PUBLIC SERVICE CAREER PATH TIMELINE

First Year

Fall

  • Contact Office of Career and Professional Development(OCPD) to sign up for the public service listserv
  • Begin learning about careers in public interest law
  • Review “The Public Service Handbook” located at OCPD
  • Review “Serving the Public: A Job Search Guide” located at OCPD
  • Visit
  • Visit
  • Begin building your public interest résumé
  • Contact Hilary Bednarz, , to participate in pro bono activities
  • Join a public interest or community service student group such as the Legal Services Society or Students for Public Interest Law
  • Begin thinking about your 1L summer
  • Attend the Equal Justice Works Career Fair in October
  • Meet with an OCPD career counselor after November 1
  • Attend OCPD’sPublic Interest Panel (date will be posted on our website)
  • Attend OCPD’sSummer Funding workshop (date will be posted on our website)

Spring

  • Seek 1L summer employment
  • Review the Government Honors & Internship Handbook at (contact OCPD for username and password)
  • Participate in the Greater Washington/Baltimore Public Service Career Fair in January
  • Apply for summer funding and fellowships (See OCPD’s “Funding for Summer Work” and “Fellowship Opportunities” handouts)

Summer

  • Network and make as many contacts as possible
  • Develop relationships with possible references
  • Consider participating in an externship in the Fall

Second Year

Fall

  • Begin 2L summer job search
  • Continue building public service résumé
  • Meet with an OCPD career counselor
  • Meet with Hilary Bednarz, Pro Bono Coordinator
  • Apply to employers coming to the Equal Justice Works Career Fair in October
  • Contact employers of interest
  • Attend OCPD’s Fellowship program
  • Attend OCPD’sPublic Interest Panel
  • Attend OCPD’sSummer Funding workshop
  • Review the Government Honors & Internship Handbookat (contact OCPD for username and password)

Spring

  • Participate in the Greater Washington/Baltimore Public Service Career Fair in January
  • Apply for summer funding and fellowships (See OCPD’s “Funding for Summer Work” and “Fellowship Opportunities” handouts)
  • Review the Government Honors & Internship Handbook
  • Apply for a clinic (See law.cua.edu/clinics/cle/)

Summer

  • Network and make as many contacts as possible
  • Educate yourself about fellowships
  • Make a calendar of relevant dates and deadlines
  • Secure a sponsoring organization
  • Research opportunities on PSLawNet.org
  • Research Equal Justice Works deadlines and begin working on their application (See

Third Year

Fall

  • For project fellowships
  • Secure a sponsoring organization
  • Prepare applications
  • Submit Equal Justice Works application (usually due mid-September)
  • For organizational fellowships and staff attorney positions
  • Make a calendar of deadlines and review PSLawNet’s Fellowship Calendar
  • Prepare applications
  • Prepare for interviews
  • Participate in the Mock Interview Program
  • Apply to employers coming to the Equal Justice Works Career Fair in October

Spring

  • Apply for staff attorney and fellowships with spring deadlines
  • Continue pursuing non-fellowship public interest options
  • Participate in the Public Service Career Fair in January