2. Serve on a mock jury

You may groan when you receive a jury summons in the mail, but there are times when serving on a jury can pay. Lawyers who want to do a trial run of their case sometimes hire mock jurors to listen to arguments and provide feedback.

Browsing the listings on your local Craigslist board may be the best way to land a mock juror gig, though some companies, like Dana Meeks Consulting, which conducts legal focus groups and mock trials in California, let you sign up online. Or register with Online Verdict. which pays you $20 to $60 to review legal cases at home.