Office of Alumni Career Development and Mentorship
"I reached out to the Office of Alumni Career Development and Mentorship during my transition from private practice to the federal government. I was feeling overwhelmed and nervous about the interview process when I was preparing for my first job interview in more than seven years, but Keri McCoy's encouragement and positivity put me at ease. Keri did a mock interview with me and provided helpful feedback about how to improve the quality of my answers. Because of Keri, I aced my first-round interview and received a call-back interview and eventually an offer. I am truly grateful to Keri and the Office of Alumni Career Development and Mentorship for supporting me during this transition in my legal career."
Catherine Stolar, JD '13
"Interviews felt like uncomfortable exercises that required equal parts worry and preparation. Fortunately, the Office of Alumni Career Development and Mentorship reframed interviews and preparation for me. Keri McCoy explained the art and science of interviewing and I felt significantly more effective and confident interviewing for new positions. I think anyone looking for career advice would benefit from her balance of honesty and optimism. Additionally, her staff is diligent, responsive, and professional. Keri felt just as invested (or maybe more invested!) in my search for new opportunities and her skill set and support were invaluable."
Matthew Piscitelli, JD '17
“Connecting with Director McCoy and the Office of Alumni Career Development and Mentorship was absolutely life-changing for me. As a litigation associate in a very small, niche practice area, I did not think that I had the litigation skills necessary to transition into a general litigation associate position. Several recruiters told me that the DC market was too competitive or that my practice area was too narrow to be marketable for general litigation associate positions. However, after taking several hours of her day to understand my personal and professional background, Director McCoy told me that everything was possible, and she immediately provided me with a strategy to put into action. She provided alumni contacts, resume edits, interview strategies, and so much more. Once I implemented Director McCoy's strategies, I received countless interview offers, callbacks, and subsequent job offers from firms of various sizes, big and small. Director McCoy and the Office of Alumni Career Development and Mentorship were there every step of the way to make sure I achieved the goal I previously mistook to be impossible. I cannot thank them enough or encourage fellow alumni enough to take advantage of this life-changing resource.”
Jane Shin, JD '17
“Keri McCoy and her team are outstanding and absolutely essential for any alumni considering a mid-career transition. This is especially true in my case as a senior military officer seeking to transition from a career in government service to the private sector. Keri’s enthusiasm for her mission and helping people is infectious. Her keen insights enabled me to refine my interview strategy, improve my resume, connect with other George Washington alumni practicing in the area of the law I had targeted, and leverage my own network. When I landed interviews Keri conducted mock interviews along with invaluable post-interview debriefings and coaching sessions. Keri has one goal in mind…to help her students and alumni make a successful career transition. My advice to GWU law students and alumni — don’t even think about starting your job search or making a career shift without speaking to Keri McCoy. You won’t regret it!”
Kirk Foster, JD '97
Alumni Mentoring Program
Alumni can get involved by volunteering to mentor a current student.* Please click here to register for the GW Law Alumni Mentoring Program. As mentors, alumni are in a position to give real-world advice that can be invaluable to students as they enter the legal field. We encourage our alumni mentors to schedule in-person meetings or calls with their mentee and to consider connecting at GW Law events that are held throughout the year.
*2Ls, 3Ls, and alumni who are less than one year after graduation are invited to register as mentees using the registration form linked above.
Alumni Publications
ACDM maintains various career-related publications for alumni. Review and request these publications here.
Career Consultations
ACDM counsels JD alumni who are at least one year after graduation*. ACDM's staff members are available to meet in person or to speak with graduates by phone. We are happy to discuss resume and cover letter preparation, interviewing tips and preparation, job search and career-related resources, job search strategies, networking, informational interviewing, and any other issues of interest to graduates. Please send an email with your name, degree and graduation year to ACDM at [email protected] to schedule an appointment or mock interview.
*JD alumni less than one year after graduation should contact the Career Center to be referred to the appropriate counselor.
*LLM alumni should contact the Graduate and International Programs Office to be referred to the appropriate counselor.
Job Postings
Job notices for graduates are posted online through CORE. These regularly updated listings include openings received directly from employers and vacancies from selected legal newspapers, periodicals, job newsletters, and various websites.
Alumni at least one year after graduation* can learn how to access CORE here. Please contact ACDM at (202) 994-1320 or [email protected] with any questions regarding your CORE account.
If you would like to post a job for a current student or GW Law graduate, please contact the Career Center at [email protected].
*Current students and alumni less than one year after graduation should contact the Career Center with any questions regarding CORE.
Judicial Clerkships
The Clerkship Office (within the Career Center) assists alumni who are interested in pursuing post-graduate judicial clerkships. For additional information, please visit the Career Center's webpage.
Mock Interviews
ACDM is available to conduct mock interviews for JD alumni at least one year after graduation. This is strongly recommended for anyone who has an upcoming interview. ACDM believes in a proactive approach to interviewing. You can never be too prepared! Please send an email with your name, degree and graduation year to ACDM at [email protected] to schedule a mock interview
Networking Events
Every GW Law Alumni Event is an opportunity to network, and they are a lot of fun, too! Check out GW Law's Alumni Event Calendar to see what is coming up. If you are interested in helping to coordinate an alumni event in your area, please click here. If you would like to post a job for a current student or GW Law graduate, please contact the Career Center at [email protected].
Online Alumni Community
The Office of Alumni Relations maintains GW Law’s Online Alumni Community. The Online Community includes a searchable Alumni Directory that allows alumni to reconnect with classmates and find new contacts within the GW Law alumni family. Click here to login or register for the Online Alumni Community.
Contact the Office of Alumni Relations at (202) 994-7166 or [email protected] with questions regarding the Online Alumni Community.
Reciprocity
The Career Center manages GW Law’s Reciprocity Program. Reciprocity permits students and graduates of other participating law schools to visit their career services offices and/or to subscribe to their job boards. Schools that grant reciprocity may offer it only during certain times of the year (typically between December and July). In addition, reciprocity may only be offered for a finite period of a few months or less, and other restrictions may be imposed. View GW Law's Reciprocity Policy. To request reciprocity, please contact the Career Center at [email protected] or (202) 994-7340.
Westlaw and Lexis Advance
Westlaw and Lexis Advance services remain available to alumni for a limited time after graduation. Please visit the Jacob Burns Law Library’s Database Access page for details. Westlaw has a Careers tab, with a number of links to advice on managing your career. Lexis Advance offers extensive online databases for job hunters, including Martindale-Hubbell.
Meet the Director
Keri McCoy is the inaugural Director of the Office of Alumni Career Development and Mentorship. Keri works with alumni to identify short and long-term career goals and assists them in developing individualized career plans. She advises JD alumni (who have graduated at least one year prior) on issues such as job search strategies, lateral transitions, salary negotiations, alternative careers, geographic and practice area transitions, partnership, networking, and work-life balance. Keri is a strong proponent of mock interviews and conducts them regularly. Keri also manages the Alumni Mentoring Program. This Program matches students with alumni mentors. Students benefit from the advice of mentors about law school, practice areas, relationship building, and networking opportunities.
Before assuming her current role, Keri served as Director, Alumni Career Development in the Law School’s Office of Professional Development and Career Strategy and also held the position of Senior Counselor for Student Development at the Law School. Prior to joining the Law School, Keri worked as a litigation associate with law firms in the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and Texas. Keri tried numerous cases before state and federal courts on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants. Keri received her Juris Doctor degree from the Georgetown University Law Center and earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh.
Contact ACDM
Career Development Support
Phone: (202) 994-1320
Email: [email protected]
GW Law Alumni Mentoring Program
Phone: (202) 994-1320
Email: [email protected]
Keri McCoy, Director
Phone: (202) 994-1320
Email: [email protected]
