New in 2021: Mitchell Hamline Recruitment Program

Recruitment Program FAQs

• What is the Mitchell Hamline Recruitment Program?

  The Mitchell Hamline Recruitment Program, formerly known as “On-Campus Interviews” or OCI, is an opportunity for Mitchell Hamline students to connect with employers who are seeking to fill current open positions for law students or attorneys. Through a coordinated series of programs and processes:

  • Coordinated Recruitment. Employers post open positions to the “OCI” platform in Symplicity, allowing students to apply for multiple jobs with a universal application deadline and generally similar interview timeline, enabling better, more-informed decision making by employers and students.
  • Guided Preparation. The Office of Career and Professional Development guides students through the application process, including:
    • Offering advice for researching employers and networking with attorneys
    • Providing feedback to application materials
    • Assistance navigating Symplicity (application platform) and Flo Recruit (interview platform)
    • Facilitating mock interviews and other interview preparation
  • Valuable Connections. Employers and students connect before interviews begin through our virtual Meet the Employers program, enabling students to ask questions, make first impressions, and get to know attorneys and employers in a more conversational setting before formal interviews begin.
  • Informed Hiring and Employment Decisions. Employers select candidates to interview and hold first-round interviews during a condensed time-span, enabling students to gather information about and assess opportunities in a singular time period before making decisions.

• Will the January 2021 Recruitment Program be in-person or virtual?

  All recruitment activities coordinated by the Office of Career and Professional Development at Mitchell Hamline School of Law will take place virtually through the spring 2021 semester, and no recruitment events will be hosted in-person on campus.  If you have any questions, please contact Jessie Bergman at jessica.bergman@mitchellhamline.edu.

• Who can participate in the Mitchell Hamline Recruitment Program?

  • Students: All Mitchell Hamline students are invited to participate in the Recruitment Program, and should carefully review the participating employers and their respective position descriptions and eligibility criteria to determine which positions they would like to apply to.
    • Some positions will seek students of a particular class year, academic background (for example, a science degree), or availability (i.e., part-time school-year or full-time summer position).
    • For example, some employers are looking to hire 2021 graduates as new associates, while others are looking for 2022 graduates for summer associate programs or law clerk or externship opportunities during the school-year and/or summer.
  • Employers: 
    • Large Firms: Some employers exclusively hire through formal recruitment programs. In particular, many large firms will utilize the Recruitment Program to recruit and hire 2022 graduates for their formal summer associate programs, from which they usually look to hire their new associates.
    • Small and Mid-Sized Firms: Oftentimes, small and mid-sized firms utilize the Mitchell Hamline Recruitment Program to hire school-year and/or summer law clerks, with a potential to stay at the firm during the school-year or start earlier in the spring semester and continuing through the summer and even beyond.
    • Public Sector and Nonprofit Employers: Public sector employers, such as county attorney’s offices, public defenders, and state and federal agencies, as well as non-profit agencies, are welcome and encouraged to participate in the Recruitment Program.
    • Corporate Employers in a variety of industries have also utilized the Recruitment Program to find students to fill summer, school-year, and post-graduate positions.

  Larger law firms participating in the Recruitment Program often set required or preferred grades, class ranks, and other expectations. That being said, generally participating law firms are eager to hear from a wide range of students and aim to take a holistic view of students attributes and strengths. Other employers who participate in the Mitchell Hamline Recruitment Program, including smaller or mid-sized firms, public employers (such as County Attorney’s offices), corporations, and nonprofits, often do not emphasize grades and other quantitative measures as much as the large firms.

  Historically speaking, about 10% of Mitchell Hamline students have found employment through the formal Recruitment Program. Many employers do not typically participate in the Recruitment Program (which traditionally happens in August/September of any given year) because the timing is not compatible with their hiring needs. While there are many opportunities to find employment outside of the formal Recruitment Program, we know that in 2021, many employers have postponed hiring until the January 2021 Recruitment Program. All students are encouraged to take a look at participating employers and engage in the Recruitment Program to the extent it may help meet their career and professional goals.

  Check the “OCI” Section in Symplicity often for the list of employers registered for this January’s Recruitment Program. The list will be updated on Symplicity as additional employers register…so check it frequently! Students are encouraged to research those employers participating and consult their career counselors if they have any questions.

• If I participate in the Mitchell Hamline Recruitment Program, what will the process look like?

  The first step for students wishing to participate in the Recruitment Program is to update your profile on Symplicity so that it reflects your accurate class year as of January 2021. This will ensure that you can view the positions for which you are eligible depending on your class year.

  Once you have updated your class year, you should be able to view the opportunities available for your class year through the OCI tab in Symplicity. You can then review the employers’ postings, research those employers that interest you, and draft and upload your resumes and other materials requested by employers. Beginning December 1, 2020, you can apply to those employers with whom you want to interview by submitting the materials as requested by each employer. The application deadline for positions posted through the Mitchell Hamline Recruitment Program (i.e., those listed on the OCI tab) is January 17, 2021 at 11:59pm.

  Next, the employers review the materials from students who have applied for their positions and select the students they wish to interview. Students can check Symplicity beginning on Thursday, January 21 at 12pm to see if they have been invited by an employer to interview (“pre-selected”). If they have been invited to interview (“pre-selected”), the student can select an interview time via Symplicity. All interviews will take place virtually and are typically 20-30 minutes long. Students with questions or concerns about accessibility with virtual interviews should contact Jessie Bergman at jessica.bergman@mitchellhamline.edu to ensure virtual platforms meet their individual needs.

  After students interview with employers through Mitchell Hamline’s Flo Recruit platform, employers will communicate with students directly about next steps, which may include  notifying students selected for a much longer “call back” interview. The “call back” interviews would traditionally take place at the employer’s office, typically last two to four hours, and often involve a series of interviews and a meal. Employers vary as to the format of these “call back” interviews, and not all employers will utilize this second round of “call back” interviews before making their selections. Of course, in 2021, arrangements for “call back” interviews may involve additional meetings via remote means, as determined by each employer. After employers have concluded their individual interview processes, they will determine which students will receive offers of employment and contact students directly.

• Is the Mitchell Hamline Recruitment Program accessible if I require the use of a screen reader or live captioning?

  Yes. The Office of Career & Professional Development will make every effort to work with employers to ensure the Recruitment Program, and specifically virtual interview opportunities, are accessible to students who may need accommodations due to a disability. Students with questions or concerns about accessibility with virtual interviews should contact Jessie Bergman at jessica.bergman@mitchellhamline.edu to ensure virtual platforms meet their individual needs.

How to participate in the Mitchell Hamline Recruitment Program

• Step 1: Be prepared and informed!

  Watch or Attend CPD Events to Prepare:
  

  • View a Recording of the Nov. 16 Info Session Here

  Check Your Email & The Docket

  • Throughout the fall and winter, you will receive emails and reminders of important dates.
  • Keep an eye on the Docket for reminders throughout the fall and winter. Get Docket posts directly to your email.

  Update your profile in Symplicity

  To participate in the Recruitment Program, your class year in Symplicity must reflect your class year as of January 2021. To update your class year:

  • Log in to Symplicity.
  • Click “My Account” (in the red block on the left side of the page).
  • Click on “Academic” and change the class year.

  You will not be able to see the employers interviewing your class year until this is updated. Symplicity performs best using Firefox or Chrome. Internet Explorer is not an ideal browser for Symplicity.

  Also, you must have an approved resume in Symplicity prior to the bidding deadline. Please submit your resume early and plan accordingly.

  If you need help with Symplicity or have questions about the Recruitment Program, please contact Career & Professional Development at careers@mitchellhamline.edu or 651-290-6326.

  Remember to check Symplicity and this website often throughout the process.

  Make it a habit to login to Symplicity frequently. Check Symplicity for employers that may be added to the “OCI” tab before the application period opens, throughout the application period, and beyond. Be on the lookout for invitations to interview or messages from employers. Also, check this website and the Docket for important announcements.

• Step 2: Refine

  Refine the written materials commonly requested by employers: resume, cover letter, writing sample, reference list.

  If you have not uploaded a resume in Symplicity yet, upload it by January 8, 2021, to guarantee review by a Career Counselor. If you have uploaded your resume previously and want another review of your resume or any of your other application materials reviewed, please contact your Career Counselor directly or email Career & Professional Development at careers@mitchellhamline.edu. We strongly recommend you meet with your counselor prior to submitting your application documents!

  REMINDER: To participate in the Recruitment Program, you must have a resume uploaded and approved in Symplicity prior to the application deadline. Plan ahead.

• Step 3: Research

  Research employers

  New this year! Watch our short and informative Nuts & Bolts video on Researching Employers for more ideas on how to learn more about participating employers.

  Use Symplicity to view the participating employers looking for students in your class year and to see their hiring criteria and requirements. If your class year (1L/2L/3L) is incorrect on your Symplicity profile, you will not be able to view the correct employers or make bids. Please be sure your student profile is updated (see Step 1 for  instructions).

  Search firm websites, the NALP Directory of Legal Employers, and Martindale for general information about firms, including their firm size, office locations/sizes, practice areas of interest, demographics of attorneys, and more. Review local newspaper sites for information about firms in the news. Check LinkedIn to see who in your network may work at firms of interest to you, or who could introduce you to learn more (we do not recommend connecting with attorneys via LinkedIn unless you actually know them).

  Topics to consider researching: number of attorneys employed, clients, practice groups, diversity, attorney bios (who do they attract?), male/female ratio, work-life balance, impression the website gives, billable hours, and professional development for attorneys.

  The “OCI” Section in Symplicity will continually be updated as new employers register— please check this regularly.

• Step 4: Apply

  The application deadline for the January 2021 Recruitment Program is January 17, 2020 at 11:59pm. All applications for positions through the Recruitment Program must be submitted by this time.
  

  Apply via Symplicity to the firms of interest to you. You can apply for a maximum of twenty employers. Keep in mind that if you are invited to twenty virtual interviews (very unlikely!), you will be expected to participate in all of them.

  To apply, upload in Symplicity your resume and other materials requested by the employers (includig a unique cover letter for each employer that requests one). Then for each employer you wish to apply to, submit your documents as instructed via Symplicity. By submitting an application, you agree to abide by the Student Participation Agreement.

  You can change your applications and upload different resumes and materials until January 17, 2021, at 11:59pm. After this deadline, Symplicity will prevent further changes or bids. Should you be invited to an interview, you will be able to submit an updated resume at the time of your interview.

• Step 5: Attend “Meet the Employers” Event (Jan. 13)

  Registration REQUIRED by 1/11/21. Register here: https://www.florecruit.com/register/mitchellhamline/3304/

  By attending Meet the Employers, students have the opportunity to:

  1. Learn more about the OCI employers by talking with their attorneys. Prepare in advance by researching employers and formulating thoughtful questions.
  2. Show your enthusiasm and interest in specific employers.
  3. Make a lasting and positive impression. Employers often take notes on candidates they meet that impress them.

  In January 2021, Mitchell Hamline’s Meet the Employers program will take place virtually via the FloRecruit platform. As you might imagine, this event will look a little different this year given the virtual event space. Here’s what you should know:

  • The event will be coordinated and take place through FloRecruit, which is the same platform through which many employers will conduct interviews later in January. By participating in Meet the Employers, you will have a chance to get acquainted with the software prior to the formal interviews later in January. We have opted to go with FloRecruit because we understand it to be a very user-friendly platform for employers and students alike.

  • The event will take place on Wednesday, January 13, 2021, from 3-7pm. Employers can select a window within that timeframe to “attend” the event. Understanding the varying schedule needs due to COVID-19, we want to make at least portions of this event accessible to as many students and employers as possible, hence why the event extends over both the business day and after traditional work hours.

  • During the week of January 4, you will have the opportunity to sign up for short, ten-minute meetings with the employers that interest you; unlike an in-person reception, you will not be able to spontaneously decide to meet with an organization on the day of the event. So, this event will have a more structured environment than the traditional free-flow of an in-person tabling event.

  • Students can meet with as many employers as they wish. Some meetings may be 1-on-1 with an employer, and others may have up to five students with one attorney.

  • If you require live captioning, or have other accessibility concerns or questions, please email Jessie Bergman at jessica.bergman@mitchellhamline.edu so we can make necessary arrangements.

• Step 6: Prepare for interviews

  Beginning on Thursday, January 21 (12pm), keep an eye on Symplicity to see if you have been invited to interview.

  In the meantime, and throughout the interview period, make use of the resources available to you:

  1. Meet with your Career Counselor to help you prepare. Schedule time to discuss your resume or cover letter, chat about the recruitment process or interview strategy, or do a mock interview. Contact your Career Counselor directly or email Career & Professional Development at careers@mitchellhamline.edu. Keep in mind that the weeks leading up to the Recruitment Program are a busy season for the Office of Career & Professional Development, and our Office will be closed December 19, 2020 – January 3, 2021, as well as January 16 – 18, 2021. Plan accordingly.
  2. Mock Interviews with attorneys will be available January 11-15. Stay tuned for more information!
  3. Consult Career & Professional Development resources for students, including tip sheets on resumes, cover letters, and interviewing.

  And remember:

  1. Show up for your interviews prepared. Do your research, and always arrive early!
  2. Following your interview, send thank you notes to the interviewers. In 2021, electronic correspondence is recommended given that interviewers’ work locations may vary.
  3. Consult your Career Counselor with any questions or concerns. You can also reach the Office of Career & Professional Development at careers@mitchellhamline.edu or 651-290-6326.

• Step 7: Stay informed

  Throughout the interview period, continue to check Symplicity often to see if you have been offered an interview by an employer. Also, be sure to carefully monitor your email and voicemail in case an employer contacts you to offer a call-back interview or a job offer! Respond in a timely fashion, but always feel free to consult the Office of Career & Professional Development before responding if guidance would be helpful.

  If you receive or accept an offer for employment, please report it to the Career & Professional Development Office or directly to your Career Counselor. If you do not receive any offers through the Recruitment Program, do not be discouraged! There are many other opportunities available. Your Counselor is available to provide advice and guidance.