detail of a carved archway at Yale Law School

Career Development

Welcome

CDO is the home of career advising for students and we look forward to partnering with students to evaluate goals, explore possibilities, and navigate the job search. To support the career journey, we offer one-on-one counseling, programs, and resources relating to legal career paths and we coordinate interview programs to facilitate hiring. Click For Students to learn more.

CDO provides career advising for alumni at all stages of their careers. Click For Alumni to learn more.

CDO offers numerous avenues for employers to broaden their recruitment efforts at YLS, including participation in interview programs and career panels, and online posting of employment opportunities. Click For Employers to learn more.


Weekly E-News

1L Class of 2027 Summer EmailsIntro to CDO 6/22/24Public Interest 6/28/24Law Firm Practice 7/3/24
In-house Practice 7/11/24Legal Academia 7/18/24Judicial Clerkships 7/25/24Legal Professionalism 8/1/24

 

Public Interest Newsletters (to come)

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courtyard in autumn
courtyard in autumn

Introduction to The Courtyard

The Courtyard, Yale Law School’s online community, launched to students in January 2020. Named for a favorite gathering place, The Courtyard is an online tool that connects students to our greatest resource, our alumni network.

Resources We Provide

Career Management System
The Career Development Office uses the Career Management System (CMS), powered by Symplicity, to provide the resources to students. Net ID required.

Counseling
CDO's attorney-counselors are available to discuss your career goals and aspirations, provide advice on resumes and cover letters, and discuss the job search process.

Programs
CDO hosts both interview and educational programs each year to provide students with a breadth of knowledge and opportunities across industries and practice areas. 

Career Pathways
Information on careers in public interest, judicial clerkships, law firms, law teaching, and business for students.

Toolkit for Student Job Seekers
Guidance on self-assessment, employer research, networking, application materials, and interviewing.

Career Guides & Advice
A range of career guides and resources for students across many areas of interest.

Recorded Programs
Helpful career development videos for career planning. Net ID required.

Career Management System
The Career Development Office uses the Career Management System (CMS), powered by Symplicity, to provide the resources to alumni. Net ID required.

Counseling
Alumni are welcome to conduct one-on-one mock interviews with CDO attorney-counselors at any stage of their careers, and to receive real-time personalized feedback on their performance.

Career Pathways
Information on careers in public interest, judicial clerkships, law firms, law teaching, and business for alumni.

Toolkit for Alumni Job Seekers
Guidance on employer research, networking, application materials, and interviewing. It also provides guidance on relocating, returning to work after a leave, handling a layoff, salary negotiation, temporary legal employment, and using a headhunter.

Career Guides & Advice
A range of career guides and resources for alumni across many areas of interest.

Interview Programs

Yale students and graduates seek employment experiences both within and outside of the legal profession: in private practice, from large firms to solo practices; in federal, state, and local government; in public interest settings, and in corporations and businesses; and in non-profit organizations. To facilitate this process, CDO organizes two interview programs in early August and February.

Post an Opportunity

The Career Development Office uses an online job posting system powered by Symplicity. After registering basic profile information, employers may post openings free of charge. Submissions from third parties, including search firms, will not be accepted.

Increase Visibility at YLS

In addition to participating in our interview programs or posting an opportunity, we encourage employers to engage with our students. Learn more.

The Criminal Justice Clinic has given me the unique opportunity to represent a client in court as a first-year law student. Experiential learning has been the most meaningful part of law school so far, and it has exposed me to the criminal justice system first-hand.