Each year, the Law School sponsors a Fall on-campus recruitment program for second- and third-year law students, often referred to as OCI.

During Fall OCI, many employers are focused on interviewing second-year law students for summer  positions because the employers use their summer classes as a way to determine whether summer clerks will be offered full-time positions. However, the program is not only for 2L students.  Some employers interview only 3Ls for permanent jobs. Occasionally, employers look for both summer clerks and full-time positions, so they allocate their interview slots to both 2Ls and 3Ls.

Below is helpful information regarding Fall OCI:

• Rules for Students Participating in Fall OCI
• Important Details of the Process

A number of employers participate in "Resume Collects." Please do not discount these opportunities simply because they are not OCI opportunities! The employers have specifically requested to receive applications from our students! You will submit your applications by selecting the relevant session in the OCI section of Symplicity. Be sure to thoroughly look at every resume collect opportunity!

The University of Wisconsin Law School and Marquette University Law School jointly host the Wisconsin Public Interest Interview Program (PIIP).  PIIP is a great opportunity for students to interview with multiple public interest and government employers for either paid or unpaid summer internships or permanent positions after graduation.

WPIIP is held in February.

Fall On-Campus Interviews are not the only opportunity students have to interview on campus for Summer and full-time positions.  The Office of Career and Professional Development will also coordinate a Spring OCI season, which will feature employers from the private, public interest, and government arenas.

Spring OCI is held in February.

These programs expand the interviewing opportunities for our students who are interested in a specific geographic area. We currently participate in programs with employers in the New York/ Northeast area, Washington D.C., Chicago, and California.

Midwest-California-Georgia (MCGC) Recruiting Consortium

The MCGC Interview Program is a program which features seven participating law schools: Emory University School of Law; University of California, Los Angeles School of Law; University of Iowa College of Law; University of Minnesota Law School; University of Southern California Gould School of Law; Washington University School of Law; and University of Wisconsin Law School.

Each year, a group of participating employers partners with MCGC to recruit talent through the consortium of law schools. Below is a list of recruitment programs for each of the respective geographic areas.

Dates of events (subject to change):

• July 17, 2023: Washington, D.C. Program
• This program is designed to expand interviewing opportunities for our students interested in summer and permanent positions with government agencies and law firms in the D.C. area. The D.C. Interview program will be taking place at St. Gregory Hotel, 2033 M Street, NW Washington, D.C. Seven law schools will be participating including Emory University, University of Iowa, University of Minnesota, UCLA, USC, Washington University, as well as University of Wisconsin Law School.
• July 18, 2023: New York/Northeast Program
• This program offers students an opportunity to interview with a variety of New York and Northeast employers. The participating schools are the University of Wisconsin, the University of Iowa, the University of Minnesota, UCLA, USC and Washington University.
• July 19, 2023: Chicago
  • Through this program, students can submit their resumes for pre-screened interviews with Chicago law firms. Seven law schools are participating: University of Iowa Law School, University of Minnesota Law School, UCLA, USC, University of Wisconsin Law School and Washington University Law School.
• July 20, 2023: Texas
• Through this program, students can submit their resumes for pre-screened interviews with Houston, Texas employers. Seven law schools are participating: University of Iowa Law School, University of Minnesota Law School, UCLA, USC, University of Wisconsin Law School and Washington University Law School. The interviews will occur not at a hotel, but in the offices of the employers on August 7, 2019.

•  

You will bid for the MCGC programs via the MCGC Symplicity system. Bidding opens up on June 1, 2021. Registered students will receive an email containing their special ID and password (separate and distinct from the user name and password that you use to access the University of Wisconsin's Symplicity system) to use for a separate Symplicity website to bid for and schedule interviews through any of these programs. Both second- and third-year students may participate.

To register, you will need: a resume, short writing sample (5 - 10 pages), unofficial transcript (make sure you sign your transcript release form) and cover letters for the employers who request them.

If you have any questions about the MCGC, feel free to email us at career@law.wisc.edu.

There are several programs that bring our LEO students together with employers who have a specific interest in hiring students of color. The programs are held in a variety of locations.

Bay Area Diversity Career Fair

Location: San Francisco, CA
Description: The Bay Area Diversity Career Fair attracts hiring representatives from the Bay Area's most prominent law firms and government legal departments. Only law students who will have completed their first year of law school by the time of interviews (rising 2Ls) are eligible to participate.

Center for Legal Inclusiveness (CLI) Diversity Legal Career Fair

Location: Denver, CO
Description: The Center for Legal Inclusiveness (CLI) is hosting its annual Diversity Legal Career Fair on July 29th in Denver, CO. The majority of employers will be interviewing for summer positions. These employers have demonstrated a commitment to expanding opportunities and assisting the legal profession in fulfilling its commitment to diversity

Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Diversity & Inclusion Career Fair

Location: Cleveland, OH
Description: The Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association ("CMBA"), in partnership with the Norman S. Minor Bar Association, Special Counsel, and the Midwest Region of the National Black Law Student Association is pleased to invite attorneys and eligible law students to participate in the CMBA Diversity & Inclusion Career Fair. There is no fee for students to attend.

Cook County Bar Association Minority Law Student Job Fair

Location: Chicago, IL
Description: The Cook County Bar Association ("CCBA") proudly established the CCBA Minority Law Student Job Fair after recognizing the need to bridge the employment gap between law firms, non-profit organizations, government agencies and minority law students in the Chicago legal community. This event has evolved into the highly-anticipated diversity recruitment event that consistently attracts more than 900 law students and 100+ employers every year. The CCBA Minority Job Fair has established itself as the oldest, largest, and most well-respected professional diversity employment event of its kind in the United States. The job fair is open to any rising 2L and 3L student; however the employers registered for CCBA Minority Job Fair expect to be able to interview under-represented law students of color, gender and sexual orientation.

Boston Lawyers Group Diversity Job Fair

Location: Boston, MA
Description: The Boston Lawyers Group is a consortium of over 40 of the largest law firms, government agencies, and corporations in the City of Boston. Its mission is to promote the hiring, retention, and professional development of law students and attorneys of color.

Hispanic National Bar Association Job Fair

Location: Varies
Description: The Annual Convention attracts hundreds of attorneys, judges, and law students from across the country, including public officials, business leaders, and General Counsels from many Fortune 100 and other corporations. Attendees will take part in an engaging and comprehensive program that includes Continuing Legal Education (CLE Panels) on cutting edge topics with leading practitioners, national policy makers, and experts from across the country; networking events and workshops; the largest Hispanic Career Fair in the country, featuring exhibitors from prominent law firms, corporations, and government agencies. 

Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair

Location: Kansas City, MO
Description: The primary purpose of the HDLJF is to increase the participation of under-represented groups in the practice of law in Kansas City. All rising 2Ls, 3Ls and recent law grads are invited to participate regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, nationality, veteran status, or disability.

Indianapolis Bar Association Diversity Job Fair

Location: Indianapolis, IN
Description: Full-time 2L students or part-time 2L and 3L are invited to attend the IndyBar Diversity Job Fair, hosted by the Indianapolis Bar Association. 

Lavender Law Conference and Career Fair

Location: San Francisco, CA
Description: Since its inception in 1988, Lavender Law has excelled as a “family reunion” for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT), and allied legal professionals to both look back at our shared history of achievement and to look forward to the advancements being made at the cutting edge of the legal profession. Law students, lateral attorney candidates, and individuals already in the legal profession who are looking for more LGBT-friendly workplaces, are invited to attend the LGBT Bar Annual Conference & Career fair.

Midwest Diversity Career Fair

Location: Cleveland, OH
Description: Co-Hosted by The Midwest Region of the National Black Law Students Association & Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (“CMBA”), this event is intended for diverse law students in the Midwest.

Minnesota Minority Recruitment Conference

Location: Minneapolis, MM
Description: The Minnesota Minority Recruitment Conference (MMRC) is an annual event that connects the largest legal employers in the Minneapolis / St. Paul area with diverse rising 2L and 3L candidates from around the country. Employers participating in the interviews will include small, medium and large firms; corporate law departments; and public interest, nonprofit and government entities. The conference is sponsored by Twin Cities Diversity in Practice but is a unique opportunity to interview with both private law firms and local government employers as well.

National Bar Association Annual Convention

Location: New York, NY
Description: The National Bar Association will be hosting its 94th annual convention. The convention features a jam packed agenda featuring exhibits, keynote speakers, and numerous professional development opportunities.

National Black Prosecutors Association Annual Conference and Job Fair

Location: Atlanta, GA
Description: The National Black Prosecutors Association is the only professional membership organization dedicated to the advancement of Blacks as prosecutors. Founded in 1983, the Association’s membership is comprised of both chief and line prosecutors nationwide. In addition to prosecutors, the association’s membership includes law students, former prosecutors, and law enforcement personnel. The NBPA is emerging as the international association of Black law enforcement professionals with a reputation for providing education and leadership in the legal profession through its intensive training sessions and multi-disciplined networking.

Northwest Minority Job Fair

Location: Seattle, WA
Description: The Northwest Minority Job Fair, sponsored and funded by a consortium of legal sector employers, brings together private and public law firms committed to promoting diversity by providing a unique opportunity for employers, law students and lawyers to match legal talent with needs. 2017 registration will begin sometime after May.

Rocky Mountain Diversity Legal Career Fair

Location: Denver, CO
Description: The Rocky Mountain Diversity Legal Career Fair provides an excellent forum for legal employers, law students and law school graduates to meet and discuss employment options with the goal of expanding opportunities and assisting the legal profession in fulfilling its commitment to diversity. Legal employers attending the RMDLCF seek to hire law students and graduates from diverse backgrounds that have been traditionally under-represented in the practice of law in the Rocky Mountain region. These include law students and graduates who are ethnic or racial minorities, disabled, and/or gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.

St. Louis Diversity Job Fair

Location: St. Loius, MO
Description: The primary purpose of the St. Louis Diversity Job Fair is to attract a diverse group of 2L and 3L students to the metropolitan St. Louis legal community, encourage them to practice law in the area, and become an integral part of the community. The Job Fair committee invites law firms, corporations, and government agencies from all over the nation.

State Bar of Wisconsin Diversity Clerkship Program

Location: Various legal organizations.
Description: The State Bar of Wisconsin commits to assisting legal organizations interested in diversifying their legal staff. To further its goal of promoting diversity within the legal profession, it facilitates a diversity clerkship program that encourages diversity in the legal profession by providing a rich learning experience for participating students and employers.

Our public interest-minded students can interview with a variety of employers from across the country at one of the special programs for public interest employers.

Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair

Location: Arlington, VA
Description: The Equal Justice Works annual Conference and Career Fair is the largest public interest career fair in the country. It is the only event, solely dedicated to law students, where you'll find 1,500 public interest-minded students representing 200 law schools from across the country coming together to explore career options with leading nonprofit organizations and government agencies. The Conference and Career Fair provides access to job opportunities for law students; connects employers with talented attorneys and law students; and offers a multitude of skill-building and career advising sessions with experts from around the country. Our conference continues to be an unparalleled networking opportunity for students, law school professionals and legal professionals.

Annual Midwest Public Interest Law Career Conference

Location: Chicago, IL
Description:  The Midwest Public Interest Law Career Conference is held annually in February at Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago. Participation is free and open to the first, second, and third year students from participating schools. To participate, you must register with OCPD in advance.  Information about MPILCC will be available in the fall semester.

From time to time, different organizations offer specialized recruiting conferences. These programs, such as the Annual Patent Law Interview Program, give qualified law students an opportunity to meet with employers from across the country.

Loyola Patent Law Interview Program

Location: Chicago, IL
Description: The Loyola Patent Law Interview Program is a two-day interview program held in Chicago each summer that brings together patent law employers and law students from across the country to interview for summer associate positions and post-graduate employment.

San Francisco Intellectual Property Law Association Bay Area Job Fair

Location: San Francisco, CA
Description: The San Francisco Intellectual Property Law Association is pleased to announce the Annual SFIPLA Bay Area Job Fair, which will be held at and co-sponsored by the University of San Francisco School of Law. Meet with high level intellectual property law firms in the Bay area.