This Week in Programming ...

Atlanta, Charlotte, and Washington, DC are popular destinations for UF Law students. What opportunities are available in these cities? What is the culture like? Would it be a place you would be happy living and practicing law? Join Career Services as we tour each of these destinations, focusing on the work available, helpful resources in searching for employment, and interesting facts about these out-of-state cities. See you there!

Due to popular demand, this program will be presented twice this week.

• Tuesday at 1:00 HOL 285D
• Wednesday at 12:00 HOL 345

This program is open to ALL CLASSES (1L's, 2L's, and 3L's)

OCI Bidding For EIW Is Now Open!

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.

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.

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.

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.

Off-Campus Recruiting Event Deadlines

Here is a list of current and upcoming off-campus recruitment event deadlines. While a number of these recruiting events state a preference for specified groups, all UF Law students may participate.

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

Indianapolis Bar Assn Diversity Job Fair in Indianapolis, IN

Registration Now – August 11 Extended

Register online

Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair in Kansas City, MO

Registration Now – July 1
Register online

IMPACT in Arlington, VA

Registration Now – July 11 EXTENDED

Register online

MALRC in Washington, D.C.

Registration Now – July 9
Materials sent via the CCS Information Hotline. Contact CCS for information.

Boston Lawyers’ Group in Boston & Washington DC

Registration Now – July 11
Register online

Lavender Law in San Francisco

Registration Now – July 31
Register online

SELPC in Atlanta

Registration June 8 – July 8
Materials will be sent via the CCS Information Hotline.

Virginia Bar Assn. Diversity Job Fair in Richmond, VA

Registration June 9 – July 9
Register online