Getting Started

Deferrals offer a unique opportunity for professional and personal growth. In this uncertain economic climate, deferrals provide a chance for you to gain meaningful work experience, to make contacts in your chosen field, and to develop practical legal skills that you can carry forward into the next phase of your career.

Before you start your deferral job search, take time to think about your personal career goals. You may feel pressure to make decisions based on what is easiest to obtain, while neglecting to think about what is best for you. Avoid this temptation and think carefully about the type of work you find satisfying, the kind of work environment that best suits your personality, and the skills you hope to develop. Not all deferral placements will be the same. Some may involve direct client interaction, while others will involve mainly research and writing. Some public interest organizations may offer formal job training, while others will expect you to learn as you go. While a number of organizations have begun to advertise deferral positions, remember that finding the right job requires energy, effort, and good information. Be proactive! You – and only you – are in charge of your career and your future. Use the resources available to HLS students to reach out to potential employers of interest.  

OPIA advisors are on hand to help you think through the options that are available to you, and can provide you with invaluable networking contacts.

To get ready for your search, you should begin to think about updating your marketing materials, which consist of your resume, cover letter, writing sample, and references. Public interest employers often look for evidence of interest in their particular type of work when making hiring decisions; be sure to follow the tips and review the sample resumes and cover letters on this website and in Chapter 5 of Volume I (USA) and Chapter 2 of Volume II (International) of the Job Search Guide. OPIA advisors are on hand to assist you in drafting and refining these documents.

Note that law firm deferral programs may vary widely from firm to firm. It is important to understand the specifics of your law firm’s deferral program prior to pursuing a placement.

Issues to consider when targeting employers/information to seek from your firm:

• Will the law firm place me, or will I have the ability to pursue my own placement?
  
• Is there a deadline by which I need to inform the law firm of my plans?
  
•  Will I be considered an employee of the law firm, an employee of the host organization, or self-employed?
  
•  Will the law firm provide me with health and disability insurance and/or other benefits?
  
•  Who will be supervising and reviewing my work, the law firm or the host organization?
  
•  Will the firm count my time at the host organization for seniority purposes?
  
•  If applicable, will the firm accept flex-time, part-time or reduced work schedules?
  
•  Will I be permitted to take vacation from the host organization and, if so, what policy will govern my vacation time? The host organization’s policy or the firm’s policy?
  
•  What are the firm’s and the host organization’s goals for my work? What experiences do the firm and host organization want me to acquire?
  
•  Who will be expected to cover bar dues, bar exam fees, and malpractice insurance?
  
•  How long – and by what mechanism – will I be committed to remain at the host organization?
  
•  What kind of formal training – if any – will I receive at the host organization?
  
•  What will be my primary responsibilities at the host organization?