On Nov. 14, the Career Services office at UWO Law held a session On Campus Interviews – Not the Only Option.

Some of our contributors attended and provided their notes from the event below.

There are some general concerns about the economic climate, which has translated into a job shortage in some sectors.  But generally Western students performed well in job searches, better especially in comparison to other law schools, despite what some law school rankings might say.

Students should not panic if they did not get a summer job for second year through the OCI process.  There are about 300 other law firms they can apply to.  It’s also an opportunity to do some self-reflection  and career planning, to be sure you know where you want to go in law.

Students can seek out options to improve their candidacy.  They can build their resume, or try to improve their grades.  They can network at free events, or even with upper year students.

Areas of self-reflection include what went right, but also where they can improve.  Students should ask themselves what do they want in life, and if their career aspirations are realistic.

Things to consider include the location of a firm, its size, practice areas, lifestyle and work environment.  There are lots of options for barristers in smaller towns.

Alternative ways to find jobs include looking for job postings, mail outs and cold calling, and networking generally.

Potential employers they may not have considered are other firms, large and small; government, such as the Department of Justice (DoJ) and Ministry of the Attorney General (MAG); businesses and corporations; non-profit organizations like Legal Aid Ontario and NGOs like PSLawNet; and educational institutions or universities.

The articling and clerking recuitment deadlines are slightly different and should be kept in mind.  Clerking deadlines are in December/january, and articling deadlines are May/July.

Resume building can be accomplished through volunteering, clinics, publications, internships and exchanges, clubs, extra-curricular activities, and advocacy competitions.

Some final words of advice were to stay positive, be proactive, and think outside of the box.