Fordham Law Professionalism Standards for the Job Search

The Career Planning Center (CPC), the Public Interest Resource Center (PIRC), the Center for Judicial Events and Clerkships (CJEC), and the Externship Office are committed to the ethical and professional development of each law student. Toward that end, these Professionalism Standards for the Job Search were created to ensure that every student is aware of professionalism expectations of employers and the legal community in connection with their job searches. Adherence to these Standards demonstrates ethics and professionalism, ultimately reflecting positively upon Fordham Law School and each student individually. In these Standards, the terms "position," "job," and "employer" include both paid and unpaid positions, internships and externships, positions during the academic year, during the summer, or post-graduation, and positions obtained through the law school's formal recruitment processes and job bank as well as positions obtained through external processes.

Students are expected to accept responsibility for their job searches and their career and professional development. Part of this responsibility is staying informed about new developments, opportunities, and events offered by the CPC, PIRC, CJEC, and the Externship Office. For that reason, students are expected to check their Fordham email accounts regularly and to read carefully all emails from the CPC, PIRC, CJEC, and the Externship Office.

The most effective job search is one in which the student is proactive and engaged. Please review the following Standards carefully.

1. Ethics and Integrity in the Job Search

To act ethically and with integrity throughout the job search process, each student will:

(i) provide accurate and honest information on all resumes and applications submitted to the CPC, PIRC, CJEC, or Externship Office, or sent directly to potential employers, and contact the CPC to discuss any item on their resume they are unsure is represented honestly and accurately;

(ii) attend all interviews obtained through the CPC formal recruitment programs or adhere strictly to the stated cancellation policy;

(iii) attend all interviews obtained through other sources, including but not limited to the CPC Job Bank, job fairs (such as the Public Interest Legal Career Fair and the Equal Justice Works Career Fair), and other channels, or demonstrate professionalism by canceling with no less than two (2) business days' notice;

(iv) fulfill professional commitments undertaken in connection with the job search, including the commitment undertaken when accepting a job offer (students may not renege after accepting a job);

(v) upon accepting a position:

(a) cease all job search efforts for the time period of the accepted position;

(b) if contacted by another employer, inform that employer that they have accepted a position;

(d) inform all employers with whom they have interviewed, or with whom an application is pending, of the acceptance of another position, and withdraw their application(s) with those organizations;

(vi) demonstrate professionalism by returning the calls of any prospective employer within two (2) business days, even if only to inform them of the acceptance of another position or that they remain undecided about an offer.

2. Compliance with Recruiting Guidelines

Every student must abide by and adhere to Fordham Law's Recruiting Guidelines, which incorporate the Fordham Law Guidelines for the Timing of Offers and Decisions and the NALP Principles for a Fair and Ethical Recruitment Process. The responsibilities these guidelines establish run to both employers and students.

Any misrepresentation, discrimination or other abuse by employers in the employment process should be promptly reported to the CPC, PIRC, CJEC, and/or Externship Office.

Requests from CPC relating to a student's employment and professional plans should be responded to promptly and accurately in order for Fordham Law School to comply with institutional, American Bar Association, and National Association for Law Placement reporting requirements.

3. Addressing Deviations from the Standards

Students whose actions in the job search do not adhere to Sections 1 and 2 above will be asked to meet with the Assistant Dean of CPC, the Assistant Dean of PIRC, the Assistant Dean of CJEC, and/or the Faculty Director of the Externship Office to discuss the matter. Following this meeting, the information gathered will be shared with the Dean's Advisory Group, which will review it and determine whether a violation of these Professionalism Standards has occurred.

In more serious cases, a student's conduct may fall under the definition of "misconduct" in Article III of the Code of Academic Responsibility, and review of the matter will extend beyond the preliminary process described above. In such cases, the student may be subject to disciplinary proceedings under the Code, which may result in any of the sanctions set forth in Article IV of the Code of Academic Responsibility.