Why Aspiring Lawyers Should Volunteer this Summer

By Amine Imara.

Reading time: three minutes

In celebration of International Volunteers Week 2024, Amine Imara discusses why aspiring lawyers should volunteer this summer. 

As summer approaches aspiring lawyers are considering how to spend their new available time. While summer should be a time for rest, volunteering presents a unique and impactful opportunity to help aspiring lawyers to develop their skills. Volunteering also helps aspiring lawyers to build their professional networks and contribute positively to the legal community.

Here’s why law students should consider volunteering this summer, along with a list of volunteering opportunities.

Benefits of Volunteering

Volunteering provides aspiring lawyers with the opportunity to have hands-on experience in:

• legal research;
• document drafting; and
• client interaction.

This provides aspiring lawyers with real-world experiences and insights into their future perspective law careers. Working in diverse environments can enhance crucial skills such as communication, empathy, and teamwork, which are vital for a successful legal career.

Read this article to find out the value of giving back to the legal community: https://thestudentlawyer.com/2024/05/22/the-importance-of-giving-back/

Professional Network

Volunteering also provides aspiring lawyers with the opportunity to meet established professionals in the legal profession, including attorneys, judges, and policymakers. This enables aspiring lawyers to forge valuable connections with law firms and established professionals in the field, relationships that will be instrumental throughout their legal careers.

Stand Out to Employers

A commitment to seeking legal experience while studying will help distinguish candidates in a highly competitive job market. Volunteering adds crucial legal experience to a resume and demonstrates a willingness to tackle different challenges. Employers further place significant value on those who are able demonstrate an initiative to seek legal experience.

Read this article on the profound impact of pro bono work in the legal profession: https://thestudentlawyer.com/2024/05/21/the-power-of-pro-bono/

Make a Difference

Volunteering can further prove to extremely rewarding especially where the volunteering involves making a real difference in your local community through pro bono work in legal centres. 

Perspective

Exposure to various social issues and client backgrounds through volunteering can broaden an aspiring lawyer’s perspective and open their mind to the real challenges experience by individuals seeking legal advice.

Pro Bono Programmes

Law firms and bar associations frequently run pro bono programs that allow aspiring lawyers volunteer opportunities which offers a chance to work alongside experienced lawyers on meaningful cases.

Mock trial

Universities usually offer participation in Mock trials for both undergraduate and post graduate students which allows students to gain valuable legal experience as they are able to display their skills in a real court in front of a real judge.

University Programmes

Many law schools including my own operate legal clinics that serve the community which give students the opportunity to aid in advising real life cases under the supervision of trained lawyer which gives students practical legal experience. Participating in these clinics during the summer can be a way in which students can apply their academic knowledge they had learned over their degree.

Volunteering this summer can be a transformative experience for aspiring lawyers which provides aspiring lawyers with valuable connections, essential legal experience, and personal satisfaction. Aspiring lawyers can seek volunteering opportunities through various sources which include university run programmes and pro bono schemes.