Welcome 1Ls!  The entire Career Development Office is looking forward to helping you Launch Your Legal Career!

Student Guide
The first step is to read the 2009 Student Career Guide, which provides a comprehensive roadmap to help you get started with launching your legal career and finding your 1L summer position.

Create a Legal Resume
Next, it is time to create a legal resume.  In addition to the information on legal resumes contained in the Student Guide, click here to watch the Legal Resume Webinar and click here for the associated presentation for step-by-step guidance on drafting a legal resume.

Self Assessment
Self-assessment is an important tool to help you determine what will make you happy and what you want to get out of your career.  This is an important step in the process even if you think you already know what you want your legal career to be.  The Student Guide contains more information on conducting self-assessments and provides helpful links to other online sources.

How to Find Employers
Armed with your legal resume and self-assessment, where can you find the legal experience that will help you achieve your career goals?    During the 1L summer, most students find a position in the following sectors:  (a) Government (federal, state and local levels), (b) Public Interest, and (c) Judiciary.

Now that you know where the jobs are, how do you go about getting a job?  For  comprehensive guidance on finding summer internships in the Judiciary, Government, and Public Interest sectors:

•    Click here to watch the webinar on Summer Judicial Internship Information Session for 1Ls .

•    Click here to watch the webinar on How to Find a Government Internship and click here for the associated presentation.

•    Click here to watch  the webinar on  How to Find a Public Interest Internship and click here for the associated presentation.

The Cover Letter
Now that you have targeted your employers, you need to create the perfect cover letter!  In addition to the information on cover letters in the Student Guide, click here to watch the Cover Letter Webinar and here for the associated presentation for advice on how to draft a persuasive cover letter.

Meet with your Career Counselor
Your career counselor is here to help with all of the above steps!  To schedule an appointment with your career counselor call the Career Development Office at 202-994-7340 or stop by the office (Burns 310).   Please be sure to send your legal resume to your counselor prior to your appointment.

Important Programs

Click here to watch the webinar on Launching Your Legal Career: A Common Sense Primer for the Job Search by 1Ls and click here for the associated presentation.

Click here to view the PowerPoint presentation on How to Make the Most of Your Winter Break.  Due to technical difficulties this program was not recorded.  If you have any questions or would like to discuss an individualized strategy for your winter break, please set up an appointment with your career counselor by calling the CDO at 202-994-7340.