Reciprocity

Law schools use reciprocity to provide reasonable access to their career resources for law students and graduates from other law schools who agree to provide similar services. Career development professionals understand that looking for a job, be it the first job or a change to another one, is a stressful time. ABA accredited and NALP member law schools support a policy of providing job search assistance to their students and graduates. The host law school’s students and graduates have first priority for the use of the career development staff and facilities.

BERKELEY LAW STUDENTS AND ALUMNI SEEKING RECIPROCITY AT ANOTHER SCHOOL

RECIPROCITY OVERVIEW

It is important to understand that every law school has its own reciprocity requirements. Berkeley Law students and alumni should check the NALP published member law school reciprocity policies, and if a school that you are interested in requesting reciprocity from is not on the list, please contact the Career Development Office (CDO). Things to know about these policies:

  • While most law schools accept reciprocity requests via email, some law schools may require written requests for reciprocity from the requesting law school’s career development office. This request should be sent several weeks in advance of the student’s or graduate’s scheduled visit.
  • If reciprocity is granted, it is important to read and honor the reciprocity policy of the host school.
  • In some geographic areas having a number of law schools in close proximity, reciprocity services may be arranged only at one law school in that area. Accordingly, requests should be made to only one of these schools. 

Services vary among the law schools that offer reciprocity. Generally, these services may include access to:

  • The host law school’s career development facilities–at some schools this is available on a fee basis only
  • Legal publications, directories, and handouts
  • Job listings
  • Employment bulletins–at some schools these may be available on subscription basis

Services generally not available are:

  • Participation in on-campus recruitment programs and job fairs
  • Counseling
  • Resume review services

The duration of reciprocity services also varies from school to school. Reciprocity services, when granted, are usually available for a limited time and for a limited number of visits. Some schools restrict services to graduates or to those who have recently graduated. In addition, most law schools have a “blackout” period–a time during which no reciprocity requests are granted. During this period their law school’s students take priority. All law school career development offices reserve the right to refuse services to any individual school or person who misuses or abuses the staff, facilities, and/or resources of the host school. A law school may also suspend reciprocity access if such requests become substantially disproportionate with those of another school.

BERKELEY LAW STUDENTS AND GRADUATES RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Give your law school career development staff sufficient notice for them to initiate the reciprocity request.
  • Read and honor the reciprocity policy of the host school.
  • Don’t ask for services that are not delineated in the host school’s reciprocity policy.
  • Don’t “bad-mouth” or speak poorly of your own law school’s career development staff or facilities.
  • You are prohibited from distributing copies of another law school’s employment or job bulletins to other Berkeley Law students or graduates without the approval of the law school that published the material.
  • Do give feedback and suggestions to your law school’s career development office about resources that you found helpful and that are not available at your law school. Career development professionals always welcome and value feedback from their students and graduates.

BERKELEY LAW CDO RESPONSIBILITIES

  • The CDO will send you a copy of the reciprocity request or letter of introduction made on your behalf.
  • If we are sending an email/letter, we will include the email you provided as part of your request in the CC portion of your letter or email to the host school.
  • The host school should make a copy or online version of their policy made available to you once your request has been processed.
  • The CDO will counsel you on how to get the most out of the reciprocity services.

Berkeley Law students and alumni, please complete this form indicating from which law school(s) you would like us to request reciprocity. 

The institution you are requesting reciprocity from will let you know once it has granted your request. It commonly takes a week or more to get a response.

LLM Berkeley Law students/alums are not eligible for requesting reciprocity with another school.

NON-BERKELEY LAW STUDENTS AND ALUMNI SEEKING RECIPROCITY AT BERKELEY LAW

Click here for Berkeley Law’s reciprocity policy for non-Berkeley Law students and alumni. Please note our reciprocity services will be unavailable from June 1st to November 1st. If you would like to request reciprocity from our office, please have a staff member of your law school career service office complete this form.

If you have questions about your request, or about the process of requesting reciprocity, please contact the Berkeley Law Career Development Office at career@law.berkeley.edu.