Prospective JD Students
The Career Development Office (CDO) offers comprehensive career services to current JD students and recent alumni. The following information is designed to give you a snapshot of the various resources and events offered by the Career Center throughout the year. Prospective students should contact the Admissions office with any questions.
Staff
The career counselors in the CDO collectively represent over 80 years in legal and counseling professions. The counselors are assigned to each of the six first-year Inns of Court, which they follow throughout the three or four years of law school.
Individualized Career Counseling
CDO counselors meet individually with hundreds of students and alumni each year to assist in all aspects of the career development and job search process. Counseling takes many forms and includes "basic tools" preparation (resumes, cover letters, application procedures, etc.), employment market insight (career options, interpreting organizational research, and job-search strategy), and personal career counseling (self-assessment, skills recognition, and development).
Programs
The CDO maintains an active programming schedule throughout the year. These programs provide an excellent opportunity to network with practicing lawyers who are often GW Law graduates.
The Career Center Website
Comprehensive career planning resources for current students are updated regularly on our website.
Job Listings
Opportunities include summer positions, part-time jobs during the academic year, experienced lawyer positions, full-time positions for evening division students, entry-level attorney positions, judicial clerkships, internships, and teaching opportunities. Job vacancies are updated daily and the listings are available to current students and alumni on our job posting and recruiting platform, CORE.
Programming for First-Year Students
The CDO creates programming for 1L students, which includes cover letter and resume writing workshops, information sessions, and panel presentations, including a panel of upper-level students discussing their 1L summer jobs. This programming complements the Inns of Court sessions.
Diversity-Related Opportunities, Job Fairs, Events, and Resources
The CDO is committed to supporting and enhancing the law school experience for all GW Law students, with a focus on those from historically underrepresented communities. GW Law actively participates in the DC Diversity Consortium and collaborates with three local law schools to host the annual 1L Diversity Fair. This event offers first-year law students the chance to explore a wide range of diversity-focused opportunities for their first summer. Additionally, the CDO connects students with diversity-related scholarships, jobs, and job fairs. Its staff provides personalized support, including guidance on the application process and reviews of application materials. The CDO also promotes diversity-focused events both within the law school and in the broader community, as well as sharing local and national resources tailored to student interests.
Evening Students
To accommodate the unique needs of evening students, the CDO offers extended hours and flexible scheduling. It has developed programming specifically for evening students in the Jay Inn of Court.
Public Interest Counseling and Programming
The CDO works closely with the Field Placement Office, Pro Bono Program, and the Jacob Burns Community Legal Clinics to support students pursuing public sector and public interest careers. The CDO connects students with employers through the annual Public Sector Recruiting Program (PSRP), the Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair, information sessions with employers, and various networking events. GW Law is also a member of PSJD and Equal Justice Works, national organizations that provide resources and connect law students with public interest opportunities worldwide.
Bar Passage and Employment Outcomes
In accordance with ABA Protocols, the CDO compiles data on the Bar Passage Rates and Employment Statistics of each graduating class.