Rising 2L Job Search Overview - Harvard Law School Bernard Koteen Office of Public Interest Advising
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Rising 2L Job Search Overview
Harvard Law School
Bernard Koteen
Office of Public Interest AdvisingThe Big Picture 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
Recap: Public Interest Careers
Government
Criminal Prosecution/Defense
Nonprofits
Private Public Interest Law Firms
International
UnionsEntry-Level Hiring Mechanisms
Fellowships Direct hire
Government Honors
(internal and Programs (open, entry level
external) position)
• Organization- • Federal, state, and • Most common for
based local DA/PD positions
• Portable • Primary entry-level • Occasional entry
• Entrepreneurial government hiring point for private
mechanism public interest law
• Common entry firms
point for: (1)
nonprofits of all • Far less common
kinds, (2) legal for government or
services, (3) some nonprofit work
private public
interest law firmsWhy Your 2L Summer is Important
Figure out Further build
what you general or
want to do at specific public
graduation interest
experience
Foot in the
door at Key time to
government explore
agencies/non possible
profits/build fellowship
geographic sponsors
ties2L Job Search: Key Differences
Timeline Fewer
applications
More
Attorney Split summers
/Alumni more common
OutreachJob Search Considerations
Reflect on your 1L summer experience
Think about your post-graduate plans
Set goalsFirst Steps
Meet with an OPIA advisor to develop an individual game plan (by
September, can do phone or Skype over summer)
Create your personal job search timetable
Develop a list of organizations to target
Network and apply for jobsHow Do I Find a Job?
Independently pursue • Helios database (remember: search by organization, not
position)
employers of interest • PSJD
(BEST APPROACH) • OPIA application and specialty guides
Respond to postings
(note: only a small • Weekly OPIA email
fraction of summer • PSJD
positions are advertised)
• PIIP: September 9-13, 2019
Job Fairs • Massachusetts Consortium Job Fair: September 26-27, 2019
• Equal Justice Works Career Fair: October 18-19, 2019
• Alumni (OPIA, etc.) • Students (Who Worked Where)
• Wasserstein Fellows
Networking • Events
• FacultyRough Job Search Timeline
June/July 2019 July/August 2019 September/October 2019
Reflect on 1L summer Make an OPIA appointment Be aware of early deadlines and
read OPIA emails
Network in areas of interest Develop a list of potential
employers of interest (generally,
begin with a list of 5-6; an OPIA
Participate in PIIP and other job
If possible, work on writing sample fairs as appropriate
advisor can help you determine if
Update resume your list is on target)
Attend OPIA’s 2L job search events
If interested in summer positions with Research application deadlines
private public interest law firms and If having difficulty identifying
federal agencies, be aware that a small Research and bid on PIIP areas of interest, attend programs,
number (NOT the majority) might employers meet with visiting Fellows, read
begin to hire/post intern positions (ex: specialty guides, and watch
Lieff Cabraser) If interested in federal work, webcasts of past practice-specific
review OPIA’s DOJ Guide and events
Arizona Handbook
Apply for jobs (int’l exception)Employer-Specific Timelines
• August – November (check USAJOBS starting in August)
Federal government • DOJ SLIP: TBD, but always early September
State and local • Usually September – November (but some exceptions)
government • Some deadlines in Arizona Handbook
• National nonprofits: August – October (ACLU, NRDC, etc.)
Nonprofits • Other nonprofits: regional variations (San Francisco = early)
• Generally September – November
DA/PD • A few early exceptions (e.g., Seattle DA’s office)
• Generally August – November
Private public interest
• A few as early as July/early August (Lieff, Relman, Gupta
law firms Wessler)
International • Later in the yearAttorney and Alumni Outreach
Helps identify Helps get foot in
organizations of interest the door
Ask yourself:
Who’s doing Who’s doing
the kind of work in the
work I want to place I want to
do? be?How Do I Find Contacts?
HLS Alumni
Advising Friends
Network Wassersteins
Bar Events
Family association
membership Prior work Heyman
lists experience Fellows
Classmates LinkedIn
OPIA
FacultyJob Search Materials Resumes Cover Letter Writing Sample Interviewing
Logistics Follow up • Good idea to contact employers after you submit an application Rolling Offers • If juggling offers/haven’t heard from top choice employer, discuss with OPIA Holding Open a Law Firm Offer • Can keep one private firm offer open until April 1 Spitting Summers • Meet with OPIA to discuss
Professionalism Reminders
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
or firm, be upfront when reaching out to organizations for a second internship
Professionalism Guide
and Job Search FAQs
online!Building a Strong Public Interest Track
Record/Figuring Out “What’s Next?”
Independent HLS Clinics Volunteer
clinicals off-campus
Student Work for
Practice professor Shadowing
OrgsMaking Your Job Search Successful
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 eventsMaking Your 2L Year Successful
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” gapsLooking Ahead: Spring 2L Year and Beyond
March/April 2020 April/May 2020 Summer 2020
Make an appointment with Alexa, If considering applications for Network in the city/field you
Catherine, Dovie, or Joan to develop a project-based fellowships want to work (even long-distance
post-graduate job search plan (Skadden, EJW, etc.), brainstorm
is helpful!) to identify host
potential host organizations and
organizations and hidden jobs
Make an appointment with Judy begin to apply for sponsorship
Murciano to develop a fellowships
Apply for early fellowships, as Update your resume (OPIA rev.)
game plan
relevant (e.g., the Lindsay
Attend OPIA fellowship sessions and Fellowship, the Aryeh Neier) Draft cover letters, if relevant
job search events (OPIA rev.)
Research application deadlines and Continue to apply for early
develop a unique job search timeline fellowships
Apply for early government
honors programs (historically, WA
AG, FTC, State Department, DOJ)
Stay in touch with OPIAYou can also read
