You have your whole career ahead of you.
And if you're like most incoming law school students, you're not sure what that looks like. What kind of law will you end up practicing? Will you become a litigator or a transactional lawyer? Will you enter private practice? Government service? Corporate law? Or will you open your own practice? Will you leverage your law degree to build a business, finance, or consulting career? Or will you end up in the legislature, the judiciary, or working for a non-profit organization?
And then there's that issue of landing the job that will put you on your path. It's a lot to take in, a lot to think about, and a lot to do to get ready. That's why we're here.
GETTING STARTED
At the Career Development Office (CDO), we help get you prepared for life after law school before your law school journey even begins. We meet with you at Orientation, then again in your 2nd Quarter, and yet again through a series of ongoing, individual consulting sessions, all to get to know—you. We work to identify your strengths, explore your interests, and help you develop your career plan. The better we understand what makes you unique, the better we'll be able to match you with opportunities that will help get you where you want to go.
Throughout your journey, we provide you with a wealth of resources—from professional development workshops and programs to job posting databases and recruitment programs, mentoring programs, and one-on-one counseling—plus a host of library and online resources you'll likely find helpful as you plan your future.
GETTING CONNECTED
At the same time, the CDO is constantly talking with potential employers—to understand the changing dynamics of the job market, assess their particular needs, and identify job opportunities that match our students' strengths. Throughout each year, we work to connect legal employers from all practice areas with students through a series of programs—from regularly scheduled on-campus interviews to resume collection based on each firm's specific needs to direct contact job postings.
GETTING OUT THERE
And while we're with you through all three years of your law school experience, it's important to remember that the CDO is not a "placement center." This is your career. And it's your search. So, you need to be proactive.
It means taking the initiative to build your resume and skill set through practical experience outside the classroom. Internships, externships, and summer clerkships are great ways to make contacts and gain experience, particularly after your first year. Likewise, after your second year—when your legal skills are more fully developed, and your potential to prospective employers has an even greater chance to shine—it's to your benefit to get out there.
It also means carving out time to meet with employers to hone your interview skills. Even if you don't walk away with the offer, you emerge a more robust, more polished candidate for the correct position.
GETTING RESULTS
The good news is that Baylor Law consistently enjoys one of the nation's highest employment rates of any law school. It's a credit to the quality of young lawyers we graduate and a testament to the high percentage of those who build successful careers.
But there are measures beyond metrics that define success: How will your strengths, skills, personality, and career goals line up with the place you land? Will you be challenged? Will you be valued? And will you be able to successfully build on that experience to get where you ultimately want to be?
For all of us at the CDO, it's about more than just landing a job. It's about launching a career. So, let's start by getting to know each other. Let's get together. And let's get going.
“The CDO helped me develop strategies for conducting my job search and put me in touch with people in my field. When the right opportunity came around, they made sure I took full advantage of it. I felt like I had a whole Baylor Law team helping me look for a job.”
—Alaina Smith
Baylor Lawyer, 2013
Assistant General Counsel, Garland ISD
