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If you are in the
process of looking for a job this summer, be sure to check the Career Services
Office's online job
postings. April has always been a busy time for summer job postings on
the JobNet. Currently, there are 100 summer internships posted on the CSO JobNet.
Of those posted, 86 are for first year-day and second year-evening students.
In addition to checking the Career Service Office's online job
postings, below are some other helpful tips for looking for a summer job.
Check other on-line
resources.
Do not limit your search to one single job posting site. The Online Job Search Resources
handout found in the document library on Symplicity offers a helpful list of a
variety of other job search websites depending on your area of interest.
Request reciprocity.
If you are looking for employment out of state, you may be
able to request reciprocal services from a law school career services office in
that state. Visit our reciprocity
page for more information.
Contact firms and
organizations directly.
Do not wait for a job to be posted. Be proactive in your job search by
contacting firms and organizations directly. Use martindale.com and other online
directories to do a targeted search of organizations within your area of
interest.
Network. Network.
Network.
According to the 2013
Summer Employment Survey, most students found their summer job through
informal means, either through a referral from someone they know or through
networking and self-initiated contact. Don’t know where to start? Read the networking
section of our handbook available for download on our Symplicity homepage.
Be flexible.
If you have a car, look for opportunities outside of major
metropolitan areas. Also consider unpaid positions. The more flexible you are
regarding pay and location, the better your chances are for finding summer
employment.
Have questions about your job search? Make an
appointment with a Career Services Counselor. Please call
617-422-7229 to schedule an appointment.
Whether you are seeking your first legal job for the summer or looking for post-graduate employment, the winter break is a good time to organize your job search campaign.
1. Reconnect with old contacts and establish new ones. Send a holiday card to former employers and colleagues updating them on your academic and career progress. Use the networking section of the Symplicity site to contact alumni in the area and ask if they are available to meet after the New Year. Check the LinkedIn Alumni feature to identify and establish connections with fellow graduates from your undergraduate school who are practicing law.
2. Let everyone know that you are looking for a job. Use holiday parties to update old friends, relatives, and neighbors with your interests and where you would like to practice. You never know who has valuable contacts that could lead to opportunities. Listen to a free podcast by the ABA for more tips on holiday networking.
3. Update your resume. Be sure to add any clinics you are taking during the spring semester. Re-read previous blog posts on resume writing for frequently asked questions and resume suggestions. The Career Services Office will be available to review resumes and cover letters starting January 6.
4. Apply to jobs and research potential employers to contact directly. Search job postings on the JobNet and other websites listed on our “Job Search Resources” handout available on the Symplicity site. Utilize our handout “Targeting Small to Medium-Sized Law Firms Using Martindale-Hubbell” to do a targeted search for firms and organizations in your geographic area and field of interest.
5. Relax. Focus on a little rest and relaxation so that you will feel rejuvenated upon your return next semester: sleep in, catch up on your favorite TV shows, do some non-law school related reading, and spend quality time with your family and friends.
Have a happy and productive winter break, from your friends in the Career Services Office!
Lianne Henderson is a second-year day student at New England Law | Boston. This past summer she worked as a judicial intern for the Barnstable Probate and Family Court. As part of our the November blog series highlighting student work, Lianne writes about her summer experience and explains how she found her internship. This summer, I had the opportunity to work as a judicial intern at the Barnstable Probate and Family Court through the Boston Bar Association’s (BBA) Summer Judicial Internship Program. I found the BBA’s posting on the school’s Symplicity website, which I checked daily beginning in December of my 1L year. I secured this position the same day I learned I would receive a generous stipend if I secured an internship that qualified as public service. My summer stipend was provided through New England Law | Boston’s Center for Law and Social Responsibility Summer Fellowship Program. Everything lined up perfectly and I was anxious to get the summer started. I worked for two judges doing a lot of research and writing, and observed many trials and hearings. The probate and family court was far more diverse than I imagined. I worked on matters involving divorce, custody and visitation, guardianship and conservatorship, and some jurisdiction. I reported directly to the judges, and drafted numerous findings, judgments, and orders. I also observed trials and hearings and conducted research to compose memoranda to submit to the judges. I often joined the judge after an interesting hearing and discussed how we both felt about it. It was an amazing experience to see the judge’s perspective. I was based in Barnstable, but through the BBA program I had the opportunity to have an orientation in Boston run by Attorney Denise Fitzgerald, the Administrative Attorney for all probate and family courts in Massachusetts. Additionally, I was connected to the BBA’s network and awarded the opportunity to do observation in other courts, like oral arguments in the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Whitey Bulger trial in federal court, and a tour of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. Whenever I got an e-mail about one of these opportunities, I took advantage of it, despite the long commute. My biggest piece of advice is to be flexible. Had I limited my internship search solely to Boston, I would have had much more difficulty securing an internship. Additionally, most of the notices I received to observe other courts came within less than twenty-four hours of the event. Although it was inconvenient to travel to Boston for a one hour hearing, it allowed me to network and meet judges and attorneys, which was extremely valuable. Through this internship, I sharpened my legal research and writing skills and was able to see the judge’s perspective on numerous matters. I am extremely grateful for my summer experience through the BBA’s Summer Judicial Internship Program. - Lianne Henderson, Class of 2015
Joyell Johnson is a second-year day student at New England Law | Boston. This past summer she worked as a law clerk for the Catholic Charities of Baltimore’s Esperanza Center. As part of our the November blog series highlighting student work, Joyell writes about her summer experience and explains how she found her internship.
This summer, I had the pleasure of being a law clerk at Catholic Charities of Baltimore’s Esperanza Center. Had it not been for my professors and the Center for Law and Social Responsibility (CLSR), I would have missed out on the best 1L summer experience. I did not enter law school with an interest in immigration law. However, working with real clients applying for lawful status in the United States strengthened my legal skills, and provided me with a strong foundation for becoming a practicing attorney.
After taking a couple of years off following college graduation, I decided to pursue law school for international human rights law. It was not until I met with my constitutional law professor, that I discovered my interest in working for the government. He was the first person to put the immigration law “bug” in my ear as a way to merge my interests in government and international law. Unfortunately, I did not meet with him until the middle of January, when many application deadlines had passed or were too soon for me to be fully considered as a possible candidate. Because I started my application research later than expected (and yes, January is late for internships in certain fields of law) I was not eligible to apply for most legal positions I found. Nevertheless, I was determined to find a summer internship. I decided to continue meeting with various legal professionals who may have suggestions for securing the right internship.
At the end of January, I met with the CLSR’s fellow, Erika Barber, to discuss whether I would be a good fit for the new public interest fellowship offered at New England Law | Boston. Little did I know that the fellow would connect me with New England alumna, Adonia Simpson’09, in Baltimore, Maryland. During our informal meeting in the school’s lobby, I expressed my law interests and flexibility with interning outside of Boston. Erika then mentioned she knew Adonia, who is a managing attorney at Catholic Charities of Baltimore, hired summer interns to work on immigration cases. She asked me to send her my personal statement and resumé so that she could then forward them to Adonia. I immediately scheduled an appointment with Mandie LeBeau in the Career Services Office to make sure my resumé was up to par. I am grateful Mandie spent quality time restructuring my resumé. Since then, I have met with Susan Molinari and Mandie to update my resumé after my summer internship. I am more confident in my resumé highlighting my experience and being a good first impression for future employers.
By February, I had sent my personal statement and resumé to Erika. She forwarded my materials to Adonia, who offered me a summer position before March. Additionally, I was selected to be a public interest fellow through the law school’s summer fellowship program, which funded my law clerk position at Catholic Charities of Baltimore. I thought my time at Catholic Charities of Baltimore would just consist of research, but I was asked to write a motion on my first day! I worked directly with clients applying for asylum, lawful permanent residence, deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA), and u visas under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). I drafted motions, personal affidavits, and research conditions on a regular basis. The supervising attorneys treated me more like an attorney and less like a student, which I appreciated.
Looking back, the only reason I secured such a great internship was because I networked. I did not come to law school from a legal background, so I asked many questions about how to find the right internship to give me quality experience. I was lucky enough to do just that.
- Joyell Johnson, Class of 2015
Students have access to internship and postgraduate job postings and can participate in on- and off-campus recruitment programs through our Symplicity site. To access, you will need your Student ID# and a password (sent to you in November of your first year.) If you don't have a password, please email the Career Services Office (CSO) at cso@nesl.edu. To identify your own career goals and create a personalized job search strategy, call the CSO at 617-422-7229 to schedule an appointment with a career counselor.
This year 181 New England Law students completed our 2013 Summer Employment Survey giving us valuable information about where students worked and how they found their jobs. Of the students who completed the survey 59% were from the class of 2015 and 40% were from the class of 2014.
Types of Employment
The majority of students who responded worked in a legal job.
- 85% worked in a summer or permanent legal job
- 6% worked in a non-legal summer or permanent job
- 4% participated in a study abroad program
- 5% did not work
Of those who worked, 45% were in paid positions, and 55% were unpaid.
How Students Found Employment
It is important to remember to use a variety of methods when searching for employment. While many respondents found their summer employment through a job posting on the CSO's JobNet many others found their job through someone they knew, a networking connection, or by contacting the employer directly.
- 27% found their job through a referral from someone they knew
- 27% found employment by responding to a job posted on the CSO JobNet on Symplicity
- 12% found their job through networking or contacting the employer directly
- 18% found employment through a law school program (such as a clinic or the Honors Judicial Internship Program), an outside organization, or other means not specified
- 6% returned to or continued with a pre-law school employer
- 6 % found their job through an on-campus interview or job fair
- 4% responded to a job posting on a commercial job website
Where Students Worked
- 75% remained in Massachusetts
- 20% worked out of state
- 5% worked internationally or participated in a study abroad program
While the majority of New England Law students worked locally, a number of students gained experience in Florida, New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Washington, DC. Students also participated in study abroad programs in Galway and Prague.
Below are just a few of the law firms and organizations who hired New England Law Students this summer:
Greater Boston Legal Services
Law Offices of Mary Wynne Gianturco, LLC
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Department of Public
Safety
New Hampshire Public Defender
The Boston Public Health Commission
U.S. Attorney's Office
Sheff Law Offices (Boston, MA)
Tarlow Breed Hart & Rodgers, P.C.
Volunteer Lawyers Project
Federal District Court of Massachusetts
United States District Court - District of Massachusetts
Rhode Island Office of the Public Defender
Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Office of
Administrative Law Judges
Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Civil Service Commission
MA Attorney General's Office
City of Boston Law Department
Law Office of John M. Iacoi & Associates
Suffolk County District Attorney's Office
Ablitt Law Offices, PC
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Probate & Family
Court
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 1
Mirick, O'Connell, DeMallie & Lougee, LLP
Commonwealth of Massachusetts-Office of Attorney General
Massachusetts Department of Revenue
Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development
Boston Municipal Court Department
Harvard Legal Aid Bureau
City of Boston, Office of Labor Relations
Massachusetts Appeals Court
Rosencranz & Associates
Massachusetts Superior Court
Community Legal Services And Counseling Center
Milligan Coughlin LLC
Supreme Judicial Court
Sunstein Kann Murphy & Timbers LLP
Sweeney Merrigan Law
United States Attorney’s Office for the District of
Massachusetts
Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
Middlesex District Attorney's Office
Gordon E. Meyer & Associates, P.C.
Bain & Company, Inc.
David Marshall Datz, P.C.
Kenneth Levine & Associates
Neighborhood Legal Services
Essex County District Attorney's Office
Massachusetts Land Court
The Law Office of Peter A. Moustakis, LLC
Where did you work last summer? If you have not already completed your 2013 Summer Employment Survey, log on to Symplicity to tell us about your experience!
Looking for a job for next summer? The Career Services Office is here to help you. Call 617-422-7229 to schedule an appointment today.
On July 3rd, the Recruitment Instructional Packet was emailed to all rising 2LD/3LE and 3LD/4LE students. The first Recruitment application deadline is July 16th. Each year our office receives many questions from students about this program. Please find our answers to the most frequently asked questions below.
Q: What is the Recruitment Program?
A: The Recruitment Program (RP) includes a variety of public interest, government, law firm, and judicial employers seeking 2013 summer and post-graduate associates and clerks. RP begins in July and will continue throughout the Fall semester.
Q: How do I apply for the Recruitment Programs?
A: If you are applying for an on-campus interview, resume collection, or off-campus interview, apply through the CSO’s Symplicity site. If you are applying for the National Recruitment Program, or the Government and Public Interest Interview Program, apply through the Massachusetts Law School Consortium’s (MLSC) site. For detailed, step-by-step instructions, please refer to the Recruitment Instructional Packet, which was emailed to your New England Law account on July 3rd, and can also be found under the “Job Search Handouts” tab on the CSO’s Symplicity site.
Q: When I’m in Symplicity, and I click on the “OCI” tab, it says something about a summer survey and I can’t find the participating employers. Where do I go from here?
A: Every Fall, all 2LD/3LEs and 3LD/4LEs are required to complete summer surveys and update their profiles including the Transcript Waiver and Interview Policy Acknowledgement before they are able to view the OCI section. When prompted to complete the summer survey, click “Add New” and fill in the required survey fields. After you submit your survey, you should automatically be taken to the OCI section.
Q: My grades aren't great. Should I even bother applying to big firms?
A: You should be realistic when applying to large firms. They typically are very strict about their grade requirements and most likely will not interview students who do not meet the standards which they have set. That said, occasionally there are exceptions to that general rule when a student exhibits better than average grades with special skills or highly relevant experience. However, there are plenty of other legal job opportunities that are not heavily grade driven. Review the Job Search Timelines section in Part I of the Recruitment Instructional Packet for more information on law firm, government, public interest and judicial clerkship employers.
Frequent Resume Mistakes and Questions: Part II Tips for Writing the Perfect Cover LetterFrequently Asked Questions About Writing Samples
Have more questions about preparing your application? Read our blog entries on resumes, cover letters, and writing samples:
What are Memorandums? Frequent Resume Mistakes and Questions
A summer internship is not only an excellent opportunity to learn more about a particular legal field while developing your legal skills but it is also a critical time to build lasting connections that may lead to future post-graduate employment. Here are a few tips for making the most of your internship and having a successful summer.
Be prepared.
Avoid starting your internship on the wrong foot by arriving ill-prepared. Have you confirmed your start date and time? Is your first day at the office or are you meeting somewhere else for an orientation? Give yourself plenty of time for your commute on the first day. It is always better to arrive a little early than late. What is the dress code? If you are unsure, call ahead and ask. Ask for clarification if the dress code is business casual or casual as the terms can mean different things depending on the organization. Even if the office dress code is informal, there may be occasions that still call for business attire including court appearances and client meetings. When in doubt, always wear a suit. Also, be sure to take plenty of notes during your tour of the office and training.
Be proactive.
Do not be afraid to ask questions! Questions are expected and welcomed as they usually mean your are engaged and conscientious about doing the work correctly. Also be open and communicative by meeting with your supervisor about how best to keep in contact with them over the summer and consistently keep them appraised of the progress of your projects. Use your down time to offer assistance and ask for new assignments; do not wait for the work to be assigned to you.
Be professional.
While some offices may appear casual and laid-back, it is important to remain professional and take your work seriously. The usual common sense rules apply: be kind and respectful to everyone in the office including the support staff and other interns; do not check your personal email account or make personal calls during work hours; do not drink excessively with other attorneys or staff members at after work functions. Also, remember that some things considered acceptable behavior for full-time, permanent members of the organization are not always considered acceptable behavior for summer interns. Be on time even if every attorney in the office arrives late; do not use bad language even if everyone else in the office curses; and refrain from getting caught up in office gossip.
Lastly, be sure you end your internship on a good note. Identify any loose ends prior to your last week of work, provide case summaries of everything you have worked on and update your supervisor on the status of any unfinished projects. Your summer employer may act as a future reference, networking contact, or be a potential post-graduate employer and it is important to leave a lasting, positive impression.
For further reading:
First Week of Work: Make or Break Your Summer (via Pass the Baton)
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