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Federal Work-Study

In addition to loans and scholarships, some students defray the cost of law school by taking part in Federal Work-Study job opportunities.

Federal Work-Study

Federal Work-Study (FWS) is a federally funded program that provides part-time employment for students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay for education related expenses while enrolled in school. The program encourages community service work and work related to the student’s course of study.

To be eligible for FWS consideration students must first complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students must meet and maintain eligibility for financial aid and demonstrate financial need.

To inquire about your FWS eligibility, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.

Unfortunately, no. A finite amount of FWS funds are awarded annually to each school by the government, not on an individual basis for each student. However, it has been our experience that most students who have secured FWS eligible positions are able to earn FWS funds. 

FWS eligible positions can be found on campus in one of our departments, doing research for a professor, or even off campus at an unpaid internship. Available on-campus positions are posted on the CWSL Employment page. Applications for off-campus positions are available through Career and Professional Development Office's (CPDO) 12Twenty job database. Please pay attention to any and all application dates and deadlines.

Below are examples, not an exhaustive list of employment opportunities. 

On-campus:

  • Research Assistant
  • Admissions Office
  • Career and Professional Development Office
  • Community Law Project
  • Financial Aid Office
  • Office of Institutional Advancement and Alumni Engagement
  • Law Library
  • New Media Rights
  • Trademark Clinic

Off-campus:

  • California DOJ, Office of the Attorney General
  • Casa Cornelia Law Center
  • Circulate San Diego
  • County of San Diego Department of Child Support Services
  • Criminal Central Staff of the CA Supreme Court
  • Department of Navy - JAG
  • Disability Rights California
  • Elder Law & Advocacy
  • Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc
  • Legal Aid Society of San Diego
  • Los Angeles Office of the City Attorney
  • Los Angeles Office of the District Attorney
  • Office of the Family Law Facilitator - Superior Court of CA, County of San Diego
  • Riverside Office of the City Attorney
  • Riverside County Office of the District Attorney
  • San Diego City Attorney's Office - Civil Division 
  • San Diego City Attorney's Office - Criminal Division
  • San Diego County Office of the Public Defender
  • San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program
  • San Francisco Office of the Public Defender
  • US District Court, Southern District of California

Do not start working! Since this is a federally funded program, no work is authorized to be paid under the FWS program prior to completion of an approved application and all required documentation.   

Once you are approved by CWSL to start working, you will submit electronic timecards and receive your earnings in semi-monthly paychecks. 

You are eligible to earn up to the dollar amount listed on your financial aid offer over the course of the aid period (usually Fall, Spring, and/ or Summer semesters). You are not guaranteed this money, nor are you required to earn it all. Further, you are responsible for monitoring your hours and earnings so that you do not earn more than your FWS award for the aid period.