Professionalism Guide

DO

• Acknowledge receipt within 24 hours and graciously thank the employer for the offer, even if you are not yet ready to accept or decline it.
• Provide the employer with a response within their proposed timeframe (but see “Asking for Extensions”).
• Read about managing offers in our Summer Public Interest Job Search FAQs and our guidance on Evaluating Offers and Communicating With Employers.
• Refer to our Sample Emails to Employers to help you craft your response, if desired.
• Attend drop-in hours or make an appointment with an OPIA adviser if you need more guidance.

DON’T

• Fail to acknowledge an offer, even if it is not from your top-choice employer.

DO

• If you receive an offer during or immediately after an interview, before you are ready to make a decision, thank the employer for the offer and ask when the employer needs a commitment from you.

DON’T

• Feel pressure to accept on the spot.
• Accept to avoid awkwardness with the intention of backing out later (see “Accepting and Honoring Offers”).

DO

• Thank the employer for the offer, let them know you are still sorting out your summer plans, and ask if you could have some extra time to decide.
• Ask for a reasonable amount of time necessary to get closure with one or two other employers, not for large swaths of time just to “see what happens.”
• Refer to our Sample Emails to Employers to help you craft your response, if desired.
• Attend drop-in hours or make an appointment with an OPIA adviser if you need more guidance.

DON’T

• Wait until the day of your offer deadline to ask for an extension.
• Ask for an unreasonably long extension (more than 1-2 weeks).

DO

• Once you’ve accepted an offer, honor your acceptance, withdraw all remaining applications, and cancel any other scheduled interviews.
• Let an employer know of any summer commitments/conflicts as soon as you have accepted an offer and have confirmation that your acceptance has been received.
• If you are hoping to split your summer between two employers, follow our split summer guidance.
• Thank anyone who helped you think through your summer choices, and let them know your ultimate decision.

DON’T

• Withdraw your acceptance to take a subsequent offer that you prefer.
• Accept an interview request from another employer after you’ve accepted a position. Withdrawing from the interview process in this situation shows respect for everyone’s time.

DO

• Arrive at work on time, even if your supervisor or other attorneys in the office work more flexible hours. Clarify expectations about your working hours at the outset of your position.
• Respect busy schedules and show a willingness to plan around another person’s availability.
• Meet all deadlines — including those pertaining to onboarding and any other administrative tasks, not just substantive legal assignments

DON’T

• Surprise your supervisor. If you need more time to complete an assignment or need assistance, ask well in advance of any deadline.
• Arrive late, take excessive breaks, or leave early without permission from a supervisor.

DO

• Get to know your co-workers and build relationships.
• Work pleasantly and effectively with everyone, from division chiefs to support staff to fellow interns.
• Thank others in the office who take the time to answer questions or give feedback.
• Ask your supervisor how they would like to receive information (e.g., in-person meetings, email, Teams chat, Slack).

DON’T

• Participate in or contribute to office gossip.
• Treat staff more positively or negatively depending on their ranking or position.
• Speak negatively about co-workers, supervisors, support staff, or the office or mission as a whole, including on social media.

DO

• Accept assignments eagerly and with a willingness to learn and contribute, even when they involve topics or tasks you don’t find exciting.
• Listen carefully to make sure you understand each assignment. Make sure you clarify at the outset:
  • Who it is for
  • The type (e.g., formal legal memo or email; bullet points or full paragraphs) and length of work product expected
  • Any underlying facts or client/case history, or where you can find this information
  • The deadline
• Ask follow-up questions as necessary; consolidate all questions into a single email or meeting whenever possible.
• Make sure all submitted work is a polished, finished product (even if your employer asks for a “draft”).
• Attribute and cite properly.
• Request feedback.

DON’T

• Shirk, or complain about, administrative tasks (e.g., assembling folders, entering client data into trackers, changing a printer cartridge when needed). Remember that attorneys in many public interest spaces are even responsible for some administrative tasks themselves.
• Respond negatively to constructive criticism or make excuses for submitted work product.
• Assume that because you are not getting paid directly by the employer or may not envision a career in the employer’s field, you don’t need to do your best work.

DO

• Note that public sector dress standards are not as uniform as those in the private sector.
• Note that in the absence of information suggesting otherwise, employers will generally expect you to:
  • Wear business attire (e.g., a blazer with pants, skirt, or a dress). Wear a collared shirt or dressier top rather than a T-shirt; wear dress shoes rather than sneakers. A suit is useful but not required in most cases.
  • Pay attention to personal hygiene and grooming.
• Know that funding may be available to help cover professional attire expenses.
• Sit up straight and stay focused on the conversation.
• Keep a tissue, pen and paper, and water accessible in case you need these during an interview.

DON’T

• Assume you can “dress down,” even if you know an organization has a more casual atmosphere.
• Play with hair, rings, or socks during an interview.
• Sit with feet wide apart.

DO

• Conduct the interview in a clean, distraction-free, noise-free space. Remember that the background setting is part of your formal presentation.
• Ensure that pets, roommates, or others are away from your interview space and will not interfere with the conversation.
• Follow the dress and hygiene standards for in-person interviews (above).
• Wear both the top and bottom part of your suit or other professional outfit.
• Keep a tissue, pen and paper, and water accessible in case you need these during an interview.

DON’T

• Assume the interviewer can only see your waist up (especially if you have a mirror behind you).
• Sit too far away from the camera or in a poorly lit space, making it more difficult for your interviewers to speak with you.

DO

• Learn about the office’s dress standards from your Human Resources contact or internship coordinator, or from a past student intern or alum who has worked in that office.
• In the absence of any other information, wear business attire at least for your first day. Wear comfortable shoes in case you have to do more walking than you expect.
• If your job provides an opportunity to go to court, make sure to wear a suit or have one available at the office.
• Pay attention to personal hygiene.

DON’T

• Make the same mistakes outlined above for in-person interviews.

DO

• Use formal greetings (e.g., “Dear Ms./Mr./Attorney/Prof. Jones”).
• After an employer contact, supervisor, or co-worker has signed an email with their first name, address subsequent emails to that name (e.g., “Dear Maria”).

DON’T

• Use informal greetings (e.g., “Hey,” “Hi”).
• Send separate emails asking the same question of multiple supervisors or co-workers; include all relevant recipients in a single email.

DO

• Provide a short, clear, specific subject line that conveys the email’s content.
• Use correct spelling and grammar.

DON’T

• Use vague language in your subject line.
• Use a long subject line.

DO

• Label attachments appropriately to indicate their content.
• When submitting application materials, include them in a single PDF attachment labeled with your name (e.g., “Jane Doe ACLU Internship Application”), unless instructed otherwise.
• Limit the size of any attachments to avoid crashing your inbox or your reader’s inbox.

DON’T

• Use generic labels for your attachments (e.g., “Resume2,” “Legal research memo”).
• Send unnecessary attachments.

DO

• Be as short and succinct as possible.
• Use a basic, readable font.
• Pay attention to tone; think about how your words will come across in written format.
• Read (then re-read) your e-mail before sending to check for spelling, grammar, and overall accuracy.
• Take care not to be too colloquial in content, language, or tone.
• Respond with the same means of communication requested. If you are called, call back; if emailed, respond in kind.

DON’T

• Use emojis or unnecessary graphics or colors.
• Communicate in language better suited to a text message with a friend than to a professional email to a supervisor (e.g., “lol,” “btw,” “hahahah,” “did u want this by Thurs?”).
  • Note: though this is not common, if a supervisor or co-worker asks you to text them instead of emailing, continue to write more formally than you would with a friend (e.g., “Hello Julio, this is James reaching out as you requested. We’re now in recess, so I’ll be leaving the courthouse in a few minutes”). Adopt a similar approach for Teams, Slack, or other office communication tools.
• Include long paragraphs of text. Remember that your reader is likely to be busy, without much time to read lengthy emails.
• Bury questions within text. Make sure questions are clearly laid out for your reader.
• Assume your email is private, or fail to follow your employer’s guidelines for safeguarding sensitive communications. As a general rule of thumb, don’t include anything in an email you wouldn’t want the world to see.
• Forward an email without permission.
• Send an email when it would be wiser to discuss a sensitive topic in person.

DO

• Respond to emails promptly, even if just to acknowledge receipt and then follow up substantively later.

DON’T

• Let an email languish in your inbox without a response. Ideally, in the workplace, you should respond within hours of receipt.
• Expect a reply to your email after regular business hours, unless this is the standard operating procedure in your workplace.

DO

• Google yourself to learn what others may see about you.
• Build a professional, well-written, up-to-date LinkedIn profile.
• Remove any inappropriate personal pictures, videos, or commentary posted online.
• Remember that any information you provide online will likely live there forever.

DON’T

• Post inappropriate personal pictures, videos, or commentary (e.g., involving or referencing alcohol, drugs, or weapons).
• Use excessive profanity.
• Post pictures, videos, or commentary from/about your employer, job, co-workers, clients, witnesses, etc.
• Post confidential information, or anything you wouldn’t want the world to see.
• Assume that employers will not be able to access any of your online information, even information hidden behind privacy settings.
• Add permanent staff, supervisors, or hiring contacts on social media. Once you begin work, it may be appropriate to ask your employer contacts to connect via LinkedIn.

DO

• Follow our resume tips and read our resume FAQs.
• Read (then re-read) your resume before sending to check for spelling, grammar, and overall accuracy. Have someone else review it, too!

DON’T

• Include typos in your resume.
• Exceed a single page, except in the fellowships context, or if you have approximately five or more years of work experience prior to or after law school (see our resume tips).
• Exaggerate your educational background, experience, or specific job responsibilities.

DO

• Follow our cover letter tips and read our cover letter FAQs.
• Read (then re-read) your cover letter before sending to check for spelling, grammar, and overall accuracy. Have someone else review it, too!
• Be careful not to claim that an employer is your first choice unless you are certain this is true and will remain true. Remember that interview experiences can sometimes change your mind or shift your preferences in unexpected ways.

DON’T

• Address your cover letter to the wrong employer or to the wrong office.
• Include typos in your cover letter.
• Exaggerate your educational background, experience, or specific job responsibilities.

DO

• Submit only those materials requested by an employer. (Note that some employers may appreciate a well-written cover letter even when one is not requested; if you are unsure which materials you should submit to a particular employer, attend drop-in hours or make an appointment with an OPIA adviser.)
• Unless otherwise indicated in an employer’s instructions, submit all application materials in a single PDF file clearly labeled with your name and the content (e.g., “Jane Doe ACLU Internship Application”).
• Read (then re-read) your materials before sending to check for spelling, grammar, and overall accuracy.

DON’T

• Submit materials employers did not ask for (see note above).
• Make it difficult for employers to access your materials, either by generically naming your materials (e.g., “Resume for summer apps”) or submitting a series of separate attachments.
• Submit materials with Track Changes, comments, or edits still included.

DO

• Follow our interview tips and read our interview FAQs.
• Know the exact time and location of your interview, and show up at least 10 minutes early. If interviewing by phone or Zoom, take note of any time zone differences.
• Treat everyone you encounter with courtesy and respect.
• Be careful not to claim that an employer is your first choice unless you are certain this is true and will remain true. Remember that interview experiences can sometimes change your mind or shift your preferences in unexpected ways.
• If you need to cancel an interview on short notice because of an illness or emergency, communicate swiftly and clearly with your interviewer and apologize for the inconvenience.

DON’T

• Fail to show up for an interview.
• Make negative comments about previous employers or others during an interview.
• Treat an interview too casually. Do your research on the employer, and be prepared to talk about your interest in the position.
• Add your interviewer or any other employer contact on social media. Once you begin work, it may be appropriate to ask your employer contacts to connect via LinkedIn.

DO

• Follow our networking tips.
• Be flexible and work around your networking contact’s availability as much as possible, showing respect for the time they are taking to connect with you.
• Know the exact time (and time zone) of your meeting or call.
• If you need to cancel a meeting or call on short notice because of an illness or emergency, communicate swiftly and clearly with your contact and apologize for the inconvenience.
• Follow up to let your contact know if your conversation later led to a new contact, job, or another opportunity.

DON’T

• Fail to show up for a call or meeting.
• Fail to send a thank-you note to someone who has taken the time to speak with you.

DO

• Show up for all scheduled meetings.
• If you need to cancel a meeting on short notice because of an illness or emergency, communicate swiftly and clearly with the faculty or staff member and apologize for the inconvenience.
• Prepare for your meeting: send requested materials ahead of time, think about what points you want to raise during the meeting, and take any other steps recommended by the particular faculty member or office prior to showing up for your meeting.
• Follow through with any commitments you’ve made to a faculty or staff member, such as following up with a contact or inquiry they have made on your behalf. Thank all parties involved for assisting you.
• Follow up to let the faculty or staff member know if your conversation later led an opportunity (a new contact, job, paper, etc.).
• Respect faculty and staff members’ time: do your best not to submit last-minute requests for assistance.

DON’T

• Fail to show up for a scheduled appointment without any notice.
• Come to a meeting unprepared or lacking necessary materials.
• Bypass established scheduling systems for appointments.
• React defensively to criticism delivered constructively and respectfully.

DO

• Contact your potential recommender and arrange a convenient time to discuss your request.
• Provide your recommender with the following materials:
  • Fellowship or job application, including selection criteria, description, and personal statement, as relevant
  • Resume
  • Any other materials your recommender requests, such as a writing sample
  • Submission deadline
  • Recipient email address, or addressed and stamped envelope for hardcopy submission
• Give your recommender as much advance notice as possible. Recommenders should ideally be given at least a month (and at minimum no less than two weeks) to complete your letter.
  • An exception to this general rule may exist if you found out about the opportunity at the last minute, or the opportunity has an exceptionally short application window. In those cases, apologize profusely and give the recommender a chance to say no.
• If you are applying for multiple opportunities, organize the requests chronologically by deadline, and highlight to your recommender how those opportunities differ so that your recommender may appropriately tailor their letters.

DON’T

• Ask for a letter of recommendation on short notice.
• Expect your recommender to visit each job/fellowship website to check deadlines or other submission requirements.