Career Development Policies

Full-time Day Division JD students are strongly encouraged not to work more than twenty (20) hours per week during any semester.

In addition to the policies outlined below, current students and recent graduates should consult the Career Development’s application material preparation resources (Resources for Current Students, Resources for Graduating Students & Recent Graduates) and consult their career counselors or the Career Development Office with any questions.

For definitions, descriptions, and ranges of grades, grade-point averages (“GPAs”), percentile and numeric ranks, and other honors and awards (collectively, “Grade Information”), visit the Office of the Registrar’s Grades, Rankings, & Honors website. Consult the Registrar’s Summary of Grading Policies and Section 5 of the respective LMU Loyola Law School program’s Student Handbook for complete grading-rule details, including First Honors Awards.

1.0 GENERALLY

All documents and information submitted by students to potential, prospective, or current employers, such as resumes, cover letters, transcripts, online questionnaires and other application materials (collectively, “Application Materials”), must conform to the Career Development Office’s Application Materials Policies, regardless of the transmission method (e.g., via 12twenty, other job website, directly to a third party or employer, etc.), recipient, or job source.

2.0 MISREPRESENTATION

All information presented on Application Materials must be presented honestly and truthfully, and without error or misrepresentation.

Expected or anticipated work experience may be listed on Application Materials only after accepting a formal offer of employment. Student memberships and Grade Information must be verifiable through the Registrar’s Office.

Errors and misrepresentations—no matter how small or unintentional—violate the Application Materials Policies and can also damage the law schools’ and students’ credibility with employers, resulting in possible harm to professional reputation and loss of job opportunities. Students who discover an error or misrepresentation on their Application Material must inform their career counselor and/or the Career Development Office immediately.

ALL VIOLATIONS OF POLICY CONCERNING MISREPRESENTATION OF INFORMATION REPORTED ON APPLICATION MATERIALS WILL BE DIRECTED TO THE DEAN'S OFFICE FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION.

3.0 GRADE INFORMATION

Students are not required to report Grade Information on Application Materials.

Grade Information is considered “Unofficial” until the Registrar's Office issues notice permitting students to use the information reported in PROWL on Application Materials (“Official” Grade Information). Only Official Grade Information may be reported on Application Materials, with following exceptions:

(1) First-year day and second-year evening division students may report Unofficial Grade Information on Application Materials as soon as it is available in PROWL, provided it is removed as soon as Official Grade Information is available.
(2) First Honors Award information may be included on Application Materials after the student has been formally notified by the Office of the Registrar, provided it is removed as soon as Official Grade Information is available.

All Grade Information reported on Application Materials must additionally conform with the corresponding Individual Course Grades, Grade Point Averages, and Rankings & Honors policies outlined below.

3.1 INDIVIDUAL COURSE GRADES

Individual mid-term course grade information (e.g., midterm grades, Legal Research & Writing memoranda assignments) may be reported on Application Materials if properly identified, provided it is removed as soon as the final course grade is available.

Only normalized individual course grades may be reported on Application Materials.

However, individual course grades not subject to normalization rules (e.g., directed research papers, some externships, classes of 7 or fewer students, etc.) may be reported, provided they are identified as non-normalized grades.

On resumes, individual grade information includes the course title, grade type (if midterm or non-normalized), and grade in a parenthetical

Relevant Courses:   Business Associations (A); Business Planning I; Mergers & Acquisitions (enrolled)
First Honors:            Property (A, highest grade in class)
High Grades:           Property (A); Contracts, Midterm (A-); Legal Research & Writing, Memorandum I(A-)

With exceptions, grades of A- and above are generally considered high grades. 

3.2 GRADE POINT AVERAGE

GPA information on Application Materials must include all three digits (including those that end in .00) that appear in and be listed exactly as shown on PROWL. Students and graduates may not “round up” or calculate their own GPAs. GPA information should not be reported on Application Materials if the calculation consists of only one final grade.

GPAs may be reported with or without the corresponding rank. First-year students who carry a partial load and include Spring cumulative GPA information on their Application Materials must also note that they are not ranked. (First-year students with partial-load accommodations granted by the Committee on Disability Issues and are ranked do not need to note "partial load" on Application Materials.)

GPA information on student resumes requires a parenthetical indicating the type (Term, Annual, or Cumulative), time (Semester and Year or Year), and any other required information. E.g.:  

GPA:     3.50 (Fall 20XX Term)
GPA:     3.00 (Annual 20XX – 20XX)
GPA:      3.50 (Cumulative as of Spring 20XX)
GPA:     3.50 (Spring 20XX Cumulative, not currently ranked due to partial load)

On all other student Application Materials, GPA information must generally identify the type, time, and other required information (if any).

3.3 CLASS RANK

Class rank information on Application Materials must be based on the corresponding type (Annual, Cumulative, or Graduation), year, division (day or evening), and GPA cutoff posted on the Registrar’s Rankings & Honors website. Students may not alter rank information by calculating in grade points earned during subsequent Summer or Fall semesters.

Class rank information may be reported with or without the corresponding GPA. It may also include the student's GPA's proximity to a particular rank cutoff. Students may list their prior year’s class rank information, provided it is identified by its corresponding type and time.

Annual and cumulative class rank information on resumes require a parenthetical indicating the type, time, and any other required information.  E.g.:

Rank:            Top 30% (Annual 20XX – 20XX)
Rank:            7th of 265 students/Top 5% (Cumulative as of Spring 20XX)
Rank/GPA:    Top 30%/3.50 (Spring 20XX Annual); Top 50%/3.15 (Spring 20XX Cumulative)
GPA/Rank:    3.50 (Spring 20XX Cumulative; Top 25% = 3.51)
GPA/Rank:    3.50 (Cumulative as of Spring 20XX; within .01 of Top 25%)

On all other Application Materials, annual and cumulative class rank information must generally identify the type, time, and other required information (if any)

Eligibility

• JD 2L (2D/3E) and JD 3L (3D/4E) students are eligible for Summer/Fall OCI. Career Development classifies JD students, joint degree students (JD/MBA, JD/LLM), students returning from a leave of absence, and internal transfer students who transfer from Day to Evening or vice versa according to the anticipated graduation date they report to the Registrar.
• Graduate students in the Master of Laws Tax LL.M., Master of Laws LL.M. (for Foreign Trained Attorneys), Master of Tax Law, Master of Science in Legal Studies, and Doctor of Juridical Science programs are also eligible for OCI, but should note that the vast majority of employers who utilize OCI for recruitment target JD students.
• JD and graduate students must be attending LMU Loyola Law School during the Fall semester if participating in Summer/Fall OCI. They must intend to remain enrolled throughout the semester.
• Outgoing transfer students are not eligible to participate in Loyola's OCI. Students who decide to transfer should contact their new school for details about its summer or fall interviewing program.
• Incoming transfer students may participate once the Registrar confirms enrollment; applications deadlines still apply to incoming transfer students regardless of when they transfer into Loyola.
• Visiting students must maintain the same status (full-time or part-time) as they do at their home law school to be eligible. Visiting students must carry the minimum unit load required by Loyola in order to participate: 12 for full-time and 8 for part-time.

Application Materials

• All JD students must submit their resume for review by a career counselor. Review the "Information on Application Materials" section above and consult our resources. Review the OCI announcements for deadlines and instructions.
• The Loyola Legal Writing Teaching Assistants are typically available to review writing samples in connection with OCI. Review the OCI announcements for deadlines and instructions.

Interview Sign-Ups & Cancellations

• There is no limit to the number of employers to which students may apply. However, no student may have more than twenty (20) on-campus interviews during a single OCI program. This does not include any interviews held off campus or any interviews obtained via a resume collect or resume send. Exceptions to the 20-interview cap will be made only when an employer's alternate list has been exhausted.
• All interviews must be confirmed or declined by the specified end date of the respective sign-up period. If you must cancel your interview after you have confirmed, you must notify Career Development at least 48 business hours before the time of your interview. If you cancel with less than 48 business hours notice, you are required to provide a written explanation to Career Development. If Career Development is unable to replace you, you must provide an apology to the interviewer. Failure to give such notice may impact future participation in OCI.

Accepting Offers

Please see our policy on accepting offers in the 'Recruitment Policies' tab below

As of May 30, 2025 *

As a member of the National Association for Law Placement (NALP), LMU Loyola Law School abides by the Principles for a Fair and Ethical Recruitment Process.  We expect students and strongly encourage employers to abide by the principles in addition to the Career Development Office policies outlined below.

These policies are designed to promote a fair recruiting process.  Students should consult their career counselor if they have any questions.

Non-Discrimination Policy

LMU Loyola Law School is a member of the National Association for Law Placement (NALP) and the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) and adheres to the University’s policy of non-discrimination. The policy prohibits discrimination in the hiring, compensation, work assignment or promotion of any person on the basis of race, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), color, national origin (including language and language use restrictions), ancestry, disability (mental and physical) including HIV and AIDS, legally protected medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics), denial of Family and Medical Care Leave, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical condition), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age 40 or over, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or any other bases protected by federal (including but not limited to Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990), state or local law.

If, as a result of a job listing or on-campus recruitment, you believe you have been denied employment on the basis of discrimination, notify our office immediately. 

NOTE: An exception to the LMU Loyola Law School Career Development Office non-discrimination policy and AALS bylaws is granted to representatives of the U.S. Department of Defense who discriminate on a basis not permitted by Loyola’s non-discrimination policy or AALS bylaws. The exception is currently made in order to avoid the loss of funds that would otherwise be imposed under the Solomon Amendment (enacted by Congress in 1996).

Offer Timing

Employers extending job offers for 2L summer employment should keep offers open for at least 14 days.  If a Pre-OCI offer is made (i.e. before the week of Phase I), the employer should leave that offer open for at least 14 days after the first day of Phase I interviews.

Employers extending job offers for full-time, post-graduate positions to students who were not previously employed by that employer should keep offers open for at least 14 days.

Employers extending job offers for full-time, post-graduate positions to students who were previously employed by the employer should keep offers open for at least 14 days.

Reaffirmation

Students must reaffirm offers if an employer requests reaffirmation in the offer letter/email.  Employers may retract the offer if the student fails to reaffirm the offer within the time requested.

Offer Limit

Students should decline offers as quickly as possible.  Students should not retain more than 3 open offers at a time. 

Extensions

If necessary, students may request up to 7 days beyond the offer deadline with private employers.  Students may request more than 7 days if pursuing jobs with public interest or government employers.  While we encourage employers to grant reasonable requests, employers are not obligated to do so. 

Accepting Offers

If you receive an offer, acknowledge the receipt as soon as possible. You do not need to accept an offer on the spot, but you should thank the employer and express your enthusiasm. Confirm the date by which the employer requires a decision. If you opt to decline an offer, do so as soon as possible, preferably by phone call. Should you accept an offer, follow any written instructions you receive from the employer; otherwise, call the employer to verbally accept. NEVER rescind an accepted offer (paid or unpaid). Doing so may tarnish your professional reputation as well as the law school’s reputation.

If you accept an offer, please let your career counselor know and congratulations! As a reminder, your acceptance is a commitment, and you may NOT rescind it.  Also, DO NOT apply or interview for any other position that conflicts with the position you have accepted. If you have any questions or concerns, please speak with your career counselor.

* Recruiting policies are subject to change.

The Law School Faculty Career Development Committee periodically reviews the complaint policy and procedures for filing such complaints. The policies and procedures are subject to the Dean's discretion when under review.

Policy Regarding Conduct of Employers Utilizing Placement Facilities

• Remarks by an employer or employer's representative that are inconsistent with Loyola's non-discrimination policy shall constitute a violation of the policy if the remarks are made in the course of the hiring process whether expressed as personal views or as the views of the employer.
• Use of LMU Loyola Law School's employment facilities is a privilege. Employers must adhere to the following minimum standards regarding the revocation of offers of employment or rescission of employment contracts, except (1) when such revocation or rescission is for cause (e.g., when a student misrepresents his/her qualifications, or (2) when the employer is ceasing operations:
  • The employer will notify the Career Development Office and all affected students of the revocation or rescission;
  • The employer will provide a written explanation for the revocation or rescission;
  • The employer will extend reasonable job search assistance to all affected students, including but not limited to, letters of reference, personal referrals, and secretarial support.
  • The employer will honor pre-employment monetary commitments, such as payment of bar examination fees, bar review fees, and stipends. If the student accepts another offer from a second employer that will provide substantially the same preemployment benefits, the revoking or rescinding employer may regard the commitment as discharged.
  • The Career Development Office shall also keep records of verified revocations or rescissions in the employer's file, which is accessible to all students using the facilities. 

Complaints and Resolution

1. Any student who believes that an employer has violated the Law School's policy may file a written complaint with the Director of Career Development (the Director). The complaint should provide as detailed an account as possible of the incident and should be identified as an informal complaint.
2. Investigation of complaints is the responsibility of the Director.
3. If the Director determines that the complaint is not insubstantial, the Director shall inform the employer of the complaint and seek an explanation of the conduct in question. If the Director concludes that the conduct was improper, the Director shall attempt to remedy the problem, for example, by encouraging the employer to take appropriate steps, including an apology to the affected student or students, reaffirming adherence to the School's policy, or modifying the employer's practices. If the Director believes that conciliation is possible and would be useful, the Director may attempt to resolve the matter in a way that is agreeable to both parties.

Location of School

• Reciprocity is offered to law schools located outside of the Los Angeles metropolitan area in selected geographic areas (please contact our office for areas).
• Reciprocity is not offered to students or alumni of Los Angeles County or Orange County law schools.

Requests

• A letter requesting reciprocity must be received at least one week in advance from a representative of the career services office at the requesting individual’s law school.
• Reciprocity is granted on a "one for one" basis.
• If utilizing any in-office resources, students/graduates should call Career Development prior to their visit to ensure that reciprocity has been granted. Students/graduates should bring some form of photo identification.
• Reciprocity will be denied if the requesting school has made multiple requests without providing reciprocal services to a LMU Loyola Law School graduate or student in the interim.

Eligibility

• 1L, 2L, 3L students and graduates.

Services

• LMU Loyola Law School will offer the same services, within the same parameters of the requesting law school provided that they do not conflict with the restrictions outlined below.

Restrictions

• Counseling and on-campus interviews are not available.
• Continuous reciprocity is not available. Only one request per student/graduate per academic year will be granted. If an imbalance with the requesting school occurs, reciprocity will be denied until there is balance.
• Reciprocity is suspended during the On-Campus Interview (OCI) programs (June through mid October, February through March).
• Reciprocity is granted for only one ABA-accredited school per visit in the Los Angeles area.

Open Reciprocity

• LMU Loyola Law School maintains open reciprocity with the University of San Francisco, University of San Diego and Santa Clara University. Students and graduates of these schools do not require a letter from their career services office, but should call our office in advance. Blackout periods during the OCI programs will still apply

LMU Loyola Law School reserves the right to refuse or rescind privileges/services at any time.

Once you've scheduled a career advising appointment, please ensure you attend your meeting. If you need to cancel your appointment, you must email careerdevelopment@lls.edu or call 213-736-1150. Not showing up for a scheduled appointment without communication is a policy violation and may restrict your ability to access our services.