Associate Dean for Law Career Services
The fall semester starts in exactly one month, which means that many of you will be winding down your summer jobs and internships during the next few weeks. While your assignments might be coming to a close, your ongoing relationship with your organization is just beginning. Before you rush out the door, take some time to take care of these easy, but meaningful steps:
- Tie up loose ends: Plan to complete all of your assignments well in advance of your last day in the office. Rushing to the finish line will likely yield sloppy mistakes that will emerge only after you have left. Don’t let bad work product be your legacy.
- Leave a road map: For projects that will continue on after you leave, prepare some documentation to bring your successor up to speed and let them know what has already been accomplished and what still needs to be done.
- Offer to hire your replacement: Don’t leave your employer short handed. Offer to assist with hiring your replacement by sharing a job announcement with LCS and training your replacement.
- Update your records: Before leaving the office, make sure you have a complete list of the projects and cases you worked on. You will need to refer to this list when updating your resume, seeking a reference from your supervisor or providing your work history to a new employer when completing a conflicts of interest check.
- Share your thanks: Make a point to thank everyone in the office for all that they did to contribute to your experience. Some students have shared a token gift (like candy, cookies or flowers) as a way to show their gratitude, but nothing beats a sincere, personalized thank you note.
- Break some bread: Grab lunch or coffee with your supervisor or co-workers to thank them for a good experience. Share your future plans with them, seek their advice, and learn more about what they are working on.
- Stay in touch: This is the most important step of all! Follow up with your supervisor to check on the results of pending cases; send a greeting to your supervisor during the winter holidays; include your supervisor on your future “good news” emails, like when you graduate from law school, pass the bar exam, and get your next job.
