Penn State Law hosts career exposure event

UNIVERSITY PARK – On Friday, April 7, Penn State Law held its first Careers in the Law event, designed to help students learn more about the various practice areas of the legal field.

Alumni and friends of Penn State Law with a variety of experience in law practice, as well as individual law firms, were invited to campus to participate in the event. All Penn State Law students were invited to attend to network with the guests and learn about the more than 20 practice areas represented, as well as the law firms, bar associations, and legal aid organizations in attendance. Students were not permitted to bring their résumés, but were allowed to exchange business cards with the approximately 65 professionals in attendance.

Assistant Dean of Career Services Randy Reliford opened the evening by welcoming attendees and thanking them for their valuable time. He asked that alumni and friends get to know Penn State Law students and “become their friends.”

Also addressing the crowd was incoming dean Hari Osofsky, who discussed the importance of events like this, and encouraged all attorneys and students to sign up for the new mentoring program to be offered at Penn State Law as part of the school’s commitment to preparing students for fulfilling careers after graduation.

“I am so excited to see this packed room of attorneys, alumni, and firms, coming together to help our students launch their careers,” said Osofsky.

A networking reception followed the informational fair portion of the evening.

Organized as a collaboration between the Penn State Law Career Services Office and the Office of Development and Alumni Relations, the event attracted a wide array of enthusiastic professionals. Eric Young, a Penn State alumnus currently working at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in the Division of Enforcement, was thrilled to have an opportunity to come back to campus and offer guidance to current students.

“The Penn State network is a strong one, and I’m happy to emphasize that to students,” said Young. “I tell them that as long as they have heart and drive, and want to come to work every day to do their best, they will do well.”

Careers in the Law drew all levels of students interested in learning more about their potential job options and networking in a casual environment with legal professionals. Second-year students Danielle Rassoul and Danielle Wegener were impressed with the size of the event and the variety of potential employers in attendance.

“This event is a really great opportunity to meet with so many different professionals, and to polish your networking skills,” said Rassoul. “I’ve been able to speak to people from different areas that I am interested in, to gain more perspectives and help me decide what I want to focus on.”

“A lot of students don’t know who to talk to about their options,” said Wegener. “This event provided great outlets for that.”

The Career Services Office and the Office of Development and Alumni Relations plan to turn this into an annual event, and the students also hope it continues.

“This evening is fantastic,” said 3L Stuthi Balaji. “We haven’t seen anything like this.”