Office of Professional Development
The mission of the Office of Professional Development is to offer comprehensive career planning assistance to Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis students and alumni. Our professional staff provides one-on-one counseling, extensive and varied programming, and resume and cover letter review throughout the law school years and professional careers of students and alumni. The Office of Professional Development is committed to assisting students and alumni with career exploration without regard to grade point average, career goals or prior experience. Although the Office of Professional Development professional staff will assist students with their job search efforts, a student's professional future is first and foremost a matter of individual responsibility. Students must be willing to devote substantial time to career exploration and job searching.
In order to utilize the Office of Professional Development and its resources, all students are required to register with the office using the On-Line Career Center. The Office of Professional Development specially creates and distributes a log in ID and password for each student early in the fall semester. Please contact the Office of Professional Development if you need assistance with the registration process.
The Office of Professional Development is located on the first floor of Lawrence W. Inlow Hall, Room 115. Regular office hours are:
| Monday: | 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. |
|---|---|
| Tuesday: | 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. |
| Wednesday: | 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. |
| Thursday: | 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. |
| Friday: | 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. |
Summer hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Hours are subject to change during holidays and will be posted. Students unable to visit the office during regular office hours should contact the Professional Development staff to make special arrangements.
Chasity Thompson
Assistant Dean, Office of Professional Development
317-278-3001
chasthom@iupui.edu
Tamara L. McMillian
Associate Director of Professional Development
317-278-2172
tmcmilli@iupui.edu
LaWanda Ward
Director of Pro Bono Program & Public Interest
317-278-9241
lwward@iupui.edu
Students are best served by utilizing the Office of Professional Development throughout their law school careers beginning in the first year. All students should plan to attend 1L Career Kick-Off Week in November to learn the realities of the job market and practical suggestions for career exploration and planning. According to the guidelines promulgated by the National Association for Law Placement (NALP), first-year students should not initiate contact with prospective employers prior to December 1st. The programs of 1L Career Kick-Off Week will assist students who wish to apply for summer positions beginning in December.
One-on-One Counseling
Office of Professional Development professional staff members are available for one-on-one counseling regarding career exploration and the job search process. To the extent possible, the Professional Development staff maintains an open-door policy, and students are invited to drop by for discussion or consultation. To ensure staff availability, students are encouraged to schedule an individual appointment.
Resume and Cover Letter Review
Students seeking assistance with resumes and cover letters are encouraged to submit them to the Professional Development staff via e-mail. Students should attach documents in Word format and e-mail to Chasity Thompson at chasthom@iupui.edu, Tamara McMillian at tmcmilli@iupui.edu, or LaWanda Ward at lwward@iupui.edu. We will make suggestions and corrections directly to the documents and return them by e-mail. For a more in-depth discussion of resume or cover letter issues, students should make an appointment or stop by the Office of Professional Development. More information about resumes and cover letters is available online.
Seminars and Workshops
The Office of Professional Development sponsors a number of programs and events throughout the academic year including workshops on interviewing, job search techniques, career choices, judicial clerkships, networking, and alternative careers. In addition, the Office of Professional Development sponsors the Career Options Series designed to educate students about the realities of different legal practice areas. Programs in this series feature local attorneys who practice in a variety of areas who discuss the day-to-day responsibilities, training required and potential job market of a specific practice area. For a schedule of programs, please check the events calendar.
Job Posting and Resume Bank System
The Office of Professional Development offers job postings and a resume bank system through IUI Career Connection. Employers may post openings directly online in a searchable database. Students and graduates may search the database by job type, location, practice area and other criteria. Students and graduates may place their resumes into the resume bank that is searchable by registered employers.
Employment During Law School
Students who are employed or engaged in other outside activities are subject to the following rules. These rules emanate from the American Bar Association's Standard for the Approval of Law Schools, and the law school is required to enforce them fully and without exception. The Assistant Dean for Student Affairs has an Employment Rules and Certifications Form that students must sign to show compliance with the following:
- A full-time student (that is, one who is enrolled in 12 or more credit hours during a regular semester or 6 or more hours during a summer session) may not work more than 20 hours per week.
- Except in unusual cases, part-time students registered for 11 credit hours in a regular semester are subject to the same limitation on working hours as full-time students, and therefore may not work more than 20 hours per week.
- Part-time students registered for 10 or fewer credit hours in a regular semester or 5 or fewer credit hours in a summer session may not work more than 40 hours per week.
Privacy of Information
In accordance with federal law and the policies of Indiana University, the Office of Professional Development will not release grade point averages (GPAs) or transcripts of grades. Employers who desire this information must request it from the student, either directly or through the Office of Professional Development. A student may release this information to the Office of Professional Development with his or her resume to be forwarded to specific employers at the student's discretion.
National Association for Law Placement (NALP)
Indiana University School of Law - Indianapolis is a member of the National Association for Law Placement (NALP), a nonprofit educational organization established in 1971 to meet the needs of the participants in the legal employment process - law schools, legal employers, law students and graduates. Indiana University School of Law - Indianapolis follows NALP standards regarding the conduct of law school Office of Professional Developments.
