Public Interest Job Search Timeline

• Attend events and programs hosted by OCPD, Clinical Education, Law School Centers and Concentrations, and student organizations throughout the year. Monitor the Campus Docket and Engage to keep up with the latest campus events.  
• Meet OCPD! Beginning in October, schedule an appointment with the Associate Director of Public Interest Careers to discuss your interests and explore options for your 1L summer. 
• Review materials on the Public Interest Job Search to familiarize yourself with the field and process. 
• Update your resume to align with standard public interest format and submit to OCPD for review and feedback. 
• Research prospective summer intership opportunities and make a list of organizations to apply to. 
• Keep track of application deadlines and take note of early ones. Utilize the Application Tracking Template or create your own tracking process to fit your needs. 
• Begin drafting cover letters and submit to OCPD for review and feedback. 
• Attend Stetson Law's Pro Bono Fair in October to connect with legal aid, nonprofit, and government attorneys in the community. 
• Begin the Registrant Bar Application for the Florida Bar. By filing the Student Registrant Application, you start the Character and Fitness evaluation as a student rather than waiting until you are ready to sit for the bar exam. You will need Character and Fitness Clearance to seek Certified Legal Intern (CLI) opportunities and/or CLI employment later. 
• Consider applying for one of Stetson Law's Alternative Break Programs to gain hands-on experience and provide pro bono service alongside a public interest organization. 

Winter

• Complete the Student Registrant Application if you haven't already. Don't miss the deadline to register as a 1L! 
• Apply for summer internships and continue monitoring opportunities and tracking deadlines. 
• Watch for information about Stetson Law's On-Campus Interview (OCI) program, which includes summer opportunities with public sector employers. 
• Update your voicemail greeting so it is appropriate for messages from prospective employers. 
• Review your online presence (social media, LinkedIn profile, and search results) to see what prospective employers may find if they search you. Make adjustments to your profiles as needed. 
• Attend the Public Interest Career Fair in February to connect with employers seeking summer interns. 
• Schedule a mock interview with OCPD to practice your interviewing skills and receive feedback. 
• Meet with OCPD for guidance on your application strategy or any questions you may have. 
• Follow up on pending applications if necessary and appropriate. 

Spring

• Continue your job search. If you're still looking for opportunities in March, attend Stetson Law's Career Fair and schedule a meeting with your OCPD adviser for guidance. 
• Consider applying for externships for your 2L year; watch for announcements and attend related info sessions. Visit the Clinical Education page to view course requirements for clinics/externships of interest to you and plan accordingly. 
• Consider opportunities with Law Review, journals, competition teams, and/or student organization leadership roles. Attend relevant info sessions to learn more. 
• Continue to take advantage of events and programs at Stetson Law. 
• Consider registering for the Southeastern Law School Consortium (SELSC) Job Fair to apply to 2L summer opportunities being offered by participating employers. 

• Enjoy your summer internship and reflect on your experience. Connect with your supervisor and attorneys at the organization, learn as much as you can, and if possible, develop a writing sample. 
• Reach out to and connect with attorneys working in your areas of interest. 
• Research organizations and opportunities you'd like to apply to for 2L summer. Make a list and note early deadlines. 
• Meet with OCPD to plan for 2L summer. OCPD is available for in-person and virtual appointments throughout the summer. 
• Look out for information regarding the OCI timeline for 2L summer. 
• If engaging in pro bono over the summer, track and report your hours. 

• If you haven't already, meet with OCPD to talk about 2L summer. 
• Watch for emails from OCPD and monitor Symplicity, PSJD, and other job search resources.
• Update application materials and apply to 2L summer opportunities. 
• Register for the Equal Justice Works Career Fair and apply for prescheduled interviews and/or informal table talk. There is a modest fee to register, which participatants may seek reimbursement for from the Professional Development Fund.   
• Interview for 2L positions; contact OCPD for mock interviews. 
• Look into and apply for summer funding, if needed. 

• If still seeking 2L summer positions, consult with OCPD, take advantage of available OCI opportunities, continue monitoring internal/external job search boards, and attend Stetson Law's spring career fairs. 
• Continue applying for summer funding opportunities, if needed. 
• Attend OCPD's Fellowships Info Session to learn about postgraduate public interest fellowships and government honors programs. 
• Meet with OCPD if you are interested in project-based fellowship opportunities and/or postgraduate judicial clerkships.
• If considering project-based fellowship opportunities, brainstorm project ideas and prospective host organizations. 

• Build strong relationships with attorneys and supervisors at your summer internship. Recommendations or references from your 2L summer can be crucial for your postgraduate job search. 
• Research and identify postgraduate options, application requirements, and deadlines. 
• Monitor Symplicity, OCI schedules, PSJD, Arizona Handbooks, OCPD's Fellowship Tracking Sheet, and other job search resources. Set up a deadline tracking system and flag applications with early deadlines. 
• If you haven't already, meet with OCPD and let them know if you plan to apply for fellowships, government honors programs, or judicial clerkships. Some applications are due over the 2L summer/early fall and require significant work prior to the application deadline. 
• If pursuing project-based fellowship opportunities, reach out to prospective host organizations, secure a host, and develop a project.
• Work with OCPD throughout the summer. 
• For applications that require letter(s) of recommendation, identify recommenders and reach out to them early.  
• Apply to opportunities with early deadlines. 
• If engaging in pro bono over the summer, track and report your hours. Don't wait until the last minute to complete the 60-hour graduation requirement!

• Deepen campus involvement; actively participate and/or serve in leadership roles within student organizations.
• Serve on Law Review, journals, and/or competition teams. 
• Continue to build your network; talk with professors, alumni, and public interest practitioners working in your field of interest. 
• Continue to attend relevant programming, as well as events featuring public interest practitioners. 
• Participate in clinics, externships, internships, and/or pro bono opportunities. 

• Complete applications with early fall deadlines (e.g., government honors programs, EJW, other fellowships, OCI postgraduate oppportunities, etc.) 
• Regularly check job search resources for new opportunities. 
• Participate in EJW's Career Fair, if relevant to your career goals. 
• Contact OCPD for mock interviews. 

• Continue to monitor job search resources and submit applications for postgraduate employment. 
• Participate in Stetson Law's Career Fairs, if applicable. 
• Stay in close contact with OCPD if you're still looking for postgraduate employment or need additional assistance. 

• Continue to take advantage of clinics, externships, internships, and pro bono opportunities. 
• Continue to attend programming and events available at Stetson Law and in the legal community. Where time permits, stick around after events featuring public interest practitioners to engage with presenters and continue to build your network. 
• Stay connected with OCPD, professors, mentors, alumni, and practitioners for guidance, networking and support. 
• Complete your pro bono hours in a timely fashion and submit them for approval.