Abby B. Wondering what are some of the best side hustles for law students? Unsure what you can do with your knowledge? Here are 23 ideas!
Although everyone tells you to mainly focus on studying while in law school, picking up some side hustles during your break can really help you better advance into adulthood.
My partner & I were pretty studious in university and never thought of making an income on the side. However, if we did ventured into anything then, probably it could have helped us “find ourselves” better in the harsh working life.
If you’re a law student, it’s normal to be unsure of what you want in life – because we were ourselves!
In this article, I’ll be sharing 23 side hustle jobs for law school students and recommendations of what you’ll need to start. At the end of the post, you can find more tailored options for making money on the side as a law student.
*This post may contain affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission (at no cost to you) if you sign up for a program or make a purchase using my link!
23 Best Side Hustles For Law Students
1. Become a part-time tour guide for other students
If you’re in your second or third year, you probably know the school and its areas better than your juniors. You can offer tour services for new students and juniors that are interested to make new friends as soon as possible.
Leverage on the knowledge you have and think of what new students and/or parents would like to explore when visiting the school.
My university was an hour away from home and it took quite awhile for me to find new friends, blend in and became more used to the area. It was only a little easier when I signed up for events to socialize with other new students!
You can choose your hours as a part-time tour guide but spending at least 2-4 hours per week should be enough. It’s best to have another friend to tag along to keep you motivated, especially if they know more than you.
| What do I need to start? | – Tour package details – Social media or basic website to promote your service – Join event sales platform or list on Airbnb experiences |
2. Offer fitness sessions or yoga classes
Love working out and spending your free time at the gym? A possible side hustle idea is to become a fitness guru and teach others how to use the complicated workout machines.
I prefer yoga classes much more as they’re pretty calming and is slow paced. I’m not in any way fit but would definitely sign up for a class in my area. You can also conduct yoga classes anywhere (including online!) and don’t need a full-fledged gym area.
Fitness sessions are a great way to unwind after a long day or week, and lets you meet new people! We all know studying law can be quite intense.
| What do I need to start? | – Relevant certification to become an instructor – A module to work with – Platform to market your services |
3. Create a YouTube channel for topics in your field
Looking for something a bit more fun and creative? I personally love making vlogs of my travels and food adventures. You can explore your passion with YouTube and share personal interests that are outside the world of law.
I believe that you can make money as long as you share educational or entertaining content – your pick. The key is to start, be consistent with your postings and give yourself time to grow.
Putting content on YouTube is free of charge! If you’re recording videos in your dorm or home, ensure that the area is clean and set up a desk with a nice background behind you. Place your camera in a fixed positions to start recording videos easily.
Interesting YouTube channels in the student learning & organization niche:
| What do I need to start? | – A camera to record – Portable microphone for better sound – A video editing software |
Read: What I spent for my vlogging gear in first 6 months
4. Build a podcast for college students
If you’re an introvert, creating YouTube videos of yourself talking to the camera can be a challenge (at first). An alternative to sharing educational content is to make audio files for your own podcast.
It takes less equipment to start and audio files should take lesser time to edit as you’re only looking at a single aspect i.e. sound. All you need is audio editing software and a good microphone to speak into.
You can also try recording videos of yourself doing the podcast and sharing them on YouTube. Makes your content planning easier and you’re getting two jobs done as a content creator.
There are various ways to make money with podcasting, including earnings from downloads and sponsorships.
| What do I need to start? | – Good desk microphone – Set of quality earphones – An audio editing software |
Check out: 40 best student podcasts in numerous fields
Still unsure about becoming a YouTuber or a podcaster? You can become a blogger by writing informational content on your own website. I know, it’s a little difficult to wrap your head around creating your own website, but trust me, even for a complete newbie like me, it’s not all too difficult.
If you can learn law, you can set up your own WordPress site!
Common ways to earn from your blog is via advertising revenue, affiliate income, sponsorships and even offering your own digital products e.g. courses.
Just like YouTube and podcasts, it can take quite awhile before you are able to make a good income with blogging. It’s a great side hustle to get into if you’re not looking to make a quick buck – start with this course right here.
Not looking to invest in anything yet? Check out my article for step-by-step guide on how to set up a blog.
| What do I need to start? | – A WordPress Website – Domain name & hosting – Passion to write for a specific niche |
Read: Why I invested in a blogging coach before doing anything else
Not looking to create content for YouTube, a podcast or a blog? You can still earn on the side by becoming a content creator for social media like TikTok and Instagram.
A common way to earn from these socials apart from securing brand deals and sponsorships, is to promote your own affiliate links to products or services you recommend.
Some affiliate marketplaces to check out are Amazon Associates, CJ affiliate, Clickbank, Share-a-sale and Rakuten Advertising. All you need to do is sign up for an account, get a link for a suitable product/service based on your audience and start promoting!
| What do I need to start? | – Affiliate products or services you can promote – Social media account with growing followers |
7. Learn photography and sell photos online
If you’re an introvert that wants to have a slightly creative side hustle, taking photos to sell online is highly possible. In fact, I’m considering going into it myself as another source of passive income!
You’ll have to put in some work upfront to build your portfolio, get approved for sales and attract buyers. It’s still a side hustle that is built for the long term and for photo-taking lovers.
Content creators and large companies are always purchasing photos for use on their content and demand can be seasonal depending on your niche. Some evergreen recommendations are street photography, food and landscapes.
Selling on stock websites is easier to get into compared to taking photos for events and clients. Your photos can be sold any time even as you’re sleeping!
Stock websites you can join to start:
| What do I need to start? | – A good camera – Photo editing skills – Consistency to upload photos frequently |
8. Clean houses in your neighborhood
Find cleaning therapeutic? You can take a break from studying by taking up home cleaning side jobs within your neighborhood as almost everyone tries to outsource tedious chores.
Alternatively, you can offer home maintenance services like lawn mowing if it’s something you’re used to or prefer doing. Just doing two houses for two hours on the weekends should give a good side income!
Share your contact details for door-to-door services in community groups. Also, consider mastering a single aspect of cleaning a home instead of doing everything – you’ll get paid for specializing!
| What do I need to start? | – The right tools for your chosen expertise – Promote your service to your community |
Check out: 55 types of cleaning services to offer
9. Become a freelance writer for other student websites
Interested in writing but don’t fancy the idea of creating your own site? Another way to make money with writing is to become a freelance writer for other websites and blogs.
Large websites often look for writers to outsource their content writing work and scale faster. You can write for legal blogs and law topics if you have the right knowledge, or write for niches you’re personally interested in.
A freelance writer can earn up to $100 per article and even more if they’re specialized in a topic or niche. This beginner freelance writing course is the one I took myself to start my writing career. It’s created by a blogger that hires writers herself so she’s really giving you all the tips you need to start earning tomorrow from clients all around the world!
| What do I need to start? | – Writing skills – Good command of English – Promote your freelance writing service |
10. Sign up for an internship with a legal firm
This sounds simplistic but maybe it is. You can earn some income by doing an internship during your breaks. Apart from the monetary reward, you can use the opportunity to build connections and experience that will be useful for your working life later on.
You’ll also be way ahead than your peers by getting industry experience!
Internships don’t pay as much especially if you’re working for a small legal firm but I’m including this as not everyone wants to stray away from their law background in pursuit of a side hustle. You also won’t be able to work and get paid if you’re studying (not on a break).
| What do I need to start? | – A resume or CV to submit job applications – An opening for internship opportunities |
11. Tutor kids online or sell online courses
If you have the patience to teach young kids or your juniors, consider becoming a part-time tutor. You can choose how much work you want to dedicate to tutoring but ideally, you should remain consistent for each client.
Although tutoring is much more effective when done face-to-face, it can also be conducted online as long as you’re able to manage your tutee. It pays well (by the hour) and you’re leveraging on knowledge you already have!
Some common subjects to teach are the English language, Spanish, mathematics, history or political science.
Alternatively, if you’re looking to make things more passive, consider selling paid online courses on learning platforms. The usual price points for a single payment short online course are $30, $47 and $67.
You’re free to create courses for anything you want as long as it’s helpful to others and is high in demand. I love investing in knowledge and find courses a worthwhile expense.
Some sites you can host online courses on:
| What do I need to start? | – A niched course idea – Well thought out module – Tools to record your lessons e.g. screen record, microphone |
Creating courses is too much work for you? Here’s a list of digital products you can make to sell on easy platforms like Etsy. I’ve made a quick guide on how to make these products too!
12. Take up simple jobs or tasks online
As a young person, you’re probably a lot better at using tech apps and the internet compared to the older generation. The best thing is you can use your vast knowledge to make money by completing simple jobs or tasks online.
This can include data entry, logo designing or even making presentation slides for others. There are sites to help you out with these tasks even if you’re not the best at it.
Small businesses and solopreneurs are always on the lookout for people to help them with these simple tasks!
Other ways to promote your services:
- Kolabtree
- Fiverr
- Upwork
- PeoplePerHour
- Indeed
- TikTok (because anything can go viral here)
- Build your own website
| What do I need to start? | – Computer literacy skills for a specific task – Your hourly rate charge |
13. Start pet sitting for friends and neighbors
Love pets and don’t mind taking care of them? You can start a pet-sitting service for people in your neighborhood.
Pet sitters typically make $15-20 per visit and usually go for more than 10 visits in one day. That’s easily $400-600 in a single weekend! Even if you take five visits per one weekend day, you can make $200.
Highly advisable for those with natural pet skills and experience handling their own pets so you’re pretty much used to it.
Services you can include with pet sitting:
- Walking
- Home boarding
- Sleepovers and night care
- Training
- Bring to vet
- Basic grooming & care
- Travel trips
| What do I need to start? | – Good skills with pets e.g. dogs, cats – Tools for the service you want to offer – Socializing to get clients |
14. Drive others with Uber or Lyft
The easiest way to start a side hustle is by leveraging what you already have. If you have a good functioning car, you can make some side income with it.
Some people might find driving a therapeutic activity. If it’s something you’re okay with to get your mind off your studies once a week or so, consider driving with Uber or Lyft. The downsides are it’ll take up your time and won’t pay as much if you’re just doing it on weekends.
You can also deliver packages or food with Amazon Flex or Uber Eats if you’re not into driving others around!
| What do I need to start? | – A vehicle to drive – Smartphone to receive ride orders |
15. Buy & resell second hand items for profit
Thrifting or second hand shopping is actually pretty popular among students as a way to dress nice while only spending a little. If it’s something you like, good news for you!
You can make money by buying second hand items from online marketplaces or flea markets then reselling them for profit. You’ll need a good eye to spot these underpriced treasures. Not everyone knows the true value of their items or have the patience in selling them, they just need quick cash.
Some sites to check out are Facebook Marketplace, eBay and Poshmark. I personally made more than $2000 in a year reselling my old unused stuffs!
| What do I need to start? | – An eye to spot underpriced valued goods – Skills and platform to sell online or offline – A small budget to purchase your first second hand item |
Check out: How to start reselling things as a side hustle
16. Work as a research assistant for legal firms
One of the jobs you can take as a law student that also complements your future profession is to be a legal research assistant.
You can get a role with a legal firm or another lawyer that needs help to research cases etc. Look out for postings on job search sites or ask around, connections should get you places!
Research assistants are usually needed for 20-30 hours per week hence a part-time arrangement is more doable for students. You’ll also build experience and gain connections in the researching field that should help your future self!
| What do I need to start? | – Research skills – Connections or some experience |
Check out: Guide on how to do legal research step-by-step
17. Become a part-time process server
You already probably know what a process server is and well, it’s a task that’s needed in the legal field. As you’ll be delivering legal documents to their recipients, you may need a vehicle or mode of transportation yourself.
It’s a job to consider if you fancied the idea of driving around and delivering items. Good thing is, it’s relevant to your profession and the experience may be useful when applying legal jobs in the future!
You’ll know what to expect later when working with a process server yourself.
| What do I need to start? | – Vehicle to travel and deliver – A job opening |
18. Translate professional papers in your field
If you’re highly proficient in a second or third language, consider offering translation services for professional papers. Pay should vary with your level of experience and scope of work but normally, translators are paid per hour worked or per project.
My best friend left her corporate job to pursue a freelance translator role and now makes over $5000 per month translating movies and dramas! You should start small by translating short professional papers in a specific field e.g. for government agencies.
There’s always room to grow by specializing in a certain area or niche, instead of just doing everything.
| What do I need to start? | – Great written and spoken command of primary & secondary language – Attention to details |
19. Proofread and/or copyedit papers and submissions
Not interested in translation but still want to explore language-based work? You can offer proofreading services for professional papers or even student papers instead.
You can list your services on sites like Upwork or even Fiverr, and promote it on campus or among your friends. You’ll need strong attention to details to be a great proofreader!
Additional to proofreading, you can also add copyediting to your list of services. Those needing a proofreader may need someone to edit their work if they’re tight on time.
Basic proofreading does not involve editing as clients will be fixing the papers themselves – you will only highlight their mistakes.
| What do I need to start? | – Great written and spoken command of primary language – Attention to details |
20. Build a food or baking side gig online
Thanks to my F&B background, I personally believe anyone with the right cooking or baking skills can make real money. However, it’s not the easiest to get into, you’ll need great marketing skills to get your growing food business seen.
As a student, you don’t have to be running your food business full-time. If you’re specializing in selling cakes, you can collect orders ahead of time to deliver on weekends only.
There’s no better way to make money than to do something you enjoy!
| What do I need to start? | – Skills and tools to cook or bake – Platform to market, sell and collect orders |
21. Give music lessons to kids
If you’re musically-inclined as a child and have been playing musical instruments well, you can make money by giving music lessons to kids or even adults.
My cousin is a full-time music teacher that teaches others how to play the piano and the violin. It’s a skill that’s highly in demand especially among the elite.
Law isn’t a cheap module for everyone, so I believe you are mingling among the ideal target audience. Like I said, connections can get you far!
| What do I need to start? | – Professional skills to play musical instruments – Module to teach lessons – Platform to market services |
22. Make coffee as a café barista
As a huge coffee lover, I have always wanted to learn professional coffee-making and coffee art. It’s a skill that you can even use for your own self at home or within your future office’s pantry. Your future colleagues will appreciate it on long nights!
If you’re into coffee and love socializing, consider taking up classes for barista skills and becoming a barista yourself. You can work at a local coffee shop nearby your school on a part-time basis depending on the busyness of your schedule.
It’s also nice to get free staff meals or croissants while at it!
| What do I need to start? | – Barista training certification – Love for coffee |
23. Design merchandise with print on demand and sell online
Thinking of setting up an ecommerce business on the side? Print on demand is a great alternative to dropshipping that also works pretty much like it.
You’ll be making designs using Canva or Kittl then upload them to merchandise such as t-shirts, phone cases and tote bags for sales. Two best suppliers I usually recommend are Printify and Printful.
Not sure how to create winning designs? Find inspiration on Pinterest or buy ready designs on creative marketplaces like Envato Elements or Creative Fabrica. You can start selling tomorrow!
| What do I need to start? | – Basic designing skills – A laptop to work with – An initial niche and product |
Can’t decide what product to design and sell? Check out my product guides before deciding!
- Tote bags for print on demand
- Tumblers for print on demand
- Phone cases for print on demand
- Posters for print on demand
- Leggings for print on demand
- Jewelry for print on demand
- Candles for print on demand
- Doormats for print on demand
- Hoodies for print on demand
- Pet products for print on demand
- Socks for print on demand
- Pajamas for print on demand
- Blankets for print on demand
- Baby clothes for print on demand
- Wrapping paper for print on demand
- Puzzles for print on demand
- Stickers for print on demand
- Athletic wear for print on demand
- Hats for print on demand
- Journals for print on demand
- Greeting cards for print on demand
- Mugs for print on demand
How To Make Money While In Law School
Here’s a step-by-step process on how you can start making money while in law school:
- Identify your interests and strengths
- List the type of part time jobs or side hustles you’re able to go into for each interest
- Rank the list by how much you think you’ll like the job e.g. 1 to 10
- Give an estimation of how much money you can make for each job in a month
- Decide which ranks the best when combined – how much you like it + how much money it gives
- Search online for available part time jobs near you or offer the services remotely
- Join forums and Facebook groups to market your services
- Try it out for 3 to 6 months to see if you actually like it
- Scale up the part time gig to a business, even if you only commit to it on weekends
9 Online Passive Income For Lawyers
Here are 9 ways to make online passive income for lawyers:
- Blog about useful topics
- Affiliate marketing via social media
- Sell stock photography
- Build a YouTube channel
- Start a podcast on topics of interest
- Sell pre-recorded online courses
- Create useful printables for sale on Etsy
- Build a merchandise design business with print on demand
- Design and sell low content books on Amazon KDP
The list is non-exhaustive and truly dependent on your interests. I am in the online marketing field and these are jobs I find in high demand at the moment – which I believe anyone can pivot to!
9 Good Side Hustles In Law School
Here are 9 good side hustle ideas in law school:
- Legal research assistant
- Tutoring for school kids
- Proofreading documents
- Pet-sitting cats and dogs
- Home cleaning or maintenance
- Fitness or yoga instructor
- Teach music lessons
- Start a part-time online bakery
- Write for websites or blogs
In my opinion, the side hustles I’ve listed above doesn’t truly consume your time as a law student. If you’re working with clients, try taking up 2-3 jobs in a month. You can choose how much time you’re willing to spend on these side hustles!
Which Side Hustle Should I Choose?
Unsure which side hustles for law students you should go for? Here are the top 6 things to consider when deciding which is best for you.
- How much time can you commit to it?
- Consider how much time you can set aside for your side hustle for weekdays and weekends
- What type of income are you looking for?
- Do you want to make income actively or passively while you sleep?
- What sparks interest & passion in you?
- Choose a side hustle that aligns to your personal goals and interests as it keeps you motivated
- Are you an extrovert or an introvert?
- Different side hustles requires different level of communication with the outside world, are you comfortable meeting new people every day?
- What is your current partner or friend up to that you can leverage on?
- Doing something with a friend or partner makes things easier and more manageable
- How soon do you need to make extra money?
- Not all side hustles make the same amount of money in the same pace, do you need money today or in a year’s time?
Bottom Line
With or without experience, it can be scary to start something new – I’ve been there myself too. The key to achieving great things is to just start!
While time may not be on your side as a law student, your perseverance is what matters most. Start organizing your life to get ahead of others.
You will never know if you like something until you truly immerse yourself into it and even if you don’t, it’s okay. Take your time!
Here are 23 best side hustles for law students:
- Become a part-time tour guide for other students
- Offer fitness sessions or yoga classes
- Create a YouTube channel for topics in your field
- Build a podcast for college students
- Share your knowledge with an informational blog
- Promote affiliate links on your socials
- Learn photography and sell photos online
- Clean houses in your neighborhood
- Become a freelance writer for other student websites
- Sign up for an internship with a legal firm
- Tutor kids online or sell online courses
- Take up simple jobs or tasks on Fiverr
- Start pet sitting for friends and neighbors
- Drive others with Uber or Lyft
- Buy & resell second hand items for profit
- Work as a research assistant for legal firms
- Become a part-time process server
- Translate professional papers in your field
- Proofread and/or copyedit papers and submissions
- Build a food or baking side gig online
- Give music lessons to kids
- Make coffee as a café barista
- Design merchandise with print on demand and sell online
I’m not one to brag, but blogging has changed my life. I’ve been able to earn an income passively while on a coffee date and traveling with my family. With everything, it takes time to learn and not an overnight success – to speed things up, get yourself a blogging coach before starting.
These are my blogging resources to help you out:
- Step-by-step guide how to start blogging in your free time
- Why you need a blogging coach right from the start
- Worried of exposing yourself? You can blog anonymously
Photo by George Milton
