PENN LAW CAREER MANUAL TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION & TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION 2: CAREER EDUCATION & EXPLORATION: WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU? ......................2.1 Learning About Yourself..............................................................................................................................2.1 Self-Assessment.............................................................................................................................2.1 Core Values and Personal Goals......................................................................................2.2 Skills and Talents.............................................................................................................2.2 Resources.........................................................................................................................2.3 Career & Personality Testing...........................................................................................2.4 Career Counseling on the Web ........................................................................................2.5 Individual Counseling......................................................................................................2.5 Learning About Our Profession....................................................................................................................2.6 The Breadth of Opportunities.........................................................................................................2.6 Substantive Areas ............................................................................................................2.7 Settings ............................................................................................................................2.9 Clients............................................................................................................................2.10 Learning More .............................................................................................................................2.12 Networking & Developing Contacts..............................................................................2.12 What is the Job Search Process Like in Law School? ................................................................................2.15 The First Year Job Search............................................................................................................2.15 The Second Year Job Search........................................................................................................2.16 The Third Year Job Search ..........................................................................................................2.17 SECTION 3: RESUMES, COVER LETTERS, AND SUPPORTING MATERIALS .....................................3.1 Your Resume................................................................................................................................................3.1 Content of Your Resume................................................................................................................3.1 Writing the Resume Entry ...............................................................................................3.2 Hypotheticals ...................................................................................................................3.3 Building Your Resume ....................................................................................................3.6 Addressing Your Resume to a Specific Employer...........................................................3.6 Style and Appearance of the Resume.............................................................................................3.7 Sample Resume Format with Details...............................................................................3.9 Resume Worksheet ......................................................................................................................3.13 Resume Dissection.......................................................................................................................3.15 Sample 1L Resumes.....................................................................................................................3.16 Cover Letters ..............................................................................................................................................3.25 Suggestions for Writing Your Cover Letters ...............................................................................3.25 Appearance of the Cover Letter ...................................................................................................3.26 Sample Cover Letter Format........................................................................................................3.27 Supporting Materials ..................................................................................................................................3.28 References....................................................................................................................................3.28 Sample Reference Sheet ................................................................................................3.29 Writing Samples...........................................................................................................................3.30 Writing Sample Article................................................................................................Insert Transcripts .....................................................................................................................3.31
SECTION 4: JUDICIAL CLERKSHIPS .............................................................................................................4.1 Why Clerk? ..................................................................................................................................................4.1 What are the Opportunities Out There?........................................................................................................4.2 Trial Court or Appellate Court.......................................................................................................4.2 Federal or State Court ....................................................................................................................4.3 Federal Courts..................................................................................................................4.3 State Courts......................................................................................................................4.4 Staff Attorney Clerkships ................................................................................................4.5 Researching Judges ......................................................................................................................................4.5 The Application Process...............................................................................................................................4.7 Summer Internships .........................................................................................................4.7 . Sample Cover Letter ........................................................................................................4.8 Post Graduate Clerkships .............................................................................................................................4.9 Timing of Applications....................................................................................................4.9 Application Materials for Post-Graduate Clerkships .....................................................4.10 SECTION 5: THE PUBLIC SECTOR JOB SEARCH......................................................................................5.1 First Year Summer Public Sector Employment ...........................................................................................5.1 Public Sector Opportunities for Second & Third Year Students ..................................................................5.6 Cover Letters & Resumes...........................................................................................................................5.15 Public Sector Interviewing .........................................................................................................................5.30 Resources for the Public Sector Job Search ...............................................................................................5.37 Fellowship and Government Honors Programs Information & Deadlines.................................................5.39 Funding Sources for Summer Public Interest Employment .......................................................................5.43 Public Interest and Government Career Building -The Three Year Plan ...................................................5.45 Public Interest and Government Law (Some Suggested Courses & Seminars) .........................................5.50 Law Firms: Public Interest and Pro Bono Opportunities............................................................................5.51 Making the Most of Your Public Interest Summer ....................................................................................5.57 SECTION 6: PRIVATE PRACTICE................................................................................................................6.1 What is a Law Firm? ....................................................................................................................................6.1 Opportunities in Private Practice for Law Students .....................................................................................6.2 Large Firm Employers ...................................................................................................................6.2 Mid-Sized and Small Firms ...........................................................................................................6.3 Researching Private Practice Opportunities .................................................................................................6.3 Practice Areas ................................................................................................................................6.5 Contacting Employers ..................................................................................................................................6.5 A Great Cover Letter......................................................................................................................6.6 A Strong Resume ...........................................................................................................................6.7 Follow Up ......................................................................................................................................6.7 Sample Letters ...............................................................................................................................6.8 SECTION 7: TRACKS OUTSIDE THE TRADITIONAL PRACTICE OF LAW ......................................7.1 Careers In Academia ....................................................................................................................................7.1 Law School Tenure Track Teaching Positions...............................................................................7.2 The Hiring Process.........................................................................................................................7.3 Teaching Positions at Non-Law Schools in Higher Ed ..................................................................7.4 Teaching as an Adjunct Professor..................................................................................................7.4 Other Opportunities........................................................................................................................7.5 Legal Writing and Legal Methods Programs...................................................................7.5 Clinical Programs ............................................................................................................7.5 Teaching Fellowships and Graduate Degree Programs ...................................................7.5 Working as a Research Assistant ...................................................................................................7.6
Careers In-House..........................................................................................................................................7.7 Opportunities In-House..................................................................................................................7.7 Working In-House While In Law School ......................................................................................7.7 Resources.........................................................................................................................7.8 Non-Law Business Careers ..........................................................................................................................7.9 Consulting ......................................................................................................................................7.9 Investment Banks...........................................................................................................................7.9 Tax Consulting with an Accounting Firm......................................................................................7.9 Financial Services ..........................................................................................................................7.9 Working in Non-Law Careers During Law School........................................................................7.9 Consulting Firms, Investment Banks, Financial Services..............................................7.10 Accounting Firms ..........................................................................................................7.10 Resources.......................................................................................................................7.11 SECTION 8: INTERVIEWING..........................................................................................................................8.1 An Overview ................................................................................................................................................8.1 Preparation for the Legal Interview..............................................................................................................8.1 Learning About the Organization...................................................................................................8.1 Know Why You Want to Do This Organization=s Work ...............................................................8.2 Identifying Your Skills and Talents ...............................................................................................8.5 The Social Aspects of the Legal Interview ....................................................................................8.7 Interviewing Formats ...................................................................................................................................8.7 Screening Interview .......................................................................................................................8.8 Call Back Interview .......................................................................................................................8.8 Group Interview .............................................................................................................................8.9 Arranging Interviews....................................................................................................................................8.9 Questions That Might Be Asked Of You ...................................................................................................8.10 General Questions ........................................................................................................................8.10 Questions About Law School.......................................................................................................8.11 Questions About Your Grades .....................................................................................................8.11 Questions About Your Experience...............................................................................................8.11 Questions About Your Substantive Interest .................................................................................8.12 Questions About Your Geographic Interest .................................................................................8.12 Questions About the Organization ...............................................................................................8.12 Typical End-of-the-Interview Questions......................................................................................8.12 Your Questions for the Interviewer............................................................................................................8.12 General Questions About the Organization .................................................................................8.13 Questions About What it is like to Work at the Organization......................................................8.13 Questions About the Interviewer=s Personal Experiences ............................................................8.14 Questions About the Organization=s Hiring Practices ..................................................................8.14 Questions Concerning a Formal Summer Program......................................................................8.14 Questions that Combine your Knowledge of the Organization With Information you Would Like to Have...................................................................8.14 What Are Employers Looking For? ...........................................................................................................8.14 Employer Evaluation Forms.....................................................................................................................Insert Practical Tips for Interviewing Successfully..............................................................................................8.15 Reimbursement for Expenses .....................................................................................................................8.16 Some Lessons From the Past......................................................................................................................8.17 What To Do When Interviews Don=t Go Well ...........................................................................................8.17 How CP&P Will Help You Prepare ...........................................................................................................8.18 Post-Interview Follow Up ..........................................................................................................................8.19 Thank You Letters - To Write or Not to Write ............................................................................8.19 Sample Thank You Letters...........................................................................................................8.21
Accepting & Rejecting Offers.................................................................................................................... 8.24 Accepting Right Away................................................................................................................. 8.24 Declining Your Offer................................................................................................................... 8.24 When You Need Time To Consider ............................................................................................ 8.24 When They Will Need an Answer From You.............................................................................. 8.25 Sample Letters ............................................................................................................................. 8.26 SECTION 9: YOUR CAREER: SKILLS TO SUCCEED................................................................................. 9.1 Become A Star at Your Organization .......................................................................................................... 9.1 Who is My Client?......................................................................................................................... 9.1 Learn the Organization .................................................................................................................. 9.1 Develop Communication Skills ..................................................................................................... 9.1 Approach Each Project with Clarity and Purpose.......................................................................... 9.2 Solicit Feedback............................................................................................................................. 9.2 When you Botch the Job . . ........................................................................................................... 9.3 Concerns that Arise in Billable Work Situations ........................................................................... 9.3 Use Technology Wisely................................................................................................................. 9.4 To Work with Many Attorneys, or Exclusively for One?.............................................................. 9.4 Develop Good Working Relationships .......................................................................................... 9.4 Skill Builders Checklist ............................................................................................................................... 9.6
SECTION 10: CP&P: RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS ............................................................................... 10.1 The CP&P Office ....................................................................................................................................... 10.1 Services ...................................................................................................................................................... 10.1 Workshops, Panel Discussions & Speakers................................................................................. 10.1 Mock Interviews .......................................................................................................................... 10.2 Resources ................................................................................................................................................... 10.2 Library ......................................................................................................................................... 10.2 Data Bases ................................................................................................................................... 10.2 Recruiting Programs .................................................................................................................................. 10.3 To Keep Informed...................................................................................................................................... 10.7 The Career Planning & Placement Staff .................................................................................................... 10.9 SECTION 11: POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ............................................................................................ 11.1 Faculty-Student Placement Committee ...................................................................................................... 11.1 Non-Discrimination Policies and Procedures .............................................................................. 11.2 Discrimination Complaint Form .................................................................................................. 11.6 Resume and Transcript Accuracy and Honesty Conduct ........................................................................... 11.7 Policies on Job Offers ................................................................................................................................ 11.8 No Show - Policy on Student Cancellation of Interviews.......................................................................... 11.9