Equal Justice Works Career Fair
The job search can be incredibly stressful, and it is easy to let this stress consume much of one’s mental capacity. One thing that I have learned in law school is that career fairs are a beautiful thing. Plenty of networking and job opportunities are all in one location. Moreover, career fairs are great spaces to practice many different skills from networking to interviewing and cover letter writing!
If you have the slightest interest in a career in public interest, I highly recommend checking out Equal Justice Works. Every year Equal Justice Works hosts a career fair where more than two hundred public interest employers come together and recruit. Before COVID-19, the career fair was in person. I did not have the luxury of attending the career fair in person, so I cannot speak to that specific experience. However, I have done Equal Justice Works two years in a row now and have thoroughly enjoyed the online experience. Even if you do not secure an internship or postgraduate job, the interview process with Equal Justice Works is great practice. Interviews are 20 minutes long and jumping from one Zoom call to the next with different employers tests many different skill sets. I highly recommend checking out the list of employers which is published every year prior to the event. There are employers who practice various kinds of law, and you can apply for any experience that interests you. There is no limit on the number of employers that you can apply to, so do not be afraid to put yourself out there.
My experience with the program each year has been flawless. Whenever technology is involved, I expect there to be some sort of glitch, but I did not have any with Equal Justice Works. They provided opportunities to learn about the software that would be used beforehand. There are also several workshops before the career fair begins. These workshops cover a variety of topics where you can learn more about crafting a public-interest tailored resume and cover letter.
Equal Justice Works also offers many opportunities for students to receive help building interview skills throughout the career fair. The event also offers multiple speakers and workshops over the course of the career fair. The schedule can be seen ahead of time so that you can plan which events to attend. There are panels filled with speakers who practice in different areas of the law, which provides additional networking for people who would like to make contacts in a certain area of the law. Employers who are hiring at the event will also participate in table talk sessions. Even if you are not selected for an interview, you can meet the employer at their table talk session to get face time and exchange contact information.
Several different types of fellowships are also available through Equal Justice Works. There is even an option to create your own fellowship if they do not provide one in your area of interest. Even if you are not looking for a career in public interest, Equal Justice Works offers many useful resources to students of all types. Check out their website: https://www.equaljusticeworks.org/. Their website has a helpful tab about student debt complete with webinars, simulators, blogs, and tips.
Do not be afraid to put yourself out there when it comes to networking. Try to attend a career fair in law school. You never know what you will learn from the experience or who you might meet!