Choosing a law school is a highly personal decision, and career-related matters are important factors to consider.
Applicants are encouraged to contact Phyllis Diane Kotey, Interim Director of the Career Planning and Placement Office, at Lawcareer@fiu.edu with any questions regarding the career opportunities available to FIU Law students and graduates.
First-Year Orientation
Under NALP —the Association for Legal Career Professionals—standards, law schools may not offer career services to first-year law students before Nov. 1. This permits students to focus their attention on their studies and adjust to their new environment. Therefore, the first time we meet with first-year law students is at their mandatory 1L Career Kick-Off and Orientation, which takes place on or about Nov. 1. At that time, you will be introduced to the fundamentals of a legal job search and the services and support that the Career Planning and Placement Office offers.
Career Advising
Students who are currently enrolled in the law school are encouraged to meet with an advisor as frequently as possible. Appointments may be made for career planning and job search advice, resume and cover letter preparation, mock interviews, tips on salary negotiation and more.
Recruitment Programs
For second and third-year students, FIU Law hosts an On-Campus Interview (OCI) program during the late summer and throughout the fall. During the spring semester, we host a smaller OCI program that is open for all students, including first-year students. Recruiting organizations include large, medium and small law firms, corporations, and some public interest and government agencies. In addition, FIU Law participates in several regional interview programs held in cities throughout the country. Instead of interviewing on campus, many employers choose to post job listings for part-time positions during the academic year, as well as summer and post-graduate employment opportunities.
Public Interest/Government Resources
Our office provides a variety of programs and public interest/government advice to educate students interested in both summer and post-graduate employment in the public sector. We have a number of resources, directories and other information available for student use, and the law school is a sponsor-school member of Equal Justice Works, an organization that provides the training and skills that enable attorneys to provide effective representation to vulnerable populations. FIU Law has a very active public interest student body. By graduation, all students have volunteered at various public interest agencies a minimum of 3o hours. In the spring, the CDO holds its annual Public Interest Resource Fair which hosts several organizations. Students are able to learn about performing public interest/government work.
Judicial Clerkships
The Career Planning and Placement Office offers programs and services to students and alum interested in judicial clerkships and the process for applying for and obtaining clerkships at the federal, state and local level.
Speakers and Programs
Every year, we sponsor a large number of career skills and legal career information programs and invite attorneys from the private and public sector, as well as nationally-known speakers, to provide career and job search advice to students. Most programs are taped and available online.
Resource Center
Publications and printed materials located at the Career Planning and Placement Office include:
- A variety of handouts on topics such as resume preparation, networking and interviewing skills, the judicial clerkship application and interview process, and public interest/government employment.
- Periodicals (such as the NALP Directory, Guide to Judicial Clerkships, Florida Bar News, Florida Bar Journal and Corporate Counsel) which list job openings nationwide and provide information about the current legal job market.
- Books and publications from a variety of sources which discuss career planning, job search techniques and particular legal practice areas.
Mentoring and Networking
The Career Planning and Placement Office works with the Alumni Relations Office and the Student Bar Association to present several networking opportunities to students throughout the year in the community. A variety of alumni functions and other law school community activities offer a wide range of opportunities to network with practitioners, judges and others, and students are strongly encouraged to participate.