Location: Washington, D.C.
Deadline: Open until filled
Learn more about the Law & Policy Intern.

Location: Chicago, IL; Ottawa, IL; Mount Vernon, IL
Deadline: January 31, 2025
Learn more about the Intern position.

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 to familiarize yourself with the timeline and public interest job search process you can expect during your 2L year. (You read that right – you’re a 2L now!)

Though it’s only May, some early fellowship sponsorship deadlines have already been announced. Don’t miss the chance to apply for host opportunities closing in late May and early June in particular. Get a head start on surveying the landscape at our fellowship host organization deadlines feed, and read more about fellowships generally in our recent e-advising post. Sponsorship deadlines will continue throughout the summer.

You have successfully navigated the summer job search, and you begin your internship full of excitement and optimism. But what if, in the middle of your summer, you’re not having the experience you’d hoped for? Perhaps you’re not getting enough work, or enough supervision. Or, maybe you’re getting too much work, or are confused about how to approach a project, or are feeling overwhelmed. Here are some suggestions for addressing some common summer internship challenges students face.

Once you identify jobs for which you would like to apply, it is time to start preparing your application materials. During your 2L summer, complete the following to prepare materials for an entry-level public interest job search.

Networking is a critical component of a successful post-graduate job search. Even if you are working in a hybrid or remote workplace, you can still take many steps toward establishing relationships that will help guide your decision-making and move you forward along your career path.

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.

Spring of your 3L year is the best time to start preparing for your post-clerkship public interest job search. Watch or listen to the Entry-Level Job Search webinar to get your post-clerkship job search questions about getting started, how to decide what jobs to pursue, what employers are looking for, and how to find job opportunities answered by the knowledgeable OPIA advisers.

Spring of your 2L year is the best time to start preparing for your post-graduate public interest job search. Watch or listen to the Entry-Level Job Search webinar to get your entry-level job search questions about getting started, how to decide what jobs to pursue, what employers are looking for, and how to find job opportunities answered by the knowledgeable OPIA advisers.

Read this guidance if you plan to bid on plaintiffs' firms this summer.

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. Read our list of common job search mistakes and don’t let them happen to you!

The directors of the EJW and Skadden Fellowships will be holding virtual information sessions on March 19 and April 2 respectively. It is mandatory for you to attend these information sessions if you plan to apply for these fellowships. You are afforded the important opportunity to meet one-on-one with the fellowship directors. Please come prepared for those meetings. For assistance drafting your proposals or deciding which fellowship is right for you, set up an appointment with Judy Murciano or attend Judy’s drop-in hours.

• Equal Justice Works Info Session - Tuesday, March 19 at 12:30
• Skadden Fellowship Information Session - Tuesday, April 2 at 12:30

Searching for post-graduate job opportunities can feel daunting – or even overwhelming. We can help you get started by breaking down the process into more manageable chunks. Here are 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.

We strongly encourage you to apply for fellowships to support the work that excites you. Because many fellowships require you to pursue a project with a host organization and some fellowships have very early deadlines, it is important to begin preparing NOW.

Because many fellowships require you to pursue a project or position with a host organization and some fellowships have early deadlines, it is important to begin preparing during your 2L spring for the fellowship application process.

We are often asked by students interested in public service work about how to weigh their wide-ranging academic options while in law school. This advice is meant to offer broad guidance on the choices you may be contemplating. Please note that it is impossible to truly provide “one-size-fits-all” advice — if you have questions about particular options and how they might relate to your career plans, be sure to seek out an OPIA adviser. 

OPIA has compiled a few key dates that may be useful as you plan your summer internships and other commitments.

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 3L Guide to Entry-Level Post-Graduate Jobs, 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.