Office of Career Services

Build Confidence, Build Careers

Message from the Assistant Dean of Career Services

We made it to Spring Break!  What a great time to assess where you are in your search for a summer job or post-graduation employment.  While you are on break, OCS is still open and your counselor is happy to meet with you about your job search. 

I know the summer seems to be coming fast, but there is still time to find the right position for you.  Keep applying through Spring Recruitment (Phase 3 applications are due Sunday!), but also take advantage of all of the other search engines OCS has to offer (like Arizona Manual, LawCrossing, Handshake), as well as those offered by CyberSpace (like LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Indeed).  Throw the spaghetti at the wall (apply broadly) and see what sticks (where you get interviews and offers); the more you apply to and the broader your search, the more likely you will land the interview and the job!  And, for the graduating class, clerkships are still available!

This newsletter will feature students who have held government positions, primarily in the criminal space.  One of the big questions if entering the criminal law field is which side you want to represent.  Do you want to represent the prosecution, seeking justice for those against whom a crime was allegedly committed, or do you want to advocate for the accused in a justice system that at many times seems flawed, biased, and/or unfair?  Hear from students who have worked for defender offices, prosecutor offices, and the New Jersey Attorney General, and explore where you think you can make the most difference! 

Dean Pirone

JD Student Spotlight

Charlotte Hawkins

Charlotte Hawkins is a 3L student who will be working for the New Hampshire Public Defender after graduation.  During her 1L and 2L summers, she interned for the Windham County Public Defender in Brattleboro, Vermont and The Bronx Defenders, respectively.  Charlotte also worked at the Legal Aid Society on Staten Island during Spring 2023.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. What brought you to law school?

My name is Charlotte Hawkins, and I grew up in Athens, Georgia. I got my undergraduate degree in sculpture and installation art from an experimental liberal arts school in New England. I came to law school when I was 27 after working in the arts for 4 years after undergrad. In that time, my life had shifted focus, and I knew I wanted to become a public defender. I came to law school with that purpose.

Read Charlotte's full spotlight here.

The LEO Corner

Genesis Canela

Genesis Canela is a 3L LEO Fellow at Seton Hall Law.  During her tenure at Seton Hall, Genesis worked at Organon as a Legal and Compliance Intern and at JP Morgan & Chase as a Compliance Summer Associate.  In law school, Genesis has served as a member of the Interscholastic Moot Court Board, the Vice President of MetroLALSA, and as a representative for BARBRI.

What motivated you to pursue a legal education?

Growing up in Newark, the criminal legal system was introduced to me early in life. I witnessed my classmates routinely ensnared in the criminal legal system and neighbors’ homes raided by police. As a survivor of a violent crime, I experienced firsthand my own chaotic, traumatizing journey with system actors. I painfully learned that the system does not make us safe or, in the least, protects some while dismissing others, like those from my neighborhood. I realize that what I know, why I know it, and how I grew up, have instilled a resilience, rooted in humility and compassion, that positions me to be that person who defends those in my community upon whom the criminal legal system sets its sights on.

Get to know more about Genesis! Read her full interview here.

Weekend Warriors

Timothy Wagner

Timothy Wagner is a 3L in Seton Hall Law’s weekend program and a member of its Journal of Legislation and Public Policy.  Outside of school, Tim works as an officer with the Kearny Police Department, having achieved the highest rank of Captain. 

What made you decide to go to law school?

For many years I was assigned to roles where I had responsibility for working on the policies and internal governance of the police department during some of the most turbulent times law enforcement has seen (e.g., terrorism, social justice, body worn cameras, etc.). This required me to work often with attorneys, both prosecutors and municipal counsel. I enjoyed working with lawyers to find legally grounded solutions to challenging problems that were also workable operationally. In most situations, I sensed a compatibility with those lawyers, but I wanted to be able to come to those solutions on my own, or to at least understand how lawyers “think like lawyers.” This led me to law school.

Get to know more about Timothy! Read his full interview here.

Join us in revisiting the illuminating insights shared during the virtual career panel "Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals: Career Conversations," held on February 20th. Featuring three esteemed Seton Hall Law alumni, this engaging discussion delved into crucial topics shaping careers in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.

Timothy Tucker

Timothy Tucker is a 3L day student at Seton Hall Law.  During his tenure at the Law School, he has worked in both the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office.

You have experience working in a prosecutor’s office. What was it like? What were some of the projects that you got to work on?

I was involved in various projects that broadened my understanding of the prosecutorial role. Among these, my favorite tasks were related to the Grave's Act—dealing with minimum sentencing for gun-related crimes—and Megan's Law, which involves categorizing sex offenders within the registry. These cases resonated with me because they offered the opportunity to represent the innocent and secure justice for crime victims.

Most valuably, I had numerous opportunities to address the court on the record. While I've always considered myself a skilled public speaker, standing before a judge and speaking on the record introduced a unique pressure I had not encountered before. Fortunately, I was accompanied by an experienced Assistant Prosecutor who provided guidance whenever I struggled to find my next words. This chance to speak on the record was crucial in overcoming the initial nerves every new lawyer first experiences when speaking on the record.

Read more about Timothy's experiences here! 

Timothy Knapp

Timothy Knapp is a 2L day student at Seton Hall Law.  Tim was an intern with the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office during his 1L summer and will work at the law firm of Archer & Greiner this summer.  In law school, Tim is a member of the Seton Hall Law Review.

Did you always want to be a lawyer?  If not, how did you decide to pursue law school?

I didn’t become set on pursuing a legal career until my experience volunteering on a Juvenile Conference Committee (JCC) in Essex County many years ago. A JCC is a volunteer program in NJ operated under the Family Division of each county’s Superior Court. It’s aimed at preventing juveniles’ minor offenses from repeating. The experience was my first exposure to judges and the broader legal system, and it didn’t take long for my interest in the law to grow from there. Since then, throughout law school and beyond, my enthusiasm has continued to grow.

You worked at the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office during your 1L summer. How was that experience? 

My experience at the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office was certainly one of the most rewarding opportunities I’ve had in law school. Every attorney in the office is incredibly welcoming and invested in helping the interns. The summer intern class is large—mine was around twenty-nine I believe—and we had group presentations and even a mock trial together. It all contributed to a collaborative atmosphere throughout the office.

Read more about Timothy's experience here! 

Do you want to strengthen your resume, make important connections in the legal field, improve your legal writing, research, and practical lawyering skills, all while trying out a new practice area and earning course credit? Then consider an externship!

Seton Hall Law's Externship Program provides exciting and varied experiential learning opportunities to do substantive legal work at eligible placements while taking a course remotely with a full-time faculty member. Eligible field placements include unpaid legal jobs in the government and not-for-profit sectors, with judges at the federal and state levels, in corporate counsel offices, with gaming, hospitality, entertainment, and sports companies, and at the IRS. Students may earn 1 or 2 externship credits in the fall and spring semesters, and up to 3 credits for an externship in the summer. Students should apply to eligible field placements directly, just as they would for any other job.

The Office of Career Services has many resources available to assist you in finding a field placement, including a list of prior externship placements. As soon as you have secured an externship, fill out the externship registration form on the Seton Hall Law externships website, which also contains a wealth of information about the program, including a list of FAQs.

For questions about externships, reach out to Professor Allison Sigmund, the Director of Externships.

OCS recently introduced an invaluable resource on Symplicity for students: Pathways! Throughout the school year, we've curated several Pathways, each tailored to address specific career trajectories or practice areas. 

Navigating to Pathways is easier than ever. Upon logging into your Symplicity account, you'll notice a dedicated Pathways button prominently displayed at the top of your home page. Alternatively, you can access them through the "Resources" tab. Within these Pathways, you'll discover a wealth of information to aid you in your job search journey.

Currently, our Pathways cover a diverse range of topics, including:

•    1L Step by Step
•    Diversity Fellowships
•    Employment and Labor Law
•    Environmental/Energy Law
•    Family Law
•    Interviewing 101
•    Post-Graduation Clerkship
•    Public Interest

To initiate your journey through a Pathway, simply click "Start" and begin documenting your progress. You'll find it invaluable to refer back to as you navigate each step of your job search process. More will be added throughout the year, so check back often!

Mark Your Calendars

Students are welcome to stop by the CS Boutique to get professional attire. All items are free, and you are welcome to take as many items as you like. Donations are also welcome. We accept gently worn or new suits, blouses, shirts, ties, etc. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Blackwood at monique.blackwood@shu.edu. 

STAY CONNECTED

Office Hours
Monday - Friday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.