“Much of the school’s success occurs because students take personal responsibility for engaging in the strong programming and opportunities available to them here.”
-Assistant Director of Career Services Paula Harris
From the first day of law school, to summer job searches, to internships, to Bar membership, we help you enter the legal marketplace with confidence and the skills necessary for success. In the first semester of the first year, you begin learning about and using critical intangible skills such as good judgment, professionalism, networking and mentoring.
Learn from practitioners about their career paths and practice areas. Take part in our small group resume review workshop. Gain invaluable insight from interview practice sessions with volunteer attorneys (right). Take advantage of networking opportunities and community service team efforts. Attend job fairs on campus and visit employers.
By the end of the first semester, you will have created a law-oriented professional resume, and an individual professional development plan after a one-on-one meeting with a Career Services counselor.
We encourage you to work closely with us throughout your three-years here to strategically build your resume, practical experiences, and contacts so that you may secure post-grad job opportunities in the practice area and geographic location you desire.
Services include:
- Creating an individual career development plan and strategy that changes as you refine your career interests;
- Improving and using the skills necessary to secure an entry level position in the legal marketplace, including professionalism, increasing self-awareness, confidence, networking, finding and developing mentoring relationships, and participating in community service;
- Creating opportunities to increase your networking, mentoring, and job search opportunities;
- Preparing resumes, cover letters and other application materials that comply with professional standards and emphasize your strongest qualities;
- Preparing for interviews and pre-hiring meetings;
- Strategizing employment negotiations.
| 1L | 2L | 3L | |
| Fall | Intro to Legal Professions class | Update resume and cover letters | Update resume and cover letters |
| Networking events | Meet with Career Services Office (CSO) for interview prep, planning and next summer’s job strategy | Meet with advisor to assure all credits are meeting graduation requirements | |
| Speed Mentoring | Second round OCI and Loyola interviews | Strategize post-grad job search with CSO | |
| Resume workshop | Continue to attend networking events | Target alums in geographic area for networking | |
| Finalize resume for Spring job search | Use Speed Mentoring event to build network | Target employers | |
| Create cover letter templates | Check job postings for summer jobs | Monitor and apply for jobs | |
| Begin using network to plan summer job search | Equal Justice Works conference and job fairs | ||
| Initial meeting with Career Services to discuss interests | Apply for summer jobs with larger employers | ||
| Spring | |||
| Public Interest Job Fair | Public Interest Job Fair | Pass MPRE | |
| Mock Interview Round Robin | Mock Interview Round Robin | Apply for state Bar membership | |
Individual interview prep with Career Services | Meet w/ CS to plan strategy, interview prep, build network | Continue applying for jobs | |
| IP students consider Loyola IP Job Fair | Apply for Rule 36 admission if appropriate for summer job | Coordinate with CS re job search assistance, interview prep, etc. | |
| Apply for Rudman Fellowship if doing a public interest summer job | Meet with advisor to assure you have all necessary credits planned for on-time graduation | ||
| If interested in residency, meet with Professor Brooks | |||
| Summer | |||
| On-Campus Interview program for next summer’s job | Eligible students take Patent Bar | Pass the Bar Exam! | |
| Secure strong recommendation from summer employer | Secure strong recommendation from summer employer | Take some down time | |
| Patent eligible students attend Loyola IP job fair | Start your new career! | ||
| Map out tentative next 2 years |
