Appointments and Walk-Ins
Scheduling an Appointment
To schedule an appointment with an attorney advisor in OCS, navigate to our online appointment scheduling system in CSM Symplicity and login. Click “Schedule an Appointment” found in the section on the right called OCS Appointments. Select the type of appointment you want and any other filters, and then click the “check availability” button to see which advisors have open appointments. Please note that you must schedule an appointment at least one day in advance.
If you have not used CSM recently please see How to Use CSMfor more information. If you are unable to access your account, clicking the “forgot password” link will send a password reset email to the account we have on file (your HLS email if you graduated after 2010).
Advising Services
Advising Services
OCS advisors, all of whom have law degrees and years of practice experience, are available daily for one-on-one appointments Monday through Friday year-round. OCS advises current students with a focus on private sector careers and judicial clerkships. We work closely with our sister office, the Office of Public Interest Advising (OPIA), who advise students and alumni on public sector career pursuits.
Individual career counseling can cover a range of topics including but not limited to:
- Self Assessment
- Job search strategies
- Mock interviews
- Networking
- Resume and cover letter review
- Career transitions
- Evaluation of offers
Review the OCS Services page for a full list of our services.
Summer Advising: In-Person, Phone or Skype
Summer Advising: In-Person, Phone or Skype
Over the summer months, OCS advisors are available for telephone or video-conference (Skype) appointments in addition to in-person appointments.
1L Advising
1L Advising
1L Advising will begin on October 15 and OCS will send notification when 1Ls can begin scheduling appointments. In advance of your appointment please watch Before Your First 1L OCS Advising Appointment and complete the activities listed including the 1L Appointment Form.
Alumni Advising
Alumni Advising
Alumni advising appointments are by phone only. When you select an advising appointment please include a phone number and preferred email for your appointment in the comments. Please note that during certain times of the year many people are eager to speak with an advisor and appointments fill up quickly. We try our best to meet demand, but if you are having trouble finding an open spot please email us at ocs@law.harvard.edu.
Before your phone appointment, please review the alumni section of the website. This will allow you to become familiar with our alumni resources and make the most of your half hour appointment.
Walk-in/Call-in Hours
Walk-in/Call-in Hours
Walk-in and call-in hours for JD students are held Monday to Friday from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm year round. Please note that these hours are for general advising and should be quick 5-minute questions, and not clerkship questions. Quick clerkship questions can be submitted as comments through the clerkship blog (look for the most recent Q&A post.) If your question will take longer than 5 minutes please schedule an appointment with an advisor. LL.M. students should make an advising appointment or email an LL.M. advisor.
Cancelling or Rescheduling an Appointment
Cancelling or Rescheduling an Appointment
If you must cancel or reschedule an appointment, please do so through the on line system at least 24 hours in advance. If advance notice is not possible, please email the OCS office.
Telephone Appointments
Telephone Appointments
If you have a telephone appointment, please call the main OCS number 617-495-3119 to be transferred to your advisor. When making an appointment, please keep in mind any time difference between your location and Eastern Standard Time.
Law Teaching Advising
Law Teaching Advising
For law teaching appointments, please contact Susannah Barton Tobin, Assistant Dean for Academic Career Advising at stobin@law.harvard.edu.
Notary Hours
Notary Hours
OCS provides notary services every day between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
OCS Holiday Closings
OCS Holiday Closings
The office will be closed on the following days and appointments will not be available.
2018
- New Year’s Day – Monday, Jan. 1, 2018
- Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday – Monday, Jan. 15
- Presidents’ Day – Monday, Feb. 19
- Memorial Day – Monday, May 28
- Independence Day – Wednesday, July 4
- Labor Day – Monday, Sept. 3
- Columbus Day (Federal) / Indigenous Peoples’ Day (City of Cambridge) – Monday, Oct. 8
- Veterans Day – Monday, Nov. 12 (observed)
- Thanksgiving – Thursday, Nov. 22
- Friday after Thanksgiving – Friday, Nov. 23
- Christmas Eve 1/2 day – Monday, Dec. 24
- Christmas Day – Tuesday, Dec. 25
- Winter Recess – Dec. 26 to Dec. 31
2019
- New Year’s Day – Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019
- Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday – Monday, Jan. 21
- Presidents’ Day – Monday, Feb. 18
- Memorial Day – Monday, May 27
- Independence Day – Thursday, July 4
- Labor Day – Monday, Sept. 2
- Columbus Day (Federal) / Indigenous Peoples’ Day (City of Cambridge) – Monday, Oct. 14
- Veterans Day – Monday, Nov. 11
- Thanksgiving – Thursday, Nov. 28
- Friday after Thanksgiving – Friday, Nov. 29
- Christmas Eve 1/2 day – Tuesday, Dec. 24
- Christmas Day – Wednesday, Dec. 25
- Winter Recess – Dec. 26 to Dec. 31