OVERVIEW OF THE U.S. JOB SEARCH PROCESS FOR INT’L LL.M. STUDENTS

1. OVERVIEW OF THE U.S. JOB SEARCH PROCESS FOR INT’L LL.M. STUDENTS Career Development Office Berkeley Law August 27, 2010

2. Realities of the Job Search • Follow the U.S. legal market news: • Above the Law (www.abovethelaw.com) • CDO Newswire Blog (www.law.berkeley.edu/careers.htm) • Advance employer research and preparation critical

3. Who Hires? • Large law firms with international business interests, most of which are in NY or DC • Types of positions: • Temporary internship positions (3 mo. To 1 year) • “Permanent” positions • Other opportunities: case-by-case basis; not readily available • In-house Attorney Positions with Companies with International Business – often a few years of law practice required • Nonprofit Organizations & Academia • International Organizations such as the World Bank and the UN

4. Job Search Specifics • Timeline: Job search will most likely involve a year-round effort and may extend beyond the end of the LL.M. program • Know what you want & your constraints: • Practice area/career goals • geographic location • Balance focus with flexibility

5. Job Search Specifics: Timeline • Aug. 2010 • Begin to review, and update your resume following the suggestions provided in the Resume Format Checklist. • Schedule an appointment with the LL.M. Career Counselor to discuss your job search goals. • Start contacting former employers, friends, colleagues, and alums who may have connections with employers whom you may wish to work with, and network! • Familiarize yourself with the CDO website and resources • Sept. • Attend the Resume/Cover Letter Workshop offered by CDO and prepare your job application materials accordingly. • If you are interested in taking a bar exam, consult the relevant websites to determine which bar and what steps you need to take. You should also consider taking the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) in November (http://www.ncbex.org/multistate-tests/mpre). Most states including NY and CA require that you pass the MPRE to be admitted to the respective bar. • Regularly consult the Berkeley Law master calendar and the Career Development Office (CDO) website for information on upcoming career programs/workshops. • Oct. • Register for the NYU ISIP and select those employers with whom you are interested in interviewing. • Research potential employers utilizing print and web-based resources offered by CDO. • Nov. • In early November, send in your job application materials to the employers not participating in the NYU ISIP or West Coast Job Fair (customized cover letter and resume, and writing sample if they ask for it). • Register for the West Coast LL.M. Job Fair and submit resume online. • Dec. • Bid for the employers with whom you wish to interview at the West Coast LL.M. Job Fair. Review your interview schedule for the NYU ISIP available on the ISIP Symplicity homepage and promptly cancel any interviews you are no longer interested in (check the cancellation deadline). • If you are interested in taking a bar exam and have not taken the MPRE, register to take the MPRE (check their registration deadline which is usually in January).

6. Job Search Specifics: Timeline • Jan. 2011 • As soon as your interview schedule for NYU ISIP is confirmed, make travel arrangements (airline & hotel reservations) and attend the NYU ISIP Information Session. • Review job interview tips provided in the International LLM Career Guide and other relevant resources offered by CDO, and sign up for a mock interview session to practice your interview skills for the upcoming job fairs. • Participate in the NYU ISIP in New York City. • Review your schedule of interview(s) for the West Coast LL.M. Job Fair, and promptly cancel any interviews you are no longer interested in (check the cancellation deadline). • If not participating in the NYU ISIP or West Coast Job Fair, actively research and contact other potential employers. • Visit Berkeley International Office and take care of any visa issues to be able to work upon graduation. • Feb. • Make travel arrangements (airline & hotel reservations) for the West Coast LL.M. Job Fair and attend the job fair at UCLA • Review job interview tips provided in the International LLM Career Guide and other relevant resources offered by the Career Development Office. • Continue to regularly review the Berkeley Law master calendar and the CDO website for information on upcoming career programs (be on the lookout for CDO emails as well!). • If you have not done so already, visit Berkeley International Office and, if eligible, apply for the Optional Practical Training. • Fill out the NYU ISIP employment survey. • March – May • Inform the LL.M. Career Counselor of your job status. Meet with her if still seeking employment. • Continue to regularly review the Berkeley Law master calendar and the CDO website for information on upcoming career programs that may be of interest to you (be on the lookout for CDO emails as well!). • Attend the Bar Preparation Tips Session for LL.Ms. • If applicable, take the MPRE in March. • Fill out the CDO post-graduation employment survey. • Sign up for the LL.M. Alumni ListServ before graduating and leaving campus.

7. Job Search Specifics: Visa Issues & Bar Requirements • Visa issues: plan early; visit Berkeley International Office http://internationaloffice.berkeley.edu • Bar Requirements: varies from state to state. See the American Bar Assn’s “Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements” website at: http://www.abanet.org/legaled/baradmissions/bar.html

8. Job Search Strategies • Networking – most important • Attorneys in the U.S. with some relationship to your home country employer • Attorneys from your home country practicing in the U.S. in a firm or area of interest to you • Attorneys from your country who formerly practiced in the U.S. and who still may have contacts with U.S. employers • Berkeley Law faculty • Guest speakers/panelists at CDO programs • Local bar associations (e.g., State Bar of California, San Francisco Bar Associations) • Directed Employer Search & Targeted Mail Campaign: • www.nalpdirectory.com (has links to firm websites with lawyer bios) • www.martindale.com (allows you to search attorneys with specific background – language skills, schools attended) • Attend Interview Programs - NYU ISIP & West Coast International LL.M. Job Fair

9. Make Networking Work for You • Identify every person you know who may have a connection to a US employer or who may know someone who does: colleagues, friends, supervisors in your home country and current faculty, fellow students • Attend and make full use ofevery occasion at Berkeley (check the Calendar link on Berkeley Law website): CDO events, events organized by other academic Centers (e.g., Institute for Global Challenges & the Law, Berkeley Center for Law and Technology, and International Human Rights Clinic), Symposia, etc. • Ask for referral/introduction; then write/ email contacts and request to meet. Call to follow up • If you know you are meeting with someone, do some advance research on your own and prepare a list of questions to ask • Ask them for suggestions of other people to contact; follow up with those leads • Follow up with a thank you letter/email • Consult CDO webcast, “Networking for Career and Personal Development”

10. Other Resources • CDO online resource “Employer Research Guide” • CDO webpage, “External Job Search Resources” (under “Other Resources”) – lists numerous links to online legal employer search sites • The Association of Corporate Counsel website (www.acc.com) • PSLawNet (http://www.pslawnet.org) – for public interest jobs • CDO print resources available at the office

11. LL.M. Job Fairs • NYU International Student Interview Program (ISIP) – Jan.28 & 29, 2011 • Last year’s data • # of employers (2010) - 154 • # of participating offices - 238 • # of offices in the U.S. - 32 (New York-26; D.C.-6) • types of positions – regular associate (204), internship (30), unspecified (4) • Berkeley LLMs - 53 students bid for interviews and 37 of them received at least one interview (ranked 2nd among 32 schools)

12. LL.M. Job Fairs • West Coast International LL.M. Job Fair – February 25, 2011 • Last year’s data • # of employers – 42 • # of interviewing firms including interviewing off-campus - 17

13. Job Application Materials:US Resume • “American” style resume is different from CV • One-page document highlighting relevant experience (marketing tool, not a bio) • Do NOT include personal data (age, birth date, marital status, photos, religion, and health), computer skills, objectives, references • Translate information into English or US Legal System and add explanatory notes when necessary (e.g., “equivalent to US JD degree”) • Review the LL.M. Career Guide (pages 14-16) • Attend the LL.M. Resume & Cover Letter Writing Workshop (Sept. 16) • For additional information, review Resume Guide and samples available on CDO webpage (“Career Development and Job Search Skills”)

14. US Resume • Basic Elements: • Name and Contact Information • Education, Honors & Activities • Professional Experience/Employment • Optional: • Publications/Presentations • Professional Memberships including bar admission • Languages (indicate your level of proficiency) • Interests

15. JANE DOE 123 Townsend Street Apt. 2B, Oakland, CA 94618 510-643-8196; janedoe@law.berkeley.edu EDUCATION University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall) Master of Laws (LL.M.) Candidate, May 2010 University of International Business and Economics, School of Law, Helsinki, Finland Master of Laws, 2000 Honors: Annual Best Student of the University, 1999-2000 Activities: Ninth Annual International Commercial Moot Arbitration (Team 36th among the 108 participating law schools; personal ranking above 80th percentile). University of International Business and Economics, School of Law, Beijing, China Bachelor of Laws, 1998 Honors: First-class honored student of the University (1994-1999); valedictorian of the class. Activities: Class President, 1994-1998. EXPERIENCE Attorneys-at-Law Harri Kontturi Ltd., Helsinki, Finland 2005-2009 Consulting lawyer Negotiated and drafted both domestic and international intellectual property rights contracts and cross-border business contracts (M&As and outsourcing agreements). Analyzed antitrust issues. University of Joensuu, Department of Law, Joensuu, Finland 2004-2007 Senior Research Assistant in International Commercial Law Lectured in Business Law, IP and Consumer Law. Taught applicable Contract Law and E-Commerce. Law Office Legitum Ltd., Helsinki, Finland 2001-2004 Lawyer Drafted and negotiated IP contracts. Analyzed contractual risks and developed contract management. Central Union for Farmers and Forest Owners, Helsinki, Finland 2001 Legal Trainee Aided union members in their cases. Parliament of Finland, Helsinki, Finland 2000-2001 Aid for MP Researched legal issues and statutory initiatives. Wrote legislative initiatives. Aided constituents in resolving legal problems. BAR ADMISSIONS Admitted to courts of Finland (1997); Planning to sit for the New York State Bar Exam in July 2009 INTERESTS Enjoy playing golf, tennis, and travelling

16. Cover Letters • Business letter format • A cover letter serves these functions: (1) Introduces you, (2) Highlights some of your most relevant qualifications (3) States why you are interested in the employer, and (4) Requests an interview

17. 123 Townsend Street Oakland, CA 94618 Tel: ###-###-#### ######@berkeley.edu November 1, 2010 Ms. Barbara Jones Jones, Brown & Smythe 125 Telegraph Avenue Los Angeles, CA 94720 Dear Ms. Jones: I am a Korean attorney presently attending the University of California, Berkeley School of Law and will receive a Master of Laws Degree (LL.M.) in May 2011. I am interested in applying to Jones, Brown & Smythe for an internship following the completion of my studies in May. [Explain why you are interested in this particular employer and add any connection to the employer that you may have.] Prior to beginning my studies at Berkeley Law, I served as [describe relevant background and experience. Highlight your resume rather than repeating what is on your resume. Explain why you will be an asset to the firm.] [You may add another paragraph if 2nd paragraph becomes too long.] Attached is my resume for your review. I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss employment opportunities. I will be in Los Angeles from January 7 – 13 and would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you during that period. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely yours, Gil-dong Hong [your signature] Gil-dong Hong [your name typed]

18. Other Job Application Materials • Transcripts (unless asked, no need to provide foreign transcript) • References (3 optimal but 2 may be sufficient) • Writing Samples

19. Interviews • Types: • Screening Interviews • Callback Interviews • Preparation is the key to a successful interview • Research employer and interviewers in advance • Write out your answers to the commonly asked questions (see “Detailed Guide to Effective Interviewing” - “5. Questions to be Prepared to Answer”) • Prepare a list of “intelligent” questions to ask employers (consult “Detailed Guide to Effective Interviewing”- “6. Questions to Ask”) • Review various effective interviewing guides available on CDO webpage (go to “Career Development and Job Search Skills” section) • Attend the CDO Effective Networking & Interviewing Skills Workshop in November

20. New CDO Online Feature for International LL.M. Students • International LL.M. Career Guide: www.law.berkeley.edu  “Careers”  “For LLMs”  “LL.M. Career Guide”

21. CDO Online Resources • CDO webpage available at http://www.law.berkeley.edu/careers.htm • “Career Development and Job Search Skills” • Resume Guide • Cover Letter Guide • Application Packet • Effective Interviewing • Networking for Career and Personal Development

22. CDO Contacts & Information • CDO: contacts, appointment scheduler • b-Line • Username & password for accessing restricted contents

23. b-Line Basics • Update Profile • Documents • upload your resume • Job Postings • Conduct keyword search (LLM) • Summer Associate Feedback (2005-08) • To get a sense of the law firm “culture” • Click on “summer employment”  “evaluations”  “survey”

24. Questions ?

25. Office Hours: Wed. (1-5pm), Thurs. and Fri. (9am – 5pm)510.643.8196mjkim@law.berkeley.edu