St. Thomas Law is dedicated, through our Office of Career and Professional Development (CPD), to helping students and alumni navigate a personalized path to meaningful employment.
CPD staff maintain strong relationships with law firms, judges and other legal employers, both locally and nationally, which allows us to have a deep understanding of the legal jobs market and what employers need, in order to effectively advise students and graduates on their career journey.
CPD support for students and alumni:
Employment workshop series for first-year law students
The J.D. Compass program
Thorough review of application materials
Individual counseling sessions with a dedicated career counselor
Mock interview sessions
Networking training and events
On- and off-campus interview programs
Access to our resource library
Programming on numerous topics related to your professional path and job search
The Office of Career and Professional Development educates students about the variety of settings in which lawyers work during one-on-one sessions and the employment workshop series.
Private Practice
Private practice attorneys work in law firms, which can range in size. Many St. Thomas Law graduates begin their careers working as associates for private law firms.
Judicial Clerkship
A judicial law clerk works closely with a judge or judges at the district/trial court or appellate levels. Clerks develop strong legal research, writing and advocacy skills, which are valued by legal employers.
Business & Industry
An in-house attorney or corporate counsel advises leaders, protects assets and identifies/minimizes risks. Legal professionals can also be found in ethics and compliance roles within for- and non-profit companies.
Government, Public Interest & Nonprofits
These attorneys often provide legal services to underserved populations, shape public policy, engage in legal reform and advocacy and defend human and civil rights.
Overview
The Office of Career and Professional Development educates students about the variety of settings in which lawyers work during one-on-one sessions and the employment workshop series.
Private Practice
Private practice attorneys work in law firms, which can range in size. Many St. Thomas Law graduates begin their careers working as associates for private law firms.
Judicial Clerkship
A judicial law clerk works closely with a judge or judges at the district/trial court or appellate levels. Clerks develop strong legal research, writing and advocacy skills, which are valued by legal employers.
Business & Industry
An in-house attorney or corporate counsel advises leaders, protects assets and identifies/minimizes risks. Legal professionals can also be found in ethics and compliance roles within for- and non-profit companies.
Government, Public Interest & Nonprofits
These attorneys often provide legal services to underserved populations, shape public policy, engage in legal reform and advocacy and defend human and civil rights.
The Career Office is Here to Help
Career Assistance
We offer a wide variety of resources to assist you in developing your path to employment—from polishing your resume to growing your professional network.
The CPD Office will work closely with you throughout your law school career to help you gain the experience necessary to further your professional goals. Students gain professional legal experience in a variety of ways and in a variety of settings. Often, students will work as law clerks for law firms, government agencies, public interest organizations or businesses.
Public Service Opportunities
There are also countless opportunities for students to volunteer in the legal community where they will serve a vulnerable or underserved population while also developing valuable and transferable legal skills. Each of these experiences can help bolster a student's resume, expand their professional network and provide the necessary foundation for a meaningful and productive career search.
Hands-on Experience
Legal Externship Program
A semester-long legal externship will accelerate your professional development and substantive understanding of the law. Complete an externship in the judiciary, public interest, law and business, compliance or misdemeanor defense.
When you earn a degree from St. Thomas Law, you become part of our community of nearly 3,000 alumni. You also join the network of more than 120,000 St. Thomas graduates working around the world in fields from business to engineering to the sciences.
