UC Davis School of Law - Current Students - Career Services

Career Services

3L Career Planning Checklist

SPRING SEMESTER

Network! Network! Network! Join a local bar association now. Add your membership to your resume under a section called "Professional Affiliations." See the state bar for links to all local bar associations.
Contact alumni for informational interviews. Access the alumni directory through the intranet .
Talk to your professors about your job status and area(s) of interest as they may have advice and/or contacts.
Talk to your references, and update them on your job status.
Check "Job Postings" in Symplicity for new listings posted daily.
Check employer specific sites (county sites for local government, public interest organization sites, and OSCAR for most judicial clerkships), for new job listings, two times per week. Apply as directed.
Research employers for direct applications and prepare direct applications (resume & tailored cover letter) in March. Mail completed direct applications in early April. Follow up 2-3 weeks later.
Complete online examinations for state government positions. Mail immediately upon graduation.
Come see us! We now have dedicated 3L only drop-in hours from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (Tues. through Thurs.) with Lisa Carlock. No appointment necessary! Or, you can also schedule an appointment for a lengthier session.
Complete a Graduate Employment Survey when you pick up your cap & gown at graduation. We will use the survey to direct specific job listings to you following the bar.

Study for the Bar Exam. This is your greatest priority. A license to practice law opens up many more employment opportunities.
Follow up on solid leads/active job listings and submit application materials.
Forward your UCD email address to an outside e-mail account so that you continue to receive all e-mail correspondence from the CSO.
Questions? Career Services advisors are available over the summer, Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm. Call 530-752-6574 or e-mail careerservices@law.ucdavis.eduif you need assistance.

Attend networking events in the city you are in.
Update your resume (to include your graduate status) and cover letter (to reflect that you have graduated and taken the bar and are ready to hit the ground running).
Continue checking Symplicity regularly! New alumni level job postings are posted daily. You will have ongoing access to the alumni level job listings on Symplicity indefinitely.
Continue checking employer specific sites (including State of California site(s)now that you have completed online examinations and have scores).
Use the BYU Intercollegiate Job Bank to access the alumni job bulletins of law schools throughout the country. Contact Career Services for an updated password to access the site.
Conduct a new round of direct applications and follow up on direct applications sent in the Spring. Follow up 2-3 weeks after you send your materials.
Reciprocity is available at many law schools across the nation. Contact Career Services for more information.
Contact Career Services for assistance. Lisa Taylor Carlock '97 is the alumni career counselor (available September through May) and can be reached at 530-752-2821, or at ltcarlock@ucdavis.edu for resume and cover letter review, individualized career counseling, additional resources.