Student Professionalism Agreement

Office of Career Services and Professional Development- Student Professionalism Agreement

As a student of Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School with access to the services and programs offered by the Office of Career Services and Professional Development, I hereby agree to the following:

  1. I will, at all times, conduct myself in accordance with high moral and ethical standards. I will refrain from making false or misleading statements on my résumé or at any time during the employment search process.
  2. I acknowledge that 12Twenty is the primary access point for jobs, career fairs, and event registration and that it is my responsibility to keep my profile information updated on an ongoing basis (contact information and current employment information).
  3. I will comply with all Office of Career Services and Professional Development policies and procedures, including the Interview Policy and any other policies or procedures that are communicated to me in person, via email, or posted on the Office of Career Services and Professional Development website.
  4. I will comply with all Office of Career Services and Professional Development deadlines, including updates to such deadlines that are communicated to me in person, via email, or posted on the Office of Career Services and Professional Development website. I acknowledge that the failure to adhere to such deadlines may result in the inability to participate in any or all Office of Career Services and Professional Development programs or to obtain career development services.
  5. I will be proactive and responsive in communications to employers, firms, and professional partners of the law school when participating in recruitment programs sponsored by the Office of Career Services and Professional Development.
  6. I acknowledge that failure to provide a 24-hour notice of inability to participate in recruitment programs (OCI, Career Fairs, appointments and meetings with employers) may result in the inability to participate in any or all Office of Career Services and Professional Development future recruitment programs.
  7. I acknowledge that the Office of Career Services and Professional Development does require participation in the law school career fair for students and understand that failure to participate may result in the inability to participate in any or all Office of Career Services and Professional Development programs.
  8. I acknowledge that all off-campus recruitment programs have their own policies and rules, and that before applying to those programs I will familiarize myself with those rules and policies.
  9. I acknowledge that by applying for any off-campus recruitment program I have read and will abide by the rules of said program, and that my failure to do so may result in my losing access to the resources and services of the Office of Career Services and Professional Development.
  10. I will be responsible for reading all information contained in correspondence to me from the Office of Career Services and Professional Development.
  11. I will abide by the National Association for Law Placement’s (NALP) Principles and Standards for Law Placement and Recruitment Activities, including the 1L Student Work Rule, General Standards for the Timing of Offers and Decision and the Principles for Candidates (available at www.nalp.org).
  12. I will report any requested information (including employer name, location, salary, and offer or hire date) regarding my summer or post-graduation employment to the Office of Career Services and Professional Development accurately and in a timely fashion. I understand that this information will not be shared with others in a way that personally identifies me without my consent.
  13. I have attended the mandatory 1L orientation presented by the Office of Career Services and Professional Development.

Office of Career Services and Professional Development- 1L Work Guidelines

The Office of Career Services and Professional Development issues the following statement for purposes of providing clarification to both students and employers regarding the counseling and hiring of first semester first year law students. According to Part V(D) of the Principles and Standards for Law Placement and Recruitment Activities as promulgated by the Association for Legal Career Professionals (NALP), the following guidelines apply to the provision of career services to and employer interaction with first-semester first year law students:

1. Law schools should not offer career services to first-semester first year law students prior to November 1 except in the case of part-time students who may be given assistance in seeking positions during the school term.

2. Prospective employers and first year law students should not initiate contact with one another and employers should not interview or make offers to first year students before December 1.

In interpreting the above section of the Principles and Standards, NALP has stated:

Prior to November 1 schools may offer programs and information for first year students on the organization and responsibilities of the legal profession, the variety of settings in which lawyers work, the general process of career planning and self-assessment, and the provisions of the NALP Principles & Standards and applicable school policies. Prior to November 1 law schools should not offer programs for students covering the job search process or its specific components such as resume writing, interview skills, or targeting employers for applications.

Therefore, in accordance with the NALP Principles and Standards and the accompanying interpretation, the OCSPD will not engage in any career counseling with first year full-time students prior to November 1. Additionally, first year full-time students may not participate in any career fairs or job search related programming (specifically regarding job search strategies or the creation of application materials such as resumes and cover letters) at the law school before that date. As stated above, students may attend OCSPD programs that discuss what lawyers do in various practice settings and similar information-based programs about the legal profession. As November 1 approaches, first year students will receive updates about the wide array of programs specifically designed for them that will begin on or after that date.

First year students also may participate in the Pro Bono Program during their first semester. The Pro Bono Program encourages students to engage in law-related volunteer work and is therefore not prohibited by the NALP Principles and Standards. However, in determining whether to participate in the Pro Bono Program, first year students should be mindful of the time constraints and pressures of the first year of law school and should be cautious about taking on additional responsibilities. The Pro Bono Administrator will work with interested first year law students to find placements that require a limited time commitment and no advanced research or writing skills. Employers or potential employers participating in law school programs may not discuss specific employment opportunities with first year students prior to December 1.

If students or employers have any questions regarding the NALP guidelines or their application, please contact J.L. Wyatt-Keyton, Career Services Director at (678) 916-2612.