The Career Services Office (CSO) is committed to assisting students and alumni in all aspects of their career development, from job search strategy and interview preparation to professional development and beyond. We also actively engage with employers to promote the School of Law and to encourage them to consider our students when making hiring decisions.
CSO Services
The Career Services Office (CSO) is committed to partnering with our students in their job searches. While final responsibility for a successful job search rests with the individual student, the CSO is here to provide resources, knowledge, advice, and encouragement along the way. The CSO prides itself on offering comprehensive general programming to the entire student body as well as personal attention to each student’s individualized career ambitions.

Our staff. The CSO staff is comprised of five attorney-counselors with varied professional backgrounds, as well as an office manager and a recruitment coordinator. The size of our office allows us to quickly respond to student needs and questions.

One-on-one career counseling. The most important part of any successful job search is the creation of a strategy. This strategy should be developed in consultation with a CSO attorney-counselor, who can provide insight, advice, and suggestions to help shape the job search strategy. The CSO encourages students to meet with their counselor as often as needed. These one-on-one meetings can also address other aspects of career planning, including: basic document preparation (resumes and cover letters) 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.

Open-door policy. The CSO maintains an open-door policy for addressing student questions and concerns. While the CSO requests that students schedule appointments for in-depth discussion, mock interviews, or other questions that will take more than just a few minutes, counselors are always available for walk-in questions.

Online resources. The CSO has created a variety of job search resources designed to assist students in narrowing and targeting their job searches. These resources are available in the CSO Resource Room, and many are also available online. The CSO website contains information on upcoming programs, legal practice areas, and job fairs. The CSO also maintains an online library of resources on Blackboard.

CSO Resource Room. In addition to online resources available through Symplicity and the CSO’s course on Blackboard, the CSO 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. The Resource Room also contains a lending library of reference books regarding legal practice options, preparing for interviews, drafting application documents, and general job search advice. The Resource Room also contains a fax machine, computer, copier, and telephone that are available for students to use for matters related to their job search.

Programming. Each year, the CSO hosts over 40 programs covering a variety of topics, including practice area exploration, professional development, e-professionalism, interview skills, and resume and cover letter workshops. Attendance at these programs can provide students with insight from practicing attorneys, expert advice on specific geographic markets, and other “insider” information that is invaluable to the job search. The CSO advertises its programs in a variety of ways, including in the Docket, the CSO Record, this website, and the CSO’s Google calendar.

Job Postings. In the 2008-2009 academic year, the CSO posted over 1400 job opportunities to our students and alumni. Our job postings are updated each weekday, so be sure to check Symplicity on a regular basis. The CSO recommends checking Symplicity at least twice a week, and applying to available opportunities without unnecessary delay.

Interview Programs. In addition to year-round job postings, the CSO coordinates two formal interview programs each year, the Fall Interview Program and the Spring Interview Program. Both programs contain on-campus interview and resume collect/direct opportunities. The Fall Interview Program also contains off-campus interview programs in New York City, Boston, Washington, DC, Chicago, and Southern California. All applications for the interview programs are submitted via Symplicity.

Reciprocity. Reciprocity allows students and alumni to receive access to some or all of the career services resources of another law school. This can be a useful tool for students seeking employment outside the greater Cleveland area. Reciprocity is a valuable favor from another law 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. Reciprocity is not to be used to ‘window shop’ a legal market. The CSO encourages students to speak with their CSO counselor before submitting a reciprocity request. To request reciprocity, please complete the online Request Form. A copy of CWRU Law’s reciprocity policy is available here.