More than 150 first-year Hofstra Law students participated in Hofstra Law’s sixth annual Professional Development Boot Camp, presented on Jan. 7, 2016, by the Office of Career Services (OCS).
Instructors from Exec|Comm, a consulting firm that works with many of the top law firms in the country, gave students insights on interviewing and writing more effectively, as well as understanding and developing a communication style.
“The Boot Camp is designed to provide students with essential communication and advocacy skills as they begin interviewing for their first summer job,” said Christopher Caruso ’00, associate dean for career services. “Together with the work of OCS, this program helps Hofstra Law students stand out above others during the interview process and in practice.”
The one-day intensive program is composed of three sessions. In the lecture-style morning session, students learn how to refine their professional presence, develop and tell their story, and effectively answer interview questions.
“This was a fantastic learning experience,” said Colin Davis 1L. “The assets and characteristics that are needed to excel in an interview were explored thoroughly.”
In the afternoon, students break up into smaller working groups to practice interviewing, using all of the skills they learned in the morning session. Students receive feedback from their instructors and colleagues. In separate small groups, students review writing skills, such as using the active voice and drafting emails.
“This program was helpful for upcoming interviews and for writing professional emails,” said Allison Stapleton 1L.
The Professional Development Boot Camp is the signature event of the Office of Career Services’ innovative Professional Success and Leadership Development Program. The program aims to teach students how to develop their unique skills as well as how to communicate these distinct characteristics to compete and convey their relevance in an increasingly competitive, entrepreneurial and technologically sophisticated global legal market.
“The quick, practical exercises were very engaging and really reinforced the material,” said Luisa Perez 1L. “I highly enjoyed the experience.”