For Students
The CPDC provides a number of services to students designed to assist them with developing and achieving their career goals.
Individual Assistance and Counseling
We provide individual assistance to all students to help them with the career planning process. This includes individual counseling, identifying employment opportunities and help with the job search process. Students are encouraged to set individual appointments with a counselor to discuss career planning goals.
Informational Workshops
We provide students with a variety of programs each semester, designed to build job search skills and to educate them about the process of seeking legal employment. In addition, CPDC regularly schedules guest speaker panels, featuring attorneys from a cross section of specialty areas. Recent panels have featured attorneys who practice in International Law, Business Law, and Employment Law. These panel presentations allow students to hear from and meet practitioners from various areas of the legal community.
Resource Room
The CPDC Resource Room contains numerous materials to assist students in their job search and professional development. Resources include a library of current books on legal interests and career development, firm directories, information on resumes and cover letters, networking and more. Resume paper is available for .25/sheet. Free access to two computers, a scanner and copier is available for students to use to prepare, scan, email or upload application materials.
CPDC Manual
Every 1L student at Willamette College of Law receives a copy of the CPDC Manual. This helpful publication outlines job search techniques and provides samples of resumes, cover letters and other job search correspondence. First year students are provided with copies of this manual during their CPDC Orientation session in October.
Mentoring Program
CPDC oversees an active student/attorney mentoring program. Our mentoring program pairs first year law students with one of approximately 150 volunteer lawyers and judges. This provides students with a tremendous opportunity, early in their legal careers, to forge an individual relationship with a practicing attorney or judge, who can offer insight about the practice of law.
Pro Bono Honors Program
The Pro Bono Honors Program is designed to encourage students to participate in community-based volunteer legal service projects. The Program allows students to enhance their learning experience through hands-on involvement in the community, while providing valuable services to people in need.
In addition, students who participate and provide a minimum number of hours of not-for-credit and not-for-compensation work during the year (April - March) will receive a Pro Bono Honors Program Award from Willamette and will be honored in the spring. In addition, those students who provide the most pro bono hours each year will receive special recognition.
Externship Program
Willamette has a very active externship program administered through the Clinical Law Program. The Externship Seminar is either a three (3) credit course or a six (6) credit course in which you will be assigned a grade of Honors, Credit or No Credit. One student will receive High Honors which will be noted on their transcript as Best Paper. You may take the three (3) credit course twice or the six (6) credit course once. If you take the course twice, you are strongly advised to try a different type of externship the second time in order to broaden your experiences. Please contact CPDC for more information.
Willamette's Reciprocity Policy
Willamette University College of Law requests that any student or graduate have a letter of reciprocity sent directly from his or her law school prior to visiting the our office or accessing our online job postings. This permits 3-month access to job postings and in-office use of career materials only. Visitors must sign in each time. A renewal letter must be received for each 3-month period of access. Services are only available to those students and alumni/ae of law schools which in turn allow Willamette students and alumni/ae use of their facilities. Requests for reciprocity may be sent to Bev Ecklund, Career & Professional Development Coordinator.