What do LEAs do?

LEAs assist managing editors in editing our books by doing the same work as our first-year, full-time attorneys. We try to give LEAs a variety of work assignments, so they can learn many different aspects of legal editing. Typical projects include:

• Cite analysis—verifying the accuracy and ensuring the quality of book content.
• Shepardizing—not only verifying whether a case is still “good” law but also researching opinions by other courts that have considered the same issue to make sure our discussion of the law is complete and objective.
• Annotations—reviewing statute and rule annotations to make sure they are accurate and organized according to JMP standards.
• Research—researching various legal issues and editing book text when necessary.
• Drafting—writing sections of books that are development.

What does it take to be an LEA?

The Legal Department at JMP has rightly been described as law review on steroids, so it’s no surprise that we’re looking for people who sweat the small stuff. When hiring, we look for the following:

• Current enrollment in or a recent J.D. from an ABA-approved law school
• Experience on law review or another law-related journal (not required, but a plus)
• Familiarity with Bluebook citation rules
• Strong editing background (if not in law school, then undergrad)
• Strong writing background
• Sense of humor
• Positive attitude
• Proficient computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Westlaw, Lexis, and online applications
• Ability to work well without constant supervision
• Personal commitment to high-quality work
• Hard worker, but easy going
• Smart
• Quick learner

LEA Benefits

We hire exceptional people and offer exceptional benefits.

• Salary:
  • 2Ls – students who have completed their first year in law school: $13 an hour
  • 3Ls – students who have completed their second year in law school: $14 an hour
• Free copies of books you work on—and your name will appear on the credits page
• Casual dress code (not really a code at all)
• Magical candy dishes—chocolate just appears
• Free sodas
• Free on-site massage therapy (not kidding)
• Free parking
• Social activities
• Author lunches (summer only)
• The intangible. Although you won’t see it on your W2, the one thing every LEA leaves with is an improved ability to analyze, research, write, and edit legal documents. We’ve had at least one former LEA report back to us that when she was hired for a judicial clerkship, the judge and law clerks were amazed at her skill in cite-checking briefs and researching issues. She gave JMP the credit. An internship with JMP will help you develop and improve some of the most fundamental skills necessary to be a great attorney.

Spring/Fall Opportunities

JMP offers part-time LEA positions in the spring and fall semesters to law students who are in Houston. We hope to have around 10 to 13 LEAs each semester.

• Hours. You must be able to commit to working 15 hours each week.
• Scheduling. Although you are able to create your own work schedule to accommodate your life and school schedules, you must be able to commit to a specific work schedule so we can plan for future assignments and feedback sessions.
• Work-school balance. Just as we recognize the value of providing a good work-life balance for our full-time, employees, we also recognize the difficulty law students have when trying to balance work, life, and school. We are also keenly aware (having been there ourselves) that a law student’s grades can dramatically affect career opportunities. For all these reasons, the JMP internship program is probably one of the most flexible available to law students. Although we expect our LEAs to provide a predictable schedule, we are also invested in making sure that if something comes up (i.e., finishing a paper, journal duties, or job interviews) our students take the time they need to do well. Our theory is that if we’re flexible and can help our student LEAs achieve their law-school goals, they will work hard to help JMP achieve its goals.

Summer Opportunities

JMP offers full-time positions (40 hours a week) in the summer to law students for a full 12-week program. We hope to have 13 to 17 LEAs in the summer, and we will offer staggered start and end dates.

FAQs

Will my work actually contribute to a book?

Absolutely. The assignments handled by LEAs are crucial for maintaining O’Connor’s quality and editorial integrity. The substantive questions you ask often generate important changes, reorganizations, or redrafting. And for most assignments, you will be making changes directly to the actual text. (By the way, your name will appear in any book you work on, and you'll get a free copy too.)

What is the work environment like?

We take our editorial processes and products very seriously, but we don't take ourselves too seriously. Our casual dress code and relaxed atmosphere encourage open communication among employees—which in turn generates new ideas.

Does Jones McClure hire full-time employees from its internship program?

Yes, more than half of our full-time lawyers were once LEAs. Although we do hire from the outside, we consider the internship program to be one of the most accurate and realistic ways for candidates to evaluate whether a career at Jones McClure is a good fit for them, and for us to evaluate them as well.

I’ve never worked on a journal. Is that a problem?

No. Working for JMP is a lot like working on a law review or a legal journal, so having that kind of experience is very helpful, but it's not a requirement. An eye for detail, though, is required.

Does JMP offer training?

Yes. JMP has a formal training program that combines classroom-style and one-on-one training with practice exercises and feedback. We also have thorough documentation for all of our major editorial processes, cite forms, and styles. The training program is designed to teach those with and without journal experience.

Will I be assigned to one manager or one book?

No. LEAs receive their assignments through a system known as the RAS (rotating assignment system). This allows us to provide a variety of work assignments – exposing each LEA to different subject matter, skill sets, and project managers.

Will I get feedback on my work?

Yes. We believe that employees (permanent staff as well as LEAs) can only get better at their jobs if they receive timely feedback on their work so we do our best to give timely feedback.

What types of social activities are available for interns?

Besides the regular informal lunches and happy hours, Jones McClure tries to host several fun activities throughout the year. Last summer, for example, the entire company went bowling (and consumed large quantities of pizza and beer), and in one recent fall semester the entire company joined together for a JMP Amazing Race. Unlike law-firm internships, social events are done on company time—not your own.

What do I wear to the interview at the JMP office?

JMP offers a very casual atmosphere, so you won’t see anyone in a suit while you’re here (well, maybe a customer). For your interview, you can wear what you normally wear to school or you can dress it up a bit. Most students are comfortable with the compromise of business casual. We’re much more interested in you than in your sense of style.

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