This Guide consists of general information and guidelines about the most common post-grad career paths for Berkeley Law students. There are no hard and fast rules — talk to a CDO counselor about your personal action plan.
I. Large and Mid-Sized Law Firms
A. Description of Employer. Large law firms tend to have 100+ attorneys and mid-sized firms approximately 26-100 attorneys. (Please note: in smaller markets, 50+ may be considered large.)
B. Type of Position/When and How To Apply.
1. School-year law clerk. Students can apply during second or third year at any time, but you should be aware that relatively few large/medium firms use student clerks during the school year and, if they do, they will tend to hire prior summer clerks. Call the recruitment coordinator at the firm to determine need before sending your resume and cover letter for this type of position. Typical application procedures: a cover letter, a current resume and a transcript; a writing sample may also be required.
2. Summer associate. During the summer before your 2L year, you may apply for a summer associate position through the on-campus interview programs and/or the spring interview program. You may also submit a resume and cover letter independently throughout the year. A transcript is usually required; a writing sample is often requested.
1Ls may consider applying to law firms for summer associates at the end of the 1L fall semester/early 1L spring semester (many law firms will want to see your fall grades before interviewing). Regularly check b-Line job postings for law firms that have proactively reached out to Berkeley Law to ask for applications. You may also participate in the spring interview program. Please note that law firms have a much smaller group of 1L summer associates than 2L associates (for instance, a firm may have 5 1Ls and 50 2Ls in the summer class). If you have had prior work experience at a law firm, you may want to inquire with the recruiting office about opportunities to return as a 1L summer associate.
CDO tracks information on events and promotional materials shared by law firms for 1L and 2L students here.
3. Associate (on graduation or after judicial clerkship). A few law firms employers interview 3Ls during the fall and spring interview programs. You should also send out resumes and cover letters during the fall and early spring and regularly check job postings on b-Line . Most large and mid-sized firms hire associates from offers to prior 1L and 2L summer associates. These employers may sometimes conduct additional hiring to fill unanticipated needs; however, it is advisable to call first to inquire about 3L opportunities before sending in applications.
If you are doing a judicial clerkship, and have not lined up a post-clerkship position, contact employers in the fall of the last year of your clerkship. Check the CDO’s b-Line job database for associate job listings.
II. Small to Medium-Sized Firms
A. Description of Employer. Approximately 2-25 attorneys. Clients tend to include individuals and small businesses. Note that the smaller the firm, the less likely it is to have formal hiring procedures. Networking and informational interviews are effective with these firms.
B. Type of Position/When and How To Apply.
1. School-year law clerk. Apply any time during the second or third year of law school, especially late summer or the beginning of the semester. Most employers in this category hire as the need arises, and we often receive job announcements in the CDO, which are then posted in the b-Line.
If you are not replying to a job listing, it is advisable to call the hiring attorney first to determine whether there is a need. Send a resume and cover letter; employers may also want to see a transcript.
2. Summer law clerk. Small firms usually conduct their hiring to the spring semester. Most employers in this size range hire as needs arise, although a few participate in the fall on-campus interview program and/or the spring interview program. Check the CDO’s b-Line job database for listings, or call first to determine need; send a resume and a cover letter reflecting familiarity with the firm’s area of practice. Again, employers may also want to see a transcript and/or a list of references.
3. Associate (on graduation or after judicial clerkship). Check the CDO’s b-Line job database for listings, or apply any time. Hiring occurs on an as-needed basis. After graduation, employers may require active bar membership.
III. Public Interest Organizations
A. Description of Employer. Public interest organizations and agencies provide legal services for under-represented individuals with pressing social needs. For more information on pursuing a public interest career, click here.
B. Type of Position/When and How To Apply.
1. School-year law clerk. Apply during the second or third year. Most positions are unpaid, although a few may have work-study funding. Field Placements may be arranged for academic credit during the second and third year of law school. They must be arranged in advance through the Field Placement office. Students cannot receive both compensation and academic credit.
2. Summer law clerk/intern. Apply in the late fall and throughout the spring during your 1L or 2L year. Check the CDO’s b-Line job database for listings, as well as psjd.org. Also, the Northern California Public Interest/Public Sector Legal Careers Day in February has an interview component and is a good way to contact employers informally. These are largely volunteer positions. However, summer fellowship funding is available both through the law school (click here for more info). No academic credit can be obtained for summer employment. Summer positions do not need to be cleared through the Field Placement office.
Send a resume and cover letter reflecting your specific interest in the employer; it may be advisable to telephone first to determine hiring needs. Be prepared to follow up via the telephone.
3. Post-J.D. fellowship. Apply during the third year or after graduation. Applications for fellowships with public interest organizations may be due as early as September of the third year. Send a cover letter, resume and any other materials requested. Your application should demonstrate your commitment to the public interest and knowledge of the organization’s work. Post-J.D. jobs are highly competitive. Qualifications: Bar membership may be required. Related experience and a demonstrated commitment to public service are a must. For more information about post-graduate fellowships, click here.
4. Staff attorney. Apply during the third year or after graduation. Applications for staff attorney positions will likely be requested in the spring, closer to the time of hire. Check the CDO’s b-Line job database for listings, as well as psjd.org. Send a resume and cover letter reflecting your understanding of the work of the organization, along with other requested materials (possibly including a transcript and/or a writing sample). Do not hesitate to telephone to check on the progress of your application. Some applicants include a letter of reference, or request that one of their references telephone the employer early in the process to encourage consideration of the student’s application.
IV. Public Sector/Government
A. Description of Employer. Government agencies encompass the federal, state, and local (including counties and cities) levels. For more information on pursuing a government career, click here.
B. Type of Position/When and How To Apply.
1. School-year law clerk. Apply during your 2L or 3L year. Opportunities are most likely to be available at the local level (district attorney, public defender, city attorney, school districts, etc.). If you would like to receive academic credit, you must speak with Field Placement office regarding approval and deadlines. Hiring practices vary widely among the different agencies, depending on budget and need. Qualifications: District Attorney and Public Defender offices often prefer applicants to have criminal procedure and evidence and/or some form of litigation training.
2. Summer clerk. 2Ls should apply for summer positions during the fall on-campus interview program (FIP) if the employer is participating in the program. 1Ls and 2Ls can interview during the Berkeley Law spring interview program (although the number of participating government employers may be relatively small) and at the Northern California Public Interest/Public Sector Legal Careers Day held in February.
In addition, check the CDO’s b-Line job database and psjd.org for listings. 1Ls and 2Ls can also pursue government employment individually throughout the year by sending a resume and cover letter and any standardized forms that are required. Be prepared to follow up on your application via the telephone. There are few paid positions with state or local agencies, but there may be volunteer positions. However, summer fellowship funding is available through the law school (click here for more info).
Government hiring policies are often indefinite because of budget uncertainties. Some federal agencies, such as the Department of Justice, have summer internship programs that require strong academic credentials and early application. Watch the CDO’s b-Line job database and see the CDO’s Public Sector webpage for more information about federal summer honors programs.
3. Post J.D. Government agencies often prefer to hire attorneys with experience, but programs for recent graduates, such as the “honors program” sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice (or by other agencies), require applications in early fall of the 3L year. Applications are made available through the CDO every fall. For more information about federal post-graduate honors programs, see the CDO’s Public Sector webpage.
The California Department of Justice tests annually for its positions. For other agencies, you may send resume, cover letter, and any required standardized forms unless otherwise specified. Be prepared to follow up via the telephone. Qualifications tend to vary widely. Post J.D. positions often require bar admission, although you can be hired as a temporary law clerk until you pass the bar (federal honors programs are an exception).
V. In-House Positions
A. Description of Employer. Many corporations, and some other organizations such as universities, maintain legal departments to handle their legal matters. Some matters – certain litigation matters, for example – may be farmed out to large firms.
B. Type of Positions/When and How To Apply.
1. Summer clerk. Apply during the spring of 1L year or during second year. Hiring practices vary, but few organizations hire through the fall or spring interview programs. Check the CDO’s b-Line job database for listings. These opportunities tend to be limited, but if you have a strong interest in a particular organization, contact it to see whether the legal department takes summer interns. Send a cover letter and a resume; employers will also usually want to see a transcript.
2. Attorney (in-house counsel). Apply during 3L year or post-J.D. Very few in-house legal departments hire straight out of law school. Many require five or more years of legal experience after graduation. If you are interested in this type of senior in-house position, check organization websites for job listings; you may also want to contact a local headhunter for this sort of senior job search.
VI. The Judiciary
A. Description of Employer. Many individual judges hire for summer externships and post-graduate clerkships; staff attorney positions may also be available for graduates.
B. Type of Positions/When and How To Apply
1. Summer and school year judicial externship. A judicial externship is an unpaid term position working directly with a judge in their chambers or working more generally for a court and helping with the decision-making processes of the court.
As a judicial extern, you will typically be asked to research legal issues and draft memoranda and possibly to even draft court decisions for the judge/justice and their clerks. Externships are a unique opportunity to learn how judicial decisions are made, to evaluate lawyering from the perspective of a judge, and to get to spend significant time building a relationship with a sitting judge. It is also some of the best legal research and writing experience you can get as a law student!
To learn more about summer judicial externships, click here. This is a popular option for 1Ls. Positions are on a volunteer basis. However, summer fellowship funding is available through the law school (click here for more info).
Some judges will accept externship applications before 1L grades are available in January; others prefer not to receive applications until they include a law school transcript.
School year externships: 2Ls and 3Ls may be able to obtain academic credit for a judicial externship during the academic year. Approval must be obtained from the Field Placement office to receive academic credit.
2. Judicial clerkship. Apply for post-graduate judicial clerkships early in the summer after your 2L year and/or after graduation. The majority of judges use Online System for Clerkship Application and Review (OSCAR) for clerkship applications. Up-to-date information is available at the Judicial Clerkships page. The Judicial Clerkship Guide available there provides an overview of relevant information.
Qualifications: most federal clerkships are quite competitive and may require very solid academic achievements (grades, law review membership, etc.) and strong faculty references. Other courts may be more flexible.