Student Employment for Law Students

Students attending Lewis & Clark Law School have a variety of student employment options available to them. Some students work in the Boley Law Library, others work at selected off-campus agencies, while others pursue more general part-time work in the community.

 

Federal Work-Study (FWS)

Federal Work-Study (FWS) is a need-based financial aid program. To qualify for a FWS award, a law student must file a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), demonstrate sufficient financial need, and be offered a FWS position. These jobs are typically posted by Law Career Services in Career Connect. Positions are offered through a competitive interview process, and they are generally not available until the first year of law school has been completed.

Please be aware that FWS awards replace an equivalent amount of federal student loan eligibility. Participating in the FWS program allows students to earn money to help pay their education expenses, so it can be an effective way to minimize law school loan debt.

• Before interviewing with an employer you should file a FAFSA for the appropriate year. (Note that summer is the first semester of the new academic year at Lewis & Clark.) You will receive a notification from the Office of Financial Aid if you are likely to be eligible for a FWS award.
• Once you have been offered a FWS job, contact the Director of Public Interest Law, Lexie Zirschky (lexiezirschky@lclark.edu). If you have already filed the FAFSA and been notified that FWS eligibility is likely, you will receive a link to the online FWS Request Form. Upon submission, your request will be forwarded to the Office of Financial Aid.
• If your FWS request is approved, your FWS award amount will be included on your financial aid award letter. This amount is your earning limit.
• Before you begin working you must have a W-4 and an I-9 form on file with the college.
• You may work a maximum of 40 hours per week during the summer and up to 20 hours per week during the academic year.

You are responsible for tracking your total earnings under the FWS program to ensure you don’t exceed your award amount. Your employer will be billed for 100% of any wages that exceed your earning limit, so it is important that you are mindful of the remaining balance on your FWS award. You can view your FWS award balance as of the last pay period in our payroll and time tracking system, Workday.

Law Career Services

In addition to posting information about FWS positions available to law students, Law Career Services can assist you in locating law clerkships in Portland and other metropolitan areas. Law Career Services is also your best source of information about pro bono experience, PILP stipends for summer work, and externships.