2L Francois Depalle interned with the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office in Columbia, SC during summer 2026. Francois will spend his 2L summer with McAngus Goudelock & Courie (MGC) in Greenville, SC.
Which CDO resources or CDO events were particularly helpful during your job search? How did they help?
Meet the Employers events were the most helpful for me. Not only did they end up providing the connection that led to my 2L summer job, but they were also the best place to practice the networking skills impressed upon us during our 1L year. Learning how to have quick conversations, make introductions, ask questions, and sell yourself and interests is very conducive to building a strong interview ability. That’s without even considering the impact of the connections, as most of the people you meet at these events will be peers within a few years.
How did you land your 2L summer job?
I got my 2L summer job as a result from Meet the Employers Night in March. I had a conversation with a couple of attorneys from MGC Law who mentioned that their firm was headquartered in my home state. We chatted and I sent follow-up emails the next day to both attorneys thanking them for their time. From there we communicated by email, and they put me in contact with the hiring manager for the firm, who then introduced me to the attorneys in my hometown of Greenville, South Carolina. The firm’s interview process does not open until August, but I was lucky enough to interview in person quickly after submitting my application. Five months after meeting attorneys at a Richmond networking event, I was offered a 2L summer associate position in the firm’s Greenville office. I am very glad I reached out and continued networking.
What advice or information would you like to share with other students?
Prepare all the resources you need for your job applications early, but just as important, practice your social and networking skills with attorneys. I researched attorneys and firms before meeting them to cut out the dead space in conversation and ask questions about what they are interested in. Learn conversation starters and how to make good impressions with these attorneys, as word of mouth can often be huge towards getting an interview or offer. Lastly, send follow-up emails. After any networking event where you speak with an attorney for a significant amount of time, or you attend a panel or dinner with an attorney, send an email the next day. Of all the ways to stand out in law school compared to your peers, follow-up communication is comparatively low effort and very beneficial.