A month-by-month snapshot of many of the key things to know and do during 1L year.
Orientation
- Attend orientation events and pick up your ID card.
Academics
- Focus on your Legal Methods and Legal Practice Workshop (LPW) studies. If you prefer to study with others, consider forming a peer study group.
- Make an appointment with your academic adviser at Student Services to discuss your academic experience and/or your adjustment to Law School.
Student Life
- Attend required Sexual Respect Initiative and Inclusion and Belonging Initiative events.
- Participate in student organization orientation events throughout the month.
Academics
- Attend the Moot Court information session to learn about the ten moot court options for 1Ls. If you are interested in applying for one of the external programs, submit your application on LawNet during the application window in mid-September.
- Attend the Global @ CLS information session to learn about the wealth of international opportunities at Columbia Law School.
- Attend the study abroad general information session to learn about international semester study and dual degree programs.
- Attend Skills & Strategies and Academic Success programs (acclimating to 1L year, study tips, time management, briefing cases, outlining) presented by Student Services.
- Meet with your academic adviser in Student Services to discuss your classroom experience or any questions you have about study skills.
Careers and Professional Development
- Attend the Professional Pathways segment of orientation hosted jointly by the three career offices: Office of Public Interest/Public Service Law and Careers (PI/PS Office), the Office of Private Sector Careers (OPSC), and the Office of Judicial Careers (OJC).
- Review resources on the job search process for various practices, drafting a résumé, cover letters, and other useful tips from the career offices.
- You can begin meeting with career advisers on Monday, September 11.
- Most students do a public interest or judicial internship in their first summer, regardless of their eventual career goals. Meet with a PI/PS or OJC adviser to explore summer opportunities in these areas. Prior to meeting with PI/PS advisers, take a look at the helpful resources on the PI/PS Office's job search tools page, including the Public Interest Job Search Toolkit.
- Attend “Public Interest Mondays” to learn about cutting-edge issues in public interest practice, OJC Judicial Career Programs, and other practitioner events.
- Attend the Davis Polk Leadership Initiative informational session about the DPLI Fellowship.
- Apply for the Davis Polk Leadership Initiative Fellowship and/or Grant
- Fellowship applications will open in late August and be due Monday, September 11
- Grant applications will open in late August and will be accepted on a rolling basis until spots are filled
- Check out the Careers in Law Teaching program and join their mailing list.
- If you are interested in public interest careers, take a look at the PI/PS Office’s Roadmapping Guide, which can help you plan out your academic path.
- Sign up for news and invitations from the career offices (you will receive more information about this).
Student Life
- Attend programs about adjusting to law school, self-care, and other health and wellness programming.
- Attend the Block Party to learn about student organizations and service projects.
- Continue to participate in student organization orientation events throughout the month.
Academics
- Attend information sessions on specific semester abroad, Global Alliance, and international dual degree programs.
- Continue to build your skills by attending Skills & Strategies Focus Fridays and Academic Success programs on outlining, exam prep, and more.
- For additional help with legal research and writing, make an appointment with the CLS Writing Center.
- Prepare for your midterm exams.
- Learn about your options for your January Legal Methods II course and your spring elective by attending faculty-led panels hosted by Student Services.
Careers and Professional Development
Register for Columbia Summer Funding. Students working in public interest or public service (including judicial) internships over the summer must complete the CSF Registration Checklist to be eligible for summer funding.
1Ls must also complete the CSF Registration Checklist to be eligible to apply for the Human Rights Internship Program (HRIP). (HRIP registration will open in October and close on November 30.)
- Research other supplemental summer funding programs.
- Finalize your résumé (in both PI/PS Office and OPSC formats) and cover letters. Use the PI/PS Office résumé portal to have your public interest résumé and cover letters reviewed as needed.
- Research summer job opportunities and meet with your advisers in the PI/PS Office, OPSC, and OJC to discuss your interests.
- Begin applying for public interest, government, and judicial internships. (Note: you can begin applying for private sector summer positions on November 15.)
- Continue to attend programs with practitioners and about careers to learn about different areas of practice.
Student Life
- Attend the Spring Break Pro Bono Caravans information session to learn about exciting pro bono opportunities in both the United States and abroad.
Academics
- Keep an eye out for emails from Registration Services regarding fall exams and spring pre-registration.
- Pre-register for your Legal Methods II and 1L spring elective.
- Attend Skills & Strategies and Academic Success programs on preparing for and writing exams
Careers and Professional Development
- Complete the CSF Registration Checklist by November 30 to register for Columbia Summer Funding (CSF), even if you may not need it. (You can opt-out later, but you cannot register past the deadline!)
- If you might work internationally in human rights next summer, submit an application for the Human Rights Internship Program (HRIP) no later than November 30.
- Attend the Private Sector Diversity Expo.
- Begin applying for 1L summer jobs in the private sector on November 15.
- If a summer judicial internship is your first choice, apply as early as November 15 after attending OJC’s programs on best practices for your application, whether applying directly to an individual federal or state court judge or through a third-party program (e.g., ABA, Just the Beginning, or the Sotomayor Judicial Internship Program, which will have end of year deadlines).
- Attend Presenting Yourself in a Private Sector Interview.
- Register and apply for interviews at the February Public Interest Legal Career (PILC) Fair at NYU—many 1Ls get their summer jobs there. (The application deadline is usually mid-January.)
Student Life
- Apply to participate in a Spring Break Pro Bono Caravan by the deadline, if you are interested.
Academics
- Focus on your exams. Meet with your academic adviser, professors, and teaching assistants as needed regarding exam prep.
Careers and Professional Development
- Continue applying for summer positions. For judicial internships, judges will begin making hiring decisions in December, although many wait until after grades are released in January. Remember that certain third-party judicial internship programs may have December 31 application deadlines.
- Apply for summer jobs through the Public Interest Legal Career (PILC) Fair at NYU.
- Register for and participate in the Practice Interview Program hosted by OPSC.
- If you are hoping to work in your hometown in your 1L summer and are traveling home for the holidays, reach out to potential employers to meet with them over break.
- View a listing of "home for the holiday" events in your city on CLS Connect.
Student Life
- Take advantage of counseling hours and check out other Law School- and university-sponsored wellness programs.
Academics
- Take note of your spring semester schedule, including exams.
- Connect with your professors to review your fall term exams and take advantage of your professors' posted office hours if you’d like feedback.
- Continue to build your skills by attending programs on learning from the fall term, getting to know faculty, and more.
Careers and Professional Development
- Join OJC for its Clerkships 101 Signature Program for 1Ls during J-Term.
- Continue to research summer job opportunities, apply for jobs (and follow up on applications already submitted), and meet with your advisers in the PI/PS Office, OPSC, and OJC to discuss your progress. Update any prior submitted applications with your 1L fall transcripts.
- Attend the Law Firm Networking Event and individual firm receptions to learn about and meet Summer Interview Program employers.
- Register for and participate in the Mock Interview Program (public sector: PI/PS Office and OJC) and the Practice Interview Program (private sector: OPSC).
- If you are interested in a career in academia, attend the weekly Careers in Law Teaching workshop.
- If you are considering public service or public interest law as a career, attend the PI/PS Office’s Planning and Financing Your Public Interest Career series throughout the spring term.
- Participate in the Spring On-Campus Interview (OCI) program for 1Ls (for public interest and private sector).
- Review your Spring CSF Checklist and complete the requirements to remain eligible to receive Columbia Summer Funding. (You can opt-out later, but you cannot receive funding if you miss important program deadlines.)
- If you are participating in the Human Rights Internship Program (HRIP), attend the opening event.
Academics
- Attend Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Information Session (for international students).
- Apply for dual degree programs in Paris, London, or Frankfurt that will entail spending your entire 3L year abroad. (You must apply during your 1L year, as you will plan your 2L year accordingly to fulfill all J.D. requirements.) Apply for a semester abroad or Paris Global Alliance programs if you plan to study internationally during the 2L spring semester.
- Begin thinking about taking a clinic, externship, or other experiential opportunity in the 2L fall term and watch out for information about applying.
- Start thinking about opportunities for Research Assistant (RA) and Teaching Fellow (TF) positions during your 1L summer and/or 2L year by reaching out to professors in whose classes you excelled during your first semester.
Careers and Professional Development
- Attend the Public Interest Legal Career (PILC) Fair to interview and table talk with potential 1L summer employers.
- Continue to research summer job opportunities, apply for jobs (and follow up on applications already submitted), and meet with your advisers in the PI/PS Office, OPSC, and OJC to discuss your progress.
- Participate in the Spring On-Campus Interview program for 1Ls.
- Attend individual firm receptions to learn about the Summer Recruiting Program (EAP/SIP) employers.
- Attend dinners and other events hosted by the PI/PS Office.
- Attend the Columbia Summer Funding Mandatory Payment Session. This is required for all students participating in CSF.
- If you are participating in the Human Rights Internship Program (HRIP), attend weekly trainings.
- If you are considering public service or public interest law as a career, attend the PI/PS Office’s Planning and Financing Your Public Interest Career series throughout the spring term.
- If you are interested in a career in academia, attend the weekly Careers in Law Teaching workshop.
- Attend a Bar Application Information Session.
Student Life
- Consider running for a board position with a student organization during your 2L year.
Academics
- Attend the Experiential Learning Application Overview to learn about clinics, externships, and other experiential learning opportunities in the 2L fall term. Attend individual practice area info sessions to learn more about these offerings. (Applications will be due later in the spring term.)
- Attend Student Service panels to start learning about the Law School’s writing requirements, what journal work entails, and why joining a journal might be right for you.
Careers and Professional Development
- Continue to research summer job opportunities, apply for jobs (and follow up on applications already submitted), and meet with your advisers in the PI/PS Office, OPSC, and OJC to discuss your progress.
- If you are pursuing private sector work and/or plan to participate in 2L SIP/EAP, register for and attend the following OPSC programs:
- Practice Interview Program
- Private Sector Career Symposium
- Introduction to Summer Recruiting
- Continue to complete Columbia Summer Funding Program requirements listed on the Spring CSF Checklist, even if you are unsure you will accept a public sector position. You can always opt-out if you accept a non-eligible position!
- If you are participating in the Columbia Summer Funding Program, apply for additional summer funding opportunities. Consult the Additional Summer Funding checklist for more information.
- If you are participating in the Human Rights Internship Program (HRIP), attend weekly trainings.
- If you are interested in a career in academia, attend the weekly Careers in Law Teaching workshop.
- If you are interested in exploring public interest careers, continue to attend PI/PS Office programming. Also, attend programs to prepare you for success in your 1L summer internship.
Student Life
- Run for a student organization leadership position in your 2L year.
- Consider applying to be a Peer Mentor or Sexual Respect Initiative Facilitator for incoming students in the fall.
Academics
- Apply for 2L fall externships and clinics and other experiential learning opportunities that will satisfy the experiential credit requirement.
- Attend the information session to learn about becoming a moot court student editor and teaching fellow in the Moot Court/LPW program.
- Keep an eye out for programs on note writing.
- Keep an eye out for communications from Registration Services regarding fall pre-registration.
Careers and Professional Development
- If you are participating in the Human Rights Internship Program (HRIP), attend weekly trainings.
- If you are interested in a career in academia, attend the weekly Careers in Law Teaching workshop.
- Attend 1L summer preparatory programs in professionalism, ethics, and resilience to prepare for your summer internship, as well as programs on How to Succeed in Your Public Interest Internship.
- If you will be working in the private sector this summer, attend How to Be a Successful Summer Associate.
- Report your summer employment to the career offices. Students participating in CSF must report their placement to LawNet, all other students, including those working in the private sector, must submit CSF Opt-Out Form. All students are required to report their employment.
Student Life
- Attend Journal Day to learn everything there is to know about Columbia's fantastic law journals. Participate in the Early Journal Application Process if you are interested in joining a specialized law journal. (Most students wait to apply until the Regular Journal Application Process.)
Academics
- Focus on your exams.
Careers and Professional Development
- If you are participating in the Columbia Summer Funding Program, review your Spring CSF Checklist to ensure you’ve completed all program requirements.
- Students participating in the Columbia Summer Funding Program can begin their internship the Monday after the Spring 2024 term ends. Students cannot receive funding for work beginning prior to this date, even if your finals concluded.
Student Life
- After exams end, participate in the Columbia Law Review’s Write-On Competition.
- Apply to journals through the Regular Journal Application Process (results will be released by the end of June).
- Apply on LawNet to become a moot court student editor and LPW teaching fellow for your 2L year.
Academics
- Learn which journal you matched with during the Journal Application Process and start brainstorming possible note topics and faculty note supervisors.
- Continue to think about how you might explore experiential learning opportunities as a 2L.
- Explore opportunities for RA and TF positions during your 1L summer or 2L year by reaching out to professors in whose classes you excelled during your first two semesters.
- Pre-register for fall classes, meeting with your various advisers as needed as you plan your schedule.
Careers and Professional Development
- Throughout the summer, review periodic emails from the PI/PS Office and OPSC to start thinking ahead to your 2L year and 2L summer.
- If you are participating in EAP/SIP this summer, update your résumé and meet with your OPSC adviser as you prepare your bid list.
- Bid for EAP/SIP interviews if interested.
- Keep an eye out for emails about deadlines for Fall On-Campus Interviews (OCI), which can be quite early, and start to prepare to apply/bid. Both private and public sector employers will participate.
- Complete a summer employment evaluation on Symplicity.
- If you are considering applying for postgraduate judicial clerkships, register as “Clerkships Search Active” in Symplicity and discuss your plans with faculty and an OJC adviser.
- Consider applying to the Clerkships Diversity Initiative as part of your 2L career advising plan.
- If you participated in the Columbia Summer Funding Program and continued to work after your funding ended, consider submitting unpaid hours towards your pro bono requirement.
Student Life
- Apply to be a Peer Mentor or Sexual Respect Initiative Facilitator.
- Start thinking about doing pro bono in the fall and exploring different projects.
- Consider joining a new student organization.