On January 23 and 28, Fordham Law first-year law students met with representatives of 60 New York legal employers in a pair of on-campus receptions hosted by the Law School’s Career Planning Center (CPC).
The two-day event served as a meet-and-greet for students and employers, giving them a chance to interact with one another in an informal, low-stakes environment. All the employers in attendance will participate in Fordham’s Fall On-Campus Interview Program, through which Fordham Law’s current first-year students will seek jobs for the summer following their second year of law school. CPC Senior Manager of Legal Recruiting Mitchell Weitz explained, “The goal is for employers who participate in our fall on-campus recruiting program to introduce themselves to first-year students, and it’s a fantastic way for the students to learn more about the firms firsthand.”
For many students, the event was the first time they experienced direct personal interactions with law firms. “It’s nice to see the different firms, talk to them, and get a feel for them,” said Becca Spendley ’22.
Fordham Law alumni attended in droves as representatives of their respective firms, eager to counsel current students.
For Jaycee Yao ’22, the reception gave her a new perspective on working at a firm. “I’d always thought about doing public interest work, but after talking to people at the reception, I’m really impressed with their work, and it’s given me some great insights on how to pick the right firm,” she noted. “I feel very welcomed by the Fordham alumni here.”
Not all participants were law firms, either. Representatives from the Manhattan and Bronx District Attorney’s offices, the Legal Aid Society, and the New York City Law Department also attended.
The event also allowed firms to get to know the students. “It’s great for the firms, because when you conduct on-campus interviews, an interview can sometimes be more constructive when you have previously met the student (at a reception or event, for example). It also shows that the student has a demonstrated interest in the firm,” said Zachary Cronin ’14, associate at Milbank LLP. “Every law firm here tracks that kind of thing. In fact, it’s among the top criteria when evaluating applicants—that they are actually interested in that law firm.”