Planning Time Line - 1st Year

FALL SEMESTER

NOVEMBER

• Create a professional message for your answering machine.
• Prepare resume (by early Nov.) - sample resumes are available.
• Attend career planning workshops.
• Determine which student activities/memberships would benefit your job search or help you determine interests.
• If planning to work out of town, prepare cover letters to employers with whom you will want to speak during Thanksgiving and winter break.
• Begin contact file.
• If you are interested in working for a large law firm, have your mailing ready to go. Employers are not allowed to consider student resumes until after December 1st. Make sure yours are ready to go into the mail that day.

AFTER FINALS

• Begin organizing your job search.
• Contact individuals you would like to use as references, academic or work-related.
• If you have sent resumes to large law firms, follow up to make sure they have been received, and ask to secure an interview.
• Decide what your available employment options are for the summer. Remember, less than 5 percent of first year students will be offered positions with very large firms.

SPRING SEMESTER

• Register with the Career Services Office.
• Read (and save) Class Notes and check the job board for job listings.
• Follow-up on resumes you have sent out.
• Be aware of Faculty Fellowship opportunities.
• Work on a plan B for other employment if a legal work opportunity does not present itself.
• Consider volunteer legal work.

BEGINNING OF SUMMER

• Make sure the Career Services Office has:
  • Your current phone number, e-mail and address
  • Copies of your resume
  • Listing of interest areas for possible employment opportunities