Career/Job Fair

What is a Fair?

A Fair is an online or in-person event that brings together professionals from law firms, international organisations, companies, NGOs, and universities to present their workplaces and promote them to students. In most cases, booths are set up where professionals may display banners and informational materials, welcome participants, and deliver brief presentations about their organisations.

Depending on the nature of the Fair, different objectives may be pursued:

Career Fair

The primary focus of a Career Fair lies on exposing law students to the wide variety of opportunities available within the legal and professional world after completing their studies.

As this type of Fair is mainly informative in nature, its objective is not necessarily for participants to apply for jobs immediately, but rather to gain insight into sectors and career paths they may wish to pursue in the future. Law firms, international organisations, NGOs, public institutions, and universities frequently participate in Career Fairs in order to present the nature of their work, the skills they value, and the career opportunities they can offer.

For ELSA members, Career Fairs provide inspiration and guidance at an early stage of their professional journey. They offer valuable insight and a platform through which participants may ask questions regarding their potential future careers, broaden their perspectives, and possibly reconsider or refine their professional aspirations. For ELSA as an association, such events reinforce the role of Professional Development as a bridge between academic studies and professional life.

Job Fair

The primary focus of a Job Fair lies on specific employment opportunities and job searching. Professionals present their companies with the aim of encouraging students to apply for positions within their organisations. Conversely, students participate with the intention of finding employment and, in most cases, submit their CVs and motivation letters while already having a clear idea of which employers they intend to visit.

Typical participants in Job Fairs include law firms, companies, and institutions that are actively recruiting or seeking to establish a pipeline of future talent. For students, a Job Fair provides both an opportunity to learn more about organisations and to take concrete steps towards employment. For employers, it offers efficient access to a motivated and internationally minded pool of young professionals.

Job Fairs therefore function as a “marketplace for jobs,” bridging the gap between legal education and immediate professional opportunities, while reinforcing ELSA’s role as a facilitator of career development.

Organising a Fair

Thorough preparation is essential to ensuring the success of Career and Job Fairs, both in terms of member participation and organisational impact. The process requires the active involvement of the organising committee, a clear distribution of responsibilities, and careful planning at every stage leading up to the event.

Therefore, a structured timeline with enough preparation time, preferably some months in advance, is crucial:

Defining an event concept: Determine whether the Fair will be organised in a physical, digital, or hybrid format. Define the scope of the event, including the target audience, the types of organisations to be invited, and whether the event will take the form of a Career Fair, a Job Fair, or a combination of both.
Establishing a budget: Prepare a clear budget covering venue expenses (for physical events), digital platform costs (for online events), marketing expenditures, and any additional logistical requirements. Potential sources of income, such as participation fees, sponsorships, or external grants, should also be taken into consideration.
Securing partners: Initiate contact with law firms, companies, institutions, and organisations well in advance. Provide them with clear information regarding the objectives of the event, the expected outcomes, and the conditions of participation.
Arranging the venue or platform: For physical events, secure a suitable venue that is easily accessible to students, ideally located on or near university premises. For digital and hybrid events, select a reliable platform capable of hosting multiple organisations and facilitating interaction between students and professionals.
Promoting the event: Develop a comprehensive promotional strategy making use of digital channels, university outreach, and cooperation with student networks. Effective marketing is essential in order to ensure a high level of participation from both students and organisations.
Ensuring logistics and support: Arrange all necessary logistical aspects, such as technical equipment, furniture, catering (for physical events), or IT support (for digital or hybrid events). Volunteers or officers should also be assigned to provide assistance throughout the event.
Making final preparations: In the final weeks preceding the event, confirm participation with all stakeholders, distribute practical information to both students and organisations, and conduct internal rehearsals in order to identify and resolve any potential issues.
Conducting the event: During the event, make sure that the agreed quality standards are met, that the schedule is adhered to, and that both participants and presenting partners feel comfortable, thereby maintaining a professional atmosphere that benefits all parties.
Evaluating the event: Don’t forget to evaluate the event afterwards. This will help you identify what went well and where there is room for improvement in the future. Above all, showing gratitude shows your appreciation for the participants as well as participating organisations which will, by stregthening ELSA's reputation, help to ensure that such events can continue to be held in the future.

For further information, please feel free to take a look into the Fairs Handbook. You can also find a specific timeframe and checklist for organising Fairs in the relevant section on the Officers' Portal.

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