How To Guides
The Office of Career & Professional Development has developed instructional guides to help law students organize their job search and professional development needs. A short description of each will follow with the appropriate link. After looking over the guides, please feel free to make an appointment with the Career Services Office to discuss these topics.
- Begin the job search The process of looking for a job is primarily a search for information: about yourself, about career areas and about a specific job market. The first step in the process is to learn about yourself.
- Build Your Network Your goal is to penetrate the existing information network so that you will know which jobs are available, and so that others will know about your abilities and availability. Your job search network is composed of contacts with which you establish a mutually beneficial relationship to exchange information about careers, jobs and the hidden job market.
- Resume Writing The resume is one of the basic tools of job hunting. A good resume can open many doors; a bad one does the opposite. A resume creates your first impression on an employer. It should show that you are professional, concise, accurate and valuable. The time you devote to your resume development will be rewarded. Read this guide and arrange an appointment to have your resume reviewed by Career Services.
- Letter Writing The ability to write good cover letters is a valuable tool in your job search. You will write cover letters to draw attention to your particular qualifications for specific jobs, to show your interest in and/or ties to a particular geographic area, and to request an interview.
- Interviewing The employment interview is the most critical, and seemingly the most stressful, part of the recruitment process. However, the interview is really a conversation, a verbal and non-verbal exchange of information. Getting to the interview stage means that the employer has already found the necessary intellect and skills in a prospective employee. This guide will help walk you through the many stages of an interview including how to accept and reject offers.
- Legal Career Options The legal field offers a tremendous variety of positions and environments to choose from. This guide details opportunities to be found in every sector of the legal job market.
- Public Interest & Government Careers Public interest and service positions offer unique rewards not found in other legal career fields. This guide provides background information on opportunities and resources available to those interested in this avenue.
- Attain Judicial Clerkships Judicial clerkships are among the most rewarding and prestigious ways to enter the legal profession. This guide assists you in the details of researching, applying and attaining a clerkship at the state or federal level.
- Sell Your Joint Degree A joint degree offers you a larger array of career opportunities. This guide provides assistance for determining the joint degree program best suited to your interests. The guide also offers strategies for selecting a career path suited to the application of your unique skills.
- Researching Firms Firms represent a large segment of the legal profession and legal employment opportunities. Unlike larger firms however, the methods for getting employed in these smaller firms are not at all clear. This guide will set out one method for researching and contacting a small or medium sized firm.