Career Center

1L Orientation

October 8, 2014

Today’s Agenda

Office Overview

1L Summer Job Search & Resources

Symplicity

Overview of Legal Resume Format

Key Events & Upcoming Dates

Your Career Center

Alan Haynes, Esq.

Director

Sarah Rohne, Esq.

Employer Relations

Assistant Director

Simona Suen

Employer Relations

Associate

Claudia Melo, Esq.

Associate Director

Shana Hansen

Office Manager

Amanda Furst, Esq.

Public Interest

Assistant Director

Laura Clemens, Esq.

Career Counselor

Career Services

Weekly Newsletter and Facebook

Job Search Strategy Counseling

Resume and Cover Letter Feedback

Interview Prep

Professional Development Workshops & Events

Dedicated Employer Relations Team

Online Job Board

On-Campus & Off-Campus Interview Program

Clerkship Application Administration

Employment Statistics

Student Advisory Board

Employer Outreach

Areas of Focus

- Local Large Firms

- Local Small & Medium Firms

- National and Regional Firms

- Judicial Clerkships (Federal and State)

- Public Interest (National and Local)

- Government (National and Local)

- Business/Corporate/Financial Employers

Key Steps

- Quarterly E-Newsletters

- In-Person Visits – Locally & Nationally

- Events & Programming

- Local & National Professional Leadership

Connect.

Cultivate.

Educate.

Engage.

Encourage.

Career Action Plan

Goals

Geographic Preference

Practice Areas

Action Items

Lawyers You Know

Summer Job

Career Center &

1L Students

Oct. 15 per NALP and ABA guidelines

Required in person check-in meeting for all

1Ls

One required check-in per semester

Your Counselor

First Appointment: Resume in legal format &

Career Action Plan

1L Summer Job

Recharge after a challenging year

Meet attorneys; increase your network

Gain hands-on skills

Invest in your career – many unpaid positions

are priceless

Clarify what you want to do & which environment

is the right fit for you

Discuss any concerns you have with your career

counselor

Summer Job Resources

Network & Attend Events

Symplicity

Newsletter & Facebook

MJF Clerkships

PSJD & EJW

Government Honors Handbook

NALP Directory

NALP Reciprocity

Key Dates

MJF Summer Clerkships: Nov. 1 – Dec. 3

MJF Clerkship Information Session:

Oct. 14, 12:15-1:15pm, Law School Room 40

Quad Law School Public Expo

Oct. 28, Hamline

Human Rights Fellowship Program

Information Session Oct. 13, 12:15PM, Room 65 (pizza)

Large Firms: Apply as of Dec. 1

Federal Agencies: Apply as of Dec. 1

Upcoming Events

QPIE

20th Annual Career Options Night

Career Fit!

Networking & Informational Interviewing Skills

Lunch with Practitioner Series

Solo & Small Law Firm

Transactional Practice

UMN Office of General Counsel

ABA Forum on Construction

International JD Job Search Club (every other Wednesday)

How to Discuss your Visa Status with an Employer

Spring Highlights

On Campus & Off-Campus Interview Information

Session

Large Firm Receptions & Events

1L Mock Interview Program

Career Fairs

Diversity Programs

Questions?

LEGAL RESUME

Resume Format

One Page

Follows legal format

Margins: no less than .5 inches

11 or 12 point font size

Consistent font size and type

Use serif font such as Times New Roman

Reader-friendly - Avoid clutter

Minimize use of underlining, dashes, and bold

Avoid using bullets

Resume Sections

Heading

Name & Contact Information

Education

Experience

Languages

Skills & Interests

Name & Contact Information

Use full name

Local and/or Permanent Address (if strategic)

Include a professional email address

student@umn.edu - OK

Rockstar@gmail.com - NOT OK

Education

List schools in reverse chronological order starting

with the Law School

Write the Law School name correctly!

University of Minnesota Law School

GPA, Honors, Awards, Activities

Experience

Take an expansive view of “work”

Paid Work, School Internships, Volunteer &

Community Service, School Activities

Food industry service counts!

Use active verbs

Avoid “worked” and “responsible for…”

Avoid using –ing verb ending in present tense

Highlight Transferable Skills

Communication

Presentation

Management

Leadership

Organization

Time Management

Research

Writing

Client Counseling

Client Services

Interests & Skills

Examples

Additional Training

Volunteer Work

Publications

Professional & Personal Membership

Interests, Hobbies, Travel

Languages

Common Errors

References and writing sample provided upon request

An objective line

Personal demographic information

Passive Language: “Responsible for…”

Personal Pronouns (my, I, their, etc.)

Complete sentences

LSAT score

Hot Button issues

Questions?