Do I disclose that I am an evening student when interviewing for full-time position? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I apologize in advance that this is not a post law school career related question.

I will be a part-time, evening student this fall, as I am trying to work full-time. I have interviews at several law firms for full-time paralegal/legal assistant positions. These are small to mid-regional law. Anecdotally and according to glassdoor, these firms have flexible hours and have had part-time paralegals in the past. But I still worry that my part-time student status could play a negative role in hiring process.

Should I disclose that I will be a part-time law student during the interview? Or just try not to bring it up?

[Anonymous User]

I am of the belief you should. If they find out after you get the job, and the job could possibly conflict some way somehow with school, then that reflects poorly on you. Remember that the legal world is about "ethics" and disclosure and I'm not sure you being a law student and a paralegal/legal assistant without telling them is ethical. It shouldn't be a problem once you do disclose it

[Mickfromgm]

You need to figure out if this job is strict 9-5 (or 8-4 or whatever). A paralegal/legal assistant job could require overtime, depending on the people you work with, client volume and so on. It could be from time to time on as needed basis, or all the time. If you have to refuse to stay late to run to your classes (and exams!), the firm won't be happy unless you have a good explanation AND they had that expectation when they hired you. Who knows, maybe they would like the fact that you will bring some legal background to the table, and they expect the position to be 9-5. Or maybe they'd be relieved to know that you want to be part-time and they can save some money on salary and benefits, etc.

The bottom line is, you never know how they would react and it could go either way, but you gotta be honest. If you think you can handle both responsibilities, tell them so with confidence at the interview and see how it goes.

Be sure to keep the grades up . . . . don't forget why you are attending law school in the first place. Good luck, sir/madam.

[rcharter1978]

I apologize in advance that this is not a post law school career related question.

I will be a part-time, evening student this fall, as I am trying to work full-time. I have interviews at several law firms for full-time paralegal/legal assistant positions. These are small to mid-regional law. Anecdotally and according to glassdoor, these firms have flexible hours and have had part-time paralegals in the past. But I still worry that my part-time student status could play a negative role in hiring process.

Should I disclose that I will be a part-time law student during the interview? Or just try not to bring it up?

Wouldn't part of your draw be that you're enrolled/enrolling in law school, or have you done this sort of work before?

My guess would be that you're not under any duty to disclose. Per the ABA if you're going to school full time you can only work 20 h/week, but in evening programs, its assumed you have a full-time job.

If you think its going to be a negative, don't bring it up. But I don't see why it would be a negative. Also, use your career services office, which may have a line on legal assistant jobs for employers who are okay with students in school.

[Npret]

I apologize in advance that this is not a post law school career related question.

I will be a part-time, evening student this fall, as I am trying to work full-time. I have interviews at several law firms for full-time paralegal/legal assistant positions. These are small to mid-regional law. Anecdotally and according to glassdoor, these firms have flexible hours and have had part-time paralegals in the past. But I still worry that my part-time student status could play a negative role in hiring process.

Should I disclose that I will be a part-time law student during the interview? Or just try not to bring it up?

Wouldn't part of your draw be that you're enrolled/enrolling in law school, or have you done this sort of work before?

My guess would be that you're not under any duty to disclose. Per the ABA if you're going to school full time you can only work 20 h/week, but in evening programs, its assumed you have a full-time job.

If you think its going to be a negative, don't bring it up. But I don't see why it would be a negative. Also, use your career services office, which may have a line on legal assistant jobs for employers who are okay with students in school.

The ABA repealed that rule in 2014. It's up to the school. As OP is part time the school must already approve fulltime work.
Here's an old thread discussing it and it has a link to the ABA decisions from that year.

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... p?t=244513

[rcharter1978]

I apologize in advance that this is not a post law school career related question.

I will be a part-time, evening student this fall, as I am trying to work full-time. I have interviews at several law firms for full-time paralegal/legal assistant positions. These are small to mid-regional law. Anecdotally and according to glassdoor, these firms have flexible hours and have had part-time paralegals in the past. But I still worry that my part-time student status could play a negative role in hiring process.

Should I disclose that I will be a part-time law student during the interview? Or just try not to bring it up?

Wouldn't part of your draw be that you're enrolled/enrolling in law school, or have you done this sort of work before?

My guess would be that you're not under any duty to disclose. Per the ABA if you're going to school full time you can only work 20 h/week, but in evening programs, its assumed you have a full-time job.

If you think its going to be a negative, don't bring it up. But I don't see why it would be a negative. Also, use your career services office, which may have a line on legal assistant jobs for employers who are okay with students in school.

The ABA repealed that rule in 2014. It's up to the school. As OP is part time the school must already approve fulltime work.
Here's an old thread discussing it and it has a link to the ABA decisions from that year.

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... p?t=244513

Oh, okay, that was after I applied to law school. I didn't realize the school would have to approve fulltime work for a parttime student.

[Npret]

I apologize in advance that this is not a post law school career related question.

I will be a part-time, evening student this fall, as I am trying to work full-time. I have interviews at several law firms for full-time paralegal/legal assistant positions. These are small to mid-regional law. Anecdotally and according to glassdoor, these firms have flexible hours and have had part-time paralegals in the past. But I still worry that my part-time student status could play a negative role in hiring process.

Should I disclose that I will be a part-time law student during the interview? Or just try not to bring it up?

Wouldn't part of your draw be that you're enrolled/enrolling in law school, or have you done this sort of work before?

My guess would be that you're not under any duty to disclose. Per the ABA if you're going to school full time you can only work 20 h/week, but in evening programs, its assumed you have a full-time job.

If you think its going to be a negative, don't bring it up. But I don't see why it would be a negative. Also, use your career services office, which may have a line on legal assistant jobs for employers who are okay with students in school.

The ABA repealed that rule in 2014. It's up to the school. As OP is part time the school must already approve fulltime work.
Here's an old thread discussing it and it has a link to the ABA decisions from that year.

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... p?t=244513

Oh, okay, that was after I applied to law school. I didn't realize the school would have to approve fulltime work for a parttime student.

No I wrote that wrong. I meant that the school expects part ime evening students to work full time. You can check with the school to be sure.