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How to Navigate Law School

Whether you are a 1L wondering when to start looking for a summer job, a 2L concerned about the substantial writing requirement, a 3L worried you'll sign up too late for the bar, or an LLM trying to make the most of your year here, these roadmaps to success can help you get where you're going.

Overviews

1L Year

Traditional required courses are complemented by our specially-designed Legislation and the Regulatory State course, which gives an in-depth understanding of government processes, and our renowned Lawyering Program, where you'll learn the practical skills that every lawyer needs. You'll also have the chance to take the first steps of your career path early by taking an elective.

2L Year 

Strong writing skills, essential for any successful lawyer, are emphasized in the second year. You can hone your writing through directed research with a professor, or as part of seminar, completing the analytic paper required to graduate. You can use your paper as the basis for a “note” submitted to one of NYU Law’s student journals and as a writing sample when applying for jobs and clerkships. The second year, you'll start to focus on advanced courses and can take simulation courses and clinics.

3L Year 

The third year is a great time to take a colloquium or clinic. NYU Law's colloquia are meta-seminars in which faculty and students engage in the most rigorous intellectual experience in legal education, reading and discussing papers and works-in-progress by top scholars. You can also get invaluable hands-on training by taking a clinic. NYU Law offers more than 40 clinics, which cover everything from capital punishment to environmental law to international organizations to law and technology.

LLM 

You'll find a curriculum that offers transactional classes as well as clinical opportunities and simulation courses. In the Graduate Lawyering Program, foreign-trained students learn skills to practice effectively in the US and global legal environments. Many classes satisfy eligibility requirements for the New York bar exam.

Roadmaps

In your first year, you'll take required courses, including Lawyering, which teaches you the practical skills every lawyer needs, and Legislation and the Regulatory State, which gives an in-depth understanding of government processes. You can also take the first steps of your career path early by taking a Spring elective.

Before You Arrive

Academics

  • Consult the Admitted Students website to be sure you are ready to begin law school. 
  • Submit the Final Enrollment Confirmation Form, College Questionnaire, and Immunization Forms to NYU Law. Submit your Final Undergraduate Transcript to both NYU Law and LSAC.

Fall Semester

Academics

  • You'll take traditional required courses as well as Lawyering. In your first semester of Lawyering, you'll learn to develop legal research and writing skills and explore how law and fact unite in legal analysis.  
  • Register for your first-year elective. Choose from Constitutional Law, Corporations, Criminal Procedure: Police Practices, Income Taxation, Intellectual Property, International Law, and Property. An advisor from Academic Services will visit your section to help you sort out the options. (Mid-October)

Outside of Class

Careers

Private Sector

Attend the Career Educational Fair and Panel which introduces 1Ls to dozens of legal practice area specialties and non-legal alternatives with over 70 practitioners in attendance, many of them alumni. (October)

  • Attend the Diversity Forum Panel and Career Fair. (November)
  • Go to the 1L Small Group Counseling Sessions and Resume Reviews. (October–January)
  • Attend the 1L Summer Job Search Panel, where current 2Ls discuss their summer job experiences in a variety of settings, including public interest, in-house, law firm, and as research assistants. (November)
  • Attend the Interview Skills Mini Clinics. (November and January)
  • Prepare cover letters and mailings to 1L employers. (December and January)
  • Sign up and attend Home for the Holidays Law Firm Receptions over the break.

 Public Interest

Spring Semester

Academics

  • You will take the specially-designed course, Legislation and the Regulatory State.
  • Your second semester of Lawyering will engage you in simulated interviewing, counseling, case analysis, negotiation, and both informal and trial advocacy.
  • The schedule of classes is published in March. Counselors in Academic Services are available to meet by appointment to discuss.
  • Think about taking a clinic or going on NYU Law Abroad next year to spend a semester immersed in the law and legal culture of Buenos Aires or Paris through a program designed by the Law School.
  • Attend joint Academic Advising/Career Counseling sessions held by Academic Services, Career Services, and PILC.

Outside of Class

Careers

Private Sector

  • Take part in the orientation session for Spring on-campus interviews. (January)
  • Go to the Public Interest Legal Career Fair. (February)
  • Take part in Law Firm Speed Networking Lunch for 1Ls and meet attorneys from a large variety of New York law firms in a very informal setting. (February)
  •  Attend the NYU Global Networking Event and meet attorneys from firms from around the country and the world. (April)
  • Participate in 40+ law firm and corporate sponsored events, receptions, lunches and dinners throughout the Spring. 
  • Register for Early Interview Week (EIW), NYU Law’s largest employer recruiting event for employment in the private sector. Approximately 80 percent of students obtain their 2L summer positions at EIW.
  • Participate in “Strike A Match” and learn how you can select the firms you wish to bid on for the lottery. (April)
  • Come to the Office of Career Services (OCS) for a personalized mini-mock interview in preparation for EIW. (March and April)
  • Career education programs are offered throughout the Spring; some are co-sponsored with student groups.

Public Interest

Clerkships

  • Attend the 1L clerkship orientation session to learn about clerkships and the application process.
  • Attend the Judicial Clerkship Diversity Panel and Reception and hear a panel of judges speak about the value of a clerkship and the application process and meet the judges and current and former NYU Law clerks.

1L Summer

Academics

  • Register for your Fall and Spring courses. Use COURSES to register for classes, check your law school schedule, or check for blocks that prevent registration.

Careers

Private Sector

  • Attorney Interview Match (AIM) Program: OCS will attempt to match you with a practicing attorney from a law firm in New York City, or wherever you are working, for a mock interview at their office to prepare for EIW. (July)
  • Take part in the Practice Interview Evening program in advance of EIW.
  • Come to the Interview Skills Workshop in preparation for EIW.
  • Participate in EIW. (July/August)

In the second year of law school, writing skills are emphasized. You can hone your writing through directed research with a professor, or as part of seminar, completing the analytic paper required to graduate. You can use your paper as the basis for a “note” submitted to one of NYU Law’s student journals, and as a writing sample when applying for jobs and clerkships. You'll also start to focus on advanced courses and can take simulation courses and clinics. 

Before Your Arrive

Academics

  • Register for your Fall and Spring courses. Use COURSES to register for classes, check your law school schedule, or check for blocks that prevent registration.

Careers

  • Attorney Interview Match (AIM) Program: OCS will attempt to match you with a practicing attorney from a law firm in New York City, or wherever you are working, for a mock interview at their office in preparation for Early Interview Week (EIW), when 300+ employers are on campus to interview students for summer or full time positions. (July)
  • Take part in the Practice Interview Evening Program in advance of EIW.
  • Come to the Interview Skills Workshop in preparation for EIW.
  • Participate in EIW. The majority of students secure their 2L summer positions through this program. (July/August)

Fall Semester

Academics

  • Choose a subject and an advisor for your note. For guidance, see Why Write a Student Note.
  • Figure out how you will choose to meet the mandatory Substantial Writing requirement.
  • Continue to register for your Spring courses (late October). Use COURSES to register for classes, check your law school schedule, or check for blocks that prevent registration. 
  • Add/drop during the first week of classes for Fall. 
  • Attend the Exam Skills workshop. Check the calendar for event date.
  • Understand how to meet the mandatory pro bono requirement. 

Outside of Class

Careers

Private Sector

  • Attend call backs at firms.
  • Participate in the Fall On-Campus Interviewing (OCI).
  • Attend the 2L clerkship orientation to learn about clerkships and the application process.

Public Interest

Spring Semester

Academics

  • The schedule of classes is published in March. Counselors in Academic Services are available to meet by appointment to discuss.
  • Think about taking a clinic or going on NYU Law Abroad next year to spend a semester immersed in the law and legal culture of Buenos Aires or Paris through a program designed by the Law School.
  • Register for the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE).

Outside of Class

Careers

Private Sector

  • Spring OCI takes place.
  • Attend How to Succeed as a Summer Associate and Throughout Your Legal Career. (April)
  • Think about your next steps. See OCS's Your Career Journey.

Public Interest

Clerkships

  • If you're interested in clerking, make an appointment with a counselor at the Judicial Clerkship Office and/or attend the 2L clerkship orientation to learn about clerkships and the application process.
  • Attend the clerkship reception with alumni clerks.
  • Attend the Judicial Clerkship Diversity Panel and Reception and hear a panel of judges speak about the value of a clerkship and the application process and meet the judges and current and former NYU Law clerks.

 

2L Summer

Academics

  • Register for your Fall and Spring courses. Use COURSES to register for classes, check your law school schedule, or check for blocks that prevent registration.
  • Attend joint Academic Advising/Career Counseling sessions held by Academic Services, Career Services, and PILC.
  • Register for the New York Law Exam (NYLE).

Careers

Clerkships

  • Apply for clerkships.

Public Interest

  • Secure host organizations for public interest project fellowships.

The third year is a great time to take a colloquium, meta-seminars in which faculty and students read and discuss papers and works-in-progress by top scholars, or get invaluable hands-on training through one our more than 40 clinics. 

Before Your Arrive

Academics

  • Register for your Fall and Spring courses. Use COURSES to register for classes, check your law school schedule, or check for blocks that prevent registration.
  • Register for the New York Law Exam (NYLE).

Fall Semester

Academics

Outside of Class

Careers

Private Sector

  • Attend Fall OCI.

Public Interest

Clerkships

  • Apply for a clerkship.

Spring Semester

Academics

  • Check if you're on track to meet JD Program Requirements prior to graduation. Counselors in Academic Services are available to meet by appointment to discuss.
  • Read graduation information. 
  • The Office of Records and Registration will automatically register you for graduation.
  • Register for the bar. Consult the NCBE Bar Admission Guide for details about different jurisdictions. 
  • Review the NY Bar Timeline for important dates. 

Outside of Class

  • Participate in student organizations. 
  • Consider getting involved with one of our more than 30 centers and institutes.

Careers

Public Interest

Clerkships

  • Attend the Judicial Clerkship Diversity Panel and Reception and hear a panel of judges speak about the value of a clerkship and the application process and meet the judges and current and former NYU Law clerks.

3L Summer

  • Diplomas are mailed in late August/early September.

During your LLM year, you will take part in a curriculum that offers transactional classes as well as clinical opportunities and simulation courses. In the Graduate Lawyering Program, foreign-trained students learn skills to practice effectively in the US and global legal environments. Graduate Affairs counselors will advise you about academics, activities, and social events that will enrich your experience. 

Summer

Academics

Fall Semester

Academics

  • Finalize Fall class schedule during the first week of the Fall semester and Spring schedule during Spring bidding rounds.
  • Attend sessions on taking exams and non-credit legal English classes.

Outside of Class

Careers

  • Attend job search workshops hosted by the Office of Career Services (OCS) and PILC.
  • Meet with career counselors for one-on-one appointments to develop job search strategy.
  • Begin to access the Career Services Manager (CSM) system online for job listings and search resources.
  • For public interest students, also begin to review positions posted on the CHRGJ's job board. 
  • Attend networking events and information sessions hosted by OCS and PILC.
  • Sign up for the Fall On-Campus Interview Program for Tax and International Tax LLMs. (September-November)
  • Foreign-Trained LLMs submit applications online for the January International Student Interview Program (ISIP). (October)

  • Apply for some post-graduate public interest fellowships. (November-December)

     

Spring Semester

Academics

  • Consider writing a paper. 
  • If you are taking the NY bar, apply to sit for the exam (April); submit to the Law School’s Records Office a Certificate of Attendance. (May)

Outside of Class

  • Participate in pro bono work; contact PILC to learn about opportunities.
  • Consider working as a research assistant. 

Careers

  • Attend the International Student Interview Program (ISIP) and related networking events. (January)
  • Apply for some post-graduate public interest fellowships. (January – March)
  • Participate in the Spring On-Campus Interview Program for Tax LLM Students. (January-March)
  • Attend the Taxation Interview Program (TIP) in Washington, DC. (February)
  • Apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) if seeking work in the US. (February)
  • Continue to apply to positions posted on CSM, CHRGJ's Job Board, and elsewhere.
  • Meet with career counselors to discuss continued career strategy and networking.