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Alumni Career Resources
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The Career and Professional Development Center has collected resources on this page to facilitate alumni in their professional development, job searches, and other professional needs. We also recommend checking out Duke University's Career Resources.
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General Resources
Duke Law alumni can connect through the Duke Law Alumni LinkedIn Group, stay engaged through the Duke Law Alumni Network, and take advantage of the entire Duke network by registering for the University’s online directory. For tips on networking:
- Five Essential Post-Pandemic Networking Tips for Lawyers, LinkedIn.com
- Networking: How successful lawyers do it and why you should, too, ABA Journal
- Lawyer Networking & Referral Marketing, Lawyerist.com
- A Lawyer's Guide to Networking Events in a Virtual World, Legal Business World
- ABA: The American Bar Association offers high-quality CLE in a comprehensive range of relevant topics to benefit every legal professional across the nation. You can also find professional development opportunities through your state Bar association.
- Diversity Lab: Boosting Diversity & Inclusion in the Law Through Innovation, Data & Behavioral Science
- NALP: Offers several resources for those involved in lawyer and law student professional development.
Alumni working in public service are encouraged to review the Duke Law Financial Aid Office's Loan Repayment Assistance Program. Other resources include:
- Student Loan Repayment & Forgiveness, ABA
- Student Loan Delinquency & Default, U.S. Dept. of Education, Federal Student Aid
- Defaulting on Student Loans, FinAid.org
- Ultimate Guide to Paying Down Student Loan Debt, MoneyGeek
- Workers with Disabilities & the ADA, MoneyGeek
- Interviewing Tips for Applicants with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), Job Accommodation Network
- Individual Placement Support (IPS) Employment Center, IPS Works
- Job Searching with a Mental Health Condition, SSA.gov
Duke Law alumni can connect through the Duke Law Alumni LinkedIn Group, stay engaged through the Duke Law Alumni Network, and take advantage of the entire Duke network by registering for the University’s online directory. For tips on networking:
- Five Essential Post-Pandemic Networking Tips for Lawyers, LinkedIn.com
- Networking: How successful lawyers do it and why you should, too, ABA Journal
- Lawyer Networking & Referral Marketing, Lawyerist.com
- A Lawyer's Guide to Networking Events in a Virtual World, Legal Business World
- ABA: The American Bar Association offers high-quality CLE in a comprehensive range of relevant topics to benefit every legal professional across the nation. You can also find professional development opportunities through your state Bar association.
- Diversity Lab: Boosting Diversity & Inclusion in the Law Through Innovation, Data & Behavioral Science
- NALP: Offers several resources for those involved in lawyer and law student professional development.
Alumni working in public service are encouraged to review the Duke Law Financial Aid Office's Loan Repayment Assistance Program. Other resources include:
- Student Loan Repayment & Forgiveness, ABA
- Student Loan Delinquency & Default, U.S. Dept. of Education, Federal Student Aid
- Defaulting on Student Loans, FinAid.org
- Ultimate Guide to Paying Down Student Loan Debt, MoneyGeek
- Workers with Disabilities & the ADA, MoneyGeek
- Interviewing Tips for Applicants with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), Job Accommodation Network
- Individual Placement Support (IPS) Employment Center, IPS Works
- Job Searching with a Mental Health Condition, SSA.gov
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Researching the Job Market & Employers
- State of the Legal Market Report 2023, Thomas Reuters
- State of the Legal Market Report 2023 Podcast, Thomas Reuters
- 6 Things You Should Consider Before Making a Lateral Move to a New Law Firm, BCG Search
- All You Need to Know About the Lateral Hiring Market in 2023, AmLaw
- Legal market trends and analysis, Chambers Associate
- Practice Area Summaries, Chambers Associate
- Practice Areas, Vault/Firsthand
- Quick Reference Guide to Legal Practice Areas, BCG Search
- American Society of Association Executives: ASAE is an organization for association management, representing both organizations and individual association professionals.
- Weddles: A home for recruiters' career success and next practices with modern talent acquisition techniques.
- PLI (Practising Law Institute): PLI offers scholarships for attorneys doing pro bono work. The scholarship application is located under the Pro Bono/Scholarship tab.
You can find salary insights on public job boards, such as Glassdoor, Indeed, LinkedIn, and ZipRecruiter. Other resources include:
- 2022 Candid Nonprofit Compensation Report, Guidestar
- 2023 Salary Guide, Robert Half Talent Solutions
- Biglaw Salary Scale, Biglaw Investor
- Cost of Living Calculator, RentCafe
- Cost of Living Calculator, MoneyGeek
- Salary Negotiation Guide, MoneyGeek
- Idealist: Provides a list of organizations offering nonprofit jobs in the United States and around the world.
- NALP Directory of Legal Employers: The NALP Directory of Legal Employers provides a comprehensive and free solution for researching legal employers throughout the US. The NALP Directory provides specific information on law firms, government agencies, public interest organizations, and corporations, including lawyer demographics, practice areas, compensation and benefits, diversity and inclusion practices, and other valuable information about legal employers.
- The Am Law 100: The American Lawyer's annual ranking of the 100 highest-grossing law firms in the country.
- Vault Law 100: Vault’s national ranking of the most prestigious law firms based on the assessments of lawyers at peer firms.
- Dun & Bradstreet Data Cloud's Business Directory: Search hundreds of millions of business records to discover insights about companies of interest, gain visibility into growing markets, and understand trends and forecasts. Use industry insights to target companies based on size, location, competitors, and more.
- Fortune's Top 100: Rankings based on America's largest ongoing annual workforce study, representing millions of employees.
- Glassdoor's Best Places to Work: Employees have spoken! Here are the Best Places to Work, according to employees.
- GreatPlaceToWork's Best Companies Lists: View best companies based on demographics, geographic, industry, company size, and more.
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Finding a Job
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The Career & Professional Development Center provides job postings for alumni through Symplicity's Career Management System. Contact the CPDC Coordinator at (919) 613-7031 or careercenter@law.duke.edu to gain access to Symplicity. You can set up a free email account to ensure private communication with potential employers by going to www.dukealumni.com. Other resources to facilitate your job search include:
Consider connecting with Duke alumni in the Recruitment and Career Coaching fields through the Duke Alumni Career Coaches directory or from the list below.
- Mike Evers, '90, Chicago, IL
- Lee Kuhn,'02, San Francisco, CA
- Peter Ocko, '95, Los Angeles, CA
- Debby Stone, '89, Atlanta, GA
You can find more recruiters and career coaches in these public directories:
- Legal Recruiters Directory, Law.com
- Legal Recruiters Employer Directory, BCG Search
- Professional Development Career Coaches, Association of Corporate Counsel
You may also consider a legal placement service, such as BCG Attorney Search, a top legal placement company for finding permanent law firm positions.
- 11 Expert Tips for Writing a Lawyer Resume that Gets You Hired, LinkedIn
- A Compelling Lateral Attorney Cover Letter Example, Cover Letter Ninjas
- Creating a Cover Letter for Lawyers That Stands Out, The National Law Review
- How to Prepare a Legal Writing Sample for a Legal Job Interview, BGC Attorney Search
Many Bar Associations have Career Centers through which they offer career resources to their members. You can search for jobs, post your resume, and browse resources to help with each stage of your career. Likewise, employers post jobs, search resumes, and connect with prospects through these Centers.
To find a relevant Career Center, search for your city or state of interest + "Bar Association Career Center". Some examples of those typically of interest to Duke Law grads include the Bar Association Career Centers for Atlanta, Birmingham, Chicago, Florida, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, North Carolina, San Francisco, Texas, and Virginia.
Also consider the American and Federal Bar Associations' Career Centers:
- American Bar Association Career Center: Career development resources and a job board for law students, lawyers, and legal professionals across all practice areas and career stages. Our dynamic board of legal career professionals contributes monthly articles, webinars, and podcasts to deliver guidance on your career path from start to finish.
- Federal Bar Association Legal Career Center: The FBA Legal Career Center is the employment hub that matches opportunities to your needs and potential. Creating an account takes just a few moments, and our vast Career Center network offers prospects than ever before.
- Tips for Successful Transition from Traditional Legal Practice to an Alternative Career, ABA
- Life After Law: What to Do When You Don't Want to Be a Lawyer Anymore, The Muse
- Thrillable Hours: Alternative Careers for Lawyers, Fear, and Life After Law, Legal Nomads
- 60 Alternative Jobs for Lawyers, Indeed
- The Relaunching Attorney: Returning to Your Legal Career after a Break, CT Bar
- Re-entering the Legal Job Market? 6 Tips for Success, Robert Half Talent Solutions
- Return-to-Work Programs Come of Age, HBR
- About the OnRamp Fellowship, Diversity Lab
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Job Listing Resources by Sector
- Glassdoor: Our mission is to help people everywhere find a job and company they love.
- Indeed: Striving to put job seekers first, giving them free access to search for jobs, post resumes, and research companies.
- LinkedIn: The world's largest professional network connects job seekers with available positions.
- ZipRecruiter: A leading online employment marketplace that leverages AI-powered smart matching technology to connect employers and job seekers.
- ABA Career Center: Career development resources and a job board for law students, lawyers, and legal professionals across all practice areas and career stages.
- Association of Corporate Counsel Jobs: The ACC is the world's largest organization serving the professional and business interests of attorneys who practice in the legal departments of corporations, associations, nonprofits, and other private-sector organizations around the globe.
- BCG Search: Browse attorney jobs by city, state, and practice area.
- Go Inhouse: Job board focused solely on in-house counsel positions.
- iHireLegal: A unique, industry-focused job search experience.
- Impact Opportunity: On a mission to support careers that make a positive impact in the world.
- LawJobs: As the leading recruiting website for legal professionals, Lawjobs is just what you need to find jobs in Fortune 1000 companies and AmLaw 200 firms.
- LawMatch: Specialized services for attorneys, law students, paralegals, and other legal industry professionals seeking opportunities.
- PSJD: Your pathway to public service legal careers.
- Work for Good: Search attorney and lawyer positions with nonprofits by location, focus area, position type, and experience level.
- OSCAR: Lists available clerkship positions within the federal court system and provides information concerning clerkships, contacting chambers, and working for the federal government.
- U.S. State Courts: Lists available positions in the federal judiciary.
- Vermont Law Guide: Contains detailed information about judicial clerkships around the country. Please contact the Career Center for username & password information.
Alumni considering clerkships or who have questions about applying should send an email to careercenter@law.duke.edu with the subject line “Judicial Clerkship Inquiry”. A member of our Clerkships team will connect with you.
- AvueCentral: Commercial site with search engine for U.S. Federal government positions.
- FBI Jobs: An official site of the U.S. DOJ, this site provides information on opportunities in the FBI, eligibility requirements, test preparation, and more.
- Federal Government Jobs: Job listing database from official U.S. government sources that uses advanced location matching technology.
- Government Honors & Public Policy Handbooks: List job openings for various federal, state, and local government agencies for offices around the country. Please contact the Career Center for password information.
- USA Jobs: As a part of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), we help recruit and retain a world-class government workforce for the American people.
Jobs for professionals with security clearances and those with skill sets for which the company will sponsor the individual with clearance pending.
- Cleared Connections: As an applicant to Cleared Connections, your information will only be released to approved U.S. government agencies and contractors, so targeted employers looking to hire people with your credentials get your resume for consideration.
- Intelligence Careers: Use the job exploration tool to determine if you're a match for a position in IC. Learn about participating agencies, the application process, benefits, and more.
- CorpsTeam: Corps Team is a nationwide, Professional Recruiting, IT Recruiting and Executive Search Firm. Since 2005, we have partnered with Founders, CEOs, and hiring managers to recruit exceptional direct hire, project based and contract talent into their organizations.
- FlexJobs: The #1 job site to find remote, work from home, and flexible job opportunities since 2007.
- FreelanceWriting: Freelance Writing is the most comprehensive hub on the web for both businesses to hire top quality writers, and freelance writers to find high-paying jobs and make money writing.
- Guru: At Guru, we strive to be the premier platform where professionals go to connect, collaborate, and get work done.
- Academic Career Support: To assist alumni seeking to enter the law school teaching market, Duke Law has created a Law Teaching Committee that offers candidates feedback on research agendas, comments on job talk papers, and practice job talks.
- Visiting Assistant Professor Program: Duke Law's Visiting Assistant Professor program prepares emerging scholars for success in the legal academy with two- or three-year faculty appointments, research support and feedback, and an opportunity to hone their teaching skills.
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Job Listing Resources by Location
- CalCareers: Search open positions with the CA state government using robust search filters.
- California Society for Healthcare Attorneys: Provides a simple list of open health law attorney positions in CA.
- CalJOBS: Search open positions in CA by keyword, workplace setting, salary, education, job type, and more.
- Legal Aid Association of CA Jobs Board: Search open positions by location, posting date, and tags.
- State Bar of CA Job Board: Search positions by location, job function, category, and posting date.
- DC Job Network: Lists openings in the metropolitan area by geographic area (e.g., Georgetown, Bethesda, Arlington, Alexandria).
- Legal Aid DC: Provides a simple list of open positions by practice area.
- Maryland Job Network: Search current jobs posted by Maryland's top employers, post your resume, and get great career advice.
- Virginia Job Network: Search for jobs based on category, keyword, and more.
- Washington Business Journal: The WBJ provides open job postings in Washington, DC.
- Washington Network Group: WNG is a membership organization of professionals in business, finance, technology, foreign and government affairs, dedicated to helping members advance their business and professional objectives by convening networking events, educational forums, and career development opportunities.
- Legal Aid NYC: Provides a simple list of open opportunities by practice area.
- NYC Bar Association Career Center: Search jobs by job title, function, workplace type, and more.
- NYC Government Jobs Board: Find a job in New York City government.
- NYC Law Department Careers: Lists opportunities for law students, recent graduates, and admitted attorneys.
- NY Courts Careers: Search jobs in the New York Unified Court System by judicial district or county.
- NY State Bar Association Jobs Board: Search jobs by job title, function, practice area, workplace type, experience level, and more.
- NY State Department of Labor Job Board: Search jobs in NY state and other states within 50 miles of NY using robust search filters.
- NC Bar Association Career Center: Search open positions based on job title, function, type, workplace setting, and more.
- NC Center for Nonprofits: Search job openings with nonprofits based on career level, category, job type, and county.
- NC Government Jobs Board: Search open opportunities based on location, department, job category, workplace type, and salary.
- NC Job Network: Plan and perfect your job search, read through resume tips, and search available opportunities.
- NC Legal Aid: Find open positions with robust search filters.
- Foundation List TX Nonprofit Jobs: Search openings with TX nonprofits based on keyword, location, and job category. (Scroll to bottom of page.)
- State Bar of TX Career Network: Search legal jobs based on industry, job function, workplace setting, and more.
- State Bar of TX Job Board: Search positions in Austin Dallas, and Houston based on keywords, category, and location.
- TX Office of the Attorney General: Search open opportunities in the TX OAG by location, field, and schedule.
- TX Workforce Commission Job Board: Plan your career and search general and state government openings.
- WORKinTEXAS.com: Search for general opportunities with robust filters or search state government opportunities by organization.
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Starting Your Own Business
- Guide to Starting a Law Firm, Lawyerist
- I'm Ready to Start My Own Law Practice—What Are the Pitfalls?, ABA
- Leaving Big Law to Form Your Own Firm, Law Practice Today
- Biz Journal Leadership Trust: Brings local business owners together in a collaborative space to network, share ideas, and inspire each other.
- Inc.: Successfully start, grow, innovate, and lead your business today: Ideas, resources, advice, support, tools, strategies, real stories, and real business examples.
- Internal Revenue Service business page: Tax information, tools, and resources for businesses and self- employed.
- NASE.org (National Association of Self-Employed): A national organization designed to proactively help you grow your business and your bottom line.
- U.S. Small Business Administration: Created in 1953, the SBA is the only cabinet-level federal agency fully dedicated to small business and provides counseling, capital, and contracting expertise as the nation’s only go-to resource and voice for small businesses.
- Guide to Starting a Law Firm, Lawyerist
- I'm Ready to Start My Own Law Practice—What Are the Pitfalls?, ABA
- Leaving Big Law to Form Your Own Firm, Law Practice Today
- Biz Journal Leadership Trust: Brings local business owners together in a collaborative space to network, share ideas, and inspire each other.
- Inc.: Successfully start, grow, innovate, and lead your business today: Ideas, resources, advice, support, tools, strategies, real stories, and real business examples.
- Internal Revenue Service business page: Tax information, tools, and resources for businesses and self- employed.
- NASE.org (National Association of Self-Employed): A national organization designed to proactively help you grow your business and your bottom line.
- U.S. Small Business Administration: Created in 1953, the SBA is the only cabinet-level federal agency fully dedicated to small business and provides counseling, capital, and contracting expertise as the nation’s only go-to resource and voice for small businesses.
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