Endless possibilities at fast-growing Career Fair

The two-hour event on Jan. 30 attracted close to 100 employers from across the spectrum of legal services: firms large, midsize and small, public-interest non-profits and government entities from courts to prosecutors’ offices. About 200 students offered their resumes and made the personal connections essential in legal job-hunting.

The Career Fair has nearly doubled in size over the past couple of years, says Jennifer Scharf ’05, associate dean for career services, who oversaw the event. She says it opens doors both for third-year law students looking for their first long-term professional position, and 1Ls and 2Ls thinking about where they might work this summer.

“The 1Ls have just received their first-semester grades,” Scharf notes, “and they’re really starting to open their eyes to what’s out there and who might be hiring.” Though big law firms typically interview in July for the next year’s hiring, she adds, many other employers are just now thinking about their needs for summer legal help.

And for employers, Scharf says, there’s value in participating even if they don’t have openings to fill. “Not everyone knows when they’ll have a need,” she says. “Even if they don’t have an immediate hiring need, the Career Fair is an opportunity to meet people and give students some exposure to the firm. And for students, this is their chance to meet the people who work at those firms. They might make a connection now that pays off down the road.”

Indeed, she says, there have been instances when an employer has been so impressed by an especially bright law student that they’ve created a position for that student as a new law school graduate.

In addition to her law school role, Scharf maintains a law practice and has a lot of connections in the Western New York legal community. “People should understand how connected we are in the Career Services office and how we understand firms’ needs,” she says. In her bridge-term course called Fundamentals of Practice, she invites practitioners to give guest lectures and helps students understand how law firms and departments operate.

As for the Career Fair, they made it fun, with high-end food catered by the Lunch Box and a photo booth where students had professional headshots taken free of charge by Hon. Glenn E. Murray, an adjunct faculty member and talented photographer. (There was even makeup treatment available for those interested.) Julie Jones, the Career Services Office’s program coordinator, organized every detail of the event “like a well-oiled machine,” Scharf says. Hodgson Russ LLP was the lead sponsor of the event, and William Mattar PC sponsored the photo booth.

It’s all part of CSO’s effort to play matchmaker for students as they begin their legal careers. “We really need to know the students and the employers,” Scharf says, “what they’re looking for and what they need.”

That personal touch is there for law school alumni as well. “Our office never leaves you, even after you graduate,” she says. “If you find yourself in need of a job or want to transition to another area of law, if you want to talk about negotiations, we’re a resource. We connect our alums to jobs and help prepare them for their next step.”

The Career Fair has proven its worth in successful placements, and employers say the event has paid dividends for them as well.

 “We had not participated in the Career Fair historically. Jennifer encouraged us to participate, and we came as a sponsor last year,” says Charles C. Ritter Jr ’93, senior managing partner with Duke, Holzman, Photiadis & Gresens PC. “The Career Services Office introduced us to a second-year law student whom they thought would be a good fit with our firm—and we hit it off.  She interviewed with us and worked with us through the summer and academic year.

 “We did not have a specific need to hire a post-graduate, but we were so impressed by her work quality that we made her a full-time job offer. She will be starting with us after her graduation this year. It is great to have an active and engaged Career Services Office at the law school to help us build a recruiting pipeline.”

Says Erie County District Attorney Michael Keane ’92: “We’re grateful for the opportunity to meet with UB Law students to share insights about the work of our office. The role of a prosecutor involves pursuing justice, protecting public safety and ensuring fairness in the criminal justice system. We’re always looking to hire passionate young lawyers who want to gain courtroom experience and trial skills early in their career while serving their community and advocating for the victims of crime.”