3L Roadmap

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A month-by-month snapshot of many of the key things to know and do during 3L year.

Academics

  • Pre-register for fall courses, taking advantage of your academic and career advisers as you plan your schedule.
  • If you are submitting a paper for a Moot Workshop, do so by the deadline.
  • For questions about the Bar exam and admission requirements (including the MPRE, which is a separate bar admission requirement), please review Registration Services' Bar Certification page and the National Conference of Bar Examiners' Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements, a 50-state survey of bar admission rules and requirements.
  • Students with accommodations should review their accommodations and, if needed, contact Disability Services to make any changes. Students with accommodations should begin gathering materials to apply for accommodations for the Bar Exam.
  • Submit your classroom seating requests in LawNet.

Careers and Professional Development

  • You can now apply for federal or state clerkships at any time as a 3L, with peak hiring season typically in the spring and immediately after graduation. Talk to an adviser in the Office of Judicial Careers (OJC) to develop your application strategy. You can also review OJC's Courseworks for additional information.
  • If you plan on taking the New York Law Exam (NYLE) in September, complete the New York Law Course online and register for the NYLE by the August deadline. If you have accommodations, your deadline may be earlier, so check the New York State Board of Law Examiners website.
  • Apply/bid for Virtual Fall On-Campus Interviews (OCI), keeping in mind that most public sector employers have mid-August application deadlines.
  • If you have accepted a clerkship, seek advice on how to communicate this to your 2L summer employer.
  • If you are pursuing a public interest or public service position, continue working with the Office of Public Interest/Public Service Law & Careers (PI/PS Office) on applications for postgraduate government honors programs, postgraduate fellowships (including Columbia-funded postgraduate fellowships), and public interest jobs. Make sure to register for the PI/PS Office’s postgraduate fellowship newsletter. Note that job and fellowship deadlines can be as early as mid-July.
  • Several Columbia-funded fellowships have application deadlines in the fall. Meet with a PI/PS Office adviser, review the PI/PS Office’s online fellowship materials for specific dates, and plan accordingly.
  • If you are considering entering the law teaching market this year or in the future, reach out to the Careers in Law Teaching Program for assistance in preparing your Faculty Appointments Register (FAR) application.
  • If you have any questions or difficulties during your summer job, reach out to any of the career advisers. We’re here to help!

Academics

  • Take advantage of the Add/Drop period and academic advising provided by Student Services as you finalize your courses and exam schedule.
  • Register for the Major Writing requirement by the end of the Fall Add-Drop period.
  • Attend the Global @ CLS information session to learn about the wealth of international opportunities at Columbia Law School.

Careers and Professional Development

  • Attend Public Interest Mondays and other practitioner events.
  • Participate in the Virtual Fall On-Campus Interview (OCI) for public and private sector postgraduate jobs.
  • If you are applying for government honors programs, do so by the deadlines, which generally begin in the middle of the summer and continue through the fall.
  • Attend OJC workshops and judicial speaker programming.
  • If you plan on taking the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) in November, register by the September deadline. If you have accommodations, your deadline may be earlier, check the MPRE website.
  • Continue to meet with your career advisers in the PI/PS Office, OPSC, and OJC to navigate postgraduate job and fellowship applications and offers.
  • Attend the Davis Polk Leadership Initiative informational session about Fellowships, Grants, and the experiential Lawyer Leadership seminar.
  • Apply for the Davis Polk Leadership Initiative Fellowship and/or Innovation Grant
    • Fellowship applications will open in late August and will be due in mid-September.
    • Grant applications will open in late August and will be accepted on a rolling basis until spots are filled.

Student Life

  • Attend the Block Party (our student organization fair).
  • Get involved in a pro bono project. Projects must be completed by March 1 of 3L year.
  • If you are graduating in October, register your pro bono hours in LawNet.
  • If you need to amend your law school application, please submit an this amendment form during the amnesty period.

Academics

  • Begin to plan for spring courses by attending faculty-led panels, student-to-student info sessions, and faculty office hours. Meet with your advisers in Student Services, OPSC, OJC, and the PI/PS Office. (Make appointments with the career advisers via Symplicity)
  • Attend the information session for any new experiential learning opportunities available in the spring term. (Applications will be due this month).
  • Apply for the Spring 2026 Lawyer-Leadership experiential seminar (applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the course is full).

Careers and Professional Development

  • Attend OJC, PI/PS Office, and OPSC programs and other events and lectures.
  • Several Columbia-funded fellowships have application deadlines in the fall and spring semesters. Meet with a PI/PS Office adviser, review the PI/PS Office’s online fellowship materials for specific dates, and plan accordingly.

Student Life

Academics

  • Pre-register for spring classes and the January term. Meet with OJC advisers to discuss any class selection questions for clerkship applications.
  • Keep an eye out for emails from Registration Services regarding fall exams. Take note of the deadline to reschedule exams.
  • Reach out to professors about opportunities for serving as a Research Assistant (RA) or Teaching Fellow (TF) during the spring semester.
  • If you are due to graduate in May, apply for the May degree.

Careers and Professional Development

  • If you plan on taking the New York Law Exam (NYLE) in December, complete the New York Law Course online and register for the NYLE by the November deadline. If you have accommodations, your deadline may be earlier, check the New York State Board of Law Examiners website.
  • Attend the Bar Application Information Session.
  • If you plan on taking the February Uniform Bar Exam in New York, register by the deadline.
  • Several Columbia-funded fellowships have application deadlines in the fall and spring semesters. Meet with a PI/PS Office adviser, review the PI/PS Office’s online fellowship materials for specific dates, and plan accordingly.
  • If you plan to apply for judicial clerkships in the Spring semester, meet with your OJC adviser to prepare and discuss your applications.

Student Life

  • If you haven’t completed your pro bono requirement, register your plan to complete the pro bono requirement with the Pro Bono Office.

Academics

  • Focus on your exams, meeting with your academic adviser as needed for exam prep.

Careers and Professional Development

  • Several Columbia-funded fellowships have application deadlines in the spring. Meet with a PI/PS Office adviser, review the PI/PS Office’s online fellowship materials for specific dates, and plan accordingly. Apply for other positions as well.

Student Life

  • Take advantage of counseling hours and check out other Law School and university-sponsored wellness programs.

Academics

  • Add/Drop as needed and take note of your final schedule, including exams.
  • Register for the Minor Writing requirement by the end of the Spring Add-Drop period.
  • Pick up your fall term exams and take advantage of your professors' posted office hours if you need to discuss them.

Careers and Professional Development

  • If you plan to take the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) in March, register by the January deadline. If you have accommodations, your deadline may be earlier, check the MPRE website.
  • If you are considering applying for judicial clerkships this semester, make an appointment with OJC to learn about the application process or discuss how to update your application. Make sure you have two strong writing samples or plans to obtain them. Ask faculty for letters of recommendation as early as possible, as opportunities will open for 3Ls and alumni in the spring (rather than the summer, when 2Ls may apply).
  • 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 and other public interest programs throughout the spring term.
  • Apply to be a Parker Fellow at the International Court of Justice (you must have a thorough command of French, among other requirements).
  • Participate in the Virtual Spring On-Campus Interview (OCI) program (OPSC and the PI/PS Office).
  • Continue to consult postgraduate fellowship deadlines and work with your adviser in the PI/PS Office on applications for fellowships and positions.
  • Attend info sessions on character and fitness, and other bar-related concerns.

Student Life

  • If you are graduating in February, submit your pro bono hours in LawNet.

Careers and Professional Development

  • Complete the Graduate Employment Certification in Symplicity.
  • If you are interested in a career in academia, attend the weekly Careers in Law Teaching workshop.
  • Participate in the Virtual Spring On-Campus Interview (OCI) program.
  • Continue to consult postgraduate fellowship deadlines and work with your adviser in the PI/PS Office on applications for fellowships and positions.
  • If you are applying for judicial clerkships this spring, compile your application materials and make sure to ask for letters of recommendation as early as possible. You should also provide your recommenders with information to help them write the letters, including the Clerkship Recommendation Memo (available on OJC’s Courseworks page) and any requested application materials, as soon as possible after confirming that your recommender will write you a letter.

Student Life

  • Fulfill your 40-hour pro bono requirement and submit your hours by the March 1 deadline (with the exception of Spring Break Caravans or pre-registered spring break projects).
  • Attend graduation orientation.
  • Vote for student graduation speakers.
  • If you are on the board of a student organization, ensure you comply with leadership transition dates so next year’s board can hit the ground running. 

Academics

  • Watch out for communications regarding the application for the July New York State Bar, graduation requirements, and final exams.

Careers and Professional Development

  • If you plan to take the New York Law Exam (NYLE) in April , complete the New York Law Course online and register for the NYLE by the March deadline. If you have accommodations, your deadline may be earlier, check the New York State Board of Law Examiners website.
  • If you plan to apply for state or federal clerkships this spring, you should request clerkship recommendation letters before Spring Break. Follow OJC’s guidance on its Courseworks page or speak with an OJC adviser for best practices.
  • If you already have your clerkship application materials complete, apply on OSCAR and keep an eye on state court deadlines.
  • Complete the Graduate Employment Certification in Symplicity if you have not done so already.
  • Continue to consult postgraduate fellowship deadlines and work with your adviser in the PI/PS Office on applications for fellowships and positions.
  • If you plan on taking the July Uniform Bar Exam in New York, register by the deadline.

Student Life

  • Take advantage of university-offered wellness programs.
  • If you are on the board of a student organization, ensure you comply with leadership transition dates so next year’s board can hit the ground running. 

Academics

  • Continue to be mindful of communications regarding graduation requirements and meet with academic advisers in Student Services as needed.
  • For May Graduates: Major Writing and Minor Writing: Deadline to submit final draft of Major Writing Credit paper (discuss deadline with professor if necessary).

Careers and Professional Development

Academics

  • Focus on your exams.
  • Enjoy graduation!

Careers and Professional Development

  • If you plan to apply for judicial clerkships, be certain to ask for any remaining faculty clerkship recommendation letters (or updates, if necessary, to reflect any spring term work) by graduation. In addition, be prepared for any potential interviews during this peak hiring season. 

Careers and Professional Development

  • Prepare and apply for federal and state clerkships before early June. This is the peak hiring season for recent CLS graduates!
  • Study for the bar exam.
  • For public interest careers, review the Enhanced LRAP application and submit it by the deadline.
  • If you want to keep tabs on grad news from the PI/PS Office, sign up for their graduate newsletter.
  • Consider mentoring a law student or coming back to campus to speak on a panel or meet with students.
  • If you have great job openings at your organization, agency, judicial chambers, or firm, please share them with OPSC, OJC, or the PI/PS Office.
  • Let OPSC, OJC, or the PI/PS Office know if you switch jobs or need help transitioning in your career—they are available to provide resources and support throughout your career.

Student Life

  • If you are on campus, take advantage of bar prep events and lunches!