Law Schools

What 1Ls Should Be Asking When They Meet With Career Services

Hey 1Ls, don't miss out on an opportunity to meet with Career Services one-on-one.

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The arrival of October ushers in a collection of meaningful events: people going crazy over coffee that tastes like month-old pumpkin, the annual celebration of the your favorite Above the Law columnist’s birth, and the first time that 1Ls can meet with Career Services in a one-on-one setting.

To answer the most pressing question raised by the above, yes, I do have a birthday wish list and am happy to share it with those who ask.  But more on topic, while the aforementioned one-on-one CSO meeting might not be mandatory at all law schools, when afforded the opportunity, I strongly advise all students to take advantage of the chance to sit down with someone from Career Services and get a sense of the services that the office will be able to provide them over the next three years.  Each CSO will likely have a standard spiel explaining what the office does and how students can cultivate the best Career Services relationship.  However, much like a student should always be prepared with questions they can ask during an interview, you should be similarly prepared for this meeting.  Here are some key questions that all 1Ls should ask of Career Services when they initially sit down face to face.

First, what sort of jobs do students typically obtain for the summer after 1L.  As mentioned way back in my very first column — that bygone time of March 2018 when the U.S. Senate was not on the cusp of confirming someone credibly accused of multiple instances of sexual assault to a lifetime appointment on the Supreme Court — the particular legal job a rising 2L holds that first summer is not overly important, so long as the position is, in fact, of a legal nature. But while narrowing the range of potential summer jobs down to the subset of legal jobs is helpful, it is akin to going from the entire universe to a single galaxy.  There are still a lot of stars in that galaxy and it can be a bit overwhelming for students who are still trying to get a handle on Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) to also research the entirety of the legal job market.  Getting a list, or at least a sense, of the sorts of jobs your predecessors worked that first summer can help students get their arms around just what sort of legal jobs are available.  That being said, it is important to recognize that such a list is not binding and you should feel free to find a job that would be unprecedented in your school’s history.  Be a trendsetter.  Think about returning to your hometown for the summer, and appealing option for many rising 2Ls because of the networking opportunities and the availability of free rent, a benefit considering many non-firm jobs do not pay.  Once you get a list of previously held employment, see if Career Services can tell you which 2Ls and 3Ls worked in those positions.  Those students are best situated to give you the most accurate intelligence as to not only the demands of the position, but how best to land the job in the first place.

Second, ask where graduates of your school practice after graduation.  It is never too early to start thinking about post-graduation employment plans, even if you have only been in law school for a month or so.  Yes, the American Bar Association Employment Reports provide information as to which states graduates work in once their law school studies are complete, but in a state like New York, for example, there is a world of difference between the job markets of New York City and Rochester.  Career Services should have detailed information as to which cities are the biggest destination for graduates, which will help you realize if your $190,000 dreams are realistic.

Finally, before you leave your first appointment, know how to get back.  By that I mean understand how you can get in touch with Career Services.  As I tell my 1Ls at Vanderbilt each Fall, this is the beginning of a three-year relationship.  While there are some students who I will not see after our initial appointment, such a non-existent relationship does neither party any favors.  Regardless of how much pre-law school work experience a particular student might have, there will be invariably be a time when you have an employment related question.  When that happens, knowing how to get in touch with Career Services can save you from unnecessary heartburn.  When I meet with student this month, I will tell them that if they have a question, send me an email.  If they want to sit down and chat, shoot me an email and we will find a time that works.  If they are walking by the office and a question pops into their mind, come by the office and if I am available, I will be happy to talk.  While different CSOs might have different methods of contacting counselors, what is universal is a desire on the part of Career Services to help.  Let us.

While October can mark the time when a 1L first worries their brain might be turning to mush, do not miss out on an opportunity to meet with Career Services one-on-one.  I can guarantee you will not get cold called and you might just take the first step into determining the next 30 years of your professional life.

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Nicholas Alexiou is the Director of LL.M. and Alumni Advising as well as the Associate Director of Career Services at Vanderbilt University Law School. He will, hopefully, respond to your emails at [email protected].

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