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Career Services Office

Career Services Office home page
Week of November 3, 2003

Programs/Seminars

Programs for 1Ls

Resumes and Cover Letters for the Legal Market - Required for Resume &/or Cover Letter Review in Office

Wondering what employers in the legal sector look for in a resume and cover letter or how a legal resume differs from your current resume? Then don't miss out as members of the Career Services office discuss how to make your college and/or work experiences work to your best advantage as you begin applying for legal positions. Questions and concerns about format, structure, and content of legal resumes and general tips on writing strong cover letters will be addressed. Attendance is required for all students who wish to have their resume reviewed by a career strategist.

The program for the evening students will take place on Monday, Nov. 3rd at 5:00 in the Auditorium. Please note: The evening program is reserved for evening division students only and will be geared toward students with professional experience prior to law school and/or working full-time during school.

Programming Note

If you missed the Orientation for First Year Students, there is a handout packet and short survey available for you to pick up in the career services office. There is also a videotape now available of the Orientation as well.

1L Tours of the Career Services Office

Cheryl Kunkel, the CSO Resource Specialist, will conduct office tours for all 1Ls interested in learning more about the resources available in the CSO. Tours will be limited to 10 students at a time. Please sign up in the Career Services Office.

Monday, Nov. 3rd
Noon
Tuesday, Nov. 4th
5:15 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 6th
3:00 p.m. & 5:15 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 7th
Noon

1L Job Posting Passwords Are Now Available

Each first year student has been assigned a password for viewing job postings. Please e-mail kentcso@kentlaw.edu to have yours sent to you. You can change your password once you log in to the website. The job posting web page (there is a direct link from the career services web page) is http://lawcareer.kentlaw.edu. Your social security number with the dashes is your “Student Login.” Please complete the “Profile” in the Personal Data section. To view job postings, select “LawMatch Job Listings.” You will need to complete a quick registration before going to the job posting section. We recommend that you copy and paste your resume into the resume bank as employers have the option of searching for interested/qualified applicants.

Practice Tracks

1Ls strongly encouraged to attend!

Thursday, November 6th from 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., attorneys from over 60 practice areas will be at the Chicago Bar Association, 321 S. Plymouth Court (next to the John Marshall law school) to talk informally with students about careers in a variety of practice areas. It's your chance to find out how job seekers are faring in a particular segment of the market, what it's like to practice in a specific practice area, which credentials are helpful in finding employment in the area, what skills you should stress in applying, and more!

Note: The participating attorneys have volunteered their time. Participation in the program does not indicate job openings at represented organizations.

Evening Law Students: Preparing for the bar exam

Are you concerned about the bar exam, but not able to take two months off of work to study? Come to room C35 on Thursday, November 13th from 5 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. and hear how recent graduates managed to continue working, take Bar/Bri, and pass the bar exam. Please e-mail progers@kentlaw.edu to register.

Out of State Job Search Program

If you’re considering working in another state, don’t miss our Out of State Job Search program! Learn how to maximize your job search outside of Illinois. CSO staff members will provide all the details about available resources and answers to the most frequently asked questions so that you can map out your job search wherever it may lead you. Come to Room 580, Tuesday, November 11th at Noon.

ABA Program "Pursuit of Happiness: Uncovering Satisfying Career Paths for Today and Tomorrow"

On Wednesday, November 12, 2003 (Room 590, 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.) the American Bar Association Career Resource Center will present a special one hour program for students and young alumni/ae. Many career paths are possible with a law degree, for those willing and able to exercise their options and the guest panelists will cover a full range of experience and a number of professional roles. Panelists will reveal their top tips about breaking into their coveted lines of work, share their hesitancies and how they overcame them to find happiness in and beyond the law. Guest speakers will include Kathy Morris, Director of the ABA Career Resource Center and four Chicago-Kent Alumni/ae: Bob Grueneberg '76, US Postal Service Legal Department; Mark Ippolito '95, Vice-President, Burns Sports & Celebrity Marketing; Judy Armstrong Pazol '87, Senior Counsel, Premier, Inc.; and Lois Price '97, who is currently working in an alternative career in the radio industry at WFMT 98.7 FM and WLUW 88.7 FM. The first 50 attendees will receive a copy of "Ask the Career Counselors: Answers for Lawyers on their Lives and Life's Work," the newest publication from the ABA Career Resource Center. This program is sponsored by The Affiliates, an executive search firm matching experienced attorneys to project-based and permanent opportunities, and the Chicago-Kent Alumni/ae and Career Services Offices. Refreshments will be served. Registration is necessary. Please e-mail kentcso@kentlaw.edu to reserve your seat.

Black Law Students Association Career Panel

Open to All Students: Black Law Students Association’s Career Panel

On Wednesday, November 5th in Room 590 the Black Law Students Association will present a panel of experienced practitioners to discuss a variety of career related concerns – distinguishing yourself from other candidates, effective job search strategies, coping with the recent changes in the marketplace, and how to network effectively. An informal reception will take place from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. with the panel beginning at 4:30 and a question and answer period to follow. Professor Bartram Brown will moderate the discussion. Panelists include: the Honorable Preston Bowie, Chicago-Kent graduate and Associate Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County, Criminal Division ;Robert Ruiz, Chief of the Public Interest Bureau of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office; Michael Ayala, Channel 2 Morning Anchor and Legal Analyst; Seyon Reed, Chicago-Kent graduate and Assistant State’s Attorney; Heather Nelson, Chicago-Kent graduate and Entertainment Law attorney. Please rsvp to BLSA@kentlaw.edu by Monday, November 3rd to reserve your seat.

CBA Young Lawyers Section All School Social

Tuesday, November 18, 2003, 4-6 p.m. Come join other law students, meet your school's CBA Law Student Representative, and network with YLS leaders at the All-Schools Reception. Come take advantage of a great networking opportunity, learn the benefits of bar membership, win raffle prizes, and enjoy appetizers. You must be a current CBA law student member to obtain 2 free drink tickets-so don't forget your CBA card. Not a CBA law student member? Call Maria Campbell at 312-554-2135 for an application or join at the door for only $12. Please RSVP to the YLS Department by sending an e-mail to yls@chicagobar.org or call 312-554-2031

The Judicial Clerkship Institute

The Judicial Clerkship Institute will be held at Pepperdine University School of Law in Malibu, CA. The purpose of the Institute is to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of judicial law clerks. Any law student or law graduate who has been selected for or has entered a clerkship with a federal district or federal appellate court judge is eligible to attend. Deadline for applications is December 1, 2003, but due to space limitations apply early. The Institute will be held January 2nd-4th, 2004. See http://law.pepperdine.edu for further information.

Employment Related Opportunities

NOTE:  In addition to the highlighted opportunities listed below, the CSO receives numerous job listings which are posted daily in the password protected "Lawmatch Job Posting System" accessible through the CSO website pages.  If you are seeking employment, you should check those listings on a regular basis.  If you do not have a password for the job posting system please e-mail kentcso@kentlaw.edu.

Department of Defense Summer Honors Legal Intern Program

The Office of General Counsel is accepting applications from both 1L and 2L student for the Summer 2004 Honors Legal Internship Program. 2L applications must be postmarked by November 17, 2003. 1L applications must be postmarked by January 5, 2004. See handout #14 for all details and Application Form 612. See job posting #75962.

Scholarship for the Cook County Public Defender's Office

The Jack Carey Scholarship is awarded to a law student who commits to being an intern or extern at the Cook County Public Defender's Office for one semester. The intern or extern must be currently enrolled in law school and work a minimum of 15 hours/week during the designated semester. The scholarship money is sent to the law school to help pay tuition. If Tuition has been paid, the money is released to the intern/extern. Pick up an application in the Career Services Office, handout #16. Application deadline is November 3rd, 2003.

Native American Joint Program

Quarles & Brady has joined forces with the Gila River Indian Community of central Arizona and the Forest County Potawatomi Community of Wisconsin in designing a summer experience for law students interested in Native American legal issues. In the Native American Joint Summer Associate Program, a student has the unique opportunity to work first-hand with members of our Federal Indian and Gaming Law Practice Group
and with the in-house counsel of the Gila River Indian Community and the Forest County Potawatomi Community. Interested first-year and second-year students are invited to forward their resumes and writing samples to Dori John in Phoenix for the Gila River program at djohn@quarles.com, 602-229-5314 or Michelle Hemenway in Milwaukee for the Potawatomi program at mbigler@quarles.com, 414-277-5290. Selection decisions will be made jointly by the Firm and the Gila River or Potawatomi Indian Communities. For information on the Gila River Indian Community, see http://www.gric.nsn.us. For information on the Forest County Potawatomi Indian Community, see http://www.fcpotawatomi.com.

Fellowship Information Available

Equal Justice America Summer $3,500 Legal Service Fellowships Available

Equal Justice America Legal Service Summer Fellowships are available to law students working in organizations providing direct civil legal services to the poor. Students must secure a full-time (minimum 35 - 40 hours per week) placement for at least 10 weeks for a legal services organization. Completed applications must be received no later than March 17, 2004. See job posting # 78323.

Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) Fellowship Programs

Graduate Fellowship

This Fellowship is for 3Ls who will be incoming associates at participating law firms. The Fellowships are during the summer and allow adequate time to study for the Bar Exam. See handout #18 and job posting #77682 for complete details.

Summer Internship

This program is for 1Ls and 2Ls. This is a 10-week program and pays a $4,500 stipend. The internship provides a valuable and unique opportunity to serve the needs of low-income people, work on policy issues, and put your knowledge to use in the public interest. Applications must be received before March 1. See handout # 19 and job posting #77691. NOTE: 1Ls cannot apply before December 1.

2004 Equal Justice Works Fellowships Brochure is now available

The brochure contains selection criteria, deadlines and other program-related information. Go to www.equaljusticeworks.org (click on "Find an opportunity > Equal Justice Works Fellowships > Apply for a Fellowship today!).

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. Students can access the Fellowship Corner at the top of the left sidebar menu on the PSLawNet home page.

Resources

NOTE: These are by no means all of the resources available in our office. This section is for highlighting new resources or existing sources that have been updated, or as a reminder of existing resources that are especially useful at certain times during the year. To view the list of available resources go to http://www.kentlaw.edu/depts/cso/book-inv.pdf

ISBA Law Ed Series

The Illinois State Bar Association offers high quality educational programs to its members, the Law Ed Series. These practical and affordable CLE programs are offered to law students at no charge and to Newly Admitted attorneys at a reduced tuition of $15.00 for a full-day program and $10.00 for a half-day program. For a listing of CLE programs available, visit the ISBA website, www.isba.org.

Career Education Institutes

We have various publications available in the Career Services Office. It is also possible to view their publications on-line at www.Internships-USA.com. Contact the CSO for the user name & password.

New Resource: Serving the Public: A Job Search Guide 2003-2004

A good narrative overview of the field and the job search process for public sector employment. Includes sample resumes and cover letters, and lists of employers and fellowships.

New Resource: Immigration Detainee Defense Initiative Directory

Opportunities for Law Students to Work Justice in the Lives of Detained Immigrants and Refugees.

Reminder: Informational Handouts Available

All of our handouts on resumes, cover letters, interviewing, job search strategies and others are available on our web site under the job search handout link.

Job Postings

All employment opportunities, paid or unpaid, clerking or volunteer, internship or externship, or fellowship, can be found in the new LawMatch system. To access this system, go to the current job posting system and click on the link for LawMatch Job Listings. Register yourself as a user, even if you have previously registered with LawMatch through another avenue. You will then be allowed to access the job postings. If you have your old password and student ID, please continue using them. If you haven't received your password, please contact the Career Services Office to get it. Remember to use the dashes in your Social Security # when entering your username and password.

Chicago Area Law Firm List

Last Fall the Chicago Area Law Firm List, also known as the 4 or More List became available on-line in a password protected searchable database. Although every attempt is made at keeping the database current, some information may become out of date due to firm mergers, contact people leaving their firms, etc., it's suggested that all information be double-checked prior to sending out any cover letters and resumes. If you should learn of any changes, please notify our office via e-mail so we can update the database accordingly. Please contact kentcso@kentlaw.edu for the password to access the list. Please note, the password for this site is not the same as your job posting password.

 

 

 

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