Third-Year Job Search Calendar
May
- Be sure to enter your summer address in Symplicity
- Begin research on judicial clerkships to start after graduation. Refer to the Judicial Clerkship Job Search Calendar and the Judicial Clerkship Handbook for information about the judicial clership hiring process.
- Start thinking about permanent employment after graduation. If undecided about what area of law in which you want to specialize or where you are headed, make an appointment to see a Career Services staff member.
- Set up informational interviews and conduct research on out-of-town employers while you are away for the summer.
- Expand your job search network.
- Be sure to spend time looking over your summer mailing from our office sent to your summer address at the end of June. Be aware of all deadlines and notices. Update your personal calendar with information from our calendar of events.
- Update your resume with spring semester grades and activities. Submit an updated and revised resume draft for review to the Career Services Office between June 15 and July 15 by uploading it to Symplicity.
- See the Judicial Clerkship Calendar for important information regarding clerkship applications.
- Check bar examination requirements for the state(s) in which you plan to look for employment.
- Receive your critiqued resume from the Career Services Office. Make revisions to finalize your resume and upload to Symplicity.
- Complete a summer evaluation form online about your summer work experience.
- Redefine your career goals and job skills. Develop a job search “To Do” list for the year.
- Formulate cover letters for various types of employers and employment settings.
- Research and identify employers of interest who are coming on campus to hire 3Ls after graduation. Investigate local part-time employment opportunities (these sometimes turn into full time employment at graduation).
- Research, identify, and contact other large law firms and corporations with large legal staffs who are not interviewing on-campus.
- Research and identify employers in which you are interested who are participating in the Equal Justice Works Career Fair.
- Explore local part-time employment opportunities.
- If you haven't already started a job search network, identify relatives, friends, teachers, lawyers, business associates, Career Services staff, and other acquaintances you can contact to learn more about legal job opportunities.
- Get ready for the On Campus Interviewing process. The first bid deadline will be the first week of school. On Campus Interviews begin in September.
- Update your personal calendar with information from our calendar of events.
- See the Judicial Clerkship Calendar for important information regarding judicial clerkship applications.
- Check your email and LawCareer™ for job opportunities often. Watch bid deadlines for resume collect, resume direct and on-campus employers.
- Continue researching and contacting employers. Expand your job search network.
- Research and identify employers in which you are interested who are participating in the Equal Justice Works Career Fair, if you have not already done so.
- Apply to U.S. Justice Department by the mid-September deadline. Check deadlines for other federal government Honors Programs by reviewing the Government Honors & Internship Handbook (e-mail the CSO for password) and the NALP Federal Legal Employment Opportunities Guide.
- Research, identify and contact mid-size law firms.
- Apply to accounting firms with tax departments.
- If you would like assistance with your interviewing skills, make an appointment in Career Services for a mock interview.
- Continue contacting mid-size law firms. Begin contacting smaller law firms, banks and corporations with small legal staffs, and legal publishers, associations, and public interest organizations.
- Apply for government positions in "honors" category.
- Continue to build your job search network; add to your list of contacts and arrange "informational interviews" with them.
- Create weekly “To Do” lists to help you stay on course.
- Consider applying for positions with the military.
- Apply to state court judges, especially trial courts. Some are posted in LawCareer. See the Judicial Clerkship Calendar for more information.
- Explore and request applications for fellowships and graduate (LL.M.) schools.
- Continue contacting smaller law firms, banks and corporations with small legal staffs, and legal publishers, associations, and public interest organizations.
- Arrange for "informational interviews" over Semester Break.
- Consider broadening your search to other geographic and/or practice areas.
- Investigate newly appointed federal and state court judges who are out of the regular judicial clerk hiring cycle and make application (continue this throughout your third year and even after graduation).
- Update your resume after receipt of fall semester grades and class rank and upload to Symplicity.
- Revise your job search “To Do” list and plan to update it weekly.
- Research and identify employers of interest who are coming on-campus Spring semester.
- Concentrate on contacting smaller law firms, banks and corporations with small legal staffs, legal publishers, associations, government agencies (federal and state), and public interest organizations.
- Follow-up with employers contacted previously whose hiring plans were "uncertain". Be sure you continue to record all contacts and stay organized.
- Research and identify employers of interest who are participating in the Government and Public Interest Job Fair.
- Some trial court judges are seeking law clerks. Check Symplicity for details.
- Research and identify employers of interest who are participating in the Spring Job Fair.
- Add to your job search network and continue to contact employers (see January recommendations).
- Schedule "informational interviews" over Spring Break.
- Create weekly “To Do” lists to help you stay on course.
- Apply for graduate school (LL.M.) and fellowships.
- Make an appointment with a staff member to get assistance with your search.
- Continue to contact smaller law firms, banks/corporations, legal publishers, associations, government agencies and public interest organizations.
- Consider broadening your search to other geographic and/or practice areas.
- Investigate newly appointed judges who need judicial clerks.
- Continue to check LawCareer for job listings.
- Continue to check Symplicity for jobs.
- Seek out faculty members, alumni, and others who can help with contacts.
- Expand your job search network and contact newly added individuals.
- Complete your Employment Survey for the Career Services Office.
- Check Symplicity for job listings for 3Ls and recent graduates.
- Obtain reciprocity services at another law school if moving out of the area.
- Contact new individuals in your job search network and follow-up with old ones.