help me compare my summer options

[juliemccoy]

I'm interested in general feedback regarding some of my 1L summer work offer so far-->

1) Unpaid internship with an advocacy group on Capitol Hill. Flexible scheduling, incl. opp for split summer.
2) Unpaid internship with JAG in Northern VA
3) Paid Research Ass't w/a law professor at my law school in an area of personal interest w/in the law

I did find out from my school that I may be able to create an externship #1 and #2. (Previously I thought there weren't). However, I'll be paying out-of-state tuition for the privilege of taking out more loans. In addition, I will be continuing to pay rent on my apt at school for the summer (subleasing/breaking lease are not options). No family $ assistance available.

Of the three, which would you do? I'm just looking for other's perspective; it won't necessarily factor into my decision-- just curious. Thanks!

[thorc954]

Id do JAG.  Research assistantships are great, but people primarily do them for one of two reasons 1) they couldnt get any other employment, or 2) they need to supplement an unpaid internship. 

I think Jag is more prestigious then the other.  I would say either way you need to chose either 1 or 2.  Whichever you chose shouldnt foreclose the option of being a research assistant either as its not a huge time commitment. 

just my 2 cents.

[kulrythm]

What JAG?  I thought the Army JAG internship was paid at like an GS-7 or something. 

[1LMan]

Yeah, I also wonder what JAG isn't paid.  However, I would definitely say JAG.  You will get actual legal experience instead of busy work.

[Peaches]

It depends on the advocacy organization.  If it's a divisive issue or an organization you wouldn't want to spend a substantial amount of time talking about in an interview, I'd cross them off the list.  If it's something well-known and innocuous (an association of universities, an association of zoos) then I may bump it above JAG, especially if you're doing substantive work.

[smujd2007]

JAG is good.

[ronaldo699]

although paying for summer credits does suck, i did it my 1l summer and its making life sooo much easier as a 2l/3l...    also - many schools allow you to reduce your tuition (and credit hours) to pt one semester and thus allow you to recoup the difference you paid from summer... something to think about if possible also

[thorc954]

although paying for summer credits does suck, i did it my 1l summer and its making life sooo much easier as a 2l/3l...    also - many schools allow you to reduce your tuition (and credit hours) to pt one semester and thus allow you to recoup the difference you paid from summer... something to think about if possible also

agreed, it makes life so much easier. 

a consideration is that many schools wont let you switch to part time because of residency requirements though.

will your school let you defer the credits and the tuition?  mine did that and it made the fall of my 2L year pretty chill.