A thorough job search requires you to be involved, active, and informed at each step in the process. If you’re still seeking summer and permanent employment, the Career & Professional Development Center (CPDC) hopes you spent some time during Winter Break networking with attorneys and setting forth your continuing job search strategy. If you have not been into the CPDC recently to discuss and update this strategy, please make an appointment early this semester.
Keep in mind that in order to be thorough and complete with your job search, you should conduct a search using varied strategies. Many student rely solely on job postings via Symplicity or other online resource to secure employment. Note that many (if not most) employers that do not have the time or resources to reach out for candidates. What else should you be doing? We recommend the following:
1) Research the types of opportunities available and make a decision about what type of opportunity you are most interested in. Are you interested in law firm work, public interest and government work, in-house positions, etc.? Think about the issues and classes that have interested you most and talk with attorneys who currently practice in these areas. Feel free to meet with your counselor in the CPDC to talk about different types of legal jobs and to consult the practice-area specific resources available in the CPDC.
2) Research specific organizations. Use the Martindale-Hubbell Directory, use the NALP Directory, use PSLawnet, and use the Government Honors and Internship Handbook. Consult the employer files in Symplicity and learn about places where past students have worked. Talk with professors who are experts in the areas of law that interest you to find out what they know about organizations that work in that area of the law.
3) Make sure your research is organized, deliberate, and useful to you. Keep a written list of the organizations that interest you, along with contact information, names of alumni who currently work there, website links, and a brief description of why you are interested in the organization.
4) Consult the organization’s website to see if there is application information available. If so, follow the application instructions. If not, contact the organization directly. You can call and ask whether the organization take law students on for the summer (or whether the organization is currently doing permanent hiring) and, if so, how you should apply. You may also choose to compose a formal cover letter to send directly to the employer with your resume inquiring whether any summer or permanent positions are available. (If you choose to mail or email a letter and resume, be sure to follow-up about two weeks after sending the materials!)
5) If you are conducting an out-of-state job search, consider joining the local bar association to begin obtaining networking contacts. Think about planning trip to your destination city, perhaps during Spring Break, and let networking contacts and potential employers know now that you will be in town and would appreciate the opportunity to meet with them.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that, whether you are a 1L or 2L seeking summer employment or a 3L seeking permanent employment, now is the time to be connecting with attorneys and faculty and to get your materials out there. If you’re unsure about your career search time line or what next steps to take, come visit your counselor in at the CPDC to talk about the unique elements of your job search.
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This posting is modified from an article dated 1/15/09 written by our generous friends at Case.