The Public Interest Department, in consultation with PILF student leadership and the Career Development Office, has developed this timeline to assist students in understanding when various programming and other deadlines might occur that are relevant to finding post graduate public interest positions, and other steps that might be useful in exploring a public interest career.
- 1L Semesters
- 2L Semesters
- 3L Semesters
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1L Fall Semester
- Join the Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF)
- Join at least one other organization of interest
- Sign up to get mentors
- You should have at least one mentor but try to get two or three; having a mix of alumni and current student mentors can be helpful. Ask about their career path.
- Reach out to alumni about their public interest careers through PILF Alumni Network https://tinyurl.com/pilfnetwork
- Attend events to get more information and meet people
- Attend informational Public Interest and Government Careers Fair at LLS in October
- Study! Getting good grades is important for the first semester
- It's important to stay on top of your work as the first year is incredibly challenging. Make sure to pace yourself and look for help when you need it!
- Wait until after exams, but before the new year, to send out resumes and cover letters for summer positions. Keep in mind that resumes and cover letters must be approved by your Career Counselor before submitting.
- Please note that Judicial Externships follow a different timeline and you should speak to your Career Counselor about those deadlines.
- Sign up for Southern California Public Interest/Public Sector Career Day generally held in February.
- The Career Development Office will send more info in December
- Register for a 1L elective in a PI field of your choice (criminal procedure, immigration law, etc.)
1L Spring Semester
- Attend the Southern California Public Interest/Public Sector Career Day in February
- Follow-up with any positions you've applied for
- Ask mentors for assistance with applying to public interest internships
- If you don't have an internship by the end of February, talk with your Career Counselor and other students who may be able to help
- Can start counting pro bono hours. Only 10 hours this semester but unrestricted after.
- Attend the Experiential Learning Fair in March to learn about clinical opportunities and public interest field placements and the deadlines to apply. Submit application for clinics in a field of your choice.
- Attend Public Interest Palooza to learn more about public interest careers and network with public interest alumni.
- Apply for the PILF Summer grant and Summer Public Interest Employment Program (SPIEP).
1L Summer
- Make connections at your public interest internship and register for classes that are a mix of bar classes and classes that will advance your career
2L Fall Semester
- Update resume and application materials with new work experience
- Take the MPRE while taking ethical lawyering (either Fall or Spring) or take it over the summer
- Sign up for a free MPRE prep course with a reputable bar company
- If you are not enrolled in a clinic or field placement, attend Experiential Learning Fair to learn about Spring clinical and public interest field placement opportunities
- Start thinking about what you want to do next summer
- Look into post-grad fellowships – contact chair of faculty public interest committee
- May want to intern at an org you are interested in applying for a post-grad fellowship with
- Somewhere you may ultimately want to work
- Think about whether you want to diversify your experience and try a different field or agency
- Apply to summer internships
- Consider where you want to work post-grad or create a post-grad fellowship.
- Fall OCI (usually large firms)
2L Spring Semester
- Continue networking with mentors, faculty members and other students, including attending public interest fair if you don’t have a summer job by then
- If you don't have an internship by the end of February, talk with your Career Counselor and other students who may be able to help
- Spring OCI
2L Summer
- Start your post-graduate fellowship applications
3L Fall Semester
- Submit Post-Graduate fellowships applications- some deadlines are as early as September
- Complete 40 hours pro bono requirement by end of semester
- Apply to Moral Character application on CA bar
- Attend the bar fair and sign up for a bar prep course
- Whether or not applying for Post-Graduate fellowships, continue public interest job search in consultation with your Career Counselor.
3L Spring Semester
- Bar prep
- Job search may continue throughout Spring semester.
- For those who applied to Post-Graduate fellowships in the Fall, decisions will be finalized this semester. If Fall applications unsuccessful, and host organization agrees, apply for Loyola Post-Graduate Fellowship.
- GRADUATE!
See also this link to helpful information from Equal Justice Works about public interest loan forgiveness programs and managing your student debt.