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Career Services Office

Career Services Office home page
Week of January 26, 2015

Information & Announcements

  • 1L Cover Letter Workshop
  • Mandatory 1L Legal Resume Workshop
  • Lawcountability, J.D. iOS Mobile App Now Available for Download!
  • Resume Books Now Open!
  • February 16- 20: ASCK (Alumni Student ConnecKtions) Week - Mark Your Calendars Now!

On-Campus Interviewing

Programming

  • January 29: CBA YLS January Social
  • January 30: CBA YLS Texas Hold'em Tournament 
  • February 3: Preparing for the Midwest Public Interest Law Career Conference (MPILCC)
  • February 4: Special Presentation: Searching for Public Interest Jobs, featuring Sam Halpert of PSJD 
  • February 4-5: Mock Interviews for MPILCC (Midwest Public Interest Law Career Conference)
  • February 4: ABA Litigation Section Job Search Panel
  • February 4: CBA YLS Lunch with a Judge Featuring Hon. Amy St. Eve
  • February 4: U.S. Air Force JAG Informational Meetings
  • February 5 & February 12: DuPage County Bar Association Pizza Party!
  • February 11: Opportunities with the City of Chicago Department of Law
  • February 11: Career Advice/Speed Counseling Sessions at the CBA - Complimentary!
  • February 18: Practising Law Institute (PLI) Presentation on the Patent Bar Exam
  • February 20-21: 2015 Midwest LGBTQ Law Conference | After Marriage Equality 
  • February 20-21: Rebellious Lawyering Conference at Yale Law
  • February 27-March 1: Norman Amaker Midwest Public Interest Law & Social Justice Retreat - REGISTER BY JANUARY 21

Employment Opportunities

  • ACC Chicago Chapter 2015 Diversity Summer Internship Program - Applications due January 31, 2015
  • SEC’s Summer 2015 Student Honors Program for 1Ls - Applications due February 2, 2015

Fellowships & Scholarships

  • Chicago Schweitzer Fellowship Program - Applications due February 1, 2015
  • Equal Justice Works Americorps JD Program (apply for financial support for students working with veterans, disaster relief, or civil legal corp this coming summer) - Applications due February 6, 2015
  • 2015-2016 Finnegan Diversity Scholarship - Applications due February 13, 2015
  • 2015 1L LCLD Scholars Program

Job Fairs

  • Midwest Public Interest Law Career Conference (MPILCC) - February 7, 2015

Diversity

  • The LCLD Success in Law School Mentoring Program - Registration opens October 15th
  • ACC Chicago Chapter 2015 Diversity Summer Internship Program - Applications due January 31, 2015
  • 2015-2016 Finnegan Diversity Scholarship - Applications due February 13, 2015
  • 2015 1L LCLD Scholars Program

Resources

  • Career Resources available in Symplicity's "Document Library"

CSO Information & Announcements

1L Cover Letter Workshop

The 1L Cover Letter Workshop video is now available to view.

All first-year law students should watch this brief video. This workshop includes detailed instructions for how to draft a cover letter. Watch the CSO: 1L Cover Letter Workshop online here.  Sign in to Panopto using your kentlaw username and password.

Mandatory 1L Legal Resume Workshop

The MANDATORY 1L Legal Resume Workshop video is now available to view.

All first-year law students must watch this brief video. This workshop includes detailed instructions for how to draft your legal resume.

First-year law students may begin meeting with a Career Advisor on Wednesday, October 15. Before your first career advising appointment, you must upload a legal resume to Symplicity. Please also bring a copy of your legal resume to your first appointment.

Watch the CSO: 1L Legal Resume Workshop online here.  Sign in to Panopto using your kentlaw username and password.

Lawcountability, J.D. iOS Mobile App Now Available for Download!

LawAccountability, J.D. is now up and running! This service gives  you access to weekly videos that give you step-by-step instructions on how to create significant communications with existing and new contacts, how to engage prospective employers, how to reduce networking anxiety, and, best of all, how to incorporate all of this into your busy schedule. 

If you could use a refresher or missed out on last semester’s videos you can check out the “video archive” for videos that were released in Fall 2014. We hope you take advantage of this incredible resource. 

NEW to Law Accountability is their iPhone app. You can now access the services from the convenience of your iPhone. Search “Lawcountability, J.D. in the Apple app store, or follow this link to get your app today!

Resume Books Now Open!

Spring Resume Books are now available for “opt-in” for all 1Ls, 2Ls, 3Ls and Recent Graduates (2013 and 2014 classes). Employers will be notified that resume books are available soon thereafter, but because employers may request a resume book at any time (both before and after that date), students are encouraged to opt-in to desired resume books as soon as possible or at any time thereafter. Even if you have secured employment for this Spring, keep in mind that Spring resume books may be used by employers for hiring for Summer 2015.

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). For more information about Resume Books, click here.

February 16- 20: ASCK (Alumni Student ConnecKtions) Week - Mark Your Calendars Now!

Alumni-Student Connections Week will take place Feburary 16-20, 2015. The week will feature two days of informational interviews, one day of mock interviews, two days of "coffee connections," an alumni panel, opportunities to job shadow, and a student/alumni networking reception.   Registration for ASCK Week 2015 opens February 6!

Informational Interviews: Monday, February 16 and Tuesday, February 17, 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. each day at the law school. Interviews consist of a 30 minute meeting with alumni to learn about their area of practice. Be prepared with questions to ask as you will really lead the conversation.  Please sign up for no more than two interviews with alumni who practice in areas of interest to you. 

Mock Interviews: Wednesday, February 18, 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the law school. These consist of a 30 minute period that will be 20 minutes interview and 10 minutes feedback from the alum. Please sign up for no more than one interview. If you sign up for a Mock Interview, you should also email your current resume to the Career Services Office no later than Friday, February 13(kentcso@kentlaw.iit.edu). 

Coffee ConneKtions: Thursday, February 19 and Friday, February 20. Alumni will be hosting groups of 2-6 students for informal networking over coffee throughout these two days at locations outside of the law school building. Please sign up for no more than one Coffee ConneKtions. 

Job Shadowing: Several alumni have offered to host students at their place of business for a half or full day to give students the opportunity to see firsthand what the practice of law may be like. The specific date and time will be arranged with the alum once you sign up. Please only sign up for one opportunity and only for one that is of serious interest to you.

ASCK Week Networking Reception: Thursday, February 19, 6:00-8:00 p.m. More details coming soon!

On-Campus Interview

 

Programming

CBA YLS January Social

Date: January 29, 2015
Time: 7:30pm – 9:30pm
Location: The Godfrey Hotel, 127 W. Huron

Take a break from the hectic work week and enjoy uninterrupted views of the southern Chicago skyline while mingling with members of the YLS at The Godfrey Hotel's IO Urban Roofscape (located on the 4th floor of the hotel). Limited drink tickets and complimentary appetizers. Sponsored by BlueStar Case Solutions, Inc.

CBA YLS Texas Hold'em Tournament

Date: January 30, 2015
Time: 5:00 pm
Location: The Standard Club, 320 S. Plymouth Ct.

Join the Young Lawyers Section at its Ninth Annual Texas Hold’em Tournament for the benefit of The Chicago Bar Foundation. A special refresher course will be held prior to the tournament start to remind novice players of the basic rules of play and how to properly bet. Prizes will be awarded. Come play with Chicago’s premier lawyers! Prizes for Top Finishers! $150 per person on or before January 23, 2015 or $175 per person after January 23, 2015 (non-refundable). Rebuys and add-ons available during the first hour. Includes buffet dinner and drinks. Space is limited. Open to members of Chicago’s legal community.  

5:00 p.m. - Check In
5:15-5:45 p.m. - Refresher Course
6:00 p.m. - Play Begins
   
For Reservations:

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

Date: February 3, 2015
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00 pm
Location: Room 270
This event is co-sponsored by the Kent Justice Foundation.

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

The Midwest Public Interest Law Career Conference is job fair and an opportunity for students to interview and meet with government agencies and public interest employers for paid and unpaid legal positions next summer or for after graduation.  1Ls, 2Ls and 3Ls can all participate.  The job fair will take place at Northwestern University School of Law on Saturday, February 7, 2015. Student registration for this career conference is now closed. However, table talk is available at the job fair where students can meet with many of the employers, even if the student did not receive an interview in advance.   More information is available online at www.mpilcc.org.

Special Presentation: Searching for Public Interest Jobs, featuring Sam Halpert of PSJD

Date: February 4, 2015
Time: 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Location:Room 270
This event is co-sponsored by the Kent Justice Foundation and the National Lawyers' Guild

Join Sam Halpert, PSJD’s 2014-2015 Fellow, as he discusses searching for public interest jobs and the resources available through PSJD. Sam can help you understand what he’s
learning his first year out from law school about squeezing maximal results out of an internet job search, looking beyond what PJSD can offer, and coping with the stressful first stage of a public interest law career. Please RSVP to kentcso@kentlaw.iit.edu with "PSJD" in the subject line by February 3rd.

Possible topics of conversation include:

PSJD Search Techniques
• Basic, advanced, & refined searches
• Search operators
• Overcoming employers’ common data entry errors

PSJD Resources Guided, Targeted
• What’s in the PSJD Resource Center
• How your students can use PSJD to develop a job search plan
• How your students can use PSJD to discover potential career paths

Searches
• Real-time job searches based on your regional and topical preferences

Mock Interviews for MPILCC (Midwest Public Interest Law Career Conference)
Date: February 4th and 5th

Students who are scheduled to interview with employers at MPILCC may sign-up for a mock interview in the career services office on either February4th or February 5th.  These mock interviews are an excellent way to practice and polish your interview skills.  If you have not interviewed for a public interest position in the past, or if you have not interviewed for many positions, particularly legal positions, a mock interview is highly recommended.  You may sign up for available mock interview slots here.

ABA Litigation Section Job Search Panel and Reception

Date: February 4, 2015
Time: 3:00pm – 4:30pm
Location: Room 210

Join the American Bar Association’s Litigation Section for a Job Search Panel and Reception.  The panel will feature advice from legal practitioners on how to search for a job in the profession. There will be a reception immediately following the panel featuring light refreshments.

Panelists and Moderator:

  • Ruth Bahe-Jachna, partner, Greenberg Traurig LLP
  • Panelist, Nikki Odom, senior employment counsel, AkzoNobel
  • Either Steve Weiss, partner, Schopf & Weiss LLP, or Steve Siegel, partner, Novack and Macey LLP will moderate the panel

Please RSVP to kentcso@kentlaw.iit.edu with "ABA Litigation" in the subject line by February 3rd.

CBA YLS Lunch with a Judge Featuring Hon. Amy St. Eve

Date: February 4, 2015
Time:  12:00pm – 1:15pm
Location: The Chicago Bar Association, 321 South Plymouth Court

You're invited to have lunch with Hon. Amy St. Eve, U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois. The judge will give thoughts on her experience before becoming a judge and offer helpful tips on what young lawyers should know.  You must be a CBA member or law student member to attend and you must register in advance of the lunch. Limit 100 persons. Click here to register. Lunch will be generously provided by: Michael Krejci and Associates and Law Office of Stephanie Kemen.

US Air Force JAG Informational Meetings

Date: February 4th, 2015

On Tuesday, February 4, 2015, Major Gutzman of the US Air Force JAG will be on campus to meet individually with students regarding opportunities available to law students with the Air Force JAG and answer specific questions.   Should you wish to sign-up for an individual time slot, please e-mail kentcso@kentlaw.iit.edu with "Air Force JAG" in the subject line by January 30th, and include your availability on February 4th.

DuPage County Bar Association Pizza Party!

Date: February 5th and February 12th
Time: 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Location: Pizza Villa, DeKalb (February 5th) and Giordano’s on Jackson, Chicago (February 12)

Join the DuPage County Bar Association (the “DCBA”) for a pizza party taking place:

February 5th, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm - Pizza Villa, DeKalb
and
February 12th, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm – Giordano’s on Jackson, Chicago

This event will include free pizza, beer, wine and drinks, and will allow law students to connect with DuPage County judges and attorneys, learn more about DCBA membership, and network with other Chicago law students. 

Opportunities with the City of Chicago Department of Law

Date: February 11, 2015
Time: 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Location: Room 270

The City of Chicago Department of Law serves the Mayor, City Departments, Boards and Commissioners and the City Council administering policies and programs to benefit Chicago residents.  Come to this program to meet the city’s top attorney, Stephen R. Patton, Corporation Counsel, and to learn about the City of Chicago Department of Law’s Externship Program, Summer Volunteer Program, Law Clerk Program (paid and volunteer), and Entry-Level Attorney Program.  Learn about Law Department opportunities and what it is like to manage and practice law at one of the premier government law firms in the country from a panel of presenters to include:

  • Stephen R. Patton, Corporation Counsel
  • Elizabeth Simek, Director of Legal Recruitment and Professional Development

Space is Limited: Please RSVP by February 10 to kentcso@kentlaw.iit.edu with "City of Chicago" in the subject line.

Career Advice/Speed Counseling Sessions at the CBA - Complimentary!

Date: February 11, 2015
Time:  7:00am – 7:00 pm

Get resume feedback or answers to other job search issues at exclusive 20-minute, one-on-one sessions with Career Counselor Kathy Morris at the CBA. Members can choose one of the following topics to discuss: resume, cover letters, networking tactics, interviewing, negotiating a salary or raise, or alternative careers. Click here to schedule an appointment between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Questions? Contact Kayla Bryan at 312-554-2135.

Practising Law Institute (PLI) Presentation on the Patent Bar Exam

Date: February 18, 2015
Time: 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Location: Room 345

If you are a student with an undergrad or graduate degree in engineering, computer sciences or the hard sciences (chemistry, biology, physics, some related fields), and are interested in becoming a Patent Attorney, Practising Law Institute (PLI) invites you to a presentation by John White, Academic Director of PLI's Patent Bar Review Course. Topics for discussion include: the latest info on the Patent Bar Exam; who can take it; how it works, now that it's on computer; when you should take it (you don't need to…and probably shouldn't…wait until you graduate); how the American Invents Act has impacted the Exam, and; recommendations on when and how to study for this Exam.  Scholarships to PLI's other IP programs will also be discussed. For more information, please visit: www.patentbarreview.com/www.pli.edu

2015 Midwest LGBTQ Law Conference | After Marriage Equality

Date: February 20-21, 2015
Location: Washington University School of Law in St. Louis

Come join law students, faculty, practitioners, and community members from the greater Midwest at Washington University School of Law in St. Louis to discuss contemporary legal issues affecting the LGBTQ community. The 2015 Midwest LGBTQ Law Conference will explore LGBTQ rights after the success of marriage equality movements nationwide.

The Midwest LGBTQ Law Conference is always free and open to the public?, and includes an employer networking reception on Friday, February 20. We also offer free CLE credit for Missouri and Illinois. Register online at http://law.wustl.edu/blogs/outlaw/ and click on the conference page.

Want more information? Visit our website at http://law.wustl.edu/blogs/outlaw/ or send us an email through the contact us section or at outlaw@wulaw.wustl.edu.

Rebellious Lawyering Conference at Yale Law

Date: February 20-21, 2015
Location: Yale Law School, New Haven, Connecticut

Attend RebLaw2015 on February 20-21, 2015, at the Yale Law School in New Haven, Connecticut. Registration is now open here.

The Rebellious Lawyering Conference is an annual gathering of students, activists and legal practitioners dedicated to legal work in the service of communities and social change movements and to challenging hierarchies of race, wealth, gender, and expertise within legal practice and education. Grounded in the spirit of Gerald Lopez's Rebellious Lawyering, the conference is in its twenty first year and the largest student-run public interest law conference in the U.S.

Registration is $30 and includes a happy hour on Friday and lunch on Saturday. For law students wishing to attend who may otherwise find hotel costs prohibitive, we do our best to coordinate hoursing with Yale law studens and volunteerings. The deadline for housing elibilility is January 31. 

Questions? rebellious.law.questions@gmail.com

Norman Amaker Midwest Public Interest Law & Social Justice Retreat - REGISTER BY JANUARY 21

Date: February 27-March 1
Location: Loyola University Retreat and Ecology Campus, Woodstock, Illinois

Register Today for the Norman Amaker Midwest Public Interest Law & Social Justice RetreatBulldozing the Road to Change: Law Students As Architects of Social Justice

What is the Amaker Retreat?
The Amaker Retreat is a three-day event wherein students meet with social justice leaders to learn about, and contribute to, forward-thinking legal reform and social change in various public interest fields including international human rights, LGBTQ issues, human trafficking, reproductive rights, and more!

When is the Amaker Retreat?
The Amaker Retreat will be February 27- March 1, 2015

Where is the Amaker Retreat?
The Amaker Retreat is held at the Loyola University Retreat and Ecology Campus located in Woodstock, Illinois. Bus transportation is included for all interested students.

What is the Cost of the Amaker Retreat?
The Retreat includes all meals and lodging. Please contact Michelle Vodenik for information about securing funding for the event. 

How Do I Register for the Amaker Retreat?
Registration is now open nowPlease registrar here to reserve your spot! If you have any questions, please email: amakerlawretreat@luc.edu. For more information, please visit www.luc.edu/law/amaker/ 

Employment Opportunities

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

ACC Chicago Chapter 2015 Diversity Summer Internship Program - Applications due January 31, 2015

The Association of Corporate Counsel (Chicago Chapter) Diversity Summer Internship Program places law students with diverse backgrounds from select Illinois law schools in internships in Chicagoland corporate legal departments.  Selected law students work in the legal department of a Chicagoland company for a minimum of ten (10) weeks during the 2015 summer. 

Selected students are assigned a mentor in the company who is responsible for directing their workload and ensuring that the students have a positive learning experience.  In addition to their day-to-day work, the interns are also assigned a mentor from the ACC Chicago Chapter and will attend seminars and networking events hosted by the Chicago Chapter and participating legal departments.  These seminars offer the students helpful tips on topics such as networking, interviewing and resume writing. 

The Chicago Chapter is looking for students from racial and ethnic backgrounds that are traditionally underrepresented in the legal profession.  Additionally, the Chapter seeks diverse students who are eager to learn and are capable of thriving in a corporate environment.
Requirements:

  • Currently enrolled in law school
  • Must be attending an Illinois law school (no exceptions)
  • Only open to 1Ls (no exceptions)

For more information, please visit: http://www.acc.com/chapters/chic/InternshipProgramInfo.cfm 

Applications are due by January 31, 2015.

To apply, you must fill out and complete an application.  Please visit the following website for the application and instructions:http://www.acc.com/chapters/chic/InternshipProgramInfo.cfm

SEC’s Summer 2015 Student Honors Program for 1Ls - Applications due February 2, 2015

The SEC’s Summer Student Honors Program is a ten-week opportunity for first-year law students to become acquainted with the regulation of the securities market.
 
Participants work with SEC Staff members on projects covering a broad range of the Commission’s mission, such as conducting investigations of industry and issuer practices, assisting in the litigation of enforcement actions, and drafting proposed statutes and rules, to name a few responsibilities.
 
For more information on this SEC program, please visit the Student Honors Program Homepage.
 
Applications are due by February 2, 2015
                                                                     
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
 
Students must submit a resume with current contact information, a one-page cover letter, an unofficial school transcript, a list of current courses, and a 5 to 10 page writing sample (graduate and legal students only).  Your one-page cover letter should be addressed “Dear Hiring Committee” with the location to which you are applying (DC or a Region) in the mailing address block. The cover letter is the best way to explain why you think your interests or experience would make a contribution, either to the SEC in general or to particular divisions/offices. In your cover letter, please indicate three preferred offices and divisions you would like to work with. For more information about the offices and divisions, please click here.

If you have any questions, please email students@sec.gov

Fellowships & Scholarships

Chicago Schweitzer Fellowship Program - Applications due February 1, 2015

The Chicago Schweitzer Fellows Program® is a one-year interdisciplinary, mentored fellowship program focused on health-related community service and leadership development.

DEFINING HEALTH
Schweitzer Fellows focus on health as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO): a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.  Rooted in this holistic understanding of health, Schweitzer projects address not only clinical health issues, but also the social determinants of health—defined by the WHO as the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age, and which are mostly responsible for health inequities.

ELIGIBILITY
Students enrolled in graduate or professional degree-granting programs from any accredited academic institution in the geographic area may apply. While the applicant’s field of study does not have to be traditionally health-related, his/her proposed service project must focus on health and/or the social determinants of health. Past Fellows have addressed health from a wide variety of perspectives and disciplines including, but not limited to, dentistry, education, engineering, law, medicine, music, nursing, occupational therapy, pharmacy, physical therapy, public health, and social work. Applicants must be enrolled throughout the Fellowship year (May 2015-May 2016).  Applicants scheduled for a December graduation should contact the Program Director to determine if they are eligible for a waiver to this requirement.

PRIOR TO APPLYING
Prospective Fellows should be prepared to partner with a local community agency and design a community service project that seeks to provide direct service to an underserved population. This project should focus on addressing health and/or the social determinants of health in the population served.

The project should:

  • Provide a direct service that meets a community-defined need and reflects national and local health priorities, such as Healthy People 2020. Prospective applicants should investigate and reflect on unmet local health-related needs, and think through the ways in which their own energies and talents might contribute, even in small ways, to ameliorating one or more of these problems.
  • Be of an enduring value to the community/agency served.  The project proposal should include a brief discussion about sustainability of the project at the end of the Fellowship year.

Potential applicants may learn more and find an application here. Applications are due February 1, 2015.

Equal Justice Works Americorps JD Program (apply for financial support for students working with veterans, disaster relief, or civil legal corp this coming summer) - Applications due February 6, 2015

The Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps JD program provides law students with the opportunity to earn a $1,212 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award for dedicating 300 hours of service to a qualifying legal project with a nonprofit program or other qualifying organization.

Students serving in the priority areas defined below may apply now through Friday, February 6, 2015. The 300 service hours can be completed anytime from when the application is accepted and background check has been initiated through August 31, 2015.

We will also accept applications beginning in late February from students who provide service during summer 2015 to low-income communities outside of the specified priority areas. More details to come.

SERVICE OVERVIEW

PRIORITY AREAS: The application is now open for students who serve veterans, military families or victims of disasters, or who focus on removing barriers to employment or housing.

Removing barriers to employment or housing can include sealing, expunging, and/or correcting criminal records; correcting credit reports; helping clients to obtain occupational licenses; restoring driver’s licenses that are necessary for work; and/or other applicable services focusing on legal barriers to employment or housing.

Some more examples of the type of work students can do within these priority areas include:

Direct legal services: intake, legal form preparation, performing client and witness interviews, advocating for clients by telephone and in person, attending hearings, assisting attorneys in legal representation, carrying out legal research and writing

Outreach and education: developing and distributing fact sheets, developing and delivering training on legal topics or on how to access legal services, ensuring potential clients are aware of their rights and available services

Capacity building: activities which build the capacity of your host organization or other organizations to provide services in the previously specified priority areas, such as an organizational assessment, compiling best practices, organizing focus groups, leading planning committees

The AmeriCorps program, under the Corporation for National and Community Service, has a list of prohibited activities that cannot be included in the hours of service completed to earn the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. A list of these activities can be found here.

REQUIREMENTS

  • Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or Lawful Permanent Resident of the United States
  • Secure a placement with a host organization prior to submitting application
  • Agree to criminal background checks during application
  • Serve in any nonprofit within the U.S.
  • Supervised by licensed attorney
  • Have received less than two full Segal Education Awards for any prior AmeriCorps service
  • Not receive more than $4,300 in outside funding for service hours at your organization
  • Complete 300 hours of service by August 31, 2015 (all hours must be with one organization)

More details on eligibility and requirements can be found on our website.

APPLY

Visit our website to learn more and apply. Students serving in the priority areas may apply now through Friday, February 6, 2015. Questions may be directed to AmeriCorpsJD@equaljusticeworks.org.

2015-2016 Finnegan Diversity Scholarship - Applications due February 13, 2015

The scholarship provides financial support to law students who have demonstrated a commitment to pursuing a career in IP law and enhancing diversity in the legal profession. The scholarship award of $15,000 may be applied to costs associated with normal tuition and fees (such as, but not limited to, student activity fees; law school or university fees, and administrative fees).

The scholarship recipient will also accept an offer to join the firm as a 2016 summer associate in one of the domestic offices (Atlanta, Boston, Palo Alto, Reston or Washington).

Students currently completing their first year full-time (or second year part-time) are invited to apply.  The award will be applied to education costs the following academic year, and may be renewed for one additional year if the scholar accepts an associate offer upon successful completion of the Finnegan summer associate program, maintains a grade point average of 3.0 or better in law school, and is otherwise in good standing.

Application Process: Students must submit an application, resume, official or unofficial transcripts (law school grades should be forwarded once received), and a 1-2 page personal statement. The personal statement should include a description of how the applicant will contribute to Finnegan’s practice and diversity mission. Applications will be accepted from December 1, 2014 through February 13, 2015.

Students may access the application here.

2015 1L LCLD Scholars Program

The 1L LCLD Scholars Program offers first-year law students from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to spend a summer working side-by-side with attorneys from LCLD Member organizations. Seventy-eight LCLD Member law firms and corporations participated in the 2014 program, collectively offering more than 165 opportunities. Opportunities for 2015 are currently being added by LCLD Members.

LCLD provides several networking opportunities for 1L LCLD Scholars, which include:

  • 1L LCLD Scholars Summit, May 28-30, 2015 in Dallas, TX.
  • 1L LCLD Scholars will have an opportunity to participate in a mock interview with attorneys from LCLD Member law firms.
  • Dedicated LinkedIn group for 1L LCLD Scholars.

Eligibility and Application Process:

  • 1L LCLD Scholar candidates must be enrolled as first-year law students and in good standing at an ABA-approved law school.
  • Candidates must apply directly to their desired LCLD Member firms and corporations; each Member organization will independently identify, select, and hire its 1L LCLD Scholar(s).

The following LCLD Members have available 1L LCLD Diversity Scholar positions available:

Visit http://www.lcldnet.org/programs/1l-scholars/ for more information, including the list of participating LCLD Member law firms and corporations

Job Fairs

Midwest Public Interest Law Career Conference (MPILCC)
February 7, 2015

The Midwest Public Interest Law Career Conference is job fair and an opportunity for students to interview and meet with government agencies and public interest employers for paid and unpaid legal positions next summer or for after graduation.  1Ls, 2Ls and 3Ls can all participate.  The job fair will take place at Northwestern University School of Law on Saturday, February 7, 2015. Student registration for this career conference is now closed. However, table talk is available at the job fair where students can meet with many of the employers, even if the student did not receive an interview in advance.   More information is available online at www.mpilcc.org.

Diversity

The LCLD Success in Law School Mentoring Program - Registration opens October 15th

Ask any successful attorney: Nothing propels a legal career like having a great mentor. That’s especially true when the mentor is at the top of the legal profession and takes an active, personal interest in the development of the young lawyer he or she is advising. The primary objective of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Success in Law School Mentoring Program is to ensure that talented and diverse students received the mentoring and preparation that they need to maximize their potential in law school and beyond.

The LCLD Success in Law School Mentoring Program includes two programs: The Individual Mentoring Program (IMP) and the Group Mentoring Program (GMP).

The IMP is a comprehensive initiative for first year law students from diverse backgrounds based on the principals of legal excellence and personal involvement. Each student is matched with an LCLD mentor attorney, who is a leader in the legal profession and taken an active personal interest in the development of the Mentee law student. The goal of the IMP is to ensure that talented law school student receive the mentoring they need to maximize their potential, both during law school and afterward, as they prepare for the bar exam and launch their careers. The sign-up for a LCLD mentor will begin on October 15! For more information visit here.

The GMP allows diverse 1L, 2L, and 3L students to receive advice and support from successful attorneys from the LCLD Member law firms and corporations. GMP events are scheduled during the school year and designed to provide guidance in an information, interactive, and collegial setting. Many GMP events include a networking session and a panel presentation by experienced attorneys about a variety of topics including networking and relationship building, interviewing skills, professionalism, practice area choice, and attorney evaluation. For more information about GMP events, please visit: www.lcldnet.org/GMPevents.

ACC Chicago Chapter 2015 Diversity Summer Internship Program - Applications due January 31, 2015
(See above)

2015-2016 Finnegan Diversity Scholarship - Applications due February 13, 2015
(See above)

2015 1L LCLD Scholars Program
(See above)

 

Resources

CSO Resources

The Chicago-Kent Career Services Office has access to hundreds of helpful career resources. A majority of these resources are available in Symplicity under the red "Resources" tab (in the "Document Library"). Some of these resources include:

  • 2014-2015 Government Honors and Internship Handbook
  • Chicago Area Law Firm List
  • 2013-2014 Guide to Internships & Fellowships in Reproductive Rights & Justice
  • Updated Vermont Guide to State Judicial Clerkships
  • BYU Intercollegiate Job Bank
  • DePaul Law School International Guide and Job Resource
  • Music Attorney Registry
  • Prosecution Handbook
  • Public Defender Handbook               
  • Public Interest Job Search Handbooks
  • Various handouts related to the job search, including “Researching Legal Employers,” “The Out of State Job Search,” “Salary Negotiations” and “Writing Samples”

And many more!

Chicago-Kent students can also access various websites like: 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 in the Symplicity "Document Library" (under the Resources tab).

Speak with your Career Advisor today about the various resources available through the Career Services Office!

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