Hello everyone! I wanted to write about some tips that are helpful for finding a summer job in law school. I want to preface this post by saying that because of the public health crisis, I know so many internships are up in the air. I feel so fortunate that I was able to find a job for this summer, and did not have to deal with the stress of having a job offer rescinded. With that being said, if you’re a current 1L, I know there are still places hiring for the summer. Or if you are not currently in law school, these tips could apply to undergrad internships! I have not started my job yet, and am by no means an expert, but I wanted to share some tips with you all. Hope you enjoy!

1. APPLY EVERYWHERE! This is my most important piece of advice. I applied to so many internships, which was undoubtedly time consuming. However, I applied to dozens of jobs because I know how competitive legal internships can be. I applied and even interviewed for some jobs that definitely weren’t my first choice, but I wanted the security of knowing I would find some sort of job.
2. Consider location – As a general rule, it is probably best to intern where you want to practice after law school. I was applying mainly for internships in DC because I knew I planned on transferring and want to practice there after law school. This presents issues, such as competition with local law students, and having to do interviews remotely. But if at all possible, work where you want to eventually practice, even if it is in a different location than your law school.
3. Paid vs. Unpaid – Trust me, I know how tempting it is to only want a paid summer job when you’re a broke law school student. But just remember that unpaid jobs are a lot more common and can provide you with invaluable work experience. If this is an area of particular concern to you, check to see what funding opportunities your school has for public interest and unpaid jobs!
4. Be prepared for the interview – I had several interviews, and something I always made sure to do was prepare quite a bit, even if it wasn’t for my “first choice” job. You never know how an interview will go, and you could end up really wanting the job after talking to the person interviewing you. I would suggest writing out and practicing answers to common interview questions, researching the organization/ firm, and know what you want to stay to make you stand out as an applicant. I’m planning on doing a separate post on interview tips, so stay tuned for that!
5. Don’t accept an offer you’re unsure about – If you’ve applied to multiple jobs, it is possible that you could get an offer about a job you’re unsure about before hearing back about a job you really want. I was in this position, and I completely understand how tempting it is to accept the first position you’re offered in case you don’t get another job offer. However, just because you are offered a position does not mean you have to accept it! What I did was ask for 2 weeks to decide, and in that period I ended up getting hired at the place I would have preferred to work at. Just be very careful and weigh your options.