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Career Services Office

Career Services Office home page
January 17, 2011

CSO Information & Announcements

  • Resume Books for Spring
  • Summer Experience Surveys
  • CSO Program Videos Now Available Online!

Fall On-Campus Interviewing Program

  • Don't Forget to Report Callbacks and Offers!

Programming

  • February 1: Preparing for the Midwest Public Interest Law Career Conference (MPILCC)
  • Women's Leadership & Mentoring Alliance: Eliminating Workplace Bias by Understanding Gender Communication Differences
  • Oh the Places You Will Go: A Fresh Take on Your Career Options With a JD
  • 17th Annual Rebellious Lawyering Conference at Yale Law School: February 18-20, 2011
  • Video on Managing a Legal Career Transition in Tough Times

Employment Opportunities

  • Army JAG Corps Interviews, January 27
  • US Air Force JAG Corps Interviews, March 11
  • January 21: Application Deadline for Business Law Diversity Clerkship Program
  • AFL-CIO Lawyers Coordinating Committee - Minority Outreach Program
  • Just the Beginning Foundation Diversity Judicial Externships
  • 2011 Summer PILI Student Internship Application Now Open for 1L Students

Fellowships & Scholarships

  • Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Minority Law Student Summer Internship Program for 1Ls
  • Finnegan 2011-2012 Diversity Scholarship for Intellectual Property
  • City of Chicago, Mayor's Office Fellowship Program
  • ABA Environmental, Energy and Resources Section Diversity Program Summer Fellowships 2011
  • Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund for Progressive Social Change
  • Federal Communications Bar Association (FCBA) Foundation Now Accepting Applications for Funding of Unpaid Communications-Related Legal Internships
  • January 21: Application Deadline for the Georges Fellowship for Conservation at Shedd Aquarium
  • January 24: Application Deadline for Perkins Coie Diversity Fellowship for 1Ls
  • Charlotte Legal Diversity Clerkship Program for 1Ls
  • January 21: Application Deadline for Harter Secrest & Emery 2011 Diversity Scholarship

Job Fairs

  • February 5: Midwest Public Interest Law Career Conference (MPILCC)

Resources

  • 2010-2011 Government Honors & Internship Handbook
  • LexisNexis ASPIRE Program for Deferred Law Firm Hires and Law Students Engaged in Public Interest Work
  • Web Access for Policy, Political and Human Rights Jobs
  • Access the BYU Intercollegiate Job Bank
  • Password Protected Sites Now Available on Symplicity
  • Law Bulletin Weekly On-line Employment Bulletin
  • Career Advisor Network
  • International Career Employment Weekly Online
  • PSLawNet Fellowship Corner
  • PSLawNet

CSO Information & Announcements

 

Resume Books for Spring

Resume Books are back for spring!

Spring Semester Resume Books will be available for “opt-in” beginning January 1, 2011 for all 1Ls, 2Ls, 3Ls and Recent Graduates (2010 class).

As a reminder, a Resume Book is exactly what it sounds like, a collection of resumes that can be distributed to employers on request. Our resume books will collect the resumes of students and recent graduates in a particular class (e.g. 2Ls) with similar interests (e.g. immigration law, real estate law, or working in the northern suburbs), and then notify employers who fit those criteria that the books are available for review. These books can also be used when an employer calls up our office looking for a particular type of student to clerk for them (“We are looking for a 3L interested in litigation who has worked as a 711 clerk.”), so that we can respond quickly and efficiently to employer requests (in that case by looking at the 3L Litigation Resume Book for students who have been 711 clerks).

Here are a few FAQs about Resume Books:

  1. Do I have to participate?
    No, the Resume Books are “opt-in.” Only students who choose to participate will be included in Resume Books.
    If you do participate, you are authorizing our office to make your resume available to any employer who requests the Resume Books into which you have placed your resume, and you have given our office permission to send your resume in response to a telephone or email request for students interested in a particular practice area or geographic region. However, you are not obligated to accept interviews or offers resulting from your participation.
  2. How do I participate? In Symplicity, click on the “Documents” tab, then “Opt-In Resume Book.” At the far right, click on “Select Resume Books.” You will see your resume listed and under that a drop down list of Resume Books for your class year. Select the correct Resume Books and then click on “Submit.” Please note, Spring Resume Books will not be available for “opt-in” until January 1, 2011. If you go to Opt-in Resume Books before January 1, you will be seeing the Fall Resume Books only and 1Ls will not see any Resume Books listed.
    Please Note: If you have not had your resume reviewed since last spring, you will need to have your career adviser review it before you can opt-in to a Resume Book. Your resume can be emailed to your career adviser for this purpose.
  3. When does this start? The Spring Resume Books will not be available to “opt-in” until January 1, 2011. Fall Resume Books for 2Ls, 3Ls and Recent Grads will continue to be active until December 31, 2010. You can upload your resume into Symplicity at any time, and can begin choosing Resume Books on January 1, 2011. An announcement will be sent to all employers in the Symplicity system regarding Spring Resume Book on Friday, January 21, 2011.
  4. How many Resume Books can I join? You can opt in to only 3 practice area Resume Books, but you are not limited as to geographic Resume Books (we do ask that you only opt in to a geographic Resume Book if you are serious about moving to that area). Any student who self-identifies as diverse is also welcome to opt in to the “Diversity Resume Book” for their class.
  5. Are the Resume Books indefinite? Resume Books will expire at the end of each semester and will be recreated for the following semester. You will need to opt-in again at the beginning of each semester. This is to prevent resumes from getting stale and to remind students to consider whether they are still interested in the same practice areas and/or geographic areas that they were 3 months prior. Reminders will be sent when new Resume Books are created.
  6. What if I find a job? If you find a job, and are no longer seeking new employment for the foreseeable future, you must remove your resume from the Resume Books you have selected, until such time that you begin seeking employment again.
  7. What if I change my mind about the type of law that interests me? As above, if you change your mind about the areas of law or geographic areas where you would like to work, we ask that you remove your resume from those Resume Books. Once you have done so, you can opt in to new Resume Books that fit your changed interests.
  8. Can I upload other job application documents to a Resume Book? Unfortunately, no. Cover letters and other documents can help paint a well-rounded picture of an applicant, but it would simply make the Resume Books too cumbersome for the employers, and it would be hard to manage and maintain. If an employer wants additional documents, they will contact you to ask.
  9. How will employers know about Resume Books? The Career Services Office will be sending emails to all employers in our Symplicity database telling them about our Spring Resume Books on January 21, 2011. We will do this every semester as new Resume Books are created. We have also been mentioning Resume Books in our outreach efforts as something to watch for.
  10. Now that Resume Books exist, can I stop looking for a job? Definitely not! Resume Books are just one tool in your job search. We are not guaranteeing that Resume Books will lead to a job for everyone. However, we are trying to get as many student resumes in front of as many employers as possible, and we hope that Resume Books will accomplish that.

If you have additional questions about Resume Books, or would like your resume reviewed prior to opting in to a Resume Book, please contact your Career Services Adviser.

 

Summer Experience Surveys

The best way for students to make an informed choice about where they would like to work is to hear from those who have worked there in the past. The Career Services Office offers all students the chance to evaluate their summer experiences. In order for this to be a valuable resource for students, WE NEED YOUR HELP! Please take a few minutes to complete a brief survey about your summer experience at: https://law-kent-csm.symplicity.com/students/.

Once you have logged on, please click on "Summer Experience Survey" on the right-hand side under the "Career Tools and Advising" section. Then click "Add New" to complete the survey. You must click "Submit" when you are finished.

The information you provide helps our office better understand the different types of summer legal opportunities our students are experiencing. Also, by completing the survey, you are given the option of being a resource for other students by making your contact information visible on your survey. If you choose to allow students to contact you for further information about your summer experience, you may receive emails with additional questions about the method through which you obtained your position (i.e., fall OCI program, job fairs, networking, direct mailing, etc.) and specific information about the firm/organization where you worked. However, if you would like your evaluation to remain anonymous, simply select "No" to the following question: "May students contact you for further information about your summer experience?"

We greatly appreciate your assistance in making sure this is a valuable resource for students.

 

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. A password is required to view these programs. Please call our office at 312-906-5200 or email kentcso@kentlaw.edu for the username and password. 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.

 

On-Campus Interviews

 

Don't Forget to Report Callbacks and Offers!

If you receive callbacks/offers during the fall interview season, please report this to our office by sending an email to kentcso@kentlaw.edu every couple weeks or so.  Please include from what source you obtained the interview/offer (OCI, resume collect, CCBA job fair, Loyola Patent Fair, etc.).  We keep track of these in order to determine how students are doing and where our students end up working during the summer/after graduation.  Also, if you have any concerns about how your interviews are progressing or questions about the interview process, please make an appointment to talk with a career counselor.   

 

Programming

 

February 1: Preparing for the Midwest Public Interest Law Career Conference (MPILCC)

Date: Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Time: Noon
Place: Room TBA

This program will help students strategize for interviewing and networking at MPILCC.  Come hear from students and staff 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.

MPILCC, the Midwest Public Interest Law Career Conference, is an opportunity to meet and interview with Chicago and Midwest-area public interest and government organizations. This year, MPILCC will be held on Saturday, February 5, 2011 at Northwestern University School of Law (located in downtown Chicago). The conference offers students the opportunity to interview for summer law clerk positions and entry-level attorney positions. In addition, students can meet with representatives from public interest and government organizations during the time allotted for Table Talk from 9am-12pm; this is one of the most important points at which students can make valuable connections. If you do not receive any interviews, or you did not register in advance for the conference, you can still attend and meet many of the employers through table talk.

 

Women's Leadership & Mentoring Alliance: Eliminating Workplace Bias by Understanding Gender Communication Differences

Date: Thursday, February, 10, 2011
Time: 4:30-5:00pm - Cocktail Reception on 44th Floor
5:00pm-6:00pm - Speaker Presentation on 45th Floor

Place: McDermott, Will & Emery
227 West Monroe, Chicago, IL

The Women's Leadership and Mentoring Alliance (WLMA), an invitational mentoring alliance of professional women, invites you to join them for a discussion with WLMA co-founder Andrea Kramer, Partner, McDermott, Will & Emery.

Gender biases and gender communication differences can affect a woman's success and hurt her professional and business develoment opportunities. Offering tips for eliminating bias in the workplace and leveling the playing field for both men and women, Andrea will:

  • Teach ways to understand differences in gender communicatin styles
  • Provide techniques that men and women can use to become more effective communicators and to maximize their business development potential, whether with existing or new clients or within their own workplaces
  • Illustrate how training can eliminate gender biases in evaluations and reviews
  • Address recent reports and suggestions for improvements

Seating is limited. Please RSVP to info@wlmaconnect.org

 

Oh the Places You Will Go: A Fresh Take on Your Career Options with a JD

Date Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Time 6:00pm - 8:00pm - Presentation
8:00pm - 9:00pm - Cocktail Hour

Place: Chicago-Kent 10th Floor Event Room
565 West Adams Street, Chicago, IL

This is your chance to hear first-hand how some of Chicago's top lawyers have used their JD in both traditional and non-traditional ways to garner attention throughout the country.

Listen and engage in an interactive discussion, as an in-house lawyer from McDonald's Corporation and Board Member for a Grammy-winning artist's Foundation, a lawyer named "Illinois Super Lawyer" before the age of 32, a Harvard Law graduate and author of one of amazon.com's most popular books, and other panelists all share stories and strategies on how to successfully leverage the many benefits of having a law degree!

Please RSVP with "Places You Will Go" in the subject line, and include your name, law school/affiliation and class year to kentcso@kentlaw.edu by Friday, February 11, 2011.

For general information, contact BLSA@kentlaw.edu. This program is co-sponsored by BLSA, HLLSA, SALSA APALSA, Chicago-Kent Career Services and JFrench - Personal Branding Consulting Firm.

 

17th Annual Rebellious Lawyering Conference at Yale Law School: February 18-20, 2011


The 17th Annual Rebellious Lawyering Conference will take place on the weekend of February 18-20, 2011.  Last year, over 700 practitioners, law students, and community activists gathered in New Haven to discuss progressive strategies for social change within and without the law.  This year’s conference features keynote speakers Burt Neuborne, Graham Boyd, Laurie Rubiner, and Jose Padilla.

Descriptions of panels and workshops will be posted here, with frequent updates regarding speakers and the schedule as information becomes available.  There is also a blog about the conference that will contain information and updates here.

Registration is now open on the website.  When you register, you’ll be able to sign up receive FREE HOUSING for the weekend in New Haven on the spare beds, couches and floors of local friendly, rebellious law students.  If you have any questions, please contact rebellious.law.questions@gmail.com.

 

Video on Managing a Legal Career Transition in Tough Times

As a public service, NALP and ALI-ABA are pleased to offer Managing a Legal Career Transition in Tough Times — a 75-minute presentation by Marcia Pennington Shannon and Susan G. Manch of Shannon & Manch LLP, who generously donated their time and talent to this special project to assist lawyers and 3Ls who are currently seeking employment.

To watch the video, please click here.

 

Employment Opportunities

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

 

Army JAG Corps Interviews, January 27

The US Army JAG will be conducting on-campus interviews at Chicago-Kent on January 27 beginning at 9 am. 1Ls will be interviewed regarding summer internships and 3Ls will be interviewed regarding permanent positions in the JAG Corps. Please note that these interviews are mostly informational and additional steps must be taken to formally apply for a position with the US Army JAG. Click here for more information.

This job posting can only be applied for via the OCI tab in your Symplicity account. Please make sure that you have selected "Spring 2011" as the "Session" once you have clicked on "OCI."  You must then upload all required documents (resume and transcript). Please note that you cannot upload a scanned copy of your transcript into Symplicity - the file size is too large. Instead, you must create a Word version of your transcript. If you do not know how to do this, contact your career adviser. If you are a 1L and do not yet have your grades, please create a Word document listing the grades you have received, and the classes for which you have not received grades with a "pending" note after them. You must also fill out all class conflicts for Thursday, January 27 under the subtab “Class Schedules/Conflicts;” you are not permitted to interview during a time that you have class.

You must apply by January 21 at noon. Interview times will be made available by 5pm on January 24.

Note: This employer does not sign Chicago-Kent's Equal Employment Opportunity Statement.

 

US Air Force JAG Corps Interviews, March 11

The US Air Force JAG will be conducting on-campus interviews at Chicago-Kent on March 11 beginning at 9am. 1Ls and 2Ls will be interviewed regarding summer internships and 3Ls will be interviewed regarding permanent positions in the JAG Corps. Please note that these interviews are mostly informational and additional steps must be taken to formally apply for a position with the US Air Force JAG. For more information please got to http://www.jagusaf.hq.af.mil/

These positions can only be applied for via the OCI tab in your Symplicity account. Please make sure that you have selected "Spring 2011" as the "Session" once you have clicked on "OCI."  You must then upload all required documents (resume and transcript). Please note that you cannot upload a scanned copy of your transcript into Symplicity - the file size is too large. Instead, you must create a Word version of your transcript. If you do not know how to do this, contact your career adviser. If you are a 1L and do not yet have your grades, please create a Word document listing the grades you have received, and the classes for which you have not received grades with a "pending" note after them. You must also fill out all class conflicts for March 11 under the subtab “Class Schedules/Conflicts;” you are not permitted to interview during a time that you have class.

You must apply by February 25 at noon for the Air Force. Interview times will be made available by 5pm on February 28.

Note: This employer does not sign Chicago-Kent's Equal Employment Opportunity Statement.

 

January 21: Application Deadline for Business Law Diversity Clerkship Program

The Business Law Diversity Clerkship Program encourages students to pursue business court clerkship opportunities and to consider careers in the practice of business law. In considering a student's diversity, the Section will give special consideration to individuals who have overcome social or economic disadvantages such as physical disability, financial constraints, or cultural impediments to becoming a law student. The objectives of the program include:

  • To encourage more diverse law students to apply for clerkship positions
  • To foster relationships between business court judges and diverse law students
  • To provide student with a foundation in various aspects of business law

Up to nine interns will be given a summer stipend of $6,000 and placed in business court clerkships in the Philadelphia Commerce Court or the Delaware Court of Chancery.

Applications for the 2011 program are available here. All application materials must be received on or before Friday, January 21, 2011. For more information about the Business Law Diversity Clerkship Program click here.

 

AFL-CIO Lawyers Coordinating Committee - Minority Outreach Program

The AFL-CIO Lawyers Coordinating Committee created the LCC Minority Outreach Program to encourage diverse law students to apply for summer clerkship opportunities at LCC law firms and legal departments. The outreach program seeks to introduce diverse law students to the practice of law in the labor movement and to encourage them to join the ranks of union-side attorneys in the ongoing battle for social and economic justice.

The program includes a networking conference, at the conclusion of which, students are placed in the LCC Mentor Program. Through this program LCC attorneys provide guidance and support during and after the students' clerkships. Students interested in applying at a law firm or legal department should apply directly to the employer. Click here for a listing of participating employers. To learn more about the program and the networking conference, please click here and here.

 

Just the Beginning Foundation Diversity Judicial Externships

For law students in the pipeline towards a legal profession, Just The Beginning Foundation (JTBF) offers resources and opportunities to assist students by exposing them to various legal opportunities (externships), helping to build resumes and assisting them in making the way through the job market and to the job that best suits them.

JTBF matches law students with federal and state judges across the country for externships for their 1L summer or 2L or 3L school years. JTBF also runs the Share the Wealth Clerkship program, through which 3L students and law school graduates participate in a special round of interviewing for full-time clerkship positions.

For additional information and application details, please click here.

 

2011 Summer PILI Student Internship Application Period Now Open for 1L Students

PILI’s Summer 2011 application period for the Law Student Internship Program opened on October 15th for 2Ls and will open on December 1st for 1Ls.  As in years past, the application process is online through www.IllinoisProBono.org.  Applicants must first register as a user on this site and it typically takes 24 hours for the user to be approved.  PILI Summer Interns are required to work 400 hours at one of 21 agencies in the Chicagoland area and receive a $5,000 stipend for their work.  There are also six School-Year Internship spots at five agencies for the 2011 Spring Semester, requiring 200 hours of work for a $2,500 stipend.  The Spring 2011 application process will also be online and opens on November 1st.  Information about PILI’s Law Student Internship Program can be found on our website at www.pili-law.org/internships.htm

Contact your career counselor or kentcso@kentlaw.edu if you have any questions.

 

 

Fellowships & Scholarships

 

Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Minority Law Student Summer Intern Program for 1Ls

The Association of Corporate Counsel internship program places top minority law students in internships in corporate legal departments in the Chicagoland area. Examples of corporations that have participated in this program in the past are: Accenture, Alliant Credit Union, Career Education, Empire, Illinois Tool Works, McDonald's Corporation, Navistar, Square D, Kraft, Verizon Wireless and Walgreens. Students in the program receive a stipend of $6,000. The deadline to apply is February 1, 2011. For more information on the internship program and for an application please see: http://www.acc.com/chapters/chic/InternshipProgramInfo.cfm.

 

Finnegan 2011-2012 Diversity Scholarship for Intellectual Property

Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP is accepting applications for its Diversity Scholarship.  This scholarship will provide financial support to qualified students who have demonstrated a commitment to pursuing a career in IP law.  The scholarship award of $15,000 may be applied to costs associated with normal tuition, usual fees, and a patent bar review course.  The scholarship recipient will also accept an offer to join the firm as a 2012 summer associate in of its domestic offices (Atlanta, Cambridge, Palo Alto, Reston or Washington). 

Students currently completing their first year full-time (or second year part-time) are invited to apply.  The application deadline is March 1, 2011.  For additional information about the scholarship, eligibility requirements, and an application, please visit www.finnegan.com.

 

City of Chicago, Mayor's Office Fellowship Program

The Office of the Mayor of the City of Chicago is accepting applications for the 2011 Mayor's Office Summer Fellowship Program. This program attracts bright, highly motivated individuals, gives them a broad overview of municipal government and provides a unique, "hands-on" experience. Fellows participate in budgetary, legislative, and programmatic areas of city government and work directly with Mayor's Office staff. Mayoral Fellows are afforded an unparalleled opportunity to learn about public service and policy-making by directly contributing to the executive office of the City of Chicago.

Through the Mayor's Office Fellowship Program, you may accomplish the following:

  • Develop new initiatives that keep Chicago green;
  • Research ways to keep Chicago affordable;
  • Work on workforce development initiatives targeting specific industries;
  • Outline best practices in public safety programs and youth engagement;
  • Research and compare housing-related policies in U.S. cities;
  • Create innovative solutions to traffic and infrastructure challenges;
  • Recommend better ways to integrate technology with City functions;
  • Analyze information on regional issues and Great Lakes policies;
  • Create new programs that connect City residents with the great cultural resources of Chicago.

Candidates must submit an application, which requires two written responses and two letters of recommendation, as well as a resume, official transcript and letter of enrollment. Applications must be postmarked by February 11, 2011.   To download an application, go to www.cityofchicago.org/mayorfellowship. You must be a currently enrolled student and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or a minimum cumulative GPA of 4.0 on a 5.0 scale. Residency in the City of Chicago is required prior to starting the fellowship. Fellows are paid at the rate of $20/hour. If you have any questions, please contact Kathryn O’Connell, Office of the Mayor, at 312-744-9500.

For more information on the fellowship, eligibility requirements, and for an application, please look at job posting # 11071 in Symplicity, or visit www.cityofchicago.org/mayorfelloship.

 

ABA Environmental, Energy and Resources Section Diversity program Summer Fellowships 2011

The ABA Diversity Fellowship in Environmental Law is designed to encourage disadvantaged or traditionally underrepresented law students to study and pursue careers in environmental law. The Section’s work on environmental justice is coordinated with not-for-profit organizations representing traditionally underserved groups, other not-for-profit environmental organizations, and local, state and federal governmental organizations which provide placements for our summer Fellowship recipients.

Guidelines: Selected Fellowship recipients will have an 8-10 week internship commitment and will work on legal matters for a government agency or public interest organization in the fields of environmental, energy or resources law. Please note that recipients will choose the state they wish to intern in, but will not be able to select where or in which organization they will be placed.

Stipend: Each successful recipient will receive a $5,000 ($6,000 for New York Fellows) stipend in exchange for participation in the Fellowship program. The stipend does not cover travel expenses or include a housing allowance; these expenses are paid by the Fellowship recipient.

For more information, click here. Please note that the deadline for positions with “DC-ELI Fellowships” has been extended to January 31, 2011. Other opportunities have varying deadlines, see the link for additional details.

 

Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund for Progressive Social Change

Since 1961 the Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund aids people active in movements for social and economic justice. Grantees are both graduate and undergraduate students enrolled in accredited schools for the period covered by their grant. Recent grantees have been active in the struggle against racism, sexism, homophobia and other forms of oppression; building the movement for economic justice; and creating peace through international anti-imperialist solidarity. Although citizenship is not a consideration, applicants must be participating in activities in the US and enrolled in an accredited program in the US in order to qualify.

The maximum grant available from the Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund is $10,000 per year (from July 1 through June 30). Grants are disbursed to cover each separate semester, quarter or term during which the grantee is attending school. Grants must be used in the year they are awarded and cannot be deferred or carried over. Recipients must reapply each year support is sought. Applications must be postmarked no later than April 1. Applicants will be informed of decisions in July. Applicants must complete the official application form and submit the required documentation of a personal statement, transcripts, two letters of recommendation, a photograph, and financial aid reports. Read the detailed instructions and FAQs and obtain the application forms at www.davisputter.org.

 

Federal Communications Bar Association (FCBA) Foundation Now Accepting Applications for Funding of Unpaid Communications-Related Legal Internships

For the 18th consecutive year, the Federal Communications Bar Association (FCBA) Foundation will award stipends to law students from its Chairman Robert E. Lee Scholarship and Internship Fund. In 2011, the Foundation will award several stipends to law students employed as unpaid summer nterns in positions with the FCC and other government agencies or entities with a connection to the communications industry (i.e., broadcasting, cable television, telephony, satellite, wireless, and information technology).

In addition, the Foundation will select one outstanding intern among those chosen to receive an additional stipend for the summer - the "Max Paglin Award." Mr. Paglin was the former General Counsel and Executive Director of the FCC, and the founder of the Golden Jubilee Commission on Telecommunications, which compiled a definitive legislative history of the Communications Act.

Applicants will be selected on the basis of:

  • a demonstrated interest in the communications field
  • having secured or having pending, an unpaid summer position (internship) for at least eight weeks in communications with a government agency or entities with a connection to the communications industry
  • dependence on financial assistance in order to accept the unpaid internship
  • community activities

For additional information and for an application, please click here. Applications must be post-marked by Wednesday, March 16, 2011.

 

January 21: Application Deadline for the Georges Fellowship for Conservations at Shedd Aquarium

The Shedd Aquarium, through a grant from the Georges Foundation, is pleased to offer the Georges Fellowship for Conservation, a summer internship opportunity, to a qualified candidate selected through a competitive application process.  The Fellowship includes:

  • An 8-week summer internship with Shedd’s conservation department focusing on environmental policy research
  • Mentoring by a practicing environmental law attorney
  • A $5,000 stipend

To be eligible for consideration, applicants must:

  • Be enrolled in the first year of a juris doctor program at an accredited law school located in the state of Illinois
  • Properly complete the application form and mail to Shedd Aquarium (address listed below) so that it is received no later than 4pm on Friday, January 21, 2011. Late applications will not be considered
  • Commit to participate in an 8-week summer internship as part of the fellowship (receipt of the $5,000 is contingent on participation in the internship)

The recipient of the Georges Fellowship will be selected based on the best judgment of the foundation and Shedd Aquarium. Judges will consider the following in the selection process:

  • Academic acheivement demonstrated by the certified transcripts submitted with the application
  • Demonstrated committment to a career in environmental law or to environmental issues
  • Quality of the essay submitted by the applicant
  • Demonstrated leadership skills and ability to work in groups and independently.

Application forms are available in the Career Services Office in Suite 360. Please pick up handout #39. Applications should be mailed to:

Shedd Aquarium
Attn: Melanie Napoleon
1200 South Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60605

 

January 24: Application Deadline for Perkins Coie Diversity Fellowship for 1Ls

Perkins Coie is now accepting applications for its 1L Diversity Fellowship Scholarships. The fellowships provide students a $7,500 academic scholarship and a paid position as a 2011 summer associate with one of its following offices: Bellevue, Chicago, Phoenix (Perkins Coie Brown & Bain P.A.), Portland, San Francisco or Seattle. Students are limited to applying to one office.

The student fellows will be selected on the basis of the following criteria:

  • The individual must be a first-year law student in good standing pursuing the degree of Juris Doctor at an ABA accredited law school,
  • The individual must possess an academic record, interest and capacity that demonstrate great promise for a successful career during the remainder of law school and in the legal profession, and
  • The individual must contribute meaningfully to the diversity of the law school student body and, upon entering the legal profession, the legal community.

The application deadline is January 24, 2011 (January 28 for the Pheonix location). Applicants must submit an application checklist, a current resume, three current references, undergraduate and, if available, law school transcripts (unofficial versions are acceptable), a legal writing sample (10-page maximum) and a one-page, single-spaced personal statement/essay. For additional details on the application requirements and the fellowship, please click here. For general questions regarding the fellowship, please contact Judah Travis at JTravis@perkinscoie.com.

 

Charlotte Legal Diversity Clerkship Program for 1L Students

The Mecklenburb County Bar in Charlotte, NC is accepting applications to the 2011 Charlotte Legal Diversity Clerkship Program. This is a unique program allowing first-year law students to experience law practice within a law firm and a corporate legal department.

WHO: All first-year law students who advance the value of diversity in the Charlotte legal market may apply.

WHAT: A highly competitive program sponsored by the Mecklenburg County Bar (Charlotte, NC), where rising 2Ls spend six weeks as a summer associate at a law firm, and six weeks as a legal intern in a corporate law department.

WHERE: In Charlotte, at one of six in-house law departments: Bank of America; Compass Group; Duke Energy; Goodrich; TIAA-CREF; Wells Fargo

In Charlotte, at one of nine law firms: Alston & Bird LLP; Hunton & Williams LLP; K&L Gates LLP; Mayer Brown LLP; McGuireWoods LLP; Moore & Van Allen PLLC; Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP; Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A.; Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, PLLC

WHEN: Applications are due by noon, January 28, 2011. The program runs May - August 2011.

WHY: To gain valuable legal experience in a progressive and dynamic city.

All applications should include a resume, copies of college and first-semester law school transcripts, and a writing sample. Additionally, applicants must submit a brief statement explaining how he or she would contribute to the goal of creating a more diverse legal community in Charlotte. For more information and application details, please click here and then click on the "Application Process" tab at the top of the page.

 

January 21: Application Deadline for Harter Secrest & Emery 2011 Diversity Scholarship

The Harter Secrest & Emery LLP Diversity Scholarship was established in 2005. The firm awards one 1L law student with (1) a $7500 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.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP?
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.

WHAT ARE THE SELECTION CRITERIA?
In addition to the eligibility requirements set forth above, each recipient will be selected on the basis of the following criteria: (1) the individual must possess an academic record, interest and capacity that evidence great promise for a successful career during the remainder of law school and in the legal profession; and (2) the individual must contribute to the diversity of the student body at his or her law school. Although a disclosure of financial circumstances is not required, a demonstrated need for financial assistance may be taken into consideration. The Diversity Scholarship recipient will be chosen based upon the Firm’s review of all scholarship applications and interviews conducted with scholarship finalists.

HOW DO I APPLY?
In order to apply for the Diversity Scholarship, complete the application set forth below and return the application, together with all accompanying materials, to:

Cristy Gordon
Recruiting Coordinator
Harter Secrest & Emery LLP
1600 Bausch & Lomb Place
Rochester, New York 14604
Phone: 585-231-1414
Fax: 585-232-2152
cgordon@hselaw.com

The diversity scholarship applicaiton must be received by Harter Secrest & Emery LLP on or before Friday, January 21, 2011. Click here for more information about the application process.

 

 

Job Fairs

 

February 5: Midwest Public Interest Law Career Conference (MPILCC)

MPILCC, the Midwest Public Interest Law Career Conference, is an opportunity to meet and interview with Chicago and Midwest-area public interest and government organizations. The annual conference is coordinated by a coalition of Chicago-area law school career services offices, of which Chicago-Kent is a member. Last year, over 100 students from Chicago-Kent participated, as well as 40 government and public interest agencies.

This year’s conference will be held on Saturday, February 5, 2011 at Northwestern University School of Law (located in downtown Chicago). The conference offers students the opportunity to interview for summer law clerk positions and entry-level attorney positions. Most summer positions are unpaid or invite outside funding. In addition, students can meet with representatives from public interest and government organizations during “Table Talk.” Table Talk is a good way to become familiar with a wide variety of public interest and government employers. You can pass out your resume, discuss internship opportunities (both during the summer and the school year) and find out about post-graduation opportunities. Table Talk is from 9am-12pm and is one of the most important points at which students can make valuable connections.

If you do not receive any interviews, or you did not register in advance for the conference, you can still attend and meet many of the employers through Table Talk. Because interviewees who do not check in at the conference on time lose their interview slots, you can also show up at the conference early and try to receive an interview on the day of the conference; open slots are filled by the people who arrive early. If you receive interviews ahead of time, be sure to arrive on time or you will lose your interviews!  Visit the MPILCC website at www.mpilcc.org for all conference details and attend the special workshop session on Preparing for MPILCC which will be held Tuesday, February 1st at noon, Room TBA.

If you are interested in a public interest or government legal position in the Chicago area, you are encouraged to attend this conference. If you are interested in government or public interest opportunities outside of Chicago, you should consider attending the annual Equal Justice Works Conference in Washington DC, held every October. If you have questions, contact Meredith Schmitt in the Career Services Office.

 

 

Resources

2010-2011 Government Honors & Internship Handbook

The 2010-2011 Government Honors & Internship Handbook is now available. It may be accessed online or there is a printed copy available in our office. For the password information to the online edition, please log onto Symplicity, click on the "Documents" tab, and then click on "Document Library."

LexisNexis ASPIRE Program For Law Students &
Deferred Law Firm Hires

Since summer is drawing near, we want to make you aware of ASPIRE, a program for students who pursue public interest work during the summer or after they graduate from law school. LexisNexis, your partner in legal education, provides qualified law students and recent law school graduates with free access to some of the most popular sources available within our research system. Students face a heightened challenge securing internships and launching their legal careers in a tough economy. For this reason, LexisNexis has expanded the ASPIRE program to include non-profit summer positions for current students, as well as graduates who pursue public interest legal work as a career. You may learn details of the program on the ASPIRE information page.

Web Access for Policy, Political and Human Rights Jobs

Chicago-Kent students can access Policy Jobs (www.policyjobs.net), Political Jobs (www.politicaljobs.net), Human Rights Jobs (www.humanrightsjobs.com), Ethical Jobs (www.ethicaljobs.net), and Journalist Jobs (www.journalistjobs.net) by using the Login details that can be obtained through Symplicity. Please see the instructions in the entry directly below for details on how to acess password information via Symplicity. Please note that the passwords for these sites are case sensitive.

Password Protected Sites Now Available through Symplicity

To access password protected sites including:

  • The Federal Government Honors & Internship Handbook; The Vermont Guide to State Judicial Clerkships; The BYU Intercollegiate Job Bank; and
  • The Four or More List of Chicago Employers

Log into Symplicity and select the “Documents” tab. Within Documents, select “Document Library.” The links for the sites listed above will be listed there. Clicking on each link will take you to a page with a username and password, which you should write down before clicking the link on the page. If you have any difficulties accessing Symplicity or the individual sites, please contact the Career Services Office by emailing kentcso@kentlaw.edu.

Access the BYU Intercollegiate Job Bank

Kent students and alumni now have an additional resource for their job searches. The BYU Intercollegiate Job Bank compiles entry level job postings from schools throughout the country. This resource will be especially useful for students and alumni conducting an out-of-town job search, but through this service you can also access the postings of other Illinois and Chicago area schools. To access this resource, log into Symplicity and select the “Documents” tab. Within Documents, select “Document Library.” The link for the Job Bank will be listed there. Clicking on the link will take you to a page with a username and password, which you should write down before clicking the link. The link takes you to the BYU Alumni page, and the Job Bank is about halfway down the page. After clicking that link you will be prompted to enter the user name and password. Then you will have access to a drop list of all 50 states. Picking a state will give you access to the job postings from the schools in that state. If you have any difficulties accessing the Job Bank, please contact the Career Services Office by emailing kentcso@kentlaw.edu.

Law Bulletin Weekly On-line Employment Bulletin

The Chicago Daily Law Bulletin is now offering a free on-line Legal Employment Weekly e-blast of open jobs in the Chicago area. Every issue contains up-to-date job postings, an article and sign-up sheet from the Illinois Paralegal Association, and an Ask an Expert column. You can view each week's installment at http://jobs.lawbulletin.com/ELEW.pdf or you can sign up to receive the "E-LEW" in your own inbox. To receive the weekly email, go to http://jobs.lawbulletin.com and select the "E-LEW" tab at the top of the page. At the bottom of the page, click on the link and complete the resulting form.

Career Advisor Network

In an effort to help you connect with a strong network of Chicago-Kent alumni, the Office of Alumni Relations and Office of Career Services are happy to announce a new Alumni Career Advisor Network.Alumni from around the world are available to discuss issues such as practice trends, legal markets in specific geographic areas, and other career-related topics. This is an excellent opportunity to start building your personal network with Chicago-Kent alumni!To search for an Alumni Career Advisor, all you have to do is log-in to the Chicago-Kent Alumni Online Community:First Time Login Instructions:

  1. Go to www.alumni.kentlaw.edu/firstlogin In the Constituent ID field, enter your Banner CWID.
    To find your Banner CWID login to http://my.iit.edu. Once you are logged, on the right side of your screen you should see a box called IIT Personal ID numbers. The Banner CWID is the number beginning with “A.”
  2. In the Class Year Field:
    1. If you are an LLM student, enter LLM If you are a Visiting student, enter LV
    2. If you are a JD student your Class Year will be three characters. The first letter for all class years will be L. The second letter is your division. The third is your year number.
      Examples: A 2nd year night student’s class year is LN2. A 1st  year day student’s class year is LD1.

During your first time login you will create a username and password. Afterwards, you may log in directly at www.alumni.kentlaw.edu/advisorsearch using the username and password you created. If you need assistance with your first time login, please contact Celeste Addyman in the Office of Career Services at kentcso@kentlaw.edu or visit her in Suite 360.

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. Contact kentcso@kentlaw.edu for the username and password.

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.

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. Visit the Fellowship Corner at: http://pslawnet.org/postgraduatefellowships

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