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Week of February 13, 2006

Programs

Small and Midsize Firms

Hosted by the Illinois State Bar Association, a panel of attorneys will discuss the dynamics of the work environment at their firms and how law students can determine what type of work environment will fit their interests and desires. Additionally, there will be an opportunity for students to ask questions speak with the panel members. Join us for lunch! Tuesday, Febraury 14, from noon to 1 p.m. in room 370.

Judicial Externships:   Summer and Fall 2006 Semester
Informational Meeting

On Tuesday, February 14, 2006, at 12:00 p.m. in Room 345 there will be a meeting for students who are interested in externing for one of the designated judges for the Summer or Fall 2006 Semesters.  Professor Vivien Gross will describe the kinds of experiences a judicial extern will have in the course of a semester, as well as how to apply for a judicial externship. 

Applications for the Summer and Fall Judicial Externships will be available both in the Law Offices reception area (Room 600), and in the Career Services Office as of Friday, February 3rd. Completed applications for Summer Externships should be submitted to Ms. Carole Ross, Secretary to Professor Gross, Room 612 of Law Offices, by Wednesday, February 22nd, at 5:00 p.m. Completed applications for Fall Externships should be submitted to Ms. Carole Ross, Secretary to Professor Gross, Room 612 of Law Offices, by Wednesday, March 1st, at 5:00 p.m.

Interviewing Tips

How do legal employers conduct interviews? What questions can you expect and how should you prepare? Find out about interview Do's and Don'ts. Tuesday, February 21st from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in room 370.

ABA’s Government and Public Sector Lawyers Division: Career Panel Program

The ABA’s Government and Public Sector Lawyers Division is presenting a Career Panel Program for students from all area law schools on Friday, February 24th 2006, 12:30pm, at DePaul College of Law in 905 Lewis. This is an opportunity to learn more about the opportunity to be hired and work in the government/public sector, and enjoy a free pizza lunch. To attend, please rsvp to kentcso@kentlaw.edu by Monday, January 20th.  

YLS presents: Meet the Firms Night
Thursday, February 23, 2006 • 4:30-6:30 p.m.
CBA Building • 2nd Fl.
321 S. Plymouth Ct., Chicago

At “Meet the Firms Night” the YLS hosts Chicago’s most influential law firms at the CBA. Firm representatives are on hand to provide you with hiring and firm culture information and answer your questions about employment at the firm.

The event is free to all CBA members and CBA law student members (nonmembers can join at the door). Resumes are accepted at the discretion of the firms. Dress is business casual. To RSVP your attendance, call the YLS at 312-554-2032 or send an email (include your name, CBA member number and phone – nonmembers should indicate they will be signing up for membership at the door or call ahead to 312-554-2135).

YLS presents: Law Student Interview Workshop
February 16, 4:00-6:00 p.m

Strategies to handle difficult questions and tips for putting your best foot forward will be covered in an opening session, followed by one-on-one mock interviews with practicing attorneys from a variety of practice settings (government, large firm, small firm, and legal assistance). Participants should bring resumes and wear proper business attire. The free workshop will be held February 16 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at the CBA Building. You must be a CBA member to participate. To register, contact the YLS at 312-554-2032 (include your name, CBA number, and phone number).


Norman Amaker Public Interest Law Retreat

Fifth Annual Norman Amaker Public Interest Law Retreat, February 24-26, 2006, hosted by Indiana University School of Law. The retreat will be held at Bradford Woods, a 45 minute drive from Indianapolis and is open to all law students interested in public interest law and social justice issues. Click here for more information. Attend panels and network with public interest advocates throughout the Midwest for an entire weekend.   

Human Rights Law in the Americas, Costa Rica
Study Abroad Program

The Human Rights Law in the Americas Summer Program, offered through DePaul University, combines an intensive study of international human rights law in the Americas with an immersion in Costa Rican and Latin American culture. The Summer Program runs from June 26 - July 25, 2006, and costs $3,700, which covers tuition and fees for 6 ABA-approved law school credits, as well as room, board, local transportation, and additional educational expenses.

The application deadline is April 30, 2006. The application must be accompanied by a $250 deposit, which is non-refundable unless the applicant is not accepted or the program is cancelled. Click here for full details. See Dean Sowle to discuss class credit.


Employment Related Opportunities

Please check the job posting system on a regular basis.  If you do not have a password, please e-mail kentcso@kentlaw.edu.

Illinois Attorney General Law Clerk Positions

DEADLINE APPROACHING:

  • Law students wishing to serve as law clerks at any time during the Summer of 2006 (May through August of 2006) should submit their applications no sooner than January 1, 2006 and no later than March 1, 2006.

  • Law students wishing to serve as law clerks at any time during the Fall of 2006 (September through December of 2006) should submit their applications no sooner than May 1, 2006, and no later than July 1, 2006 .

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan invites and encourages law students to apply to serve as volunteer law clerks in her office. The Illinois Attorney General's Office provides excellent opportunities for law students to improve their skills and knowledge in a wide range of subject areas, including consumer protection, government representation, civil rights, environmental enforcement, antitrust, complex civil litigation, civil and criminal appeals, and criminal law enforcement. For more information regarding the various divisions and bureaus within the Office, you may review our programs and services brochure.

Working closely with attorneys in the Chicago, Springfield, or Carbondale office, law clerks investigate facts, review documents, research legal issues, and draft legal memoranda, correspondence, and pleadings. Advanced students who qualify for a 711 license are encouraged to obtain such a license so that they may appear in court under the supervision of an Assistant Attorney General.

For further information and to download an application form, students should visit the Illinois Attorney General's website (go to "job opportunities"). Inquiries may also be directed to Adelaida Otero at 312-814-5197 or aotero@atg.state.il.us. See handout #20 in the Career Services Office for additional information.

Association of Corporate Counsel: Law Student Summer Internship Scholarship

The Diversity Committee of the Chicago Chapter for the Association of Corporate Counsel is now accepting applications for its Law Student Summer Internship Scholarship Program.  The program's mission is to attract top minority law students and provide those students with practical experience within a business environment.

The Committee will award a $1,500 scholarship stipend to each of three (3) minority law students who have completed their first-year of law school and who meet the Diversity Committee's selection criteria.  Students will be selected from accredited Chicago-land law schools (in order to avoid housing and travel costs) and placed with participating companies in the Chicagoland area for 10-12 weeks during the summer of 2006.

Law student interns should be assigned regular department duties and responsibilities and, to the extent possible, be involved in substantive department issues and matters.

For applications, please pick up Handout #21 in the Career Services Office.


City of Chicago, Law Department
First Year Summer Extern Program

The Department of Law will have up to 36 highly qualified first year law students working as volunteers and assigned to one of its twelve divisions for a 10 week summer extern program. The program is designed to provide first year law students with a challenging externship that reflects the demands and rewards of public service, as well as a program focused on legal research and writing. The Law Department selects well-rounded law students who have exhibited academic excellence and an interest in public service from law schools across the nation.

During the summer, externs are assigned to one of the twelve practice groups within the Law Department and where they will be asked to assist the attorneys on a variety of legal issues within their assigned division. The program includes social activities designed to allow externs and members of the Law Department to become acquainted in less formal settings. In addition, the Department hosts a brown bag lunch series featuring speakers addressing legal issues that affect the City in areas such as environmental and First Amendment law, and provides the externs with an opportunity to meet with City department officials and members of state and federal judiciary.

The Law Department seeks talented, promising individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds. Many of our attorneys are active in civic and professional activities and organizations. The Law Department is committed to increasing opportunities for minorities in the legal profession, and the Department is proud that its staff reflects the racial, cultural, and ethnic diversity of Chicago. The Law Department is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

For more information about this program, please contact Ms. Yona Ferris, Legal Personnel Administrator, at (312) 744-6974 or please send the following materials for consideration via email with division preferences: current resume, legal reference list, law school transcript or undergrad transcript if law school transcript has not been issued and writing sample to: Ms. Yona Ferris, City of Chicago, Department of Law, 121 N. LaSalle Street, Room 600, City Hall, Chicago, Illinois 60602. First Year Law Students: Apply before March 1, 2006

ABA Public Service Summer Internship

The American Bar Association’s Division for Public Service sponsors an annual Public Service Summer Internship. The internship is a unique program designed for 2nd and 3rd year law students to engage in an individualized public interest legal research and writing project over a 10-week summer period. In concert with Division attorneys and law school faculty reviewer, students will develop and complete a substantive legal monograph with the opportunity to be published. The project must involve one of the following areas of law: Bioethics and the Law, Disability Law, Election Law, Environmental Law, Homelessness and Poverty, Immigration Law, Law Library of Congress and Access to Legal Resources, National Security Law, Substance Abuse, Public Interest in Law School and as a Career. This internship is unpaid and students are encouraged to incorporate the Internship into an externship/internship program. See Professor Gross for more information about externships. For more information and to apply see the ABA website, and click on ABA public Service Summer Internship. Applications must be postmarked by February 15, 2006.

Fellowship & Scholarship Information

Jack Carey Spring Scholarship
Cook County Public Defender Law Clerks

The purpose of the Jack Carey Scholarship Fund is to provide law clerk scholarships within the Cook County Public Defender’s Office, which defends indigent clients in civil cases as well as criminal misdemeanor and felony case. Selected applicants will assist a supervising attorney in investigations, case preparation, client visits, legal research and writing, motion drafting and trial advocacy. One new applicant will be selected for a $2,000 stipend each Fall, Spring and Summer semester. Deadline for summer applications is March 31, 2006. For complete guidelines, as well as an application, visit the Career Services Office, handout #23.

Finnegan Henderson Diversity Scholarship

The Finnegan Henderson Diversity Scholarship provides financial support to qualified minority law students who have demonstrated a commitment to pursuing a career in intellectual property law.

The scholarship award of $12,000 may be applied to costs associated with normal tuition; usual fees (such as, but not limited to, student activity fees; law school or university fees, and administrative fees); and a patent bar review course. The scholarship recipient will also accept an offer to join the firm as a summer associate in one of its domestic offices (Washington, DC; Atlanta, GA; Cambridge, MA; Palo Alto, CA; or Reston, VA).

In addition to a demonstrated commitment to pursuing a career in intellectual property law, selection criteria include exceptional academic performance at the undergraduate, graduate (if applicable), and law school level; a degree in biological sciences, electrical/mechanical engineering, computer science, or substantial prior trademark experience; relevant work experience; community service; leadership skills; and special accomplishments.

Applications are due April 15, and are available by clicking here. Applications are also available in the Career Services Office, marked Handout #22.

ABA John J. Curtin, Jr. Justice Fund
2006 Summer Legal Internship Program

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

Intern Requirements:
The ideal intern will have a demonstrated interest in public interest law and experience working with poor people or on issues affecting them. All law students are eligible, and first year law students are encouraged to apply. The intern must commit no less than eight continuous weeks between May 1 and October 1 to the program of his or her choice. Applicants must submit the attached application to the Curtin Internship Program, American Bar Association Commission on Homelessness and Poverty, 740 15th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005-1022. Applications must be postmarked no later than Monday, March 20, 2006. For more information, please see the ABA Commission on Homelessness and Poverty. Applications are available in the Career Services Office, marked Handout #14.

Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) 
Summer Internship Program 
For FIRST and SECOND Year Law Students

The Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) sponsors a Summer Internship Program for first and second year law students.  Each summer, PILI funds dozens of internships at public interest law agencies in the Chicago metropolitan area.  The program is open to law students from across the country.  The stipend for 10 weeks work is $4,500.

PILI ensures quality supervision by experienced lawyers at the agencies, and provides a lunch-time educational program.  The program seeks to have law students work at and learn about legal institutions serving the public interest, and to engender a life-long participation in public interest law.

For more information, please see the PILI website. Applications are available in the Career Services Office, marked Handout #11.

Hiring is handled differently at each agency. The earlier you apply, the better your chances. Applications are due by March 31. Most organizations will hire their pili intern earlier than this date. First years must wait until December 1.


STIPENDS FOR PUBLIC INTEREST INTERNSHIPS
IN THE CHICAGO METROPOLITAN AREA: SPRING SEMESTER

The Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) offers a limited School-Year Internship Program. PILI recruits law students from area law schools for internships with one of seven public interest law agencies in the Chicago metropolitan area. Selected interns receive a stipend of $2,250 for 200 hours of work during the spring term.
In order to apply for a school-year internship, an applicant must prepare the PILI pplication Form, and a cover letter and resume for each agency to which you are applying (up to seven sets, collated and stapled). The application and additional information may be found on the PILI website.

The application materials should be submitted before mid-January. However, since each agency hires at a different time, it is advisable to apply early.

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: 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

Apartment Subletting Options

NALP's Apartment Exchange

NALP is pleased to announce the annual online Apartment Exchange is now available for use through NALP's website. Law students and 2006 summer clerks can point their browsers to www.nalpexchange.org where they can search and post available summer housing opportunities from all around the country. The service is free and easy to use. We hope that you will encourage your students and incoming summer associates to access the Apartment Exchange today -- it is a proven resource for success in the search for temporary summer housing! The Exchange will remain active online until May 15, 2006.

Jenner & Block: Sublet your apartment

If you would like to sublet your apartment for the summer of 2006, Jenner & Block may be able to help. Contact Kate Armstrong at karmstrong@jenner.com.

Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw: Sublet your aparment

If you would like to sublet your apartment for the summer of 2006, contact Mary Boxer at: mboxer@mayerbrownrowe.com. Please include your contact information, the address of the apartment, the amount of monthly rent, and whether the apartment is furnished or unfurnished.

Chicago Area Law Firm List

The Chicago Area Law Firm List of firms with four or more attorneys is available on-line in a password protected searchable database. Use this resource to identify local law firms that practice in the area(s) and then create a mail merge by using the spreadsheet tool. Although every attempt is made at keeping the database current, information may become out of date due to firm mergers, contact people leaving their firms, etc. Therefore, 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.

Job Bulletins

We receive job bulletins from the federal government and other law schools for opportunities in Illinois as well as other states. They are only available in hard copy in the Career Services Office.

Spring Semester Office Hours

The Career Services Office regular hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Friday. Evening appointments with career counselors are available by appointment only on Wednesdays, from 5 - 6:30 p.m. Please call the office at (312) 906-5200 to arrange a time or email, stating the times that you are available, to kentcso@kentlaw.edu.

Please let us know how we can assist you--whether it is a current transition, preparing for graduation, or just a "quick question." Individual appointments, programming, and a wealth of resources are all available through our office. Please read the Record weekly and frequent the bulletin board outside our office for information on upcoming programs, employment opportunities, and articles of interest.

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