The KU Law Office of Career Services prides itself on providing a wide variety of career-related programming and resources, and in being accessible, welcoming and helpful to students and graduates, regardless of their career aspirations.
In the fall of 2009, the office sponsored 26 lunchtime programs, ranging from resume and cover letter-writing and interviewing skills, to practice area-specific panels.
This fall, we sponsored another 22 programs and produced two webinars: one about interviewing tips and techniques and another detailing strategies to find a job beyond the on-campus interview process.
The series of fall 2010 presentations included programs about the state of the legal economy; panels focusing on criminal law, federal government practice, law practice in small towns, judicial clerkships, and alternative careers for lawyers; and instructional hours on resumes, cover letters, networking and positive psychology.
In collaboration with the Office of Student Affairs, we debuted the KU Law Student Wellness Series in the fall of 2009. The purpose of the series is to encourage professional behavior and teach practical skills essential to navigating the pitfalls of life as a law student and new attorney. In both the fall of 2009 and 2010, we featured programs about how to cope with law school anxiety, how to better manage finances while in law school and after graduation, and business etiquette.
Students also seek career-related information through individual appointments. From July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2010, Todd Rogers had 282 appointments with students, while Karen Hester had an additional 254. Between the two of us, we scheduled more appointments from July 1, 2010, through Dec. 31, 2010, than in any of the previous seven falls.
I should also mention our 1L Mentor Program, through which we matched 73 1Ls with attorney mentors this fall, and our annual Legal Career Options Day, generously co- sponsored by the Kansas Bar Association, Johnson County Bar Association and Wichita Bar Association.
More information about these important networking programs, and pictures from the Mentor Reception and the 8th Annual Career Options Day, can be found on our website.
Todd Rogers, Assistant Dean for Career Services