Career Tips and Timelines
Career Tips for First Year Students
The National Association of Law Placement (NALP) has developed guidelines regarding your job search. Law school career services offices may begin offering services to 1L students after November 1. In addition, first year students may not contact any legal employers for summer employment prior to December 1; and legal employers may not approach you until December 15. These guidelines are in place in order for you to be able to concentrate on your studies during this crucial time.
You can best spend your time studying as hard as you can and getting involved in law school activities in order to “position” yourself within the law school community. Good grades are always important, especially for certain legal employment markets.
We will be offering orientation sessions for all first years regarding resumes and cover letters after November 1st. Please check the CSO (Career Services Office) website calendar for exact dates and locations. At the same time, you will be instructed on how to access our job bank online (see the section on eCampusRecuiter). These sessions are a wonderful way to introduce you to the first steps in the job search process.
You should also begin to attend programs to meet practicing attorneys in South Florida. These programs can help you determine which practice areas may be of interest to you. Check the calendar often, and come to as many programs as possible. CSO programs spotlight metro area attorneys who are happy to talk with students after the program or in their offices at a later time. Join the American Bar Association as a student member and any clubs, student organizations, or other activities that interest you. You should also try to get a legal job during the summer after your first year — an internship for credit, volunteer/pro bono position, or a paid position — to gain practical experience.
1L Timeline
September thru October:
- Concentrate on academics. The National Association of Law Placement (NALP) and the American Bar Association (ABA) prohibit first-year law students from using the Career Services Office until November 1st. However, you are welcome to attend general seminars and workshops sponsored by the Office of Career Services.
November:
- Begin working on your resume. See the “Resume, Cover Letter and Interviewing” Guide for resume content and format.
- Make an appointment with the Director or Assistant Director of Career Services AFTER you’ve put together your resume.
- Attend the Career Services Orientation for first year students.
- Organize your job search for summer into a "plan of attack". Looking for a job is a full time job. Have a set schedule to conduct your job search.
- Students interested in internships with the Federal Government should see the Government Honors Handbook. The book is on-line and has important deadlines for first year law students: www.law.arizona.edu/career/honorshandbook.cfm.
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December:
- AFTER December 1st,send out resumes and cover letter to big firms and familiarize yourself with government internship deadlines. First year students are not permitted to mail out resumes prior to December 1st.
o Begin contacting prospective employers and inform them of your availability to interview over the holiday break, especially for big firms and out-of-town employers.
o Make contacts through hard-copy mail, e-mail and phone calls. (Send 10-20 letters out per week.)
o Sign up for mock interviews through the Office of Career Services
o During the holiday break, you may want to hand-deliver resumes and set up "informational interviews" and meetings with prospective employers.
January thru February:
- If you have not started your job search, begin NOW!
- Participate in Spring Recruitment Program for on and off campus interviews.
o Sign up for mock interviews through the Office of Career Services.
o Attend workshops, presentations and networking events sponsored by the Career Services Office and other areas of the law school. The more information you have, the better!
- All students interested in patent law, register for Loyola Patent Law Interview Program (held in August in Chicago, IL).
- Receive application information in the Career Services Office regarding The Florida Bar Summer Fellowship Program, to learn about paid summer internships for work in public service/interest law.
- Continue making contacts through hard-copy mail, e-mail and phone calls. (Send 10-20 letters out per week.)
o Target smaller firms (1-20 attorneys) who may have a better sense of their need by this point.
o Have a system in place to follow up on resumes that you have already sent out (i.e. make phone calls to the employer who should have received your resumes and arrange for interviews if possible).
March thru May:
- Receive application information in the Career Services Office regarding The Florida Bar Foundation IOTA Public Services Fellowship, to learn about paid part-time opportunities during the upcoming fall and spring semester for work in public service/interest law.
- Continue making contacts through hard-copy mail, e-mail and phone calls. (Send 10-20 letters out per week.)
June thru July:
- Register to participate in Atlanta SEMJF Job Fair online at www.semjf.org (comprised of legal employers within the Southeastern region including South Florida).
- Download and save your unofficial transcript online at www.FACTS.org
- Update summer contact information online at www.stulawjobs.com to receive information on Summer Job Fairs and early OCI programs.
- Begin preparing for fall recruiting season.
o Register and participate in early interviewing programs.
o Research employers you are interested in applying to during the fall recruiting season.
o Update your resume with your summer employment and activities.
o Draft a cover letter. Narrow your focus if possible.
Career Tips for Second Year Students
The summer between your first and second year should be spent working as a law clerk on a voluntary or paid basis and/or working as a research assistant for a professor.
Although it can be difficult to get a paid position this early in the game, working as an intern for credit (or unpaid and not for credit) is also an excellent way to gain valuable experience.
Working as an intern is a wonderful way to determine if you would be interested in working for this organization, and being an intern early can open the door to a permanent position later for you in your career. As an intern, an attorney may take you under his/her wing and let you experience pieces of the job that you would not be exposed to as a paid clerk. For example, as a paid clerk, your supervisor may not bring you to court to watch a hearing or let you sit in on client meetings because you are not adding value to the bottom line. However, as an intern, you would often be invited to participate in these types of activities. (See the Internship chapter for more details.)
During the fall semester, the Career Services Office administers on-campus interviewing. (Please see the section about on campus interviewing for more details.) Participating law firms screen (select) the candidates they wish to interview. You are welcome to participate in this event, but remember these firms are usually very grade driven. Do not despair. This is not the way most people get their jobs after graduation.
Most people find permanent employment through networking and interning. In addition, some judges begin accepting applications for judicial clerkships in the summer after your second year, which would begin the year after you graduate. Attend the judicial clerkship workshops in the fall and spring of your second year, read the Judicial Clerkship section and speak with professors such as Anna Chan, Kathleen Mahoney, and June Mary Makdisi (all former judicial clerks).
If you do not secure summer employment through OCI, begin networking and informational interviewing. (Read the Networking section). Attend CSO programs to meet practicing attorneys and learn more about different practice areas and environments.
2L Timeline
August thru September:
- Begin your targeted job search early (for large firms, send resumes before Aug. 15th).
- Register online at www.stulawjobs.com to participate in On-campus/Fall Recruitment interviews.
o Update your resume with your summer employment and activities.
o Update/revise your 5-10 page legal writing sample.
o Compose a cover letter
o Upload your FREE unofficial transcript from www. FACTS.org
- Schedule a time to meet with Director or Assistant Director of Career Services.
- Attend workshops and seminars.
October thru December:
- Network as much as possible.
- Attend any programs offered by Career Services.
- Continue to check eCampusRecruiter online job system regularly.
January thru April:
- Update your resume with your fall employment and activities.
- Participate in Spring Recruitment Program for on and off campus interviews.
- Submit application for Florida Bar Foundation Summer Fellowship Program by January 31st
- Attend workshops, presentations and networking events sponsored by the Career Services Office and other areas of the law school.
- Continue with job search plan of attack.
- Keep abreast of ALL opportunities and upcoming deadlines.
- Map out your plans for the summer and any dates to keep in mind.
- Send resumes to small and mid-sized firms (1-45 attorneys) and public sector employers.
- Evaluate and redirect your plan if necessary (geographically or otherwise).
- Report summer plans to the Office of Career Services.
- Continue to check eCampusRecruiter online job system regularly.
May thru June
- Have legal employment if at all possible, hopefully in a specific area of interest.
- Report summer plans to Career Services Office.
- Update resume.
- Review plan of attack. Are you headed toward your target? Do you have a new goal?
- Get organized for the fall.
July:
- Register to participate in Atlanta SEMJF Job Fair online at www.semjf.org (comprised of legal employers within the Southeastern region including South Florida).
- Secure recommendations for judicial clerkships from professors, employers, etc…
- Begin preparing for fall recruiting season.
o Register and participate in early interviewing programs.
o Update your resume with your summer employment and activities.
o Research employers you are interested in applying to during the fall recruiting season.
o Draft a cover letter. Narrow your focus if possible.
Career Tips for Third Year Students
As a third year, you should continue to work as a law clerk or intern in an area of practice that interests you. This should not be the time to begin your search for permanent employment; rather you should be continuing your search. You should have a substantial list of contacts through your networking efforts by now. Keep up the good work. Remember, networking never ends!
Many firms will be coming on campus to interview again through OCI, but the opportunities are more limited for third year students. Keep checking the on-line job postings, and keep in touch with your networking contacts. Let everyone you know, lawyer or not, that you are looking for permanent employment after graduation.
Sign up for a mock interview to hone your interviewing skills. Get involved with clinical programs to gain more practical experience. Attend CLEs and other events to continue to network. Make sure you follow up with everyone you meet.
Keep your eye on the eCampusRecruiter on-line job postings. These change daily. Make sure your resume and cover letter are in perfect condition. Take a look at your networking efforts and refine them as needed. For instance, you may need to redefine the target group you have identified. Keep writing and meeting with attorneys regarding advice and information. Follow up with people you have not spoken with in a while, and draft a new letter for more informational interviews. (See section on networking for more specific details.) Most people get their permanent jobs through someone they know, so get out there and start “knowing” some people! Attend career fairs and other CSO programs and apply for jobs that are interesting to you.
3L Timeline
August thru October:
- Schedule appointment to meet with Director or Assistant Director of Career Services.
- If interested, begin applying for Judicial Clerkships. Update resume, writing sample and receive recommendations. Judicial Clerkship application packages will be mailed through the Career Services Office.
- Attend workshops/programs and networking events offered.
- Update your prospective employer list.
- Continue making contacts and following up.
- Register and participate in Fall Recruitment Program
- Send cover letter and resumes “Target Mailing” to specific employers practicing in the area of Elder Law. Follow-up with a phone call within 5 business day to confirm that they received your application and try to arrange for an interview
- Contact STU alumni practicing in Elder law to arrange for informational interviews
November thru December:
- December graduates should make appointment with the Director of Career Services between October 31st and November 15th for Exit Interview
- Brush up on interviewing skills.
- Sign up for a mock interview through the Career Services Office.
- Continue contacting employers and alumni
January thru February:
- Register and participate in Spring Recruitment Program.
- Continue contacting employers and alumni
- Make an appointment to see Director or Assistant Director of Career Services for follow up counseling, if needed.
March thru April
- Candidates for May graduation should make appointment with the Director of Career Services between March 15th and April 15th for Exit Interview
- Report full-time plans to Office of Career Services prior to graduation.
May thru August
· Register to participate in Atlanta SEMJF Job Fair online at www.semjf.org (comprised of legal employers within the Southeastern region including South Florida).