THE SUMMER AFTER THE FIRST YEAR...JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE SEMESTER ITSELF

Hello,

The first year of Law School is one of the most important ones, however, the summer after also offers an opportunity to boost up a resume and possibly even to make connections to lock in a job after graduation. Potential employers will want to know how you spend your summer and many law firms end up hiring summer associates.

Here are some ideas provided by The Princeton Review on how to spend your summer after 1L.

Summer School:
Many law schools offer summer classes. If you can, it's a good idea to take one or two of them in the summer when you don't have four or five other classes to worry about.

Study Abroad
If you thought studying abroad was something that only carefree undergraduates get to do, think again! The summer between the first and second years of law school is a tremendous opportunity to study law in a foreign country. Your school may even offer financial aid to go abroad!

Summer Associate at a Big Firm
If you go to an elite law school (on par with, say, Northwestern or Cornell), and your grades are good, you might have the opportunity to snag a summer job at a gigantic, swanky, oak-walled law firm. You'll make several thousand dollars over the course of the summer. Lawyers at these firms will take you to lunch at chic restaurants, lavish you with perks and generally treat you like royalty. However, if you don't attend a top-20 law school, this experience won't be in the cards for you until second year (and only then if your first-year grades are stellar). Even at top schools, competition for these positions is fierce among 1Ls.

Clerking at a Smaller Law Firm
Another option is to get a job clerking at a smaller law firm. The hours are flexible and the pay is pretty good. Some of the work will be tedious but you'll get a lot of solid, hands-on experience in the actual practice of law.

Working for the Public Interest
The summer after your first year is a great time to work for a nonprofit organization like the ACLU or the Institute for Justice, or for the local, state or federal government. The work will be satisfying, and it will help you decide if you want to pursue this path after graduation

So whatever it is you choose to do over the summer, make sure it's something productive and hopefully something that will get your foot in the door.

Good luck...