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Career Services: Your Resource for Career Success

How will the Career Services Office help me find a job?

The CSO assists students in every step of their job search from developing their resumes and cover letters to considering and deciding on offers.

What types of summer employment can I expect during law school?

This depends largely on you. Their are a multitude of exciting opportunities. Only you can decide which of these opportunities you will pursue and what you will make of them. GSU students generally spend their summers working in a law related area. Over 50 employers participate in our Fall Early and Traditional On-Campus Interviewing program for second and third year students; and a number of employers participate in our Spring On-Campus Interviewing program for first, second and third year students. A wide variety of legal employers including law firms, public interest employers, the government and large corporations, recruit GSU students.

What if I don't know what type of law I want to practice?

Most entering law students are not sure what type of law they want to practice, or even if they want to practice at all. For that reason, we offer educational programming and career exploration opportunities. In the first year alone, student are invited to attend receptions at local law firms and meet attorneys on campus to hear firsthand what different areas of the law entail. Over the course of your three or more years with us, we will help you focus and define your career interests, whatever they may be. The important thing to know is that a law degree will be a valuable tool in any job search.

What opportunities are available for me if I want to be a public interest lawyer?

The CSO has resources, in print and online, and an excellent counseling staff that can help students identify and pursue public interest opportunities.   Our students have been quite successful in securing post-graduate public interest employment.

Where are GSU law graduates working?

It would be easier to say where they don't work. GSU law graduates can be found in almost every walk of life. They are not only prominent attorneys but lobbyists, managers, bankers, consultants, journalists, policy analysts, educators, and legislators.

How can I find alumni in my area?

You can use the State Bar of Georgia Membership Directory (free access) located on their website at http://www.gabar.org/directories/member_directory_search/; Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory at www.martindale.com; and the CSO staff to generate alumni contact information.

What should I be doing to prepare myself for recruiting at GSU?

It never hurts to get your resume in shape, or if you do not have one, to start putting one together. It will be very helpful to have your employment background and prior experience organized. Sit down and generate a list of where you have worked or volunteered. Think about what you did and how that could be applied to the law. You may not have done legal research in a law firm but if you were a shift supervisor at the local fast food joint you had to organize detailed records, supervise others and perhaps do some negotiating. Some of your college academic work might have applicability to the law or at least demonstrate research and writing skills that are valued by employers.  In a few months, when you are facing the challenge of balancing classes and your job hunt you will be glad you have already pulled together and organized the details of your work life.

What do GSU graduates earn?

The range of starting salaries is quite wide; which is evident when looking at the range for the Class of 2006 - $41,583 to $81, 686 - the average salary for all graduates was $73,133. The average salary for graduates working in Public Interest was $41,583; in Private Practice it was $81, 686; and in Business & Industry it was $59,776.

Can the CSO help me secure a job outside Atlanta or Georgia?

The GSU College of Law is developing a national reputation and assists graduates in securing job opportunities across the nation. GSU law graduates can be found in many states. The CSO helps students looking to begin their careers in other cities and states by networking with alumni in those locations to identify potential summer clerkships and post-graduation opportunities. We also participate in several national job fairs. We are continuously marketing the quality of our student body to employers across the country.

Why are some GSU graduates interested in pursuing clerkships after graduation?

Students pursue clerkships for a variety of reasons. Clerkships, especially those with well-regarded judges or courts, are a prestigious credential valued by many legal employers. Clerkships also give students interested in the courts an opportunity to see trials or appellate actions from the other side of the bench, an opportunity they may never have again in their career unless they are fortunate enough to be appointed to the bench. Even those students who do not intend to pursue litigation as a career path find the experience valuable because it provides the opportunity to do intensive research and writing under the supervision of an experienced jurist. The research, writing and critical thinking skills developed during a clerkship are much sought after by employers.

Should I pursue a dual degree (i.e., J.D./M.B.A., J.D./M.P.A., etc.)?

This depends on your objectives. If you have a clear goal (e.g., your life dream is to work at a legal policy think tank or to teach law and finance) and that goal will be substantially furthered by obtaining a joint degree, then it may be worthwhile. Another great reason to pursue a joint degree is simply because you have a strong intellectual interest in two disciplines provided you can readily afford the cost in terms of time and money, since a joint degree does not necessarily translate into a higher salary.  Employers are not always impressed by a joint degree and it will not always make you more marketable. While a joint degree may be very desirable for some employers, with others it may backfire as they may wonder where your true interest and commitment lie. Perhaps the worst reason to pursue a joint degree is to "keep my options open." It is far better to do the hard work of career exploration and self-assessment now, before you spend an additional year and many thousands of dollars to defer an inevitable decision.