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What to Do If You Didn't Get a Summer Job

By William Vogeler, Esq. | Last updated on

What ever happened to those lazy summer days, when we basked in the sun of our parents' labors and didn't worry about work?

For most of us, the answer is we got jobs. It's that thing we do 9 to 5 and often longer, rain or shine, sunrise, sunset, and all summer long.

But for those law students caught in between semesters, here are some ideas about what to do if you didn't get that summer job:

Staycation

If you're a student, you may not be starving but still on a tight budget. So do what everybody does when there's no vacation money -- stay where you are!

You can still enjoy a cool drink in the shade, a walk in the park and maybe a drive to a lake or the beach. And if the night is young, enjoy a barbecue, watch a movie, go to a concert or get lots of sleep.

Summer Reading

While away the hours in a fantasy, find law in literature, or just look for a good read.

It's too early to get RBG's workout book, which will be released in October, but the California Lawyer says "The Legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg" is "just the right length for a week's vacation."

Volunteer and Learn

You won't get paid doing volunteer work, but you can learn new skills.

"Internship or volunteer experience shows you're eager to learn," says MaryJo Fitzgerald, Glassdoor community expert "and can build skills that transfer back to your desired career."

Don't Give Up

Youtern CEO and founder Mark Babbitt says many companies still need interns throughout the summer -- they just might not know it yet. He recommends targeting certain organizations.

"Find a nimble organization that makes decisions quickly," Babbitt told Business Insider. "Learn everything you can about them: their mission, products or services, leadership team, customer base, etc.

"Then walk in with a plan that outlines how you can help them over the summer," he said. Precedent shows the tactic of designing your own internship, while certainly not the 'easy' way, is highly effective; most employers will react well to your entrepreneurial approach."

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