A Summer Day as a Working Law Student

Just a few months ago I was explaining my life during law school, and what a typical day looks like for me- well   I have to admit- I never expected my summer to be just as busy! Thankfully this week I was able to take off a few days to head to Colorado! Since I was taking a step back from work, I thought I'd share what a typical day is for this working law student.

 As I've mentioned, I work two jobs. During the week I work as a legal clerk for a local law firm, and on the weekends I work at Starbucks!

A typical weekday goes a little like this:

Wake up 6:20 and get ready for the day!

Leave by 7:00

Get to work at 7:30

I work for about 2-3 hours before the rest of the lawyers come in. (they dont ask me to come that early, but I'd rather start early and get a few things done before everyone else shows up!) 

At work I do anything from going to a hearing, meeting with a client, deposition, researching, drafting, and emailing clients. Every day is a new challenge!

I take a 30 minute lunch (I always pack my lunch!) I either sit and read while I eat, or I stop by the post office to drop off etsy orders!

Then back to work for a few more hours. 

I usually leave by about 5:00-5:30

And get home at 6:00 (sometimes I need some ME time, where I drop by a store on the way home: trader joes, anthropologie, target are a few of my favorite relax places) 

When I get back, I eat whatever I can find for dinner (my family doesn't cook...so I usually open a can of something or microwave something!) 

Then I do a few etsy orders (I've really cut back...phew!) 

Go for a walk with the parents around 8:00

And try to get to bed around 10:00pm (usually closer to 11 or 12....but I try!) 

Then do it all over again!

On the weekends I get to enjoy my alternate life as a barista! 

Its a HUGE change in how people treat you actually. On the weekdays, clients assume I'm a well-educated lawyer-to-be
...and on the weekends people treat me like I must be an idiot to be working in the "fast food" industry. But for the most part...people are really nice. 
Just something to think about when you feel like yelling at someone in the food/retail industry...they may be your lawyer next year when you're sued for assaulting your barista when your drink turned out wrong...but in reality you don't know how to not mumble into a speaker to clearly enunciate what you'd like. 

Yes working every day of the week can be draining, but I know it will all pay off! In the evenings I'm usually able to meet up with friends once or twice a week, or if I've worked much overtime, I'll take off early and head to my sisters apartments for a dip in the pool. Lets just say, work/life balance has never been one of my strengths, but I'm working on it!

I'm extremely excited to announce, I'm going to be paying my entire 3rd year of law school without taking out loans! Thanks to my two summer jobs, etsy, being extremely frugal during the year, and my family allowing me to live with them as I go through my legal education, it is looking like a real possibility. I've taken out enough loans the past 2 years, that I'm so excited (and feel so blessed) not to be needing to take out any more!