Timing For Out-Of-State Employers

A second year law student recently contacted us with the below question:

"I am a rising 2L and interested in working outside of Florida next summer (specifically big firms in Atlanta, D.C. and North Carolina). From talking with 2 and 3rd years, I know that many non-Florida employers don't travel to Gainesville to recruit on-campus. When would you recommend contacting these employers with my resume? How do I even find out who to apply with? Thanks."

While our on-campus interviewing program is one of the largest in the Southeast, many employers (both private and public) may find it inefficient to travel to every law school in the country to interview candidates. For those employers, it is essential to get your information to them in a timely and professional manner.

1. Identify where you want to apply. If you have an idea about where you want to be geographically, make a list of the employers in the area that interest you. Use websites including the NALP directory, Martindale, and local bar associations.


2. Compile a list of their interviewing dates to determine when your best time to send in your resume for consideration. For example, let's say that you are interested in sending your resume to Jackson, Abdul, & Cowell LLP - a firm not visiting UF Law. You go to their website and learn that the firm will be interviewing at local schools in the area in September and October. In this example, you would want your resume and cover letter to be in their hands in mid to late August/early September for consideration. Then you would calendar to follow up with the employer in September. If you wait until after October to initiate contact, the chances are high that they have already filled their summer positions.


3. Start working on your materials now. When you apply with out-of-state employers, you will need a strong cover letter explaining why you want to work in that particular area and for that particular employer.

For more advice and information, check out the Out-Of-State Job Search strategies guide -- located in the CCS. Click here and request a copy if you can't make it to the office.

What The Employers Are Saying . . .

Turn Off Your Cell Phone

Stop Texting During Meetings

We Hate Your Blackberrys

Ringing Cell Phone = Unprofessional

It's true. Employers are becoming increasingly more irritated with associates using their personal cell phones and PDA's during work hours. The legal work environment is not the place for your Britney ringtone or the newest Blackberry Tetris game. Start practicing good habits now. Turn off your cell phones before law school meetings or programs. Remember there is a world happening around you while you text away while listening to your IPod. DO NOT BRING YOUR CELL PHONE TO AN INTERVIEW. Employers are noticing who does and does not have good technology etiquette. You do not want to be "THAT student" who was not offered a second interview because his or her cell phone went off during the initial conversation.

All students are eligible to participate in the 3rd Annual Legal Diversity Career Fair sponsored by Vault and the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA). This year, the Career Fairs will be held in New Orleans, New York and San Francisco and will feature 100 top legal employers from law firms, corporate counsels, not for profit organizations and government agencies actively looking to hire diverse and talented candidates.

In addition to the Career Fairs, students are also invited to complimentary breakfast and lunch sessions featuring speaker topics including:

· Interviewing Preparation And Techniques
· Planning And Advancing Your Legal Career
· Exploring New Legal Opportunities And Practice Areas
· Finding A Mentor
· Making The Most Of A Summer Associate Position
· Joining A Bar Association
· Networking Do’s And Don’ts

There are no fees associated with participation in this event. For additional details on the events please click HERE.

FACT

Law students across the country are already meeting future colleagues, learning about job opportunities that are never publicized, and building their professional networks in areas they want to be ...

If you want to stay competitive, boost your resume, network with attorneys, and become part of a legal community while still in law school, you should absolutely become involved with a local bar association. Most local bar associations offer reasonable membership rates to law students and offer a wide variety of ways to get involved including luncheons, speakers, volunteer work, meet and greet opportunities, social networking, and MORE!!! If you know you are moving to a certain city or geographic area after graduation, it only makes sense to get involved in the bar association now.

The Hillsborough County Bar Association in Tampa is just one example of an active Florida Bar Association with an online calendar of upcoming programs. Check out the Links to the right to see if your target area is listed and get involved now.

Breaking News ....

The Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) has just been added to the list of MALRC employers looking to interview UF Law students. Make sure you check your email for more information, details about this exciting employer, and registration instructions.

Interested in Charlotte, NC?

Are you a rising 2L student interested in learning more about practicing law in Charlotte, North Carolina? All rising 2L students are invited to an Open House and informal discussion about Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft's 2009 Summer Program on Tuesday, July 25th in Charlotte. For more information or to RSVP, click here.

Ever Thought About A Judicial Clerkship?

It's never too early to start thinking about a post-graduation federal clerkship. The benefits from clerking are countless and there is arguably no better way to compliment your legal education then through a federal judicial clerkship. If you are graduating in 2009, your application period for clerking is open NOW. Make sure you have signed up for the judicial list-serve by sending a blank email here to keep up-to-date with important information. Also, check OSCAR weekly for new federal judicial clerkship openings. Some positions that have been posted this week and caught our eye include ...

Judge Susan Bucklew - United States District Court Tampa, FL

Applications accepted: Jun 18, 2008 - Sep 30, 2008

Term Start: Aug 1, 2009

Judge Cecilia Altonaga - United States District Court Miami, FL

Applications accepted: Jun 20, 2008 - Dec 31, 2008

Term Start: Jan 3, 2010

Judge Cecilia Altonaga - United States District Court Miami, FL

Applications accepted: Jun 20, 2008 - Dec 31, 2008

Term Start: Jun 7, 2010

Judge J. Forrester - United States District Court Atlanta

Applications accepted: Jun 20, 2008 - Dec 20, 2008

Term Start: Aug 10, 2009

Questions about the application process? Do not hesitate to contact Jocelyn.

Have You Updated Your Account?

The bidding for OCI is right around the corner (opens July 15th) and the Job Bank continues to be updated daily. Make sure to complete all of the below steps to make your job search and bidding processes go as smoothly as possible.

1. CHANGE your Profile by updating your class year. (i.e. 1L to 2L or 2L to 3L) If you do not update your account, you will not be able to bid for employers for OCI or see job postings relevant to your class year.
2. UPDATE and re-upload your newest and error-free resume. Include your summer experience with a great description about what you are doing. Need help or want a counselor to review it? Just send it here and we are happy to assist you.
3. SIGN the updated Policies & Procedures form and fax into our office. Most of you have completed this step, but if you are not one of them, you'll want to add it to your list of things to do.

Save the Date: Lavender Law Kick Off Party

Coming back to where it all began 20 years ago in San Francisco, the National Lesbian and Gay Law Association (NLGLA) and its colleagues and co-founders of Lavender Law, the Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom (BALIF) are celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Lavender Law with a mid-summer celebration and kick off party. The NLGLA and BALIF would like to extend a complimentary invitation to all friends of Lavender Law, including judges, attorneys, law students, members and non-members alike, to join us for an evening of celebration, art and wine.
____________________________________________________________
San Francisco Mid-Summer Celebration and Lavender Law Kick Off Party
Wednesday, July 23, 2008,
6:00-9:00pm PDT
Varnish Fine Art Gallery
77 Natoma Street, San Francisco, CA
Click HERE to RSVP

How I Got My Job

As you start looking ahead at the busy fall recruitment season, it's helpful to understand what those ahead of you did when they were in your shoes. The CCS recently polled the Class of 2007 UF Law graduates and asked how they found their full-time positions. The compiled results may surprise you . . .

_________________________________________________________

35% Interviewed during fall (28%) or spring (7%) On-Campus Interviews (OCI)
22% Were referred by business colleague, friend, relative, alumni or school personnel
13% Conducted a targeted mailing, informational interview or networked
11% Responded to a job described in career services’ email, job bank or job bulletin
19% Other (off-campus recruitment, prior employer, Internet searches, etc.)

What does all of this mean? On-campus interviewing is only ONE WAY of searching for an internship or permanent position. Think of it as your first step in the process and then continue to market yourself through other channels. A mistake we see over and over again is when students rely solely on on-campus interviews to present positions without taking advantage of other resources and opportunities at the same time. When things do not work out through on-campus interviewing, the time has often passed on other exciting opportunities for those students who focused soley on on-campus recruitment. Make sure you are using every resource you can in your summer internship and job searches.

DO NOT PUT ALL OF YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET!

Are you spending your summer worrying about all of the things you probably should know? Take five minutes to read "What the Summer Associate Needs to Know: Professionalism Is Everything" by Thomas J. Coyne for some ideas about making your summer and career a success.

There is no fixed recipe that will guide young lawyers in developing the skills and knowledge necessary to become successful lawyers. Many years of practice, however, teach that certain traits, practices and proficiencies help attorneys develop both professionally and personally. Lawyers who incorporate these behaviors into their everyday work experiences will find greater satisfaction in everything they do, which ultimately will translate into better service to clients and open the door for developing and cultivating client relationships. Professionalism must drive everything an attorney does in his or her legal career. Colleagues expect it, and clients demand it. It is critical that attorneys demonstrate a level of excellence that goes above and beyond commercial considerations and legal requirements. Key attributes of professionalism include ... to continue reading more from The National Law Journal article, click here.

Do You Want To Work in NYC or Washington DC?

NYC, Washington, DC, Charlotte, Atlanta, and more ....

Registering for an opportunity to interview with federal government agencies and national law firms at an off-campus recruitment event is a great way to start your path towards a legal position in these amazing cities! Registration for MANY off-campus recruitment events is open now. (Double-check the Off Campus Recruitment link) If you have any questions about registering or the attending employers, make sure to ask before the application deadline passes!

Time Is Running Out .....

Do not forget to register for your opportunity to participate in SEMJF. This off-campus recruitment event is a great opportunity to interview with employers from across the country in one location. While the deadline is JUNE 15th, we recommend registering before Friday in case you encounter any computer problems with your application. Click to register online now and good luck!

Frequently Asked Questions ...

From time to time, we see the same types of questions being asked over and over again from different students. For everyone asking a question, there are probably two of you who have the same question, but don't want to ask....

We are here to help. Pay attention to The CCS Blog often for answers to your most pressing questions. If you have a question you would like to see displayed and answered, feel free to email us.

"What exactly is an off-campus recruitment event?"

"Why would I want to go to one?"
~Anonymous rising 2L

An off-campus recruitment event benefits both UF Law students and employers. For students interested in a certain geographic area, it provides access and opportunities to interview with employers who may not come on campus to interview students. Off-campus recruitment events can also be targeted to students with a specific interest in a particular type of law. This year's off-campus recruitment events include participation from all types of employers from Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Boston, Tallahassee, Phoenix, New York City, Washington, DC, and more. Employers benefit from the off-campus recruitment events because they have the ability to go to one location and see students from many different schools. Off-campus recruitment events typically resemble the OCI interview structure at UF Law. If you are selected for an interview, you will know well in advance so that you may plan your travel accordingly. Interviews are typically 20 minutes in length where you will have the ability to showcase your best qualities for your interviewers. Many employers will then select call-back candidates to interview with more attorneys at the actual firm or agency location. While traveling expenses to the individual off-campus recruitment events are yours to manage, these events are a fantastic way to fully maximize your internship and job searching strategies. Participation should absolutely be considered from any student interested in out-of-state employment, exposure to more firms, or certain federal or government entities.

Pro Bono and Community Service work is a GREAT way to enhance your resume while giving back to the community around you. No matter where you are this summer, there is likely an agency or organization in need of your volunteer help. For more information, opportunities, and ideas, check out the changes and updates made to the Pro Bono and Community Service Webpage. Any questions can be directed to Kristen in Career Services.

"Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve." ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Maximize Your Summer

Welcome to June!

We hope you are having a great summer and getting some amazing experience. Remember, no matter where you are this summer, there is an opportunity to get legal experience. Feel free to contact the CCS to brainstorm ideas if you are feeling stuck. If you are doing something interesting, we would love to hear all about it.

One question we get asked all the time is "What should I be doing now?" June is an excellent month for getting ahead in preparation for fall recruitment. Coast into the very busy fall recruitment season by doing some work now . . . when you have some free time.

A few easy ideas to get you started in maximizing your summer.

• Update your Symplicity profile to reflect your correct class year


• Add your summer experience to your resume and forward it to the CCS for review by a counselor.


• Read "Guerrilla Tactics for Getting the Legal Job of Your Dreams" by Kimm Walton for some inspiration on navigating the competitive legal job and internship search.


• Start researching employers in preparation for the fall. The more research you do - the better your cover letters and interviews will be. We promise.


• Develop your master plan for job and internship searching. What off-campus recruitment events will you be attending? Who will you be sending cover letters to this fall? What is your strategy for applying with federal and state agencies?


• Explore your community. Attend a local bar meeting. Volunteer your time. Set up some conversations with attorneys who do what interests you. Meet some UF Law alumni. Take full advantage of the opportunities in the legal community in front of you this summer.