Legal Commentary

It?s that time of year when students are considering what to do with the summer. Getting a legal job as a first-year student has always been extremely difficult.  But with the economy still weak and the law firm market the toughest it?s been in years -- some describing it as a ?law firm hiring crisis? ? the chances of 1L students getting a paying job are slim.  My recommendation: go abroad.  Many schools have fantastic programs and it?s not too late to participate. 

With a number of advantages, the real question is why you?re not already signed up.  Here?s a few reasons for taking the jump and studying abroad:

1.  It?s Often Cheaper:  Often summer abroad programs cost less that paying for units at your home law school.  Summer programs must be competitive and so often the tuition rate is set less than domestic tuition.  For some programs, the total cost of travel, housing and tuition is about the same (or less) than if the student stayed at home and took summer classes.  Usually financial aid/student loans can also cover summer abroad programs. You would want to meet with your Financial Aid Office. I run a program in Vancouver, B.C. Canada,and we set the tuition rates so that the total costs of going abroad (including housing, travel, living expenses) is about the same as if the student earned the credits during the Fall/Spring semesters.

2.  It?s Condensed:  The Fall/Spring semesters are usually 14 or 15 weeks long.  Most summer abroad programs range from 4 to 7 weeks.  For many programs, you can earn 4, 5 or 6 units in about a month. Make sure the program is ABA-approved, and you will need to get approval from your school to ensure that the credits transfer (most schools will give you at least pass/fail credits).  But there?s a big advantage of going abroad (say in June) and then returning and being in the U.S. in July ? with 6+ weeks to volunteer and get other experience on your resume.

3.  It?s A Great Experience:  To state the obvious ? going abroad is an experience that will often be the highlight of your law school career.  Zipping off to exotic locales? it's hard to get better than that.  And the programs usually include tours of local courts, trips to local landmarks etc.  But aside from this, it's usually a wonderful educational experence too.  You'll take classes in fascinating areas of the law -- some that you might not of considered if you stayed at home -- often taught by some of the most preeminent experts in the field.  Part of being a good attorney is having a broad foundation of knowledge.  Summer abroad helps with that.

4.  You Get Credits Out of the Way:  Six credits doesn?t seem like a lot.  But you?ll be thanking yourself when you?re taking 10 units your last semester of your third year, when everyone else is taking 17!  Taking units now may also open up externship/internship or clinic opportunities later in law school, when you really want to get hands-on experience that may lead to a job.

 5.  Misc:  Other benefits: You meet new people (both faculty and students from other schools.  You can gain expertise in a niche area of the law. And you end up with something interesting to talk about in interviews. In short, a summer abroad experience can help round out your legal education and make you (at least on paper) look interesting.

If you?re considering going abroad, here are some resources.  First, you may want to take a look at the list of all ABA-approved summer law programs.  The greedy associates webpage on Findlaw has some two good posts about the advantages of going abroad  and a list of "captivating programs."  I still have some spots available in our Vancouver program. The program is sponsored by Southwestern in collaboration with the UBC Faculty of Law and the International Centre for Criminal Law Reform and Criminal Justice Policy (a UN Affiliate).  If you're interested, feel free to email me at aparrish@swlaw.edu.

A final point.  The old wisdom that going abroad is too much like taking a vacation and does't look good on a resume is just that - old and outdated.  Don't believe it.  First, summer abroad programs these days are high quality, classes are taught by top notch faculty, and the course-work is rigorous. Second, it's better than other options.  Sure, if you land a high-paying job at a good firm as a summer associate you should take it.  The reality is that very few 1Ls get decent paying jobs doing legal work. And the economy is not your friend right now.  In this context, taking advantage of a summer abroad program makes a great deal of sense.