Law Career Strategies Planning Calendar
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Planning Calendar - plan your job search from 1L, 2L, and 3L
Organization is the key to a successful job search campaign.
Fall Semester
September/October
Concentrate on
classes/grades - In accordance with the NALP Principals and Standards, first year law
students are prohibited from using the Career Strategies office until November 1.
You are welcome to attend
seminars and workshops sponsored by the Career Strategies office prior to this date.
November
Early November - begin
working on resume and cover letter (see examples in handbook).
Early-November - Attend
orientation for L-1's (first years).
Make an appointment with the
Career Strategies Director after attending the orientation to review resume and cover
letter.
Organize job search campaign
(mailings/phone contacts).
Work on resume over
Thanksgiving break.
Begin checking job posting
board.
December
Finalize resume and cover
letter.
Decide on where you would
like to focus your job search (Geographical area).
During Christmas break
personally hand deliver your resume.
First years are not to mail resumes until December 1. Some large firms hire L-1's, but it is very competitive. Large firms can respond to L-1 resumes after December 15.
Spring Semester
January/February
If you have not started your
job search, begin now.
Continue checking the job
posting board.
Continue mailings
Follow up with phone calls
on the resumes you have sent out.
Sign up for a mock interview
through Career Strategies.
Begin preparing for
interviews (see section on interview questions).
Hand deliver/make personal
contacts over Spring Break.
See Career Strategies Director
for help on interview preparation.
Attend Career Strategies
Seminars.
March/April
Continue job search campaign
if necessary.
Smaller firms tend to hire
during spring months.
Continue follow-up.
Attend Career Strategies
seminars.
Summer Before
Begin preparing for fall
recruiting season.
Get organized. Develop a
system of tracking
Update your resume.
Draft a cover letter.
Narrow your focus of
interest both geographically and area of practice.
Fall Semester
Attend workshops/seminars.
Sign up for on-campus
interviews.
Begin your job search
campaign early.
(If applying to large firms, send resumes before September 15th.)
Make appointment with Career
Services Director to discuss job search.
Develop your mailing list
(target certain area - use directories and alum lead lists).
Check job posting board
regularly.
Schedule a mock interview -
check with Career Strategies for list of participating faculty.
Attend a job fair/conference
- information available in Career Strategies office.
Network as much as you
can.
Spring Semester
Attend Judicial Clerkship
Seminar in January.
To apply for judicial clerkships, begin mailing resumes to
judges by the end of January.
Continue your job search
campaign - small to medium size firms tend to hire in the spring.
Continue targeting areas -
expand your focus if needed.
Continue networking.
Attend a Spring Career Fair
- check with Career Strategies for information.
Summer Before
Update resume.
Review and analyze last
year's job search campaign.
Get organized for the fall.
Fall Semester
Attend Career Strategies
workshops/seminars.
Narrow your focus of
interest.
Make an appointment with
Career Strategies Director.
Update your mailing list.
Network - check with Career
Services for an updated alum lead list for the different geographical areas.
Check job posting boards
regularly.
Brush up on your
interviewing skills - schedule a mock interview.
Attend a career fair.
Spring Semester
Continue your job search if
needed --
If not - Congratulations! - Enjoy your final semester of law school!!!