The Office of Career Planning

Welcome
Events
Employment Overview
For Employers
Walk-In Hours

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. Past programs are available on our Archived Programs page.

Bar Information Meeting
Date: 9/23/2013
Time:11:55am-12:50p.m.
Location: 100 Hutchins Hall
Description:

Hear* (MP3 file) Deans Baum and Zearfoss provide information on the bar exam application process, multi-state and state portions of the bar exam, bar review courses, and character and fitness consideration. Sponsored by the Offices of Career Planning and Student Affairs.
Interview Tips for LL.M./S.J.D. Students
Date: 1/15/2014
Time:12:00pm-1:00pm
Location: 1050 South Hall
Description:

Assistant Dean Jeremy Bloom will provide interviewing advice and tips for LL.M. and S.J.D. students.
Fellowships 101
Date: 1/27/2014
Time:12:00pm-1:00pm
Location: 1020 South Hall
Description:
Postgraduate fellowships are a great way to begin a public interest career right out of law school. If you are committed to using your law degree as a tool for justice, you should consider pursuing one of these unique opportunities! This presentation can help 1Ls begin to understand and identify fellowship options and help 2Ls (or 3Ls who will be clerking) get started on great fellowship applications. Jennifer Hill (‘07), former Skadden Fellow at the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center and current Lecturer in Law at University of Miami School of Law, will be joining us! Watch presentation (Media File).
Employment in Europe
Date: 1/28/2014
Time:12:00pm-1:00pm
Location: 1020 South Hall
Description:

Join a video conference with 5 amazing MLaw alumni based in Europe as they talk about how they got their jobs and the lessons they learned along the way. The alumni will cover both corporate and public interest jobs; several have non-traditional backgrounds. Student interviewers will direct the panel for the first half hour leaving 20 minutes for audience-driven Q&A! Light European-style snacks served. Watch the presentation media file.

Co-sponsored by the International Law Society, Office of Career Planning, Center for International and Comparative Law, and Alumni/Development Office.
Clerkship Interview Program
Date: 1/29/2014
Time:12:00pm-1:00pm
Location: 0220 South Hall
Description:

Professor Joan Larsen will give tips for conducting clerkship interviews and discuss how to leverage your interviews. Hear program audio (Media file).
Town Hall Meeting with Assistant Dean for Career Planning Jeremy Bloom ('01)
Date: 2/5/2014
Time:12:15pm-1:00pm
Location: 250 Hutchins Hall
Description:
Come meet our new Assistant Dean for Career Planning to hear about the path that led him back to Michigan Law and his vision for OCP. Be sure to bring any and all questions you might have about career planning at Michigan. Your experiences with and thoughts about OCP, EIW, OCI, and any other acronyms are all fair game. If you prefer to submit questions in advance, you may email them to jerbloom@umich.eduor you may use this link to submit them anonymously: https://docs.google.com/a/umich.edu/forms/d/1vqkwypEdk_blWRiMdNK8D32TnfB54zJXHJMLHSuhXwo/viewform
Walk-In Hours for All Questions Concerning Clerkship Applications
Date: 2/7/2014
Time:11:00am-12:00pm
Location: 1070 South Hall
Description:
Are you confused about how to create your judge list for clerkships applications? Are you wondering how to get your clerkship recommendation letters processed? How do paper applications get to chambers? If these questions and more are swirling in your brain, come see the experts - Team Clerkship! Greta Trakul, Katie Ulivi and Tammy Sindlinger will have open walk-in time for students to ask any and all questions related to the judicial clerkship application process and will demonstrate the request process. No question is too small or too silly to ask!
Judicial Clerkship Refresher
Date: 2/12/2014
Time:12:00pm-1:00pm
Location: 1020 South Hall
Description:
If you've sent out applications and haven't heard anything yet, or you meant to work on things over break and you didn't, or you decided you just couldn't deal with clerkships last semester (or last year, if you're a 3L) and now feel like you're late to the game, this is the program for you. Greta Trakul, OCP Clerkship Advisor, will briefly go over some clerkship application basics, help you refocus if you need some ideas for what to do next, remind you of some of the non-OSCAR clerkship openings, and generally make sure you're on the right path to clerkship success. This will be a casual session with plenty of time for you to ask questions.
Careers Over Coffee: Jennifer L. McManus, Appellate Chief, U.S. Attorney's Office
Date: 2/13/2014
Time:2:30-3:00pm
Location: 3209 South Hall
Description:

Ms. McManus will be at the law school on Thursday, February 13th to interview 1Ls and 2Ls for opportunities with the U.S. Attorney's Office AND she has agreed to meet with interested students that day from 2:30-3:00pm to talk about the U.S. Attorney's Office, career opportunities, and anything else you want to talk about! Please RSVP here for the coffee chat. If you are interested in interviewing (1Ls and 2Ls), please bid on Symplicity February 4th-6th (5pm EST).
Walk-In Hours for All Questions Concerning Clerkship Applications
Date: 2/13/2014
Time:11:50am-12:50pm
Location: 1070 South Hall
Description:
Are you confused about how to create your judge list for clerkships applications? Are you wondering how to get your clerkship recommendation letters processed? How do paper applications get to chambers? If these questions and more are swirling in your brain, come see the experts - Team Clerkship! Greta Trakul, Katie Ulivi and Tammy Sindlinger will have open walk-in time for students to ask any and all questions related to the judicial clerkship application process and will demonstrate the request process. No question is too small or too silly to ask!
Work or Study Abroad: Networking Coffee Chat for JDs with International LL.M. Students and Research Scholars
Date: 2/24/2014
Time:3:30-4:30pm
Location: Aikens Commons Basement Lounge
Description:
Students who are interested in working or studying abroad: Come meet some of MLaw's international students (SJDs, LLMs) and research scholars who will answer your questions about their home countries. They have a trove of information and advice they are willing to share with you, whether you are looking for an internship for the summer or want to learn about the path to post grad opportunities. NGOs, academic, private sector and public sector career paths will be represented. This is an informal "table talk" networking opportunity, not a panel. Bring your questions, have coffee and cookies and find out about working abroad in your "target" country. RSVP here! Sponsored by The Center For International and Comparative Law and the Office of Career Planning.

Resource people will be available from the following countries: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, India
Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Moldova, Netherlands, Pakistan, Phillippines, Slovakia and South Africa

Questions: Roopal Shah (roopal@umich.edu), Sharon Shakargy (shakargy@umich.edu), Robin Kaplan (rakaplan@umich.edu)
ABA Program on Labor and Employment Law
Date: 2/26/2014
Time:11:50am-12:50pm
Location: 0220 South Hall
Description:
Come hear the American Bar Association Section of Labor and Employment Law present a lunch-time panel regarding career opportunities in the field of Labor and Employment law, one of the fastest growing areas of practice in the country. Attorneys representing management and labor, and plaintiff's employment and defense attorneys will be present.
Careers Over Coffee: Andrew Mergen, Deputy Chief of the Appellate Section of the Environment and Natural Resources Division at the U.S. Department of Justice
Date: 3/10/2014
Time:2:00pm-2:45pm
Location: 3209 South Hall
Description:
Mr. Mergen is speaking earlier in the day at the Environmental Law Speaker Series but he is also willing to speak to a small group of students later in the day! RSVP here if you want to be one of the lucky ones!

First come first served.
Skadden Fellowships Foundation Presentation
Date: 3/11/2014
Time:11:55am-12:55pm
Location: 1020 South Hall
Description:

Susan Butler Plum, founder and director of Skadden Fellowship Foundation, will be here to discuss this prestigious postgraduate fellowship. 2Ls and soon-to-be-clerking 3Ls, join us to get tips/advice as you look for sponsoring organizations and begin thinking about potential projects. 1Ls, it's not too early to start learning about postgraduate fellowships! Come at 11:50am for lunch (provided by OCP) and the presentation will start promptly at 12:00pm. Please RSVP via google form:https://docs.google.com/a/umich.edu/forms/d/16If7JbzjZaXjXclrg1R45qw4s__-tn2j_07hVpLZSEQ/viewform

And come with questions for Ms. Plum!!
Market Series: Chicago
Date: 3/12/2014
Time:11:50am-12:50pm
Location: 1225 South Hall
Description:
Amy Leafe McCormack, a renowned consultant on the Chicago legal market, will provide information useful to students interested in interviewing with employers in Chicago during Early Interview Week and the Fall Interview Program.
Civil Rights: A talk on Housing and Civil Enforcement Section at DOJ and Tips on Applying to the DOJ Honors (3Ls), SLIP Program (2Ls) and Volunteer Legal Intern Programs
Date: 3/17/2014
Time:11:50am-12:50pm
Location: 0220 South Hall
Description:

Come hear Steven H. Rosenbaum '78, chief of the Housing and Civil Enforcement section of the Civil Rights Division, discuss the important work DOJ is doing in the fair housing and fair lending areas. Steve is a 35-year veteran of the Civil Rights Division and a former Chief of the Special Litigation and Voting Sections. Furthermore, important information about applying to DOJ Honors Program (3Ls), Summer Legal Intern Program (2Ls) and Volunteer Legal Intern Program (1Ls and 2Ls) will be provided. If you are interested in civil rights law and/or working at the U.S. Department of Justice, you won't want to miss this! Lunch will be served - please RSVP here : https://docs.google.com/a/umich.edu/forms/d/1k7BFn9Y91CPyfascuCEyVsJOX-jGCyrzl6ykttCr7-k/viewform by Thursday, March 13th. Sponsored by OCP and the Public Interest/Public Service Faculty
Market Series: Washington, D.C.
Date: 3/17/2014
Time:11:50am-12:50pm
Location: 1225 South Hall
Description:
Dan Binstock and Sadie Madole of Garrison & Sisson, a D.C. legal search firm, will provide information useful to students interested in interviewing with employers in Washington, D.C. during Early Interview Week and the Fall Interview Program.
Market Series: New York
Date: 3/18/2014
Time:11:50am-12:50pm
Location: 1225 South Hall
Description:

Carol Kanarek, '79, a renowned consultant on the New York City legal market, will provide information useful to students interested in interviewing with employers during Early Interview Week and the Fall Interview Program. Please bring a hard copy of the following documents (to be left with Ms. Kanarek) to the presentation: Resume, Transcript, and List of Courses you plan to take during your 2L and 3L years. Be sure to have your upcoming summer job (if you know it) on your resume.
How to Succeed as a Summer Associate
Date: 3/19/2014
Time:12:00pm-1:00pm
Location: 1225 South Hall
Description:

Carol Kanarek, '79, a NYC career coach for lawyers, will discuss how to navigate successfully through your summer job in order to optimize your chances of receiving an offer, in particular for those working in a law firm. Please bring a hard copy of the following documents (to be left with Ms. Kanarek) to the presentation: Resume, Transcript, and List of Courses you plan to take during your 2L and 3L years. Be sure to have your upcoming summer job (if you know it) on your resume.
What Happens if I Don't Do OCI?
Date: 3/19/2014
Time:12:00pm-1:00pm
Location: 1020 South Hall
Description:
Are you wondering . . . What Happens if I Don't Do OCI? What will my job search look like if I spend those summer days in August sleeping late and watching bad TV? Can I really pursue my passion and be a public interest lawyer? If so, please join Alyson Robbins (Public Interest Director), Robin Kaplan (Government Advisor), and OPIS (Organization of Public Interest Students) for this presentation designed to help 1Ls answer these questions. Lunch provided by OCP!
Market Series: Northern and Southern California (including the Bay Area and Los Angeles)
Date: 3/24/2014
Time:11:50am-12:50pm
Location: 0220 South Hall
Description:
Jon Escher, a renowned consultant on the California legal market, will provide information useful to students interested in interviewing with employers in California during Early Interview Week and the Fall Interview Program.
Early Interview Week Orientation
Date: 3/26/2014
Time:12:00pm-1:00pm
Location: 100 Hutchins Hall
Description:

Assistant Dean Jeremy Bloom will discuss policies, procedures, and deadlines for Early Interview Week 2014 which will be held August 7, 8, 11, and 12th. This meeting is required for those interested in participating in Early Interview Week.
Market Series: Detroit
Date: 3/28/2014
Time:11:50am-12:50pm
Location: 1025 South Hall
Description:
Nancy Newman, President and Founder of Newman Hawkins Legal Search Consultants, will provide information useful to students interested in interviewing with employers in Michigan during Early Interview Week and the Fall Interview Program.
Equal Justice Works Fellowship Presentation
Date: 3/31/2014
Time:11:50am-12:50pm
Location: 138 Hutchins Hall
Description:
Since 1992, Equal Justice Works has provided paid public interest fellowships to law school graduates to provide legal assistance to underserved populations and causes. Equal Justice Works Fellows work on a range of issues, including domestic violence, homelessness, community economic development, immigration, civil rights, juvenile justice, employment rights, access to health care, consumer fraud and environmental justice. Through these fellowships, hundreds of young lawyers have been able to provide critical legal assistance to underserved communities and have gone on to become leaders in the public interest arena. Currently, Michigan Law alums are representing LGBT asylum seekers and refugees in New York City, immigrant populations in Dayton, clients with psychiatric disabilities in Harlem, and victims of human trafficking in Chicago as Equal Justice Works Fellows.

To join these fabulous alums, come learn about the Equal Justice Works Fellowships program with Mia Sussman (MLaw Alum and Senior Manager, Pro Bono at Equal Justice Works)! Lunch will be provided by OCP so please RSVP here: https://docs.google.com/a/umich.edu/forms/d/1w7QqqDIpvp2P0oxU-yFWpKpCykB_8KOmTJjHWAKWTkg/viewform
Judicial Clerkships with State Courts
Date: 4/2/2014
Time:12:00pm-1:00pm
Location: 1020 South Hall
Description:
Listen to a panel of current and former clerks discuss their experiences clerking for state courts at both the trial and appellate levels. Learn about the different timelines for state court clerkships, how to identify courts that are hiring, and why a state court clerkship might be a great fit for you personally and professionally.
NAWJ MentorJet
Date: 4/8/2014
Time:5:30pm-8:00pm
Location: Lower Commons
Description:
Students are invited to participate in a wonderful event at the Law School on Tuesday, April 8: The University of Michigan Law School has accepted the invitation of the National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ) to host MentorJet on April 8, 2014, in the Lower Commons. We expect to have approx. 20 lawyers and judges and about 40 students at this MentorJet event. Beginning at 5:30 p.m., the judges and lawyers will “mentor” law students in a six minute “jet-like” fashion – think, speed mentoring. Over the course of the following 75-90 minutes, in six minute blocks, students will change seats & thereby exchange mentors, gathering information from those in practice. We will then conclude with a short reception so that participants can talk in a more informal setting. An RSVP is required. Please click here to RSVP: https://umich.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_3n0VgS5Q2UoqT4x. Note - this program is limited to the first 40 students that RSVP. The Office of Career Planning will contact students to confirm participation in the event one week prior to the event.
How to Succeed in Your Judicial Clerkship/Internship
Date: 4/9/2014
Time:12:00pm-1:00pm
Location: 1020 South Hall
Description:

Listen to a panel of current and former law clerks discuss the do's and don'ts of judicial clerkships and internships. Panelists will share tips on how to have a successful clerkship or internship, what pitfalls to avoid, and how to make the most of this unique and prestigious experience.
1L Judicial Clerkship Meeting
Date: 4/14/2014
Time:11:50am-12:50pm
Location: 1225 South Hall
Description:
All 1Ls who are considering pursuing a post-graduate judicial clerkship should attend this meeting to get an overview of the application process and the timeline for applying. Hear Professor Joan Larsen, Faculty Clerkship Advisor, and Greta Trakul, OCP Clerkship Advisor, discuss course selection, timing, and other issues you should consider prior to the fall semester.
Microsoft Excel for Beginners
Date: 4/18/2014
Time:11:50am-12:50pm
Location: 1025 South Hall
Description:
Learn more about Excel and what it can do for you! Please RSVP to kleclair@umich.edu and let us know if you need a laptop.
Interview Tips for 1Ls - Presented by Kirkland & Ellis
Date: 4/21/2014
Time:11:50am-12:50pm
Location: 1225 South Hall
Description:
Two Hiring Partners from Kirkland & Ellis will share their advice on how to ace on-campus and callback interviews. Please RSVP so we have enough Zingermans for everyone! RSVP to attorneyrecruitingevents@kirkland.com.

The reputation and global reach of Michigan Law means that, after you complete your education, there is virtually no limit on where you can go, and the fact that our students come from all over the country and abroad makes for a rich and eclectic educational climate. Click on the links below to see which states our students come from, to which states they go after graduation, and the kind of work our graduates do. Attending Michigan Law will allow you to go anywhere geographically, and the Office of Career Planning will help you explore and obtain jobs in a broad range of practice settings, whether in private practice, government, public interest, judicial clerkships, or legal academia.

The Michigan Law Difference

Employment Statistics

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...

List of Employers

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 2010, 2011, and 2012. More...

+ View More Employment Statistics

Employers Interviewing on Campus
During Early Interview Week (EIW) in August 2013, almost 500 employers from 36 states, Washington, D.C., and five foreign countries conducted almost 5,000 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 1,100 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.

Listing an Employment Opportunity
If you have not posted a position with Michigan Law in the past, please follow these four steps to register and submit a job opportunity within Symplicity. Please note - if you are submitting a resume collect, you will need to follow the same steps below and select "yes" for resume collect near the end of the job posting process:

Please go to this link: https://law-umich-csm.symplicity.com/employers/
Click on "Register and Post Free Local Job."
Please fill out the form as completely as you are able, and hit "Next" at the bottom of the page.
You will be directed to the job posting page, where you can fill out and submit a new position posting (if you are submitting a "resume collect", be sure to select "Yes" for that field near the bottom of the page).

Please feel free to contact our office at lawcareers@umich.edu or 734.764.0546 if you have any questions, and thank you for thinking of our school!

Our Recruiting Programs
We are thrilled to announce that our 2014 Early Interview Week (EIW) will be held in the Lawyers Club (the Law School's student dormitory, and part of the Law Quadrangle), making it truly "on-campus interviewing" for the first time in more than decade! Our 2014 Early Interview Week (EIW) is scheduled for Thursday-Friday, August 7-8th and Monday-Tuesday, August 11-12th. Employer registration for EIW will begin on Monday, March 10, 2014 via Symplicity. Our Recruiting at Michigan - EIW 2014 (PDF) has instructions and registration information. Dates for EIW will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Please be aware that last year the most popular dates filled up in literally just a few hours after registration was open -- so needless to say, we strongly encourage early registration if you have a specific date in mind.

We also offer on-campus interviewing in the fall and winter. Our Fall On-Campus Interviewing (OCI) Program will be September 18, 19, 25, and 26 and October 2 and 3, 2013. Our Recruiting at Michigan - Fall OCI (PDF) has instructions and registration information. Employer registration for Fall OCI will begin in July, 2013 via Symplicity.

Our Winter On-Campus Interviewing Program is in February each year. Dates for our 2014 Winter Interview Program are February 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, and 27, 2014. Our Recruiting at Michigan - Winter OCI (PDF) has instructions and registration information. Employer registration for Winter OCI will begin in November, 2013 via Symplicity. 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.

Videoconferencing Services
Employers interested in arranging student interviews using our videoconferencing system should contact Kim LeClair at kleclair@umich.edu for more information.

Student Directories
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 2013 questionnaire, available as a PDF.

Discrimination Complaints
Please see our memo from Dean Mark West on procedures for handling discrimination complaints.

Our Counselor Walk-in Hours:
Walk-in counseling is for quick questions, 10 minutes or less in nature.

Carolyn Spencer, Attorney-Counselor: 10:00am-11:00am, Monday-Friday

Pyper Logan Alpern, Attorney-Counselor: 11:00am-12:00pm, Monday-Friday.

Greta Trakul, Attorney-Counselor and Judicial Clerkship Advisor: 11:00am-12:00pm, Monday-Friday.

Gary McGinnis, Attorney-Counselor: 2:00pm-3:00pm, Monday-Friday

Alyson Robbins, Public Interest Director: 3:00pm-3:30pm, Monday-Friday

Robin Kaplan, Attorney-Counselor and Government Advisor: 3:00pm-4:00pm, Monday-Thursday

Contact Us

The Michigan Law Difference

Employment Statistics

Fellowships

List of Employers