Do people tend to have small jobs while in FT law school? program Forum

[lillawyer2]

Small jobs, as in, waitress, hostess and ones that don't require much thought to distract from law school. I currently have a FT job at a finance company and a PT job as a waitress/hostess. I will like to continue doing my PT job to help boost my savings while at law school. I'll likely only work 3 days or less a week. I can also study/read while hostessing. I just want to know if it's possible from people who are actually in LS and know the actual work load.

Thanks.

[emkay625]

I worked 20 hours a week with extensive travel on weekends and it was not a problem. You have to be very diligent about managing your time though. I also did not work the two weeks before finals and during finals. I also had no social life - not a single bar review throughout all of law school.

[lillawyer2]

I worked 20 hours a week with extensive travel on weekends and it was not a problem. You have to be very diligent about managing your time though. I also did not work the two weeks before finals and during finals. I also had no social life - not a single bar review throughout all of law school.

Wow...isn't it career suicide not to participate in any extracurriculars?

[fratstar1]

not attending bar review isn't career suicide haha.

[lillawyer2]

not attending bar review isn't career suicide haha.

lol, yes, but i assumed from his/her "no social life" comment that the individual axed out all extracurricular activites.

[emkay625]

I worked 20 hours a week with extensive travel on weekends and it was not a problem. You have to be very diligent about managing your time though. I also did not work the two weeks before finals and during finals. I also had no social life - not a single bar review throughout all of law school.

Wow...isn't it career suicide not to participate in any extracurriculars?

Are LS extracurriculars important? I didn't think they were. Either way, I was on law review and was a TA. Did virtually nothing 1L year other than work and study (I was on a student-faculty committee, but that's about it). I don't think a single firm asked my about extracurriculars during 1L interviews though.

[Mack.Hambleton]

I worked 20 hours a week with extensive travel on weekends and it was not a problem. You have to be very diligent about managing your time though. I also did not work the two weeks before finals and during finals. I also had no social life - not a single bar review throughout all of law school.

why

would you do that

do not do this OP

ETA: work after 1L if you have to

[lillawyer2]

I worked 20 hours a week with extensive travel on weekends and it was not a problem. You have to be very diligent about managing your time though. I also did not work the two weeks before finals and during finals. I also had no social life - not a single bar review throughout all of law school.

why

would you do that

do not do this OP

ETA: work after 1L if you have to

Okay. I realized that I was off royally with my time, so I won't need to. It sounds hard, but if I had to it was an option, now that I don't have to then...

[emkay625]

I worked 20 hours a week with extensive travel on weekends and it was not a problem. You have to be very diligent about managing your time though. I also did not work the two weeks before finals and during finals. I also had no social life - not a single bar review throughout all of law school.

why

would you do that

do not do this OP

ETA: work after 1L if you have to

Did it because I needed the $. Job came with health insurance, $1100/month stipend, and 5K semester tuition assistance (working for the university in another department, not the law school). Was worth it for me and turned out just fine.

But generally, Mack is right OP. Unless you are very, very good at managing your time you shouldn't work.

[unsweetened]

I work part time as a social media manager for a film production company. It's a remote job that probably takes about 20 hours a month and that about all I can handle. I wouldn't be comfortable handling a 20hr/wk type of part time job.
I have missed 6 bar reviews so far, but don't care. I'm 1/1 on tailgates since there is "free" alcohol and food.

[Vursz]

2L here - I work 15-20 hours per week with an online journalism outlet. Pays well (~$30/hour) and has helped me gain a broader sense of current issues in that particular field. Would recommend (though there's no way I'd have done it during 1L).