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Career and Professional Development

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The Office of Career and Professional Development is operating on a hybrid schedule. Counseling appointments made in CareerLink now take place in person or via Zoom. Please email us at careerdevelopment@wcl.american.edu with your questions or concerns.

Students & Recent Graduates

The Office of Career and Professional Development (OCPD) offers individualized counseling for JD and LL.M. students, both day and evening, throughout their time at WCL and for one year beyond graduation. The OCPD hosts and co-sponsors on- and offline professional development and recruitment programming that features experts and employers from a variety of practice settings. These include mock interviews, resume writing, and career and networking fairs.

LL.M. Alumni

LL.M. alumni seeking career counseling should schedule an appointment with Shanza Qureshi, Career Advisor for LL.M. and International Students via CareerLink.

Alumni seeking access to Legal Careers 101, our online guide to career and professional development, can email careerdevelopment@wcl.american.edu to request the password.

Career Counseling

OCPD’s counselors provide expert guidance for students and recent graduates in search of internships, externships, clerkships, and careers in law, and help them create personalized career plans based on their experiences and interests.

Through individualized sessions, counselors may assist students with:

  • Self-assessment
  • Career Path Exploration
  • Job Search Strategies
  • Networking and Other Interpersonal Skills
  • Application Materials
  • Exploring Job Search Resources
  • Interview Preparation and Follow-up
  • Identifying Clerkships, Internships, and Fellowships
  • Offer Selection and Negotiation

After the initial meeting with a counselor, students are invited to continue working with that career counselor throughout their law school career. They may also meet with other career counselors whose area(s) of specialization most closely align with their goals. Find each counselor’s areas of specialization on the Staff page.

CareerLink

The Office of Career & Professional Developments uses CareerLink, hosted by Symplicity, to house information on career development events, recruiting opportunities, employers who hire WCL students and graduates, and more. Students and alumni may use CareerLink to RSVP for events, apply for jobs, and schedule mock interviews and other targeted career counseling appointments.

Log into CareerLink to:

Recent graduates who prefer to use something other than their AU email address to log into CareerLink can do so by converting to an alumni email account or using their personal email. The OCPD’s administrative team is available to provide assistance should any issues arise when accessing CareerLink.

Legal Careers 101

Exclusively for our students and alumni, this password-protected site has a wealth of information on job hunting, application materials, interviews, networking, and more. Legal Careers 101 features videos, handouts, and helpful guides, all designed to supplement our workshops and one-on-one counseling.

If you’re a member of our community, finding the password is easy: Simply log into CareerLink and look at the Employment Resources announcement near the bottom of the Home page.  If you’re in the library, you can inquire at the circulation desk at Pence Law Library.  If you’re an alum, email careerdevelopment@wcl.american.edu and we’ll provide it to you.