Volunteering Opportunities

Developing leadership experience in undergrad is important to building a well-rounded resumé for your law school application. The best way to avail yourself of leadership opportunities is to join student clubs and organizations in your first year of college. Not only are student clubs an excellent way to meet friends and hopefully future colleagues, but they also expose you to various areas of interest. 

Colleges across the country offer thousands of different student organizations. For instance, if you want to be a lawyer, it does not hurt to join student government, a pre-law society, or a mock trial club. Honors societies are also impressive on resumés because they show exclusivity and achievement.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

Why Volunteer?

Top universities want students who will become involved on their campus and with their community. What best exemplifies future student community involvement? Current student involvement. See https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/01/education/edlife/what-college-admissions-wants.html for proof!

Where should I volunteer?

Take time early in high school to reach out to nonprofit organizations near you. Many organizations even have high school chapters: such as Key Club or Habitat for Humanity. Early involvement with organizations such as these will lead to future leadership opportunities in Sophomore, Junior, and Senior Years. If you cannot find the right nonprofit organization to volunteer with, consider starting one!

I am pre-law and interested in volunteering. What should I do?

If your student is interested in going into the legal industry, many legal nonprofits need help from students. For example, consider volunteering with Court Watch or your local judicial council. Perhaps volunteering with the local police department to learn about crime control is interesting. Maybe an internship with the City Counsel or a local political leadership office would be of interest to you. What do all of these community volunteering opportunities have in common? They give you a real-life “reason” for your “Why Law” essay down the line. They provide you with a realistic understanding of the industry you will spend the next seven years (four years of undergrad plus three years of law school) learning. The law can be changed. Lawyers are advocates. Perhaps, volunteering in the legal industry will also show you a problem that you wish to prevent or advocate for later as a lawyer. 

The most important thing to do when searching for volunteering opportunities is to find an opportunity to do something that matters to you. 

Takeaways:

Volunteering with your local community is important not just to get into college. Volunteering provides students with a broader worldview and provides community connections and mentorship. Giving back to the community teaches students the value of hard work and time management. Volunteering with the right organization will allow students to develop lifelong leadership and organization skills and can teach valuable life lessons essential to developing college and law school admissions essays. 

Still have more questions? Please feel free to sign up for law school advising to connect with a lawyer or law student who can help you seek out the best volunteering opportunities to supplement your application.