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Week of March 26, 2012

CSO Information & Announcements

  • April 24 and April 25: What's Next for Fall: Mandatory for 1Ls
  • March 27:  Applications for the LADR (Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution) and Criminal Litigation Certificate Programs Due
  • Spring Resume Books: Opt-in and Report Results
  • Listserv Registration and Testing
  • CSO Program Videos Now Available Online!

Fall On-Campus Interviewing Program

  • OCI: Don't Forget to Report Callbacks and Offers!

Programming

  • April 24 and April 25: What's Next for Fall: Mandatory for 1Ls
  • “Professionalism Series” Programs
  • March 28: Managing Law School Debt: What Every Student Should Know
  • March 28:  Career Advice Panel Sponsored by the Decalogue/Jewish Law Society and the Labor and Employment Law Society
  • March 29:  Chicago-Kent Gallery Night (4-7pm), hosted by the Art and Cultural Law Society
  • March 29:  National Security Career Symposium
  • March 30:  2012 Great Lakes Environmental Law Symposium
  • April 2:  Chris Tyrrell, “Legal Lazarus: How the Law Helped Build My Business, Buried It, and Brought It Back to Life Again”
  • April 3: Boot Camp for Summer Jobs
  • April 4: Preparing for Diversity Job Fairs
  • April 4: Corporate Counsel Night
  • April 4:  Presentation Regarding the Skadden Fellowship Program at University of Chicago
  • April 6: Deadline to RSVP to Federal Bar Association “Judicial Clerkships 101” Program on April 12
  • Video on Managing a Legal Career Transition in Tough Times

Employment Opportunities

  • ABA John J. Curtin, Jr. Justice Fund Summer Legal Internship Program 
  • AFL-CIO Lawyers Coordinating Committee - Minority Outreach Program

Fellowships & Scholarships

  • April 5:  Applications due for Justice John Paul Stevens Public Interest Summer Fellowship Program
  • April 10 at 11:59PM: Deadline EXTENDED to Apply for Equal Justice Works Summer Corps
  • 2012 CFEBA ICC Legal Internship:  Scholarship for Summer Internship at the Illinois Commerce Commission
  • ABA Standing Committee on Lawyers' Professional Liability Levit Essay Contest for Law Students and Young Lawyers
  • The American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division 2012-2013 Scholarship
  • Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund for Progressive Social Change
  • Defense Research Institute (DRI) 2012 Law Student Diversity Scholarship

Job Fairs

  • Save the Date: Cook County Bar Association Minority Law Student Job Fair August 17, 2012
  • Save the Date:  Indianapolis Bar Association Diversity Job Fair, July 26-27, 2012
  • Job Fairs: Don't Forget to Report Callbacks and Offers!

Diversity

  • April 4: Preparing for Diversity Job Fairs
  • March 26:  Edwards Wildman Spring 2012 Reception for Diverse Law Students
  • AFL-CIO Lawyers Coordinating Committee - Minority Outreach Program

Resources

  • 2011-2012 Guide to Internships & Fellowships in Reproductive Rights & Justice
  •  Updated Vermont Guide to State Judicial Clerkships
  • 2011-2012 Government Honors & Internship Handbook
  • Web Access for Policy, Political and Human Rights Jobs
  • Access the BYU Intercollegiate Job BankPassword Protected Sites Now Available on Symplicity
  • Law Bulletin Weekly On-line Employment Bulletin
  • Alumni Career Advisor Network
  • International Career Employment Weekly Online
  • PSLawNet: Public Interest Job Postings and Summer Funding Resources
  • PSLawNet Fellowship Corner
  • Free Membership to Legal Balance

CSO Information & Announcements

April 24 and April 25: What's Next for Fall: Mandatory for 1Ls

The Career Services Office will be present a program on the upcoming job opportunities, career programs and deadlines coming up in the fall for rising 2L and 3L students on April 24th and 25th. Current 1L students will be required to attend this program, but only need to attend one of the sessions listed below.

Tuesday, April 24th, 6-7pm, Room C50
Wednesday, April 25th, 3-4pm, Auditorium

March 27:  Applications for the LADR (Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution) and Criminal Litigation Certificate Programs Due

Applications for the LADR (Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution) and Criminal Litigation Certificate Programs are now available on the table outside of the 3rd floor cafeteria as well as in the Law Offices, Suite 600. The due date for both programs is Tuesday, March 27 at 5:00 p.m. For more information and applications for these certificate programs, please visit the website for the Law Offices of Chicago-Kent.

Spring Resume Books: Opt-In and Report Results

Resume Books are back for spring! Spring Semester Resume Books are now available for “opt-in” for all 1Ls, 2Ls, 3Ls and Recent Graduates (2011 class).  Remember, even if you opted in last semester, you must resubmit your resume to the books of your choices for the Spring Semester.  We have notified employers that resume books are available. You may still opt-in to a resume book at any time, but we encourage you to submit your resume as soon as possible in order to reach the largest amount of employers.

As a reminder, a Resume Book is exactly what it sounds like, a collection of resumes that can be distributed to employers on request. Our resume books will collect the resumes of students and recent graduates in a particular class (e.g. 2Ls) with similar interests (e.g. immigration law, real estate law, or working in the northern suburbs), and then notify employers who fit those criteria that the books are available for review. These books can also be used when an employer calls up our office looking for a particular type of student to clerk for them (“We are looking for a 3L interested in litigation who has worked as a 711 clerk.”), so that we can respond quickly and efficiently to employer requests (in that case by looking at the 3L Litigation Resume Book for students who have been 711 clerks).

If you have additional questions about Resume Books, or would like your resume reviewed prior to opting in to a Resume Book, please contact your Career Counselor. If you receive an interview or offers from an employer through Resume Books, please report this to our office by sending an email to kentcso@kentlaw.edu.

Listserv Registration and Testing

We recently tested the various Career Services listservs. If you have signed up for a listserv and did not receive a “test” email for that listserv, please contact Kentcso@kentlaw.edu to let us know that you were erroneously omitted from that listserv.  If you receive an email from a listserv that you no longer want to be included on, please also email Kentcso@kentlaw.edu noting which listserv(s) you wish to be removed from. Finally, if you have not yet submitted a listserv registration form, you can complete this form and email it back to mschmitt@kentlaw.edu, fax it to 312-906-5171 or drop it off in the Career Services Office.These listservs will be used to distribute career services information, so quick registration will ensure that you do not miss any important  information.

CSO Program Videos Now Available Online!

The Career Services Office is pleased to announce that videos of our programming are now available to be viewed online. Most of our programming will be available on our website within 1-2 days of the original program date and will remain available for viewing for 2-3 weeks, due to limited server space. Program videotapes will still be available in our office. A password is required to view these programs. Please call our office at 312-906-5200 or email kentcso@kentlaw.edu for the username and password. To watch videos of our programming, go to the CSO's web page, click on the right hand navigation bar "Student Information" and select "Programs and Videos." Or, click here to be taken directly to the page.

On-Campus Interviews

Don't Forget to Report Callbacks and Offers!

If you receive callbacks/offers during the fall interview season, please report this to our office by sending an email to kentcso@kentlaw.edu every couple weeks or so.  Please include from what source you obtained the interview/offer (OCI, resume collect, CCBA job fair, Loyola Patent Fair, etc.).  We keep track of these in order to determine how students are doing and where our students end up working during the summer/after graduation.  Also, if you have any concerns about how your interviews are progressing or questions about the interview process, please make an appointment to talk with a career counselor.   

Programming

April 24 and April 25: What's Next for Fall: Mandatory for 1Ls

The Career Services Office will be present a program on the upcoming job opportunities, career programs and deadlines coming up in the fall for rising 2L and 3L students on April 24th and 25th. Current 1L students will be required to attend this program, but only need to attend one of the sessions listed below.

Tuesday, April 24th, 6-7pm, Room C50
Wednesday, April 25th, 3-4pm, Auditorium

“Professionalism Series” Programs

The career services office is starting off the spring semester a series of “Professionalism” panels to assist and instruct students regarding preparing for and working in a professional legal environment.  The “Professionalism” series begins in February and lasts through April.  The remaining program in the series is as follows:

  • Boot Camp for Summer Jobs

Details regarding the program can be found below!

March 28: Managing Law School Debt: What Every Student Should Know

Date: Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Time: 3:00pm-4:00pm
Location: Room 370

A representative of GL Advisor, Andrew Frager, will provide a detailed explanation of the various loan repayment options available to law school graduates. In particular, the session will focus on the mechanics of Income Based Repayment and Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Michelle Vodenik, point person for the Chicago-Kent Loan Repayment Assistance Program, will briefly discuss the parameters of the LRAP at Chicago-Kent.

The salient questions to be addressed include:

  • What Federal programs are available to assist me in repaying my student loans?
  • How do different law career paths affect student loan repayment strategies?
  • How can ensure the lowest possible payment under Income-Based Repayment?
  • What variables related to my student debt should I be considering when filing my taxes?
  • What strategies can I employ to effectively manage any private loans and credit card debt during school and after?
  • How does my current debt level affect other areas of personal finance such as the ability to qualify for a mortgage?

The program is sponsored by the Career Services Office and the Kent Justice Foundation. Please RSVP via Symplicity.  To RSVP, please go to your Symplicity Career Management System account at https://law-kent-csm.symplicity.com/students and click on the “Events” tab, then select this event and click “RSVP.”

March 28:  Career Advice Panel Sponsored by the Decalogue/Jewish Law Society and the Labor and Employment Law Society

Date: Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Time:  11:45 AM
Location:  Room 580

Come hear experienced attorneys from Kirkland & Ellis, Duane Morris, Rosenbaum & Silvert, and the Illinois Department of Human Services talk about their experiences and give advice regarding various practice areas.

Panelists will include:

  • David Freedman, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Litigation
  • Howard Mocerf, Duane Morris LLP, Labor and Employment
  • Lawrence Steingold, Rosenbaum & Silvert P.C., Intellectual Property
  • Moshe Friedman, General Counsel at Illinois Department of Human Services, Public Interest

March 29:  Chicago-Kent Gallery Night (4-7pm), hosted by the Art and Cultural Law Society

The Art and Cultural Law Society will host "Chicago-Kent Gallery Night on March 29, 2012. From 4-5pm, a panel of attorneys who work with the arts will discuss the many opportunities in art and cultural law and their experience in this unique practice area.  From 5-7pm, a networking event for art law lawyers and students will take place in the 10th Floor event room.  During the networking event, Chicago-Kent students, faculty, and alumni will also have the opportunity to show off their creative side!  We are looking for members of the Chicago-Kent community to submit any kind of art, even sound, for inclusion in the ‘gallery.’  Please contact Amy Harvey, President of the Art and Cultural Law Society, at aharvey@kentlaw.edu for more details.

March 29:  National Security Career Symposium

Date:  March 29, 2012
Time:  5-7:30 PM
Location:  Loyola University Chicago

The National Security Career Symposium will offer students and professionals currently working or interested in law enforcement, national security, and private or public sector investigations, with an opportunity to gather and discuss careers and trends in the areas of justice and security.

Panelists will include:

  • Dan Hayes, Senior Trial Counsel for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Enforcement Division
  • Christine Awender, Special Agent, FBI Chicago
  • Paul Peterson, Manager in Forensics, Investigations & Dispute Services at Grant Thornton LLP
There will be a Networking Reception after the panel presentation.  Students will be able to mix and mingle with professionals from numerous government agencies, as well as law and accounting firms with forensics or investigations practices.  Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres will be served following the panel discussion.

March 30:  2012 Great Lakes Environmental Law Symposium

The 2012 Great Lakes Environmental Law Symposium, “A Discussion on the Future of Energy Law in Illinois and Beyond,” will be held on March 30, 2012 at Chicago-Kent.  The symposium is eligible for 3.5 hours of Illinois MCLE Credit.

The symposium will open with a keynote address from John Rowe, Chairman and CEO of Exelon.  The event will bring together diverse experts on energy law and policy from Illinois and beyond.  Panelists include environmental specialists from business and industry, professors of law, and non-profit conservation organizations.  A variety of academic and professional experts will discuss hot-button topics in energy law and policy including the future of coal in Illinois, alternative energy sources in the Great Lakes, and the use of Canadian oil sands in the Midwest.

Please click here to register.  Questions?  Contact the Great Lakes Symposium at GreatLakesSymposium@gmail.com

April 2:  Chris Tyrrell, “Legal Lazarus: How the Law Helped Build My Business, Buried It, and Brought It Back to Life Again”

On April 2nd from 3-4pm in Room C20, Chris Tyrrell, former CEO of Right Energies, will explain how his company’s rise and fall can be attributed to influences by the law and government.  Tyrrell will also provide a perspective on what it took to move from the legal field into entrepreneurship.  Food from the Protein Bar will be provided! 

Presented by the Federalist Society and the Career Services Office.  Please RSVP via Symplicity. To RSVP, please go to your Symplicity Career Management System account at https://law-kent-csm.symplicity.com/students and click on the “Events” tab, then select this event and click “RSVP.”

April 3:  Boot Camp for Summer Jobs

Date:  Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Time:  Noon-1 PM
Location:  Room 580

The Career Services Office presents "Boot Camp for Summer Jobs." Any student with a summer job will benefit from attending this event. The program will begin with a presentation on economical and efficient research using Lexis.  Tom Gaylord from the library will also speak regarding the library's resources available during the summer months. Finally, a panel composed of current students, who participated last summer in summer internships/clerkships (in a variety of practice settings) will discuss professionalism, expectations for research and writing skills and what to expect as a law clerk or summer associate.

April 4: Preparing for Diversity Job Fairs

Date: Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Time: 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Place: Room 370

Please join the Black Law Students Association (BLSA), Hispanic/Latino Law Student Association (HLLSA), South Asian Law Student Association (SALSA), Asian Pacific American Law Student Association (APALSA), Chicago-Kent Lambdas, and the Career Services Office for “Preparing for Diversity Job Fairs,” a panel discussion regarding summer and fall diversity job fairs, interview tips, and how to obtain a summer position. The panel features Chicago-Kent students and alums who have attended and succeeded in finding positions through diversity job fairs. Food will be provided!

Please RSVP via Symplicity. To RSVP, please go to your Symplicity Career Management System account at https://law-kent-csm.symplicity.com/students and click on the “Events” tab, then select this event and click “RSVP.”

April 4: Corporate Counsel Night

Date: Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Time: 5:00pm - 9:00pm
Place: 10th Floor Event Room

Please join the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association (APALSA), the South Asian Law Student Association (SALSA) and the Career Services Office for “Corporate Counsel Night,” a panel presentation from attorneys who will share their in-house counsel work and job search experiences!  The confirmed panelists for this program are:

  • Ahmed A. Elganzouri (Chicago-Kent) – American Dental Association, Assistant General Counsel
  • Alysia Kinsella (Chicago-Kent) – Guggenheim Partners, A Global Financial Services Firm
  • Ben Lyon (Chicago-Kent) – Kaplan Higher Education
  • Julia Jackson (Indiana University (In Indianapolis)) – Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America and President of the Chicago Chapter of ACC
  • Jean Park (University of Illinois) – Trustmark Insurance Company

The panelists will also discuss the differences between corporate life and private practice.  Following the panel discussion and a Q & A session, the remainder of the evening will be dedicated to networking.  Food will be provided!

Please RSVP by noon on April 2, 2012 here: http://bit.ly/apalsarsvp to attend Corporate Counsel Night!

April 4:  Presentation Regarding the Skadden Fellowship Program at University of Chicago

The Skadden Fellowship Foundation, described as “a legal Peace Corps” by The Los Angeles Times, was established in 1988 to commemorate Skadden’s 40th anniversary, in recognition of the dire need for greater funding for graduating law students who wish to devote their professional lives to providing legal services to the poor (including the working poor), the elderly, the homeless and the disabled, as well as those deprived of their civil or human rights.  The aim of the foundation is to give Fellows the freedom to pursue public interest work; thus, the Fellows create their own projects at public interest organizations with at least two lawyers on staff before they apply.

Fellowships are awarded for two years. Skadden provides each Fellow with a salary and pays all fringe benefits to which an employee of the sponsoring organization would be entitled. For those Fellows not covered by a law school low income protection plan, the firm will pay a Fellow's law school debt service for the tuition part of the loan for the duration of the fellowship.  The 2012 class of Fellows brings to 648 the number of academically outstanding law school graduates and judicial clerks the firm has funded to work full-time for legal and advocacy organizations.  For more information about the Skadden Fellowship Program, click here.

Susan Butler Plum from the Skadden Fellowship Program will visit the Chicago-area this April to talk to law students who are interested in developing Skadden Fellowship proposals.  Ms. Plum will give her presentation at the University of Chicago Law School on Wednesday, April 4th, 2012.  The program will run from 12:15-1:15pm in Room V at the University of Chicago Law School at 1111 East 60th Street.  Lunch will be served. 

If you are interested in Skadden Fellowship and will attend this informational presentation, please RSVP to Michelle Vodenik at mvodenik@kentlaw.edu by March 29, 2012.

April 6: Deadline to RSVP to Federal Bar Association “Judicial Clerkships 101” Program on April 12

Join the Federal Bar Association for the inaugural Judicial Clerkships 101 panel discussion and networking reception, featuring:

  • Hon. Ruben Castillo, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • David Hoffman, Sidley Austin LLP, former law clerk to Justice William H. Rehnquist and Hon. Dennis G. Jacobs (2nd Circuit)
  • Michael J. Nelson, Latham & Watkins LLP, former law clerk to Hon. Daniel Manion (7th Circuit) and Hon. Paul Gadola (Eastern District of Michigan)

This program will take place on April 12, 2012 from 5:00pm – 7:00pm at Sidley Austin LLP, One South Dearborn Street, Chicago.

Law students can join the FBA for just $30 for a one year membership.  There is no charge for this program but it is open only to FBA members.  If you are an FBA member, please RSVP to pfreehling@seyfarth.com no later than April 6, 2012.  If you would like to join the FBA and attend the program, please complete the membership application found at: http://www.fedbar.org/Membership/Membership-Application.aspx and send it with your RSVP no later than April 6, 2012 to:

Paul Freehling
Seyfarth Shaw
131 South Dearborn Street
Suite 2400
Chicago, IL 60603-5577

*If you have questions, contact John Ganz at Jganz@dykema.com

Video on Managing a Legal Career Transition in Tough Times

As a public service, NALP and ALI-ABA are pleased to offer Managing a Legal Career Transition in Tough Times — a 75-minute presentation by Marcia Pennington Shannon and Susan G. Manch of Shannon & Manch LLP, who generously donated their time and talent to this special project to assist lawyers and 3Ls who are currently seeking employment.

To watch the video, please click here.

Employment Opportunities

Please check Chicago-Kent's job posting system ("Symplicity") on a regular basis. Check out Symplicity's general instructions for more information.

ABA John J. Curtin, Jr. Justice Fund Summer Legal Internship Program

The Curtin Justice Fund Legal Internship Program is seeking motivated law student interns to apply for stipends available for the Summer Program. These students should have a position offered, contingent on funding, from a qualified organization.

INTERNSHIP:
The Curtin Justice Fund Legal Internship Program is managed jointly by the ABA Commission on Homelessness and Poverty and the Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defendants.  The Program will pay a $2,500 stipend to three law school students who spend the summer months working for a bar association or legal services program designed to prevent homelessness or assist homeless or indigent clients or their advocates.  The Legal Internship Program will provide much-needed legal assistance to organizations serving the under-represented and give students direct experience in a public interest forum.  Through this, it aims both to help homeless clients and to encourage careers in the law that further the goals of social justice.

The ideal intern will have a demonstrated interest in public interest law and experience working with poor people or on issues affecting them.  All law students are eligible, and first year law students are encouraged to apply.  The intern must commit no less than eight continuous weeks between May 1 and October 1 to the program of his or her choice.  Applicants must submit the attached application to the Curtin Internship Program, American Bar Association Commission on Homelessness and Poverty, 740 15th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005.

All applications must be received by Monday, March 26, 2012.  Early submissions are welcome.  Click here for more details.

AFL-CIO Lawyers Coordinating Committee - Minority Outreach Program

The AFL-CIO Lawyers Coordinating Committee created the LCC Minority Outreach Program to encourage diverse law students to apply for summer clerkship opportunities at LCC law firms and legal departments. The outreach program seeks to introduce diverse law students to the practice of law in the labor movement and to encourage them to join the ranks of union-side attorneys in the ongoing battle for social and economic justice.The program includes a networking conference, at the conclusion of which, students are placed in the LCC Mentor Program. Through this program LCC attorneys provide guidance and support during and after the students' clerkships. Students interested in applying at a law firm or legal department should apply directly to the employer. Click here for a listing of participating employers. To learn more about the program and the networking conference, please click here and here.

Fellowships & Scholarships

April 5:  Application Due for Justice John Paul Stevens Public Interest Summer Fellowship Program

Applications are now being accepted for the Justice John Paul Stevens Public Interest Summer Fellowship Program.  Two Fellowships will be awarded (each paying $5000).  The Fellowship is available to students at Chicago-Kent who will spend this summer working full-time without pay for a public interest organization (including government agencies, legal services, advocacy groups and policy reform organizations).  The application is available electronically in Symplicity under the “Resources” tab and in hard-copy outside of professor Nancy Marder’s office (839). 

The application is due on Thursday, April 5, 2012 by noon, and must be submitted both electronically to Professor Marder (nmarder@kentlaw.edu) and in hard copy (one hard copy must be placed in Professor Marder’s mailbox on the 2nd floor).

April 10 at 11:59 PM:  DEADLINE EXTENDED to Apply for Equal Justice Works Summer Corps

The Equal Justice Works (EJW) Summer Corps program provides law students with the opportunity to dedicate their summer to a legal project at a qualifying nonprofit public interest organization.  Summer Corps members expand the delivery of critically needed legal assistance in low-income and underserved communities across the country on a broad range of issue areas. 

Summer Corps is an AmeriCorps-funded program that in 2012 will provide more than 700 law students with the opportunity to earn a $1,175 AmeriCorps education award voucher upon completion of 300 hours of service that can be used to pay current educational expenses or qualified student loans.  Summer Corps members gain first-hand experience and legal skills in areas such as client intake, representation, and legal research and writing, and have access to EJW’s network of alumni, experience and expertise as the nation’s largest provider of public interest opportunities for law students and attorneys.  In order to be eligible for Summer Corps, students must have secured a placement for the summer.

Summer Corps is currently accepting online applications for the 2012 program. For more information, please see the EJW Summer Corps websiteThe deadline to apply has been extended to APRIL 10 at 11:59 p.m. EDT.  Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.  See the website for a full list of eligibility criteria.

2012 CFEBA ICC Legal Internship:  Scholarship for Summer Internship at the Illinois Commerce Commission

The Energy Bar Association (“EBA”) is a non-profit voluntary association of attorneys, non-attorney professionals, and students, whose mission is to promote the professional excellence and ethical integrity of its members in the practice, administration, and development of energy laws, regulations and policies. The Charitable Foundation of the Energy Bar Association (“CFEBA”) is sponsoring a legal intern at the Illinois Commerce Commission (“ICC”) during the summer of 2012 at the Chicago Office of General Counsel.

The Legal Intern will have the opportunity to work with two practice groups within the Office of General Counsel, namely, the Trial Group and the Federal and External Issues Group.

Interns should be currently attending law school; preference will be given to 2nd year students and students with a strong interest in energy law.  The CFEBA Legal Intern receives a stipend from the CFEBA while working for the ICC on a variety of projects, gaining experience in a various areas of energy law.  The stipend will be $5,000 for a 10-week internship.  If you are interested in applying for the 2012 CFEBA ICC Legal Internship, send a cover letter and resume to Monica Gonzalez, CFEBA Scholarship Committee, at mgonzalez@iso-ne.com by April 2, 2012.

The American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division 2012-2013 Scholarship

Apply for a 2012-2013 ABA YLD Scholarship today!  The ABA YLD Scholarship Program provides partial conference funding and an opportunity to become more involved in the Division.  Scholarship categories include:  General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Practitioners; Government, Public Sector and Military Lawyers; and Minorities in the Profession.  The Application deadline is April 1, 2012

The program consists of:

  • Per the Division's financial policy, scholars will receive partial funding to attend the Fall Conference, ABA Midyear Meeting and Spring Conference: round-trip airfare up to $350; $20 ground transportation; and $100 per diem (for two days)
  • Appointment to and active participation in one of the YLD boards or teams.
  • Mentoring
  • All scholars are required to: Attend the YLD Fall Conference, ABA YLD Midyear Meeting, and the YLD Spring Conference and participate in scheduled programming on Friday and Saturday of each meeting
  • Produce a written piece (i.e. 101/201 article, resolution for consideration at the YLD Assembly)
  • Assist on projects as assigned

To be eligible, a scholar must be a "young lawyer," which is defined as any licensed attorney who is under the age of thirty-six or who has been licensed for no more than five years at the start of the scholarship year (September 1).  Applicants for this scholarship program should be ABA YLD-eligible lawyers who fall within at least one of the scholarship areas.  There is no requirement that applicants be presently involved with a local ABA YLD affiliate.  Although applications will be accepted from non-ABA members, any person chosen as a scholarship recipient must be an ABA member before receiving assistance.  In addition, anyone receiving a scholarship must be present at all three funded conferences.

Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund for Progressive Social Change

ATTENTION STUDENT ACTIVISTS!
Are you organizing for progressive social change?  Leading student movements on your campus or in your community?  If so, read on.

The Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund has grants available for student activists who are building progressive movements for social change and who will be enrolled in school during the 2012-13 academic year.  Since 1961 the Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund has provided need-based grants to students who are involved in building movements for social and economic justice and are able to do academic work at the college level.  Grantees are both graduates and undergraduates enrolled in accredited schools for the period covered by their grant.  Although citizenship is not a consideration, applicants must be participating in activities in the US and plan to enroll in an accredited program in the US in order to qualify.

The maximum grant is $10,000 and may be considerably smaller depending on the applicant’s circumstances and the funding available.  All the funds come from individual donors and there are 25-30 grants awarded each year.  Grants are for one year although students may re-apply for subsequent years.

Applications and the supporting documents — transcripts, a personal statement, two letters of recommendation, a photograph, financial aid reports — must be postmarked by April 1, 2012.  Those selected to receive a grant will be notified in July.

For more information, click here.

Defense Research Institute (DRI) 2012 Law Student Diversity Scholarship

The Defense Research Institute (DRI) announces its annual Law Student Diversity Scholarship program open to incoming second and third-year African American, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American students.  Incoming second and third-year female law students are also eligible, regardless of race or ethnicity. Incoming second and third-year law students who also come from backgrounds that would add to the cause of diversity, regardless of race or gender are eligible to apply.  

Two scholarships in the amount of $10,000 each will be awarded to applicants who best meet the following criteria: Demonstrated academic excellence

  • Service to the profession
  • Service to the community
  • Service to the cause of diversity

Applications must include three recommendations, one each from the following individuals:

  • The Dean or an Associate Dean of the student’s law school
  • A current or past law professor
  • An individual who is personally acquainted with the applicant, but who is not related by blood line or adoption.

Applications and all other requested materials must be received by April 27, 2012. Scholarship winners will be notified in advance and officially announced at the DRI Diversity for Success Seminar, June 7-8, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. For more information and an application, please see http://www.dri.org/About#awards

Click here to download the 2012 application.

Job Fairs

Save the Date: Cook County Bar Association Minority Law Student Job Fair August 17, 2012

The 29th Annual Cook County Bar Association Minority Law School Job Fair will be held Friday, August 17, 2012 in Chicago. Student registration for this event begins April 9, 2012. This job fair provides an excellent opportunity for minority second-year and third-year law students to interview with law firms of all sizes, governmental agencies, and not-for-profit organizations with locations throughout the United States. The anticipated number of employer participants is 150 and will include large, medium and small law firms, corporations, and government agencies. Additional details on the job fair and how to register will be available in the coming weeks.  Allison Smith (asmith16@kentlaw.edu) will be the Career Services liaison for this event.

Save the Date: Indianapolis Bar Association Diversity Job Fair:
July 26-27, 2012

Are you passionate about starting your career in a Midwestern city that has both cosmopolitan style and small-town charm?  Looking to meet legal employers from large, medium and small firms, as well as government agencies, corporations and members of the judiciary?  Get a jump start on creating lasting relationships at the 2012 IndyBar Diversity Job Fair.

The IndyBar Diversity Job Fair seeks candidates who represent all aspects of diversity, who are looking for a one-of-a-kind legal community in a Midwestern city that has both cosmopolitan style and small-town charm.  All fall 2012 full-time 2L students (graduating May 2014) or part-time 2L and 3L (graduating Dec 2014/May 2015) are invited to participate in the fifth annual IndyBar Diversity Job Fair to be held July 26-27, 2012.  The student registration deadline is June 17, 2012

Employers will be hiring clerks or interns, not offering permanent placement; they will expect to interview 2Ls or those graduating spring 2013/2014 based on full or part-time status.

For more information, click here.

Job Fairs: Don't Forget to Report Callbacks and Offers!

If you receive after attending a job fair, please report this to our office by sending an email to kentcso@kentlaw.edu every couple weeks or so.  Please include from what source you obtained the interview/offer (CCBA job fair, Loyola Patent Fair, etc.).  We keep track of these in order to determine how students are doing and where our students end up working during the summer/after graduation.  Also, if you have any concerns about how your interviews are progressing or questions about the interview process, please make an appointment to talk with a career counselor.   

Diversity

April 4: Preparing for Diversity Job Fairs

see the Programming section for more information

March 26:  Edwards Wildman Spring 2012 Reception for Diverse Law Students

Edwards Wildman invites diverse law students to a reception in their Chicago office, located at 225 West Wacker Drive, on Monday, March 26, 2012 from 5:30–7:30 pm. The evening will afford students an opportunity to meet and interact with many Edwards Wildman attorneys and with some of the firm’s leaders, which include members of their hiring and diversity committees. There will also be a special presentation on interview skills. The firm’s hope and expectation is to provide you with an in-depth understanding of its’ mission and values, and to encourage you and your colleagues to apply for 2013 summer associate positions at the firm.

Please RSVP to Molly Childs (mchilds@edwardswildman.com) at your earliest convenience, but no later than March 20, 2012.  

Defense Research Institute (DRI) 2012 Law Student Diversity Scholarship

see the Fellowships & Scholarships section for more information

AFL-CIO Lawyers Coordinating Committee - Minority Outreach Program

see the Employment Opportunities section for more information

Resources

2011-2012 Guide to Internships & Fellowships in Reproductive Rights & Justice

Back by popular demand, Law Students for Reproductive Justice is pleased to share the latest edition of the 2011-12 Guide to Internships & Fellowships in Reproductive Rights & Justice.  This one-of-a-kind tool can help guide interested law students toward summers, semesters, or careers in reproductive justice advocacy.  The Guide contains listings for legal internships and fellowships at 75 non-profit organizations across the country. The Guide may be accessed in the Symplicity Document Library; please log onto Symplicity, click on the "Documents" tab, and then click on "Document Library."

Updated Vermont Guide to State Judicial Clerkships

The Vermont 2012 Guide to State Judicial Clerkship Procedures is now available and may be accessed online. For username and password information, please log onto Symplicity, click on the "Documents" tab, and then click on "Document Library."

2011-2012 Government Honors and Internship Handbook

The 2011-2012 Government Honors & Internship Handbook is now available and may be accessed online. For username and password information, please log onto Symplicity, click on the "Documents" tab, and then click on "Document Library."

Web Access for Policy, Political and Human Rights Jobs

Chicago-Kent students can access Policy Jobs (www.policyjobs.net), Political Jobs (www.politicaljobs.net), Human Rights Jobs (www.humanrightsjobs.com), Ethical Jobs (www.ethicaljobs.net), and Journalist Jobs (www.journalistjobs.net) by using the Login details that can be obtained through Symplicity. Please see the instructions in the entry directly below for details on how to access password information via Symplicity. Please note that the passwords for these sites are case sensitive.

Password Protected Sites Now Available through Symplicity

To access password protected sites including:

  • The Federal Government Honors & Internship Handbook; The Vermont Guide to State Judicial Clerkships; The BYU Intercollegiate Job Bank; and
  • The Four or More List of Chicago Employers

Log into Symplicity and select the “Documents” tab. Within Documents, select “Document Library.” The links for the sites listed above will be listed there. Clicking on each link will take you to a page with a username and password, which you should write down before clicking the link on the page. If you have any difficulties accessing Symplicity or the individual sites, please contact the Career Services Office by emailing kentcso@kentlaw.edu.

Access the BYU Intercollegiate Job Bank

Kent students and alumni now have an additional resource for their job searches. The BYU Intercollegiate Job Bank compiles entry level job postings from schools throughout the country. This resource will be especially useful for students and alumni conducting an out-of-town job search, but through this service you can also access the postings of other Illinois and Chicago area schools. To access this resource, log into Symplicity and select the “Documents” tab. Within Documents, select “Document Library.” The link for the Job Bank will be listed there. Clicking on the link will take you to a page with a username and password, which you should write down before clicking the link. The link takes you to the BYU Alumni page, and the Job Bank is about halfway down the page. After clicking that link you will be prompted to enter the user name and password. Then you will have access to a drop list of all 50 states. Picking a state will give you access to the job postings from the schools in that state. If you have any difficulties accessing the Job Bank, please contact the Career Services Office by emailing kentcso@kentlaw.edu.

Law Bulletin Weekly On-line Employment Bulletin

The Chicago Daily Law Bulletin is now offering a free on-line Legal Employment Weekly e-blast of open jobs in the Chicago area. Every issue contains up-to-date job postings, an article and sign-up sheet from the Illinois Paralegal Association, and an Ask an Expert column. You can view each week's installment at http://jobs.lawbulletin.com/ELEW.pdf or you can sign up to receive the "E-LEW" in your own inbox. To receive the weekly email, go to http://jobs.lawbulletin.com and select the "E-LEW" tab at the top of the page. At the bottom of the page, click on the link and complete the resulting form.

Alumni Career Advisor Network

In an effort to help you connect with a strong network of Chicago-Kent alumni, the Office of Alumni Relations and Office of Career Services are happy to announce a new Alumni Career Advisor Network. Alumni from around the world are available to discuss issues such as practice trends, legal markets in specific geographic areas, and other career-related topics. This is an excellent opportunity to start building your personal network with Chicago-Kent alumni!To search for an Alumni Career Advisor, all you have to do is log-in to the Chicago-Kent Alumni Online Community:First Time Login Instructions:

  1. Go to www.alumni.kentlaw.edu/firstlogin In the Constituent ID field, enter your Banner CWID.
    To find your Banner CWID login to http://my.iit.edu. Once you are logged, on the right side of your screen you should see a box called IIT Personal ID numbers. The Banner CWID is the number beginning with “A.”
  2. In the Class Year Field:
    1. If you are an LLM student, enter LLM If you are a Visiting student, enter LV
    2. If you are a JD student your Class Year will be three characters. The first letter for all class years will be L. The second letter is your division. The third is your year number.
      Examples: A 2nd year night student’s class year is LN2. A 1st  year day student’s class year is LD1.

During your first time login you will create a username and password. Afterwards, you may log in directly at www.alumni.kentlaw.edu/advisorsearch using the username and password you created. If you need assistance with your first time login, please contact the Office of Career Services at kentcso@kentlaw.edu or visit Suite 360.

International Career Employment Weekly Online

International Career Employment Weekly's goal is to make it easy for international professionals to keep abreast of all current job opportunities in their field. They collect information on current international job openings with governments, government contractors, United Nations agencies and other intergovernmental organizations, private voluntary organizations working overseas, corporations involved in international trade and finance, engineering firms, associations, foundations, student exchange organizations, universities, and state governments and present that information to job seekers in a clear and concise format. The Career Services Office subscribes to this resource in an online format. Contact kentcso@kentlaw.edu for the username and password.

PSLawNet: Public Interest Job Postings and Summer Funding Resource

PSLawNet is a premier resource for career-related information in legal and law-related public interest work. Students and alumni from over 170 law schools search our site every day to find internships, fellowships, pro bono opportunities, and jobs in public service. Chicago-Kent College of Law is a member school, therefore you have unlimited access to search the database for FREE. The PSLawNet website is filled with useful resources for public interest-minded law students and graduates, as well as those who may simply be exploring their options. Students can create an account at the PSLawNet home page,or go directly the the page on funding resources. To register, on the home page, click on "sign-up now" to create an account using your email address and your own password. List Chicago-Kent College of Law as your school.

PSLawNet Fellowship Corner

Interested in pursuing a fellowship upon graduation? Then be sure to check out PSLawNet's new "Fellowship Corner" which includes the full text of Yale's Fellowship Application Tips for 2002-2003, along with the expanded Appendix listing print and online fellowship resources. The site also contains a Fellowship Calendar with a chronological listing of application deadlines--a big help for potential applicants in planning and preparing their materials. Visit the Fellowship Corner at: http://pslawnet.org/postgraduatefellowships

Free Membership to the Legal Balance

The Legal Balance, an exclusive online community for women attorneys in Chicago, is offering a free one-year membership to Chicago-Kent students. The Legal Balance offers women attorney-specific benefits tailored to help you succeed, including: access to member-only networking events, an extensive resource library, weekly email digests, and inside information from a community of successful female attorneys.  To request your free membership, email thelegalbalance@thelegalbalance.com and mention that you are a Chicago-Kent student.

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