3 answers
Maria
Student
Issaquah, Washington
2
Questions
Asked
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How can I get a job before becoming a lawyer while I am getting my bachelor's degree for pre-law since that requires more then 4 years of school (AKA law school) ?
I want to gain experience before getting my masters degree, and I need a steady job that can help me pay for law school. I am willing to do anything since I am aware everything is earned, not given.
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3 answers
Amber Lee
Tax Associate
84
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Amber’s Answer
Hi Maria,
As a fresh law school graduate, I worked for a small boutique firm that hired about 3 undergrad students as part-time legal assistants to manage client intake, billing, scheduling, and legal documents (e.g., scanning, mailing, archiving, etc.). So while their job was more administrative in nature, they were still working closely with the attorneys and learning about the practice area. One of them actually is actually on her way to becoming an attorney herself. So if you're interested in working within the legal industry before going to law school, you can always reach out to your local law firms and see if they are hiring legal assistants. Depending on the position, you will probably not be doing any substantive legal work, but at least you will have the opportunity to learn about the processes involved and see if a legal career is the right fit for you.
You could also check to see if any of your local judges host undergrad interns. While these positions are very likely unpaid, it's a great way to gain some exposure to courtroom proceedings. The judge I interned with during law school hosted a bunch of undergrad interns, and from what I observed it seemed the undergrad internship was structured as a learning program so the students were often sent to attend seminars and were assigned projects to complete.
You could also look into your local bar associations--sometimes they hire non-lawyers to assist with various operational and administrative work. Again, you'll not be doing substantive legal work, but you will have the opportunity to network with a bunch of attorneys and pick their brains.
Lastly, you mentioned about paying for law school. If you do well in your undergrad and in your LSAT, you could potentially get a partial or even full scholarship from the law school; that will alleviate some of the largest financial costs of going to law school. A lot of my law school peers were scholarship recipients, and I myself received a partial scholarship through my work on the school's law review. A few classmates of mine also became research assistants to help pay for their tuition during law school.
Getting to law school seems like a long journey, but before you know it your 4 years of undergrad will fly by and you'll find yourself preparing for the LSAT and filling out law school applications. If you're unable to get law-related experience prior to law school, don't worry about it. Plenty of people come in with no prior legal experience and they all do just fine.
Best of luck!
As a fresh law school graduate, I worked for a small boutique firm that hired about 3 undergrad students as part-time legal assistants to manage client intake, billing, scheduling, and legal documents (e.g., scanning, mailing, archiving, etc.). So while their job was more administrative in nature, they were still working closely with the attorneys and learning about the practice area. One of them actually is actually on her way to becoming an attorney herself. So if you're interested in working within the legal industry before going to law school, you can always reach out to your local law firms and see if they are hiring legal assistants. Depending on the position, you will probably not be doing any substantive legal work, but at least you will have the opportunity to learn about the processes involved and see if a legal career is the right fit for you.
You could also check to see if any of your local judges host undergrad interns. While these positions are very likely unpaid, it's a great way to gain some exposure to courtroom proceedings. The judge I interned with during law school hosted a bunch of undergrad interns, and from what I observed it seemed the undergrad internship was structured as a learning program so the students were often sent to attend seminars and were assigned projects to complete.
You could also look into your local bar associations--sometimes they hire non-lawyers to assist with various operational and administrative work. Again, you'll not be doing substantive legal work, but you will have the opportunity to network with a bunch of attorneys and pick their brains.
Lastly, you mentioned about paying for law school. If you do well in your undergrad and in your LSAT, you could potentially get a partial or even full scholarship from the law school; that will alleviate some of the largest financial costs of going to law school. A lot of my law school peers were scholarship recipients, and I myself received a partial scholarship through my work on the school's law review. A few classmates of mine also became research assistants to help pay for their tuition during law school.
Getting to law school seems like a long journey, but before you know it your 4 years of undergrad will fly by and you'll find yourself preparing for the LSAT and filling out law school applications. If you're unable to get law-related experience prior to law school, don't worry about it. Plenty of people come in with no prior legal experience and they all do just fine.
Best of luck!
Paul Goetzinger MPA
Academic and Career Consultant and Freelance Writer, TRIO Program Administrator
1009
Answers
Tacoma, Washington
Updated
Paul’s Answer
I agree with my colleague
I have seen many people in law school, legal studies and paralegal programs, get jobs with law firms and other entities.
I would definitely check your local district and county courthouses, to see if they also have opportunities in their various offices and departments.
I have seen many people in law school, legal studies and paralegal programs, get jobs with law firms and other entities.
I would definitely check your local district and county courthouses, to see if they also have opportunities in their various offices and departments.
Steve J
Manager
35
Answers
Manhattan, Kansas
Updated
Steve’s Answer
ChatGPT said:
That’s a really smart mindset — getting experience before law school will give you a major advantage later. While you’re pursuing your pre-law degree, you can look for entry-level roles that align with legal or administrative work. Positions like legal assistant, paralegal intern, court clerk aide, or even research assistant can expose you to the legal environment while helping you build valuable skills.
You can also explore part-time or remote jobs in compliance, policy research, or client support — these strengthen communication, organization, and analytical skills that lawyers rely on.
To make your applications stronger, use AI Interview Prep by LockedIn AI to practice law-related interview scenarios. It helps you generate professional, confident responses to common interview questions like “Why law?” or “How do you handle confidentiality?” — ensuring you stand out even before law school.
With consistency, strong interview prep, and smart role choices, you can build both income and credibility while moving toward your legal career goals.
That’s a really smart mindset — getting experience before law school will give you a major advantage later. While you’re pursuing your pre-law degree, you can look for entry-level roles that align with legal or administrative work. Positions like legal assistant, paralegal intern, court clerk aide, or even research assistant can expose you to the legal environment while helping you build valuable skills.
You can also explore part-time or remote jobs in compliance, policy research, or client support — these strengthen communication, organization, and analytical skills that lawyers rely on.
To make your applications stronger, use AI Interview Prep by LockedIn AI to practice law-related interview scenarios. It helps you generate professional, confident responses to common interview questions like “Why law?” or “How do you handle confidentiality?” — ensuring you stand out even before law school.
With consistency, strong interview prep, and smart role choices, you can build both income and credibility while moving toward your legal career goals.