College of Law > Career Development > Students > First Year Law Students

First Year Law Students

​​​​Advising Appointments

Your assigned Office of Professional & Career Development (PCD) advisor is your primary resource for all things job related while in law school and beyond. From resume and cover letter advice, to job search strategy and networking plans, your PCD advisor is here to talk through all of your professional and job search related questions. First year students are allowed to schedule an appointment with an advisor after September 16th. To schedule an appointment, please call our front office team at (312) 362-8385, email us at law_career@depaul.edu or stop by our offices in 300 Lewis. To learn more about our advising team, take a look at staff biographies here​.

Vincent

Vincent is your primary resource for online professional resources at DePaul. Vincent houses a wide variety of resources available to students and alumni, including class year specific job postings, quick practice area guides, a calendar of networking and professional development events, resume/cover letter guides, and more. Questions about how to use Vincent? Please email your assigned PCD advisor​, or email law_career@depaul.edu and we will be happy to assist you.

Access Vincent​

Preparing to Practice (P2P)

This year-long, required, 1L course prepares law students to more competitively and competently enter the professional world. P2P introduces 1Ls to the legal profession and provides an overview of the professionalism skills critical for success. Each semester, students learn specific professional development techniques from the PCD facilitators and practicing attorneys.​

Chicago Bar Association Complimentary Membership

DePaul provides each of its entering first year students complimentary membership to the Chicago Bar Association (CBA). The CBA is a fantastic professional resource for learning about different practice areas, developing networking skills, and becoming a new member of the Chicago legal community. For more information on how to take advantage of your CBA membership, check out their website here.

Networking Events

Each year PCD organizes several networking events to help students engage with the large number of attorneys in the greater Chicago area. Examples of our networking events include:

  • Notable Alumni Lunches: Every semester, the PCD brings in distinguished alumni to meet with our students over an informal lunch so that students are able to connect with our alumni network in a small group setting.

  • The Midwest Public Interest Law Career Conference (MPILC): Held in February of each year, students gather for a day of interviews, resume collects, and informal networking with approximately 50 public interest and government organization employers from around the country. For more information about MPILC, take a look at the event website here.
  • 1L Meet the Employers: Held in early spring of 1L year, this event is a meet-and-greet networking event featuring 30 to 40 employers from a wide range of public and private sector practice areas.
  • Small Firm Networking Reception: Held in late spring, this event focuses on connecting our students with our alumni and friends of DePaul who are actively practicing in small law practices.