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Career and Professional Development

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The Office of Career and Professional Development is operating on a hybrid schedule. Counseling appointments made in CareerLink now take place in person or via Zoom. Please email us at careerdevelopment@wcl.american.edu with your questions or concerns.

Students & Recent Graduates

The Office of Career and Professional Development (OCPD) offers individualized counseling for JD and LL.M. students, both day and evening, throughout their time at WCL and for one year beyond graduation. The OCPD hosts and co-sponsors on- and offline professional development and recruitment programming that features experts and employers from a variety of practice settings. These include mock interviews, resume writing, and career and networking fairs.

LL.M. Alumni

LL.M. alumni seeking career counseling should schedule an appointment with Shanza Qureshi, Career Advisor for LL.M. and International Students via CareerLink.

Alumni seeking access to Legal Careers 101, our online guide to career and professional development, can email careerdevelopment@wcl.american.edu to request the password.

Career Counseling

OCPD’s counselors provide expert guidance for students and recent graduates in search of internships, externships, clerkships, and careers in law, and help them create personalized career plans based on their experiences and interests.

Through individualized sessions, counselors may assist students with:

  • Self-assessment
  • Career Path Exploration
  • Job Search Strategies
  • Networking and Other Interpersonal Skills
  • Application Materials
  • Exploring Job Search Resources
  • Interview Preparation and Follow-up
  • Identifying Clerkships, Internships, and Fellowships
  • Offer Selection and Negotiation

After the initial meeting with a counselor, students are invited to continue working with that career counselor throughout their law school career. They may also meet with other career counselors whose area(s) of specialization most closely align with their goals. Find each counselor’s areas of specialization on the Staff page.

CareerLink

The Office of Career & Professional Developments uses CareerLink, hosted by Symplicity, to house information on career development events, recruiting opportunities, employers who hire WCL students and graduates, and more. Students and alumni may use CareerLink to RSVP for events, apply for jobs, and schedule mock interviews and other targeted career counseling appointments.

Log into CareerLink to:

Recent graduates who prefer to use something other than their AU email address to log into CareerLink can do so by converting to an alumni email account or using their personal email. The OCPD’s administrative team is available to provide assistance should any issues arise when accessing CareerLink.

WCL Career Mentoring Program Academic Year 2025-2026

The WCL Career Mentoring Program is offered through the Office of Career and Professional Development (OCPD) and connects students with alumni mentors for one academic year. Our volunteer mentors help students gain valuable career skills, learn how to create networks that support their goals, and move towards their next professional steps. This program is open to second and third year WCL students. Students and mentors do not need to be based in the DC area to participate. New applications are available in September to begin the program in October.

Student Applications for 2025-2026 are available from August 22nd until September 21, 2025.

To be successful in the program, students and mentors should be prepared to engage with and learn career readiness and competencies and skills, work towards shared goals and commitments together, and regularly participate in WCL Career Mentoring Program events and activities.

Contact Assistant Director of Alumni Relations Grace Engelhart with questions. Click here to meet this year's mentors.

Selected
Students
Mentors

Why join the WCL Career Mentoring Program?

Mentorship is a valuable tool for achieving your career goals, developing as a legal professional, and finding greater fulfillment in your journey through law school and beyond. This program offers the opportunity to gain a willing and supportive mentor in the legal field who can help you gain valuable insights into the legal profession, navigate career opportunities effectively, and expand your professional network.

By the end of the academic year, if you commit to this program, you should expect to:

  • Connect with at least one new legal professional to grow your network
  • Enhance your professional communication and networking abilities
  • Better understand the recruiting timelines and processes for law school
  • Build confidence in interacting with attorneys and navigating legal settings
  • Receive tailored advice on choosing coursework aligned with your career goals
  • Explore a specific area of law through your mentor’s insights
  • Broaden your awareness of internship and job opportunities within your mentor’s legal field

What is the commitment?
In order to be successful in the program, students should be prepared to:

  • Dedicate at least 5 hours per month
  • Regularly meet and interact with your mentor, honor any commitments made, and communicate promptly and professionally if changes are needed
  • Identify your needs and expectations and discuss them with your mentor throughout the year
  • Understand your mentor’s expectations of you and ask for clarification as needed
  • Take initiative in the mentoring relationship, and be responsible for your own career development
  • Ask questions and participate in conversations
  • Be open to receiving constructive feedback and advice
  • Keep your mentor informed of your progress throughout the year
  • Accept and value one another’s differences
  • Maintain a professional demeanor and positive attitude in all interactions

Eligibility

  • 2L, 3L, and 4L students
  • WCL students in good academic standing may apply
  • Students who are accepted to the program should demonstrate commitment to prompt and professional communication, thoughtful engagement with professional development goals, and initiative to create and maintain a meaningful professional relationship with your mentor.

Application

Student applications are now open for the 2025-2026 Academic Year. If you are interested in being a mentee for the 2025-2026 Academic Year, please fill out this form.

Please contact Assistant Director of Alumni Relations Grace Engelhart if you have any questions.

Why become a WCL Mentor?

Mentorship is an essential part of a well-rounded legal education and a successful legal career. As legal professionals, you know that the path to becoming a confident, capable attorney is rarely walked alone. Think back to a mentor that you had (or still have!) and how their support has influenced your career and life. Joining the WCL Career Mentoring Program will allow you to not only give back to the WCL community, but help shape the next generation of legal professions, providing students with the tools, confidence, and connections they need to thrive. This is your chance to invest in the future of the legal profession, one aspiring lawyer at a time.

Mentors will be given guidance at the outset of the program to help them plan and execute an effective mentoring experience with their mentee. Mentors will be provided with all of WCL’s online career resources, suggested activities, and conversation starters for each month of the program. These tools are designed to help your student mentee build key career skills, like communication, critical thinking, and leadership. Your mentee will also set personal and professional goals early in the program, and your support will be key to helping them reach those goals. Naturally, mentors are also encouraged to bring their own insights and offer any of their own suggested activities to help their student mentees grow professionally throughout the program.

With your support, your student mentee will have:

  • Connected with at least one new legal professional to grow their network
  • Enhanced their professional communication and networking abilities
  • Improved their understanding of the recruiting timelines and processes for law school
  • Built confidence in interacting with attorneys and navigating legal settings
  • Received tailored advice on choosing coursework aligned with their career goals
  • Explored a specific area of law through your insights
  • Broadened their awareness of internship and job opportunities within your legal field

Eligibility

Mentors must be American University alumni. Alumni mentors are expected to offer 1-5 hours of mentorship each month for the entire academic school year (September - May).

Application

Mentor applications are now open for the 2025-2026 Academic Year. If you are interested in being a mentor for the 2025-2026 Academic Year, please fill out this form.

Please contact Assistant Director of Alumni Relations Grace Engelhart if you have any questions.

Legal Careers 101

Exclusively for our students and alumni, this password-protected site has a wealth of information on job hunting, application materials, interviews, networking, and more. Legal Careers 101 features videos, handouts, and helpful guides, all designed to supplement our workshops and one-on-one counseling.

If you’re a member of our community, finding the password is easy: Simply log into CareerLink and look at the Employment Resources announcement near the bottom of the Home page. If you’re in the library, you can inquire at the circulation desk at Pence Law Library. If you’re an alum, email careerdevelopment@wcl.american.edu and we’ll provide it to you.