Services for Students
The Career Services and Professional Development Office supports students and alumni in all aspects of their legal careers. Services include:
- One-on-one advising and career counseling,
- Resume and cover letter review,
- Interview Programs,
- Job and internship listings via Symplicity,
- Networking events, workshops, and interview prep.
Individual Counseling
Career Development counselors will meet with students to review resumes and cover letters, conduct mock interviews, and talk about career goals/strategies.
Interview Programs
Each Fall and Spring, the Office for Career Development hosts a Fall Interview Program (FIP) and Spring Interview Program (SIP), which includes On-Campus Interviews (OCI) and Resume Collection services for Employers who participate. This program attracts law firms, government agencies, and public sector employers looking to hire students for academic year, summer, or post graduate positions.
Mock Interview Program
The Mock Interview Program occurs every year in preparation for our Fall and Spring Interview Programs. This program includes participation of practitioners who volunteer their time to help prepare our students for their real interviews. All students are encouraged to participate, however, students must complete a Mock Interview in order to participate in the school sponsored Interview Programs (FIP and SIP). Should a student wish to schedule a mock interview outside of the Mock Interview Program, they may contact our office to set one up with one of our Career Counselors or a volunteer practitioner dependent upon availability.
Lunch and Learn Programs
Lunch & Learns take place weekly, and consist of presentations provided by practicing attorneys, business etiquette experts, Judges, and other professionals. In additions, Career Development counselors provide sessions regarding career-development topics such as networking, job search strategies, interviewing, and resume/cover letter formats.
Breezeway Chatter Program
As the natural center of the College of Law campus, the Cordero Breezeway is a place where students, faculty, and staff interact daily. During the school year, the Breezeway Chatter Program helps make a Career Development Counselor available twice a month in a prominent location in the Breezeway to answer career-related questions from students.
Pro Bono Requirement and Assistance
In furtherance of the College of Law’s mission to provide service to the community, the College of Law students must meet the mandatory pro bono requirement. Each student is required to perform a minimum of fifty (50) hours of pro bono work before graduation. Two types of pro bono work will satisfy the graduation requirement: legal pro bono and community-based pro bono. All students must complete, at a minimum, twenty-five (25) hours of legal pro bono work toward the required fifty (50) hours of pro bono for graduation. First-year law students may not begin their pro bono graduation requirement until the summer after their first semester of law school. Pertaining to legal pro bono work, students work under the supervision of lawyers in a variety of non-profit legal service organizations and government agencies. This requirement instills a long-term pro bono ethic among law students and provides them with practical legal experience. The Office for Career Development coordinates the pro bono program, developing a variety of sites where students can fulfill their pro bono requirement, and maintains the records of students’ pro bono work. A comprehensive guide explaining the pro bono program, listing the organizations, and containing the reporting forms can be found in the Office for Career Development located in the Center for Professional Development or online in the student’s individual Symplicity account under the Resources tab.
Job Search with Symplicity
The Office for Career Development partners with Symplicity, an online platform that connects students and alumni with job opportunities.
- Students can explore part-time, academic year, summer, and post-graduate positions.
- Graduating students and alumni have access to full-time job listings.
- Job postings are updated regularly to reflect current opportunities.
Need help logging in or navigating the system?
Please visit or contact the Career Services Office for assistance.
Log in to Symplicity
How to Make Appointments
You can set up an appointment by calling or stopping by the Office for Career Development located in the Center for Professional Development. You may also email us. Walk-ins are welcome and will be assisted as time permits.
Resources and Guides
Instructional Guides & Handbooks Available via St. Thomas Law Careers
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of issues do the Office for Career Development Counselors handle?
The Office for Career Development counselors all have earned law degrees and are available to help both students and alumni with career-related issues. The Career Development counselors meet with students to: review resumes and cover letters, help students prepare for interviews, counsel students about career exploration, planning their law school experience, handling job offers or salary negotiations, attending job fairs, and a multitude of other issues. Students can sign up for an appointment with a Career Development counselor via email or by calling the Office for Career Development at (305) 623-2351.
I am a 1L. When can I begin attending Career Development Programs or meet with a Career Development Counselor?
The American Bar Association, the National Association for Law Placement (NALP), and St. Thomas University College of Law believe that new law students need to take their first semester of law school to adjust to law school and their academic success. For that reason, law schools cannot begin to offer career assistance to 1L students until October 15. Waiting until after October 15 to visit with the Office for Career Development will not be prejudicial to you, because the NALP guidelines prohibit all 1L students from contacting potential legal employers before December 1st. The NALP guidelines also prohibit potential legal employers from responding to or contacting 1L students before December 15th. Therefore, take your first semester to adjust to law school and focus on classes. The Office for Career Development will let you know when you should begin attending programs and scheduling mandatory appointments with the counselors. During your appointments, your assigned Career Development counselor will help you prepare your career plan, resumes, cover letters, interviewing skills, and personal image.
What resources are available through the Office for Career Development?
The Office for Career Development maintains a collection of directories, career-related books, and materials available for students to use in our office or for check out. Additional handouts and materials are available on the website.
I need help with my resume/cover letter. What should I do?
Once you have created a rough draft of your resume/cover letter, you can either meet with a Career Development counselor personally or you can upload your document into St. Thomas Law Careers for review by one of the Career Development counselors. A Career Development counselor will review your document and make corrections or suggestions on how you can more effectively market yourself. Also, be sure to check your emails for upcoming Lunch and Learn Programs on Drafting Resumes and Cover Letters.
What is St. Thomas Law Careers? How do I obtain a username and password?
St. Thomas Law Careers is the Office for Career Development’s online system, which allows students and alumni access to job postings, events, and other resources. To create a St. Thomas Law Careers account:
- Go to stulawjobs.com.
- Click on the “Students/Alumni” icon.
- Click on the “Register” tab.
- Complete the registration form using your email address (students should use their STU email) and click “Submit”.
- A verification notice will be sent to the email address you provided. To complete your registration you must click on the link in the message.
- Once your registration has been submitted, the Office for Career Development will send you a confirmation email with a temporary password, which you will have to change upon logging in. Please give our office 1-2 business days to review your registration and to grant you access to the system.
After receiving the confirmation email, return to stulawjobs.com. Under the “Sign In” tab, enter your username and your temporary password, which was provided to you in the confirmation email. From there, change your temporary password to something you will remember.
What does CLI mean? How do I become one?
CLI means Certified Legal Intern. A CLI is a student or graduate who has participated in the St. Thomas University College of Law Clinical Skills Program. Through the Clinic, students become certified by the Florida Supreme Court to represent clients in court under supervision of a Florida licensed attorney pursuant to Rule 11. Upon graduation and before being sworn into the Florida Bar, the CLI status can be renewed on the student’s behalf by their employer to permit them to represent clients in the Florida public sector such as state attorney, public defender, legal aid, or municipal attorney’s offices. The only way to become a CLI is to participate in one of St. Thomas University College of Law Clinics/Externships.
What is OCI? How does it work?
OCI stands for On-Campus Interviewing. The Office for Career Development administers the OCI Program twice a year, in fall and spring. OCI attracts law firms, government agencies, and public sector employers looking to hire students for summer and permanent positions. For more information about OCI, please contact the Office for Career Development.
Where can I find information about the Bar Application or Examination?
Information about the Florida Bar Application and Examination can be found at www.floridabarexam.org. The Florida Bar results are posted at www.floridasupremecourt.org.
How can I access the career resources or get reciprocity at another law school?
Most law schools offer reciprocity privileges to non-students and non-alumni to use some of their career resources and job postings. This privilege allows out-of-area law students and alumni to use important resources in locations closer to the place where they are seeking employment. After determining the law school you are interested in and checking its policy, complete our reciprocity request form and the Office for Career Development will seek reciprocity privileges on your behalf. This service is a courtesy between law schools and should be treated with respect. To maintain the integrity of this process for future students and alumni, please observe all policies of the granting school.
Will the Office for Career Development get me a job when I graduate?
The Office for Career Development is not a placement office. The Office for Career Development staff can teach you how to develop your legal credentials and provide guidance on how you can best market yourself to obtain your desired employment. We facilitate your exploration of legal and non-traditional career paths while linking you with alumni, practitioners, and the community. Statistics show that your first job out of law school will likely not be your last. Therefore, the Office for Career Development provides you with the tools and skills necessary to successfully conduct a job search now and in the future.