eCampus | Legal Career Tool Kit
for 1Ls: How to Look for a Summer Job
- Be flexible. Although there's no perfect 1L job,
there are many opportunities to gain experience and skills.
Consider all positions, even if they are not in your preferred practice
area. Also, be willing to volunteer for the summer. You
might not be earning a salary but you will receive quality practical
experience. Remember that any legal experience will help you.
- Be organized. When sending out resumes and cover
letters, remember to tailor them to each employer. Your cover
letter should detail what is in it for the employer, not for you.
Employers want to know they're hiring a productive employee. If
you sent your application materials and haven't received a response
from an employer, follow up with a phone call. Let them know that
you're still interested in the position and offer to supply them with
additional information if required.
- Be patient. Many employers can't anticipate
their hiring needs for the summer until later on in the second semester
(March, April or May) and this is when they will contact our office to
advertise the position. Please make sure you create a job agent on
www.piercelawjobs.com to notify you when jobs are posted.
- Be proactive. Begin networking with your
contacts. One way to do this is through informational
interviews. Pick a geographic area and contact alums in that area
for advice – i.e., inquire about the legal market or his/her
experiences working for a particular employer. Please note: don't
treat this as an opportunity to ask for a job. Think of this as a
way to gather information and to make a new contact!
