Year 1, Semester 1
- Schedule an appointment with Career Services Counselor (after Nov. 1).
- Layout plan with career counselor for desired internships/externships/fellowships.
- Join student activities/clubs that benefit your job search or help determine interests.
- Begin your research for summer jobs, externships or volunteer opportunities (beginning November). Prepare for Department of Justice Honors Program opportunities.
- Ask your career counselor for alumni contacts to schedule informational interviews in cities you will visit over the Winter Break.
- Attend career planning workshops.
- Draft resume.
- Use a professional email address for all correspondence.
- Create a professional voicemail message.
- Develop system to monitor resumes sent and received responses.
- Start a file to keep track of networking contacts.
- Contact any non-law school individuals for references.
- Finalize resume, targeted to desired employers.
- Prepare cover letters to targeted employers.
- Send resumes on Dec. 1 to selected employers (usually larger firms).
- Note: Employers are not allowed to consider student resumes until after Dec. 1. Make sure yours are ready to go into the mail that day.
- Review your Facebook information and Google your name to ensure that you present a professional image on the web.
- Network during Winter Break.
- Apply for summer volunteer positions with the DOJ after Dec. 1.
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Year 1, Semester 2
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Remember, your 2nd summer internship, whether volunteer or pay, could lead to employment after graduation. Research and focus on opportunities that may result in a post-graduate position. Search for jobs on the Internet.
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Organize your interview attire.
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Follow up to make sure the employer received your resume.
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Watch job postings.
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Participate in a mock interview.
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Apply for internships and externships.
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Research funding availability for public interest opportunities.
- Participate in various career fairs; attend the Northwest Public Service Job Fair in Seattle and Portland in February and the Spring Career Fest Job Fair at Gonzaga University School of Law.
- Contact your Career Counselor if you do not have a summer position secured by April 1. Consider volunteer positions.
- Sign up for Northwest Minority Job Fair.
- Apply for summer or fall externships.
- Network during Spring Break.
Summer after your first year
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Remember, your 2nd summer internship, whether with a firm, government entity or public interest organization, could lead to employment after graduation. Research and focus on opportunities that many result in a post-graduate position.
- Submit a Note to secure a position on Law Review or the International Journal.
- Update your resume and class rank for a summer position. Contact Career Services for review.
- Draft various cover letters. Career Services will be happy to review all.
- Begin applying to employers scheduled to interview in the Fall. Career Services will continue to update the employer list throughout the summer. Applications are due early August. Apply for everything possible that you may be interested in!!!
- Check Career Services job postings for public interest opportunities for the next summer. Watch for Equal Justice Works application by July 15.
- Mail application materials to employers that do not interview at Gonzaga University School of Law. These include most out-of-state employers.
- Maintain your "resume and responses received" tracking system.
- Complete application for DOJ Honors SLIP Program (late August). Contact your Career Counselor for application strategies.
- Network throughout the summer.
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Year 2, Semester 1
- Organizeyour job hunt strategy.
- Utilize Career Services for specific out-of-town referrals.
- Submit materials to other Fall On-Campus Interview Employers.
- Participatein every opportunity available for Fall On-Campus Interviews!
- Research interviewers and organizations where you have obtained an interview; review sample interview questions.
- Watch for job postings and research jobs on the internet.
- Participate in a mock interview and watch the "Do's and Don'ts of Interviewing" DVD.
- Organize your attire for first and second interviews.
- Attend Northwest Minority Job Fair and Equal Justice Works Fair.
- Meet with a Career Counselor.
- Inform Career Services of second interviews, job offers and acceptances.
- Begin preparation in December for Judicial Clerkships. Remember, you do not have to be in the top of the class to apply to a local court in various cities.
- Looking for a job in a different state? Research employers and apply; let the employers know the day you will be in the vicinity for an interview. Show a connection between you and the non-Washington location in your cover letter. Obtain contact information from Career Services for more informational interviews over Winter Break. Search for jobs on the internet.
- Network over Winter Break.
- If you are still searching for a summer position, research and apply to potential employers during winter break.
- Confirm that your email address, voice message and internet image are professional.
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Year 2, Semester 2
- Begin applying for judicial clerkships in January. Visit Career Services for Judicial Clerkship cover letters, etc. Choose professors for references.
- Apply for summer/fall externships.
- Review sample interview questions.
- Watch for job postings and search for jobs on the internet.
- Attend programs offered by Career Services for networking opportunities.
- Attend Spring Career Fair and Northwest Public Service Job Fair, etc.
- Consider volunteer work.
- Be aware of Fellowship opportunities.
- Be aware of public interest and government hiring needs.
- If you are still searching for a job in April, continue searching but plan to volunteer. Contact a Career Counselor.
- Network over Spring Break.
- Update resume.
- Looking for a job in a different state? Research employers and apply; let the employers know the day you will be in the vicinity for an interview. Show a connection between you and the non-Washington location in your cover letter. Obtain contact information from Career Services for more informational interviews over Spring/Summer Break. Search for jobs on the Internet.
Summer After Second Year
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Year 3, Semester 1
- Meet with Career Services and make sure they are aware of your interests.
- Analyze your job campaign strategy and allocate time to various methods, remembering that referral and direct application yield the best results.
- If you do not have a post-graduate position by the Fall of your third year, do not get discouraged. Keep researching and applying to organizations. The hiring season for 3L's picks up some in April and May, but many smaller firms and most public interest organizations will not hire until after bar results are received. Use this time in your third year to lay the ground work to obtain one of these positions.
- Participate in Fall On-Campus Interviews; attend Equal Justice Works Fair.
- Beginning in December, apply for judicial clerkships in states that are hiring.
- Contact alumni and schedule meetings.
- Network, network, network!!
- Apply for government honors programs and public interest fellowships.
- Watch job postings and search for jobs on the internet.
- Attend career-oriented programs.
- Consider volunteer work to gain experience in an area of interest.
- Determine where you plan to take the bar.
- Looking for a job in a different state? Research employers and apply; let the employers know the day you will be in the vicinity for an interview. Show a connection between you and the non-Washington location in your cover letter. Obtain contact information from Career Services for more informational interviews.
Year 3, Semester 2
- Complete bar registration materials.
- Make plans to take a bar review course.
- Complete the Career Services graduate survey.
- If you plan to relocate, ask Career Services for a reciprocity letter so that you may receive access to another law school's job postings.
- If you do not have a post-graduate position by the Spring Semester of your third year, do not get discouraged. Keep researching and applying to organizations. The hiring season for 3L's picks up some in April and May, but many smaller firms and most public interest organizations will not hire until after bar results are received. Use this time in your third year to lay the ground work to obtain one of these positions.
- Before graduation, make sure Career Services has your current phone/address/email and information as to interest area if still seeking employment.
- Looking for a job in a different state? Research employers and apply; let the employers know the day you will be in the vicinity for an interview. Show a connection between you and the non-Washington location in your cover letter. Obtain contact information from Career Services for more informational interviews.
- Once employed, celebrate! Then, fill out the Graduate Survey form.
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