Last-Minute Summer Job Hunt: How to Land Opportunities Even in April

It's April and you still don't have a summer job lined up. No worries. There is still plenty of time for you to line something up for summer.

Here are a few tips:

Be aware that jobs are posted even after the semester ends

If your school utilizes Handshake, or another online job platform, summer jobs will continue to be posted long after the semester ends. Most school semesters end from early to mid-May. However, some employers will be posting in late May, and even in June, so keep checking. Often, not as many students are checking online job boards at this time. Be aware as well that the career services office at your school will be operating year round. Career counselors can meet with you via Zoom even after classes end to brainstorm about summer jobs and internships, practice for upcoming interviews and review your resume and cover letters. They also may be aware of specific last-minute job openings or may have connections to employers or alumni.

Continue to utilize LinkedIn

If you don’t already have a LinkedIn profile, now is a great time to make one, or update an existing one. You can find additional job listings, network with alumni of your school and potentially take LinkedIn online career courses to boost your credentials.

Experience does not have to be with a law firm or legal employer to be valuable

Finding a summer internship with a law firm can be very competitive. It’s competitive to find anything legally related at all, in some years. There are so many other types of employment settings in which you can gain experience that could be relevant to law school. Many corporate, government or non-profit jobs could provide you with law-related skills, even if they are not a legal organization. Dealing with clients? Writing materials? Utilizing analytical skills? Negotiating? Those are all law-related skills which could appeal to future employers, as well as help you in law school. Compliance, for example, is a law-related field in which you do not have to be a lawyer but involves many legally related skills.

Take advantage of alternative opportunities including micro-internships and summer school classes

You can do short-term projects with law firms and other legal employers through platforms such as Forage. They offer short-term projects throughout the year. You can also contemplate taking law-related summer school classes. This might be a great opportunity to take extra law-related classes, enabling you to potentially build your resume, network with your professors, learn new skills — and maybe even help you to graduate early. Some schools also offer law-related boot camps, where they introduce you to law school concepts.