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Career Services Office

Career Services Office home page
September 17th - 23rd

CSO Information & Announcements

  • CSO Program Videos Now Available Online!
  • Fall Office Hours
  • Summer Experience Surveys

Fall On-Campus Interviewing Program

  • 2008 and 2009 Graduates: 2007 FALL INTERVIEWING PROGRAM UPDATE
  • Mock Interviews for OCI

Programming

  • Alternatives to OCI: City of Chicago, Cook County, and State of Illinois Government Career Panel
  • Prosecutors and Defenders Criminal Law Panel
  • Alternatives to OCI Series: Alternative Careers in Business
  • Government Career Expo at the John Marshall School of Law
  • "How to Get the Job You Want After Law School”  - Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms

Employment Opportunities

  • 7th Circuit Staff Law Clerk Positions Available for Fall 2008
  • New York County District Attorney’s Office Summer Intern Program
  • 2007-2008 Department of Justice - U.S. Attorney General's Honors Program and Summer Law Intern Program

Fellowships & Scholarships

  • The National Center on Philanthropy and the Law Fellowships
  • Vedder Price Diversity Scholarship
  • Attention rising 3Ls: Equal Justice Works Fellowship & Skadden Fellowship Applications available online
  • PSLawNet Fellowship Center

Job Fairs

  • IIT Career Fair
  • Registration for the Equal Justice Works Conference in Washington DC is open

Resources

  • Join the International Trademark Association (INTA)
  • New Resource: International Career Employment Weekly Online
  • PSLawNet
  • Law Crossing - Free Access For Students

CSO Information & Announcements

CSO Program Videos Now Available Online!

The Career Services Office is pleased to announce that videos of our programming are now available to be viewed online. Most of our programming will be available on our website within 1-2 days of the original program date and will remain available for viewing for 2-3 weeks, due to limited server space. Program videotapes will still be available in our office.

To watch videos of our programming, go to the CSO's web page, click on the right hand navigation bar "For Students" and select "Watch Program Videos." Or, click here to be taken directly to the page.

Fall 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.

Summer Experience Surveys

Please take a few minutes to evaluate your summer job on Symplicity.  By doing so, you can provide invaluable information to the members of the class behind you.  Just click on "Profile," then on the "Evaluations" tab, and then on the "Add New" button.

On-Campus Interviews

2008 and 2009 Graduates:
2007 FALL INTERVIEWING PROGRAM UPDATE

Additional employers have been added to Symplicity since July 10th.  Please check Symplicity to view the current list of employers. 

JUST A REMINDER:  The Fall On-Campus Interviewing information will be uploaded to the Career Services Website on July 10th, 2007 at 5:00 p.m. We strongly recommend that you review all of the information in the Fall Interview Program section of our web page at http://www.kentlaw.edu/depts/cso/students/foci/

Students will also be able to access all participating employer information after 5:00 p.m. on July 10th at:  https://law-kent-csm.symplicity.com.  To get access to Symplicity, you need a username and password. Your username is your email address.  If you do not know your password, please click on the "Forgot My Password" tab on the Symplicity home page, and (assuming the email address you enter is the same as the one you have in your student profile on Symplicity), you'll receive an email message resetting your password. If that does not work, send an email message to kentcso@kentlaw.edu. Your Symplicity username and password for the fall OCI program are the same ones you which allows you to use our job posting system.

Programming

Alternatives to OCI Series


State & Local Government - Tuesday, September 18th
Presenters from state & local government will discuss their careers and how to get involved in working for state & local government.

Alternative Careers in Business - Tuesday, September 25th
Hear from a panel of lawyers who have pursued alternative careers.

Public Interest Careers - Tuesday, October 2nd
Learn more about public interest careers and how to get involved with public interest organizations.

Small & Midsize Firms with Donna Gerson - Wednesday, October 10th
Find out what firms seek in applicants, average salaries, how to identify and research employers, and interviewing.

Alternatives to OCI: City of Chicago, Cook County, and State of Illinois Government Career Panel

Panelists from the City of Chicago Law Department, the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, the Chicago Transit Authority, the Office of the Public Guardian and the Illinois Department of Professional & Financial Regulation will discuss their careers, the work of their agencies, and how students can become involved. Tuesday, September 17, 12noon-1pm in room 370. This program is co-sponsored by the Hispanic Latino Law Student Association and the Career Services Office. Pizza and drink will be provided! This program will be videotaped and available in the Career Service Office and online for those unable to attend.

Prosecutors and Defenders Criminal Law Panel

Representatives from the Cook County State’s Attorney, Cook County Public Defender, Office of the State Appellate Defender, United State Attorney’s Office and Federal Defender will discuss the work of their agencies, how students can become involved, and their hiring processes. Wednesday, September 18, 3-4pm in room 590. This program is co-sponsored by the Black Law Students Association and the Career Services Office. Pizza and drink will be provided! This program will be videotaped and available in the Career Service Office and online for those unable to attend.

Alternatives to OCI Series: Alternative Careers in Business

Join the Offices of Career Services and Alumni Relations for this year's first Take a Break speaker series in conjunction with the Alternatives to OCI Series.

Alumni practitioners will chat informally about their careers, providing students the opportunity to learn about Alternative Careers in Business.  The program will be held in room 520 from noon-1:30pm on Tuesday, September 25th.

Lunch will be provided!

Please RSVP by September 20th at http://www.kentlaw.edu/depts/alums/rsvp/takeabreaksept25.htm.

Government Career Expo at the John Marshall School of Law

Meet prospective employers from various law departments throughout Illinois through one-on-one interaction. To date the following employers will be attending:
ATF
The Chicago Board of Education
The Chicago Park District
The Chicago Transit Authority
The City of Chicago Law Department
Dupage County State’s Attorney
Illinois Department of Financial and
Professional Regulation
Illinois Department of Human Rights
Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority
Office of the Executive Inspector General

This event will be held at the CBA, 321 S. Plymouth Court, on September 20th from 4:30-6:00 p.m.

"How to Get the Job You Want After Law School”  - Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms

The Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms would like to invite minority 1Ls to a program entitled “How to Get the Job You Want After Law School.”  The program includes several panelists – partners and associates from law firms in Chicago, as well as Federal Judge.  The program is taking place on Tuesday, October 2nd, at the offices of Wildman Harrold, 225 West Wacker Drive, Suite 3000.  Our hope is to convey the importance of academic achievement as well as relay some of the softer skills needed to bring forth professional opportunities.

 Employment Opportunities

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

7th Circuit Staff Law Clerk Positions Available for Fall 2008

The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit will accept applications beginning September 4, 2007 for the position of staff law clerk for a two-year term starting in August 2008.

Staff Law Clerks work in a highly collegial environment with other recent law school graduates and lawyers coming from judicial clerkships or private practice, as well as with more experienced supervisory attorneys. Staff law clerks learn a wide variety of substantive and practical lawyering skills through discussions with the judges and other staff law clerks. A structured writing program provides review and evaluation of written work.

Staff law clerks work directly with all of the judges of the court, assisting them in the research and disposition of appeals in much the same way as the judges' personal law clerks. Principal tasks include drafting bench memoranda and proposed orders concerning various areas of federal law, but staff law clerks regularly perform other duties unique to the office, such as orally presenting substantive motions to individual judges. In some instances, staff law clerks assist individual judges with their own chambers' caseload.

Several staff law clerks work in a motions group that reviews all substantive motions filed in pending appeals. The motions attorneys research these motions and recommend dispositions for panels of judges. Motions attorneys also draft bench memoranda and proposed orders for the judges.

To apply, please submit via mail a cover letter, resume, law school transcript, two unedited writing samples, and two letters of recommendation. Please address cover letters to:
Michael K. Fridkin
Senior Staff Attorney
US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
Office of Staff Attorneys
219 S. Dearborn Street
Chicago, IL 60604

New York County District Attorney’s Office Summer Intern Program

The Summer Intern Program is a way for first and second year law students to gain first-hand experience in trial and appellate litigation in the public sector. The ten-week program begins in early June. Second year participants in the program are afforded the opportunity to apply early for permanent positions as assistant district attorneys.

Law interns work closely with assistant district attorneys. Depending on assignment, summer interns help prosecutors prepare for grand jury presentations, hearings, and trials. Summer law interns also research and write appellate and trial briefs, and are assigned to work on complex long-term investigations. In most cases, summer interns have an opportunity to second-seat an assistant district attorney on trial.

First and second year law students who are interested in being considered for the summer intern position should mail a cover letter and resume to Robin R. Edwards, the Administrator of the Legal Hiring Unit, One Hogan Place, New York, NY 10013. Resumes are accepted beginning December 1 2007 and will be accepted through March 1, 2008. Although most interviews are conducted from February through April, early interviewing is offered for law students who have received offers prior to the start of hiring season. Applicants are asked to bring to interviews a writing sample, a list of three professional or academic references with telephone numbers and an official law school transcript. Offers are made on a rolling basis with most offers being made by the end of April.

Law students receive stipends of $500 per week. In the past interns have arranged for work-study funding and public interest fellowships to offset expenses.

2007-2008 Department of Justice – US Attorney General’s Honors Program and Summer Law Intern Program

The highly competitive Honors Program is only way that the Department of Justice hires entry-level attorneys. Selection for employment is based on many elements of a candidate's background including academic achievement, law review or moot court experience, legal aid and clinical experience, and summer or part-time legal employment. The Department also considers specialized academic studies (including undergraduate and post-graduate degrees), work experience, and extracurricular activities that directly relate to the work of the Department.

The Summer Law Intern Program (SLIP) is the Department's competitive recruitment program for compensated summer internships. Selection for employment is based on many elements of a candidate's background including academic achievement, law review or moot court experience, legal aid and clinical experience, and summer or part-time legal employment. The Department also considers specialized academic studies (including undergraduate and post-graduate degrees), work experience, and extracurricular activities that directly relate to the work of the Department.

The 2007-2008 Attorney General's Honors Program (Honors Program) and Summer Law Intern Program (SLIP) applications are available on the Office of Attorney Recruitment and Management (OARM) web page now. The application deadline is Midnight, Eastern Time, Monday, September 17, 2007.

Fellowships & Scholarships

The National Center on Philanthropy and the Law Fellowships

The National Center on Philanthropy and the Law (NCPL) at New York University School of Law is offering the following two Fellowships in Nonprofit Law.

1.The Rockefeller Brothers Fund Fellowship in Nonprofit Law at the Vera Institute of Justice  (The RBF Fellowship); and
2. The National Center on Philanthropy and the Law Fellowship in Nonprofit Law at New York University's Office of Legal Counsel (The NCPL Fellowship).

The RBF and NCPL Fellowships will each be awarded to one graduate of an accredited U.S. Law School.  More information and an application can be found at www.law.nyu.edu/ncpl. Please note that completed applications must be received by the NCPL no later than December 7, 2007.  If you have any questions, please contact Erin Ortiz at (212) 998-6168 or erin.ortiz@nyu.edu.

Vedder Price Diversity Scholarship

The law firm of Vedder Price offers a special scholarship in the amount of $5,000 desgined to assist a qualified student with tution and provide a "guaranteed" position in their summer program after his or her first year of law school. The scholarship is renewable for each year of law school, provided the student remains in good standing. Applications must be postmarked by September 30th. Applications are available at Vedder Price's website.

Attention rising 3Ls: Equal Justice Works Fellowship & Skadden Fellowship Applications available online

 If you are a rising 3L interested in creating a fellowship proposal, please let Michelle Mohr Vodenik know and make an appointment with her. She is available to discuss ideas and review proposals.

Information on the Equal Justice Works Fellowship, including the application, was recently posted online. Proposals for EJW are due by September 18

Information on Skadden Fellowships, including the application is also posted online. Proposals for Skadden are due by October 1.

In addition to Equal Justice Works and Skadden, you may be interested in applying for an organization-based fellowship. The PSLawnet Fellowship Corner contains these opportunities: http://www.pslawnet.org/fellowship/index.php

If you are interested in Federal Government Fellowships & Honors Programs, these will be in the Honors & Internship Handbook. The new version of the handbook for 2008 will be available in the upcoming weeks. Many of the deadlines for Federal Government programs are in the fall.

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.

Job Fairs

IIT Career Fair

On Thursday, Sept. 27 on the Main Campus (Hermann Hall - HUB) from 12 - 5 p.m., IIT is hosting a career fair that is open to students campus wide.  To date, 100 corporations/companies have registered.  Though the organizations will not be interviewing (this is a career fair and not an interview program) this fair will provide an excellent opportunity for law students interested in alternative (non-practice) jobs to speak with representatives from the business arena.    

In addition to the regular shuttle, additional career fair shuttle buses will be running that day to accommodate students who would like to attend.  Business attire is required and students should bring copies of their resumes to provide to participating employers.  A list of participating employers will be realeased within the next week by the Stuart School of Business.  Watch for flyers that will be posted within the law school.

Registration for the Equal Justice Works Conference
in Washington DC is Open

If you are interested in meeting DC-area Chicago-Kent alumni, attending the largest public interest conference in the United States, and interviewing or meeting many public interest employers, you should consider attending the EJW Conference & Career Fair. The Equal Justice Works Conference & Career Fair will take place in Washington DC, October 5-7, 2007.

Career Fair: Over 75 employers have already registered for the Career Fair and are currently accepting resumes. Submit your resumes soon, as interview slots fill up early and the only way to get interviews in advance of the conference is by contacting the employers directly. The suggested deadline to submit resumes to employers is September 14, 2007. We suggest that students visit the website often for an updated status on employer registrations.

Conference: There will be 14 workshops at the conference arranged into 3 tracks: Timely topics and activism; Leadership; Roadmap to a public interest career
Chicago-Kent Reception at the Equal Justice Works Conference & Career Fair: On Friday, October 5th, at 5pm, there will be a reception for Chicago-Kent students who attend EJW and Chicago-Kent alum working at government and public interest agencies in DC. In addition, there will be an invitation only Public Interest Law Forum for students interested in Civil Legal Services on Friday, October 5th from 1-3pm, those who register for the conference will be provided with information on applying for that opportunity.
Registration is NOW OPEN: www.equaljusticeworks.org/careerfair. Registration is free, students are responsible for arranging and paying for their own travel and housing. Several small travel subsidies of $75 will be available through the career services office, those will be awarded through a drawing. You can register now and if you decide not to attend, let Michelle Vodenik know that you can’t make it.

CLICK HERE FOR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS. Please contact Michelle Mohr Vodenik with any additional questions.

Resources

Join the International Trademark Association (INTA)

Since 1878, members of the International Trademark Association (INTA) have shared a common interest in the protection and development of trademarks and trademark law. Members rely on the Association to educate them, represent them and promote their interests throughout the international trademark community. Join INTA as a student member for $25 and receive current trademark law information, helpful research materials, in-depth education, networking opportunities and career development resources, including access to INTA's Job Bank and Membership Director. To join, go to www.inta.org/go/membership.

International Career Employment Weekly Online

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

The Career Services Office subscribes to this resource in an online format. The username and password changes with every issue. For the most recent username and password, contact kentcso@kentlaw.edu.

PSLawNet

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

Law Crossing - Free Access For Students

Law students have free access to LawCrossing.com to access their collection of legal job postings. To get access, register with your kentlaw.edu e-mail address, enter the promotional code "kent2008" and identify yourself as a student.

 

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