Preparation and organization are the keys to success

FULL TIME 1Ls & EVENING 2Ls

September/October:

• Concentrate on academics. The National Association of Law Placement (NALP) and the American Bar Association (ABA) prohibit full time first year law students from using the Career Services Office until November 1^st. You are welcome to attend general seminars and workshops sponsored by the Career Services Office prior to this date but nothing related to the mechanics of job searching.

November:

• Attend the Career Services Orientation for first year students.

• Review the Career Services web site to familiarize yourself with what is available and what is already planned for the remainder of the semester.

• Make an appointment with the Director of Law Career Services.

• Begin working on your resume.

• Organize your job search for summer into a “plan of attack”.

• Research firms/employers who interest you--there is no substitute for this!

December:

• Finalize resume and cover letter(s). (First year students are not permitted to mail out resumes prior to December 1^st).

• Begin contacting prospective employers and inform them of your availability to interview over the holiday break.

• During the holiday break, you may want to hand-deliver resumes and set up “informational interviews” and meetings with prospective employers.

January/February:

• If you have not started your job search, begin NOW!

• Continue making contacts through hard-copy mail, e-mail and phone calls.

• Follow up on resumes that you have already sent out.

• Begin preparing for interviews.

• Sign up for mock interviews through the Career Services Office.

• Attend workshops put on by the Career Services Office and other areas of the law school. The more information you have, the better!

March/April:

• Continue job search.

• Continue following up on resumes.

• Target smaller firms who may have a better sense of their need by this point.

Summer:

• Begin preparing for fall recruiting season.

• Update your resume.

• Draft a cover letter.

• Narrow your focus if possible.

FULL TIME 2Ls & EVENING 3Ls

August/September/October:

• Attend workshops and seminars.

• Check the Career Services website weekly to keep abreast of updates/changes.

• Sign up for on-campus interviews and group mail outs.

• Begin your job search early (for large firms, send resumes before Sept. 15^th).

• Schedule a time to meet with Director of Law Career Services.

November/December:

• Network as much as possible.

• Attend any Judicial Clerkship programs offered.

January/February/March/April:

• 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 and public sector employers.

• Evaluate and redirect your plan if necessary (geographically or otherwise).

• Report summer plans to Law Career Services Office.

May/June/July:

• Report summer plans to Law Career Services Office.

• Have legal employment if at all possible, hopefully in a specific area of interest.

• Update resume.

• Review plan of attack. Are you headed toward your target? Do you have a new goal?

• Get organized for the fall.

FULL TIME 3Ls & EVENING 4Ls

August/September/October:

• Schedule appointment to meet with Director of Law Career Services.

• Attend workshops/programs offered.

• Update your prospective employer list.

• Continue making contacts and following up.

November/December:

• Brush up on interviewing skills.

• Sign up for a mock interview through the Career Services Office.

Spring Semester:

• Check Job Board, Lawmatch and all Alumni Exchange Notebooks found in the Career Services Office.

• Make appointment to see Director of Law Career Services for follow up counseling, if needed.

• Report full time plans to Office of Career Services prior to graduation.