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In addition to a robust OCI program, the Career Center staff has employed a “two-pronged” strategy with diverse tactics to support students’ job searches. One prong has been to maximize the employment opportunities easily seen by students, while the second has been to heighten the engagement of Duke Law students with their job searches.

The “opportunity prong” has included:

• Creating the “Alumni Outreach” group by personally calling several hundred alumni in all fields and diverse locations to discuss concrete opportunities for Duke students this coming year, or to establish that the graduate will serve as a “market contact” to help students identify opportunities in their city;
• Contacting other potential employers in private practice and government to learn of their hiring needs for next year, and how students should best apply;
• Calling hundreds of state court judges to establish relationships and gather hiring information for 3Ls;
• Creating Duke’s first “regional interview program”, the Duke-UVA California Interview Day in Los Angeles; and
• Collaborating with individual faculty members to determine how they may most efficiently support students’ career goals.

The “engagement prong” includes:

• Individualized career counseling;
• A range of innovative career-focused programs offered throughout the academic year, including panel discussions, workshops, and training sessions;
• Online seminars allowing students to access search advice from legal placement professionals and alumni;
• New avenues for accessing job listings and job bank membership;
• An expanded “in the office mock” interview program with alumni;
• A new Career Center blog with continuously posted information on events and opportunities; and
• A new password-protected “summer toolkit” that makes job-hunting resources available to students 24/7.

“I also [ask] for ever greater and broader alumni assistance — ranging from responding to student networking emails, joining our “Alumni Outreach” list, or letting us know when they hear of specific opening,” says Associate Dean Bruce Elvin. “We are excited and confident that all Duke students who think broadly and are proactive in their job searches will secure fulfilling positions for Summer 2010 and post-graduation in 2010, though we know the outcomes will be even better with involvement of our entire community.”