University of Houston Law Center students filled the Commons for the Career Development Office’s recent networking event on Dec. 13.
Dec. 19, 2019 - First-year University of Houston Law Center students networked with well-known companies, law firms and state agencies during the “Meet the OCI Employers” gathering Friday in the Commons.
Attending organizations have all recruited UH Law Center students during the On-Campus Interview Program (OCI) hosted by the Career Development Office. The 1L students discussed opportunities for summer clerkship positions with 38 different employers.
"Now that the final exam period is officially complete, the Meet the OCI Employers table talk, allows 1L students to turn their attention to recruiting efforts for the spring semester," said Kourtney James, director of Employer Relations and Development. "Meeting with prospective employers at the table talk allows 1L students to learn more about the organizations and develop an outreach plan for the spring recruiting season."
"Both employers and students have shared extremely positive feedback that this event provides a wonderful way to introduce our 1L class to the legal community in an warm and welcoming environment," added Assistant Dean for Career Development Tiffany J. Tucker. "The event helps our students learn more about the individual practice areas, attorneys, and “personalities” of the employers.”
Meeting these employers will help students navigate the Career Development Office’s upcoming spring recruiting events.
"Events like this really help our students get a leg up in the job market," said Dean Leonard M. Baynes. "Many of our big firm alumni have asked me how they can gain access to our students earlier in the job search process.
"Holding this event for first year students is pure genius. It is strategically placed right after the end of final exams and before first semester grades come out. The students end up being their authentic selves and the employers are able to engage with a wide variety students who they otherwise might not meet but for grade requirements. I am confident that it opens more doors for UHLC students at the big Houston law firms."
Future events include OCI: Session III, held on Jan. 17, where employers will interview 1L students for summer legal internships.
The second event, the Government & Public Interest Table Talk on Jan. 31, provides government agencies and public interest organizations the opportunity to meet informally with students and recent graduates, collect resumes for upcoming positions, and introduce their organization to a large number of potential candidates.
The third recruiting event, the Small & Midsize Firm Open House, invites law firms with 50 or fewer attorneys to campus to speak to students and recent graduates about their practices, areas of law and any available law clerk, summer associate and attorney positions. This event will be on Feb. 21.
Meet the OCI participating organizations include:
