Your 1L Summer
Investigating Summer Job Opportunities
The immediate goal for your 1L summer is simply to do something that either increases your legal knowledge or refines your mastery or application of core skills most often indicative of success in a legal setting. By the end of the summer, the aim is to be able to articulate what you have learned and how you are more prepared for a legal career. Your 1L summer is an ideal opportunity to pursue what interests you. Take the time to learn about the different experiences offered, and hopefully, find a match to your interests. Duke Law School and many legal employers adhere to the rules set out by NALP, the National Association of Legal Career Professionals, which require that first year students and employers not initiate contact with one another, interview or make offers, prior to December 1, to allow students more time to acclimate to law school. However, to prevent your job search from interfering with your school work and exam preparation, you may wish to research employers and prepare your resume and cover letters well before December 1. Career counselors are available to review your cover letters as well as your resumes.
