Guide to Services
One-on-One Career Advising
Personalizing the job search process is of primary importance to the CDO staff. Students and graduates can book one-on-one, full-hour appointments with career advisors to discuss specific career options or concerns and to get help formulating a "game plan" for obtaining employment. The CDO Staff also does its best to accommodate drop-in advisees with immediate concerns and questions.
McGeorgeCareersOnline and Other Online Services
McGeorgeCareersOnline is the CDO's online career management system. By registering with McGeorgeCareersOnline, students and graduates have access to job listings for immediate and future employment. McGeorgeCareersOnline also allows users to view and RSVP for upcoming events, to update profile information, and to participate in the CDOs On-Campus Interview program. Many other CDO resources are available via the McGeorge website, including our informational handout series, our office hours and staff profiles, and links to law-related websites.
Practice Area and Email Group Lists
The CDO has email group lists (E-groups) to help students and graduates get the information they need to establish professional relationships in their practice areas of interest. Through E-groups, we let students and graduates know about seminars, events and other networking opportunities. These events help students to learn more about particular areas of law while meeting attorneys who can help them get established in the legal community.
CDO Library Resources
There are books, directories, newspapers, and binders full of information available in the CDO library to assist students and graduates in exploring career options and in identifying potential employers. These resources also provide supplemental instruction on job search techniques.
Handout Series
The CDO produces a handout series to give students and graduates quick and accessible information about various topics involved in the job search process. The CDO portion of the McGeorge website has links to many of these handouts. Additional handouts can be found in the CDO lobby, along with recent articles that address career development issues.
Workshops
The CDO holds a number of workshops throughout the year. The workshops give students and graduates a chance to participate in hands-on, in-depth treatment of the career development process. We offer workshops in several areas, including resume and cover letter preparation, interviewing, business etiquette, employer research, and survival tips for summer clerks.
Review of Professional Materials
Students and graduates may submit resumes and cover letters to be reviewed at any time. The CDO staff does its best to return materials within forty-eight hours. Documents for review also can be submitted in hard-copy or via e-mail.
"A-Day-in-the-Life" Speaker Series
Several times each semester, the CDO invites alumni and other attorneys to the McGeorge campus to participate in our "A Day in the Life" speaker series. Students have the opportunity, in an informal setting, to listen to and ask questions of attorneys working in specific practice areas. Those considering a particular field of law for their careers will learn what a typical work day is like; the benefits and drawbacks of following that career path; how best to prepare for entering that practice area; and generally what can be expected from the practice of law.
On-Campus Interview Program (OCI)
Every year legal employers are invited to the McGeorge campus to interview McGeorge students for summer and postgraduate positions. While the number of employers who participate in Fall and Spring OCI varies, the CDO staff works hard to increase steadily the number of participants; in recent years Fall OCI has grown to over 50 employers and Spring OCI has grown to over 25 employers.
Mentor Network
Through CDO's Mentor Network, students and graduates can learn more about a particular practice area by talking to alumni and other lawyers in the field. These mentors help students and graduates bridge the gap between classroom and practice by offering advice and providing networking opportunities. Mentors are available via McGeorgeCareersOnline, our Web-based career management system.
Mock Interview Program
Every September CDO hosts the Alumni Mock Interview program, where alumni and other local attorneys conduct mock interviews and provide detailed feedback to the participants. In addition, career advisors are available year-round to conduct mock interviews with students and graduates. Mock interviews are a great way for students and graduates to receive valuable feedback and to boost their confidence before an actual job interview.
