»Student FAQs

As per NALP guidelines, 1Ls may begin initially contacting employers and may receive career counseling beginning November 1, but not before.

Counselors are available to review cover letters and resumes throughout the year. All 1Ls are required to submit a cover letter and resume via their Legal Research and Writing (LRW) course in the fall.

Law students will be able to find employment as a(n):

Law Clerk: Paid position; no school credit. The student would engage in a variety of legal research and writing. A law clerk would typically be hired by a small or mid- sized firm or business. Law clerks can work in the summer and throughout the school year. 

Summer Associate: Paid position; no school credit. These are competitive positions at large firms, which are highly valued because they often lead to an offer of permanent employment after graduation. Summer associates are recruited in the early fall of their 2L year (primarily via OCI, Resume Collection or Resume Direct). Some firms offer summer associate programs for 1Ls; however, the majority of the positions are offered to second-year students.

Unpaid position: no school credit. These positions are prevalent in the public sector (e.g., government agencies, public interest organizations). Interns perform the same tasks of a law clerk. 

Extern: Unpaid position; school credit. Similar to an intern, an extern would primarily work in the public and non-profit sector. Those hired by judges (while in law school) would also be considered an extern. There are other opportunities for externships in other sectors, such as entertainment. For more information, please visit our Externship Program. 

Law school is a rigorous education process, so it is an individual judgment call and your studies must come first. Obviously, the better your academic performance the greater range of opportunities available to you. However, having a body of practical experience on your resume upon graduation will add greatly to your marketability. Additionally, experiences help you determine what type of legal career is a good fit. So, it's really a personal decision. The Career Services Office (CSO) is always available to strategize with you.

The CSO is here to support all of your job search and recruiting efforts, but we do not have the resources to act as a recruiting agency. We give you the resources, counseling, networking events, attorney contacts, and a host of recruiting opportunities to help you identify job openings and successfully apply and interview for these jobs. But ultimately, you control your professional future. However, at times, employers request the CSO to find appropriate candidates for them. For the CSO to fulfill these requests effectively, we need you to share with us your goals and experiences to evaluate if such an opportunity is right for you. The more you complete your Symplicity profile, the more we can notify you of specific opportunities.

Symplicity is CSO's exclusive online job posting site where law clerk and attorney positions are listed. The online system also manages OCI programs and internal job fairs. It is also used to track RSVPs for Career Services events.

Please contact the Recruitment Coordinator to have your password reset.

Yes. As long as the particular job(s) has not expired, you may recall the application. Click on the "Jobs" tab, then click on the "Applications" sub-tab. The "Withdraw Application" button will pull the application from the employer's email so long as it has not been opened.

Our OCI program (both Fall and Spring) offers more employer diversity than most law schools. Although Fall OCI is historically the primary recruiting season for NALP law firms (to fill summer associate positions), we're proud to host an assortment of employers, including small firms, mid-sized firms, government agencies, public interest organizations, and corporations.

A bar association is a professional organization of attorneys. Bar associations are located in most cities and counties, and are composed of professionals in a wide variety of practice areas. Bar associations may offer CLE opportunities, attorney and student mentor programs, and social networking events. Each November, we host "Bar Association Day," which accompanies our Career Orientation for all 1Ls. The event allows students the opportunity to meet with different bar association representatives and register as student members. Sign up now for free student membership with the Los Angeles County Bar Association and/or the Orange County Bar Association.

Law students will be able to find employment as a(n): Law Clerk: Paid position; no school credit. The student would engage in a variety of legal research and writing. A law clerk would typically be hired by a small or mid- sized firm or business. Law clerks can work in the summer and throughout the school year. Summer Associate: Paid position; no school credit. These are competitive positions at large firms, which are highly valued because they often lead to an offer of permanent employment after graduation. Summer associates are recruited in the early fall of their 2L year (primarily via OCI, Resume Collection or Resume Direct). Some firms offer summer associate programs for 1Ls; however, the majority of the positions are offered to second-year students. Intern: Unpaid position; no school credit. These positions are prevalent in the public sector (e.g., government agencies, public interest organizations). Interns perform the same tasks of a law clerk. Extern: Unpaid position; school credit. Similar to an intern, an extern would primarily work in the public and non-profit sector. Those hired by judges (while in law school) would also be considered an extern. There are other opportunities for externships in other sectors, such as entertainment. For more information, please visit our Externship Program.

Please browse our bank of handouts, including sample cover letters, resumes, and thank-you letters by visiting our Handouts page.

We place student business card orders twice a year: in September for the fall semester; in January for the spring semester.

The CSO has annual events/opportunities, which include (but are not limited to):

• Fall OCI (August - October) & Spring OCI (February - April) 
• Resume Book (distributed twice a year) 
• Resume Collections (part of Fall & Spring Recruitment) 
• Job Postings (via Symplicity and other sources) 
• Small & Mid-Sized Law Firm Career Fair (Spring) 

Southern California Law School Consortium Events:

• IP Associate Search (hosted by Whittier Law School) 
• IP Road Show (hosted by Whittier Law School) 
• Public Interest Career Day (hosted by UCLA School of Law) 
• Entertainment Law Day (hosted by Southwestern Law School) 
• Patent Job Fair (hosted by Loyola Law School, Chicago) 
• Equal Justice Works Conference & Career Fair (in Washington, D.C.)

Please contact the Recruitment Manager for more information about these programs.

Yes! Symplicity just represents jobs that are specifically targeted to Chapman students and alumni; it's our internal electronic job bulletin board. But there are many other online sources where you can identify job openings. Please visit our Job Search Websites under our Job Search Tools page for a comprehensive listing of online resources. Please speak with a counselor for more information.

Yes. We facilitate reciprocity, which allows you to request job search resources at other ABA-accredited law schools outside of Southern California. (Chapman does have reciprocal services with schools in the Bay Area.) Please contact the Recruitment Manager to request reciprocity.

While there is not a set hourly rate, most law clerks will receive between $12-$25/hour depending on the nature of the work and experience of the applicant.

Although there are a number of large firms with offices in Orange County, it is predominantly a small and mid-sized firm market. LA County, however, offers more in terms of large firms, but it, too, has many small and mid-sized firms.

The CSO publishes and distributes The Classifieds, a weekly e-bulletin (every Tuesday), which contains a sampling of "Hot Jobs" on Symplicity, networking opportunities, and calendared events. On occasion, we will post announcements in The WRIT. Please read and respond to information in these bulletins! We have many deadlines, and time-sensitive programming. For more info, please visit our Calendar of Events. We may sometimes email or call you directly when it's necessary.

Certain sites have proven to be effective. LinkedIn, because it is devoted to professional networking, is more helpful in developing professional contacts. Twitter is also becoming an increasingly credible resource to identify job opportunities.

There are several options for those who do not qualify for large firm positions:

1. There are a vast number of legal employment options, including small and mid-sized firms, government agencies, public interest organizations, as well as non-legal "alternative" careers. 
2. Other factors besides your GPA may influence your ability to land a summer associate position: If this situation applies, please talk to a CSO counselor for specific advice. In addition, if you are not able to secure a large firm job right out of law school, you may join the firm later as a lateral hire.

Yes. The CSO facilitates a Mock Interview Program, which allows you to interview with a practicing attorney at their firms; mock interviews can also be given by a career counselor. Please contact the Assistant Director for more information.

Every job fair is run differently. Some function similarly to OCI where you must be invited and pre-scheduled for an interview in order to attend. Others have a table talk component, where you would be encouraged to bring your resume, and discuss current and/or prospective career options with employers. Other fairs are strictly informational. Regardless, students should arrive professionally dressed in a business suit and take advantage of the opportunity to meet and learn more about prospective employers. All job fairs will be listed as an "Off-Campus" event on our Calendar of Events.

Remember that finding a job is a job. It takes time. It's important that you remain persistent, and hone your resume and cover letter writing skills.

Interviewing is a learned skill. Please take advantage of our Mock Interview Program, the resources in our library on interviewing skills, and talk to a CSO counselor to receive feedback.

Yes and no. With large firms, it's best that you follow the recruiting calendar for Fall Recruitment (as a 2L). If you miss the application deadline, it's highly unlikely that you will be considered. For small and mid-sized firms, it's always recommended that you send "unsolicited" resumes because their hiring needs are less predictable. Please see our resume/cover letter samples on the website and consult with a CSO counselor to learn how to make your unsolicited applications more successful.

The Mentor Program is typically a spring semester event, and is open to all 1Ls. Because of the demand, not all first-year students who wish to participate will be paired with an attorney. The process is typically first-come, first-serve.

You will find our "Where are Law Students and Graduates Working?" handout located in the Career Services Office. This resource highlights a list of some of the employers who have hired Chapman Law graduates. If you are interested in locating alumni working for a particular employer, please consult with a CSO counselor.

Generally, most alumni work at firms in Southern California. Fowler School of Law alumni presently work in at least 17 states and several foreign countries. And those numbers are growing.

Be deliberate about your job search. Finding a job after graduation starts during your 1L year. Take advantage of all the resources that the CSO provides. We are here to help you lay your foundation for your professional success.