Risin Rising g 2L Job Sear 2L Job Search h Ov Over ervie view - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Harvard Law School

Bernard Koteen Office of Public Interest Advising

Risin Rising g 2L Job Sear 2L Job Search h Ov Over ervie view

HLS 3Ls continue to be very successful in landing post-graduate public interest positions – if you follow our advice, you W WILL secure a job! List of public sector jobs obtained by the classes of 2016, 2017, and 2018 can be found on the OPIA website

The he Bi Big Pictur g Picture

Rec Recap: ap: Pu Publ blic ic In Inter terest est Ca Career eers

Government Criminal Prosecution/Defense Nonprofits

Private Public Interest Law Firms International Unions

Ent Entry-Le Level Hiri el Hiring Mec g Mecha hani nisms sms

Fe Fell llowship wships s (in inter ternal nal an and d ext xterna nal) l)

• Organization-

based

• Portable
• Entrepreneurial
• Common entry

point for: (1) nonprofits of all kinds, (2) legal services, (3) some private public interest law firms Go Gover ernment nment Ho Honor

• rs

s Programs rams

• Federal, state, and

local

• Primary entry-level

government hiring mechanism Dir irect ct hir ire (op

• pen,

n, entr try y le level el pos

• sit

ition) ion)

• Most common for

DA/PD positions

• Occasional entry

point for private public interest law firms

• Far less common

for government or nonprofit work

Why Y y You

• ur

r 2L 2L Summ Summer er is is Im Impor portan tant

Figure out what you want to do at graduation Further build general or specific public interest experience Foot in the door at government agencies/non profits/build geographic ties Key time to explore possible fellowship sponsors

2L 2L Job Job Sea Search: h: Ke Key Diff y Differ eren ences ces

Timeline Fewer applications More Attorney /Alumni Outreach Split summers more common

Job Job Sear Search Con h Consid sidera eratio tions ns

Set goals Think about your post-graduate plans Reflect on your 1L summer experience

Fir irst st Ste Steps ps

Network and apply for jobs Develop a list of organizations to target Create your personal job search timetable Meet with an OPIA advisor to develop an individual game plan (b (by y Se September tember, ca can do do phone

• ne or Sky

r Skype pe over r su summer) mmer)

Ho How Do w Do I F I Fin ind d a Job a Job?

• Helios database (remember: search by organization, not

position)

• PSJD
• OPIA application and specialty guides

Independently pursue employers of interest (BEST ST AP APPRO PROACH CH)

• Weekly OPIA email
• PSJD

Respond to postings (note: only a small fraction of summer positions are advertised)

• PIIP: September 9-13, 2019
• Massachusetts Consortium Job Fair: September 26-27, 2019
• Equal Justice Works Career Fair: October 18-19, 2019

Job Fairs

• Alumni (OPIA, etc.)
• Students (Who Worked Where)
• Wasserstein Fellows
• Events
• Faculty

Networking

 Reflect on 1L summer  Network in areas of interest  If possible, work on writing sample  Update resume  If interested in summer positions with private public interest law firms and federal agencies, be aware that a small number (NOT the majority) might begin to hire/post intern positions (ex: Lieff Cabraser)

 Be aware of early deadlines and read OPIA emails  Participate in PIIP and other job fairs as appropriate  Attend OPIA’s 2L job search events  If having difficulty identifying areas of interest, attend programs, meet with visiting Fellows, read specialty guides, and watch webcasts of past practice-specific events  Apply for jobs (int’l exception)

Rou Rough gh Job S Job Sear earch Tim h Timeli eline ne

Se Septe ptembe ber/Oc /Octob tober er 2019 Ju July/Au Augus ust t 2019 Ju June/ e/Ju July 2019

 Make an OPIA appointment  Develop a list of potential employers of interest (generally, begin with a list of 5-6; an OPIA advisor can help you determine if your list is on target)  Research application deadlines  Research and bid on PIIP employers  If interested in federal work, review OPIA’s DOJ Guide and Arizona Handbook

Emp Emplo loyer er-Spe Specifi cific Time c Timeli line nes

• August – November (check USAJOBS starting in August)
• DOJ SLIP: TBD, but always early September

Federal government

• Usually September – November (but some exceptions)
• Some deadlines in Arizona Handbook

State and local government

• National nonprofits: August – October (ACLU, NRDC, etc.)
• Other nonprofits: regional variations (San Francisco = early)

Nonprofits

• Generally September – November
• A few early exceptions (e.g., Seattle DA’s office)

DA/PD

• Generally August – November
• A few as early as July/early August (Lieff, Relman, Gupta

Wessler)

Private public interest law firms International

• Later in the year

Helps identify

• rganizations of interest

Helps get foot in the door

Att Attor

• rne

ney and A y and Alu lumni mni Ou Outr treac each

Ask yourself:

Who’s doing the kind of work I want to do? Who’s doing work in the place I want to be?

Ho How Do w Do I F I Fin ind d Con Contac tacts? ts?

Family Friends Faculty Classmates Prior work experience LinkedIn Bar association membership lists HLS Alumni Advising Network Wassersteins Heyman Fellows Events OPIA

Job Job Sea Search Ma h Mater teria ials ls

Resumes Cover Letter Writing Sample Interviewing

Lo Logi gisti stics cs

• Good idea to contact employers after you submit an application

Follow up

• Can keep one private firm offer open until April 1

Holding Open a Law Firm Offer

• Meet with OPIA to discuss

Spitting Summers

• If juggling offers/haven’t heard from top choice employer,

discuss with OPIA Rolling Offers

Pr Prof

• fessi

ession

• nal

alism ism R Remi emind nder ers

Respond to all employer emails and phone calls within 24 hrs Don’t accept an offer and later withdraw Send thank you emails after interviewing and networking Make sure your online presence and voicemail is professional If you want to split your summer and have already committed to an organization

• r firm, be upfront when reaching out to organizations for a second internship

Professionalism Guide and Job Search FAQs

• nline!

Bui Buildin lding g a Str a Stron

• ng

g Pub Public lic In Inter terest est Tr Trac ack k Record/Figuring Out “What’s Next?”

Independent clinicals HLS Clinics Volunteer

• ff-campus

Work for professor Shadowing Student Practice Orgs

Ma Maki king Y g You

• ur J

r Job

• b Sea

Search Suc h Success cessful ul

Have your materials reviewed by OPIA before sending them out Be prepared to apply for jobs by the early fall Before asking for a reference, be sure to check with past supervisors, faculty, or clinical instructors to make sure they are able to say good things Review OPIA interviewing resources/questions and mock interview! Pay attention to proposed timelines, OPIA e-mails, and relevant events

Ma Maki king Y g You

• ur 2

r 2L Y L Year ear Suc Success cessful ul

Get to know OPIA advisors Get to know faculty (including – and especially – clinicians) Work on your language skills if relevant Develop a good writing sample if relevant Fill skill and “career data” gaps

 Make an appointment with Alexa, Catherine, Dovie, or Joan to develop a post-graduate job search plan  Make an appointment with Judy Murciano to develop a fellowships game plan  Attend OPIA fellowship sessions and job search events  Research application deadlines and develop a unique job search timeline

 Network in the city/field you want to work (even long-distance is helpful!) to identify host

• rganizations and hidden jobs

 Update your resume (OPIA rev.)  Draft cover letters, if relevant (OPIA rev.)  Continue to apply for early fellowships  Apply for early government honors programs (historically, WA AG, FTC, State Department, DOJ)  Stay in touch with OPIA

Lo Lookin

• king

g Ahead Ahead: : Sp Sprin ring g 2L Y 2L Yea ear r and and Be Beyond

• nd

Su Summer er 2020 Ap April il/May 2020 March/Ap April ril 2020

 If considering applications for project-based fellowships (Skadden, EJW, etc.), brainstorm potential host organizations and begin to apply for sponsorship  Apply for early fellowships, as relevant (e.g., the Lindsay Fellowship, the Aryeh Neier)