Info for 1L's

I’m a 1L Interested in High Tech/IP Law: 
What Should I Do This Year?

Welcome to Santa Clara University School of Law! We’re glad you’re here. The first year of law school is exciting and you’ll be exposed to countless to become part of the high tech law community. Many of the activities are not geared for 1Ls because we know you should be focused on academics, but there are ways for you to get involved.

CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Friend us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, follow us on Bluesky, and connect with us on LinkedIn. The high tech law community is large and extends well beyond Silicon Valley. Check us out at facebook.com/SCUHTLI,twitter.com/SCUHTLI, @scuhtli@bsky.social and linkedin.com/groups/82784/.

HTLI EVENTS AND STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
We know that you know that you should focus on your studies during your first year, but you’ll need to take a break, too. We encourage you to take advantage of some of the events we host on and off campus. These are great opportunities to meet practicing attorneys, learn something about different practice areas, and maybe even learn something new about the law.

In addition to checking upcoming events on social media, you should always go to the High Tech Law website where you’ll find our events calendar, a link to our blog, and links to other events and activities related to high tech law.

You should consider joining one or more of the high tech law student organizations: 

Artificial Intelligence Student Association
Blockchain & Compliance Legal Society
Chiefs in IP 
High Tech Law Journal
Internet Law Student Organization
Law and Business Society
Privacy Law Student Organization
Society for Interactive Entertainment and Gaming Law
Sports and Entertainment Law Society
Student Intellectual Property Law Association

NETWORKING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT
The Office of Career Management (OCM) offers a number of high-tech/IP-oriented sessions during the year.  Due to NALP regulations, most OCM activities do not start for 1Ls until November. Visit the OCM website for more information.

According to the ABA, about 90% of law students do not get their jobs through On-Campus Interviews (OCI). If that’s true (and it is), how are all these lawyers getting hired? It’s simple – Networking.

Even as a 1L, you should begin to build a network of lawyers who can help you navigate the employment market.  This may sound daunting, but it’s not hard if you take it one step at a time. You just have to make the effort. How can you start “networking”?

• Check out the events on campus and plan to attend at least one event each that interests you. Don’t know what you’re interested in yet? Going to events is a good way to learn about areas of the law you didn’t even know exist. Remember to talk with speakers and other attendees. If you connect with someone, get their business card and give them yours (don’t have one…get one).
  
  
• Volunteer to work at conferences and seminars.
  
  
• Get involved with city, county, state, and national bar organizations, especially “sections” that focus on the subject matter that interests you most.
  
  
• Ask for informational interviews with alumni and other lawyers.
  
  
• Attend career fairs, such as the OCM’s High Tech Career Fair, the San Francisco Intellectual Property Law Association Bay Area Job Fair at University of San Francisco School of Law, and the Loyola Patent Law Interview Program held as Loyola Law in Chicago.

START PREPARING FOR YOUR SECOND YEAR
Each spring, we hold a session for 1Ls to discuss course options, and answer questions about the curriculum, including certificates administered by HTLI (the Privacy Law Certificate, High Tech Law Certificate and Sports Law Certificate). You'll also learn more about student activities like the student groups, the journal, moot court, and summer abroad. For help with your future curricular planning, you can also check out our high tech curriculum page.

If you have a qualifying technical degree and are interested in patent law, consider taking the patent bar exam. The US Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) offers guidance on becoming a patent prosecutor at www.uspto.gov.

If privacy law interests you, the Privacy Law Program at Santa Clara is unique in its premier access to industry leaders in data technology.  Santa Clara Law also has an arrangement with the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) for steeply discounted student memberships and testing. Read more about IAPP student memberships.

FINALLY, KEEP IN TOUCH
We’re here to help! Have questions? Email or set up a meeting with us!