The OPIA Blog

Speaking with attorneys practicing in your areas of interest (i.e., networking) is a critical component of a successful post-graduate job search. If you have been slow to make career connections in your city and/or field of interest, now is the time to kick things into gear, even if you're working remotely this summer.

To prepare you to get the most out of your summer internship, read our suggestions for navigating some common summer internship challenges students face, particularly around communicating with your supervisor or the intern coordinator to make a clear request for what you need.

A few plaintiffs’ firms and several litigation boutiques participate in EIP, but most plaintiffs’ firms and private public interest law firms (PPILFs) do not participate in campus recruiting programs like EIP or V-PIIP. Learn more about how the hiring processes differ with these types of firms.

All HLS students who are receiving SPIF funding and will traveling abroad this summer, including international students returning to their home countries, must fulfill several pre-travel requirements prior to departing the U.S. If you have any questions, email International Legal Studies.

Government Honors Programs are the most common pathway for 3Ls and certain recent graduates to enter government service. In preparation for your 3L year, you should start to get familiar with these opportunities now.

OPIA's end-of-year survey is a key opportunity to tell us what's working well in OPIA -- and what isn't! We will use your thoughts to inform our planning for future years. All responses to the survey are anonymous.

Our goal is to help you find a great public interest job and avoid the common mistakes that can derail your job search. Take a look at our list of common job search mistakes and don’t let them happen to you!

Searching for post-graduate job opportunities can feel daunting if you don’t know where to begin. Learn about the four primary ways to search for entry-level job opportunities.

While the public sector is extremely varied, most employers are looking for a core set of skills. These are skills you may already have and should continue to develop during law school through internships, clinics, and coursework. Additional qualities that employers value in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic are increased flexibility and comfort with remote or hybrid work.

We are often asked by students interested in public service work about how to weigh their wide-ranging academic options while in law school. Our advice gives broad guidance on the choices you may be contemplating.

We strongly encourage you to apply for any fellowship that may help you reach the work you are excited about. Because many fellowships require you to pursue a project with a host organization, however, and because some fellowships have very early deadlines, it is important to begin preparing NOW for your fellowship search.

We know it may seem early to start thinking about your post-graduate job search as a 2L. However, your 2L spring is the best time to check out our new 3L Guide to Entry-Level Post-Graduate Jobs, review our fellowship application calendar, start monitoring fellowship and entry-level job deadlines, and make an appointment with an OPIA adviser to position you for success in your search.

If you haven’t yet secured an internship for this summer, don’t panic. There are still public interest employers that are actively hiring in March and even in April. If you put in the effort, apply broadly, and remain persistent, you WILL find a summer job.

"Make space for an unplanned journey."

"I had no problem getting interviews."

"I have never worried about the 'perfect path'."

"I could never have anticipated that I would end up doing what I do now."

"I felt a bit insecure because my path didn't align with what I expected or what I saw others doing."

"I was concerned that my experience was too narrow."

"There is no wrong path--only a wealth of choices."

"Your first job is not necessarily your final job!"

OPIA has compiled a few key dates that may be useful as you plan your summer internships and other commitments, including the confirmed 2022 EIP dates.

"I couldn't have predicted most of this."

"Very few paths are linear, and often the most fun experiences are those you weren't counting on."

"Embrace uncertainty and appreciate the unconventional path."

"I expect to have more shifts in my career down the line."

Read our advice on communicating with employers throughout the potentially difficult public interest hiring timeline to make it easier for you to manage your timeline and make your decision.

"You're not committing for life!"

"My life since law school has been an adventure!"

"I could not have predicted where I would be now."

"I had a lot of anxiety about picking the right path."

"I'm so glad I've taken early 'risks'."

"I have no idea what comes next for me, and that's scary but also liberating."

"I love what I do because it’s not just a job, it’s life-giving."

Advisers are available to help with whatever job search questions you may be facing. If you have questions or concerns about your summer internship search, please make an appointment or come to drop-in hours to discuss them with OPIA.

Networking is an essential part of getting to know the world of public interest law. But sometimes, it can feel intimidating to approach a potential contact, or hard to know where to plug in and get started. Review the Q&A below to help make networking a smoother part of your professional journey.

Follow these key tips for PSVF Organization-Based Fellowship applications and learn about the PSVF Seed Grant.

Follow these key tips for PSVF Organization-Based Fellowship applications.

Unsure about how to begin your summer job search? Contemplating listing your GPA or LSAT score on your resume? Wondering how to describe your non-legal experiences in your cover letter? Nervous about how to respond to e-mails and phone calls from employers? Review our answer some of the most common 1L job search questions.

Interviews take on particular significance with public interest employers, who give tremendous weight to how deeply you are committed to their mission and how well you would fit in with their office. The following resources can help you prepare to put your best foot forward in public interest interviews.

Interested in learning more about public international law work? These resources can help you begin your exploration.

Interested in learning more about nonprofit work? The following resources can help you begin your exploration.

Interested in learning more about private public interest law firms? The following resources can help you begin your exploration.

Interested in learning more about criminal law internships and careers? The following OPIA resources can help you begin your exploration.

A strong resume and cover letter are essential to making a good first impression with a potential summer employer. The following OPIA resources can help you perfect these documents and present your background and experiences in a way that employers will find compelling.

Interested in learning more about government careers? Begin your exploration here.

We are often asked by students interested in public service work about the value of extracurricular involvement; while we cannot offer formal career counseling before October 15, we can help you make choices about extracurricular activities before then.