The Office of Career Planning provides a broad range of programs
to help students and graduates as they explore career opportunities
while also serving employers both nationally and internationally.
OCP encourages and helps guide students to look broadly at all
the opportunities a Michigan Law education makes possible. We're
here for our students even before they become our students: our
emphasis on one-on-one counseling begins during the admissions process
and continues long after our students become our alumni.
Students at Michigan Law have always enjoyed a wealth of opportunities,
even in a difficult economy. Nonetheless, in response to the most
recent economic downturn—from which we are now emerging—we concentrated
enormous amounts of institutional attention on expanding the tremendous
services we provide to our students. Our most dramatic step was
to merge the Office of Public Service and Office of Career Services
into a single entity, the Office of Career Planning (OCP), to facilitate
students' exploration of opportunities in a variety of practice
settings, and to allow us to build and develop all elements of our
existing well-rounded programs. The coordinated approach that the
reorganization allows reflects the reality of our students' careers,
which are more often a melding of multiple opportunities than a
strict division between private and public. Our new structure allows
us to more effectively help students focus on both long- and short-term
goals, and also facilitated the following improvements:
- the hiring of additional counseling staff, with resulting
expanded counseling hours and diversified expertise
- increased career-planning and networking programming
- development of post-graduate and summer-funding opportunities
that allow individuals to enter into new markets
- ever-increasing use of our powerful and broad alumni base
- expanded outreach to new employers outside our traditional
network
Throughout the academic year, the Office of Career Planning offers
a speaker series covering a variety of topics and designed to help
students explore their career options, translate individual legal
interests into professional paths, and analyze the latest market
trends.
Date: 8/20/2012
Time: 2:00pm-3:00pm
Location: 1225 South Hall
Description:
We will cover Early Interview Week details
and reminders. Students should plan to
attend if they are participating in EIW.
Listen to the
audio MP3 file of the program. View the
presentation slides (PDF file).
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Date: 8/23/2012
Time: 12:00pm-1:00pm
Location: Student Lounge at the Holiday Inn near the University
of Michigan
Description:
Hear* (MP3 file; authentication required) Assistant Dean Susan Guindi
and Gary McGinnis provide students with
information on how to schedule and prioritize
callback interviews.
View Presentation Slides (PDF format).
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Date: 9/5/2012
Time: 4:00pm-4:55pm
Location: 0220 South Hall (Basement)
Description:
3Ls interested in government post-grad jobs: come
chat about the timeline for applying for jobs and
get tips to help you with your job search going
forward.
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Date: 9/5/2012
Time: 11:50am-1:00pm
Location: 1020 South Hall
Description:
Hear* (MP3 file; authentication
required) Professor Joan Larsen will give
tips for scheduling and conducting clerkship
interviews.
View program handout* (PDF file;
requires authentication).
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Date: 9/10/2012
Time: 12:00pm-1:00pm
Location: 1020 South Hall
Description:
Come learn about this opportunity to meet 120+ public
service employers on October 26th & October 27th
in DC! Alyson Robbins (Public Interest Director),
Laura Scott (Government Advisor), and 3Ls who were
there last year will answer your questions about
why you should attend, how to make the most of the
event, the registration process, the travel reimbursement
from OCP, and more!
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Date: 9/10/2012
Time: 12:10pm-1:10pm
Location: 120 Hutchins Hall
Description:
Lawyers from the firm of Sullivan & Cromwell in
NY and Professor Davis will discuss transactional
practices.
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Date: 9/13/2012
Time: 11:55pm-12:55pm
Location: 0225 South Hall
Description:
There's a job out there for everyone (even if it
doesn't feel like it). As you head into the final
stretch, we want to help you maximize resources
and contacts so you can get a great job -- in private
practice, with a non-profit, or in government!
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Date: 9/19/2012
Time: 12:10pm-1:10pm
Location: 1020 South Hall
Description:
The General Counsel of the Consumer Financial Protection
Bureau, Len Kennedy will speak about CFPB and opportuniites
with the agency. Prior to joining CFPB, Kennedy
was General Counsel of Sprint Nextel Corporation,
and twice served as a Senior Legal Advisor at the
Federal Communications Commission. For those of
you wondering about moving from government practice
to private practice (and vice versa), you won't
want to miss this program!
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Date: 9/20/2012
Time: 11:55am-12:55pm
Location: 1025 South Hall
Description:
Susan Guindi, Assistant Dean of the Office of Career
Planning, will provide an Introduction to Career
Planning for Graduate Students. Dean Guindi will
provide information and advice for the LL.M. job
search, including participation in the LL.M. Job
Fair in New York, NY.
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Date: 9/21/2012
Time: 12:10-1:00pm
Location: 1020 South Hall
Description:
Eric Jon Taylor '90, a partner in the firm of Parker, Hudson, Rainer & Dobbs LLP in Atlanta, will discuss the legal market in Atlanta and offer tips on how to get a job.
Mr. Taylor has been a partner at a large, international law firm, has worked in-house at a Fortune 20 company managing litigation, and is now a partner at a smaller firm with his friends.
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Date: 9/25/2012
Time: Times TBA
Location: Locations TBA
Description:
The Federal Circuit Bar Association is holding its
regional meeting at the Law School, and it will
include numerous panel presentations throughout
the day. Several federal judges will participate,
as will IP practitioners. Students and faculty are
encouraged to attend.
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Date: 9/26/2012
Time: 12:00pm-1:10pm
Location: 1020 South Hall
Description:
Learn about the program and the application process.
MLS alumni who participate(d) in the program will
share their experiences as well.
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Date: 10/3/2012
Time: 12:00pm-1:00pm
Location: 1060 South Hall
Description:
Major Samuel Gregory will give an
informational briefing to students about
the opportunities with Army JAG.
*Although the
United States Armed Forces have
recently revised their employment
policies and practices
(specifically, through the repeal of
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”), their
policies continue to discriminate on
the basis of gender identity and
gender expression. Current federal
law, however, effectively prevents
the Law School from applying its
anti-discrimination policy to
military recruiters, including those
for the Judge Advocate General
Corps. The fact that military
recruiters are here in no way
reflects the Law School’s
endorsement of their discriminatory
employment practices.
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Date: 10/17/2012
Time: 12:00pm-12:50pm
Location: 1060 South Hall
Description:
Major Vicki Belleau (Air Force JAG lawyer) will
give an informational briefing to 1Ls, 2Ls, 3Ls,
& LLMs about the opportunities in the Air Force
JAG Corps. Students can sign up via Symplicity
(sign up is from 10/9/2012 - 10/11/2012) to meet
with Major Belleau after the informational session.
*Although the United States
Armed Forces have recently revised their
employment policies and practices (specifically,
through the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”),
their policies continue to discriminate on the
basis of gender identity and gender expression.
Current federal law, however, effectively
prevents the Law School from applying its
anti-discrimination policy to military
recruiters, including those for the Judge
Advocate General Corps. The fact that military
recruiters are here in no way reflects the Law
School’s endorsement of their discriminatory
employment practices.
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Date: 10/23/2012
Time: 12:00pm-1:00pm
Location: 218 Hutchins Hall
Description:
Jim Shimota '99, a partner in Bridges & Mavrakakis LLP in Chicago, will discuss his career trajectory as an IP lawyer. Having worked at both a large firm and smaller one, he will highlight the differences between them.
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Date: 10/25/2012
Time: 12:00pm-12:55pm
Location: 220 Hutchins Hall
Description:
The Office of Career Planning will present a workshop on how to use LinkedIn.
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Date: 10/29/2012
Time: 12:10pm-1:10pm
Location: South Hall 0220 (Basement)
Description:
Cindy Cohn, '89, is the Legal Director for the Electronic
Frontier Foundation as well as its General Counsel.
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Law students have become increasingly sophisticated in deciding
whether and where to attend law school. They want to know "Is law
school worth my money?" and "Can I trust this particular law school
to get me where I want to go?" We welcome this thoughtful approach
to making a crucial decision—and for those considering Michigan
Law, we can assure you that the answer to both questions is a resounding
"yes." Michigan Law's new Office of Career Planning provides specific
support services and informational programs for students exploring
careers in private practice, a government role, national or international
public-interest positions, judicial clerkships, or legal academia.
The Michigan Law Difference
Employment Stats
Employment data generated by NALP,
the Association for Legal Career Professionals, and based
on annual information that the Law School reports to NALP.
More...
Fellowships
For over seven years, Michigan Law
has offered Postgraduate Fellowships to help provide a bridge
to full-time, permanent legal employment for our graduates.
More...
Employer Data
What kinds of jobs do MLaw grads
get upon completing law school? See a complete list of the
initial employers for students graduating in the classes
of 2009, 2010, and 2011.
More...
During Early Interview Week (EIW) in August 2012, almost
500 employers from 31 states, Washington, D.C., and five foreign
countries conducted over 5,300 interviews with our students. Approximately
380 of our 2L and 3L students participated in this program. In addition
to EIW, we offer a smaller on-campus program in the fall. Beyond
on-campus interview opportunities, almost 1,500 other employers
from throughout the United States contacted the Law School last
year to post job openings and to request student resumes. Nearly
all of the American Lawyer Top 100 firms, the American Lawyer Global
100 firms, and the American Lawyer list of Best Places to Work firms
visit the law school or request resumes of Michigan Law students.
Employers interested in posting a job opportunity for current law
students or alumni may send their position announcements to our
office by email (lawcareers@umich.edu),
fax (734.764.5228), or mail. We post student opportunities in our
office and online. Alumni opportunities are posted online and are
distributed via our Job Bulletin, which is published biweekly. Employers
who are interested in soliciting student resumes but are not able
to recruit in person can complete our
Resume Request/Collection Form [PDF] and mail it
or fax it to our office.
In academic year 2012–2013, OCP will have three interviewing sessions:
the primary session—our Early Interview Week—from August 21–August
24, a Fall On-Campus Interviewing Program from mid-September to
mid-October, and a Winter On-Campus Interviewing Program in February
2013.
Recruiting at Michigan - Early Interview Week (PDF) includes
the registration forms for EIW.
Recruiting at Michigan—Fall Interview Program (PDF) has instructions
and the registration form for participating in our fall program.
Recruiting at
Michigan - Winter Interview Program (PDF) has instructions
and the registration form for participating in our winter
program. Of course, arrangements may be made to interview at other times
of the school year if it is more convenient.
Our listing of
Ann Arbor hotels (PDF) contains street addresses and phone numbers
for local accommodations.
For more information or questions, please email Kim LeClair,
Recruitment Manager, at kleclair@umich.edu.
Employers interested in arranging student interviews using our videoconferencing
system should contact Kim LeClair at
kleclair@umich.edu
for more information.
The Office of Career Planning compiles two student directories each
year for distribution to employers who may wish to contact University
of Michigan Law School students directly. Each directory includes
student name, anticipated graduation date, local and permanent mailing
addresses, email address, and undergraduate/graduate schools and
degrees received.
Our First-Year Student Directory, comprising exclusively of first-year
law students, is typically available in late November. Our Second-
and Third-Year Directory comprises rising second- and third-year
students and is typically available in early June. To request a
Student Directory as a PDF, please email Tammy Sindlinger at
sindling@umich.edu.
NALP Directory of Law Schools Information
View our 2012 questionnaire, available as a PDF.
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