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Career Services Office

Career Services Office home page
Week of December 12, 2016

Information & Announcements

  • Mandatory 1L Legal Resume and Cover Letter Workshops
  • Mandatory Meetings for 2Ls and 3Ls
  • Interview Preparation and Mock Interviews Available Through the CSO
  • Free ABA Memberships for Students

Fall Recruiting

Programming

  • December 15: Federal Bar Association Members Holiday Party and Toy Drive
  • December 28: Bricker & Eckler LLP “Home for the Holidays” Cocktail Reception (Columbus, OH)
  • December 28: HodgsonRuss LLP Cocktail Reception for 1Ls (Buffalo, NY)
  • January 18: Corporate Counsel Night
  • January 31: How to Prepare for the Midwest Public Interest Law Career Conference (MPILCC)
  • February 1: Seyfarth & Shaw’s Senior Counsel Shannon Callahan presents “Life, Law, and the Pursuit of Happiness”: The GRIT Project
  • February 2-4: 2017 ABA Young Lawyers Section Midyear Meeting (Miami, FL)
  • February 8: U.S. Marine JAG Informational Interviews
  • March 3: Building a Compliance Culture in Financial Institutions

Employment Opportunities

  • PILI 2017 Summer Internships - Apply Now!
  • PILI 2017 Spring Internships - Apply Now!
  • 1L LCLD Scholars Program
  • 2017 Travelers Claim Legal and Corporate Legal Internship - Applications due December 13
  • ABA Business Law Section Diversity Clerkship Program - Applications due December 30
  • Spring 2017 Access2Practice Legal Externship Program - Applications due January 6
  • ABA Judicial Intern Opportunity Program (JIOP) - Applications due January 6
  • Community-Based Federal Work Study Available for Spring 2017 - Applications due January 6
  • U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois Summer 2017 Law Student Intern Program - Applications due January 11
  • JRC-JTB Summer Judicial Internship Diversity Project for Summer 2017 - Applications due January 13
  • Twin Cities Diversity in Practice 2017 1L Summer Clerkship Program - Applications due January 15
  • ACC Chicago Chapter Diversity Summer Internship Program - Applications due January 22
  • EPIC Internet Public Interest Opportunities Program (IPIOP) Summer Clerkships - Applications due February 5

Fellowships & Scholarships

  • McAndrews, Held & Malloy Diversity in Patent Law Fellowship Program - Apply now!
  • Franczek Radelet LEADS Fellowship Program - Applications due January 9 for 1Ls
  • Dinsmore Diversity Scholarship Program for Summer 2017 - Applications due December 31
  • Donald W. Banner Diversity Scholarship for Law Students - Applications due January 6
  • Harter Secrest & Emery Diversity Scholarship - Applications due January 9
  • National Lawyers Guild Haywood Burns Memorial Fellowship - Applications due January 9
  • Latham & Watkins 1L Fellowship Program for Summer 2017 - Applications due January 11
  • Fish & Richardson 1L Diversity Fellowship Program - Applications due January 13
  • Harrity and Harrity 1L Diversity Fellowship Program - Applications due January 13
  • Peggy Browning Fellowship Program and Law Student Union Summer Program- Applications due January 13
  • Vedder Price Diversity Scholarship for First-Year Law Students - Applications due January 16
  • PracticePro 1L Diversity Scholar Program - Applications due January 16
  • Janet D. Steiger Fellowship Project - Applications due January 31
  • Chicago Schweitzer Fellows Program - Applications due February 1
  • Finnegan Diversity Scholarship - Applications due February 1
  • Bricker & Eckler LLP - Charles H. Walker Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship - Applications Due February 1
  • Fredrikson & Byron 1L Minority Scholarship Program - Applications due March 31

Job Fairs  

  • Midwest Public Interest Law Career Conference (MPILCC): Bidding opens January 2, closes January 11; Conference on February 4

Diversity

  • LCLD Success in Law School Mentoring Program
  • 1L LCLD Scholars Program
  • ABA Business Law Section Diversity Clerkship Program - Applications due December 30
  • Dinsmore Diversity Scholarship Program for Summer 2017 - Applications due December 31
  • Donald W. Banner Diversity Scholarship for Law Students - Applications due January 6
  • ABA Judicial Intern Opportunity Program (JIOP) - Applications due January 6
  • Franczek Radelet LEADS Fellowship Program - Applications due January 9 for 1Ls 
  • Harter Secrest & Emery Diversity Scholarship - Applications due January 9
  • Latham & Watkins 1L Fellowship Program for Summer 2017 - Applications due January 11
  • Latham & Watkins 1L Diversity Leadership Academy - Applications due January 11
  • Fish & Richardson 1L Diversity Fellowship Program - Applications due January 13
  • Harrity and Harrity 1L Diversity Fellowship Program - Applications due January 13
  • JRC-JTB Summer Judicial Internship Diversity Project for Summer 2017 - Applications due January 13
  • Twin Cities Diversity in Practice 2017 1L Summer Clerkship Program - Applications due January 15
  • McAndrews, Held & Malloy Diversity in Patent Law Fellowship Program - Apply now!
  • Vedder Price Diversity Scholarship for First-Year Law Students - Applications due January 16
  • PracticePro 1L Diversity Scholar Program - Applications due January 16
  • ACC Chicago Chapter Diversity Summer Internship Program - Applications due January 22
  • Finnegan Diversity Scholarship - Applications due February 1
  • Bricker & Eckler LLP - Charles H. Walker Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship - Applications Due February 1
  • Fredrikson & Byron 1L Minority Scholarship Program - Applications due March 31

Resources

  • Government Honors & Internship Handbook & Public Policy Handbook: log-in now available
  • 2016-2017 PSJD Comprehensive Fellowship Guide
  • 2016-2017 Chicago Area Law Firms List
  • Equal Justice Works’ Student Debt E-Book: Take Control of Your Future: A Guide to Managing Your Student Debt
  • ABA Law Student Podcast: Public Service Loan Forgiveness
  • CareerShift
  • Practising Law Institute (PLI)
  • CBA YLS Webinar - Illinois Bar Exam Bootcamp 
  • CSO Resources

Information & Announcements

Mandatory 1L Legal Resume and Cover Letter Workshop

The MANDATORY 1L Legal Resume Workshop and 1L Cover Letter Workshop videos are now available to view. Sign in to Panopto using your kentlaw username and password.

All first-year law students must watch these brief videos. These workshops include detailed instructions for how to draft your legal resume and cover letter.

First-year law students should schedule an initial appointment with their career advisor. Before your first career advising appointment, you must have watched the workshop videos and have uploaded a legal resume to Symplicity. Please also bring a copy of your legal resume to your first appointment.

Mandatory Meetings for 2Ls and 3Ls

Each 2L and 3L student is required to meet with his or her assigned career advisor by the end of this fall semester. For those of you interested in applying to larger federal government agencies with early deadlines (e.g. the Department of Justice), or considering participation in the fall public interest job fair Equal Justice Works, we strongly recommend that you schedule this meeting as soon as possible!

Given the difficult market it is more important than ever that you check in with your career advisor to form a strategy to accomplish your career goals. Please bring your most recent, updated legal resume with you to your meeting with your career advisor.

Interview Preparation and Mock Interviews Available Through the CSO

The Career Services Office is available to review student resumes and cover letters, and to conduct mock interviews, to help you better prepare for a variety of opportunities! If you have an upcoming interview, please consider scheduling a mock interview with your Career Services counselor. You can schedule an appointment directly through Symplicity! If you have questions about how to schedule an appointment, please email the Career Services Office at kentcso@kentlaw.iit.edu.

Free ABA Memberships for Students

The American Bar Association offers free memberships to all students enrolled in law school. The membership grants law students access to resources tailored to their interests and needs, opportunities to build their professional skills plus access to the ABA’s job listings, clerkships, internships and career events.

You can enroll here - http://www.americanbar.org/abalawstudents.

Fall Recruiting

Programming        

Federal Bar Association Members Holiday Party and Toy Drive

Date:  Thursday, December 15, 2016
Time: 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Location: Chicago Bar Association (321 S. Plymouth Ct., Chicago, IL 60604)
For Members Only

Celebrate the holidays with the Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter. Join the FBA for networking, drinks, hors d’oeuvres and the presentation of the Kathryn Smith Matkov Award. Please bring an unwrapped toy (worth at least $15) to donate to St. Sabina for its toy giveaway. Registration is available here through Thursday, December 15, 2016.

Bricker & Eckler LLP “Home for the Holidays” Cocktail Reception

Date:  Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Time: 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Location: Hawk Galleries (153 East Main Street, Columbus, OH 43215)

Bricker & Eckler LLP invites you to join them for their Home for the Holiday reception for law students attending out-of-state schools. Meet and mingle with attorneys from Bricker & Eckler LLP to learn more about the firm and its people! For firm information, visit www.bricker.com.

Please RSVP by Friday, December 16, 2016 to Patti Lach at plach@bricker.com.

HodgsonRuss LLP Cocktail Reception for 1Ls

Date: Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Time: 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Location: The Guaranty Building (140 Pearl Street, Buffalo, NY)

The JD class of 2019 is cordially invited to join the attorneys of HodgsonRuss LLP for a cocktail reception and to learn more about the practice of law in Buffalo. For more information about the firm and its summer associate program, join the Hodgson Russ Student Recruitment Group on LinkedIn or visit the firm’s career page on its website at www.hodgsonruss.com.

To RSVP for the cocktail reception, please email Shannon Scott at sscott@hodgsonruss.com by Monday, December 19th.

Corporate Counsel Night

Date:  Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Time: 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: IIT Downtown Campus - Chicago-Kent College of Law (Room TBD)

The Asian Pacific American Law Students Association and the Chicago-Kent Career Services Office, along with the Black Law Students Association, the Hispanic Latino Law Students Association and the Corporate Law Society, are hosting a Corporate Counsel Night.

This exciting event will present the opportunity for corporate counsel attorneys to speak on a panel and provide guidance to Chicago-Kent students who are seeking similar career paths. Additionally, there will be a networking event for corporate attorneys to socialize with fellow corporate attorneys and Chicago-Kent students. More information forthcoming.

How to Prepare for the Midwest Public Interest Law Career Conference (MPILCC)

Date:  Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Time: TBD
Location: IIT Downtown Campus - Chicago-Kent College of Law (Room TBD)

This program will help students strategize for interviewing and networking at MPILCC. Come hear from students who have prior MPILCC experience to learn how to best make connections and build professional relationships. Visit the MPILCC website at www.mpilcc.org for conference details, and be sure to attend this program.

The Midwest Public Interest Law Career Conference is a job fair and an opportunity for students to interview and meet with government agencies and public interest employers for paid and unpaid legal positions for the summer or for after graduation. 1Ls, 2Ls and 3Ls can all participate. The job fair will take place at Northwestern University School of Law on Saturday, February 4, 2017. Student bidding for this career conference is now closed. However, Table Talk is available at the job fair where students can meet with many of the employers, even if the student did not receive an interview in advance. More information is available online at www.mpilcc.org.

Seyfarth Shaw’s Senior Counsel Shannon Callahan presents
“Life, Law, and the Pursuit of Happiness”: The GRIT Project

Date:  Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Time: 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Location: IIT Downtown Campus - Chicago-Kent College of Law (Room TBD)

Shannon M. Callahan is senior counsel in Labor & Employment Department of Seyfarth Shaw LLP. Her labor and employment practice focuses on complex class actions, including Title VII, ADA, ADEA and ERISA litigation. Ms.Callahan devotes a significant portion of her time to lecturing on topics of lawyer well-being and happiness and to mentoring fellow lawyers. 

The Grit Project educates women lawyers about the science behind grit and growth mindset - two important traits that many successful women lawyers have in common. By providing the tools to assess and learn these traits, the Grit Project enhances the effectiveness as well as the retention and promotion of women lawyers. During this presentation, Ms. Callahan will discuss grit, happiness, and  law students. For more information on the GRIT Project, click here.

2017 ABA Young Lawyers Section Midyear Meeting

Date:  Thursday, February 2 through Sunday, February 4, 2017
Location: Hilton Miami Downtown (1601 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL)

Register for the 2017 ABA Midyear Meeting to earn CLE credit, develop your career, and make connections with young lawyer colleagues from across the U.S.! Programming throughout the weekend will offer the following:

  • Earn CLE credit while interacting with practice-area experts and legal profession influencers;
  • Get the practice and leadership edge to make you a well-rounded and dynamic counselor;
  • Share perspectives and best practices to drive diversity and inclusion in the legal profession; and
  • Get your voice heard by participating in the Assembly, the highly influential governing body of the ABA Young Lawyers Division

Click here for a schedule of the weekend’s events for the Young Lawyers Division.

U.S. Marine JAG Informational Interviews

Date: Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Time: By appointment 
Location: Room 360A

On Wednesday, February 8, Captain Tyler Lyons of the U.S. Marine Corp JAG will be on campus to hold individual informational interviews to discuss opportunities available to law students with the Marine JAG both during law school and after. All class levels are welcome to sign up.

Please RSVP to kentcso@kentlaw.iit.edu with the words “Marine JAG” in the subject line.

Building a Compliance Culture in Financial Institutions

Date:  Friday, March 3, 2017
Time: 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Location: IIT Downtown Campus - Chicago-Kent College of Law (Room TBD)

Learn about the recent developments and issues of compliance culture in financial institutions at this one-day conference hosted at Chicago-Kent.  Judge Jed S. Rakoff of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York will be the keynote speaker. There will also be two panel discussions. More details forthcoming.

Employment Opportunities

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

PILI 2017 Summer Internships - Apply Now!

PILI's Law Student Internship Program connects law students from across the country with legal service agencies in Illinois. Interns work 400 hours full-time during the summer, with PILI ensuring quality supervision by experienced agency attorneys, and providing extra educational, networking and mentoring opportunities.

Through this program, PILI helps its partner agencies increase their impact while also helping its Interns develop their legal and client interaction skills, build their professional networks, and strengthen their commitment to public interest law and service.

Applicants will apply directly through the PILI website. PILI offers Internships at 27 different legal service agencies in Illinois, and each applicant may apply to up to 10 agencies. You can review the list of agencies approved to host PILI Interns here.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until all agencies have completed their hiring. Please note that each agency supervisor handles hiring differently: some make hiring decisions early in the application period, while others wait until later. Applicants are encouraged to apply early to ensure the fullest consideration of their application.

If you have questions, please contact PILI’s Executive Director, Michael Bergmann, by email or by phone at 312-832-5129.

PILI 2017 Spring Internships - Apply Now!

Applications are being accepted for PILI Law Student Internships during the 2017 Spring Semester beginning November 1, 2016. Each year, PILI offers a limited number of school-year Internships in Chicago during the fall and spring semesters to second and third-year law students. School-year Interns will receive $2,500 for 200 hours of work over the course of a semester.

The agencies that have been approved to host Interns in Spring 2017 are listed below:

Cabrini Green Legal Aid (CGLA)
CARPLS (Coordinated Advice Referral Program for Legal Services)
Chicago Legal Clinic, Inc
Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing (LCBH)
LAF
Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF)
National Immigrant Justice Center
Roger Baldwin Foundation of the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, Inc.

Students will be able to apply online beginning November 1, 2016 through the PILI website. Students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, and applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until all positions are filled.

1L LCLD Scholars Program

The 1L Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Scholars Program is designed to strengthen the legal pipeline by expanding the number of opportunities for diverse first-year law students. The program offers you the rare opportunity to spend a summer working alongside attorneys from LCLD Member organizations.

Benefits for Scholars:

  • 1L LCLD Scholars Summit: LCLD invites each class of Scholars to this annual event, which includes panel discussions, distinguished speakers, and networking opportunities for the Scholars with LCLD Members and each other.
  • Substantive Work Assignments: LCLD Scholars spend their summer side by side with attorneys from Fortune 500 legal departments and Am Law 350 law firms.
  • Networking: There is a LinkedIn group dedicated to articles and discussions relevant to 1L LCLD Scholars. All are invited to join.

The application period will remain open per the Member organization’s discretion. Click here for more information. If you have any questions about the 1L LCLD Scholars Program, please contact Nancy Richardson, LCLD Program Manager. 

2017 Travelers Claim Legal and Corporate Legal Internship for 2Ls -
Applications due December 13

The goal of the Summer Legal Internship Program is to hire and develop high potential candidates into attorney positions at Travelers. Summer legal interns have the opportunity to work directly with seasoned attorneys during the summer months and conduct research, draft briefs and motions, and observe proceedings in various courts.

The internship is scheduled to begin on June 6, 2017 and run through August 2017 with some flexibility on the intern’s end date. Interns in this program are paid $25 per hour. Students entering their second year of law school in the fall of 2017 that have strong academic credentials and leadership experience are highly encouraged to apply.

The internship positions are located in Hartford, Connecticut. Interns are responsible for their own housing and transportation while participating in the program. Applications are due on or before Tuesday, December 13, 2016. To apply, visit www.travelers.com/Careers.

ABA Business Law Section Diversity Clerkship Program - Applications due December 30, 2016

In recent years, many areas of the legal profession have made pursuing diversity a priority objective. Business law presents many distinct diversity challenges, as law students are often unfamiliar with the field and perceive it as conservative and unaccepting. To help address this problem, the American Bar Association Business Law Section sponsors the Diversity Clerkship Program. This summer program provides business law clerkship placements for nine qualified diverse first or second year law students. Participating clerks will receive support and mentoring in the business law field and exposure to business practices.

The Business Law Section Diversity Clerkship Program focus is on judicial clerkships, where diversity among judicial clerks remains disproportionately low. For law students, serving as a judicial law clerk is a mark of distinction and honor that will advance their future career opportunities in law practice, and academia, in government as high-level appointees, and in securing appointments to the bench. Clerkships in business law courts provide another unique and highly important benefit to law students: the ability to see a microcosm of business practice, and allow the student to become familiar with business issues. Such a background will prove invaluable to a career in business law, whether it be litigation or transactional work.

Applicant Criteria:

  • Applicants must be current first or second year law students attending an ABA-approved law school.
  • Applicants must be considered diverse in one of the following ways: law students of color; women; law students with disabilities; LGBT law students; students who have overcome social or economic disadvantages such as a physical disability, financial constraints, or cultural impediments to becoming a law student.
  • Applicants must demonstrate financial need.
  • Applicants must be ABA Law Student Division and Business Law Section Members.

Applications are due Friday, December 30, 2016. Click here for more information.

Spring 2017 Access2Practice Legal Externship Program - Applications due January 6, 2017

Why Extern? 

Chicago-Kent has long recognized that classes and textbooks alone are not sufficient to complete the education of our students and their transformation into lawyers. Students also need practical experience in the real world to acquire legal skills not accessible in the traditional classroom and to gain insight into the strategic and ethical dimensions of the legal profession.

Some students gain experience when they are hired as part-time clerks, but some do not have access to paid or volunteer positions in a legal setting of their choice and/or one that teaches them the skills they want to acquire. The Legal Externship Program (LEP) presents a unique and important opportunity to gain exposure to an area of law you are interested in and helps you significantly broaden your practical employment opportunities.

What is LEP?

The Access2Practice (A2P) Legal Externship Program is a 4-credit-hour Pass/Fail program which enables Kent 2Ls and 3Ls to gain supervision/mentoring in a wide variety of legal areas – both civil and criminal.  

LEP externships consist of two separate components: fieldwork and class. Externs must work 16 hours a week during the Spring semester for a minimum total of 224 hours. In addition, externs attend a series of classes that meet on designated Wednesdays from 4:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Classes focus on different legal areas and the often complex realities at the core of law practice.

Where Can Students Extern?

Students interested in civil law may extern in a wide variety of places. For example, some have externed at the City of Chicago Corporation Counsel’s Office, Office of the Illinois Attorney General, Illinois Commerce Commission, Immigration Court of the U.S. Department of Justice, Internal Revenue Service, and U.S. and Illimois Environmental Protection Agencies.  

Students interested in criminal law have externed at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Office of the Federal Defender, and at the offices of the State’s Attorney and Public Defender in Cook County as well as the surrounding counties.  

In addition, during Spring semester there are a small number of private law firms and in-house corporate legal departments which have been formally screened and approved for LEP placements.  

How to Apply:

Applications are due Friday, January 6, 2017. The Information and Application packets for the Spring 2017 LEP are available online at http://www.kentlaw.iit.edu/academics/jd-program/practical-skills-training/externships/students or in hard copy on the table by the third-floor elevators, in the Career Services Office, and in the Room 600 Law Offices reception area.  

If you would like more information, please check the Externship web page.

ABA Judicial Intern Opportunity Program (JIOP) - Applications due January 6, 2017

The American Bar Association Section of Litigation will begin accepting applications for its Summer 2017 Judicial Intern Opportunity Program on November 7, 2016 for 2Ls and on December 1, 2016 for 1Ls. The program is a full-time (32 hours per week), six-week minimum, summer internship program open to all first- or second-year diverse law students. The application process is still open to all law students. Interns will receive an award of $2,000.

The mission of the Judicial Intern Opportunity Program is to provide opportunities to students who are members of racial and ethnic groups that are traditionally underrepresented in the profession. The program also provides opportunities to students with disabilities, students who are economically disadvantaged, and students who identify themselves as LGBT.

Participating judges are from Phoenix, AZ; Miami, FL; Philadelphia, PA (including Camden, NJ); New York, NY; and Seattle, WA. Internships are also available in several cities in California, Illinois, and Texas. Students may indicate geographic location preferences on their applications, but may not request particular judges or courts.

Internships for students with an Intellectual Property Law focus will be offered in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Texas, and Washington, D.C. Students can indicate their interest on their applications. These specialized spots are limited and any student applying to the program with a request for specialization will also be considered for general litigation internships.

Applications are due Friday, January 6, 2017. The first 500 applicants will be guaranteed at least one interview. Student applications will continue to be processed until all positions have been filled. Click here for more information.

Community-Based Federal Work Study Available for Spring 2017 - Deadline to apply is January 6, 2017

Federal Work Study (FWS) is a need-based financial aid program established by the federal government. The FWS program provides employment opportunities for eligible students, allowing them to earn, rather than borrow, a portion of their educational costs. Chicago-Kent students who are FWS eligible may receive payment for their work at government and public interest organizations in the Chicago area through FWS funds. However, the number of positions will be limited due to FWS budgetary limitations, and there are other restrictions and limitations as to where students can be funded to work. Please click here for more information and the required request form.

FWS applications for Spring 2017 are currently being accepted; early applications receive first consideration. The deadline for Spring 2017 is Friday, January 6, 2017Processing may take a week or more; allow plenty of time for approval, and the time it takes to be added to the Chicago-Kent payroll. 

U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois Summer 2017 Law Student Intern Program - Applications due January 11, 2017

The USAO for the Northern District of Illinois is responsible for prosecuting all federal crimes within the district. The Office also represents the United States and its departments and agencies in civil proceedings filed in federal court and in the Seventh Circuit. The primary goals of the Law Student Intern Program are to provide law students with the greatest possible exposure to and participation in federal trial and appellate practice and to obtain excellent legal talent to assist this Office in handling its multitude of cases.

The work of the law student interns includes assisting in all aspects of trial preparation, legal research, writing memoranda of law, drafting pleadings and appellate briefs, assisting in preparation and taking of depositions, and assisting in pretrial conferences and trials of civil and criminal cases. Students must be first-year (second semester), second-year or third-year law students.

Applications are due Wednesday, January 11, 2017. Click here for more information (you must be logged in to Symplicity).

JRC-JTB Summer Judicial Internship Diversity Project for Summer 2017 - Applications due January 13, 2017

The Committee on Judicial Resources for the United States Judicial Conference and Just The Beginning – A Pipeline Organization are pleased to announce the seventh annual Summer Judicial Internship Diversity Project ("Project") for Summer 2017. 

The Project’s goal is to provide summer judicial internships for diverse law students from communities underrepresented in the legal community. The JRC-JTB Project is national in scope and will place law students as judicial interns in federal appellate, district, bankruptcy, magistrate and select state appellate judges’ chambers across the country. Interns will have the opportunity to draft bench memoranda, judicial orders, and opinions on a variety of substantive matters, including motions to dismiss, motions for summary judgment, magistrate judge reports, and habeas corpus petitions. Applicants should possess strong research and writing skills and be prepared to handle the rigors of working in judge's chambers.

Applications are due online by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 13, 2017. Early applications are highly encouraged.

Twin Cities Diversity in Practice 2017 1L Summer Rotation Clerkship –
Applications due January 15

Twin Cities Diversity in Practice invites 1L law students of color to apply for its upcoming 2017 1L Summer Clerkship Program.  First-year law students will have a unique summer opportunity that combines a traditional law firm clerkship with experience working at an in-house corporate law department.

Twin Cities Diversity in Practice is a collaboration of 31 law firms and 16 corporate law departments seeking to enhance the diversity of the legal profession through its mission to attract, recruit, advance and retain attorneys of color in the Minneapolis and St. Paul community.

Students can begin applying starting December 1, 2016, and the application deadline is January 15, 2017, but students are encouraged to submit their materials before winter break. Please see the brochure for all details, FAQ and contact information for application submission.

ACC Chicago Diversity Summer Internship Program - Applications due January 22, 2017

The ACC Chicago - Diversity Summer Internship Program places 1L law students with diverse backgrounds from Illinois law schools in internships with Chicagoland corporate legal departments. Selected law students work in the legal department of a Chicagoland company for a minimum of ten (10) weeks during the 2017 summer. 

Interns are assigned a mentor in the company who is responsible for directing their day-to-day workload and ensuring that the students have a positive learning experience. In addition, the interns are also assigned a mentor from the ACC Chicago Chapter and will attend seminars and networking events hosted by the Chicago Chapter and participating legal departments. These seminars offer the students helpful tips on topics such as networking, interviewing and resume writing. 

The Chicago Chapter is looking for 1L students from diverse backgrounds that are traditionally underrepresented in the legal profession. Additionally, the Chapter seeks diverse students who are eager to learn and are capable of thriving in a corporate environment.

Applications are due Sunday, January 22, 2017. Click here for more information. To apply, you must fill out and complete an application. 

EPIC Internet Public Interest Opportunities Program (IPIOP) Clerkships –
Applications for summer due February 5, 2017

IPIOP seeks outstanding law students interested in public interest issues related to the Internet to spend a summer or a semester at the EPIC office in Washington.  Learn about the legislative process, public interest litigation, the Freedom of Information Act, online activism, and emerging Internet issues.

The IPIOP Program gives law students the opportunity to actively participate in valuable programs in Internet law, policy, and legislation. The goal of the program is to provide opportunities for clerks to experience first-hand the new and exciting intersection between Internet law and public policy.  Washington, D.C. provides an ideal location for an introduction to Internet law and policy. IPIOP clerks attend agency proceedings, policy meetings, Congressional hearings, and visit many landmarks in the Nation's Capital.

Applications for clerkships will be evaluated as they are received.  Students are encouraged to apply early, as they will be accepting on a rolling basis. For application information, qualifications, and to apply, please visit https://epic.org/epic/jobs.html.

Fellowships & Scholarships

McAndrews, Held & Malloy Diversity in Patent Law Fellowship Program –
Applications due January 15

In furtherance of the goal of promoting diversity in intellectual property law, McAndrews, Held & Malloy, Ltd. will award a paid 10 to 12 week summer associate (clerkship) position to a first-year law student who (a) is committed to meaningfully contributing to diversity and inclusion in the field of intellectual property law; (b) has a degree in science or engineering; and (c) intends to practice patent law in Chicago, Illinois.

The firm also intends to award a $5,000 fellowship on or about September 1, 2017, at the completion of the clerkship. As a summer associate at the McAndrews office in Chicago, the Diversity Fellow will gain experience in a wide range of intellectual property law and will be eligible to receive an offer to return for a second summer. To facilitate the Diversity Fellow’s professional growth and learning, a member of the McAndrews Diversity Committee will serve as a mentor and resource.

Applications must be submitted online between December 1, 2016 and Friday, January 15, 2017. Click here for more information.

Franczek Radelet LEADS Fellowship Program - Applications due January 9, 2017 for 1Ls

Franczek Radelet's Legal Education for the Advancement of Diversity and Scholarship (LEADS) Fellowship Program was established by the firm in 2010 to create a pipeline of talented and diverse law students in the Labor and Employment space.

The LEADS program is an intensive eight-week program designed for diverse first- and second-year law students who have an interest in pursuing a legal career in private practice representing employers in labor and employment matters. The program’s goal is to provide concentrated labor and employment legal experience while developing a pipeline of highly qualified, diverse candidates for potential future employment in the legal profession.

This program, unlike most traditional law firm summer associate programs, includes specific learning and experience modules for the LEADS Fellows during an eight-week fellowship period. The curriculum combines substantive legal experience with practical training provided by Franczek Radelet attorneys. LEADS Fellows will also receive an orientation to the business of practicing law with a focus on transitioning from the life of a law student to that of a private practice attorney.

With each Fellow assigned to a small group of Franczek Radelet attorneys, Fellows will also learn first-hand the work and demands associated with being a practicing labor and employment attorney. Work experience includes substantive exposure to real time labor, employment, employee benefits, immigration and education issues facing employers.

Completed and signed applications and all required supporting documentation is due by Monday, January 9, 2017 for 1L students (the deadline for 2L students has passed). Please note that applications will be reviewed and applicants interviewed and selected on a rolling basis, so please submit your application as early as possible.

Click here for more information.

Dinsmore Diversity Scholarship Program for Summer 2017 -
Applications due December 31

Dinsmore & Shohl Diversity Scholarship Program recipients will work as salaried Summer Associates in one of Dinsmore’s offices, and will receive a scholarship of up to $10,000. Recipients will also be assigned a mentor who will serve as a dedicated resource for professional development. The firm is specifically seeking applicants who have a strong record of academic or professional achievement, demonstrated leadership qualities, and a meaningful commitment to diversity.

Dinsmore is offering a unique opportunity for one first-year law student with global consumer products company Procter & Gamble. One first-year scholarship recipient will be a salaried Summer Associate for both P&G and Dinsmore, splitting a 12-week period between both organizations’ Cincinnati, Ohio offices.

Dinsmore is offering a similar opportunity with Yum! Brands, Inc., one of the world's largest restaurant companies with over 40,000 restaurants. One first-year law student will be selected to split a 12-week period with Dinsmore and Yum! Brands, Inc. in Louisville, Kentucky. 

Dinsmore also offers its own Diversity Scholarship Program including a weekly salary to work exclusively for Dinsmore and a scholarship award of up to $5,000.

Interested first-year students may apply for all opportunities between now and Saturday, December 31, 2015. Click here for an application! Applications must be submitted to:

Jennifer L. Stark 
Dinsmore & Shohl LLP 
Director of Recruiting and Legal Personnel
255 E. 5th Street, Suite 1900 
Cincinnati, OH 45202 
(513) 977-8488 - Phone
(513) 977-8141 - Fax
dinsmore.legalrecruiting@dinsmore.com 

Donald W. Banner Diversity Scholarship for Law Students - Applications due January 6, 2017

Banner & Witcoff is proud to offer the Donald W. Banner Diversity Scholarship for law students. This scholarship is part of Banner & Witcoff’s commitment to fostering the development of intellectual property lawyers from diverse backgrounds. 1Ls and 2Ls who meet the selection criteria are eligible to apply for the scholarship. Applicants must be U.S. citizens. Recipients of the Donald W. Banner Diversity Scholarship will receive $5,000 payable for the Fall semester of their second or third year of law school.

Applications are due Friday, January 6, 2017. Click here for more information.

Harter Secrest & Emery Diversity Scholarship - Applications due January 9, 2017

Harter Secrest & Emery LLP is committed to the ongoing development of a diverse work force. The firm believes that by continuously broadening the diversity of its attorneys, it provides better service to its clients and creates a richer work environment. As part of this commitment to diversity, and in an effort to provide students with support in pursuing a law degree, the firm has established the Harter Secrest & Emery LLP Diversity Scholarship.

The Harter Secrest & Emery LLP Diversity Scholarship was established in 2005. The ­firm awards one 1L law student with (1) a $7,500 scholarship to be applied to the student’s second year tuition and (2) a paid 10-week summer associate position between the student’s ­first and second year of law school.

To be eligible for the Diversity Scholarship, the applicant must be a full-time currently enrolled 1L law student who is in good standing at an accredited law school. First-year students who are members of populations historically underrepresented in the legal profession are encouraged to apply.

The Diversity Scholarship application must be received on or before Monday, January 9, 2017. Click here for more information.

National Lawyers Guild Haywood Burns Memorial Fellowship - Applications due January 9, 2017

The Haywood Burns Fellowships are designed to encourage students to work in the National Lawyers Guild’s (NLG) tradition of “people’s lawyering.” The program exists to help students apply their talents and skills to find creative ways to use the law to advance justice. Burns Fellowships provoke law students to question traditional notions of how one must practice law and provide a summer experience that will enrich and challenge them.

Fellowships may be completed with any existing organization whose mission addresses the needs of underserved individuals and groups. The NLG encourages applicants to identify grassroots and non-traditional work opportunities for which there is a serious current societal need. This could be a small non-profit, a short-staffed community law firm, or an organizing campaign that needs legal assistance. The Haywood Burns Fellowships usually provide a rigorous legal experience as well as a political one.

In 2017, the NLG expects to award five Fellowships. The NLG provides $2,000 for ten weeks of full-time work (unless otherwise noted) and encourages students to pursue matching public interest grants or course credit to supplement this stipend.

Applications are due Monday, January 9, 2017. Click here to download a copy of the application form. Click here for more information, and email NLG Director of Research and Education, Traci Yoder, at traci@nlg.org if you have questions about the fellowship or the application process.

Latham & Watkins 1L Fellowship Program for Summer 2017 - Applications due January 11, 2017

Latham & Watkins is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce. Its 1L Fellowship Program offers a unique summer employment opportunity for students who have just finished their first year of law school. 1L Fellows participate in the program for a total of ten weeks during the summer of 2017. The first half of the summer will be spent in one of the firm’s US offices and the remaining half in-house in the legal department of one of its clients. The firm seeks students who are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in the legal profession and who also possess a long-term interest in practicing law in a global law firm.

There are two 1L Fellowship Program Tracks for students committed to diversity and inclusion in the legal profession:

  • General Track: for students interested in working on matters across all of Latham’s practice groups.
  • Intellectual Property Track: for students with a technical background, including a degree in engineering, computer science, chemistry, biology, or physics, and who are committed to pursuing a career in intellectual property law.  Applicants for this track must apply to the Chicago, Silicon Valley, or Washington, D.C. offices.

1L Fellows will be partnered with a Latham mentor who will serve as a resource for professional development throughout the remainder of the 1L Fellow’s time in law school. 1L Fellows will also participate in the firm’s extensive training and development programs, including the popular Summer Academy in Beverly Hills, California.

1L Fellows will also be invited to attend Latham’s annual Diversity Leadership Academy, held from March 31 to April 2, 2017, in San Francisco, California. This event brings together Latham attorneys from around the globe, 1L Fellows, and talented law students from across the United States, with a specific focus on developing and empowering future leaders of the legal profession and creating community among Latham’s lawyers, recruits, and 1L guests.

Students who successfully complete the 1L Fellowship Program will earn an offer to join the firm as a summer associate the following summer, and upon acceptance of that offer, will automatically graduate into Latham’s 2L Diversity Scholars Program and receive a scholarship.

Applications are due Wednesday, January 11, 2017. Click here for more information. If you have any questions regarding the Latham & Watkins 1L Fellowship Program, please contact Yusuf Zakir, Global Recruiting Manager – Diversity, Marketing and Public Relations at yusuf.zakir@lw.com.

Fish & Richardson 1L Diversity Fellowship Program - Applications due January 13, 2017

Fish & Richardson is pleased to announce its 1L Diversity Fellowship Program for 2017. The program, which offers fellowships to diverse first year law students, is a key component of the firm’s ongoing initiative to recruit, retain, and advance attorneys who will contribute to the diversity of the firm’s practice and of the legal profession.

The firm’s 1L Diversity Fellowship Program is comprised of four components: a paid summer associate position in one of Fish & Richardson's domestic offices, mentoring by members of the firm, participation in the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity 1L Scholars Program, and up to a $10,000 scholarship

Candidates must be in good standing as a first-year law student at an ABA accredited law school; demonstrate a record of academic and professional achievement; contribute meaningfully to the diversity of the firm and legal community; and have a sincere interest in Fish & Richardson and its practice areas.

Applications are due Friday, January 13, 2017. For more information about the Fellowship or to print out an application and a checklist of required support materials, please click here. Answers to frequently asked questions regarding the 1L Diversity Fellowship Program can be found here.

Harrity and Harrity 1L Diversity Fellowship Program - Applications due January 13, 2017

The Harrity and Harrity Annual 1L Diversity Fellowship Program is an integral part of the firm’s ongoing diversity initiative to recruit, retain, and advance attorneys who will contribute to the diversity of the firm’s practice. 

The Harrity and Harrity 1L Diversity Fellowship Program is comprised of three parts: 

  • A paid summer associate clerkship position at Harrity and Harrity during the summer; 
  • Mentoring throughout the year by attorneys of the firm; and 
  • A $10,000 scholarship – Harrity and Harrity will award $5,000 to all 1L Diversity Fellowship recipients upon completion of their 1L summer associate clerkship with the firm; and award an additional $5,000 to those who join the firm as an associate, after receiving and accepting an associate offer with the firm following the completion of their 2L summer clerkship with us. 

Following the first year of law school, recipients are offered a paid summer associate clerkship position at the firm. These positions are part of Harrity and Harrity’s summer program, which runs from mid-May through July.
 
Each recipient will be assigned an attorney mentor. Mentors will serve as a liaison between the student and the firm, and facilitate the student’s professional growth and learning. The mentoring relationship begins as soon as the recipients have been named and continues at least through the academic year. Students will meet with their mentors multiple times per year, in person when possible. Should the student receive and accept an offer to return for a second summer, the mentoring relationship would continue for another academic year.

A grant of $5,000 will be awarded in September of the recipient’s second year of law school. The grant can be used for expenses at the student’s discretion. An additional $5,000 will be offered to those who receive and accept an associate offer with the firm after the completion of their 2L summer clerkship with us.

Applications are due Friday, January 13, 2017. Click here for more information. To download the fellowship application, please click
http://www.harrityllp.com/diversity/harrity2017diversityfellowship.pdf

Peggy Browning Fund Summer Fellowships and Law Student Union Summer Program –
Applications due January 13

The core program of the Peggy Browning Fund Fellowship Program is the Summer Fellowship Program, which is comprised of a 10-week fellowship during the summer months at labor-related organizations around the country.  In 2017, Peggy Browning expects to support approximately 70 funded summer fellowships, plus one part-time funded School-Year Fellowship at the Chicago Newspaper Guild for 2016-2017.

Over the years, Peggy Browning has placed over 700 law students in highly competitive fellowship positions with unions, worker centers, the U.S. Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, the Federal Labor Relations Authority and union-side law firms. Peggy Browning Fellows have advocated for thousands of workers and their families nationwide. 

The Summer Fellowship Program provides stipends to 1st and 2nd year law students who dedicate this time to advancing the cause of workers' rights. Summer Fellowship stipends will be a minimum of $5,000 per student for the ten-week employment period. Peggy Browning Fellows gain the practical skills required to represent workers and enjoy opportunities to network with their peers and leaders in the field of public interest labor law.

The Law Student Union Summer (LSUS) program is a unique and exciting 10-week internship (May 30, 2017, through Aug. 4, 2017) for law students that combines front-line, labor-related public interest legal work with grassroots organizing in ongoing campaigns by AFL-CIO-affiliated unions throughout the country. Interns work on site, at locations throughout the country (not in Washington, D.C.). The weekly stipend is $600 and transportation and housing are provided. Interns are supervised by attorneys and union organizers.

Approximately six students will be selected for LSUS for Summer 2017.  LSUS placements are nationwide, not in Washington, D.C.  Individual placement locations will be determined after the hiring process has been completed.  As a result, applicants must be willing to be placed in any location nationwide

In addition to legal research and writing, LSUS interns are involved in community outreach, member mobilization, corporate and other non-legal research, legislative campaigns and general litigation. Applicants must have a demonstrated interest in the practice of labor-related public interest law and may be first or second year students; students who have taken one or more labor law courses and who have experience in organizing and/or community activism are preferred.

For more information and to apply, please visit www.peggybrowningfund.org/fellowships/for-law-students

Vedder Price Diversity Scholarship for First-Year Law Students - Applications due January 16, 2017

In keeping with Vedder Price’s commitment to diversity, the firm established the Vedder Price Diversity Scholarship in 2005. Eligible candidates are first-year law students enrolled at and attending one of the following Illinois law schools: the John Marshall Law School, Chicago-Kent College of Law, DePaul University, Loyola University Chicago, Northwestern University, University of Chicago and University of Illinois.

This scholarship includes a $5,000 monetary award for law school-related expenses, as well as a guaranteed summer associate position in the firm’s Summer Associate Program after the scholarship recipient's first year of law school.

To be eligible, you must be a first-year law student who is a student of color, LGBT, a person with a disability or a person whose background or experience would otherwise contribute to the diversity of Vedder Price and the legal profession.
Applications must be postmarked by Monday, January 16, 2017.  Click here for more information.

PracticePro 1L Diversity Scholar Program - Applications due January 16, 2017

PracticePro is excited to announce that its Diversity Scholar Program is now accepting applications from first-year law students.

Diversity Scholar Program Benefits:

  • Free admission to attend the Chicago Career Conference (Spring 2017)
  • Participation in a free six-month intensive career-coaching program to help you navigate through law school, interviews, networking, and long-term career planning
  • Complimentary Interviewing and resume writing workshops
  • Free admission to attend the New Attorney Basics Conference (any time before December 2019)
  • Unlimited complimentary mentorship from PracticePro coaches and Diversity Program Advisory Board

Eligibility:

  • 1L (Class of 2019) at any participating Illinois law school
  • Member of a racial, ethnic, or gender group which has been historically underrepresented in the legal profession, member of the LGBT community, or those with a physical disability

Applications are due Monday, January 16, 2017. Early applications are strongly encouraged. Visit the Illinois Diversity Scholar Program Page for more information.

Janet D. Steiger Fellowship Project - Applications due January 31, 2017

The Janet D. Steiger Fellowship Project provides law students the extraordinary opportunity to work in the consumer protection departments of state and territorial Offices of Attorneys General throughout the United States, and consumer protection agencies in both Connecticut and Hawaii that are not affiliated with offices of attorneys general. The eight to ten week paid Fellowships were initiated in 2004 by the ABA Section of Antitrust Law, in cooperation with the National Association of Attorneys General, as a consumer protection outreach initiative to introduce law students to the rewards of legal careers in public service. Each selected student will receive a $6,000 stipend.

Applications are due Tuesday, January 31, 2017. Click here for more information.

Chicago Schweitzer Fellows Program - Applications due February 1, 2017

The Chicago Schweitzer Fellows Program is a one-year interdisciplinary, mentored fellowship program focused on health-related community service and leadership development. The Program strengthens Fellows’ resolve to provide health and human services to underserved populations by facilitating opportunities for students to:

• Use their skills and knowledge in real-life situations
• Become culturally sensitive and compassionate caregivers
• Understand the impact of social and environmental determinants of health
• Build capacity for and commitment to improving the health status of individuals and communities as well as contributing to social change
• Work collaboratively and across disciplines in pursuit of a common goal
• Learn how to exercise leadership skills to work with and influence community-based organizations, community leaders, and academic institutions to embrace holistic, service-oriented approaches to health

Upon successful completion of the initial Fellowship year, Fellows have the opportunity to participate in an alumni network of Fellows for Life – an interdisciplinary pipeline of emerging professionals who are dedicated and skilled in meeting the health needs of underserved communities.

Applications are due Wednesday, February 1, 2017. Click here for more information.

Finnegan Diversity Scholarship - Applications due February 1, 2017

Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP, one of the world's largest intellectual property firms, is accepting applications for its 2017-2018 Diversity Scholarship. The Finnegan Diversity Scholarship provides financial support to qualified diverse students who demonstrate a commitment to pursuing a career in intellectual property law.

The Scholarship award of $15,000 may be applied to costs associated with normal tuition and fees. The scholarship recipient will also join the firm as a 2018 summer associate in one of its domestic offices (Atlanta, GA; Boston, MA; Palo Alto, CA; Reston, VA; or Washington, DC). The scholarship may be renewed if an associate offer is extended and accepted for Fall 2019.

Scholarship recipients must be enrolled in an ABA-accredited law school in the JD class of 2019, must meet Finnegan’s hiring criteria (a degree in life sciences/chemistry, engineering, or computer science, or substantial prior trademark experience), and must contribute to enhancing diversity. The firm defines diversity broadly. Successful applicants have included members of racial, ethnic, disabled, and sexual orientation groups that have been historically underrepresented in the legal profession.

Applications are due Wednesday, February 1, 2017 and are available by clicking here.

Bricker & Eckler LLP - Charles H. Walker Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship –
Applications due February 1

The Charles H. Walker Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship was established to provide a first-year law student with a valuable employment experience early in his or her legal career. The scholarship will be awarded to a candidate who: demonstrates leadership skills, academic strength, service to the community, an overall commitment to excellence and who has exhibited a meaningful commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Students who will be 1L students in an ABA-approved law school by January 2017 are eligible to apply for the scholarship. One scholarship in the form of a $10,000 cash award (less any applicable taxes and withholdings) towards law school tuition and other law school related expenses will be awarded. In addition, the scholarship recipient will receive a paid summer associate position for the summer of 2017.

Eligible candidates should forward their résumé with GPA to the attention of Patricia M. Lach, Recruiting/Professional Development Coordinator, Bricker & Eckler LLP, 100 South Third Street, Columbus, OH 43215All résumés must be submitted /received by February 1, 2017. Scholarship finalists will be interviewed by members of the Firm’s Recruiting Committee and we hope to make the final selection by April 1, 2017.

All inquiries related to the Bricker & Eckler’s 2017 Charles H.Walker Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship should be directed to Patricia M. Lach at plach@bricker.com.

Fredrikson & Byron 1L Minority Scholarship Program - Applications due March 31, 2017

First-year law students are encouraged to apply to Fredrikson & Byron’s $15,000 Minority Scholarship program before the deadline of March 31, 2017. The scholarship is awarded based on law school performance, professional references, work and other activities, writing samples and personal interviews.

The scholarship program is part of Fredrikson's commitment to the promotion of diversity among incoming law professionals. The purpose of the program is to promote the legal training of minority law school students and to encourage them to join and excel in the private practice of law within larger corporate law firms in the Upper Midwest.

Applications are due Friday, March 31, 2017. Click here for more information.

Job Fairs

Midwest Public Interest Law Career Conference (MPILCC)

Date:  Saturday, February 4, 2017
Time: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (interviews); 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm (table talk)
Location: Northwestern Pritzker School of Law (Chicago, IL)


The Midwest Public Interest Law Career Conference (MPILCC), the largest public interest legal job fair in the Midwest, enables employers from public interest and government organizations and J.D. students to gather for a day of interviews and informal networking. MPILCC is open to students from law schools in Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Each year, the MPILCC Conference attracts nearly 50 employers for on-site interviews, Table Talk (an informal networking session), or resume solicitation. From over fifteen hundred student registrants, about 275 students representing almost 40 law schools attend the conference. The conference is free to students. For more information, visit http://www.mpilcc.org/.

Diversity

LCLD Success in Law School Mentoring Program

The primary objective of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Success in Law School Mentoring Program is to ensure that talented and diverse first-year law students receive the mentoring and preparation that they need to maximize their potential in law school and beyond.

Individual Mentoring Program (IMP):

The IMP is a comprehensive initiative for first-year law students from diverse backgrounds based on the principles of legal excellence and personal involvement. Attorney Mentors are matched 1:1 with talented law student Mentees to ensure that Mentees receive the mentoring they need to navigate their first year of law school and maximize their long-term potential. LCLD provides a comprehensive Mentoring Toolkit to assist both Mentor and Mentee in developing a successful relationship.

Group Mentoring Program (GMP):

The GMP allows diverse 1L, 2L, or 3L law students to receive advice and support from successful attorneys from LCLD Member organizations. Three GMP events are scheduled during the school year in each city in which LCLD hosts the Success in Law School Mentoring Program. GMP events are designed to provide guidance from experienced attorneys in an informal, interactive, and collegial setting. Many GMP events include attorney Mentors in a networking session and a panel presentation. Panel presentations cover a variety of topics including networking and relationship building, interviewing skills, professionalism, practice area choice, and attorney evaluation.

Student registration is now open. Law students may register to be Mentees on the LCLD website. LCLD will match Mentors and Mentees based on geographic proximity.

For additional information about the LCLD Success in Law School Mentoring Program, please visit: http://www.lcldnet.org/programs/law-school-mentoring/. For questions, please contact Nancy Richardson, LCLD Program Manager, at nrichardson@lcldnet.com or 804-787-8009.

1L LCLD Scholars Program
(See above)

ABA Business Law Section Diversity Clerkship Program - Applications due December 30, 2016
(See above)

Dinsmore Diversity Scholarship Program for Summer 2017 - Applications due December 31
(See above)

Donald W. Banner Diversity Scholarship for Law Students - Applications due January 6, 2017
(See above)

ABA Judicial Intern Opportunity Program (JIOP) - Applications due January 6, 2017
(See above)

Franczek Radelet LEADS Fellowship Program - Applications due January 9, 2017 for 1Ls
(See above)

Harter Secrest & Emery Diversity Scholarship - Applications due January 9, 2017
(See above)

Latham & Watkins 1L Fellowship Program for Summer 2017 - Applications due January 11, 2017
(See above)

Latham & Watkins 1L Diversity Leadership Academy - Applications due January 11, 2017

Latham & Watkins is excited to host a select group of first-year law students at its annual Diversity Leadership Academy from March 31 to April 2, 2017 in San Francisco, California.

Latham is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce. Diversity Leadership Academy brings together Latham lawyers from around the globe and talented first-year law students from across the United States, with a specific focus on developing and empowering future leaders of the legal profession and creating community among the firm’s lawyers, recruits, and 1L guests, all of whom share a commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Diversity Leadership Academy is a firm-sponsored professional development and training program providing first-year law students with the information and skills needed to successfully navigate the law firm interview and hiring process and transition from law student to practicing attorney. Students will participate in interactive seminars on a variety of topics, including resume writing, interview skills, diversity and inclusion, and pro bono.

During the course of the weekend, participants will meet and network with Latham lawyers and firm leaders at seminars and social events. Diversity Leadership Academy offers a unique opportunity to get to know the firm’s lawyers and develop professional relationships in a more relaxed setting. Each 1L student will be partnered with a Latham mentor who will serve in this capacity during the Diversity Leadership Academy and throughout the remainder of the student’s law school career. The mentor will serve as a resource for professional development and career advice.

Applications are due Wednesday, January 11, 2017. Click here for more information.

Note: applicants that seek to apply for both Diversity Leadership Academy and Latham’s 1L Fellowship Program need only complete the 1L Fellowship Program application and select to apply to both programs. The 1L Fellowship Program application is available here: www.lw.com/1LFellowship.

Fish & Richardson 1L Diversity Fellowship Program - Applications due January 13, 2017
(See above)

Harrity and Harrity 1L Diversity Fellowship Program - Applications due January 13, 2017
(See above)

JRC-JTB Summer Judicial Internship Diversity Project for Summer 2017 - Applications due January 13, 2017
(See above)

Twin Cities Diversity in Practice 2017 1L Summer Clerkship Program - Applications due January 15
(See above)

McAndrews, Held & Malloy Diversity in Patent Law Fellowship Program - Applications due January 15
(See above)

Vedder Price Diversity Scholarship for First-Year Law Students - Applications due January 16, 2017
(See above)

PracticePro 1L Diversity Scholar Program - Applications due January 16, 2017
(See above)

ACC Chicago Chapter Diversity Summer Internship Program - Applications due January 22, 2017
(See above)

Finnegan Diversity Scholarship - Applications due February 1, 2017
(See above)

Bricker & Eckler LLP - Charles H. Walker Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship – Applications due February 1
(See above)

Fredrikson & Byron 1L Minority Scholarship Program - Applications due March 31, 2017
(See above)

Resources

Government Honors & Internship Handbook and Public Policy Handbook: log-in now available

The Government Honors and Internship Handbook and the Public Policy Handbook are now available! To access the handbooks, use the link, login and password, which can be found in the Document Library in Symplicity. Note that many 3L/post-grad government honors program and 2L summer/semester internship program deadlines are very early in the semester; log in now to avoid missing an opportunity! 

2016-2017 PSJD Comprehensive Fellowship Guide

The 2016-2017 PSJD Fellowship Guide is an online compilation of post-graduate fellowships. To access the database and for information about how to effectively use the database, visit https://www.psjd.org/2016-2017_Comprehensive_Fellowship_Guide. Note that many fellowships have very early fall semester deadlines; 3Ls that are interested in applying for post-graduate fellowships should access the Guide now!

2016-2017 Chicago Area Law Firm List

The Chicago Area Law Firm List is a spreadsheet of the private sector law firms in the Chicagoland area with 4 or more attorneys. Students can use the list to identify firms that include their practice areas of interest. The Chicago Area Law Firm List can be found in the Symplicity Document Library, under the Resources tab.

Equal Justice Works’ Student Debt E-Book: Take Control of Your Future: A Guide to Managing Your Student Debt

Take Control of Your Future: A Guide to Managing Your Student Debt, is now available free on the EJW website.

Take Control of Your Future is a comprehensive guide to managing student debt, with chapters on understanding student loans and loan consolidation, planning before borrowing, income-driven repayment plans and a step-by-step guide to earning Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

ABA Law Student Podcast: Public Service Loan Forgiveness

If you plan to go into public service, you may have heard about public service loan forgiveness (PSLF for short). This economic incentive offers student loan forgiveness following a minimum period of service and on-time payments towards the borrower’s debt. The cost of this benefit is aimed at making public work more attractive.

In this extended two-segment episode of ABA Law Student Podcast, hosts Fabiani Duarte and Madison Burke interview Bryan Tyson, the executive director of the Georgia Public Defender Council and Jonathan Rapping, co-founder of Gideon’s Promise. 

In segment one, you will hear from Bryan about the debt to income gap, his organization’s survey of public defenders about PSLF, and the increased importance of public defenders outside the practice of law.

In segment two, you will hear from Jonathan about student debt’s barrier to public service, the lifelong commitment of student loans, and concerns about poor people not getting justice in the event of PSLF cuts or caps.

Listen now!   

CareerShift

Chicago-Kent has partnered with CareerShift to help with your job search needs. CareerShift is a one-stop search engine that allows users to search and review each and every job posting available (such as those on Monster, Indeed, all other job boards and company websites). In addition, users can search for jobs and save your searches, find and save a list of contacts, create resumes and cover letters, and put them together in a targeted e-mail or postal mail campaigns. Then you can track your responses from “Come in for an interview” to “You’re hired.”
With CareerShift you can:

  • Search every job listing, including job boards and company websites
  • Get inside contact information immediately, including email addresses, for millions of companies
  • Create and organize all of your documents
  • Confidentially market yourself
  • Remain focused and organized
  • Access your secure, private account from anywhere, anytime, 24/7

Log in to Symplicity for the link and password to access CareerShift (search “CareerShift” in the Document Library).

Practising Law Institute (PLI)

Practising Law Institute (PLI) invites law students to attend most of its live CLE programs, or view its live or archived Webcasts, for free, on scholarship (see PLI’s student scholarship form). They are all great sources of cutting-edge, practice-oriented content, and the live programs are terrific networking opportunities.

CBA YLS Webinar - Illinois Bar Exam Bootcamp

All law students are welcome to register for the webinar of Illinois Bar Exam Bootcamp, sponsored by The Chicago Bar Association Young Lawyers Section’s Law Student and Professional Responsibility Committees.

The webinar includes a comprehensive overview of everything you need to know about applying to and studying for the Illinois Bar and the character and fitness process, and features:

  • Bar exam study tips
  • Overview of professional responsibility and character and fitness rules
  • Navigating the character and fitness process
  • The Lawyers Assistance Program (LAP) as a resource for law students during bar prep and beyond
  • Access to “Study Tips for Bar Takers” Guid
Featured Speakers:
  • Shelley Bethune, Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC)
  • Chelsy Castro, Lawyers Assistance Program (LAP)
  • Bradley Pollock, Walsh, Knippen, Pollock & Cetina, Chtd.; Chair of Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness for 2nd District
  • Phillip Skaggs, The American Association of Insurance Services (AAIS); Co-Chair of YLS Professional Responsibility Committee
  • Danae Weidemann, Barbri, Inc
Click here to register. Complimentary for CBA Law Student Members! Not a Law Student Member of The Chicago Bar Association yet? Join now for only $12 at www.chicagobar.org/jointhecba.

CSO Resources

The Chicago-Kent Career Services Office has access to hundreds of helpful career resources. A majority of these resources are available in Symplicity under the red "Resources" tab (in the "Document Library"). Some of these resources include:

  • 2016-2017 Government Honors and Internship Handbook
  • Chicago Area Law Firm List
  • 2014-2015 Guide to Internships & Fellowships in Reproductive Rights & Justice
  • Updated Vermont Guide to State Judicial Clerkships
  • BYU Intercollegiate Job Bank
  • DePaul Law School International Guide and Job Resource
  • Music Attorney Registry
  • Prosecution Handbook
  • Public Defender Handbook               
  • Public Interest Job Search Handbooks
  • Various handouts related to the job search, including “Researching Legal Employers,” “The Out of State Job Search,” “Salary Negotiations” and “Writing Samples”

And many more!

Chicago-Kent students can also access various websites like: Policy Jobs (www.policyjobs.net), Political Jobs (www.politicaljobs.net), Human Rights Jobs (www.humanrightsjobs.com) and Ethical Jobs (www.ethicaljobs.net) by using the Login details that can be obtained in the Symplicity "Document Library" (under the Resources tab).

Speak with your Career Advisor about the various resources available through the Career Services Office!

CALENDARS

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