Get Involved in Volunteer Opportunities

Each year, the Career Development Office pairs 1L students with alumni mentors. This semester, the CDO will endeavor to match all students interested in participating in the 1L mentor program with a JD alumni mentor based on (1) students’ practice area interests, (2) geographical preferences, and/or (3) information provided by alumni mentor program participants.

The 1L Mentor Program will consist of the following elements:

• Introduction (February): Students will contact their alumni mentor by email to introduce themselves. Students are invited and encouraged to set up an introductory phone or Zoom call so that they can begin to get to know their mentor. This will be a great opportunity for them to ask questions about your practice area and how you chose it, and to discuss their upcoming summer job search and career plans.
• Mid-Semester Update (March/April): Students will touch base with you to update you on how their semester and job search are progressing. Alumni are encouraged to invite your student mentor(s) to set up a time to observe (either virtually or in person) some part of your work (i.e. a court proceeding, a deposition, a closing, etc.) if at all possible.
• End of Year/Summer Check-In (May/June): Students will set up a time with their alumni mentor to meet virtually after finals or over the summer to discuss their 2L course selection, summer job and 2L job search plans.

These suggested touch points are designed to facilitate interactions at key points throughout the semester and are to be coordinated by the students directly with you, their mentor. Students are, of course, welcome to have more frequent contact with you. Students are encouraged to be proactive in developing their mentor/mentee relationship.

Although the CDO works hard to make effective matches, there is no guarantee that each mentor will be matched based on their top priorities. Students are encouraged to remain open to building relationships broadly with alumni through the BU Law community.

If you have any questions about the program, please do not hesitate to reach out to lawcdo@bu.edu.

Alumni who are interested in sharing their interviewing expertise are invited to join the Mock Interview Program. Launched in 1999, the program is a service for first-year students to help them hone their interviewing skills. Alumni conduct mock interviews with students and offer advice on student responses, resumes, and personal presentation. The program will hold three events in the spring at Boston area law firms. If you’re interested in participating, please contact the Career Development Office at 617-353-3141.

Alumni are invited to apply as judges for several BU Law Moot Court Programs. Each year, alumni volunteers judge oral arguments, second-year upper-level competitions, and the Negotiation and Client Counseling Competitions. Volunteers have the opportunity to select dates and times to judge. Once a schedule is confirmed, they receive a packet of materials from the School of Law to help them prepare for the competition.

If you’re interested in becoming a moot court judge, contact Jen McCloskey in Advocacy & Legal Skills office at 617-353-3199 or jataylor@bu.edu.

Students and graduates alike can benefit from the knowledge and expertise of alumni. BU Law Alumni provide students with firsthand knowledge about acclimating to law school, preparing for a legal career, and managing time and competing obligations after entering the workforce. If you are interested in connecting with admitted students, please contact Chloe Mathews in the Admissions Office at chloeam@bu.edu. If you are interested in connecting with current students or recent graduates of BU Law, please contact the Development & Alumni Relations Office at lawalum@bu.edu.