Submitting Your Applications Directly to Employers
While LL.M. students sometimes apply for legal practice positions through organized programs and processes including the private sector-focused annual LL.M. Interview Program and the YLS Public Interest Fellowship processes, some LL.M. students (and nearly all LL.M. students who are conducting law firm job searches) may also apply directly to prospective employers.
As a general rule (and unless an employer specifically requests additional or different materials), in the initial application stage when you are applying directly to an employer you need only provide two items with your application:
- Your resume
- Your cover letter
If you have a strong English-language writing sample, you may wish to include that as well.
Most students who apply directly to employers submit their applications by email. Occasionally, an employer will instruct applicants to upload their application materials through its own web portal. Many employers indicate on their websites how they would prefer for student applicants to apply. If no application preferences are specified, email is a safe choice.
It is best to convert your documents into PDFs to avoid conversion problems. Before creating the PDFs, format your documents properly by using Word, a standard font such as Times New Roman, at least 0.5 margins, and tabs or justification instead of spaces for alignment purposes.
If you are emailing your applications, include the body of your cover letter in the email message and also include the cover letter as an attachment. Ideally you will attach only one PDF file that includes your resume and cover letter, and any additional application materials, in one document.
If you have questions on how to do any of this, contact CDO or YLS’s Information Technology Services department.
If you have submitted your application directly to an employer and have not heard from the employer after two or more weeks, it is fine to send a follow-up email (if you submitted your initial application via email, your follow-up email can be on the same email chain as your initial application). You can state that you are just writing to follow up on your application, as you remain very interested in working for that employer; that you would be glad to share any additional materials that might assist the employer in its evaluation of your candidacy; and that you hope to hear back from the employer soon.
Keep a record of your contacts with employers: those who respond; the nature of their replies; your follow up; and the results. Your search may last a matter of weeks or more likely months, and this record will be an invaluable tool. You are building your professional network, so touch base with contacts you encountered along the way and tell them about the work you ultimately select.
Interviews and Interview Follow-up
See CDO’s Interviewing webpage for all YLS students, which contains an in-depth discussion of numerous interview-related topics and links to additional interviewing resources, including:
- Preparation for first-round and callback interviews
- A list of sample employer interview questions
- Information about post-interview thank you notes
- Sample post-interview thank you notes
- Detailed advice for YLS students on legal interview and work attire
