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This year, Dean Meyer has instituted a "Fall Career Week" for the 2Ls and 3Ls during the week of October 10, 2011.  Students will be on Fall Break that week, and while the 1Ls focus on their studies and perfecting their Legal Research and Writing assignments, the upperclassmen will be focused on the job search.  We have encouraged the students to use the time off from school to work on summer and permanent job searches.  Students will be traveling to cities where they plan to work to schedule interviews and informational sessions and to meet alums in their target markets. We are also hoping that they will devote some of the week to the time-consuming task of sending out application materials for open positions.

As part of the Fall Career Week, the Career Development Office will be hosting a "Houston Career Conference" for students interested in the Texas market.  The CDO staff members have worked countless hours organizing interviews, informational sessions, table-talks, networking events and mock interviews.  We have gotten some great responses by calling and e-mailing our many alums in the Houston area and asking for their participation in this new event.  The Conference will be held October 11 and 12 at the Tulane Business School space in the Houston Galleria. We are hoping that this unique conference will give students interested in Texas the chance to chat with experienced practitioners about hiring in the area, the "hot" practice areas, and life in Houston.  We know our students will make great use of this time to work on the job search, and we're grateful for the Dean's support in this area by creating this special "Fall Career Week."

One of the busiest times of the year for me is mid-August through the day after Labor Day, otherwise known as “Judicial Clerkship Application Season.” Tulane Law School puts a huge emphasis on students seeking out and obtaining clerkship opportunities within the federal and state judiciary, and the deadline for applications to the majority of federal judges is September 6, 2011. Last year, we had fifteen students in the Class of 2011 obtain clerkships in federal and state court, and we always strive to have as many of our students clerk as possible.

The CDO takes a very active role in assisting our students with the clerkship application process, from coordinating the process of gathering and processing faculty recommendation letters to organizing a mail-out of paper applications to the judges to providing counseling and advice on application strategies. This year, 55 members of the Class of 2012 took advantage of the services we offer. On Monday, August 29, we held our “Clerkship Application Drop Date” for the 3L class, where our hard-working CDO staff organizes and bundles hundreds of paper applications to send via UPS to various state and federal judges. We try to make the process easier on the students by covering the mailing costs of up to 50 applications per student. I spent the rest of the week organizing electronic applications and meeting with students about last minute questions. It was a definite relief when we reached September 6, but we are so looking forward to hearing about the interviews our students schedule and the positions that they obtain.

We believe that judicial clerkships provide an invaluable experience, reference, and résumé-builder. They are prestigious positions that prepare the new graduate for maximum success and flexibility in law practice while he/she enjoys a close working relationship with a valuable mentor. In market downturns they provide job assurance, entry-level experience, and a way to further distinguish the recent graduate. Recognized by the bar, bench, and the legal community as an unparalleled experience, clerkships at all levels are an opportunity available to Tulane students from a broad range of backgrounds, interests, and accomplishments. The faculty strongly recommends they be considered, and many faculty members have clerked and are available to discuss their experiences; many also have contact with specific judges and can suggest application advice. The CDO is happy to assist students in any way possible in pursuing this endeavor.
 

Last Friday, the CDO hosted an information session with a panel of attorneys who practice in various federal government agencies including: Bam Viloria Gresset of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, Andrea Wilkes of the  National Labor Relations Board, and Keith Hill of the  US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.  The panel discussed their experiences working for the government and offered advice for applying for internships and entry-level positions with the federal government, including through the Honor's Program.  The students learned tips on cover letters, applications, résumés, interviewing, and how to distinguish themself on the job, while networking with these attorneys. 

Each of the attorneys provided wonderful insight into their particular careers, the work they did, and ways to make their applications for positions with the federal government as competitive as possible.  Andrea Wilkes of the NLRB commented that the most important thing when applying for a position as an attorney with the federal government is timing.  The agency must have the right amount of funding, there must be a vacancy, and the office must have work.  She also commented that the NLRB always has a number of volunteer interns and externs from Tulane and those people are the first ones she considers when filling an opening.  Bam Viloria Gresset, a Tulane Law alumna, added that HUD has a specific succession plan in place to replace the large number of federal workers that will be retiring in the next 10 years by hiring a number of entry-level attorneys every year. Keith Hill finished with this advice, “have a vision about your life and wrap that vision around your passions.”  The common theme that permeated the program by all of the speakers was the importance of volunteering your time with agencies in order to show your passion for their work.  The panelists were both inspiring and insightful; we are very grateful they shared their time and experiences with us.   

Thanks to Amanda Moeller for organizing this program and for reporting on it!