Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
1
Office of Career Planning and Professional Development– Staff
Lorri Olán
Director of Career Planning [email protected]
458-8534
Lauren Kozak
Assistant Director of Career Planning [email protected]
458-8536
Andrea Hilton
Associate Director for Professional Development
[email protected] 458-8022
Terry Evans
Law Recruitment Advisor [email protected]
458-8655
Suzanne Wade
Law Career Planning Coordinator [email protected]
458-8996
Jane McDonald
Career Planning Assistant [email protected]
458-8535
2
Office of Career Planning – Resources
The Office of Career Planning is located on the 4th floor of Sydney Lewis Hall. The office provides
a number of resources to students including a career reference library, employer brochures, and career
related periodicals. In addition to print materials, the office provides access to a color printer, a fax
machine for employment-related materials, and a typewriter for completing bar applications. The
computers outside OCP are for student use in conducting career related matters. All of these resources
are available 24-hours a day.
Office of Career Planning – Library
OCP maintains a library of career related resources. These materials can be checked out for
48-hour periods by swiping your student ID card at the Kiosk, select OCP Library and type in the name
of the book and note the copy number.
Our library includes books on developing resumes, cover letters, and networking, as well as
guides to finding internships and directories of law firms, government organizations, and state and
federal judges. Other items include information on study abroad, LLM programs, and legal specialties.
Most resources may be accessed and checked out at any time of day.
Office of Career Planning – Services OCP is available for in-person counseling sessions where we can help you:
• Identify career goals
• Find contacts and build professional relationships
• Develop a job search strategy, and
• Provide you with resources for researching employers and job opportunities.
Our staff is here to help you market yourself to employers. To this end, OCP can review any
resume and cover letter if you send it to [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] or
Once you have received an interview, OCP can help you prepare for your interview by doing
a videotaped mock interview.
2
Self-Assessment Worksheet Use the following questions to begin a personal assessment of your professional interests.
Abilities
Interests
In which undergraduate classes did you receive consistently high grades?
1. ______________________
2. ______________________
Which law school classes have you excelled in?
1. ______________________
2. ______________________
What topics do friends and family consider you an expert on?
1. ______________________
2. ______________________
Consider two honors or distinctions that you have earned. Name two qualities
required to earn each one:
1. _________________ 1. _________________ 2. _________________ 2. _________________
Name three subjects that you can talk about for more than an hour.
1. ______________________ 2. ______________________ 3. ______________________
Excluding living expenses, what do you spend money on?
1. ______________________ 2. ______________________ 3. ______________________
List two magazines and two newspaper sections that you typically read.
Newspaper Magazine _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________
How do you typically spend your weekend? Saturday Sunday
Morning: _____________ _______________ Afternoon: _____________ _______________ Evening: _____________ _______________
3
Hopes
Values
Name two personal heroes.
1. ______________________
2. ______________________
List two jobs that are essential to your community:
1. ______________________
2. ______________________
If you won ten million dollars in the lottery, what are three careers you would still consider
pursuing?
1. ______________________ 2. ______________________ 3. ______________________
Name three things you want to have accomplished by the age of 70.
1. ______________________ 2. ______________________ 3. ______________________
This exercise is to help you determine what priority you place on different values and to emphasize the reality of personal compromise. Each value listed below has a particular “cost” associated with it. The goal is to pick the best mix of values while staying under or equal to the number 30.
Cost Activity Activity Cost 20 Large Salary ____________________ _________ 20 World Prestige ____________________ _________ 10 Medium Salary ____________________ _________ 10 Work related travel ____________________ _________ 10 Children ____________________ _________ 5 Local Prestige ____________________ _________ 5 Good Family Life ____________________ _________ 5 8 Hours of Sleep per Night ____________________ _________ 5 Small Salary ____________________ _________ 5 Community Service ____________________ _________ 5 Vacations/Holidays ____________________ _________ 5 Weekend Parties ____________________ _________ 2 Watching movies ____________________ _________ 2 Attending sports games ____________________ _________ 2 Reading for fun ____________________ _________ 2 6 Hours of Sleep per Night ____________________ _________ 2 Owning a Pet ____________________ _________
Subtotal: _________ Total Allowed: __30___
4
Annual Self-Assessment Journal – 1L Professional
Aspirations:
List two states that you would like to
live in:
1. _______________
2. _______________
What salary do you hope to earn?
$_______________ / yr
List two practice areas that you would
like to work in:
1. _______________
2. _______________
List one legal skill that you would like
to use on a daily basis:
1. _______________
What is one thing you hope to
accomplish with your career?
1. _______________
Lifestyle Goals:
Which environment suits your style of
living?
Rural Suburban
Med. City Large City
What is the minimum salary that you
would be comfortable with?
$_______________ / yr
How many hours do you want to spend
at work each week?
_______________ hrs / wk
Do you plan on having a family in the
next five years?
Yes No
List two things you would like to do
before retirement:
1. _______________
2. _______________
5
Annual Self-Assessment Journal – 2L
Professional Aspirations:
List two states that you would like to
work in:
1. _______________
2. _______________
What salary do you hope to earn?
$_______________ / yr
List two practice areas that you would
like to work in:
1. _______________
2. _______________
List one legal skill that you would like
to use on a daily basis:
1. _______________
What is one thing you hope to
accomplish with your career?
1. _______________
Lifestyle Goals:
Which environment suits your style of
living?
Rural Suburban
Med. City Large City
What is the minimum salary that you
would be comfortable with?
$_______________ / yr
How many hours do you want to spend
at work each week?
_______________ hrs / wk
Do you plan on having a family in the
next five years?
Yes No
List two things you would like to do
before retirement:
1. _______________
2. _______________
6
Annual Self-Assessment Journal – 3L
Professional Aspirations:
List two states that you would like to
live in:
1. _______________
2. _______________
What salary do you hope to earn?
$_______________ / yr
List two practice areas that you would
like to work in:
1. _______________
2. _______________
List one legal skill that you would like
to use on a daily basis:
1. _______________
What is one thing you hope to
accomplish with your career?
1. _______________
Lifestyle Goals:
Which environment suits your style of
living?
Rural Suburban
Med. City Large City
What is the minimum salary that you
would be comfortable with?
$_______________ / yr
How many hours do you want to spend
at work each week?
_______________ hrs / wk
Do you plan on having a family in the
next five years?
Yes No
List two things you would like to do
before retirement:
1. _______________
2. _______________
7
Types of Employment SUMMER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
As the Fall term winds down, students begin to consider the kinds of work they will encounter and what types of legal opportunities exist. By now, most students have heard about the competitive legal job market. And you -- like many other students -- are asking, "What sets me apart from all the other candidates searching for a summer legal position? What kind of work am I eligible for during my first year summer? What chances do I have for getting paid?" These are valid and reasonable questions. You must decide, however, if the long-term benefit of any position outweighs the short-term costs. Consider, however, the following before making your decision on which type of employment to seek:
• Developing experience early creates greater opportunities as time goes by. • Building legal credentials requires time and forethought. • Developing mentor relationships and professional contacts creates opportunities. • Improving research, drafting and interpersonal skills as well as knowledge of legal issues
will create opportunities.
TYPES OF SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES Law Firms Working for a firm is one of the best ways to gain hands-on experience. Students should be aware, however, that each law firm position is different, and the range of responsibilities varies widely. Summer associates are expected to perform a variety of tasks in the law office, and although legal research is the most common one, many paralegal and clerical responsibilities may also be assigned. The best clerkships give the student employee meaningful, substantive assignments. Summer associate positions, which may lead to permanent employment, are the focus of the Fall On-Campus Interviews (OCI). Interviews are primarily for second-year and third-year students. The majority of firms seek qualified candidates to participate in their summer intern programs. These programs are a structured introduction to the firm, and serve two important functions: (1) they enable the firm to determine whether a particular summer intern is a candidate for permanent employment; and (2) they allow the intern to decide if the firm, or this type of firm in general, can fulfill his or her career goals. Employers participate in the program through OCI and direct student/employer recruiting. Large law firms throughout the country begin recruiting second-year students in the Fall (August through December) and begin extending offers of employment throughout the semester. The few large-firms that have a first-year summer associate program generally begin to accept applications from 1Ls on December 1st with the positions usually filled in January and February after first semester grades are reported. The NALP First-Year Hiring Index, which lists firms
8
that typically hire first-year summer associates, is available at www.nalpdirectory.com (click on "Advanced Search", choose the 1L criteria from the "Organization that Hire" field, along with any other criteria you desire, and click the "Search" button). Positions with a large law firm are extremely competitive. These firms make hiring decisions for 2Ls based on first-year grades only; some make decisions for 1Ls before many students even have their first semester grades. Most large law firms select students from top tier law schools. They only look at the top students at other law schools. Most second-year students are selected by participating in OCI. Most first-year students are considered based upon the reputation of their law school, the reputation of their undergraduate institution and their undergraduate GPA. Note: there are very few
Summer positions are also available with small and mid-size firms. Some of these firms will come to OCI, and others will post openings in Symplicity. Many small and mid-size firms will not post a position and rely on students seeking out positions directly with the firm. Many students will obtain law clerk positions from personal and family contacts. Fellow law students are also excellent sources of information regarding law clerk positions.
firm positions in large law firms for first-year students. First-year students whose credentials match large firm requirements (good grades, exceptional extracurricular activities, etc.) should definitely prepare themselves over the summer to participate in OCI during their second year. As such, 1Ls should attend the several résumé and cover letter writing, interview techniques and practice area programs sponsored by Career Planning. Throughout the summer and in early August, all returning students will receive information about OCI – read your email regularly.
Government Internships Federal, state and local government agencies offer paid and volunteer summer internships. Most first-year students work as volunteers. Each year, numerous students will work with a United States Attorney’s office (federal), Commonwealth Attorney’s Office (state) as well as state and federal public defenders. Additionally, many 1Ls are successful in obtaining summer placements with federal and state agencies. All of these opportunities exist throughout the country – carefully consider where you want to be, where you can afford to be if accepting an unpaid position, and where your application will find the most success.. Resources for these positions include www.usa-internships.com and the Government Honors and Internship Handbook, www.law.arizona.edu/career/honorshandbook.cfm, both available on the OCP web resources. Judicial Internships Judicial internships in state and federal courts are a great opportunity for first-year students to develop research and writing skills, to network with practitioners in their preferred geographic location, and to observe court room proceedings. You can find contact information for individual judges in the Judicial Yellow Book, The American Bench and in Symplicity’s clerkship module (federal and state appellate courts only). The Judicial Clerkship page of the
9
OCP website also has information on where our alumni have worked as law clerks and which alumni are judges. Public Interest Employers/Legal Aid Because these agencies are often understaffed, public interest employers are known for providing students with substantive legal experience. In addition to gaining valuable experience, students often help provide needed legal services to lower- and middle-income communities. Almost all of these positions are unpaid for first-year law students. If you are interested in public interest, you may want to plan on attending the Government and Public Interest Job Fair that will take place in February. Research Assistant Positions Law school professors hire research assistants each semester and during the summer. Typical responsibilities include legal research and assisting in writing and reviewing scholarly articles for publication. If you are interested in working for a particular professor, contact that professor in the Spring and inquire as to whether positions are available. Most professors require overall academic excellence or a high grade in their class. These opportunities will also be posted in Symplicity. Corporations If you are interested in an in-house post-graduate career, your 1L summer is the perfect time to investigate this option. Even though most in-house positions are not available for new graduates, many corporations do take summer interns. These positions will not always be posted or advertised. To obtain a position, find a company you would like to work for and contact the legal department directly to inquire whether they will take a legal intern. Generally, you should apply for these positions January–May. Summer Funding There are fellowships and internship sponsors for students seeking a stipend or other type of funding. For more information, review the opportunities posted on the PublicService LawNetwork, www.pslawnet.org, for summer funding resources. W&L’s Shepherd Poverty Program offers a few federal work study positions to law students working in pre-approved summer internships with organizations addressing the legal needs of the poor. An information session is scheduled for shortly after Thanksgiving. OCP issues a few funding awards to students working in the public sector – preference is given to those working in legal aid and public defender offices and second-year students. Detailed information on how to apply will be distributed in January. Some local bar associations sponsor paid summer internships, and the ABA has a few paid internships as well. Do your research to find funding opportunities for your dream position. Adapted from the DePaul University College of Law website.
10
Areas of Law to Consider Review the following areas of practice contained within The Official Guide to Legal Specialties, which you will receive during your individual meeting with the Career Planning staff.
Admiralty
Antitrust
Appellate Practice
Banking and Commercial Finance
Bankruptcy
Civil Litigation
Corporate Practice
Criminal Litigation
Entertainment and Sports
Environmental
Family
Government Contracts
Government Practice
Health Care
Immigration
Insurance
Intellectual Property
International
Labor and Employment
Legislative Practice
Military Judge Advocates/JAG
Municipal Finance Practice
Public Interest
Real Estate
Securities
Solo, Small Firm and General
Practice
Tax
Telecommunications
Tort Law: Personal Injury & Insurance Defense
Trusts and Estates
11
Web Resources
The OCP website contains a comprehensive list of websites that can assist law students. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with these websites, as some of them will become standard search tools in obtaining information about opportunities and colleagues in the legal profession.
User Passwords
OCP purchases access to several online resources for W&L Law students. These membership websites require a username and password to log on. Students may obtain the list of required passwords through our website (Career Planning > Current Students > Web Resources > OCP Online Resources Passwords). To access the list of passwords students must enter their W&L Law e-mail username and password. Frequently Used Resources for 1L Summer Searches
Below are some web resources that have proven particularly useful for 1Ls during their search for summer employment. While the URLs are provided below, we recommend that you visit the OCP website for the most up-to-date links.
Government Honors & Internship Handbook [Password Required] www.law.arizona.edu/career/honorshandbook.cfm
The Government Honors & Internship Handbook, compiled annually by the University of Arizona School of Law, lists nationwide opportunities with Federal, state and local governments. Each entry lists a brief description of the program and application deadlines as well as the number of previous applicants and the anticipated hiring needs.
Internships USA [Password Required] www.internships-usa.com
Internships USA lists internship opportunities in more than 3,000 organizations for college and law students. These opportunities include internships at corporations, sports teams, city/county governments, legal aid organizations, human rights organizations, and prosecutor offices. Idealist.org www.idealist.org Online resource for public service careers lists opportunities for summer and full-time employment.
12
PSLawnet [Password Required] www.pslawnet.org
This online resource for legal public service careers lists opportunities for summer and full-time employment and post-graduate fellowships (domestic and international), summer funding resources, and public interest career and job search information. Law Student Jobs Online www.westlaw.com
This legal job search resource is a component of WestLaw and is accessible through your online WestLaw access. Trainings on using this resource are provided periodically by WestLaw staff. This website posts opportunities available for summer positions with private employers. State Judicial Clerkship Guide [Password Required] Access through password link
The State Judicial Clerkship Guide, compiled annually by the University of Vermont School of Law, lists state-by-state clerkship opportunities for 3Ls and judicial law clerks as well as guidance on the state clerkship application process. For a listing of judges on the federal bench or in state appellate courts, use the Clerkship Module in Symplicity. There are other resources in OCP and on westlaw and lexisnexis for getting biographical information on the judges to whom you are interested in applying for a summer position.
NALP Directory (National Assoc. of Legal Career Professionals) www.nalpdirectory.com
A useful resource for students is the searchable NALP Directory of Legal Employers. This database contains practice areas offered, demographic information, descriptions of summer associate programs and 1L hiring practices, diversity recruitment and retention efforts, benefits and compensation offered. The NALP website also offers employment related research and statistics.
Martindale Hubbell www.martindale.com
The first and oldest in the field, the Martindale directory of legal practitioners is designed for clients seeking representation, but has long been a resource for legal professionals searching for colleagues. Searches in Martindale can be conducted based on practice area, geographic area, schools attended and number of attorneys in a practice.
13
Connecting with Alumni
Alumni Support Network The Alumni Support Network is a collection of over 500 alumni who have agreed to act as mentors for W&L law students. Sign in and search the database by location, practice, organization, prior clerkships, and community affiliations (e.g. multicultural, GLBTQ, military background).
ColonnadeConnections.com Colonnade Connections provides an online community of over 25,000 W&L undergraduate and law alumni. The database can be searched by location, employer, occupation, degree, student involvement, and more.
Martindale.com Martindale.com is a searchable database of attorneys across the nation. Using its advanced search functions, users may search by employer, practice area, region, and law school.
Guidelines for Contacting Alumni READ Donna Gerson’s Building Career Connections: Networking Tools for Law Students and New Lawyers. This and other useful networking resources are available in the OCP library. PREPARE What kind of work are you interested in doing? Where do you want to work? What kind of employer are you interested in? Who do you want to meet and what do you want to learn? Make a list of alumni and other professionals who might be able to assist you. Thoroughly research each contact and their employer. Know the organization’s mission and major initiatives. Prepare a list of key points you want to discuss and transitions to those points. Don’t expect your contact to carry the conversation. Typical questions include:
How did you break into the field? Are any law school courses helpful in your field? What is your typical day like? Do you know of others in the field I could contact?
INTRODUCE YOURSELF Begin by e-mailing or sending a letter to the person you want to speak with. Introduce yourself, state why you are writing, how you found them, and state a time when you plan to follow-up with a telephone call. Do NOT ask for a job or internship and do NOT include a resume in your communication. You may provide one at a later date if your mentor asks for one. CONTACT Call at the designated time. Do not be discouraged if it takes several attempts. Be politely persistent and leave voicemails indicating when you will call again. FOLLOW-UP, FOLLOW-UP, FOLLOW-UP Always send a prompt thank you letter or e-mail to each person with whom you have spoken. Keep in regular contact with your network. Update them on professional achievements as your career progresses.
14
W&L Law’s Interpretation of NALP Guidelines
First-Year Student Contact with Employers before December 1st
W&L Law is a member of the National Association for Law Placement (NALP), an organization to which most law schools and many employers belong. In response to faculty concerns nationwide that first-year students dedicate themselves as fully as possible to course work, NALP created the following guidelines to which the law school and its students should adhere: Part V: General Standards for the Timing of Offers and Decisions * * * D. Summer Employment Provisions for First Year Students * * * 2. Prospective employers and first year law students should not initiate contact with one another and employers should not interview or make offers to first year students before December 1. 3. All offers to first year students for summer employment should remain open for at least two weeks after the date made. In conjunction with professionals at NALP, the Office of Career Planning and Professional Development has interpreted these guidelines to provide students with a better understanding of permissible and impermissible actions. Of greatest import, first-year students should not provide application materials of any kind to potential employers until December 1st. Many employers will return premature materials to you, set them aside until after December 1st or, worse yet, throw them away. However, the Office recognizes the need for first-year students to begin making contacts to determine where they will send their applications materials come December 1st. Accordingly, students may contact family and friends to begin their networking during the month of November. The office also recognizes that students need to research opportunities before December 1. Accordingly, effective November 1, we have posted to Symplicity summer job opportunities available to first-year students with the understanding that students will not apply until December 1.
15
NALP Principles for Students
A. Candidates should prepare thoroughly for the employment search process.
1. Before beginning an employment search, candidates should engage in thorough self-examination. Work skills, vocational aptitudes and interests, lifestyle and geographic preferences, academic performance, career expectations and life experiences should be carefully evaluated so that informed choices can be made. General instruction should be obtained on employment search skills, particularly those relating to the interview process.
2. Prior to making employment inquiries, candidates should learn as much as possible about target employers and the nature of their positions. Candidates should interview only with employers in whom they have a genuine interest.
3. Candidates should comply with the policies and procedures of each law school from which they obtain services.
B. Throughout the employment search process candidates should represent their qualifications and interests fully and accurately.
1. Candidates should be prepared to provide, at employers' request, copies of all academic transcripts. Under no circumstances should academic biographical data be falsified, misrepresented, or distorted either in writing or orally. Candidates who engage in such conduct may be subject to elimination from consideration for employment by the employer, suspension or other academic discipline by the law school, and disqualification from admission to practice by bar admission authorities.
2. Candidates should be prepared to advise prospective employers of the nature and extent of their training in legal writing. Writing samples submitted as evidence of a candidate's legal skills should be wholly original work. Where the writing was done with others, the candidate's contribution should be clearly identified. Writing samples from law-related employment must be masked adequately to preserve client confidentiality and used only with the permission of the supervising attorney.
C. Throughout the employment search process candidates should conduct themselves in a professional manner.
1. Candidates who participate in the on-campus interview process should adhere to all scheduling commitments. Cancellations should occur only for good cause and should be promptly communicated to the office of career services and the employer.
2. Candidates should respond promptly to invitations for in-office interviews and accept such invitations only if the candidate has a genuine interest in the employer. With respect to all other requests for information or invitations from employers, candidates should respond promptly.
3. Candidates should reach an understanding with the employer regarding its reimbursement policies prior to the trip. Expenses for trips during which interviews with more than one employer occur should be prorated in accordance with those employers' reimbursement policies.
4. Candidates invited to interview at employer offices should request reimbursement for reasonable expenses that are directly related to the interview and incurred in good faith.
16
Failure to observe this policy, or falsification or misrepresentation of travel expenses, may result in non-reimbursement and elimination from consideration for employment or the revocation of offers by an employer.
5. Candidates should handle in a timely manner any changes or cancellations to an in-office interview including cancellation of any travel arrangements.
D. Candidates should notify employers and their office of career services of their acceptance or rejection of employment offers by the earliest possible time, and no later than the time established by rule, custom, or agreement.
1. Candidates should expect offers to be confirmed in writing. Candidates should abide by the standards for candidate responses set out in Part V and should in any event notify the employer as soon as their decision is made, even if that decision is made in advance of the prevailing deadline date.
2. In fairness to both employers and peers, candidates should act in good faith to decline promptly offers for interviews and employment which are no longer being seriously considered. In order for law schools to comply with federal and institutional reporting requirements, candidates should notify the office of career services upon acceptance of an employment offer, whether or not the employment was obtained through the office.
3. Candidates seeking or preparing to accept fellowships, judicial clerkships, or other limited term professional employment should apprise prospective employers of their intentions and obtain a clear understanding of their offer deferral policies.
E. Candidates should honor their employment commitments.
1. Candidates should, upon acceptance of an offer of employment, notify their office of career services and notify all employers who consider them to be active candidates that they have accepted a position.
2. If, because of extraordinary and unforeseen circumstances, it becomes necessary for a candidate to modify or be released from his or her acceptance, both the employer and the office of career services should be notified promptly in writing.
F. Candidates should promptly report to the office of career services any misrepresentation, discrimination or other abuse by employers in the employment process.
G. Students who engage in law-related employment should adhere to the same standards of conduct as lawyers.
1. In matters arising out of law-related employment, students should be guided by the standards for professional conduct which are applicable in the employer's state. When acting on behalf of employers in a recruitment capacity, students should be guided by the employer principles in Part IV.
2. Students should exercise care to provide representative and fair information when advising peers about former employers.
17
WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW OFFICE OF CAREER PLANNING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
STUDENT PROFESSIONALISM STATEMENT
Students at Washington and Lee University School of Law ("W&L Law") are preparing to enter a profession in which they will be expected to adhere to the rigorous ethical and professional codes of conduct that govern lawyers. In keeping with W&L Law's commitment to helping students develop the professional skills they will need in the practice of law, many of which come into play in the career planning and recruiting context, the Office of Career Planning ("OCP") has prepared the following Student Professionalism Statement. All students are expected to adhere to these principles in their interactions with OCP, employers, alumni, and, indeed, the W&L Law community as a whole.
1. OCP Policies and Communications
. I agree to keep myself informed of OCP policies, procedures, resources, employment opportunities, programs, and applicable deadlines by monitoring on-line job postings and OCI schedules, and reading emails, memoranda, newsletters and other communications circulated to students or posted to Symplicity and the OCP website.
2. OCP Appointments
. I agree to calendar and to keep appointments with OCP or, if I cannot keep an appointment, to contact OCP in advance to cancel or reschedule the appointment.
3. Document Review
. I agree to provide my resume and cover letter, or any other documents to be reviewed, to OCP no later than 24 hours before the appointment if I would like to receive comments during the appointment.
4. Resume/Cover Letter
5.
. I agree to provide honest and accurate information to employers in my resume, cover letter or other submissions, and in the course of any interview.
Sincere Interest
. I agree that I will only apply to employers in which I have a sincere interest.
6. On-Campus Interviews
. I agree to be prepared for, and attend, all scheduled on-campus interviews, including those taking place in Charlottesville. I understand that I must obtain the advance consent of the Director of OCP to cancel an on-campus interview, and that such a cancellation will be approved only for good cause. If unforeseen circumstances prevent me from obtaining such advance consent, I agree to contact OCP as soon as possible regarding the interview.
7. Call Back Interviews. In scheduling call back interviews, I agree to avoid, to the extent possible, conflicts with actual or potential on-campus interviews by keeping a calendar of dates on which I have, or may have, such an on-campus interview. I further agree to be prepared for, and attend, all scheduled call back interviews. If my circumstances change such that I
18
cannot attend the interview or I have already accepted, or am seriously considering, an offer from another employer, I agree to contact the interviewing employer as soon as possible to explain the circumstances and cancel or reschedule the interview.
8. Regional Interview Programs
. I agree to comply with the rules of all regional interview programs and other job fairs in which W&L Law participates, particularly the attendance requirements, and to be prepared for all interviews at an interview program or job fair. I understand that if I have missed an application deadline for a Regional Interview Program that any attempts made to contact participating employers will require prior approval by OCP. I understand that any contact with participating employers is not permitted for the week prior to the interview program. Any misrepresentations made in order to gain entry to a Regional Interview Program will be considered a violation of the Professionalism provision of the OCP Recruitment Policies and Procedures and this statement.
9. Offers.
I agree to abide by the guidelines published by the National Association for Law Placement ("NALP") for the acceptance and holding of offers. Such guidelines are posted on the OCP website, and are also available at www.nalp.org.
10. Employment Information
. I agree to provide OCP with the information it requests concerning my summer and permanent employment status and details of my summer and permanent employment, so that OCP may comply with its reporting requirements to W&L Law constituencies, the American Bar Association, and NALP. OCP may make such requests by e-mail or by asking students to update their information in Symplicity.
11. Professional Conduct
. I agree to act in a professional manner, and to exhibit a professional demeanor, in my dealings with OCP, employers, alumni, networking contacts, fellow students, and W&L Law personnel, whether such interactions are in person, by phone or in writing, including email correspondence.
I have read, and agree to abide by, the principles set forth in the 2009 OCP Recruitment Policies and this Student Professionalism Statement. I understand that I must return a signed copy of this Statement to OCP in order to have access to OCP resources, including Symplicity. Signature: ___________________________________________ Date: _________________ Name: ______________________________________________ Class Year: 2013 (Please print)
19
Class of 2012
1L Employment Statistics
Career Planning compiles statistical information on the summer job placement of first-year law students at Washington & Lee. The majority of students in the class of 2012 (61%) found their summer employment through independent search and referrals. This emphasizes why networking and independent searches are important aspects of your job search strategy. On-Campus Interviewing represented 7% of overall placement and Job Fairs and Interview Programs represented 8%. Clinic and research assistant positions represented 1% of total employment, and Symplicity and other sources represented 13% and 9% placement respectively. Despite the December application start date, the majority of students in the class of 2012 received their job offers in the Spring. Most students accepted offers in March and April (64% combined).
HOW 1L’S FOUND THEIR JOB WHEN OFFERS WERE RECEIVED
20
Class of 2012 1L Employment Statistics
Law students in the Class of 2012 obtained first-year summer internships in a number of different fields. Most students secured positions with local/state/international government agencies (14%), positions in academia (11%), or both in the public sector and with judges (12% each). Ten percent of 1Ls secured positions with law firms as did with federal government. Corporate opportunities were also obtained by students (3%). Half of the Class of 2012 received no compensation from their employer during their first-year summer; thirty-two percent were paid. Others students in the Class received summer funding through the law school or external sources (10%).
TYPES OF 1L EMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION OFFERED
21
Class of 2011 2L Employment Statistics
HOW 2L’S FOUND THEIR JOB WHEN OFFERS WERE RECEIVED
TYPES OF 2L EMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION OFFERED
22
NALP Statistics
GEOGRAPHY AND EMPLOYMENT Top 10 Cities for Jobs Percent of all Jobs
6. New York City 10.28% 7. Washington, DC 6.38% 8. Chicago 4.45% 9. Los Angeles 3.07% 10. Boston 2.40% 11. Houston 2.05% 12. San Francisco 1.81% 13. Atlanta 1.50% 14. Dallas 1.45% 15. San Diego 1.37% Source: NALP’s Jobs and JDS 2009
TIMING OF EMPLOYMENT OFFERS
Before Graduation 62.6% After Grad. Before Bar Results 16.6% After Bar Results 20.8%
Source: NALP’s Jobs and JDS 2009
LAW FIRM JOBS IN VA—CLASS OF 2009 Firm Size Percent
1. 2-10 39.4%
2. 11-25 8.6%
3. 26-100 15.2%
4. 101-250 6.37%
5. 251+ 20.0% Source: NALP’s Jobs and JDS 2009
STARTING SALARIES: PRIVATE Median Starting Salaries by Size of Law Firm
2-10 $50,000 11-25 $65,000 26-50 $75,000 51-100 $95,000 101-250 $160,000 501+ $160,000 Source: NALP’s Jobs and JDS 2009
F A L L 2009 R E C R UI T I NG OUT C OM E S F OR
T H E C L A SS OF 2010 Number of NALP employers recruiting 3Ls
3% in 2009 25% in 2008 42% in 2007 53% in 2006 42% in 2005 31% in 2004
Source: NALP
NATIONAL FALL ON-CAMPUS RECRUITING LEVELS 2009 TRENDS
Number of schools visited: Percent of offices
reporting a decrease in campus visits from previous year.
• 2009 78% • 2008 39% • 2007 21% • 2006 22%
Source: NALP
23
1L Job Search Timeline
November If your objective for next summer is a summer associate position, use November effectively. Attend resume, cover letter and interviewing skills workshops. Meet with OCP to finalize your application materials. Don’t forget to work on your writing sample, too! Conduct informational interviews with legal professionals in your targeted geographic area about the local job market and for information on different practice areas. Join OCP listservs of interest to you.
December You may apply for summer positions starting Dec. 1. Research the many opportunities available to 1Ls, including public interest, judicial clerkships and research assistant positions. Keep an eye out for holiday receptions in the cities where you are applying. These are posted on the OCP website. Most importantly, prepare for your finals!
January Observe deadlines. Spring OCI applications are due at the end of January. Register for the Government & Public Interest job fair. Research public sector opportunities and summer funding resources. Continue applying for jobs posted on Symplicity. Follow-up with the contacts you’ve developed over the Fall and continue making new contacts.
February Spring OCI begins in February. If you have not secured a position, do not fret. Meet with OCP and discuss options with employers who typically hire 1Ls such as small firms, public interest groups, professors, or summer law school clinics.
March-May Contact local employers if you will be going home over Spring Break, and check in with your networking contacts for information on the 2L summer job search. Start considering which regional job fairs you want to attend over the summer for 2011 positions. Research participating employers and begin compiling application materials. Deadlines for W&L’s regional job fairs are early in the summer – Mark your calendars now!
Good luck with finals and the summer!
24
OCP Recruitment Policies Revised October 2010
SINCERE INTEREST REQUIREMENT
1. When you apply to an employer, either through Symplicity or on your own, you are
indicating a sincere interest in interviewing with and accepting a possible offer from that employer.
PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
2. You are expected to conduct yourself in a professional manner in all dealings with
employers, alumni and W&L faculty and staff. Professional behavior includes responding within 24 hours to emails, telephone calls, employer requests for information or interviews, and all other written correspondence. Likewise, you should acknowledge all offers of employment within 24 hours of notice. All outgoing messages on your primary telephone should be professional and, at a minimum, confirm that the caller has reached the correct number.
INTERVIEW PROGRAMS
On-Campus and Virginia-Based W&L Interview Programs
3. A. On-Campus and Virginia-Based W&L Interview Programs include, but are not limited to,: 1) All On-campus interviews 2) All interviews conducted at the OCI satellite location in Charlottesville, VA
3) W&L Law’s Spring Commonwealth Law School Consortium Job Fair in Williamsburg, VA
4) W&L Law’s Public Interest and Government Job Fair in Richmond, VA.
B. You may not decline interviews granted for On-campus or Virginia-based W&L Interview Programs. C. An interview granted for an On-Campus Interview or Virginia-based W&L Interview Program may only be cancelled or rescheduled with express approval from the Director of Career Planning. Before you cancel or attempt to reschedule an interview you must first contact the Director of Career Planning. Approval to cancel or reschedule an interview for an On-Campus Interview or Virginia-based W&L Interview Program is granted only in cases where a student has either 1) accepted an offer of employment or, 2) experienced an emergency. D. If you withdraw from an on-campus or a Virginia-based W&L Interview Program interview because you have accepted an offer of employment you must withdraw completely from all other scheduled interviews and subsequent interview programs or job fairs for the remainder of the recruiting season.
25
W&L Law Regional Interview Programs 4. A. W&L Regional Interview Programs include programs currently offered in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and New York, as well as any future locations for Regional Interview Programs.
B. If you receive one interview for a W&L Law Regional Interview Program you are obliged to attend the interview(s). C. Permission to withdraw from a W&L Law Regional Interview Program may only be granted by the Director of Career Planning. Permission to withdraw from a W&L Law Regional Interview Program is given only in cases where a student has either 1) accepted an offer of employment or, 2) experienced an emergency. D. If you withdraw from a W&L Law Regional Interview Program interview because you have accepted an offer of employment you must withdraw completely from all other scheduled interviews and subsequent interview programs or job fairs for the remainder of the recruiting season.
Non-W&L Law Interview Programs and Job Fairs
5. A. You may only decline interview offers obtained through Non-W&L Law interview programs and job fairs (hereinafter “programs”) if doing so is consistent with the stated attendance policy of that program. You are responsible for reviewing and following all policies of Non-W&L Law programs. Prior to declining an interview offer obtained through a Non-W&L Law program you are required to contact the coordinating staff member in Career Planning to inform them of your intended withdrawal and to provide them with a copy of the Non-W&L Law program’s attendance policy. B. If you withdraw from a Non-W&L Law program because you have accepted an offer of employment you must withdraw completely from all other scheduled interviews and subsequent programs, including W&L Law programs, for the remainder of the recruiting season.
Illness Related Absences
6. If you are too ill to attend an interview, you must notify Career Planning before your interview time or as soon as possible thereafter. Within three days of missing an interview due to illness, you must deliver to Career Planning a signed letter of apology addressed to the employer.
Missed Interviews 7. If you miss a scheduled interview for any reason besides illness you are to notify Career
Planning as soon as possible thereafter. Within 24 hours of missing an interview, you must
26
deliver to Career Planning a signed letter of apology addressed to the employer. The letter of apology will be reviewed by the Director of Career Planning and is subject to mandatory revisions. A second draft of the letter with mandatory revisions, if requested, is due back to Career Planning within 24 hours of notice. Missing a scheduled interview will subject you to sanctions. See the “Non-Compliance” section, below, for information concerning sanctions.
Schedule Conflicts 8. A) You are responsible for maintaining a calendar that reflects ALL of the program
interviews to which you have applied
.
B) Program interviews include On-Campus Interviews, Virginia-Based W&L Program Interviews, W&L Law Regional Programs Interviews, and Non-W&L Law Program and Job Fair interviews. C) If after applying for a Program Interview you subsequently schedule a callback interview or other appointment that conflicts with the Program Interview you must reschedule the call back interview or other appointment in order to attend the Program Interview. You are to promptly speak with the Director of Career Planning if you are unable to comply with this provision. D) Failure to attend a Program Interview due to a schedule conflict will subject you to sanctions. See the “Non-Compliance” section, below, for information concerning sanctions. Within 24 hours of missing a Program Interview, you must deliver to Career Planning a signed letter or letters of apology addressed to each of the employers whose interview(s) you missed. The letter(s) of apology will be reviewed by the Director of Career Planning and is subject to mandatory revisions. A second draft of the letter(s) with mandatory revisions, if requested, will be due back to Career Planning within 24 hours of notice. E) You are responsible for renegotiating an interview with an employer. Career Planning Staff does not represent students in efforts to reschedule.
RESUMES
9. All facts contained on your resume must be true and accurate. You may list experiences for which you have been selected, but in which you have not yet participated. State your status clearly (e.g., competitively selected for Black Lung Clinic, beginning Fall semester). You may not list experiences for which you have not been selected and in which you have not yet participated (e.g.
, Intent to participate in Moot Court Competition in future).
10. A) You are not required to list your grade point average (GPA) on your resume. However, if your GPA is reported it must be listed exactly as it is reported to you by the Law School Recorder, i.e., to three digits (ex. 3.114). You may calculate and list your GPA for a given semester or group of courses, but you are personally responsible for the accuracy of your calculations (e.g.
, GPA first year or GPA for tax courses).
27
B) Transfer students may list their GPA from their first year institution. This GPA must be reported exactly as it appears on the granting institution’s transcript and must clearly be attributed to the granting institution and not to Washington and Lee University School of Law. As transfer students do not receive a Washington and Lee University School of Law GPA until the conclusion of their second year of legal studies, a W&L Law GPA may not be reported by a transfer student on a resume until after the conclusion of their second year of study. If the Washington and Lee University School of Law GPA is reported on a transfer student’s resume it must comply with Section 10(A) of these policies.
11. You may list your class standing (e.g., top 30%), but must do so in strict compliance with the
standing lists generated each semester by the Recorder=s office. You may not estimate your standing if it is in between two percentage cut offs. (e.g., if top 40% is a 3.327 and top 35% is a 3.381, and your GPA is 3.356, you may only
represent your standing as top 40%. You may not represent your standing as top 37.5% or other self-calculated percentage.)
12. You may list your GPA on your resume without class standing, but may not list class standing without also providing your GPA. Career Planning includes grade distribution sheets in every package of resumes sent to employers.
APPLICATION DEADLINES
13. The deadline for all Symplicity applications is no later than 11:30 p.m. on the date indicated in the OCI schedule or Job Posting. Students are advised to submit their materials well in advance of posted deadlines to accommodate unplanned technological and logistical issues.
14. If you are mailing application materials directly to an employer, your materials must be
RECEIVED on or before the date indicated in their Job Posting.
NALP GUIDELINES
15. Washington and Lee University School of Law is a member of the National Association for Law Placement (NALP), which has promulgated guidelines concerning employment offers and acceptances. Students must adhere to NALP rules. To read the guidelines and their interpretations click here.
NON-COMPLIANCE WITH POLICIES AND PROCEDURES 16. Failure to comply with the letter and spirit of these policies and procedures may result in
sanctions, up to and including exclusion from submission of resumes through Symplicity, exclusion from on-campus interviewing, exclusion from use of other OCP privileges, or other law school discipline, as determined by the Director of Career Planning and the Deans of the Law School.
28
17. You are expected to exercise professional and ethical judgment in all aspects of the recruitment process. Lack of specific prohibition against an activity which is unprofessional, unethical or damaging to the Law School or fellow students, does not permit such behavior.
Disclosure Policy
The Office of Career Planning and Professional Development (the “OCP”) respects the privacy of all students and complies with all legal requirements pertaining to student privacy. From time to time, various university constituencies and outside organizations request that the Office provide them with information about currently-enrolled students. OCP thoroughly reviews the requests and only complies with them when, in OCP’s professional judgment, a response will benefit current or prospective student or the institution as a whole. Certain requests, such as those from the American Bar Association and the U.S. News & World Report, are received annually and our response is institutionally mandatory. To ensure that OCP can carry out its obligations to such groups, the office requires students to submit certain information about their job searches and results. Students must promptly and completely respond to all OCP inquiries made for the purposes of compiling data on employment statistics. Failure to do so may result in sanctions. Information that does not identify students by name will be statistically aggregated and provided to groups with legitimate interest in receiving such information. Information that identifies students by name will be shared with university constituencies, as dictated by obligations of OCP to enhance career opportunities for students and contribute to the mission of the law school and university. On occasion, employers request information in order to provide promotional materials and/or invitations to certain events. OCP does not provide contact information to these employers. Instead, we offer to make the material available to students on their behalf. In order to counsel students effectively and track employers’ recruiting behavior, OCP is privy to certain information regarding students’ grade point average and class rank. This information is strictly confidential, and will not be shared with any constituency in any format that identifies students by name or that reveals facts or characteristics that would reveal students’ identities.
29
Symplicity Symplicity is our on-line recruitment software used for on-campus interviews, regional interview programs, job fairs and job postings. We also use it to gather information on where W&L Law students spend their summers and their post-graduate jobs.
1. Read and sign Professionalism Statement and return to the Office of Career Planning
(OCP).
2. Once we receive your signed Professionalism Statement, you will receive an email from OCP with your password.
3. Go to W&L Law home page
4. Click on CAREER PLANNING
5. Click on CURRENT STUDENT
6. Click on SYMPLICITY
7. Click on “for students/alumni”
8. Enter user name (your email address) and password
9. Click on PROFILE
10. Fill out profile pages
11. Click on DOCUMENTS and upload
a. create your documents in Word b. Symplicity will convert documents to .pdf c. Check uploaded documents for accuracy d. You will receive email from Linda Johnson in January regarding transcripts.
Prepare “Grade Sheet” if needed before transcripts are ready.
12. Click on JOBS tab to view current jobs available
13. Click on EMPLOYERS tab to view list of employers
14. Click on OCI tab to view Spring interview programs SYMPLICITY REVIEW SESSIONS: Tuesday, November 2: 12:30pm – 1:00pm, Classroom E Thursday, November 4: 3:00pm – 3:30pm, Classroom E
30
Symplicity – Uploading Documents
1. CREATE DOCUMENT (RESUME, COVER LETTER, WRITING SAMPLE, REFERENCES) IN WORD
2. NAME DOCUMENT AND SAVE TO HARD DRIVE
3. LOG INTO SYMPLICITY
4. GO TO “DOCUMENTS” TAB
5. CLICK ON “ADD NEW” BUTTON
6. CHOOSE TYPE OF DOCUMENT YOU ARE UPLOADING (i.e., RESUME, COVER LETTER, etc.)
7. TRANSCRIPTS: YOU WILL RECEIVE AN EMAIL FROM LINDA JOHNSON IN JANUARY TELLING YOU HOW TO GET AN UNOFFICIAL COPY OF YOUR TRANSCRIPT. SAVE TRANSCRIPT TO YOUR HARD DRIVE AND THEN CLICK ON THE “CLICK HERE” BUTTON TO UPLOAD YOUR TRANSCRIPT.
8. BROWSE AND FIND DOCUMENT TO UPLOAD
9. ENTER NAME OF DOCUMENT IN LABEL BOX (i.e., RESUME, WRITING SAMPLE, etc.)
10. HIT “SUBMIT” BUTTON
11. WAIT FOR SYSTEM TO FINISH CONVERTING (TO PDF)
12. OPEN DOCUMENT AND CHECK TO MAKE SURE IT IS CORRECT a. RESUMES WILL SOMETIMES ROLL INTO TWO PAGES b. CHECK FORMATTING
31
WW&&LL’’SS NNOONN--DDIISSCCRRIIMMIINNAATTIIOONN PPOOLLIICCIIEESS
University Policy In compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and all other applicable non-discrimination laws, Washington and Lee University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran's status, or genetic information in its educational programs and activities, admissions, and with regard to employment. Inquiries may be directed to the Provost, June Aprille, Washington Hall, (540) 458-8418 who is designated by the University to coordinate compliance efforts and carry out its responsibilities under Title IX, as well as those under Section 504 and other applicable non-discrimination laws. Inquiries may also be directed to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education. Revised June 2009 Law School Policy The Washington and Lee University School of Law opposes discrimination in employment based on sex, age, race, religion, national origin, handicap or disability, sexual orientation, veteran's status, genetic information or any other legally impermissible or irrelevant ground. The facilities and services of the School are available only to those employers whose practices are consistent with this statement, and use of the facilities and services of the School of Law is construed as an affirmation by the employer that it does not so discriminate in selecting employees at any stage of the employment process. The Association of American Law Schools has taken the position that the current employment practices of the United States Armed Services do discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, and has granted a limited exemption to permit Armed Services representatives to recruit on campus due to the potential loss of funding to the University that would result from the Solomon Amendment.
