Are we not allowed to work during 1L?

[dreamsdeferred]

I've heard that 1L's are forbidden to contact law firms prior to December, and that we're not supposed to work during our first year.

Is there any truth to this? 

[PhiMuAmberkins]

It probably depends on your school.  The school I'm applying to says that they "strongly discourage" working and that "other arrangements should be made" to finance your life. 

From what I've heard (speaking as a lowly Fall 07 1L) you wouldn't want to work your first year anyway...

[aerynn]

ABA rules.  No working more than 20 hrs/week.

[aaaa]

so we can work 10?  i was thinking i could handle 10... is that unrealistic? 

[wunder]

Re: work requirements - depends on the school.  Some schools won't even let you work ten hours a week.  Check with the school's financial aid department (they generally know the rules on this).  Of course it's going to be different if you're a PT student or something.

Re: December 1st - this is from the National Association for Law Placement (NALP) principles.  Maybe it's ABA too, I dunno.  But here's from their principles and standards:

D. Summer Employment Provisions for First Year Students
Law schools should not offer career services to first-semester first year law students prior to November 1 except in the case of part-time students who may be given assistance in seeking positions during the school term.

Prospective employers and first year law students should not initiate contact with one another and employers should not interview or make offers to first year students before December 1.

All offers to first year students for summer employment should remain open for at least two weeks after the date made.


You can see more rules from NALP here:  http://www.nalp.org/content/index.php?pid=16#part3

[aerynn]

ABA rules.  No working more than 20 hrs/week.

A student may not be employed more than 20 hours per week in any week in which the student is enrolled in more than twelve class hours.
http://www.abanet.org/legaled/standards/chapter3.html

I haven't found anything on the ABA website saying that it enforces it. I think it's more a regulation so that the univeristy can't offer you a 30 hour/week work study program or encourage you to work more for any reason.  However if you want to go take on a 30 hour PT job on your own...I guess it's on you, but then you can't complain about it if finals rolls around and you're unprepared.

j

Those are the ABA rules for accreditation of the schools.  The schools have to enforce it (and some add their own more strict limitation on hours worked) or risk losing their ABA accreditation.

[jacy85]

As someone else said, NALP employers cannot be contacted prior to Dec. 1.  Non-NALP firms may take resumes before then.  If you want to work a few hours a week, it's probably ok to contact a smaller firm.  If you're looking for a summer job, then contacting the non-NALP firms before mid-spring is likely a waste of time anyway; most smaller firms don't know what their hiring needs for the summer will be, so they tend to be on a different hiring schedule then the bigger firms.

I'm not sure about mid-sized/larger firms; they may mostly be NALP, but there may be some that aren't.  I have no idea.

[Pamela]

ABA rules.  No working more than 20 hrs/week.

A student may not be employed more than 20 hours per week in any week in which the student is enrolled in more than twelve class hours.
http://www.abanet.org/legaled/standards/chapter3.html

I haven't found anything on the ABA website saying that it enforces it. I think it's more a regulation so that the univeristy can't offer you a 30 hour/week work study program or encourage you to work more for any reason.  However if you want to go take on a 30 hour PT job on your own...I guess it's on you, but then you can't complain about it if finals rolls around and you're unprepared.

I am going into my second year soon, and we DO have to sign something every semester that says we are not working more than 20 hours a week. The ABA requires the school to do this. I would not want to work  more and have signed something that I lied on.

[slacker]

Go with the pet sitting over the dog walking. You're going to want jobs where you can study while you're working.