Applying for jobs and finding a career can be a daunting process. To help students manage this stress, the Queen’s Law Career Development Office (CDO) offers a Career Management Plan (CMP) program. Through this program, students receive individually tailored advice such as steps they should take to stay on track and long-term skills for career planning once they leave Queen’s. The results are impressive: over 95 per cent of Law’17 students who were actively seeking articling opportunities had secured one as of last September. 

An unlimited number of individual career counselling sessions to help students build on their skills and refine their customized career plan is one standout feature. “We pride ourselves on how accessible we are to our students,” says Julie Banting, Director of Career Development. “In 2016–17, we held over 1,200 counselling appointments. The average student feedback rating was 4.8 out of 5, and 98 per cent of students indicated that they would recommend this service to peers.”

The CDO holds workshops for students introducing career development and job search fundamentals. It also has a comprehensive software platform, Career Services Manager, where students can view job postings, sign up for counselling sessions and events, and access a document library full of helpful tip sheets. “The dedication of the office’s coordinator, Jenny DeBruyn, has been integral to building and maintaining strong relationships with employers, which has contributed to an overall increase in the number and variety of job postings accessible to students.”  
  
Furthermore, through the CDO, students can access networking opportunities and events. “We are proud of the strong relationship we have with our corporate partners and alumni and hold many events throughout the year that enable students to build their network,” explains Banting. 
Students may have the opportunity to shadow a practitioner for a day, or contact alumni who have made themselves available for informational interviews on the CDO’s ProNet listing. 

This year, the CDO is excited about developing a formal program for a more structured mentoring experience. “Projects like this demonstrate how engaged the Queen’s Law community is for both students and alumni,” says Banting.
 
“The CMP allowed me to explore many different career options, from small firms in rural communities to large Bay Street firms,” explains Maggie Carmichael, Law’18. “Through the CDO I had the opportunity to attend information sessions and networking events, as well as one-on-one meetings with career counsellor Michael Molas to discuss my options and prepare a job application package that would allow me to achieve my goals.”  
 
“I met with the CDO weekly during the summer after first-year,” says Richard Glennie, Law’19. “I was unsure of what I wanted to do, and working with the CDO on a self-assessment before the Toronto recruit helped me find the areas that I wanted to work in. From there, I had weekly appointments to tailor my job search, fine-tune my resume, develop a cover letter, and polish my interview skills. Julie provided support from start to finish, including being available throughout in-firm interviews to answer questions and give advice, helping me secure a position that I’m thrilled with.”

Summing up her experience with the CDO at Queen’s Law, Maggie Carmichael says, “The assistance from the Career Development Office has been invaluable in launching my career.” 

By Anthony Pugh