After December 2, every state and federal judge in Manhattan and Brooklyn listed on Symplicity recieved a letter from New York native Tim Li, a 1L at George Washington Law School. Because 1Ls could not apply for summer jobs until December 1, on that day, Li put approximately 150 letters in the mail, addressed to each of those judges.

In mid-November he met with a counselor at the Career Development Office, and during Thanksgiving break he prepared the letters. “Stuffing the letters and labeling the envelopes took almost two days and filled an entire office box,” Li said. For nearly a week the box sat at his house, waiting for the day when he was allowed to mail them out.

By December 21, Li had six interviews and a job offer. While some like Li already have jobs, there are many who have barely begun the job search.

“Although many first-year law students think it is appropriate to start panicking if they don’t have a summer job lined up by the beginning of the spring semester, this is not the case,” said the CDO counselors in a joint statement to Nota Bene. “Practically every single GW Law 1L who looks for a meaningful summer opportunity — be it with a judge, a government agency, a small law firm, a non-profit organization, or for a professor as a research assistant — finds one.”

While encouraging students at all stages of the job search, the CDO indicated that at this point in the job-search process, 1Ls should have a legal resume and a cover letter template that can be tailored to different employers.

While most have met with a career counselor in the CDO already, it is not too late to make an appointment.  Students who have not yet met with a career counselor should call the CDO or stop by Burns 310 to schedule an appointment, where they can get resume and cover letter advice, discuss the process of career planning, and find out about the helpful job search resources available to law students at GW.

Like Li, 1L Julia Jarrett started her job search early. By mid-November she had her resume together and had already done some research. Jarrett got her first ten applications in early January and still has twenty-five more on her list.
“It’s a little frustrating to be banging down doors and go through a really competitive process to work for
free but I understand that that’s the game,” Jarrett said.

The CDO understands this kind of frustration, but emphasizes that it is part of the educational experience. “Remember, your 1L job search, much like every other job search you will do while you are in law school and as an attorney, is a marathon, not a sprint,” the CDO said. “And more importantly, it is also not a competition. Just because one of your friends has already secured a position does not mean that you are out of luck!”

Li, on the other hand, said that luck has a lot to do with it. “I think I was very lucky because even after the interviews, many of the judges still asked for grades, but one of the judges gave me an offer almost immediately after the interview, which I accepted,” he said.

Whether lucky or not, 1L’s can find ways to increase their chances of getting a job that they enjoy. Li used the interests section of his resume to set himself apart. Every interviewer asked him about one of the interests he listed: ballroom dancing. Li said he thinks it gave them a reason to schedule an interview.

Jarrett’s strategy is to widen her search. She wanted to stay in Washington where she owns property and
where her husband has a job. But because she is only applying to criminal law internships, which are limited by nature, she is now looking in other areas of the country, where she has family that she could live with—mostly on the West coast.

“Hopefully this will help my chances, but who knows; these types of offices do not always take 1Ls,” Jarret said.

The CDO suggested other resources students can tap into.  “[M]eet with your career counselor [again] to make sure your resume and cover letter are ready to go, network with your existing contacts and make new ones, apply for positions through Symplicity, the CDO listservs, Outside Placement, and other resources, and, most importantly, keep up your spirits,” the CDO said.

“We encourage 1Ls to approach career planning throughout law school like they would any important task.  If you devote time and attention to it you will see results!”