CDO’s Role in Your Job Search
CDO is here to partner with you as you evaluate your goals, explore possibilities, and navigate your job search. We provide one-on-one counseling, programs, and resources relating to nonprofits and government, including public interest fellowships; law firms; and judicial clerkships; and we coordinate interview programs to facilitate hiring.
You will be assigned a CDO counselor in September who will discuss relevant resources; facilitate connections with students and alumni; review application materials; provide interview advice; guide you through the offer and acceptance stage; and advise on job and internship success and navigating on-the-job challenges. After your 1L summer job plans are finalized, you are welcome to connect with any other CDO counselor who you think would be best suited to your long- term job interests.
PROFESSIONALISM: We look forward to developing a strong working relationship with you based on a mutual understanding of expectations and goals. We commit to you that we will offer you our best advice and feedback in a timely, respectful manner; we will be prepared, to the best of our ability, to respond to your questions and concerns; and we will work diligently to foster interactions with employers in compliance with our Recruiting Policies, Yale’s Sexual Misconduct Policies, and NALP’s Principles for a Fair and Ethical Recruitment Process. In return, we expect you to take ownership of your job search and commit to us that you will make full use of the resources provided, represent yourself accurately in all communications, be responsive to communications, and honor your commitments.
The 1L Summer Job Decision in Context
Your 1L summer job decision is not particularly consequential – no choice will foreclose future opportunities. Consider using the summer to learn about particular area(s) of law, improve specific skills, and/or explore a geographic area. According to our data, most 1Ls work in the public sector, either with a government agency or non-profit organization. Just over 10% of 1Ls work for a private firm, and a few students conduct research for faculty, work for a corporation, or serve as a judicial extern.
Application Timing and Approach
You may hear rumors and receive conflicting advice about when you should begin applying to summer positions at various types of legal employers. Read our advice here to learn how to create an application timeline that will meet your needs and employers’ expectations.