Getting help. Our Career Development Office is happy to extend our services to alumni who are looking for something different or who have found themselves in transition. This page provides detailed information about the services we provide to alumni, as well as a variety of resources to assist you in your job search.

Giving help. As an alumnus or alumna, you can provide valuable assistance and advice to the current students of the law school in a variety of ways, including joining Case Connections, speaking at CDO programs, serving as a mock interviewer, participating in our formal interview programs, and more. Please see our Getting Involved section for additional information.

One-on-one career counseling. The most important part of any successful job search is the creation of a strategy. Consider meeting with one of our attorney-counselors, who can provide insight, advice, and suggestions to help shape your job search strategy. These one-on-one meetings can also address other aspects of career planning including: basic resume and cover letter preparation and application procedures, market and employer information, practice area and career options exploration, interview preparation, and personal professional development. Appointments are available in person, via telephone, and via email.

CDO Resource Room. In addition to online resources available through CDOonline, the CDO maintains a resource library of hard copy reference materials, including directories, informational handouts, binders of fellowship and clerkship opportunities, legal periodicals, salary and practice-area reports and statistics, and more. Some of the resources in our Resource Room that you may find valuable include:

• Small and Medium firms lists for a variety of legal markets including Cleveland, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Washington, DC, New York City, and others.
• Vault Guides to the Top 100 Law Firms as well as the regional Top Firm guides.
• The Right Moves: Job Search and Career Development Strategies for Lawyers, by Valerie A. Fontaine
• Maximize Your Lawyer Potential: Professionalism and Business Etiquette for Law Students and Lawyers, by Amee R. McKim
• The Opportunity Maker, by Ari Kaplan
• The Complete Guide to Contract Lawyering: What Every Lawyer and Law Firm Needs to Know about Temporary Legal Services, by Deborah Arron and Deborah Guyol
• Staying at Home, Staying in the Law: A Guide to Remaining Active in the Legal Profession While Pursuing Your Dreams, by Julie Tower-Pierce

Our Resource Room also contains a fax machine, computer, copier, and telephone that are available for you to use to assist with your job search.

Networking. Our Comprehensive Alumni database and Case Connections Networking database offer you the opportunity to contact other alumni practicing in geographic or legal practice areas of interest. These contacts can be used to get advice on job search techniques and networking skills, as well as to gain information on current legal trends in the market. We also encourage you to join our alumni group on LinkedIn—which has a membership of over 900 alumni, students, and friends of the school—as well as join and become involved with your local bar association, networking groups, and professional associations.

Reciprocity. Reciprocity allows you to receive temporary access to some or all of the career services resources of another law school. Reciprocity is a valuable favor from another school, and many schools (especially those in high-volume areas like New York City, Chicago, and Washington, DC) will grant only a limited number of reciprocity requests each year. Because of this, it is critical that you make sure you have carefully read and understand the reciprocity policy of the school you are requesting access to and that you make your request at the time you are able to take the fullest advantage of the privileges extended to you. To request reciprocity, please complete the online Request Form. A copy of our reciprocity policy is available here.

Job Postings. Our job postings are updated each weekday, so be sure to check CDOonline on a regular basis. We recommend checking CDOonline at least twice a week, and applying to available opportunities without unnecessary delay. We also participate in the BYU Intercollegiate Job Bank, which includes job postings submitted by law schools nationwide; contact our office to be provided with the website and login information.

Getting Involved

Our office values the expertise and experience of our alumni and we regularly seek alumni, both locally and across the country, willing to share their time with tomorrow’s attorneys. Below are some of the ways that we hope you will choose to give back to your law school and its students.

Join Case Connections. Case Connections is an "opt-in" database of alumni who have expressed a desire to speak with current students about their law practice, job search techniques, the legal market in their city or state, and other issues related to navigating the career path. We welcome alumni nationwide into this network. To join the database, register and complete your profile in our online portal. To learn more, call Candice Storey at 216-368-6353.

Speak on a panel. Throughout the academic year, our office hosts a variety of programs and panels addressing different practice areas, trends in the law, interview tips, resume tips, networking, and more. Consider speaking on one of these panels or giving a presentation about your area of law or career path. To learn more, to volunteer, or to suggest a program, please call Sarah Beznoska at 216-368-6353.

Serve as a mock interviewer. Each winter, our office hosts a Mock Interview Saturday, which invites alumni and other practicing attorneys back to the school to conduct mock interviews with current students. These mock interviews give the students an opportunity to practice their skills and receive feedback from someone who’s “been there and done that”. We strive to include interviewers from all types of employers, including private practice, government, corporate, and public interest. The next Mock Interview Saturday will take place on January 26, 2013. To learn more or to volunteer, please call Heather DiFranco at 216-368-6353.

Conduct an employer outreach meeting. Throughout the year, our Director of Employer Outreach travels the country to meet with alumni and employers in an effort to learn what employers are looking for in candidates, what best practices and advice alumni want to share with current students, and to share information about the law school and its students. We would be delighted to meet with you. To learn more or to schedule a meeting, please call Mary Beth Moore at 216-368-6353.

Participate in our Interview Programs. Make sure there are more from your alma mater at your work! Participate in our on-campus interview programs or in one of our off-campus programs in Boston, New York City, Southern California, Chicago, or Washington, DC. To learn more, please visit our Recruiting section.

Submit a job posting. Hire a student to help with your caseload, or expand your practice with a recent graduate. Register with CDOonline and post your opportunity directly or use our online form to have us post your opportunity to our students and alumni through our password-protected online database.