Second-Year Job Search Calendar

June/July

  • Set up informational interviews and conduct research on out-of-town employers while you are away for the summer.
  • Review summer emais from our office apprising you of application deadlines and employment opportunities.
  • Update your resume with spring semester grades and activities. Submit an updated and revised resume draft for review to the Career Development Office.

August

  • Receive your critiqued resume from the Career Development Office. Make revisions to finalize your resume and upload to Symplicity.
  • Complete a Summer Evaluation Form online about your summer work experience.
  • Formulate cover letters for various types of employers and employment settings.
  • Research and identify employers of interest who are coming on campus to hire 2Ls for the summer. Explore local part-time employment opportunities. Research, identify, and contact other large law firms and corporations with large legal staffs who are not interviewing on campus.
  • If you haven't already started a job search network, identify relatives, friends, teachers, lawyers, business associates, Career Development staff, and other acquaintances you can contact to learn more about legal job opportunities.
  • Get ready for the On Campus Interviewing process.
  • Consider applying to U.S. Department of Justice (deadline mid-September).

September

  • Continue researching and contacting employers. Expand your job search network.
  • Watch bid deadlines for on-campus interviews and resume collections.
  • Apply to U.S. Department of Justice by the mid-September deadline. Check deadlines for other federal government Honors Programs by reviewing the Government Honors & Internship Handbook (e-mail the CDO for password) and the NALP Federal Legal Employment Opportunities Guide.
  • Research, identify and contact mid-size law firms.
  • If you would like assistance with your interviewing skills, make an appointment in Career Development for a mock interview.
  • Check your e-mail and Symplicity for job opportunities often.

October

  • Continue contacting mid-size law firms.
  • Apply for government positions in "honors" category.
  • Continue building your job search network by adding to your list of contacts and arrange "informational interviews" with them.
  • Create weekly "To Do" lists to help you stay on course.

November/December

  • 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.

January

  • Update your resume after receipt of grades and class rank and upload to Symplicity.
  • Research and identify employers of interest who are coming on-campus Spring semester. Continue to contact smaller law firms, banks and corporations with small legal staffs, legal publishers, associations, government agencies (federal and state), and public interest organizations about summer jobs.
  • 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 Interview Program.

February

  • Government and Public Interest Interview Program.
  • Research and identify employers of interest who are participating in the Spring Job Fair.
  • Schedule "informational interviews" over Spring Break.

March

  • Continue to contact smaller law firms, banks/corporations, legal publishers, associations, government agencies and public interest organizations.
  • Submit application for summer fellowship grants for public interest organizations.
  • Begin research on judicial clerkships to start after graduation. Some state court judges may want applications by the end of spring semester.
  • Spring Interview Program

April

  • Expand your job search network and contact newly added individuals.
  • Continue to check Symplicity for jobs.
  • Seek out faculty members, alumni, and others who can help with contacts and consider finding someone to serve as a mentor.

May

  • "Knock on doors" and let employers, especially smaller firms and state government agencies, know you are available for part time and/or summer employment immediately.
  • Continue to check Symplicity for jobs. Many employers contact us after the end of the school year.
  • Be sure you have entered your summer employment on Symplicity, once secured.
  • Begin 3L job search!
Career Development Office

Located on the first floor of the Law School in room 115, we are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Students may drop by with questions or to request a review of their resumes and cover letters. You also may call to the office or e-mail to set up an appointment.

Phone: (804) 289-8638
Fax: (804) 287-6516
E-mail:lawcareerdevelopment@richmond.edu