Job Search Timeline
FIRST YEAR
Oct.-Nov.: ATTEND OFFICE OF CAREER PLANNING (OCP) ORIENTATION PROGRAMS
-1L Orientation
-Resume workshops & 10 Days to Resume (after Nov. 1)
-The 1L Job Search Presentation
-Public Interest Experience (PIE) Fair
-Philadelphia Diversity Law Group (PDLG) Information Session
-Review Temple’s weekly calendar for lunchtime programs in your area of interest
December: -Register for Public Interest/Public Service (PIPS) Job Fair (open to all classes)
-BEGIN applying for summer internships in federal judicial offices, agencies, and other government jobs (as of Dec. 1)
January: SPRING SEMESTER BEGINS – CONTINUE TO ATTEND OCP PROGRAMS
-Sign-up for Mock Interviews
-Sign-up for Spring On-Campus Interviews (SOCI) & SOCI Training
-Continue applying to federal judges and government agencies
-Begin applying for internships with state court judges, District Attorneys’ offices, United States Attorney’s Offices, public interest law organizations
-Keep an eye out for international internships and other opportunities
-PDLG applications due
February: -Meet with your professors regarding first semester grades
-Attend PIPS Job Fair
- Attend PIM Program on summer funding for public interest jobs
-SOCI begins
-Check CPM for summer job postings
-Continue applying for summer internships
March: -SOCI continues
-Check CPM for summer job postings
-Continue applying for summer internships
-Reach out to individual professors if interested in Research Assistant positions
April: -SOCI ends
-Attend Fall On-Campus Interviewing (FOCI) Training programs
May: - Law Review & Journal Write-On Competition
July: -Bidding on employers for FOCI (usually begins in mid-July)
-Remember when selecting classes for 2L year, your job next summer may require you to be certified to appear in court (all DA & PD offices and several other government jobs). Therefore, you must take evidence (and earn at least a C) and trial advocacy (See Wise Guide for more info).
SECOND YEAR
August: -Mock Interviews (usually held on the Thursday before the start of FOCI)
-Fall OCI begins (usually the week before upper year classes begin)
-Continue to attend OCP programming
-US Dept. of Justice Summer Legal Internship Program (SLIP) and other government internship program applications available
-Apply for part-time semester & summer internships posted on the CPM
September: -FOCI continues & call-back interviews begin
-NY Recruitment Day
-GPALS (Greater Philadelphia Area Law Schools) Washington D.C. Fair and Philadelphia Fair
-PIE Fair
-Register and bid for Equal Justice Works Fair
-Deadlines for several federal govt. internships
-Continue to apply to jobs posted on the CPM
October: -FOCI ends
-Attend Equal Justice Works Conference & Career Fair
-Check CPM for job postings
-Consider joining a bar association and practice area section of interest; must network
November: -Check CPM for job postings
-Continue to network
-Consider a part-time job if possible
December: -Check CPM for job postings
-Register for PIPS Fair
-Begin creating lists for targeted mailings
January: -Mock Interviews
-Sign-up for Spring OCI
-Begin sending targeted mailings to mid to small-sized firms
-Check CPM for job postings
February: -PIPS Fair
-SOCI begins
-Continue targeted mailings & applying to job postings on CPM
-Attend PIM Program on summer funding for public interest jobs
-PROGRAMS: Judicial Clerkships; Fellowships; Various practice areas
March: -SOCI continues
-Application process for post-grad Federal & State Judicial Clerkships BEGINS!
-Sign up for a clerkship counseling session with Career Counselors
-Continue targeted mailings & applying to job postings on CPM
April: -SOCI ends
-Continue targeted mailings and applying to job postings on CPM
May: -Complete our Summer Employment survey
-Still no summer job yet? Keep checking the CPM for job postings!
-Summer employment begins
June/July: -Bidding for FOCI
-Find public interest law agency to sponsor you for a Fellowship
-Post-graduation Federal and State clerkship application packets due!
THIRD YEAR
August: -Mock Interviews (usually held on the Thursday before the start of FOCI)
-Fall OCI begins
-Post-graduate Public Interest Fellowship applications available
-Targeted mailing: larger firms
-Check CPM for jobs
-U.S. Government Honors Program applications become available
September - Fall OCI continues & call-back interviewing begins
-NY DAY, GPALS D.C. and PHILADELPHIA DAY
-PIE Fair
-Register and bid for Equal Justice Works Fair
-Federal and State Judicial Clerkship applications sent & interviewing begins
-Targeted mailings
-Continue to apply to job postings listed on the CPM
-Deadlines for some U.S. Govt. Honors Programs and public interest law fellowships
October: -GPALS Philadelphia Job Fair
-Attend Equal Justice Works Conference & Career Fair
-Deadline for Presidential Management Fellowship Program
-Join a Bar Association and practice area section
-Targeted mailings & continue to apply to job postings listed on the CPM
November: -Targeted mailings
-Continue applying to job postings on the CPM
-Consider volunteering to gain experience
-Network!
December: -Register for PIPS Fair
-Targeted mailings: mid-size firms
-Continue applying to job postings on the CPM
January: -Mock Interviews – it’s not too late!
-Sign-up for Spring OCI
-Targeted mailings to small and mid-sized law firms
-Continue applying to job postings on the CPM
-Network!
February: -PIPS Fair
-Spring OCI begins
-Continue targeted mailings and applying to jobs on the CPM
-Network!
March: -SOCI continues
-Continue targeted mailings
-Continue applying to jobs on the CPM
-Attend LAW DAY
-Network!
April: -SOCI ends
-Continue targeted mailings
-Continue applying to jobs on the CPM
May: -Complete the Graduate Employment Survey & pick up graduation material
-Continue targeted mailings
-Continue applying to jobs on the CPM
June & July: BAR EXAM