Hi all! I’ve just returned from a Fulbright, and I’m currently studying for the LSAT. I’m aiming for a score high enough to help compensate for my 3.84 GPA and give me a realistic shot at the T-14 (with an Ivy as the dream).
The job market sucks, and I’m in a bit of a predicament about what to prioritize during my next gap year. Ideally, I’m trying to find a job that:
Is involved in the legal field or otherwise makes sense with my interest in law
Is close to home so I can save money before law school (in Texas)
Gives me enough time/energy outside of work to seriously study for the LSAT
Still adds something meaningful to my resume/application rather than taking a job solely for the sake of being employed (I'm worried about not having something prestigious)
With all of these things in mind, my opportunities seem pretty limited...
My work experience is already fairly law-oriented, but I guess my question is: how much should I actually care about what my gap-year job “looks like” to law schools?
Would it be better to hold out for a legal assistant/paralegal/policy-type position, or is it completely reasonable to take a less relevant job that lets me live at home, make money, and prioritize getting the best LSAT score possible- especially if I’m doing research/volunteering on the side?
1 comments
While the ideal would be the ideal job, sometimes that doesn't happen! As admissions officers, we understand that life sometimes intervenes (personal issues, family issues, needing to be close to home, job offer got rescinded due to layoffs, etc etc etc). That's not a huge problem for us. The thing that would look weird is if you just have a gap in your resume. So if you're striking out trying to find the preferred job but you can do a part time job that helps pay the bills, or there's a volunteer thing that will help you get out of the house, or something else of that nature, that's alright!