Your 2L and 3L PIPS Job Search

Summer Preview Program (SPP) and Summer OCI (SOCI) are private sector recruitment programs and tend to be BigLaw focused. However, we include these programs here because a number of Plaintiff-side firms also participate in these programs and hire 2Ls and 3Ls for summer jobs.

The initial list of Plaintiff-side employers registered so far for Summer Preview Program (SPP) and Summer OCI (SOCI) is now available. To access the full employer list of Plaintiff-side firms coming to our interview programs log in to b-Line and click on “Resources” and then click on “Document Library.” There is a dynamic AirTable document in there titled “2L/3L Private Sector Employer List – Plaintiff-side Firms (Summer 2024)” that the CDO updates when employers change their registrations to our interview programs. You can filter opportunities specifically open to your class level (2Ls or 3Ls) by filtering by the Class Year column. CDO is also adding opportunities we learn about from employers for direct application processes to the list.

SPP

If you are interested in applying to the Plaintiff-side firms participating in SPP, make sure to submit your application materials during the application period of June 10 – June 14, 2024 (ending at noon PT). Students participating in SPP are limited to 8 applications, and applications will contain resumes and transcripts. Once applications are made available to employers, employers will review and select candidates for interviews. Employers will be fully responsible for scheduling the interviews with students directly. 

SOCI

If you are interested in applying to the firms participating in SOCI, make sure to place your bids during the bidding period of July 17 – July 22, 2024. Summer OCI is our traditional, lottery style interview program where students will be assigned to interviews based on our lottery algorithm system. Interviews will take place virtually July 30 – August 1, 2024. 

For more information on how to apply for Plaintiff-side opportunities via SPP or SOCI, visit our OCI Programs page. 

Fall OCI is our interview program for 2Ls and 3Ls that focuses on public interest, government, and small firm hiring (i.e., firms with less than 100 lawyers firmwide), including Plaintiff-side firms and private-public interest firms.

How does Fall OCI work?

Interviews through Fall OCI are either in-person or virtual, depending on the employer’s preference, and take place in early-mid September. All in-person interviews will be hosted at Berkeley Law. Employers in Fall OCI will be able to select the candidates they want to interview based on an advance review of candidates’ application materials and schedule those interviews through Fall OCI.

Some employers participating in Fall OCI may choose to participate in the resume-collect option only. Students who choose to submit resumes to Resume Collect employers may be contacted by those employers directly to schedule interviews at a mutually convenient time and method outside of Fall OCI.

Deadlines and How to Apply?

This year, the FOCI application period will be from August 2 – August 15, 2024. Students may apply to as many employers as they like, submitting the employer’s requested materials, such as a resume, transcript, writing sample, and/or references. Interviews will take place from September 3 – September 20, 2024. The CDO will also send students reminders and additional information via email in the weeks and months leading up to FOCI.

For detailed information on deadlines and how to apply, see the CDO’s page “OCI Programs.”

WOCI is Berkeley Law’s Winter OCI program – open to 1Ls, 2Ls, and 3Ls – which includes non-profit organizations, government agencies, law firms, and private companies. 

How does Winter OCI work?

Students apply to employers through the Winter OCI program and employers are then able to review and select candidates for interviews. Students will be notified of their selection status, and will then acknowledge/accept the selection (or withdraw, if applicable). Employers will be fully responsible for scheduling the interviews with students directly. Through the program employers may interview 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year students for summer internships and post-graduation positions.

Deadlines and How to Apply?

Students will be able to start submitting applications via Flo Recruit on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, and will need to complete application submissions by 12:00 pm PT on Tuesday, January 21. Students may apply to as many employers as they like, submitting the employer’s requested materials, such as a resume, transcript, writing sample, and/or references. 

We will be sending students emails and reminders with more information about WOCI, but for detailed information on deadlines and how to apply, visit our “OCI Programs” page.

Equal Justice Works (EJW) Career Fair

The Equal Justice Works (EJW) Career Fair is the largest national public interest legal career fair and offers the opportunity to meet and/or interview with over 200 public interest employers from across the U.S. for 2L summer and post-grad positions. It was typically held in Washington, D.C., but has been held virtually the past few years, making it much easier for Berkeley Law students to participate! The deadline to apply for pre-scheduled interviews with employers participating in the EJW Career Fair is usually sometime in September. Interviews will take place from October 10 – 12, 2024. You can view here the employers who registered to participate last year in 2023 and the positions for which they were hiring. Information for the 2024 Career Fair should be available sometime over the summer.

For 2Ls, this event is a great way to learn more about and apply to interview with lots of different organizations in one place.

For 3Ls, this event is one of the primary vehicles for post-grad recruiting for many of the public interest employers who attend, especially those outside of California, and especially entry-level criminal trial practice jobs (including public defense).

The EJW Fair includes a table-talk component where students have the opportunity to meet informally with employers to learn more about what they do and network.

In August, students will receive additional information via email from the CDO, including registration instructions, key deadlines, and employer information. 

NorCal PI/PS Day

Berkeley Law, together with eight other Northern California area law schools, co-sponsors the annual Public Interest/Public Sector Career Day (“PI/PS Day”), which brings together approximately 100+ public interest and federal, state, and local government agencies from California and neighboring states. This interview program is usually held virtually in late January/early February and open to 1Ls, 2Ls, and 3Ls.

Several participating organizations conduct pre-scheduled interviews during this event for summer and post-graduate PIPS positions. The deadline for students to submit application materials for employers interviewing at the event is generally early to mid-January. (See who came most recently.)

Many organizations also participate in the “Table Talk” component where students have the opportunity to meet with employers and talk with them about their work and immediate or future employment opportunities. The “Table Talk” format gives students the flexibility and freedom to move from employer to employer at their own leisure, giving the feel of in-person career fairs/meet and greets. 

This year, applications are due January 10, 2025 at 12pm, and table talk and interviews will take place Janauary 31 – February 1, 2025.

In December, students will receive additional information via email from the CDO, including registration instructions, key deadlines, and employer information. 

OCI, EJW Career Fair, and PI/PS Day can be great ways for students to secure a public interest summer or post-graduate job. However, there are many non-profits, government agencies, and Plaintiff-side firms that do not participate in these programs because it is not the best fit for their hiring needs. Formal interview programs are just one of several job search tools at your disposal. Do not just limit yourself to the employers who find you through these programs. We describe below additional ways that you can find jobs, including through direct applications and networking with attorneys. Schedule an appointment with an attorney-counselor to discuss how you can integrate OCI into your wider job search strategy, which should include direct applications to employers.

You should do additional research to identify PIPS employers to work at your 2L summer or after law school.

The best resources to apply directly:

• b-Line Jobs:  check the Jobs site weekly and/or set up a Job Alert. 
• Psjd.org: a unique online clearinghouse for law students and lawyers to connect with PIPS jobs.
• Arizona Handbook (Password: BlueandGold4ever): lists government opportunities based on class level.
• Impact Fund jobs board: public interest jobs board sorted by geographic region.
• Linkedin, Idealist.org, etc.
• Organization/agency websites: Review and follow the instructions on the employer’s website (often in a “Careers” or “Jobs” tab located at the top or bottom of the firm’s homepage) on how to apply to opportunities.

In addition to the resources above, contact the CDO to join your class Google Group listserv where we also share open job opportunities nearly every Friday for 2Ls and 3Ls.

Before applying for positions, should I reach out and network with alums working at an employer I am interested in?

We encourage you to network widely and energetically to learn more about practice areas or employers that you are particularly interested in. Meeting with alum attorneys in advance of applying is also a way of underscoring your genuine interest in particular employers. Additionally, some key questions that you will need to have answers for during interviews are: “Why are you interested in our firm/organization/agency?” Meeting with lawyers at the employers you are interested in working at is one way of preparing – and practicing – your answers to these questions. Consult the CDO’s Guide to Connecting To The Berkeley Law Alumni Network for more information. As the Guide suggests, you do have to be thoughtful about this process. If you have any questions about how to navigate the process, feel free to schedule a counseling appointment with a CDO attorney-counselor to review your approach and help you prepare.

Can I apply for a position through an interview program and also submit a direct application to the same employer?

Our general advice is to review the employer’s postings to see if they have specified whether they want only one application through the interview program they are participating in. If they have not mentioned it, you can also submit an application directly to the employer, but we encourage you to mention in your cover letter that you have also applied through the interview program and would welcome the opportunity to interview through the program. This is to signal to employers that you are aware they are coming to the interview program and have done your due diligence as a law student. This also allows the employer to decide how best they may want to proceed with scheduling a potential interview. If you have any questions, schedule an appointment with one of the CDO’s attorney-counselors.

Also, keep in mind, there are many legal employers that do not participate in interview programs and many great opportunities to do satisfying legal work that hire in other ways. Do not just limit yourself to the employers who find you via interview programs. The b-Line “Jobs” tab contains many opportunities with employers who are interested in Berkeley Law students, but not participating in our interview programs. PSJD.org is also a great source to scan for PIPS opportunities. Contact an attorney-counselor in the CDO if you have questions about your job search – we would be happy to help you in developing a job search strategy!

What should I use for a Writing Sample?

Not all employers will ask for a writing sample, but many will. Your writing sample needs to be law-related, perfectly spell- and cite-checked, and grammatically correct and error-free. Generally, writing samples are 5-8 pages (max 10 pages) so that they are long enough for the reader to get a sense of the topic, your writing, and your analysis. If the employer you are applying to sets a page limit for your writing sample, follow the instructions the employer has provided. 

Choose a writing sample that is a great reflection of your legal research, writing, and analysis and, if possible, is relevant to the job you are applying for. If you have something from your 1L or 2L summer work that satisfies these criteria, you should probably use it (provided you have the permission from the employer and all confidential or identifying information is redacted). However, your writing sample does not have to come from your summer job – it can also come from a field placement or other experience you’ have had during the year, such as a clinic. If you do not have any writing sample from a work experience, students can use a sample from their 1L LRW or WOA class. Whatever you choose, have as many people as you can proofread it. You can find a resource on writing samples here.

Should I send Thank You notes to employers after I interview with them?

Yes! We encourage students to send “Thank You” notes to their interviewers after their interviews, regardless of how they first applied (i.e. directly to the employer vs. through an interview program). However, Thank You notes are not required or expected for SPP or SOCI screening interviews.

Sending a Thank You note over email is perfectly fine. Two of the most important things to remember are (1) send them soon after the interview (preferably within 24 hours) and (2) keep them short, to the point, and personalized. Be extra careful with email; your message is still a business communication, which means it should be appropriately formal and error-free. Some additional information about Thank You notes can be found in the CDO’s Thank You Note Guide. 

I received an early offer from an employer and they have given me a deadline to accept, but I still want to interview with other employers. Can I ask for an offer extension?

Employers all have their own hiring timelines and while you can request an extension, be prepared to hear “no” and also know that requesting an extension may signal to the employer that they are not your top choice. If you’re still waiting to hear back from other employers you have interviewed with and it seems like an extension would help (i.e. the other employers will be getting back to you within the extension timeframe), then you can ask for an extension but be prepared to make a decision if the employer is not able to extend their offer. Extension requests should be for a reasonable amount of time and you want to be professional and courteous in how you go about requesting the extension. For additional guidance, review the CDO’s guide on Accepting and Declining Employment Offers.  And – of course – CDO attorney counselors are available to help you navigate and weigh offers!

For additional guidance on preparing your job application materials or preparing for interviews, we encourage you to review the following resources:

• Video: Cover Letters That Do the Job (Fall 2022)
• Best Practices for Crafting Strong Cover Letters to Plaintiff-side Firms (Summer 2022)
• Guide to Effective Interviewing
• PIPS Interviewing Resources
• Thank You Letters/Emails Following an Interview