Finalize your fall schedule before classes start. Pay attention to the Add/Drop period.
Decide how you will fulfill either the Additional Upper-Level Writing Requirement or the Substantial Upper-Level Writing Requirement this year. Reach out to faculty members who could serve as an independent study advisor.
Purchase your books and review the syllabus for each class so you can start your assignments.
Fall externship enrollment forms are due in early August.
Arrange the start date of your externship placement.
Consult the law school calendar of events for symposia, workshops, panels and other events that might expand your knowledge of or enhance your interest in a particular area.
Careers and Professional Development
Determine hiring deadlines and requirements for those government offices and public interest organizations that are not participating in OCI, including opportunities contained in the Federal Government Honors and Internship Handbook. The link to the website and the user ID and password information are available on your Symplicity announcements.
Consult your career counselor to consider developing a mailing list of mid-size firms in New York City and out of state that did not participate in the OCI program.
As you consider writing a journal note, independent study, or a writing competition paper, select a subject matter relevant to your job search so your resume demonstrates your practice area interest.
If interested in public sector positions, register for the Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair held in DC in November.
If you are a Student Leader, watch for emails from our Director of Student Life for information about the Student Organization Fair, submitting budget requests, and training dates.
Attend the Student Organization Fair and decide how you can get involved on campus for the upcoming year.
September
Academics
Consider your study strategies for this year. Do you want to try a different approach or form a different study group?
Careers and Professional Development
Update your resume to finalize the description of your summer employment, submit to your counselor for review, upload to Symplicity, and indicate your areas of interest.
Start looking for a spring externship or paid legal position by consulting Symplicity and your career counselor.
Look for the Career Center announcement about the Brooklyn Law School Mentoring Program and sign up for an alumni mentor in your practice area of interest before the deadline.
Student Life
After you have finalized your fall schedule, make sure you allocate time for self-care.
Attend some Student Organization General Body Meetings, a weekly yoga program or Mindfulness and Meditation sessions.
October
Academics
Attend faculty-led sessions on course selection for spring registration.
Attend Clinical Program information sessions and apply for spring semester clinics and specialized externships. Then submit your clinic application by the deadline.
Start your search for a spring semester externship by consulting Symplicity and your career counselor.
Be on the lookout for email from the Registrar with information about exam conflicts.
Careers and Professional Development
If you plan to spend your second summer working at a nonprofit, apply for the Edward V. Sparer Fellowship (deadline at end of October).
Connect with alumni and other professionals doing the work that you want to do. Contact your mentor, attend the Career Center and Public Service Law Center programs, and ask your counselor for names of alumni who practice in areas of law that interest you to schedule informational interviews.
Create a profile on LinkedIn.
Student Life
Assess whether you have a good school/ life balance and make adjustments to your schedule as needed.
November
Academics
Register for spring classes.
Careers and Professional Development
Check in with your career advisor or public interest advisor to update your resume and discuss your job search strategy.
If registered, participate in the Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair in DC.
Student Life
Attend Wellness Week programs.
December
Academics
Focus on your papers and exams.
Careers and Professional Development
Register for the Public Interest Legal Career Fair held annually in early February at NYU. The PILC Fair is open to all students and includes both government and public interest employers. Online student registration usually begins around December 1st.
If considering a move out of state and you will visit that area during winter break, contact your career counselor to identify alumni you can meet for informational interviews, recommendations, and advice. Consider joining a bar association in that area.
Student Life
Attend Study Breaks sponsored by the Office of Student Affairs.
Take a much-needed break after finals to catch up with family and friends.
January
Academics
Finalize your spring schedule.
Make sure you have arranged to satisfy either the Substantial or the Additional Upper-Level Writing Requirement.
Review your fall papers and exams with your professors.
Careers and Professional Development
If you have not secured a spring clinic or externship for credit, consider working for one of the law school’s pro bono projects or check Symplicity for a part-time paid position.
Student Life
After you have finalized your schedule, make sure you allocate time each week for self-care.
February
Academics
Be on the lookout for email from the Registrar with information about exam conflicts.
Careers and Professional Development
Attend the Career Center’s Annual Career Conversations program where you can speak with more than 50 alumni representing approximately 25 practice areas.
Attend faculty-led programs on curricular planning and course selection for fall registration.
Attend Clinical Program information sessions and apply for spring semester clinics and specialized externships. Pay attention to the deadline.
Continue your search for a summer externship or employment by consulting Symplicity and your career counselor.
Take stock of each of your academic requirements for the semester and develop a timeline for completing writing projects, externship requirements, and final exams.
Careers and Professional Development
Continue to check Symplicity, PSJD, and other resources for job postings. Remember: the majority of summer job listings are posted between February and May.
Consider applying for the Pro Bono Scholars program.
Student Life
Carve out some time during spring break to do something fun.
Check out the BLSPI auction.
Attend the Barrister’s Ball.
April
Academics
Start preparing for exams and planning time to finish research papers.
Finalize summer externship plans.
Careers and Professional Development
Are you getting interviews but no offers? Are you sending out numerous applications and not getting interviews? Make an appointment with your career counselor.
Student Life
Attend some of the many Student Organization Alumni dinners.
Attend Wellness Week programs.
May
Academics
Focus on your papers and exams.
Student Life
Attend Study Breaks sponsored by the Office of Student Affairs.
2L Summer
Academics
Register for fall classes. Be mindful of graduation requirements: Substantial Upper-Level Writing Requirement, Additional Upper-Level Writing Requirement, clinic/externship requirement, ABA experiential requirements. Review how many credits you have left to take and apportion them between fall and spring semesters. If considering completing a certificate, plan your courses accordingly.
Review your spring semester papers and exams to learn from them. If individual follow-up will be helpful, schedule appointments with your spring semester professors and with Academic Success faculty.
Consider applying to be a Research Assistant or Teaching Assistant in the summer or fall.
Careers and Professional Development
Take advantage of your summer job to complete a writing sample for future use in your job search.
Try to secure commitments from your summer supervisor(s) to provide recommendations for your future job search.
Sign up for on-campus interviewing that may be available to rising 3Ls.
Consider joining one local bar association, as well as a committee in a practice area of interest to you. The New York City Bar Association, New York State Bar, New York County Lawyers’ Association, Brooklyn Bar Association, Nassau County Bar Association, Suffolk County Bar Association, Westchester County Bar Association, and the various Women’s Bar Associations all accept student members.
You may also want to look for Continuing Legal Education (CLE) classes in areas of law that interest you and sign up for the coming year. Consider the Practicing Law Institute ( www.pli.edu) where students may be eligible for scholarships.
Student Life
Enjoy your summer job and having time with family and friends.