Each full time faculty member
is permitted to hire a student research assistant.
Research positions are not always advertised and
not restricted to Federal Work-Study students.
Generally, job vacancies
are listed in the weekly publication "What's
Happening" and are also posted on the bulletin
boards in the offices of Financial Aid, Career Services,
and Payroll Services.
The Law Center participates
in the federally funded Federal Work-Study (FWS)
program. Eligible students can earn approximately
$12.60 per hour, up to 15 hours per week for various
Law Center departments. FWS job opportunities are
also available at a limited number of off-campus
community service agencies. Students interested
in this type of employment should contact the Financial
Aid Office for more information.
Under FWS, 75% of a
student's wages are paid by federal funds and 25%
paid by the employer. Off-campus employers must
be willing to contribute the 25% match in order
to participate in FWS.
When a student reaches
his/her prescribed work-study earnings maximum award,
federal regulations stat the s/he must be removed
form the FWS program. FWS employers and students
should map out the total number of hours that can
be worked during the year so that the student does
not exceed the approved maxiumu. Remember, a student
may only work an average of 15 hours per week, except
during vacations when a student may work up to 40
hours per week.
Application
Procedures
Students must qualify on
the basis of federal need to participate in FWS.
As a result, processed, valid results from the FAFSA
for the current year must be on file in the Financial
Aid Office before FWS eligibility can be determined.
As with other federal "need-based" aid
programs, if further documentation is required to
verify the FAFSA results, the requested information
must be on file in the Financial Aid Office before
the FWS authorization can be approved.
FWS Awards
Students who express
an interest in the FWS program on their institutional
aid application, or who come by the Financial Aid
Office to sign up prior to the start of school,
will receive the authorization form and additional
instructions in their student mailboxes at the start
of the fall term.
First year students
are awarded a lesser amount of FWS for the academic
year than upperclass students based on the expected
adjustment to the law school environment. In general,
first year full time J.D. student awards will reflect
an average of 10 hours work per week rather than
the maximum of 15 hours.
Securing
FWS Positions
It is the responsibility
of the student to pursue one of the available FWS
positions at the Law Center, on Main Campus, or
with the approved off-campus agencies. Many jobs
for first year J.D. students are located in the
Law Library and are offered on a "first come,
first served" basis. Other FWS positions are
posted in the Financial Aid Office, but most openings
on campus are announced in What's Happening, the
weekly student newsletter. Offices that frequently
have vacancies include the Dean's Office, Career
Services, Student Affairs, and some of the Law Center
institutes and clinics. Research assistant positions
for faculty members are usually restricted to upperclass
student because of the coursework prerequisites.