Advice for 1Ls on Application Timing

Advice for 1Ls on Application Timing and Approach

YLS Recruiting Policy re: First-Year Students 

In recognition of the importance of the first semester of law school in providing a strong academic foundation, Section V of Yale Law School’s Recruiting Policies state that, with two exceptions, prospective summer employers shall not consider applications from first-year students before December 1.

Exceptions:

• Federal entities that require candidates to undergo extended background checks (commonly entities involved in national security) and need to conduct summer hiring prior to December 1 to accommodate their unique hiring procedures, may receive and review applications prior to December 1.
• Employers hiring for non-legal positions and foreign entities that need to conduct summer hiring prior to December 1, to accommodate their unique hiring procedures, may receive and review applications prior to December 1.

Later application deadlines provide students with more time

• to acclimate to the law school environment
• to develop meaningful relationships with faculty who will be better equipped to serve as references
• to assess their career goals and research employment opportunities with the support of the Career Development Office

On the other hand, early hiring deadlines

• may disadvantage students who arrive at law school with less knowledge of the legal landscape and fewer relationships in the legal community
• can disproportionately impact first-generation professional students and students of color
   

Should You Apply Before December 1? 

As you research 1L summer opportunities, some employers may appear to have an application process before December 1. Why?   

• the opportunity is actually meant for second-year students 
• the job is outside the sphere of legal employment 
• the candidate will be subject to an extensive background check and the employer needs an earlier deadline to enable time for the completion of the check 
• the employer is choosing not to comply with our policy  

If you decide to apply for an opportunity with deadline before December 1 

• share the information about the early deadline with your CDO counselor and discuss whether it makes sense for you to apply   
• keep in mind that if you apply early you may have to act on an offer before you have had the chance to apply for the vast majority of positions with later application dates   

General Advice 

Most students submit some applications in early December  Others decide to apply after exams depending on time demands  Apply in waves, with most competitive and favorite employers first   For your first wave, consider sending 6-12 applications  Because many employers review materials on a rolling basis, applying earlier in the process may be beneficial  Conduct research to determine when to apply Visit employers’ websites for specifics   Access CMS to review  job announcements   Summer Employment Feedback surveys   Talk to upper-class students  Send a cover letter and resume to employers of interest, even if you cannot find a specific job posting  Meet with a counselor to strategize

Employer-Specific Advice  

	Large Law Firms   Apply beginning December 1   Firms may interview over break, but may not make offers until the new year   Consult www.nalpdirectory.com for 1L summer hiring information   Search for target firm(s)   Select Recruitment & Hiring tab    Select Summer Associate Hiring Questions drop-down
	Mid-Sized and Small Firms Apply December – March Hiring timelines vary Consult firms’ web pages
	Government Agencies   Apply beginning December 1 for most competitive offices, especially U.S. Department of Justice components and U.S. Attorneys Offices   Apply January-March for others   Consult Government Honors & Internship Handbook   Password: please contact CDO  Pro tip: Review deadline tables to view “Deadlines for Applications by Agency Name”
	Non-Profit Organizations   Apply beginning December 1 for most competitive organizations like ACLU, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Civil Rights Corps, Constitutional Accountability Center   Apply December-March   Consult PSJD    Create your own username and password   Pro tip: Search Employer database. Either apply to listed open positions or send cover letter and resume directly to the employer, even if no position is posted
	Judiciary   Apply to judges in most competitive locations and courts (e.g., federal courts in New York City, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, and San Francisco) starting December 1  Typically, judges do not publicize positions   Note that Summer Public Interest Funding (SPIF) is not available to U.S. citizens for judicial internships