Next week is Fall Break! Here are a few tips on how to use your time, from PDO’s perspective.
1. Rest and recharge. This time of year is hectic and stressful for many—from 1L’s trying to figure out how to write a legal memorandum to upper class students trying to keep up with classes, write a journal notes and somehow land a job. Take some time to relax, sleep in (if possible), and exercise. Your body will thank you!
2. Reconnect. 1L’s, in particular: Fall Break is a great time of year to reintroduce yourself to the people in your life who don’t know anything about International Shoe or its critical implications. Set aside time to go on a hike, see a movie, and catch up with friends and family.
3. Catch up. Have you put off reading and outlining? Use some of your Fall Break time to catch up on schoolwork. If you are a 2L or 3L, use this time to brush up your résumé, review job postings, and apply to those with fall deadlines! These include jobs in the Government Honors and Internship Handbook, the Presidential Management Fellows Program (for 3L’s), and several diversity fellowships! Come see PDO if you have questions—someone will be in the office all week!
4. Network. If you are spending Fall Break in an area outside of Utah, and you hope to work there someday, use your time to meet with attorneys and other professionals in the area! Mine your contacts, set up meetings or lunches, and ask for school and career advice. Particularly if you are going to a larger city, PDO may have contacts with alums in the area who are willing to meet with you! If you are staying in Utah, you can still use some of your free time to foster your professional network. A few ideas:
If you are participating in the Attorney Mentor Program, you will receive the name of your attorney match this week! Take the initiative to contact your mentor to arrange a lunch meeting or job shadowing activity.
Sign up to attend Bar Sharks for Justice, the annual fundraiser sponsored by the Young Lawyers Division of the Utah State Bar, next Thursday evening, October 15, at Lumpy’s Downtown, 145 West Pierpont Avenue. The event is free for one student team (up to four students—two players and two alternates), and will be a great way to network while you play pool with young lawyers! Email Tanner Strickland Lenart (your student representative to the Young Lawyers Division) if you are interested, tanner.stricklandlenart@law.utah.edu.
5. Show gratitude. At the risk of sounding trite, take a moment to think about persons in your life who have encouraged you, taught you, and mentored you professionally. Send a short note or email thanking them to two of them. You will make their day (and increase your good karma)!