Career Services > Alumni > Career Services Available to Alumni > Out-of-State Job Search Websites
Out-of-State Job Search Websites
For a Permanent Job
The following resources and
information are available to assist you in your out-of-state job search.
- Alumni Lists: The Office of
Career Services maintains alumni lists from the most popularly requested
geographic areas. We may also request a specific geographic search
of alumni from Alumni Relations. Please email
lawcareer@smu.edu with your request.
- BYU Intercollegiate Job Bank: SMU Dedman School of Law participates
in the BYU Intercollegiate Job Bank, which is an exchange of alumni job
bulletins from law schools around the country. This site is particularly
helpful to students and alumni searching for jobs in areas outside of
Texas. The job bulletins are updated regularly by the individual law
schools. This website requires a username and password. Please email
lawcareer@smu.edu with your request.
- Request
Reciprocity from Other Law Schools
Out-of-State
Job Search Tips
A
job search outside of Texas can be difficult, but it is not impossible! Keep
the following in mind as you begin an out-of-state job search:
Coordinate
your job search with the time of year the desired employers hire. For
example, large law firms that hire summer associates every year are likely to
interview on law school campuses during the fall semester. You want to apply
and be considered during that same time frame or even in advance. Smaller
and mid-sized law firms hire as needed, but some of these firms will consider
hiring upcoming graduates during the spring as summer and graduation approach.
Visit the Resource Center to ascertain what type of out-of-state resources are available from the office. The Resource Center contains hundreds of national employer and job directories, and current information on out-of-state fellowships and government Honor Programs.
Consider
applying for judicial clerkships as a means to enter the job market in that
geographic area. Judicial clerkships provide great introductions to the
practicing bar as well as the potential for a judge’s recommendation that can
open doors with local law firm and public service employers.
The
Search:
If you are relocating to an unfamiliar legal market, it is important to learn
about the particulars of that market from the perspective of the attorneys who
know it. Network with local attorneys, especially our alumni. Access the alumni
lists. You can also find attorneys by doing a search using Martindale
Hubbell directories (www.martindale.com), Lexis-Nexis (www.lexis.com), or
Westlaw’s Legal Directory (www.lawschool.westlaw.com)
to find attorneys with specific practices in your desired location. Once
you identify these attorneys, call or write and inquire about conducting an
informational interview at the earliest convenience. Ask what these contacts
like/dislike/suggest about practicing law in that area.
When
contacting attorneys for informational interviews or to follow up on job leads
from personal referral, be specific as possible about what you want in terms of
future employment (For example, what type of employer or environment – small or
mid-sized firm? Government? Or the type of practice – litigation or
transactional; civil or criminal, in which area of law?) Ask for other people
that he or she suggests you contact. Build your network!
Contact the
bar admission authority in the state. This will help you to determine exactly
which requirements must be met to practice law in that state. The American Bar
Association website, www.abanet.org, contains a nationwide directory of bar
admission offices. Determine the timing of bar exams.
Join bar
associations in the city or state. Some bar associations and chambers of
commerce will allow you to join as a student member. Membership provides access
to attorney/employer contact information and key bar calendar events – perfect
venues for job search networking.
Surf the
Internet, law firm web-pages, state and local governments, and the local
newspaper for valuable information about a geographic location in which you are
interested. Start by checking out the Online Job Search Websites on the Career
Services webpage. This page contains links to many job websites, many of them
have national job listings.
Find legal
newspapers or bar newsletters that cater to attorneys in that city and read
them! Many of these publications have classified employment ads. Use the
publications to research trends in the area and even changes in local laws and
procedures. Visit the Office of Career Services, which subscribes to legal
trade publications having national classifieds (Lawyer’s Weekly – geared
to smaller law firms, National Law Journal).
Access
alumni job bulletins from other law schools from the BYU website. Get a feel
for the type of employment opportunities available in that area.
Access the
web pages of ALL the local area law schools for news on local legal events and
job search advice relevant to finding employment in that legal market.
Your
Plan Should be to Research, Apply and Get the Interview!
Research:
Review
the NALP Directory of Legal Employers in the Office of Career Services
or online (www.nalpdirectory.com) for information on member law firms and
public service employer information. Use the Martindale Hubbell Directories (www.martindale.com),
Lexis-Nexis and Westlaw directories to research attorneys, private practice and
public service employers, and national judicial resources. Visit individual
firms’ websites, which often have information about recruiting and contacts.
Apply:
Plan
to visit the area if possible. Write to your contacts to set up informational
interviews during the time you plan to be the area.
You must
demonstrate your willingness to commit to the out-of-state employer or
location. Employers are wary of candidates proposing to make drastic
life/location changes without a clear showing of commitment to actually make
the change. In your cover letter, explain your interest in or connection to the
geographical area. Inform the employer if you are already licensed to practice
in that jurisdiction or when you will be taking that jurisdiction’s bar exam.
Note on your resume, any information that conveys a commitment to the area. For
example, if you have local family, get permission to use their address on your
resume and correspondence until you relocate. Or rent a local post office box
and use that address on your materials.
Your cover
letter should reflect that you have researched the employer and know something
specific about the organization. If you know someone who works with a
particular employer that you are contacting, write to that person directly or
write to the recruiting coordinator and mention the name of the person you
know.
Get
the Interview:
Many firms may be interested in you but are not willing to buy a plane ticket
for you to visit the firm. If you are not invited to interview at the firm’s
expense, you can plan and pay for a trip to an area and tell employers you will
be in town and available to interview. Many employers are happy to have you
come by and talk to them. This is a good way to get your foot in the door and
show the employer you are serious about working in that particular city.
If one
employer invites you to interview, call other employers and say “I’ll be in
town interviewing with employer XYZ. I wanted to see if I could interview with
you while I am in town.”
Once you
have the interview scheduled, follow proper protocol; that is, be on time,
bring an extra resume, transcript, writing sample and references.
During the
interview, be direct, and articulate why you are interested in that employer
and that particular city.
After the
interview, be sure to send a thank you letter.