How to Make Money During Law School

Law school presents a significant financial commitment. Supplementing income during these demanding years is common and often necessary. Earning money while pursuing a legal education can alleviate financial pressures, provide valuable experience, and help build professional networks. This article explores diverse strategies for law students to generate income, ranging from opportunities within the legal field to flexible non-legal roles and university-specific programs.

Pursuing Paid Legal Opportunities

Paid opportunities within the legal field offer law students practical experience while earning income. Paid internships are widely available across various legal settings, including law firms, corporate legal departments, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. Identify these roles through university career services, online legal job boards, and professional networking events. The application process requires submitting a resume, a compelling cover letter, and interviews that assess legal aptitude and professional demeanor.

Judicial clerkships provide a valuable paid opportunity for law students to work closely with judges. These roles involve conducting legal research, drafting memoranda, and assisting with opinion writing, offering insight into the judicial process. Students identify these highly competitive positions through their law school’s clerkship advisors and apply during specific windows, sometimes more than a year in advance of the start date. Compensation for clerkships, while not typically a full-time salary, often provides a living wage for the duration of the appointment.

Law students find opportunities as research assistants for professors, contributing to academic projects, articles, or books. These positions are frequently advertised directly by faculty members or through departmental listings, and students can express interest by reaching out to professors whose work aligns with their academic interests. The work involves in-depth legal research, citation checking, and sometimes drafting sections of scholarly works, providing a deeper understanding of specific legal areas. Compensation for research assistant roles is typically hourly and can vary based on the professor’s grant funding or departmental budgets.

Summer associate programs at larger law firms represent a highly sought-after path for law students, primarily after their second year. These programs serve as extended interviews for post-graduation associate positions, immersing students in the day-to-day work of a firm, including client meetings, depositions, and courtroom observations. Recruitment for summer associate roles is highly structured, often beginning in the fall of the second year with on-campus interviews (OCI) and subsequent callback interviews. While compensation is substantial, all earned income is subject to federal, state, and local income taxes, requiring careful financial planning.

Exploring Flexible Non-Legal Work

Beyond direct legal roles, law students can explore various non-legal work options that offer the necessary flexibility to accommodate a rigorous academic schedule. Tutoring, for example, leverages a student’s academic strengths to assist others in subjects like legal writing, law school courses, or test preparation for exams such as the LSAT or BAR. Students can market their services through university bulletin boards, online tutoring platforms, or by word-of-mouth, setting their rates based on experience and the complexity of the subject matter. Income from tutoring, like other freelance activities, may require estimated taxes quarterly to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) if earnings are substantial and not subject to typical employer withholding.

Freelance writing and editing present viable income opportunities, allowing students to utilize their strong research and writing skills developed in law school. This can involve producing legal content for blogs or websites, editing academic papers for clarity and grammar, or proofreading documents for various clients. Online platforms connect freelancers with clients, providing a flexible way to earn income on a project-by-project basis. Maintaining accurate records of income and expenses is important for tax purposes, as freelance earnings are generally considered self-employment income, subject to self-employment taxes covering Social Security and Medicare contributions.

The online gig economy offers numerous micro-task platforms and virtual assistant roles that can be performed remotely with flexible hours, fitting well around demanding law school commitments. These tasks can range from data entry and content moderation to administrative support for businesses or individuals. Engaging in these roles allows students to control their workload and schedule, making it an adaptable income stream. Students should be aware that platforms typically issue a Form 1099-NEC for earnings above a certain threshold, necessitating proper income reporting.

Traditional part-time employment in sectors such as retail, food service, or administrative support can provide a consistent income, provided the hours can be managed alongside academic responsibilities. Many employers in these industries offer flexible scheduling options that can be negotiated to fit a student’s class schedule and study commitments. While these roles may not directly relate to legal studies, they offer valuable experience in time management and customer service. Income earned through these part-time jobs is generally subject to standard payroll tax withholdings, simplifying tax compliance compared to self-employment.

Utilizing University Employment Programs

Many universities and law schools offer employment programs that provide convenient and often flexible income-generating opportunities for students. On-campus jobs are a common option, with roles available in various departments such as the university library, administrative offices, or as student ambassadors. These positions are typically advertised through the university’s official job portals or career services websites, making them easy to discover and apply for. The proximity of on-campus work to classes and study spaces can significantly reduce commute times and enhance overall time management.

Some universities also provide specific research roles that may be distinct from general research assistant positions with individual professors, often funded by particular university grants or specialized departments. These roles can involve contributing to institutional research projects, data analysis, or program evaluation. Information on these opportunities is usually disseminated through departmental announcements or university-wide research offices. Such positions often offer valuable experience in academic research methodologies and can be a good fit for students interested in scholarly pursuits.

Federal Work-Study programs, or similar university-specific initiatives, provide another avenue for paid employment, allowing eligible students to earn money to help cover their educational expenses. Eligibility for federal work-study is typically determined by financial need, as assessed through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students awarded work-study funds can apply for designated work-study jobs on campus or with approved non-profit organizations. The earnings from work-study programs are generally considered taxable income, though they typically do not count against a student’s financial aid eligibility in future years for federal student aid calculations.