, and an interesting story during interviews. Hell, even a decade from now, it'll provide fodder for conversation

SeriousLehigh wrote:Hey, another question. I have read advice elsewhere on this site to withhold the fact that you're going to law school in order to get a job and not give the impression that the employment is going to be temporary. Does this advice hold if the job specifically 'requires' a 6 month minimum commitment? I found a cool looking pet sitting gig that has this stipulation. I can obviously tell them I'm in long term, and then in 2 months say sorry something came up and only feel a little dickish, but is this more ethically problematic than withholding in a situation without a minimum commitment?

Don't go do a job that specifically requires a commitment longer than you can give. That's dickish.

guano wrote:

SeriousLehigh wrote:just applied to be a ranger at a golf course, a meat cutter at a supermarket, and a video checker in the security department at a bank

Do one of these. It'll be a cool experience, and an interesting story during interviews. Hell, even a decade from now, it'll provide fodder for conversation

I agree, applications made, fingers crossed while awaiting reply.

Cicero76 wrote: Don't go do a job that specifically requires a commitment longer than you can give. That's dickish.

This was my gut as well.