Last night I received a Google Alert entitled, “Adventures in Babysitting:  Does Babysitting Count As ‘Employed’ Upon Graduation’?  The article was sent to ABOVE THE LAW by a student or recent graduate of the College of Law who asserts that the Dean of Students is posting job opportunities for babysitting to recent graduates. 

Further, the student or graduate suggests that the idea that the posting is sent to recent graduates is insulting and “rubs salt in the wound of the unemployment world.”  I am responding to this posting only once.  Afterwards, I hope this kind of internet bashing will cease.

First, the posting was sent to current students.  The email specifically states, “If your class schedule is free between 3-6, you may want to consider this opportunity.”  The email was sent through the Dean of Students Office, NOT the office of Professional Development and/or Simplicity.  The intent of the email was not to offend graduates who may not have jobs, but to provide opportunities for our current students to pick up a little cash to make ends meet while they are in law school.

Time and time again, students have approached me about ways they can earn extra money.  It has been my custom to send current students notice of any opportunity to ease the financial stresses of law school:  house-sitting, dog-sitting, kid-sitting, and the like.  These part-time job opportunities should not be considered degrading.  No, they are not legal jobs, but they are flexible positions with good pay.  They are usually posted by professors or alumni who would rather have a law student because they consider law students to be responsible and dependable.  We have many, many current law students who are working to make ends meet.  These announcements are not suggesting a long-term career path, but an effort on my part to help students earn some extra cash.

Second, my door is always open to students.  If the blogger was insulted by my email, I wish he/she would have come to see me to discuss the real intent of my email instead of using an anonymous forum to criticize a well-meaning gesture. The final point is that we have many students who are struggling to pay tuition and pay their bills to stay in school.  If I can help them achieve a law degree by providing them with opportunities to earn extra cash while in law school, I will continue to do so.