Toolkit

CAREER PLANNING OVERVIEW

1L Year

Overview of 1L Career Planning

Your 1L year is about learning the ropes and learning about the legal job market. It’s your first time exploring internships to do work that first inspired you to go to law school. You’ll learn how to craft the best application for summer internships and what legal employers are looking for.

How to Succeed in Your First Internship Hunt:

Cast a wide net and mind the deadlines,
Attend 1L Court Orientation
Visit the Career Exploration Fair
Participate in the Ace the Interview/Speed Mock Interviewing Series
Attend important outside events—including the Public Interest Career Reception at Fordham and the largest fair of its kind: the Public Interest Legal Career Fair at NYU

2L Year

Overview of 2L Career Planning

This year, you’ll need to put together a plan to get your first job after law school.

Now is the time to be more strategic regarding internships, student activities (groups, Moot Court, Law Review, etc.), and courses (2L Lawyering Seminar, Clinic choices, electives).

The 2L summer internship hiring season begins early in late August and there will be subsequent on-campus interview opportunities to consider. You’ll need to make some decisions about postgraduate jobs and what credentials you’ll need to get these jobs. 2L is a busy year and you can be easily distracted—so keep your eyes on the prize: a postgrad job by graduation.

3 & 4L Years

Overview of 3L & 4L Career Planning

3L year is when all things come together and you focus on getting your first job upon—or within months after—graduation.

The most active employers seeking graduating students are defenders, prosecutors, the City Law Department, federal government honors programs, the state and federal courts, and legal services providers. Many of them interview students through our on-campus recruitment program. If there are employers not on this list that interest you, meet with a Career Counselor to identify how to find the jobs you’re interested in. Be sure to have Plans A, B, and C for landing a job and execute them all at the same time—instead of waiting for one not to pan out.

CONTACT US

View of the escalator to the first floor through the windows from outside

OFFICE HOURS

Time: Monday – Friday, 9:00AM – 5:00PM
Office:4|105
Phone: (718) 340-4230
Email: careerplanningoffice@law.cuny.edu