November Job Hunting

I had my interview with OCS (Office of Career Services) yesterday, just as Kristine was whining in a minor way about job hunting already. It is surreal to be looking now for a law job for next summer -- now, when I haven't received a single grade (not even a shadow grade for Legal Research and Writing). Now, when I have barely a clue about my options. Now, when I don't know how deep in the hole we'll be by June.

Side note: one of the 3Ls told me her husband set up a spreadsheet to cover all 3 years of law school. It shows their income and cash flow month by month with a running total, so they know how much cash they'll have left at the end of any given month. They figure they'll have about $200 when she graduates. I love the notion of the spreadsheet, and I can't fathom ever doing that.

Back to the job hunt. One of the possibilities being bandied about is a judicial externship. Why externship? Why not internship? Who knows? There are huge benefits to a stint with a judge: you gain tons of practical knowledge about the law, and meet lots of people from firms all over the place, and get the judge's thoughts on how various firms perform. All very valuable. The major drawback is that it is not only unpaid, it doesn't qualify for the public interest loans.

Any thoughts? Has anyone done this? Should I cave and try for the well-paid boredom of a 1L firm job?

All of this is assuming I pass my first set of exams, of course. Which is assuming a lot.

Comments

[kristine]

I think there's supposed to be some ABA loan you can get for judicial externships. Or something.

But yeah, that's the crappiest thing about working for a judge, even if that's the thing I want to do.

[CM]

What's the difference between an internship and an externship?

[Citations]

That's exactly what I was wondering -- what's the difference?

[Brian D.]

I'm hate to say this but I have no what the differnce is. I'm sure a technical difference exists or you wouldn't need a different word for the experiences, but practically speaking they're the same thing.

I had an externship offered through school. I received class credit, but no salary. Many students did a summer internship at a firm or government entity. The firm jobs paid, but the government jobs may or may not have paid. What's the differnce as we received good experience from all? Damned if I know!

[centinel]

Externships are shorter -- usually a week or two.

[Citations]

Ah, interesting. A judicial externship lasts at least most of the summer, but an internship is for a year, so that makes sense.