Appointments and Walk-Ins
Please note that OCS is currently working remotely and conducting all appointments via Zoom video conference. Students and alumni may access their advisor’s Zoom conference room with the link provided in the appointment confirmation email (telephone option available). If you need to make alternative arrangements for conducting your appointment, please contact your advisor.
Scheduling an Appointment
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 appointments scheduled online cannot be scheduled day of – and must be scheduled at least one day in advance. In the case of time-sensitive matters, please see walk-in hours below.
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).
Leave-of-Absence Appointments
Leave-of-Absence Appointments
If you are considering taking a leave of absence during Fall 2020 or for the academic year 2020-2021, OCS has 15-minute LOA Career Consideration appointments available from June 10 until June 19 to discuss your concerns.
Due to the high demand and limited time before the decision deadline, we ask that you please
- review Fall 2020 Leave of Absence Considerations before scheduling, and
- limit the scope of your questions to your current private sector employment plans, private sector job search, or clerkship plans or clerkship search.
Instructions to Make a Leave-of-Absence Appointment
- Login to the CSM appointment module
- Change the counseling type to “LOA Career Considerations”
- Click check availability to select an appointment time
Please see Advising Opportunties on Leave of Absence Considerations to make an appointment with OPIA, SFS, or DOS.
Advisor Contact Information for Zoom Appointments
Advisor Contact Information for Zoom Appointments
OCS is currently working remotely. All advising appointments and walk-ins will take place through Zoom video conferencing.
- Your Advising Appointment: See OCS Zoom Advising Appointments and Walk-Ins Information for instructions on how to contact your advisor for your appointment.
- Installing Zoom: For initial installation instructions and troubleshooting see the HLS site on Zoom Videoconferencing for HLS Faculty, Staff and Students.
Remote Walk-in Hours via Zoom Video Conferencing
Remote Walk-in Hours via Zoom Video Conferencing
Walk-in hours for JD students are currently being held via Zoom video conference. Zoom walk-in hours are Monday to Friday from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm EST.
- Access JD Walk-in Hours: Visit OCS Zoom Advising Appointments and Walk-Ins Information.
Please note that walk-in hours are for general advising and should be quick 5-minute questions, and not clerkship questions. You may also email quick questions to ocs@law.harvard.edu. - Clerkship: Quick clerkship questions can be submitted as comments through the clerkship blog (look for the most recent Q&A post.)
- LL.M.: LL.M. students should make an advising appointment or email an LL.M. advisor.
Remote Alumni Advising
Remote Alumni Advising
OCS is currently conducting all appointments remotely via Zoom video conferencing. When you select an advising appointment you will receive a confirmation email with the information necessary for contacting your advisor. See OCS Zoom Advising Appointments and Walk-Ins Information for instructions on how to contact your advisor for your appointment.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.