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Career Services Office

Career Services Office home page
Week of March 30, 2015

Information & Announcements

  • Make an Appointment!
  • March 31 and April 1: Mandatory 2L Program - What's Next for Fall
  • April 7: Mandatory 1L Program - What's Next for Fall
  • New Resource: CareerShift is LIVE at Chicago-Kent!
  • 1L Cover Letter Workshop
  • Mandatory 1L Legal Resume Workshop
  • Lawcountability, J.D. iOS Mobile App Now Available for Download!
  • In-House Clinical Program Applications are Available for Summer 2015 and Fall 2015
  • Federal Work Study for Summer 2015: Apply Now!

On-Campus Interviewing

Programming

  • ILAO/PILI Webinar: How to Apply for Internships and Externships
  • March 31: Nixon Peabody IP Summer Program Preparation
  • March 31: Building Your Legacy: Professionally, Personally, Effectively
  • March 31: IndyBar Diversity Job Fair Webinar Panel
  • April 2: Starting and Maintaining a Small Intellectual Property Law Firm Teleconference Panel
  • April 2: Decalogue Society Law Student/Young Lawyers Happy Hour
  • April 4: The Chicago Animal Law Symposium
  • April 6-10: ConneKtions @ Dinner Week – Save the Date!
  • April 8: What They Don't Tell You in Law School - Real Talk on Women in the Law
  • April 14: How to Succeed: Government or Legal Aid
  • April 16: Women in Law: Being Successful and Making an Impact

Employment Opportunities

  • Fall 2015 Semester Law Firm Associate Program - Applications due April 8, 2015
  • United States Attorney's Office Fall 2015 Intern/Extern - Applications due April 15, 2015
  • U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Fall 2015 Student Honors Program - Applications due May 4, 2015
  • Reed Smith 2015 Diverse Scholars Program for 1Ls - Applications due July 20, 2015

Fellowships & Scholarships

  • Zelle Hofmann 2015 Diversity in Law Scholarship - Applications due April 1, 2015
  • Justice John Paul Stevens Public Interest Summer Fellowship Program 2015 - Applications due April 2, 2015
  • Hispanic Lawyers Scholarship Fund of Illinois Fellowship and Scholarship - Applications due April 3, 2015
  • McGuire Woods Diversity Scholarship - Applications due May 29, 2015

Job Fairs

  • Register NOW: 2015 National Black Prosecutors Association Annual Job Fair, July 21
  • Register NOW: 2015 Lavender Law Career Fair, August 5-8
  • Save the Date: 2015 IndyBar Diversity Job Fair, August 6 and 7 (Registration Opens April 1)
  • Register NOW: Cook County Bar Association Minority Job Fair, August 14 (Register by May 15)
  • Register NOW: 11th Annual Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair, August 21-22 (Register by July 3)

Diversity

  • IndyBar Diversity Job Fair Webinar Panel
  • Zelle Hofmann 2015 Diversity in Law Scholarship - Applications due April 1, 2015
  • Decalogue Society Law Student/Young Lawyers Happy Hour
  • Hispanic Lawyers Scholarship Fund of Illinois Fellowship and Scholarship - Applications due April 3, 2015
  • Women in Law: Being Successful and Making an Impact
  • Sixth Annual Sidley 1L Diversity Summer Mentorship Program - Applications due April 17, 2015
  • McGuire Woods Diversity Scholarship - Applications due May 29, 2015
  • Reed Smith 2015 Diverse Scholars Program for 1Ls - Applications due July 20, 2015
  • Register NOW: 2015 National Black Prosecutors Association Annual Job Fair, July 21
  • Register NOW: 2015 Lavender Law Career Fair, August 5-8
  • Save the Date: 2015 IndyBar Diversity Job Fair, August 6 and 7 (Registration Opens April 1)
  • Register NOW: Cook County Bar Association Minority Job Fair, August 14 (Register by May 15)
  • Register NOW: 11th Annual Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair, August 21-22 (Register by July 3)

Resources

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

Information & Announcements

Make an Appointment!

If you are a 1L student and you have not yet met with your Career Advisor, please come in to do so and to have your resume reviewed and begin to develop a job search strategy. Appointments are mandatory.

If you are a 2L/3L/4L and you have not come in yet this school year, please make an appointment to meet with your Career Advisor to discuss your job search status and plans. Thank you!

Mandatory 2L Program - What's Next for Fall

Date, Time and Location: Tuesday, March 31, 12:00pm (Auditorium) and Wednesday, April 1, 5:15pm (Room C20)

The summer after your second year of law school is a key time to be thinking about your postgraduate job search.  How might your summer employment lead to a permanent position, and how do you broach this possibility with your supervisor?  What kind of timelines do employers follow when hiring new attorneys?  How early are the earliest deadlines? Most importantly, what should you be doing to make connections that will further your job search now and as you prepare to graduate? 

The What’s Next for Fall Program will address these and other important concerns for rising 3L students.  Current 2L students are required to attend this program.

These programs will take place on Tuesday, March 31 from 12:00pm – 1:00pm in the Auditorium and on Wednesday, April 1 from 5:15pm – 5:50pm in Room C20

Students need only attend one session.

Mandatory 1L Program - What's Next for Fall

Date: Tuesday, April 7
Times and Locations: 12:00pm (Auditorium) and 5:15pm (Room C20)

On Tuesday, April 7, 2015, the Career Services Office will present a mandatory program for current 1L students on the job opportunities and career deadlines coming up in the fall. Current 1L students are required to attend this program.

Learn About:

  • Fall Recruiting (OCI)
  • State, Local and Federal Government Hiring
  • Public Interest Deadlines and Opportunities
  • Small and Midsize Firm Opportunities
  • Tips for Your Transition from Summer to Fall

These programs will take place on Tuesday, April 7 from 12:00pm – 1:00pm in the Auditorium and 5:15pm – 5:50pm in Room C20

Students need only attend one session.

New Resource: CareerShift is LIVE at Chicago-Kent!

Chicago-Kent has partnered with CareerShift to help with your job search needs. 

CareerShift is a one-stop search engine that allows users to search and review each and every job posting available (such as those on Monster, Indeed, all other job boards and company websites). 

In addition, users can search for jobs and save searches, find and save a list of contacts, create resumes and cover letters, and put them together in targeted e-mail or postal mail campaigns. Then users can track responses from “Come in for an interview” to “You’re hired.”

With CareerShift you can:

  • Search every job listing, including job boards and company websites
  • Get inside contact information immediately, including email addresses, for millions of companies
  • Create and organize all of your documents
  • Confidentially market yourself
  • Remain focused and organized
  • Access your secure, private account from anywhere, anytime, 24/7

Sign up for an account at CareerShift and when prompted use the group access code: kentlawcso

Click on “Tutorials” under the “My Organizer” link to view tutorials on how to use all of the job search resources CareerShift has to offer!

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.

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!

Lawcountability, 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!

In-House Clinical Program Applications are Available for Summer 2015 and Fall 2015

The 2015 Summer and Fall clinical applications are now available in the Law Offices reception area (Suite 600) and on the table outside of the third floor elevators, as well as online.  For more information about the respective clinics offered, click here!

Federal Work Study for Summer 2015: Apply Now!

Chicago-Kent will have very limited Community-Based Federal Work Study funds available during the first half of Summer 2015; and it is anticipated that we will have enough funds for all requests during the 2nd half of summer. Chicago-Kent rising 2L & 3L students who are Federal Work Study eligible may be paid though Federal Work Study funds to work at government and public interest organizations outside of the law school, provided the agency or organization has been approved for federal work study placement.  Students who have a federal work study award must obtain a summer position and list their summer employers on the application form. Please visit the Community-Based Federal Work Study webpage for a more detailed explanation of this opportunity, as well as the form you need to complete in order to participate.  Applications for Federal Work Study for Summer 2015 are accepted on a rolling basis, so apply as soon as possible.

On-Campus Interviewing

 

Programming

ILAO/PILI Webinar: How to Apply for Internships and Externships

Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO) and the Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) have prepared a short (9 minute) webinar on how to use www.illinoisprobono.org to search for a summer internship or externship. The webinar walks you through the application process and provides tips from partnering legal aid organizations. You can access the webinar here: How to Apply for Internships and Externships.

Nixon Peabody IP Summer Program Preparation

Date: Tuesday, March 31
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Location: Room 270

On Tuesday, March 31st at noon in Room 270, representatives from the Chicago office of Nixon Peabody LLC (http://www.nixonpeabody.com/) will be on-campus to meet with 1L students focused on intellectual property to discuss both their firm and its IP practice.  Don't miss this opportunity to hear the inside scoop directly from Nixon Peabody attorneys.

Panelists will be Nixon attorneys Ela Baio, Brad Taub and Tim Horton. Their bios can be found at www.nixonpeabody.com.  Join these firm reps for a free lunch as they offer their thoughts and answer your questions. Program attendees will also be invited to a reception at the firm in April.

Because the firm will be providing lunch, they have asked that students RSVP in advanceTo do so, send an e-mail to kentcso@kentlaw.iit.edu with Nixon Peabody in the subject line by Friday, March 27th. 

Building Your Legacy: Professionally, Personally, Effectively

Date: Tuesday, March 31
Time: 5:30pm – 8:00pm
Location: Chicago-Kent Auditorium and Front Lobby

The Women's Bar Association of Illinois and Chicago-Kent's Society of Women In Law will host a panel of attorneys to discuss how law students and practicing attorneys can build their career and legacy. This event is open to the public.

IndyBar Diversity Job Fair Webinar Panel

Date: Tuesday, March 31
Time: 5:00pm

Join the Indianapolis Bar Association and the McKinney School of Law online on March 31st at 5:00pm as they team up to offer a webinar to help 1L students learn more about the IndyBar Diversity Job Fair. Panelists will share additional information about the fair and answer questions live. You can listen to the webinar by clicking here, on March 31 at 5pm

Here are the details on the IndyBar Diversity Job Fair: 

The eighth annual IndyBar Diversity Job Fair will be held August 6-7, 2015.  Legal employers will expect to interview full-time 2L law students (graduating May 2017) or part-time 2L and 3L law students (graduating 2017/2018) to participate in the fair.  Registration opens April 1, 2015.  The student registration deadline is June 28, 2015. Only students who have registered, bid and obtained interviews can participate in Diversity Job Fair events. 

The IndyBar Diversity Job Fair seeks candidates who represent all aspects of diversity, who are looking for a one-of-a-kind legal community in a Midwestern city that has both cosmopolitan style and small-town charm.  To learn more about the logistics of the Job Fair, please visit ibadiversityjobfair.org.

Student registration is available at https://law-indybar-csm.symplicity.com/students. Following registration, students will be provided with automatically-generated passwords that will allow them to use the system throughout the next few months.

Starting and Maintaining a Small Intellectual Property Law Firm Teleconference Panel

Date: Thursday, April 2
Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm

Join the Federal Circuit Bar Association for a panel discussion about starting your own law firm. The panelists will discuss the challenges of starting and maintaining a small law firm. The panel will examine issues related to transitioning from an established law firm and developing clients, as well as discussing the personal satisfaction of managing and working in your own law firm. 

Panelists
Lisa Dunner, Managing Partner, Dunner Law PLLC
Barbara Murphy, Partner, Foster, Murphy, Altman & Nickel, PC
Reynaldo Barcelo, Partner, Barcelo, Harrison, and Walker LLP
Graciella Cowger, Partner, Stolowitz, Ford & Cowger LLP
Brittany Maxey, Owner, Maxey Law Offices PLLC 

Moderator
Mike Mireles, Professor, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law

Law Students can participate in this program complimentary. You may register here.

Decalogue Society Law Student/Young Lawyers Happy Hour

Date: Thursday, April 2
Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: Hubbard Inn, 110 W Hubbard St.

Join other young lawyers and law students to learn more about mentoring and volunteer opportunities through the Decalogue Society of Lawyers, America's oldest Jewish Bar Association. Your first drink is complimentary!

Check out the Facebook Page for more information!

The Chicago Animal Law Symposium

Date: Saturday, April 4
Time: 8:00am – 7:00pm
Location: Chicago-Kent

You are invited to the first regional symposium of the Chicago-area Student Animal Legal Defense Fund (SALDF) chapters. Law professionals and students can expect an informative daylong CLE focused on hot topics and emerging issues in animal law, such as “Agricultural Gag” laws, the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA), developing issues in Illinois animal law, the convergence of food safety law and animal protection, and the problem of police shootings of companion animals. There will also be three opportunities to see the insightful new documentary film, “The Ghosts in Our Machine.”

Speakers and Panels Include:

  • Keynote Address
  • Fighting Ag-Gag and the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act – presented by Odette Wilkens, Executive Director of the Equal Justice Alliance and Chris Green, Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Director of Legislative Affairs
  • Dog Shootings by Police: Companion Animals & Law Enforcement – presented by Cherie Travis, Assistant General Counsel, Cook County Sheriff’s Office and Diane Balkin, Contract Attorney, Animal Legal Defense Fund Criminal Justice Program
  • Animal Law in Illinois: Hot Topics and Emerging Issues – presented Anna Morrison-Riccordati, Animal Law Attorney, AMR Law Group and Carney Anne Nasser, Legislative Counsel, Animal Legal Defense Fund
  • Confronting Factory Farming through Food Safety and Consumer Protection Litigation – presented by Chris Berry, Staff Attorney, Animal Legal Defense Fund Litigation Program and Kelsey Eberly, Litigation Fellow, Animal Legal Defense Fund Litigation Program

Registration for students is $15, which includes breakfast, lunch, and a cocktail reception in addition to the 4 panels and film screening. Register here - space is limited!

ConneKtions @ Dinner Week – Save the Date!

The spring ConneKtions @ Dinner Week will take place April 6-10. This is an opportunity to join alumni for dinner at restaurants or in their homes to talk about life after law school in an informal setting.

Registration will open on a first-come, first-served basis as follows:

  • 3Ls and 4Ls on Monday morning, March 30, at 9am
  • 2Ls on Tuesday morning, March 31 at 9am
  • 1Ls on Wednesday morning, April 1 at 9am.

Watch your email for the link to register.

You will only be allowed to sign up for one dinner - please check your schedule carefully to ensure that you do not have any potential conflicts with your chosen dinner.

If you failed to show up for any of your ASCK Week interviews or meetings without giving ample notice, you will not be allowed to sign up for a dinner during ConneKtions @ Dinner week.

What They Don't Tell You in Law School - Real Talk on Women in the Law

Date: Wednesday, April 8
Time: 5:30pm – 8:00pm
Location: Sidley Austin LLP, One South Dearborn, 37th Floor

This is a complimentary program where Chicago area women law students can learn about grit and the growth mindset.  This program, presented by the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession, seeks to Educate, Equip, and Engage the next generation of women lawyers.

  • Work through real-life scenarios with gritty women attorneys
  • Develop grit and growth mindset skills
  • Understand the research on implicit bias
  • Learn how to engage with the ABA

5:30 - 7:00 PM Program
7:00 - 8:00 PM Networking Event
Light refreshments and food provided
For more information and to register, visit ambar.org/ChicagoGrit.

You must register by April 7th at 12:00 PM. 

How to Succeed: Government or Legal Aid

Date: Tuesday, April 14
Time: 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Location: TBA

Come hear from a panel of attorneys at government and legal aid organizations as they present their tips for summer job success.

  • What can you do to start off on the right foot?
  • What do supervisors expect of their law clerks/interns?
  • What qualities and attributes will make you a "star" intern?
  • How do you handle assignments?
  • When you make a mistake, how should you handle it?
  • If working directly with clients, how do you communicate effectively; and can a law student, with supervision, provide advice to clients?
  • How do you exit gracefully at the end of the summer, or continue the relationship into future semesters?

Sponsored by the Career Services Office, the Kent Justice Foundation and the American Constitution Society. Pizza will be provided.

Women in Law: Being Successful and Making an Impact

Date: Thursday, April 16
Time: 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Location: Perkins Coie, 131 South Dearborn St.

The transition from law school to practice can often be a challenging one. We invite you to hear from seasoned lawyers about legal career options and tips on how to navigate toward success in the changing legal market.

Please join the women of Microsoft and Perkins Coie for an interactive session on what lies ahead after law school. Learn from the perspectives of both the in-house counsel and private practitioner on what you can do to shape your career trajectory as a female lawyer, and how the decisions you make during and after law school can make a positive impact at work.

Presenters
Hillary Kaplan, Assistant General Counsel, Microsoft
Nichole Abbotts, Attorney, Microsoft
Jeanne Cullen, Partner, Perkins Coie
Jeannil Boji, Counsel, Perkins Coie
Debra Bernard, Moderator, Partner, Perkins Coie

Agenda
Registration & Networking: 4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Program: 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Reception: 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Plus, door prizes!  Space is limited and an RSVP is required. Click here to RSVP.

Employment Opportunities

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

Fall 2015 Semester Law Firm Associate Program - Applications due April 8, 2015

Chicago-Kent’s Semester Law Firm Associate Program (SLFAP) is a unique for-credit non-graded program open to 2Ls and 3Ls with a minimum 3.2 GPA.  Semester Associate externs work for academic credit (without pay) as “Associates” for designated prestigious firms.

Semester Associate externs receive 6 credits and devote 24 hours a week during the semester to the fieldwork component.  Students gain experience and perspective from work on different aspects of litigation and transactions, and firms strive, to the extent possible, to expose students to a range of legal problems demanding different skill sets or competencies. In conjunction with the fieldwork, there is an accompanying classroom component, scheduled on designated Thursdays from 4:00pm - 5:15pm

This is a terrific opportunity to learn substantive law and about life in a law firm as well as more about your own strengths, and to make an impression on the lawyers with whom you come into contact (even though there is no expectation of future employment).

To Apply for Fall 2015 SLFAP:
Below are the participating firms and legal practice areas. If you are a current 1L or 2L and are interested in applying for an externship at any one of the listed firms, email a current resume and unofficial transcript to Professor Gross (vgross@kentlaw.iit.edu) no later than 5:00pm on Wednesday, April 8, 2015.  Also indicate to which firm(s) you are applying and, where appropriate, to which practice area.

Each firm will conduct its own selection process. If you receive an offer to extern, you have three (3) days to respond to that offer.  You cannot withdraw after you have accepted an offer.

Participating Firms:

Beermann, Pritikin, Mirabelli and Swerdlove LLP
Matrimonial Law (one extern)
Litigation/Corporate Law (one extern)

Deutsch, Levy & Engel
Commercial Litigation

Grund & Leavitt
Matrimonial Law

Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
IP Law (one extern)
Employment Law   (one extern)

Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney, LTD
Litigation (commercial/possibly some toxic tort)

Stahl Cowen Crowley Addis
Commercial Litigation

Please contact Prof. Gross immediately if you are selected.

United States Attorney's Office Fall 2015 Intern/Extern - Applications due April 15, 2015

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois is responsible for prosecuting all federal crimes within the district. The Office also represents the United States and its departments and agencies in civil proceedings filed in federal court and in the Seventh Circuit. The primary goals of the Law Student Intern Program are to provide law students with the greatest possible exposure to and participation in federal trial and appellate practice and to obtain excellent legal talent to assist this Office in handling its multitude of cases.

Application Materials:
Resume, personal statement reflecting your background and your interest in participating in this program, legal writing sample, three letters of recommendation (preferably legal), and law school transcript (unofficial is acceptable). Recommendation letters, whether or not submitted in sealed envelopes, may be included by the student with the application materials. Please make every effort to include them with the application to avoid delay.

Qualifications:

  • Students must be second-year or third-year law students by the beginning of the fall term.
  • Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
  • Residency Requirement: For a total of three years (not necessarily consecutive years) of the past five years immediately prior to applying for a position, the applicant must have: 1) resided in the United States; 2) worked for the U.S. overseas in a federal or military capacity; or 3) been a dependent of a federal or military employee serving overseas. The Residency Requirement ensures an adequate background investigation can be completed. Due to the sensitive nature of the work performed by the Office, all offers to candidates are conditioned upon the successful completion of a required background investigation.

Interns are not permitted to work in a legal capacity - private or public - during the internship.

Minimum Weeks:
Required: Fall Internship - 16 hours per week for 12 weeks

Academic credit:
Work-study or academic credit may be available through a student's law school. Students must make arrangements through his/her law school. This Internship is not compensated. No matching contributions available; all compensation must be provided by law school. Should you secure this externship and wish to receive credit, you must see Professor Vivien Gross - vgross@kentlaw.edu - for permission to enroll in the fall legal externship class.

Assignments:
The work of the law student interns includes assisting in all aspects of trial preparation, legal research, writing memoranda of law, drafting pleadings and appellate briefs, assisting in preparation and taking of depositions, assisting in pretrial conferences and trials of civil and criminal cases.

Web Page: http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/

All application packages must be submitted by United States post-mail to the district contact (Monica LeKostaj, Administrative Assistant for the Law Student Intern Program) by April 15, 2015. See Symplicity ID: #19926 for more information.

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Fall 2015 Student Honors Program - Applications due May 4, 2015

Do you want to perform challenging work in a professional environment? Begin by investing in your career and future at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)!

The SEC is seeking bright, innovative, results-oriented individuals for its 2015 Fall Honors Program. The 2015 Fall Honors Program offers law students robust responsibilities and experiences that enhance their legal careers. Over the course of the ten-week program, students work with Commission staff on projects particular to the specific Division or Office to which they are assigned. Students will also have the opportunity to participate in seminars/workshops, roundtable discussions, a mentoring program, and tours that will provide detailed information and guidance on securities laws. Specific duties and responsibilities will vary according to the office or division of assignment. Click here for more information and to learn how to apply.

Reed Smith 2015 Diverse Scholars Program for 1Ls - Applications due July 20, 2015

Reed Smith has a strong commitment to diversity which has resulted in a firm in which diversity and inclusion permeate the culture.  Rewarding young future leaders for their efforts in the area of diversity and introducing them to the Reed Smith culture are two important goals of this program.
 
The Diverse Scholars Program provides two $20,000 awards to students to be used to defray necessary expenditures related to her/his legal education for the second year of law school, as well as a paid summer associate position after completion of the second year of law school.  The program is open to first-year law students who have demonstrated excellent academic scholarship and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
 
Scholarship applicants must submit a resume, a completed application (2015 Diverse Scholars Application), a personal statement, law school transcript, undergraduate transcript and a legal writing sample to:  DiverseScholars@reedsmith.com.
 
Summer associate positions in 2016 are available in:  Chicago; Los Angeles; San Francisco; New York City; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Houston, and Washington, D.C.  Applications must be submitted on or before July 20, 2015.
 
Students may also visit the Diverse Scholars page for more information about our program and to download an application.  To learn more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion, please visit http://diversity.reedsmith.com.

See Symplicity ID: #19955 for more information.

Fellowships & Scholarships

Zelle Hofmann 2015 Diversity in Law Scholarship - Applications due April 1, 2015

Zelle Hofmann is pleased to announce a call for applications for its 2015 Diversity in Law Scholarship.  The keystone of the firm's Diversity Outreach Plan, the Diversity in Law Scholarship was created for law students who either (1) are a member of a population or group whose background and perspectives are historically underrepresented in the private practice of law; or (2) demonstrate a long-standing commitment to diversity that will be furthered by award of the scholarship.

The scholarship awards the selected recipient a total of $30,000 to be applied towards the selected recipient's law school tuition, fees, and text books, with one half of the scholarship paid for the student's second year of law school and one half of the scholarship paid for the student's third year of law school subject to the following: To receive the second installment of the scholarship, the recipient must maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA (or its equivalent) through the student's second year of law school. Depending upon the firm's current needs, the Scholarship recipient may be offered, but is under no obligation to accept, a paid summer clerkship at one of the firm's offices for the summer following the student's first year of law school. The specific location of the potential clerkship will be decided by the firm in consultation with the student and will be based upon both the student's interest and the firm's need. Finally, in order to help ensure the recipient's successful entry into the legal profession, the firm will assign an attorney to mentor the recipient for the student's remaining law school career.

Click here for a copy of the formal scholarship application containing more in-depth information about the scholarship for your reference and dissemination.

Please note that to be considered for the Diversity in Law Scholarship students should complete and submit the application and required documents to Zelle Hofmann by April 1, 2015.  Click here for contact information and respective submission information. 

Justice John Paul Stevens Public Interest Summer Fellowship Program 2015 - Applications due April 2, 2015

The Justice John Paul Stevens Public Interest Summer Fellowship Program (“Stevens Fellowship”) provides a grant of $5,000 each to two students at the Chicago-Kent College of Law who have secured unpaid public interest legal positions during the summer.  These two Stevens Fellowships are awarded to help defray living expenses of deserving and committed students working in the public interest, as well as to provide much-needed legal assistance to public interest organizations. 

Chicago-Kent joins a number of other law schools with Stevens Fellowships.  The Fellowship seeks to honor Justice Stevens by promoting public interest and social justice values that have characterized Justice Stevens’ work throughout his career.  The Stevens Fellowship has been funded primarily through private contributions from former law clerks to Justice Stevens.

APPLICATION PROCESS
Application Deadline:  Your complete application should be sent electronically to Professor Nancy Marder (nmarder@kentlaw.iit.edu) and one (1) hard-copy should be placed in Professor Marder’s mailbox on the 2nd floor by noon, Thursday, April 2, 2015.  Both the electronic version and the hard-copy must be submitted by noon on April 2ndThere are no exceptions to this deadline. 

Complete applications must include:

  • Application Form (See the Document Library in Symplicity)
  • Personal Statement
  • Resume (No need to print on resume paper; ordinary paper is fine)
  • Official transcript (Include as part of the hard-copy submission only.  Please find out how long it takes to obtain an official transcript and leave sufficient time to meet the deadline.)
  • Certification with signature (Hard-copy is to be signed; electronic copy can be typed.)

Please keep in mind that your complete application must be submitted electronically and in hard copy. You may view an electronic version of the application packet in the Symplicity Document Library (it is listed under “Justice Stevens Fellowship Application”). Hard copies of this application packet are also available in the clip outside Prof. Marder’s office (839).

REQUIREMENTS & ELIGIBILITY

  1. Applicants must secure a public interest position.
    1. Public interest organizations may include government agencies, legal services, advocacy groups and policy reform organizations.
    2. Resources are available to give you information about summer employment such as: the Public Interest Resource Center; Career Services Office; and Past Fellowship organizations.
    3. If you have yet to secure an offer, but you are in the application process and have had an interview, you may still apply.  However, confirmation of a job offer must be provided before a Stevens Fellowship is awarded.
  1. The public interest position must be unpaid. 
    1. The Stevens Fellowship is designed to aid students who are working without pay. 
    2. The Stevens Fellowship is not available for students receiving school credit for their work.
  1. Applicants should commit to working 40 hours per week for a minimum of 8 consecutive weeks (full time) at their public interest internship.
    1. Fellowship recipients must sign an Agreement Letter, stating the number of hours to which they have committed and the number of weeks.  
    2. The Fellowship Advisory Committee reserves the right to contact the employer to confirm this commitment.
  1. Factors the Fellowship Advisory Committee Considers in Awarding Stevens Fellowships:
    1. Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to public interest and social justice.  Commitment is shown by:
      • Involvement in volunteer work at Chicago-Kent; and/or
      • Public service volunteering outside of Chicago-Kent. 
    1. Other factors the Committee will consider include:
      • Nature of the proposed summer position;
      • The impact of your work on the community; and
      • Your commitment and intentions as demonstrated in the personal statement.
    1. Academic achievement
    2. The Stevens Fellowship is designed primarily for 2Ls, but exceptional 1Ls will be considered.

EVALUATION PROCESS

The Fellowship Advisory Committee will be chaired by Professor Marder and may include an external reviewer and two internal reviewers (typically faculty members).  The Fellowship Advisory Committee will review applications based on the stated requirements.  Interviews may be conducted.  Announcements will be made approximately two - three weeks after the application deadline. 

AWARDING OF FELLOWSHIPS

Stevens Fellowship Recipients will receive one check for the full amount of their Stevens Fellowship, which should be issued by June.  Recipients MUST complete a W-9 tax form before the end of the spring semester. Upon notification of having received a grant, the school will provide each Fellowship recipient with all the necessary tax forms.  All such forms must be completed before Chicago-Kent can issue the award check.

Each of the two Stevens Fellowship recipients must sign an Agreement Letter, stating where he or she will work, the number of hours he or she will work, and the number of weeks.  A copy of the Agreement Letter must be forwarded to Professor Marder.  The Fellowship Advisory Committee may also follow up with the public interest organization asking how the Fellow’s work made a difference in the communities served by the organization.

At the end of the summer, Fellowship recipients must write a brief description of their summer, including information about the type of work performed and the ways in which it helped the organization.  The description must be submitted to Professor Marder at the beginning of the fall semester.  This description will be shared with Justice Stevens and will also be used for future Stevens Fellowship promotion, including promotion of Stevens Fellowships the following year.

For more information, see the application packet in the Symplicity Document Library (it is listed under “Justice Stevens Fellowship Application").

Hispanic Lawyers Scholarship Fund of Illinois Fellowship and Scholarship - Applications due April 3, 2015

Since 1997 HLSF has awarded over $100,000 in scholarships and fellowship opportunities to Latino law students based on merit, financial need, and commitment to the Latino community. HLSF gives law firms, corporations, and individuals a vehicle for supporting Latino law students, providing both financial support and networking opportunities.

Each year, HLSF awards scholarships of $3,000 to first-year Latino law students, and $5,000 fellowships for law students who work at agencies such as the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Cook County Public Defender’s Office. HLSF is especially proud of its past scholarship recipients who have gone on to become leaders of the organized Latino bar and in other organizations that help the Latino community.

HLSF is a 501(c)(3) corporation, incorporated in Illinois as a Not-For- Profit Corporation. HLSF was established in 1996 (by virtue of consolidation of the Mexican American Lawyers’ Scholarship Fund and the Latin American Bar Foundation). Click here for more facts.

Download the HLSF Scholarship Application here.
Download the HLSF Fellowship Application here.

Applications for both the Scholarship and the Fellowship are due April 3, 2015.

McGuire Woods Diversity Scholarship - Applications due May 29, 2015

McGuire Woods’ annual Diversity Scholarship Program will award up to eight $5,000 scholarships to diverse current first-year law students with an expected graduation year of 2017, who are committed to contributing to and supporting diversity within the legal profession. Applicants are considered based on their involvement in community activities and diversity related student organizations, personal achievements, and law school and undergraduate academic performance. Consistent with the objective of promoting diversity in legal education and leadership roles in the legal profession, McGuire Woods will also consider additional criteria including, among other factors, whether the applicant is: the first family member to attend college, from an economically disadvantaged family, a member of a group currently underrepresented in law schools and law firms, from a family with little or no legal education or experience, an alumnus of a college or university whose graduates are historically underrepresented in law school, or demonstrating a strong commitment to promoting diversity in his or her undergraduate school, law school and community.

Application Packet Must Include:

  • Completed application form
  • Current resume
  • Undergraduate & first semester law school transcripts (photocopy of official transcript is acceptable)
  • Personal statement (limit of 1,500 words) explaining your commitment to diversity in the legal profession, community involvement and personal achievements. Tell us something that is not on your resume
  • Professional letter of recommendation from an undergraduate or law professor
Completed application packet must be received by MIDNIGHT on May 29, 2015. Scholarships will be awarded by July 2, 2015, paid directly to the law school for tuition and books only. Send materials via U.S. mail, e-mail or fax (preferably email) to: Amy L. Pretty, Attorney Recruiting Manager, McGuire Woods LLP 77 West Wacker Drive, Suite 4100 Chicago, IL 60601-1818 apretty@mcguirewoods.com 312.849.3690 (fax).

Job Fairs

Register NOW: 2015 National Black Prosecutors Association Annual Job Fair, July 21

The National Black Prosecutors Association (NBPA) cordially invites you to participate in the NBPA Annual Job Fair on Tuesday, July 21, 2015 at the Fairmont Hotel, Washington, D.C.  The goal of the Job Fair is to promote diversity in prosecutors’ offices by providing a forum where law students, recent law graduates, and experienced attorneys from across the nation can meet and interview with prospective prosecutorial employers at the local, state, and federal levels. The Job Fair is held in connection with the NBPA Annual Conference, which serves not only as a job fair forum, but as a comprehensive legal training program for prosecutors.  This year’s 32nd Annual Conference will run from July 19, 2015 to July 25, 2015. The Job Fair begins at 8:00am with registration and check-in; interviews commence at 9:00am.  At the culmination of the Job Fair, there will be a reception for all Job Fair participants and Annual Convention attendees.  The reception will afford Job Fair attendees an additional opportunity to further network with prospective employers and experienced prosecutors.

Registration is now open. You may register for the conference and job fair online. The early registration fee for the Job Fair is $25.00 for law students and 2015 law school graduates, and $50.00 for experienced attorneys.  Starting May 1st, the Job Fair registration fee is $50.00 for law students and 2015 law school graduates, and $75.00 for experienced attorneys.   On June 20th, the Job Fair registration fee increases to $100 for law students and the class of 2015, and $150 for experienced attorneys.  Registration closes on July 7th.

In addition to the Job Fair reception, all Job Fair participants are invited to attend a free career seminar entitled “Strategies for a Successful Interview.”  The seminar will take place on Monday, July 20th from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm at the Fairmont Hotel and will provide Job Fair participants with effective interviewing techniques.

Job Fair attendees are also welcome to attend the entire conference.  Students and 2015 law school graduates are invited to attend Conference seminars for free.  However, other events, such as luncheons, dinners and receptions, must be paid for separately. 

Additional information about the NBPA and the Annual Conference and Job Fair is available at www.blackprosecutors.org.  If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact NBPA at NBPAJobFair2015@dany.nyc.gov or (212) 335-4300.

Register NOW: 2015 Lavender Law Career Fair, August 5-8

Register Now for the National LGBT Bar Association’s annual Lavender Law Career Fair and Conference, taking place August 5-8.  You may register here.

The Lavender Law Career Fair is designed to achieve a sense of community and inclusion for LGBT candidates within the legal profession’s recruiting efforts. By participating in this career fair, candidates will talk directly to LGBT-friendly recruiters from law firms, government agencies, LGBT rights groups, and corporate legal departments. Candidates are encouraged to discuss their identity and their aspirations to become part of a bias-free work environment. For full program and event details, please visit the program page: http://lgbtbar.org/annual/.

Save the Date: 2015 IndyBar Diversity Job Fair, August 6 and 7 (Registration Opens April 1)

The eighth annual IndyBar Diversity Job Fair will be held August 6-7, 2015.  Legal employers will expect to interview full-time 2L law students (graduating May 2017) or part-time 2L and 3L law students (graduating 2017/2018) to participate in the fair.  Registration opens April 1, 2015.  The student registration deadline is June 28, 2015. Only students who have registered, bid and obtain interviews can participate in Diversity Job Fair events. 

The IndyBar Diversity Job Fair seeks candidates who represent all aspects of diversity, who are looking for a one-of-a-kind legal community in a Midwestern city that has both cosmopolitan style and small-town charm.  To learn more about the logistics of the Job Fair, please visit ibadiversityjobfair.org.

Student registration is available at https://law-indybar-csm.symplicity.com/students. Following registration, students will be provided with automatically-generated passwords that will allow them to use the system throughout the next few months.

Register NOW: Cook County Bar Association Minority Job Fair, August 14 (Register by May 15)

Minority Law Students in the Classes of 2016 and 2017 are cordially invited to participate in The Cook County Bar Association’s 32nd Annual Minority Law Student Job Fair on August 14, 2015.

This year’s Job Fair will be held on Friday, August 14, 2015, from 8:30am - 5:00pm at the Embassy Suites Chicago – Downtown/Lakefront, located at 511 N. Columbus Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60611.

During the last hour of the Job Fair there will be an Open House Reception that will allow registered students to mingle with employers on an informal basis. Students interested in a particular employer who did not receive a formal interview with that employer will be given the opportunity to meet that firm/organization’s representatives at the Open House Reception.

Law Student registration is now open. Please note that the student registration process will be completed via a multi-step process. First, each student must register as a participating student by entering his or her profile information on the Symplicity website.  IMPORTANT: Chicago-Kent's "Law School Job Fair Liaison" is Allison Smith. Please enter her name, when you register; and be in touch with Allison, or your career advisor with any questions. Allison is at: asmith16@kentlaw.iit.edu. Second, each student must upload his or her resume by Friday, May 15, 2015 at 11:59 p.m. Central Time (NO EXCEPTIONS).

Please visit here for more information. You may also view the CCBA Minority Job Fair Brochure in the Symplicity Document Library (it is listed under "2015 CCBA Minority Job Fair Brochure").

Register NOW: 11th Annual Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair, August 21-22 (Register by July 3)

The 11th Annual Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair (HDLJF) will be held August 21-22, 2015, in Kansas City, Missouri.  Students who are interested in becoming part of Kansas City’s dynamic legal community should strongly consider attending this event.  Students who will be returning to school in August and those graduating in May are eligible to attend the job fair, as employers will be interviewing for both summer and post-graduate positions.

The HDLJF is the result of Kansas City's leading law firms, legal associations, and corporate legal departments coming together to encourage law students to practice law in Kansas City.  The HDLJF is designed to expose law students of diverse backgrounds to both traditional and non-traditional legal employers.  In addition, the event is a great way to learn more about living in the wonderful city of Kansas City.

Registration is now open.  Students who register before June 5th will be entered into a drawing for exciting prizes.  The final deadline for registering is July 3, 2015.

Students can register on-line here. See the Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair Website for more information.

Diversity

IndyBar Diversity Job Fair Webinar Panel
(See above)

Zelle Hofmann 2015 Diversity in Law Scholarship - Applications due April 1, 2015
(See above)

Decalogue Society Law Student/Young Lawyers Happy Hour
(See above)

Hispanic Lawyers Scholarship Fund of Illinois Fellowship and Scholarship - Applications due April 3, 2015
(See above)

Women in Law: Being Successful and Making an Impact
(See above)

Sixth Annual Sidley 1L Diversity Summer Mentorship Program - Applications due April 17, 2015

Sidley Austin LLP invites current 1L students who identify as racially or ethnically diverse, and/or LGBT, and/or have a disability and who will be working in Chicago, D.C., Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, or San Francisco during the summer of 2015 to apply to participate in the Sixth Annual Sidley 1L Diversity Summer Mentorship Program. The program is a formal mentoring program that aims to promote diverse law students’ interest in joining Chicago, D.C., Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles or San Francisco law firms after graduation. Program Details The program will run in June and July 2015. Through the program, students will be matched with Sidley attorney-mentors to advise students on career development strategies and professional opportunities.

Sidley mentors will address subjects such as:

  • Best practices for applying to law firms, interviewing, and capitalizing on the summer associate experience;
  • Understanding the variety and nature of practice in the local market (Chicago, D.C., Dallas, Houston, L.A. or San Francisco);
  • Advancing professional skills through pro bono service and clerkships; and
  • Cultivating role models, mentors, and professional networks as a diverse lawyer.

To be considered as a mentee for the 2015 program, a student must:

  • Be a current 1L student who will be working in the Chicago, D.C., Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles or San Francisco area for at least 7 weeks in June and July 2015;
  • Demonstrate interest in practicing at a law firm in Chicago, D.C., Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles or San Francisco after graduation;
  • Have a schedule that permits attending events held after 5:30 p.m. on weekdays.

Please visit the Career Services Office for an application or you may view an electronic version of the application in the Symplicity Document Library (it is listed under "Sixth Annual Sidley 1L Diversity Summer Mentorship Program Application").

McGuire Woods Diversity Scholarship - Applications due May 29, 2015
(See above)

Reed Smith 2015 Diverse Scholars Program for 1Ls - Applications due July 20, 2015
(See above)

Register NOW: 2015 National Black Prosecutors Association Annual Job Fair, July 21
(See above)

Register NOW: 2015 Lavender Law Career Fair, August 5-8
(See above)

Save the date: 2015 IndyBar Diversity Job Fair, August 6 and 7 (Registration Opens April 1)
(See above)

Register NOW: Cook County Bar Association Minority Job Fair, August 14 (Register by May 15)
(See above)

Register NOW: 11th Annual Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair, August 21-22 (Register by July 3)
(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!

CALENDARS

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