Office of Career Services & Office of Public Interest Advising September 30, 2015
Harvard Law School
Introduction to Career Advising
3 Qs during the next 3 years…
1. Why are you here?
2. What do you want to do?
3. How are you going to decide?
Today’s Agenda
Resources & services
Career paths & employment data
Overview of Public and Private Sector hiring
Your 3 year & 3 month game plans
Happy hour
OCS & OPIA Services
OPIA and OCS Services
OPIA & OCS • Career Counseling • Job Search Advising • Career-related Programming • Information & Career Resources:
• websites, job banks, • podcasts & webcasts, • resource libraries
OPIA • Fellowship Advising
• Weekly emails & blog
• Recruitment Program:
PIIP
OCS • Clerkship Advising • 2 Blogs: Hire Ground
and The Bench • Recruitment
programs: EIP, FIP, SIP, ISEP,
RBP
OCS and OPIA Focus
OCS Career Advising Focus:
• Law firms
• Corporate in-house legal departments
• Business employers (management consulting firms and investment banks)
• Judicial Clerkships
OPIA Career Advising Focus:
• Government
• Nonprofits
• Prosecution and defense orgs
• Legal services
• Private public interest law firms
• International organizations
• Fellowships
Typical Career Paths
Private Sector Careers
Law Firms Large, mid-sized, small, boutiques, solo practitioners
Corporations (in-house)
Business Careers consulting, i-banking, venture capital, private equity and
entrepreneurship
Other Legal Careers Sports /entertainment organizations, publishing, and journalism
Public Sector Careers
Government (federal/state/local)
Criminal prosecution or defense
Nonprofits
Private public interest law firms
International
Understanding the Hiring Processes in the Public Sector & Private Sectors
What Public Interest Employers Look For
Practical work experience in public interest (clinics count)
Experience in their particular practice setting/issue area (e.g., environmental law, prosecution or defense)
Multicultural facility
Language skills, especially for:
International work
Client-centered work in the U.S.
Client contact (for some positions, including some law reform)
What All Employers Look For
Writing skills
Leadership
Interpersonal skills Work well as part of a team Likeable colleague Thoughtfulness about work
Professionalism
Enthusiasm
Law Firms that Recruit at HLS
Generally, are larger firms
Hire entry level lawyers (associates) primarily through summer programs that target 2Ls
Will recruit you during August 2016 (Early Interview Program) for summer of 2017 to join the firm in 2018
Predict their needs two years in advance
Will hire a few 1Ls for the summer, and for post graduate positions some 3Ls
Takeaway: If you think you want to begin your legal career at a large law firm, it is important to work at a law firm during your 2L summer
Entry Level Hiring Mechanisms for Public Interest
Fellowships (internal and external) Organization-based Portable Entrepreneurial
Government Honors Programs (federal, state, and local)
Direct hire (e.g., open, entry-level position) Most common for DA/PD positions, occasionally private public interest law firms
Far, far less common for nonprofit or government work
Recruiting Programs at HLS
Program Name
Audience
When
International Summer Employment Program (ISEP) 1Ls January and
February
Spring Interview Program (SIP) 1Ls February and March
Early Interview Program (EIP) 2Ls & 3Ls August
Public Interest Interview Program (PIIP) 2Ls & 3Ls September
Fall Interview Program (FIP) 2Ls & 3Ls September
Judicial Clerkships
Valuable extra training in addition to law school For all career paths, not only litigation
Earliest judges will start hiring next summer You’ll need 3 letters of recommendation
Get to know your 1L professors
Watch for more information
HLS Employment Data
Where 1Ls Worked (Class of 2017)
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Law Firm Judicial Internship In-House / Business Public Interest / Government
Academic / Research Assistant
24%
4% 6%
64%
1%
Where 2Ls Worked (Class of 2016)
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
Law Firm Judicial Internship In-House / Business Public Interest / Government
Academic / Research Assistant
82%
0% 2%
16%
0%
Where Graduates Work (Class of 2015 – preliminary)
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Law Firm Judicial Clerkship Business & Industry Public Interest / Government
Other
60%
24%
4%
12%
0.2%
Federal government honors programs: 7 State/local government (direct hire/fellowships): 3 DA offices (direct hire): 6 PD offices (direct hire/fellowships): 12 Nonprofits, impact (fellowships): 12 Nonprofits, legal/direct services (fellowships): 19 Private public interest law firms (direct hire/fellowships): 9 International (fellowships): 7 Union: 2 * does not include 2015 clerks who will enter public service after clerkship
Class of 2015 Public Sector Employment Breakdown*
Median Salaries by Sector (2003 – 2015)
$125,000
$135,000
$160,000
$145,000
$160,000
$35,000
$50,000 $55,000
$41,000 $35,000
$49,000 $50,000
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
140,000
160,000
180,000
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
-
Private Sector
Public Interest
(preliminary)
Educate yourself on the salary ranges for different types of practice and settings:
NALP salary guide available in OPIA and OCS
Most government salaries are available online
Make appointment with Natasha Onken or Rory Placa in Student Financial Services (SFS) to discuss your financial situation/LIPP eligibility
Consider Your Finances
Historically, approximately 65 % of 1Ls spend their first summer working in public sector or in work not related to law firms
Historically, approximately 80% of 2Ls choose to spend second summer working in the private sector at a law firm
Use 1L summer to gain legal experience and to try out an area of interest If considering public service, begin building a track record and figuring out
the right personal fit
Your 1L summer job will not impact your 2L private sector job search
30,000-Foot View
Your Three Year Plan
1L Year
Learn how to conduct a job search.
Attend career related programs and learn about law firms and practice areas
Listen to practice area podcasts
Meet with a career advisor anytime after October 15.
Apply for summer positions anytime on or after December 1.
Attend judicial clerkship programs
Speak to 2Ls and 3Ls
Get to know faculty
Cultivate your network
1L Summer
Obtain legal experience
Learn about the profession
Explore practice areas
Attend law firm receptions
Prepare for and participate in the Early Interview Program (EIP)
Consider applying for judicial clerkships
Private Sector Timeline: 1L Year (career exploration and job search)
1L Year
Now (and throughout the year)
Reflect on your interests
Attend programs/watch webcasts
Talk to visiting Fellows and attorneys
Get to know faculty
Talk to 2Ls and 3Ls
October – December
Meet with an OPIA advisor to discuss interests/develop job search game plan after October 15
December – March
Apply for 1L summer jobs after December 1
Most employers= December/January applications
Others (particularly international employers) = February/March
Participate in relevant job fairs (Massachusetts Law School Consortium)
Apply for SPIF funding (December)
Public Interest Timeline: 1L Year (career exploration and job search)
2L Year
Evaluate your options if you participated in EIP.
Explore other private sector opportunities outside of EIP.
Learn about different practice areas.
Attend programs on success in the workplace.
Build relationships with faculty.
Apply for judicial clerkships.
2L Summer
Secure a post-graduation offer from your summer employer.
Participate in EIP in August and/or reconsider career options.
Continue to build your network.
Continuing applying for judicial clerkships
Research and/or apply for fellowships.
Private Sector Timeline: 2L Year (career exploration, and making decisions)
2L Year
Throughout the year
Reflect on interests
Participate in clinics
Continue to build public interest track record
Talk with visiting Fellows/attorneys
Build network (internal and external)
July – September
Reflect on summer experience
Strategize with OPIA advisor
Develop list of potential employers of interest
September – November
Apply for 2L summer positions Note: a few employers may hire as early as August;
international employers are likely to hire late into the fall/winter/early spring
Participate in relevant job fairs (PIIP, MA Law School Consortium, EJW)
May – July
Meet with OPIA advisors and OPIA’s Fellowships Director before you leave for the summer
If applicable, apply to potential host organizations for portable fellowships
Public Interest Timeline: 2L Year (career exploration and job search)
3L Year
Attend career related programming including programs on success in the workplace.
Consider applying for a judicial clerkship or fellowship
Apply for private sector jobs outside the EIP process and continue to apply for clerkships.
Register for the appropriate bar exam and meet all deadlines.
Continue to cultivate relationships with faculty
3L Summer
Take the bar exam.
Continue to build your network.
Private Sector Timeline: 3L Year (Professionalism and succeeding on the job)
3L Year Throughout the year
Reflect on interests
Participate in clinics
Continue to build your public interest track record
Talk with visiting Fellows/attorneys
Build network (internal and external) July – August
Strategize with OPIA re: scope of job search/approach to applications
Apply for early fellowships and Honors programs
September – November
Applications for the vast majority of government honors programs
Some DA & PD
Large number of fellowship deadlines, including Skadden, EJW, PSVF Seed
A few early international fellowships
PIIP, MA Law School Consortium, and EJW Job Fairs
December – May Miscellaneous deadlines, both for fellowships and later
DA/PD
Some state government fellowships
Most international fellowships
PSVF organization-based fellowships
Register for the appropriate bar exam and meet all deadlines
Public Interest Timeline: 3L Year ( job search, making decisions, and preparing for work)
How are you going to decide?
Career programs and podcasts
OPIA and OCS websites
Coursework
Clinical, externship and pro bono opportunities
Student practice groups
Research work
Summer jobs and internships
Networking and informational interviews
Self-assessment and career exploration
Career advising
This is a process. Try to get a mix.
Gather Data Points Through…
The next 3 months…
October 15 When you can first meet with an OCS or OPIA advisor for career advising
December 1
When you can begin to send out your application materials.
Timing
Your game plan
1. Reflect on your interests
2. Meet with an OCS and/or OPIA advisor
3. Attend the OPIA and/or OCS 1L Job Search Programs and events
4. Listen to the Practice Area Podcasts and Career webcasts
5. Watch the Resume and Cover Letter webcast
6. Prepare your resume and cover letter
7. Read Hire Ground, the OCS blog and OPIA weekly emails
8. Speak and/or Meet with: a. Wasserstein Fellows; b. Alumni; and c. Faculty
OPIA & OCS Staff
OCS Team
Marni Goldstein Caputo
Yih-hsien Shen
Kirsten Solberg
Margie Boone Mark Weber
Ann Scibelli Orietta Barletta
Jason McCann Steve Donovan
Paula Garvin
Cassie Filios
OCS Advisors
Mark Kleinschnittger
Marj Lichtenberger
Sara Dana
3L Peer Advisors
Aaron Fields Ammanuel Gebeyehu
Shuangjun Wang
The “A” Team
OPIA Team
Alexa Shabecoff Judy Murciano Catherine Pattanayak
Renay Frankel
Sareta Ashraph Joan Ruttenberg Carolyn Stein Dan Ahearn
Nima Eshghi Virginia (Ginny) Greiman
OPIA “A” Team
Micah Nemiroff Linda Braden
Thera Webb Andrew Celis
OPIA Advisors
Final points
Your job search need not and should not be the priority right now
…but self-reflection, education & career exploration should be
Rest assured, you will have amazing career opportunities in both the public and private sectors
Happy Hour