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One of the toughest parts of a public interest job search is managing the timeline. The lack of a unified, consistent hiring timeline by public interest employers and the fact that every individual’s situation differs can complicate the search process. Consider the following tips about communicating with employers as you navigate interviews and offers.

Review some of the most common 1L job search questions in our Job Search FAQs, including how to navigate interviews, offers, and other communication with employers. 

Interviews take on particular significance with public interest employers, as they seek to learn how committed you are 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 interviews with public interest employers.

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

If you’re interested in learning more about legal nonprofit work, check out the following resources.

Private public interest law firms (PPILFs) are involved in many of the same issues addressed by not-for-profit public interest legal organizations and government agencies – but in a law firm setting. Interested in learning more about PPILFs? 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 and helping them start to get to know you. 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? The following resources can help you begin your exploration.

We know that many of you are considering whether – and to what extent – you’d like to become involved in the myriad student activities available to the law school community. 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 extracurriculars before then. Broad guidance on those choices can be found below, but please note that it is impossible to truly provide “one-size-fits-all” advice. Feel free to come to our drop-in office hours to have a conversation tailored to your individual goals.

We look forward to getting to know you in the coming months and to helping you learn more about public interest career opportunities. Although formal career advising does not begin until October 15, you can still take affirmative steps now to begin your career exploration. Read this post to learn how.

Although the vast majority of public interest employers will not begin to consider applications for 2L summer internships until the fall, we wanted to alert…

Although the vast majority of public interest employers will not begin to consider applications for post-graduate employment until the fall, we wanted to alert you to a few earlier deadlines of which we are currently aware of.

At OPIA, our goal is to help you find a great public interest job and avoid the common mistakes that can derail your job search.

Congratulations, graduates! We have loved working with you. We are inspired by your hard work and tenacity; by your outrage at the injustices and inadequacies that…

As you take a breath between the end of finals period and the beginning of your summer job, now is a great time to start…

We are often asked by students interested in public service work about how to weigh their wide-ranging academic options while in law school. The advice…

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…

The PSVF Organization-Based Fellowship is an exciting way to launch the public service career of your dreams at a non-profit or government agency in the U.S.

OPIA advisers and HLS students give advice on how to balance classes, clinics, and extracurriculars during your 2L year. Check out more videos of…

Attorneys general are independent state constitutional officers vested with extraordinarily broad criminal and civil responsibilities. They are elected statewide in 43 states, and appointed in…

At OPIA, we know that a change in administration in Washington can create uncertainty and questions in students and alumni considering interning or working in…