Reciprocity

NALP member law schools support a policy of providing employment search assistance to students and graduates of other schools through reciprocity.

Reciprocity is a mutual exchange of privileges through which law schools provide reasonable access to their career resources for students and graduates from other law schools that agree to provide similar services.

Reciprocity Services

Services vary among the law schools that offer reciprocity. These services may include access to:

• the host law school's career services facilities
• legal publications, directories, handouts, and resource library
• job listings (typically on-site only, and not online)

Typically, the following services are not available through reciprocity: 

• participation in recruitment programs
• advising appointments
• resume review services

The duration of reciprocity services also varies from school to school, and, when granted, services are usually available for a limited time or limited number of visits. Many schools have additional restrictions on who may use resources (e.g., only recent graduates), so be sure to check the appropriate school's reciprocity policy.

In addition, most law schools have a "blackout" period—a time during which no reciprocity requests are granted and during which reciprocity is unavailable. This usually occurs from mid to late summer until late fall during which time law schools are preparing for and conducting their on-campus recruitment programs.

All law school career services offices reserve the right to refuse services to any individual school or to any person who misuses or abuses the staff, facilities and/or resources of the host school. A law school may also suspend reciprocity access to one particular school if that school's requests become substantially disproportionate.

Requests/Requirements for Obtaining Reciprocity

It is important to understand that every law school has its own reciprocity requirements. While a few law schools accept reciprocity requests via email, telephone or fax, most law schools require a written request for reciprocity from the requesting law school's office of career services. This request should be sent several weeks in advance of the student's/graduate's planned visit. In some geographic areas with several law schools in close proximity (such as New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, etc.) reciprocity services may be arranged only with one law school in that area. 

• NALP list of law school reciprocity policies
• Emory Law's Reciprocity Policy

If you would like to make a request for reciprocity, email Garnett Taylor, providing your name, Emory Law graduation year, email address, telephone number and mailing address, as well as the name of the school from which you are requesting reciprocity. If reciprocity is granted, it is important for you to read and honor the reciprocity policy of the host school. Failure to comply with school policies may result in the termination of reciprocity privileges.