1. Preparing for your summer job search and beyond…
1L Career Kick-off!
Preparing for your summer job search and beyond…

2. Meredith Career Services Center
Location: Room 130 & 100J
Hours: 8:30 – 12:00 & 1:00 – 4:30
Staff:
ASSISTANT DEAN: Jennifer Powell, MSW, JD
Phone:
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: Rosalind Lister, M.S.Ed.
Phone:
Meredith Career Services Center Web site:

3. Goals for today… Introduce staff
Receive and complete registration form
Distribute information folders
Discuss crucial employment documents
Provide overview of office procedures and NALP guidelines
Review employment options for students

4. Crucial Employment Documents
Registration form
Resume
Cover Letter
Writing Sample
Law School transcript
References

5. Registration Form
Purpose/Use
Information
Privacy (FERPA)

6. Resume
Definition:
A brief written account of personal, educational, and professional qualifications and experience.
MOST resumes for law students are 1 (yes one) page long
Generally just include undergraduate experiences to now
Look to samples and instructions in booklet

7. Cover Letter
Definition – a letter which accompanies a resume and serves as a personal introduction and explanation of interest in an organization.
Generally 3 to 4 paragraphs in length
Displays a match between you and employer
See cover letter booklet for instructions and samples

8. Other crucial documents
Writing sample
Law school transcript
List of professional references

9. How do WVU College of Law Students find their first job?
Top four ways (drawn from statistics from ):
1—On campus interviews
2—Self initiated contact (aka self-directed search)
3—Referred by friend, relative, other
4—Responded to job posting

10. Where do WVU College of Law graduates start their careers?
1—Private practice in firms ranging from 2 attorneys to firms with Large percentage start in firms with 2-10 attorneys
2—Judicial clerkships with state and federal judges
3—Business settings including accounting, banking, management, technology, human resources, and insurance
4—Government settings including military, prosecuting attorneys/DA’s, and state/federal agencies
5—Public interest settings like Legal Aid, Public Defenders

11. Timeline for your job search
November 1—meet with Career Services, prepare materials;
November-to infinity--meet individually with Jennifer or Rosalind
December 1—Can begin to apply to large out of state firms; watch deadlines for certain govt. jobs
January/February 2009—On campus interviews (large in-state firms) and in-state public interest jobs
Late Spring 2009—state government jobs, plaintiff’s firms, volunteer clerkships

12. Timeline for your job search
Summer 2009—begin preparation and apply for post 2L summer job!
Summer 2009—job fairs!
July/August 2009—apply to large out of state firms
August-October 2009—on campus interviews here at WVU
Fall 2009 (rolling)—apply for federal government agencies
Spring 2010—apply for plaintiff’s firms, state government agencies

13. Appointments & Announcements
Sign up for individual appointments
Special appointment hours set for 1L initial meetings
Register for Career Services TWEN site; sign up for individual meetings there.
Rosalind –
Jennifer –
Announcements
Questions?