Career Services Office:
News & Announcements for the Week of
May 21, 2001

Main Record Index
Chicago-Kent Home Page
E-mail Career Services

Summer Semester Office Hours
Beginning Monday, May 7th, the office will observe summer hours as follows:

  • Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday         8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
  • Thursday                                                         8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Counseling appointments will be available Thursdays, from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.  Please call the office at 312-906-5200 or e-mail kentcso@kentlaw.edu to set up an appointment. 

MISCELLANEOUS

ATTN: Class of '02, '03, & Domestic LL.M.s: Begin Preparing Now for the Fall Interview Season 
Although the 2001 Fall Interviewing Program begins in August, it's best to begin preparing early.  You will be amazed at how quickly you need to research and preference employers for registration once you return to school.  If you missed the preliminary fall interviewing program in April, check out the videotape available in the CSO.  Also, be sure to check out the preliminary packet of information about the program and the companion piece that provides tips on how to research employers and attorneys on the CSO Web site (contact our office for the password).  Take the time this summer to research law firms or government agencies you are interested in so that you can find the best fit between your career goals and potential employers who will be interviewing this fall. 

RESOURCES

Fedjobs.com
The CSO has recently converted our print subscription of Federal Career Opportunities to the Web based version.  This resource is available on one computer in the CSO Resource Center.  To access the site, please see the Resource Specialist for username and password. 

Lawyers in Transition
Lawyers in Transition is an informational group for law students and lawyers (practicing and non-practicing) which provides career/vocational counseling resources, information about mentorship and networking, and open discussions on issues affecting the legal community and consequently, those engaged in the practice of law.  For information concerning Lawyers in Transition, please call David Vlcek at (708) 233-0500.

PROGRAMS/SEMINARS

3Ls: Practice Skills for New Lawyers
Wondering how you're going to bridge the gap between law school and successful practice?  Then you won't want to miss the ISBA's Practice Skills Series which is specifically designed for new lawyers going into private practice, who need a general, broad-based knowledge of the practice of law.  The program will consist of 12 weekly sessions at the ISBA Chicago Regional Office, in the Loop, every Wednesday evening from August through October.  Sessions will be taught by practicing lawyers who will give you their insights and practice-oriented information.  The cost for ISBA members, and law school graduates not yet admitted to practice in any state, is $195.  If interested, e-mail contact information to tspeedie@isba.org.

Win Scholarships this Summer at "Client Development and Client Relationship Management: The Key to Your Success as a Lawyer"
The CSO and members of the Chicago Legal Marketing community will co-sponsor a seven-series program to help law students who have completed two years of law school, or have three years of professional experience prior to entering law school, and recent graduates learn essential marketing and client development skills.  "Client Development and Client Relationship Management: The Key to Your Success as a Lawyer" will take place at Chicago-Kent every Tuesday and Thursday from July 10th through July 31st.  A mailing will be sent within the next few weeks with details about the program. 

A scholarship towards tuition will be eligible to two students who attend all sessions and submit the best overall personal marketing plan (as judged by a panel of law firm marketers and members
of the program faculty).  This is an excellent opportunity to learn the basic skills required to develop 
a successful law practice that go beyond being an excellent legal technician. 

We strongly encourage you to take advantage of this innovative program.  Be sure to stop by the CSO to sign up.

SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES

NOTE:  The CSO Record page will no longer have a separate Special Opportunities & Record Handouts page.  Opportunities once advertised on this page will now be posted in the password protected "LawCareer Job Posting System" accessible through the CSO website.  If you are seeking employment, you should check those listings on a regular basis.  If you do not have a password for "LawCareer" please contact Navreet Heneghan, Administrative Manager, at nhenegha@kentlaw.edu.

1Ls: Robert Masur Fellowship in Civil Liberties
The Nation Institute is now accepting applications for the 2001 Robert Masur Fellowship in Civil Liberties.  The competition is open to 1Ls who intend to pursue significant activities during the summer in the areas of civil rights and/or civil liberties.  The recipient will receive a $1,000 honorarium.  See Handout #125 for information regarding acceptable activities/projects and how to apply.  Applications are due May 31, 2001.

1Ls, 2Ls: Student Press Law Center Media Law Internships - Arlington, VA
The Student Press Law Center, the only  national organization devoted exclusively to protecting the free press rights of high school and college journalists, has media law internships available for fall 2001.  Interns will research and write opinion letters, memoranda and briefs on current, fast-breaking legal disputes.  Client contact is also a major part of the internship.  A stipend based on the number of hours worked is available as well as academic credit.  Preference is given to those with student or professional journalism experience.  See Handout #124 for detailed information. Applications are due June 1, 2001.

1Ls, 2Ls: Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC)
OPIC is an independent corporation, wholly owned by the U.S. Government.  It operates 3 main programs: it insures U.S. investors against certain political risks; it finances private sector and mixed public/private projects through loans and loan guaranties; and it provides preinvestment consulting services to U.S. companies considering investing abroad.  The Department of Legal Affairs invites law students with strong academic records and an interest in finance, as well as international law and development, to spend fall 2001 at OPIC, in Washington D.C., as law clerks. Handout #121 and the gray files have detailed information about the program. Applications are due June 1, 2001.

All: Food & Drug Law Institute Summer Internship Program - June 18-22, 2001
The Food & Drug Law Institute is a nonprofit, educational organization founded to advance the public health by providing a neutral forum for critical examination of the laws, regulations, and policies related to drugs, medical devices, other health care technologies and food.  FDLI's summer internship in Washington, DC is a comprehensive five-day course providing practical instruction on the fundamentals of federal food and drug law and regulation, the Food and Drug Administration, and that agency's programs designed to ensure consumer safety.  Enrollment is limited to twenty-five.  There is no course fee for full-time students. Application deadline: June 8, 2001.  Application form is available in the CSO as Handout #120.  Further information can be found at www.fdli.org.

2002 Graduates: Skadden Fellowship with Farmers' Legal Action Group, Inc. (FLAG)
FLAG, a nonprofit law center that provides legal support to financially distressed family farmers, farm advocates, grassroots farm organizations, and rural attorneys nationwide, is seeking a public interest Skadden Fellowship candidate for fall 2002.  2002 graduates or 2001 graduates with a judicial clerkship for the '01-'02 year are eligible.  The fellowship provides salary and fringe benefits for 2 years.  See the Resource Specialist or www.flaginc.comfor more detailsResume & letter of interest is due to FLAG by September 5, 2001.  Skadden application, available in the CSO, is due to the Skadden Fellowship Foundation October 8, 2001.

3Ls, 4Ls, Alums: Community Legal Services, Inc. (CLS) - Philadelphia
Community Legal Services, Inc. is looking to sponsor candidates for post-graduate, public interest fellowships provided by the Skadden Fellowship Foundation, the Independence Foundation, and NAPILCLS is a large urban program which provides assistance on issues such as social security, consumer protection, public assistance, landlord/tenant, public housing, bankruptcy, family law, employment discrimination, energy, elder law, and access to health care.  See the CSO for more details or the CLS Web site at www.clsphila.org. Materials should be sent to CLS ASAP but no later than July 15, 2001.

2002 NAPIL Fellowships
With support from the Open Society Institute and participating law firms and corporate sponsors, NAPIL Fellowships allow new law graduates and outgoing judicial clerks to work on a wide range of public interest issues, such as domestic violence, health care, community development, homelessness, environmental justice, immigration, Native American rights, children's health and welfare, and the death penalty.  Approximately 75 Fellowships will be awarded to begin September 2002.  Fellowships are for two years.  Route A Fellowship applications are due September 14, 2001.  Route B applications are due February 27, 2002.  To learn more about the application process check out the NAPIL Fellowship Binder on the resource shelves of the CSO or log onto www.napil.org

2002 Skadden Public Interest Fellowships 
Skadden Fellowships, sponsored by the law firm of Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom, provide support for new law graduates and outgoing judicial clerks who want to work in the public interest for an organization that provides civil legal services to the poor, including the working poor, the elderly, the disabled or those deprived of their civil rights.  25 fellowships are awarded each year to law students from schools nationwide.  Fellowships are for one year but may be renewed for a second year if requested and approved by the grantmaking panel.  Class of 2002 students who are interested in applying for a Fellowship must have secured a position with an organization by the time of application. Applications for 2002 Fellowships are due October 8, 2001.  Fellows are selected by December 7, 2001.  Interested second-year students may pick up an application in the CSO.

JOB FAIRS

Deadline Change - National Black Prosecutor's Association Job Fair
The deadline for the National Black Prosecutor's Job Fair has been extended.  This fair provides a forum for law students, as well as recent law graduates to meet and interview with prospective employers for employment in prosecutors' offices at the state, local, and federal level across the nation.  This year, it will be held on Tuesday August 21, 2001, at the Chicago Swissotel at 323 E. Wacker.  The NBPA will also host a Professional Development Series, covering topics from "Surviving the Bar Exam" to "The Road to Becoming A Prosecutor".  A reception for participants is planned for the evening following the Job Fair allowing them to intermingle with prospective employers.  The Job Fair is free to attend -- please stop by the CSO to pick up a registration form.  If you would like to attend the reception, the cost is $15.00, with checks made payable to NBPA - 18th Annual Convention Committee. The date to turn in the registration form (and check, if applicable) is June 1, 2001 at Noon.

Minnesota Minority Recruitment Conference 
The 2001 Minnesota Minority Recruitment Conference will be held September 21 and 22, 2001, at the offices of Faegre & Benson in downtown Minneapolis.  A reception for judges, students, and employers will take place on Friday evening, September 21, with all interviews being held on Saturday September 22.  Each student may receive up to five interviews, depending on the employers' criteria and each student's preference selections.  Interviews at the Conference will be assigned randomly by computer.  The resumes will not be prescreened and the Twin Cities Committee will not prescreen the student selections except as to (1) year of graduation; and (2) the existence of an undergraduate technical degree for those firms whose members practice exclusively before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.  Additional interviews can be obtained after the Friday night reception, during which all open interview slots are made available. 

Students are responsible for arranging their own accommodations during the Conference, as well as transportation to and from the Conference.  There is a Frederick McGhee Memorial Scholarship available for students to receive reimbursement for travel/ lodging expenses.  Please see the CSO Bulletin Board for the requirements.  Stop by the CSO to pick up the registration form, which is due to our office by 5:00 p.m. on Friday June 22, 2001.  Information on the employers is available in a binder in the Resource Center of the CSO. 

Please note that in addition to firm interviews, Judicial Clerkship interviews will also be held.  Of particular interest is a one year supreme court clerkship with the Minnesota Supreme Court. Applicants should be 2Ls and have strong research and writing skills.  Participants interested in the supreme court clerkship should submit a resume, a writing sample, a law school transcript, and 2 references from law school professors to Justice Paul H. Anderson, Minnesota Supreme Court, 425 Minnesota Judicial Center, St. Paul, MN, 55155.  Applications must be received by September 1, 2001.  Please mark on the outside of your envelope and in your cover letter that you are a participant in the MMRC.  Direct any questions to Justice Paul Anderson at 651-296-3314.


Main Record Index Top of Page