Jessica Stein, 3L

Contributor

One of the skills that we inevitably develop over the course of our law school education is that of work/life balance.

After the conclusion of 1L year, many students return the following fall having secured internship positions to juggle alongside other commitments they have made to a journal, a clinic, or an otherwise overextended course load. We all face the “struggle of the juggle,” and yet we tend to subject ourselves to this battle again as third-year students.

Some of us, however, might have discovered the best kept secret to keeping somewhat financially afloat while simultaneously pursuing our JD—without having to even walk out the doors of 55 Fifth.

I was recently approached by The Cardozo Jurist to reflect on my experiences working for the school as a student over the past two years. Unlike students who work outside of Cardozo, I have had the unique and privileged opportunity to earn a small income while remaining on campus mainly as an assistant to the director of the Center for Public Service Law (CPSL).

In many ways it does not seem to be such a remarkable experience. After all, I still had to do some legal research, consult with people from various offices, and sacrifice a significant portion of time otherwise spent on studying. However, since being asked to write this article, I have had the chance to consider the true benefits and few drawbacks that have resulted from holding this position.

Another student who holds a unique position working for the school is Stephanie Kern, a 3L who works in the Office of Special Events. I asked Stephanie about her experience, and she seems to feel very similarly: “I love my job at Cardozo Special Events. It’s convenient, I work with great people, and it’s a nice break from my law studies (and the extra money is good too).

Also, I’m able to see my professors and deans in a different context. One day I’m getting called on in class by one of my professors, and the next he is in our office asking us to help him plan an event. Every day I am amazed at the amount of work the faculty and staff undertake, especially in Special Events! Overall, this job has given me great insight into how much it takes to run a successful law school.”

The drawbacks to working at Cardozo do not seem to be especially compelling, as I personally believe that they are far outweighed by the benefits. However, for those students interested in pursuing these positions in the future, it is appropriate to address those less-than-ideal components of the job.

In my role in the CPSL (for those students unfamiliar with the Center, please note that there is not a physical “center.” It is indeed Leslie Thrope’s office, conveniently located in the Office of Career Services), I think there may have been one occasion where I had to log on to Lexis or Westlaw to do actual legal research. In other words, this is not a position that necessarily enhances the traditional legal skills I am otherwise developing in law school.

Furthermore, there is something to be said for entering an office outside of Cardozo, dressing professionally and learning to work in a settling more likely to resemble that which I will enter after graduation. Moreover, it might also have proved worthwhile to have taken on a position from which a further offer of employment might ensue.

Instead, I have spent the majority of my law school experience working right here in this building. It has always been as simple as packing up my books after class and getting on an elevator. And, however lengthy the elevator ride may sometimes seem, it is nothing compared to the commutes that my peers make to offices as far as Newark, or even lower Manhattan for that matter.

My job in the CPSL has afforded me wonderful opportunities overall, particularly for the purposes of networking and exploring non-legal skills that I might not have otherwise been able to acquire. For example, a central part of my work with the Center for Public Service Law has been the development and implementation of Public Law Advocacy Week (P*LAW). After learning the ropes last year as a second-year student planning the week for the first time, I took even greater pride in working on P*LAW 2009, especially in light of all the lessons I was able to take away from the prior year’s efforts.

In addition to planning P*LAW, my job responsibilities include promoting all events sponsored by the CPSL (mostly in the form of e-mails and posters), organizing and planning events with public interest speakers, and developing written materials executed by the office to serve as student resources, including the essay packets that are distributed at the beginning of the year, which are comprised of reflection memos written by stipend recipients.

I have additionally enjoyed opportunities for public speaking, both as a moderator to a panel and as an award presenter during the Inspire! ceremony, among a few other occasions. And, aside from the opportunities this role has offered for networking, writing, public speaking, and familiarizing myself with public service institutions and practitioners throughout New York, I have come to most enjoy serving as a resource to my peers who are similarly looking to pursue careers in public service law.

Furthermore, my work with CPSL allows for a welcome change of pace from reading dry casebook content and clicking my way to the right regulation. Unlike my summer internships, as a CPSL assistant I constantly communicate with offices throughout the school and am even able to tap into my creative outlets on many occasions, usually to design a poster or a program for an upcoming event.

In addition, I could not write this article without disclaiming the uniqueness of my particular role with the CPSL. I have thoroughly enjoyed having regular access to the career counselors in OCS and particularly to Leslie Thrope, the outstanding CPSL director.

This May, as I conclude my law school studies, I will also be departing from my role in CPSL. Despite all that I learned from the various classes during the past three years, among the most important skills I’ve developed while enrolled as a student at Cardozo were the abilities to manage my time and to balance schoolwork with my obligations, all while performing in a job that I found enjoyable—an experience that I could never have enjoyed without having had the fortunate opportunity to work in the CPSL.