Question for lawyers...kind of personal

Well, as some of you know I am applying to law school for the fall
BTW, I am applying to St. John's and Hofstra (didn't want to go far away,
and I really like both schools) well, My question is (and I apoligize for getting
in your business) what kind of jobs did you guys hold down, if any while
in School. I have been sending out countless resumes and had an
interview today with Dept of Social Services for a clerk position but it is
only part-time (3 days a week) and doesn't pay enough for me to contribute
to the wedding expenses. I am even going to go apply to restaurants
as a waitress position because it is probably the only place in which
I can make my own hours when school starts (if I get accepted )
FH's sis-in law is about to graduate Law School this may so she is
basically in the same boat as I. I am sorry to bother you ladies but I
really have no one else to ask and I am feeling extremely fustrated because
I am completely broke and I wanted to take advantage being that I took
this year off to be able to save. And I also wanted to know: What does
a general practitioner do? for example can I practice both Immigration and
Real Estate Law? Should I even be worrying about this right now?
I AM SO NERVOUS THAT I WON'T GET ACCEPTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank You in advance for any info you can provide me with

I took a temp job right out of college and during my first year of law school I worked full time and went to school at night. I was making a little more than $10/hr., but I lived with my parents, so I saved a ton of money! Then I transferred schools and for my last two years I was a day student and worked at a law firm 15 to 20 hours a week. You should be aware (if you are not already) that there is an ABA rule that does not allow a full time law student to work more than 20 hrs per week.

Whatever job you take, try to get into a law office. Down the road it will help you tremendously.

And, yes, you can practice immigration and real estate law if that is what you still want to do after law school.

Hope this helps

I am a graduate of Hofstra Law (you can FM me about anything about that school), 2001, and while I was in school, including my first year, I clerked at law firms.

My first year I clerked at a PI firm in Carle Place. Second year I worked at a family law firm, then a intellectual prop. firm in nassau. Then I got a job clerking at a big firm in NYC (my best friend's mom was in HR there) and worked there through graduation.
My parents didn't pay for law school and didn't provide any financial support. I lived with my DH (then boyfriend) and needed to be able to support myself, through working and loans. I probably took out way too much in loans, if I could go back I would have really not lived the kind of lifestyle I did (not that it was extravagant - but it's true what they say, if you live like a lawyer in law school, you'll live like a law student once you're a lawyer).
I also waitressed in addition to clerking jobs and going to law school full time. Even with all this, I am so in debt.

GPs do a little of everything, but now, most people pick one area that they like and really become experts in it. Definitely see what you're most interested in law school and let that point you in the right direction.

thanks ladies. Well I have sent out countless resumes to countless
firms for receptionist postions or anything entry level since they were
asking for experience to be a paralegal or legal sec. I never got a response
back which kind of upset me because I do have receptionist/clerical
experience and some of these jobs even said 'no experience necessary,
will train' and my resume was good, considering I was a recent graduate.
but I have kind of given up on law firm jobs right now, I lost hope. I am
seriously contemplating doing the waitressing because I will be able
to make my own hours and come home with decent money. I live with
my dad and don't pay rent and I dont have any major bills. (I am really
glad I didn't get myself into debt when I was younger) My only two major
bills are school loan and car insurance (in two months, when I get my car)
The only major thing I have to worry about is the wedding and FI is putting
most of the money in but I just feel that I need to work to help him out. I guess
I just feel fustrated because it has taken so long to get a job and I am
scared I won't be able to survive next year with all this that is going on!!!!!
well thanks for all your responses, I really appreciate it


edit: don't know why post looks kind of wierd. :appeased

when I went FT , I worked PT as a bookkeeper at waldbaums and took off 2-3 weeks before finals

when I switched to PT law school, I had a ft job and went to school at night and took off time before exams

good luck

I went to school PT in the evening and worked FT as an inhouse paralegal for an insurance company. If I had to do it again, I probably wouldn't change it because I wouldn't have my job today but for my paralegal position. With that said, it would have been nice to work part-time and enjoy school a little more. As it was, my life for 4 years was working all day, struggling to stay awake at night for classes and studying on the weekend. In between, I tried to have a life.

As a prospective law student, you should be applying for clerking positions and not secretarial/receptionist. They are probably not calling you for those positions because with a degree you are overqualified.

Do you know anyone that works in a firm that might be able to get you a job there? When you don't have legal experience, it never hurts to know someone.

thanks for the advice mary, I have been told the same thing about maybe
being too 'overqualified' they probably assumed I wouldn't stick around
for long also. Well I personally don't know anyone in the legal field, but my
mother might know some people (she's always in different meetings and
knows alot of people) I will try to look into it, but for now until September,
I need some serious money and I will take whatever job I can get (hopefully
I can get a job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

When I first started law school I did not work(since I thought I'd have no time). I lived with my mom, so I didn't really have any expenses. But I soon realized that since I have worked since the age of 13, I could not at the age of 21 ask my mom for $$ So I got a part-time job at a restaurant as a coat check girl. Then during the summer of my first year of law school, I went back to the law firm where I worked in College and have stayed there since. During the school year, I only worked on Fridays all day (since my school schedule did not allow me to work more than that). They paid me at that time $16 an hour. After I graduated and prior to me taking the bar, they offered me an associate position and that is where I am now

Hi Gaby,
I am a recent graudate of St. John's School of Law. Please feel free to FM me. I really liked it there and I still remain in contact with the amazing prof.'s that I met there.

I was clueless before I started law school as to what was out there (job wise) so...I hope this helps.

I did not work during the semesters by choice. Law school and Law Review really was a full time job.

My first summer I was a TA at the law school and made $10/hr. Not sure if I could have found a better paying job because I didn't try. I was a TA mostly because I hope to one day teach.

My second summer I was a summer associate at a big NYC firm. The salary was very good about $2500/week. FYI, the salaries of alot of the big law firms are standard and public knowledge and you can find them in NALP or Vault.

After being a summer, I could have worked part time for about $60/hr. Again, this is standard.

I clerked for a year after I graduated and now am working at the firm I summered with.

PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO FM me with any questions about St. John's or anything else.

I hope this helps!

BTW, I just wanted to add that once you get accepted, career services will be your best resource. The career services at SJU was very very helpful. They send out newsletters with job listings as well as host an on-campus interview program at the end of your first year. They will help you with your resume and cover letters and help you do mass mailings.

As a Hofstra grad, I will fully admit that I was not that impressed with our career services.

Also, those high paying summer associate positions in NYC are very very competitve.
I really didn't know how competitive they were until I was a student, I just figured I could get one. Not so easy. I had friends who busted their butts in law school, on law review, the whole bit and someone else got the position they interviewed for who went to Harvard or an Ivy League.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of law students/graduates, and not that many jobs. It's frustrating - but almost everyone I know from law school is working, but not necessarily where they want to be (myself included!!)

wow, ladies thanks for all the info. I just really want to get any kind of
job right now that will allow me to help FH out a little since we are
paying for the wedding ourselves. I know next year I will only be able
to work 15-20 hours if that which would be just fine, like I said I don't
have many expenses. (Thank God) I just hope I get accepted. My GPA
was good, but I don't know if my LSAT was that good. I tried really hard
on my personal statement. BTW, is the Bar really,really, really hard
how long is it and I have also heard it is really expensiv