5 Legal Ways to Earn Money While Studying Law

Image original by At.morey.tota (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

If you are a law student and yet you would want to work, it helps if you know some ways to earn money without spending a lot of time within the confines of an office. If you hate going to a 7-4 or 8-5 office job (like me), there are still ways to earn that much needed moolah without leaving home and without getting stuck in traffic.

Honestly, I hate going out in the Metro these days and I'd rather be productive doing some work at home, if I have a choice. Here are some ways you can earn money either part time or full time:

1. Be an online freelancer.
If you have a background in web design (like me), graphics design (like me), photo editing (again, like moi) there are many ways to find that extra income by heading to those sites offering online work like Odesk.com and many many others. Just learn to build your stellar work reputation, make a killer portfolio and you are on your way to supporting you law studies without spending a day in the office. I know of one classmate in law school earning 6-figures per month simply by doing video-editing for an online company.

2. Be a web content writer
Not everybody has the skills to write, but believe me, you will benefit a lot from writing, not only for writing your exams or in taking the bar, but you can also make money by writing articles and web content for others. It is best to work directly with an online publishing rather than get paid with peanuts if you do work for some outsourcing outfits. Of course, you get paid and have bartering leverage depending on your writing skills. I am still learning to write but have some cool gigs that would help me finance my dream trip to Taj Mahal soon.

3. Be an offsite Legal Assistant or Legal Researcher
I used to work as one or do it on a per project basis. It is nice to brush up on what you learn while studying law. There are a lot on online projects if you know where to look. You can also ask your lawyer contacts or private lawyers if you can work as their private legal researcher. If your employer is nice you can even enjoy a lot of freebies like being lent office equipment, laptops, and even a car with free gas allowance!

4. Work as a Consultant
Studying law exposes you to many different fields and it's nice if you know which of them is your real passion where you can learn and enhance your knowledge even off law school. I love tinkling with websites so I took time to take classes and my own initiative to make websites. Some of my former bosses made use of my services at some point. This is one way to offer your expertise as a consultant and get paid for the expertise rather than on a per hour basis.

5. Go into retail of law student related things
Yes, with the eCommerce building an online is another possibility, if you know how to set up an online store  you may start retailing legal stuff like books,  reviewers, etc. you can earn that extra money on your free time. If you don't know how to set-up an online store, I can help you out as well.

See there are many ways to support your law studies even if you do not work for an office. Just be creative and open to learning new skills. You may even start something big which can be a great business opportunity even after you earn that law degree.

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The Blogger

Hi! I'm a law student from Manila, Philippines.  I did Political Science, then Industrial Relations major in H.R. (postgrad) studies from UP.  I vlog, weightlift, experiment with new makeup looks, try Bollywood and bellydance steps, and rant about my cray life in my YouTube channel.  Once in a blue moon, I create content for another YT channel,  10+ blogs,  20+ FB pages and in HubPages.  Check out my official site.  

Affidavit for Filipino Citizenship

If you are born to a Filipina mother and a foreign citizen, and want to apply for Philippine citizenship for any purpose that suits you, here is a sample of an affidavit that you can attach to your application.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES   )

QUEZON CITY                               ) S.S.

AFFIDAVIT AND LETTER OF REQUEST

I, ____________, of legal age, a resident of _________________________, under oath, respectfully state that:

1)   I am an ________ citizen born to a Filipina Parent.  A photocopy of my _________ Passport is attached as ANNEX “A”;

       2)   My mother is a Filipino Citizen and a native of _________________________________;

       3)   I was born on __________ in __________. When I was born on the said date and time, my mother is a Filipino Citizen. A photocopy of my Birth Certificate with English and ________ Translation is attached as ANNEX “B”;

       4)   I am applying for a Philippine Citizenship under applicable laws granted to aliens with a Filipino Parent at birth;   

       5)   I have no derogatory records as certified and cleared by the Philippine Bureau of Immigration. A photocopy of the Certification and Clearance is attached as ANNEX “C”; 

       6)   That all the documents attached and submitted before the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs or any government agency were legally obtained from the corresponding government agencies.

AFFIANT FURTHER SAYETH NAUGHT.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have herein affixed our signature under oath this _______  day  of ___________ at _____________.

                                                                                          _______________

                                                                                                     Affiant

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO  before me this  ________ day of ___________ at ________, affiant exhibiting his respective passport;

                                          Issued on                                             Issued at

____________         ___________                               _______________

                                                                                           NOTARY PUBLIC

Doc. No. _______ ;

Page No. _______;

Book No. _______;

Series of _____

My Life While Working and Studying Law

Original photo by Richard Lawrence Cohen in this Flicker link
Image use is in accordance with Creative Commons License 2.0

Law study needs full attention but for some of us, it is just not possible because there are other commitments like work and family. While working and studying law is possible, it is a feat that requires more effort and unwavering determination.

I experienced studying full time during my first 2 semesters in law school. During the first semester there were a lot of adjustments to be made. For one, I came from a university where uniforms are non-existent, so going to a law school requiring me to don one takes a lot of adjustment. I have no problem with it impeding my budding fashion sense, but my issue has more to do with having to think about preparing the outfit each day. I think I worry more about making my uniform crease-free than going to class prepared.

School is about an hour's travel time away from my home but I never have to worry about the commute and weaving through the metro's worst traffic because I used to lived an easier life with someone driving for me. That must have been such a boring task for him, imagine having to wait for me 3-4 hours in the school's parking lot with nothing else to do! So I breezed through those first two semesters and managed to be on the Dean's List, yay! A feat which I never even dreamed of accomplishing in law school.

It was in my second year when I decided to work. My boss was kind enough to allow me to leave earlier than everybody so I can attend to my evening classes. All is good since the driver would be waiting in the office and would whisk me off to school braving rush hour traffic, but still manage to bring me to school in 30 minutes or so. I would be late sometimes and some law professors would make a fuss about that fact, while others don't.

Working while studying is very challenging. Since I have to leave early, I would often go to the office ahead of everyone, take a working lunch, forego my snack breaks so I can make time for work and read for class. My boss had been very kind and didn't ask me to do that but I took it upon myself to return the kindness.

My work-study schedule took a turn for the worst when the driver resigned (perhaps out of boredom?). I didn't know how to drive that time so I had to endure riding cabs or taking public mass transport (MRT) just so I won't be late for class! I remember getting smashed and squashed having to fight for space in the train every time I had only about 45 minutes for travel time so the mass rail transport (MRT) is the fastest way to go.

After my second year, I dropped down from the Dean's List though still managed to pass my subjects. It didn't matter anymore because I just wanted to be able to shoot 2 birds with one stone. I prodded on.

In my following year, study had to take a back seat. I often end up enrolling only one semester per year. Then, tired of the MRT and cabs I learned how to drive by taking driving classes somewhere in Bicutan. The funny thing is, I hired another driver to take me to my 20-hour driving class which lasted for about 2 weeks. I never finished nor passed that class by the way. My instructor failed me on my second to the last module after I almost wrecked the gate. :) I still consider myself a safe defensive driver thank's to my drive instructor.

The commute time has taken it's toll on me. I would often get home at 10 or 11 in the evening with no time left to do other things. Then I would have to wake up at 3 or 4am to do my readings and outlines. That's when I decided to move to another law school near my work. From almost an hour of commute, I managed to cut it down to 20 minutes. That decision saved me a lot of time (and sanity) even if it meant having to leave my comfort zone and start again in a new school environment.

Working and studying law is stressful and challenging but with determination, nothing will be impossible. It means having to answer to a lot of people, namely your boss, family, self, work schedule, rest time, etc. etc. In my final year, I plan to support myself fully that's why I took a leave to prepare. I plan to study full time again by next year on my own terms with lesser stress. For that, preparation is key.

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The Blogger

Hi! I'm a law student from Manila, Philippines.  I did Political Science, then Industrial Relations major in H.R. (postgrad) studies from UP.  I vlog, weightlift, experiment with new makeup looks, try Bollywood and bellydance steps, and rant about my cray life in my YouTube channel.  Once in a blue moon, I create content for another YT channel,  10+ blogs,  20+ FB pages and in HubPages.  Check out my official site.