How to Find and Obtain a Law School Summer Job

At many law schools and for many law students, obtaining summer employment can be challenging. Indeed, there are a few factors that give rise to the difficulty: (1) not knowing what you would like to do, (2) not knowing where you would like to go, (3) and needing to obtain some sort of compensation. I will impart some of the lessons I have learned from my own experience, as well as the experiences others have shared with me. I address my remarks to 1Ls, since this is their first time through the process, but these principles are generally applicable any students.

First of all, congratulations on finishing the year. No matter how you felt you did, you survived, you learned a lot, and you are ready to put to work some of that knowledge you have obtained. At the outset it should be noted that the more you know about what you would like to do, or where you would like to do it, the easier the job search will be. I will run down the most common positions students obtain and highlight some important points in applying for those positions, as well as some of the advantages of each position.

Law Firm

Positions with a law firm, particularly with a "big law" firm are very difficult to come by for 1Ls in any economic climate, but that is particularly so now, given the major cutbacks the large firms have made. With any job, but especially with the elite law firms, your academic record (i.e. grades) is often the most important aspect of your application. Because competition for a firm's 1 or 2 1L spots is so intense, it is difficult to get the position without solid grades. However, there are still helpful things one can do. First, networking is vital. Is your dad/brother/cousin/best friend a lawyer in a firm? Can you contact an alumnus of your law school at the firm you are applying to? "Name dropping" can be very important. Over winter break of my first year of law school, I secured a lunch with a big law firm and an interview with a small, boutique litigation firm because of family connections. Lawyers in those offices expressly told my familial contact that my name was not stuck in a stack of hundreds of applicants because I had a contact in the office. So, to recapitulate, network. Network through people you know, but also you should contact alumni in the firms. Connections along with grades are the keys to getting the rare 1L firm summer job.

So, why are firm jobs great? First, they pay. Many firms pay their "summer associates" (sometimes called summer clerks) the same amount they pay their new associates. Secondly, the firm allows you to establish connections in the legal market and with a prospective future employer. If you do a good job, it is likely that you will be invited back to for your next summer.

Public Interest/Government Work

Surprisingly, these positions can be quite competitive, even though many do not pay-particularly government jobs like the U.S. Attorney's Office. The key here is to do your own research. Make sure you know when they start accepting applications. Try to make connections through alumni. Offer to come interview over your winter break. I applied to the U.S. Attorney's Office in two different states. For one state, I had to apply by December 15, but the other city did not set a date, and I did not apply until February. Having said that, with any position, the earlier you apply, the better. Another thing I did was to contact all the students at my law school that had interned to the U.S.A.O. the year before and asked if I could see what their cover letters looked like. I also asked for any other tips (interviews, etc.). This proved very fruitful. Do not be shy about using your colleagues. Odds are they would love to help you. Also, contact your school's career services, particularly if you are interested in public interest work. They will likely have lists, or access to lists, of potential employers. You can then search for something in the geographic area you like (e.g. western Europe) or the area of law you are interested in (e.g. international human rights). Finally, the Internet is invaluable. Google NGOs and IGOs. Look at the Department of Justice's website. Google your local public defender or district attorney's office. Think broadly, but do not overlook exciting jobs "in your own backyard." If you are away at law school, then you may have two "backyards" to search. There are volumes of data available, so search and look for the public interest job you are interested in. Also, some schools' clinics hire students for the summers. Working for a clinic provides real litigation experience, with the added bonus of building a relationship with a professor.

What is so great about these jobs? These jobs give you great connections, especially if you want to go into this career path. Do you want to eventually work for the U.N.? Then you should definitely try to volunteer with them during law school. That way you will know people after you graduate. Same thing with government work-those jobs can be highly competitive. If you already have some experience in the field and they can see you know what you are getting yourself into, you are that much better off.

Judicial Internship

Judges march to the beat of their own drums-they do whatever they want. That said, you might be able to get a spot even if you apply late, but you should know that many prestigious positions (like internships with federal district judges) will go very early. If you are considering interning for a judge, you should apply early. They get many applicants, even though these do not pay. Likely your law school will have a judicial database (for people to apply for clerkships later on); access this database to find judges for whom you would like to work. Apply to many in the same geographic region. It will likely take many applications to get a single call or email inviting you for an interview.

What so great about a judicial internship? These positions provide you with invaluable litigation experience, especially if you are working for a trial judge. You will follow a case from the time of the filing to its disposition. Moreover, you will see litigation from the perspective of the judge. You will see what persuades and what does not persuade the judge. You will see what good and bad lawyering looks like. These experiences will prove invaluable. If you are working for an appellate judge, you will gain a rare insight. Not many lawyers have the opportunity to see appellate work from the perspective of the judge. You will read effective and ineffective briefs. You will hear effective and ineffective oralists (some one making an oral argument). Another benefit to working for a judge is if you are interested in pursuing a judicial clerkship after graduation, you may already have an "in"; at the least, you will be able to show a familiarity with the work of a judicial clerk.

Research for a Professor
Many professors hire students as research assistants. Consider approaching a professor in a class you really enjoyed, especially if you got a good grade. Additionally, some professors will likely post openings for students to apply, even if a student did not have that professor. These are the two most likely ways students procure these research assistant positions.

Why should a student consider researching for a summer? There are two very good reasons. First, this is a good resume builder because it shows future employers you have honed your research skills. You presumably improved your sills over the summer, above the level you obtained in your legal research and writing classes. Much of what lawyers do is research and writing, and these positions give students great opportunities to do both. Secondly, you will be able to build a relationship with the professor, and these relationships are invaluable. This will make obtaining a good letter of recommendation that much easier-a necessity, for example, if you would like to clerk after law school.

In conclusion: cast a wide net. There are many options available. All of them have of big "up-sides," so think broadly. Consider any region you could spend a summer in, especially if you have a legal contact there. Contact your school's career services. Talk to your professors and classmates. The important thing is to do something law-related. That's what future employers will be looking for, and you will be better off if you have done something interesting (like the positions discussed above) and you have something to talk about during interviews.