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Week of November 2, 2015

Information & Announcements

  • Semester Law Firm Associate Program Application Deadline Extended Until Monday, November 2!
  • Community Based Federal Work Study Available for Spring 2015 - Deadline to apply January 8, 2016
  • Mandatory 1L Legal Resume and Cover Letter Workshops
  • Public Interest Resource Center (PIRC) hosts office hours in the CSO
  • CareerShift
  • Mandatory Meetings for 2Ls and 3Ls
  • Free ABA Memberships for Students

Fall Recruiting

  • Fall Recruiting: Please Report Callbacks and Offers!

Programming

  • ILAO/PILI Webinar: How to Apply for Internships and Externships
  • November 3: CBA YLS Cook County Circuit Court Walk Through
  • November 4: Second Annual Evening with Anita Alvarez: An Up-Close Look at the Criminal Law Profession
  • November 4: CBA YLS IP Section Program - Beyond Hacking: Computer Fraud and Abuse Act
  • November 5: Practice Tracks
  • November 9: Women's Bar Association of Illinois Law Student Meet and Greet
  • November 9: Peggy Browning Fund Fellowships: Protecting Workers' Rights
  • November 10: Meet the Public Services Employers Reception
  • November 10: Immigration Career Panel
  • November 11: Chicago Schweitzer Fellowship Program
  • November 16: SBA 10 Under 10
  • November 17: Government Speed networking
  • November 18: JIOP/ACC Panel 
  • November 19: Law Practice Management Career Panel
  • December 11:  6th Annual Circuit Court Boot Camp: A Practical Trial Litigation Skills Program - Register by October 29

Employment Opportunities

  • Semester Law Firm Associate Program Application Deadline Extended Until Monday, November 2!
  • Law Office In-House Clinics - Spring 2016 Applications Now Open
  • Access2Practice Legal Externship Program - Spring 2016
  • 2016 City of Chicago Mayor's Office Fellowship Program - Applications due November 4th
  • Federal Work Study Available at Government/Legal Aid Organizations, Spring 2015 (Apply Now!)
  • Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) Accepting Summer Applications from 2L's Now!
  • Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI), Accepting Applications for Spring 2015 Now!
  • JTBF Summer Judicial Internship Diversity Project for Summer 2016

Fellowships & Scholarships

  • Faegre Baker Daniels 2L Diversity Fellowship - Application Now Available!
  • Sidley Austin LLP Diversity Scholarship
  • Donald W. Banner Diversity Scholarship for Law Students - Applications due January 11
  • 2016 EPIC Law Fellowship - Applications due November 2, 2015

Job Fairs

Diversity

  • Faegre Baker Daniels 2L Diversity Fellowship - Application Now Available!
  • Sidley Austin LLP Diversity Scholarship
  • Leadership Council on Legal Diversity’s 1L Individual Mentoring Program - Registration Now Open!
  • Donald W. Banner Diversity Scholarship for Law Students - Applications due January 11
  • JTBF Summer Judicial Internship Diversity Project for Summer 2016

Resources

  • Government Honors & Internship Handbook & Public Policy Handbook: log-in now available
  • 2015-2016 PSJD Comprehensive Fellowship Guide
  • Equal Justice Works’ Student Debt E-Book: Take Control of Your Future: A Guide to Managing Your Student Debt
  • CSO Resources

Information & Announcements

Semester Law Firm Associate Program Application Deadline Extended Until Monday, November 2!

The deadline for Chicago-Kent’s Semester Law Firm Associate Program (SLFAP) has been extended until MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2!  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 varying skill sets or competencies. In conjunction with the fieldwork, there is an accompanying classroom component, scheduled on designated Thursdays from 4:00-5:30 p.m.
 
This is a terrific opportunity to gain additional familiarity with substantive law, determine how to navigate within the law firm environment, and learn more about your own strengths.  You can make an impression on the lawyers with whom you come into contact, which can help you down the road (even though there is no expectation of future employment).
 
To Apply for Spring 2016 SLFAP:
 
 
Below are the participating firms and legal practice areas. If you 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) by no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 2, 2015.  Also indicate to which firm(s) you are applying.
 
Each firm will conduct its own selection process. You must accept the first offer you receive and cannot withdraw after your acceptance with the respective firm.
 
Participating Firms:

  • Deutsch, Levy & Engel, Commercial Litigation
  • Grund & Leavitt, Matrimonial Law
  • McDonald Hopkins LLC, Tax/Benefits Law
  • Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, IP Law
  • Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney, LTD, Litigation (commercial/possibly some toxic tort)
  • Stahl Cowen Crowley Addis, Commercial Litigation

Community Based Federal Work Study Available for Spring 2015 - Deadline to apply January 8, 2016

Chicago-Kent will have Community-Based Federal Work Study available during the Spring 2016 semester.  Chicago-Kent 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.  A limited amount of funds are available, and students who have a federal work study award must secure their job placement by the deadline.  Please visit the Chicago-Kent 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.  Forms are due in the Career Services Office by Friday January 8, 2015.  Please e-mail Michelle Vodenik (mvodenik@kentlaw.iit.edu) with any questions.

Mandatory 1L Legal Resume and Cover Letter Workshops

The MANDATORY 1L Legal Resume Workshop and 1L Cover Letter Workshop videos are now available to view. Sign in to Panopto using your kentlaw username and password.

All first-year law students must watch these brief videos. These workshops include detailed instructions for how to draft your legal resume and cover letter.

First-year law students may begin meeting with a Career Advisor on Monday, October 26Before your first career advising appointment, you must have watched the workshop videos and have uploaded a legal resume to Symplicity. Please also bring a copy of your legal resume to your first appointment.

Public Interest Resource Center (PIRC) hosts office hours in the CSO

The Public Interest Resource Center (PIRC) will host office hours in the Career Services Office (Suite 360) on:

  • Monday's 4-5 PM
  • Tuesday's 3:30-4:30 PM
  • Wednesday's 11:45 AM -12:45 PM and 4-5PM

If you are interested in volunteering or pro bono projects please visit the PIRC counselors during office hours or visit the PIRC webpage to be added to the PIRC newsletter and to track your volunteer hours. Students who compete 50 hours, or 250 hours, receive an award for their service at a Public Interest Awards ceremony held April. 

CareerShift

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 your searches, find and save a list of contacts, create resumes and cover letters, and put them together in a targeted e-mail or postal mail campaigns. Then you can track your 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!

Mandatory Meetings for 2Ls and 3Ls

Each 2L and 3L student is required to meet with his or her assigned career advisor by the end of this fall semester.  For those of you interested in applying to larger federal government agencies with early deadlines (e.g. the Department of Justice), or considering participation in the fall public interest job fair Equal Justice Works, we strongly recommend that you schedule this meeting as soon as possible!

Given the difficult market it is more important than ever that you check in with your career advisor to form a strategy to accomplish your career goals.  Please bring your most recent, updated legal resume with you to your meeting with your career advisor.

ABA Offers Free Memberships For Law Students

Effective immediately, the American Bar Association will offer free memberships to all students enrolled in law school. The membership grants law students access to resources tailored to their interests and needs, opportunities to build their professional skills plus access to the ABA’s job listings, clerkships, internships and career events.

You can enroll here - http://www.americanbar.org/abalawstudents.

Fall Recruiting

Fall Recruiting: Please Report Callbacks and Offers!

If you receive callbacks or job offers during the fall interview season, please report this to Sandy Minea in the Career Services Office by sending an email to sminea@kentlaw.iit.edu (or email your career advisor directly). 

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 advisor.

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.

CBA YLS Cook County Circuit Court Walk Through

Date: Tuesday, November 3
Time: 1:30pm – 4:30pm
Location: Richard J. Daley Center, 50 W Washington – Room TBD

The CBA Young Lawyers Section will host a Court Walk Through designed to provide a basic introduction of the Circuit Court and its practice and procedures. Presenters will address the nuts and bolts of practice in the Court and provide a tour of the clerk’s and sheriff’s offices that will help explain the procedures for both filing and service of process.

Topics and Speakers:

  • Where and How to File Court Documents, Tour of the Clerk of the Circuit Court, and the Introduction of E-Filing, Representative from the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County
  • Tour of the Sheriff’s Office & the Basics of Service of Process, Representative from the Sheriff’s Department
  • Practicing in the Law Division: Common Procedures & Preparing For Trial Assignment, Hon. James P. Flannery, Jr., Presiding Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County, Law Division
  • Practicing in the Chancery Division & Tips for Practitioners, Hon. Moshe Jacobius, Presiding Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County, Chancery Division
  • Basics of Probate Procedure & Tips for Practitioners, Hon. Mary Ellen Coghlan, Presiding Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County, Probate Division
  • Basics of the Criminal Division & Tips for Practitioners, Hon. Neera Walsh, Circuit Court of Cook County, Criminal Division
  • MODERATOR: Tracy Brammeier, Clifford Law Offices PC; YLS Special Project Coordinator

See here for more information and to register.

Second Annual Evening with Anita Alvarez: An Up-Close Look at the Criminal Law Profession

Date: Wednesday, November 4
Time: 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Location: Morris Hall (10th Floor Event Room)

It's that time of year again, so of course The Criminal Law Society is bringing back Anita Alvarez! Come one, come all to the Second Annual Evening with Anita Alvarez: An Up-Close Look at the Criminal Law Profession taking place on November 4th from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM in Morris Hall (10th Floor Event Room).

Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez will give a presentation about her career, criminal prosecution, and the use of technology in prosecuting cases. Following the presentation, meet and mingle with Anita herself and alumni Assistant State's Attorneys with delicious food and a bounty of wine and beer.

You must RSVP to attend: http://goo.gl/forms/8dUlPrQKWH

Sponsored by: Lagunitas Brewing Company, Themis Bar Review, HLLSA, Career Services Office, and the Alumni Office

Dress code: business casual.

CBA YLS IP Section Program - Beyond Hacking: Computer Fraud and Abuse Act

Date: Wednesday, November 4
Time: 12:15pm – 1:15pm
Location: The Chicago Bar Association, 321 S. Plymouth Court

Join the CBA Young Lawyers Intellectual Property Section for a program by Ashly Boesche, Partner, Pattishall, McAuliffe, Newbury, Hilliard & Geraldson titled Beyond Hacking: Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.

Practice Tracks

Date: Thursday, November 5
Time: 5:00pm – 6:30pm
Location: Chicago Bar Association, 5:00pm – 6:30pm

Attorneys representing approximately 50 practice areas will attend Practice Tracks, a program held at the Chicago Bar Association, 321 S. Plymouth Court (next to the John Marshall Law School) on Thursday, November 5, 2015 from 5:00 to 6:30 pm.  Practice Tracks provides students with the opportunity to talk informally with attorneys about careers in a variety of practice areas.  Practice Tracks is your chance to determine how job seekers are faring in a particular segment of the market, what it is like to practice in a specific practice area, which credentials are helpful in finding employment in that area, what skills you should emphasize when applying, and more!

Even though the participating attorneys volunteer their time and participation for Practice Tracks, that does not indicate job openings at represented organizations.  However, this program has proven to be an extremely effective means of networking and obtaining helpful information about prospective employers in a variety of different settings and practice areas.  To benefit from and make the most of this program, you may obtain business cards from practitioners in your areas of interest, and later reach out to those attorneys for an informational interview.

Women's Bar Association of Illinois Law Student Meet and Greet

Date: Monday, November 9
Time: 5:00pm – 7:30pm
Location: Brando’s Private Room on the 19th Floor (343 S. Dearborn Street)

Join the WBAI for a great networking event with the board members at Brando’s.  Beer and wine, as well as light appetizers, will be served.  Cost: $10.00 Please RSVP by November 5th at 5:00 p.m. You must be a current WBAI member to register.  Law student memberships are free.  See here for more information and to register for the event or become a WBAI member.

Peggy Browning Fund Fellowships: Protecting Workers' Rights

Date: Monday, November 9 
Time: 4:00pm - 5:00pm 
Location: Room 510

Pizza, coffee and pastries will be provided.

Interested in applying for a Peggy Browning Fund Fellowship?  Come hear Mary Anne Moffa from the Peggy Browning Fund along with a former summer fellow from Chicago-Kent discuss the program and application process.

Please RSVP to kentcso@kentlaw.iit.edu with the words "Peggy Browning Fund Fellowship" in the subject line. 

The Peggy Browning Fund Fellowship Program provides funding to law students who dedicate their summer to advancing the cause of workers' rights by working for labor unions, worker centers, the U.S. Department of Labor, union-side law firms and other nonprofit organizations. It is a ten-week summer fellowship available to 1st and 2nd year law students that offers unique and challenging work experiences intended to encourage students to consider labor law as a viable career choice. One school-year fellowship in Chicago is also offered. Applications are accepted beginning on December 1st. More information available here

Pizza, coffee and pastries will be provided.

This program is sponsored by the Career Services Office, the Labor and Employment Law Society and the Institute for Law and the Workplace.

Meet the Public Services Employers Reception

Date: Tuesday, November 10
Time: 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Location: Loyola University Chicago School of Law, 25 E. Pearson,
Kasbeer Hall on the 15th Floor

Save the date for the Meet the Public Service Organizations Reception on Tuesday, November 10, 2015.  Come learn about non-profit and government agency volunteer, intern and employment opportunities!  The event will take place at Loyola University School of Law, 25 E Pearson St, in Kasbeer Hall on the 15th Floor.  Contact your career advisor with any questions.

Immigration Career Panel

Date: Tuesday, November 10
Time:  12:00pm – 1:00pm
Location: Room 370

Immigration Law Society and the Career Services Office invite you to attend the Immigration Law Career Panel on Tuesday, November 10 at 12:00pm in Room 370. Come learn about the diverse practice of immigration law from attorneys in the non-profit, private, and government sectors. Lunch will be provided.

Panelists include:

  • Marjorie Baltazar, Sidley Austin LLP
  • Aneesha Gandhi, National Immigrant Justice Center
  • Laura Grover, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
  • Caroline Shoenberger, Chicago Legal Clinic
  • Charles Wintersteen, Charles Wintersteen & Associates

Chicago Schweitzer Fellowship Program

Date: Wednesday, November 11
Time: 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Location: TBA

Join the Health Law Society on Wednesday, November 11 at 3:00 pm for an informational session about the Schweitzer Fellowship and how to apply. You will hear from Ray Wang, Program Director of the Fellowship as well as Chicago-Kent Schweitzer Fellows.

The Chicago Schweitzer Fellows Program® is a one-year interdisciplinary, mentored fellowship program focused on health-related community service and leadership development.  Through the Schweitzer Fellowship, 30 graduate students from a wide variety of health professional and public service fields will design and lead innovative projects to help Chicago’s under served communities improve their health and well-being.  Schweitzer Fellows will:

  • Provide 200 hours of direct service
  • Receive a $2,500 stipend
  • Receive the guidance of mentors
  • Develop program planning and leadership skills
  • Join a multidisciplinary network of like-minded change agents, acting upon their idealism.

SBA 10 Under 10

Date: Monday, November 16
Time: 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Location: Morris Hall, 10th Floor Event Room

Join the SBA for its "10 Under 10" Alumni Networking Event! Come meet, greet and network with at least ten recent Chicago-Kent alumni who have graduated in the last ten years and are now practicing law in a variety of different fields. This event is a great way network with alumni without any pressure. All of the featured attendees remember exactly what it's like to be in your shoes. The event even boasts a history of getting students jobs from their new connections!

Government Speed Networking

Date: Tuesday, November 17
Time: 5:30 pm
Location: Morris Hall, 10th Floor Event Room

Come speak with Federal, State, and Local Government alumni about their careers. Students (either one-on-one or in small groups) will rotate to a new attorney every few minutes, and have the opportunity to meet all the attorneys in the room. The evening will conclude with a reception providing an opportunity for you to speak further with state and local government alumni. Students MUST RSVP! Send RSVPs to: kentcso@kentlaw.iit.edu with Government Speed Networking in the subject line. Space is limited.

JIOP/ACC Panel

Date: Wednesday, November 18
Time: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: TBA

Chicago-Kent students who have participated in the Judicial Internship Opportunity Program and Association of Corporate Counsel Minority Law Student Summer Program will discuss their experiences applying, interviewing and working with a judge or corporation over the summer.

More information on JIOP and ACC is below.

JIOP: The application process for the Summer 2015 Judicial Intern Opportunity Program opened on November 3rd for second-year law students.  Applications for first-year law students (1L) will be accepted December 1st, in accordance with NALP Guidelines. Applications must be submitted by January 9, 2015.  To learn more, click here.

ACC: The Chicago ACC Diversity Summer Internship Program places top law students with diverse backgrounds from select Illinois law schools in internships in Chicagoland corporate legal departments.  The internships expose the students to in-house practices and career possibilities in corporate legal departments.  Applications for the Summer 2015 Diversity Summer Internship Program are due in February of 2015.  To learn more about this opportunity, go here:  http://www.acc.com/chapters/chic/InternshipProgramInfo.cfm

Law Practice Management Career Panel

Date: Thursday, November 19
Time: TBA
Location: Morris Hall (10th Floor Event Room)

The Law Firm Management Society at Chicago-Kent College of Law is hosting a Firm Management and Practice Panel.  The event will be held on November 19th, at Chicago Kent College of Law (565 W Adams, Chicago, IL 60661) on the 10th Floor in Morris Hall.  The goal of the panel is to expose students to what working at a law firm is like, outside of what they otherwise learn in class.  The panel will focus on four main topics of discussion with the panelists, as well as any topics that may come up along the way:

  • Managing a law firm (relationships, recruiting, networking, etc.)
  • The business side of being a lawyer (choosing cases, billing, etc.)
  • What kind of skills (both business and legal skills ) the panelists have found to be most useful in their careers
  • General advice to students on any of the above

6th Annual Circuit Court Boot Camp: A Practical Trial Litigation Skills Program - Register by October 29

Date: Friday December 11 (Register by October 29)
Time: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Location: The Chicago Bar Association, 321 South Plymouth Court

Taught by sitting judges and very experienced practitioners, this information packed seminar gets excellent reviews (see testimonials above and below) and will help you improve your litigation skills at the state trial court level.

You will learn important procedural issues that commonly trip up attorneys, receive concrete tips and learn how to avoid the frequent mistakes made by attorneys at all levels.

The insight and instruction you receive from the Circuit Court judges on our panels is invaluable, as is the opportunity ask questions throughout the program. 

See here for more information and to register.

Employment Opportunities

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

Semester Law Firm Associate Program Application Deadline Extended Until Monday, November 2!

The deadline for Chicago-Kent’s Semester Law Firm Associate Program (SLFAP) has been extended until MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2!  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 varying skill sets or competencies. In conjunction with the fieldwork, there is an accompanying classroom component, scheduled on designated Thursdays from 4:00-5:30 p.m.
 
This is a terrific opportunity to gain additional familiarity with substantive law, determine how to navigate within the law firm environment, and learn more about your own strengths.  You can make an impression on the lawyers with whom you come into contact, which can help you down the road (even though there is no expectation of future employment).
 
To Apply for Spring 2016 SLFAP:
 
 
Below are the participating firms and legal practice areas. If you 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) by no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 2, 2015.  Also indicate to which firm(s) you are applying.
 
Each firm will conduct its own selection process. You must accept the first offer you receive and cannot withdraw after your acceptance with the respective firm.
 
Participating Firms:

  • Deutsch, Levy & Engel, Commercial Litigation
  • Grund & Leavitt, Matrimonial Law
  • McDonald Hopkins LLC, Tax/Benefits Law
  • Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, IP Law
  • Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney, LTD, Litigation (commercial/possibly some toxic tort)
  • Stahl Cowen Crowley Addis, Commercial Litigation

Law Office In-House Clinics - Spring 2016 Applications Now Open

Applications for Chicago-Kent’s Law Office In-House Clinics are now available and being accepted for the Spring 2016 semester. They can be picked up on the table by the third floor elevators, in the Law Offices, Suite 600, or online.

Access2Practice Legal Externship Program - Spring 2016

Chicago Kent has long recognized that classes and textbooks alone are not sufficient to complete the education of our students and their transformation into lawyers. Students also need practical experience in real world legal work to gain insight into the strategic and ethical dimensions of the legal profession and to acquire legal skills not accessible in the traditional classroom.

Some students gain experience as paid part-time clerks.  But most students don’t have access to paid or volunteer positions in a legal setting of their choice or one(s) that exposes them to them to what they want to learn. 

Access2Practice Legal Externship Program (LEP) is a 4-credit-hour Pass/Fail program which enables Kent 2Ls and 3Ls to extern in a wide variety of legal areas – civil and criminal – and gives students exposure to and supervision/mentoring in an area of law of their choosing. 

LEP externships are offered in the Fall and Spring semesters and in the Summer session and consist of two separate components: fieldwork and class meetings.

Spring 2016 LEP

Fieldwork: Externs must work 16 hours a week during the Spring semester for a minimum total of 224 hours.

Class:   Wednesdays at 4:00 p.m.

To Obtain a Legal Externship Placement:

The program does not assign students to particular field placements.  Instead a student must apply independently to obtain an externship position.  Each placement has its own independent screening and selection process.

The greater Chicagoland area offers a wide range of placement opportunities.  The large majority of externships are in the public sector. To gain access to posted available externship opportunities, students must consult Symplicity.  To search Symplicity:

Click on “Jobs”, then click on “Advanced Search”, and then “Position Type”.  Several drop-down boxes will appear listing categories of postings.  Search any category that might be applicable, e.g., “Access2Practice Legal Externships”, “Internships”, “Volunteer Internships”, “Fall Volunteer Internships”, “Spring Volunteer Internships”, etc.

Many listings will be marked “For Credit Only”.  That means that a student cannot extern at that placement unless he/she is enrolled as a participant in Chicago-Kent’s LEP. Some postings in Symplicity will allow students the option of either applying to volunteer or to convert the opportunity into a for-credit externship.

Please understand that sometimes employers are able to access Symplicity independently and place postings that are not screened, approved, or endorsed by the law school.

Types of Placements:   

                   1.       Governmental and Public Interest Sectors

Placement sites include county, city, state and federal legislative and executive offices.  For example, students can extern in county offices of the State’s Attorney and Public Defender, the Office of the U.S. Attorney, City of Chicago Department of Law, Office of the Illinois Attorney General, Illinois Commerce Commission, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), and Equip for Equality.

Externships with a legal aid bureau, legal assistance program or organization, and certain governmental agencies may enable a student to acquire a 711 student practice license and appear in court.

Externing in a public interest placement also counts toward fulfilling some of the required course work in public interest law for the J.D. Certificate in Public Interest Law.

                   2.       Private/For Profit Law Firms and In-House Corporate Legal Departments

For many reasons, unlike in Summer Acess2Practice LEP, private sector placements are excluded in Fall and Spring LEP with the exception of a very limited number of pre-screened and pre-approved private firms and in-house corporate legal departments.  The permissible private opportunities are listed in Symplicity as “For Credit Only”.

To Enroll in the Legal Externship Program:

If you have obtained an externship and wish to convert that into a for-credit Legal Externship, you must schedule an interview with Prof. Gross and submit the attached Legal Externship Program Application. 

Upon receiving an application to Spring 2016 LEP, Prof. Gross will immediately contact the applicant’s prospective supervisor and placement to ensure compliance with C-K externship guidelines and requirements.

Applications for Legal Externship Spring 2016 must be submitted to Prof. Gross by no later than Thursday, January 7, 2016.

You Cannot Extern for a Current Employer Nor Can You Receive Pay for Doing a For-Credit Externship.

The Legal Externship Program is an experiential educational program.  An employer/employee relationship is financial; you do what the employer needs and wants rather than what the law school deems educationally appropriate.  For this reason, the American Association of Law Schools (AALS) does not allow you to get paid and receive school credit for doing the same work.  Moreover, if you were employed by a specific placement, you cannot convert that employer into an externship placement.

If you receive a Spring A2P Legal Externship, you cannot, without prior approval from Prof. Gross,  simultaneously volunteer/work for pay in another legal position during the term of the semester.

Withdrawal from the Externship Program

When you have been approved and registered for LEP, you cannot then withdraw.  Your acceptance to extern and subsequent registration in the program signifies to your externship supervisor/placement that you will complete your externship in a satisfactory and professional manner. 

You May Continue in Legal Externship Program for a Second Semester.

If you wish to continue as a legal extern for a second semester, you must first obtain approval from Professor Gross. 


Contact:

If you have any questions or concerns, contact Prof. Gross (vgross@kentlaw.iit.edu), Director of the A2P Legal Externship Program.

2016 City of Chicago Mayor's Office Fellowship Program - Applications due November 4th

The Office of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, City of Chicago is in the process of recruiting graduate students for the 2016 Mayor’s Office Fellowship Program.

The Mayor's Office Fellowship Program is a wonderful opportunity for graduate students in any concentration who will be enrolled during the summer and are interested in local government and public policy. Fellows have the opportunity to learn about municipal government and participate in a unique, hands-on experience in the development of new policy and program initiatives. Participants research policies and evaluate their potential benefit to Chicago, draft memoranda for Mayor’s Office senior staff on upcoming issues and new initiatives, and participate in a variety of talks and tours that provide insight into how City government operates.

Selection Process

This year, the Mayor’s Office will again be participating in the two-step application process. Prospective Fellows should visit www.cityofchicago.org/mayorfellowship to begin the application process. Initial applications will be screened for qualification and applicants will be selected to move on to the Second Step of the application process which includes submitting:  a written response to a policy problem and a personal statement to the Mayor’s Office directly. Applicants who reach the Second Step will also be interviewed and based upon the results of the interview process and written documents, a final selection of fellows will be made. Specific details can be found at www.cityofchicago.org/mayorfellowship.

Candidates are selected on a nationwide basis from public and private colleges and universities. Candidates must be current students with 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. Fellows are not classified as full-time employees. Residency in the City of Chicago is required upon starting the fellowship program. Relocation is at the applicant’s expense. Fellows are paid at a rate of $20 per hour.

International students must have an F-1 Student Visa and must be a full-time student. International students are required to have a social security number/card which states “VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION.”

Students who are Deferred Action Recipients are eligible to apply. Students must provide their Employment Authorization Document at the time of hire. In addition, if a student is selected for a Fellowship Position, they must also have a social security card.  If they do not have a social security card, they can obtain one by following the instructions on this link:  http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/deferred_action.pdf

The application period will close on Wednesday, November 4, 2015 at 11:59:59 p.m.

For further information, please contact Kathryn O’Connell, Director of the Fellowship Program at 312-744-6655 or kathryn.o’connell@cityofchicago.org. 

Federal Work Study Available at Government/Legal Aid Organizations, Spring 2015 (Apply Now!)

Interested in working with a government or public interest organization off-campus and being paid with federal work study funds? Chicago-Kent will have Community-Based Federal Work Study available during the Spring 2016 semester. To find available positions, please log into Symplicity, go to "CSO Jobs" under the "Jobs" tab, and conduct an "Advanced Search" for Federal Work Study positions. There you will find over 20 opportunities to work with a wide-range of government and public interest organizations during Spring 2016. 

Chicago-Kent 2L & 3L students who are Federal Work Study eligible may be paid though Federal Work Study funds and most of the positions are also available as for-credit externships or volunteer, if you prefer.  Please visit the Chicago-Kent Community-Based Federal Work Study webpage for a more detailed explanation about federal work study, as well as the form you need to turn in by Friday January 8, 2016 to the Career Services Office to request to be paid with federal work study funds. Please e-mail Michelle Vodenik (mvodenik@kentlaw.iit.edu) with any questions.

Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) Accepting Summer Applications from 2L's Now!

PILI’s online application system is now open for the 2015 Fall Semester. The agencies that will host fall Interns are: Coordinated Advice Referral Program for Legal Services (CARPLS), Center for Disability & Elder Law, Chicago Legal Clinic, Inc, Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, Equip for Equality, LAF Chicago, and the National Immigrant Justice Center. PILI Interns work 200 hours during the 2015 Fall Semester in return for a $2,500 stipend.  

In order to apply for the PILI stipend, all applicants must go through the online application system. Applicants must first register with www.IllinoisProBono.org, and may only apply once they have had their registration confirmed. Applicants may apply for all of the available positions in the fall if they are interested, and can upload a customized cover letter for each agency. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the positions are filled, so APPLY NOW!  For more information and to apply, go here: http://pili.org/internships/intern-how-to-apply

Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI), Accepting Applications for Spring 2015 Now!

The application system for Spring 2016 PILI Internships is NOW OPEN! PILI offers a limited number of school-year Internships in Chicago during the fall to second and third-year law students. School-year Interns will receive $2,500 for 200 hours of work over the course of a semester. Students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible on the system is open, and applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until all positions are filled.
 
This spring, we have 7 Internship positions in Chicago available at the following agencies:

  • Cabrini Green Legal Aid
  • CARPLS (Coordinated Advice Referral Program for Legal Services)
  • Chicago Legal Clinic
  • Lawyers Committee for Better Housing
  • LAF
  • Mexican-American Legal Defense & Education Fund (MALDEF)
  • National Immigrant Justice Center – LGBT Immigrants Rights Initiative
  • Roger Baldwin Foundation of the ACLU


To apply, interested applicants should visit www.IllinoisProBono.org. PILI administers our application process through this site and applicants must register on the site before they can submit an application.

To learn more, visit us online at www.pili.org/internships/school-year-internships or contact PILI’s Program Manager, Katie Pieper, at 312-832-5128 or kpieper@pili.org.

JTBF Summer Judicial Internship Diversity Project for Summer 2016

The Judicial Resources Committee of the United States Judicial Conference and Just The Beginning – A Pipeline Organization® are pleased to announce the sixth annual Summer Judicial Internship Diversity Project for Summer 2016.  The Project’s goal is to provide summer judicial internships for highly-qualified minority, underrepresented, and economically disadvantaged law students.  The Project is national in scope and will place about 100 students as judicial interns in federal appellate, district, bankruptcy, magistrate and select state appellate judges’ chambers across the country.  Interns will have the opportunity to draft bench memoranda, judicial orders, and opinions on a variety of substantive matters, including motions to dismiss, motions for summary judgment, magistrate judge reports, and habeas corpus petitions.  Applicants should possess strong research and writing skills and be prepared to handle the rigors of working in judge's chambers.

See here for more information and to apply!

Fellowships & Scholarships

Faegre Baker Daniels 2L Diversity Fellowship - Application Now Available

Faegre Baker Daniels invites second-year law students committed to contributing meaningfully to diversity and inclusion in the legal profession to apply for its 2015 Diversity & Inclusion Fellowship program.

FaegreBD offers up to four Fellowships annually that provide professional experience and mentorship to second-year law students from populations historically underrepresented in the legal profession.

Fellowship awardees will each receive:

  • A 10-week paid summer clerkship as a summer associate in the firm’s Chicago, Denver, Des Moines, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, Silicon Valley or South Bend office in 2016.
  • Formal education, training programs and hands-on legal experience through FaegreBD’s summer program.
  •  Guidance from a mentor lawyer.
  •  A $10,000 stipend at the conclusion of the summer associate term.
  •  Eligibility for consideration for full-time employment as an associate with the firm.

Applicants for the Diversity Fellowship must be enrolled in a J.D. program at an accredited U.S. law school with an anticipated graduation date of 2017.

Candidates must complete the online application, including a cover letter indicating office preference, a resume, a law school transcript and a two-page personal statement describing how or why they will contribute meaningfully to diversity and inclusion at Faegre Baker Daniels and/or in the legal profession.

For more information and to complete the application, visit FaegreBD.com/Fellowship. Students are encouraged to submit their application materials as soon as possible.
The Fellowship program supports Faegre Baker Daniels' ongoing commitment to advancing diversity in the legal profession. FaegreBD invests in recruiting a diverse workforce by supporting pipeline programs, attending multiple diversity job fairs, and conducting on-campus outreach to diverse law student populations. For more information, visitFaegreBD.com/Diversity and http://www.faegrebd.com/Legal-Careers-Summer-Associate-Program.

Sidley Austin LLP Diversity Scholarship

Sidley has long been one of the most prominent and progressive proponents of law and diversity. Our mission is to attract and retain outstanding lawyers of varied backgrounds who reflect the global marketplace that we serve. Through the leadership of our Diversity Committee and Committee on Retention and Promotion of Women, we are working to become a more diverse and inclusive organization.

To further promote diversity within the legal profession and to support Sidley’s diversity policies, the firm created the Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship Initiative for second year law students. Sidley will award a limited number of Diversity & Inclusion Scholarships in the amount of $20,000 (less any applicable withholdings and taxes) to selected 2016 Sidley summer associates.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

A Scholarship applicant must:

  • Be a full-time law student in your second year of classes at an accredited law school.
  • Submit the following documents: Current law school transcript with all first year grades;
    • Resume;
    • Completed application form; and
    • Personal statement (500 words or less) addressing what you believe demonstrates your qualification for the Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship, including, potentially, a description of your academic and personal strengths; exceptional contributions, through community service or otherwise, to the cause of diversity; and/or how you have overcome adversity, such as a personal or family history of educational or socioeconomic disadvantage, and have demonstrated the tenacity and talent to excel in the legal profession.

Scholarship recipients will be selected from among the eligible applicants who have demonstrated academic excellence and leadership qualities and who also have demonstrated exceptional ability, including through:

  • Demonstrated contributions to diversity initiatives or to diversity and inclusion more generally, such as in the area(s) of racial or ethnic diversity, sexual orientation or gender identity, disability, veteran status, and/or other areas underrepresented or otherwise important to diversity in the legal profession; and/or
  • Other extraordinary contributions or accomplishments; and/or
  • Demonstrated ability to overcome adversity, such as first-in-family college attendance or socioeconomic disadvantage; and/or

Past participation in and/or interest in assisting with the diversity and inclusion initiatives of the firm such as the Sidley Prelaw Scholars Initiative or a Sidley 1L Diversity Summer Mentorship Program.

Expectations of Scholarship Recipients

Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship recipients must join Sidley’s summer associate program after their second year of law school.

The Sidley Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship is intended to defray the costs of the recipients’ legal education.

How to Apply

Complete the Sidley Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship application (see here to access the application) and send it, along with a resume, current official law school transcript and personal statement to scholarship@sidley.com or Sidley Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship, c/o Jennifer Connelly, Sidley Austin LLP, One South Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60603

Application Timeline

Given the highly selective nature of the Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship and the limited number of Scholarships available, students are encouraged to submit applications at their earliest convenience. We strongly prefer to receive the application by the time of the candidate’s call-back interview.

Please note that the Scholarship application is not an application for employment. You must apply separately for a summer associate position.

Donald W. Banner Diversity Scholarship for Law Students - Applications due January 11

Banner & Witcoff is proud to offer the Donald W. Banner Diversity Scholarship for law students. This scholarship is part of Banner & Witcoff’s commitment to fostering the development of intellectual property lawyers from diverse backgrounds. Law students who meet the selection criteria and have entered into a JD program at an ABA-accredited law school in the United States are eligible to apply for the scholarship. Applicants may not be a current or past employee of Banner & Witcoff, or directly related to a current employee of Banner & Witcoff.

The deadline for submitting application materials for the 2016 Donald W. Banner Diversity Scholarship for law students is Monday, January 11, 2016.  Scholarship winners will be announced in May 2016.  

See here for more information and to apply.

2016 EPIC Law Fellowship - Applications due November 2, 2015

The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) invites outstanding applications for the 2016 EPIC Law Fellowship. EPIC encourages applications from law students graduating in 2016, recent graduates, and judicial clerks.

The EPIC Law Fellow will fill an integral role in EPIC's Washington, DC office. The Fellow will work on various EPIC Projects in areas such as Administrative Law, Appellate Advocacy, Consumer Privacy, International Privacy, Open Government, and State Policy. Creative, highly motivated, and accomplished law school graduates are encouraged to apply.
The EPIC Law Fellowship is a one-year position to begin September 2016.

Roles and Responsibilities

  • Undertake legal research
  • Draft complaints, petitions, briefs, and testimony
  • Pursue Freedom of Information Act requests and identify appellate amicus opportunities
  • Prepare posts for EPIC website and EPIC Alert
  • Participate in legal strategy sessions and coalition meetings
  • Provide support and assistance to EPIC staff and EPIC advisory board

Compensation
The EPIC Law Fellow will receive an annual salary of $51,500. EPIC provides all employees with a comprehensive benefits package.

How to Apply
Applicants should prepare a cover letter, resume, unofficial law school transcript, and writing sample. The writing sample should be legal in nature (brief, memorandum, or research paper) and should be the applicant's own work, not a collaborative piece or something heavily edited by someone else. Please send the complete document, not an excerpt.  Letters of recommendation are welcome and encouraged, not to exceed more than two. Applications to be submitted via email should be sent to fellowship@epic.org with the subject line "EPIC Law Fellowship."
Please direct cover letters to Khaliah Barnes, EPIC Associate Director. The application deadline is November 2, 2015.

Experience and Qualifications

  • J.D. before September 2016;
  • Exceptional academic background;
  • Outstanding research, writing, and analytic skills;
  • Passionate commitment to public interest law;
  • Deep interest in EPIC's subject areas.
  • Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, team environment
  • Journal experience, such as law review, preferred but not required
  • Masters degree in computer science or related field preferred but not required
  • Clerkship preferred but not required.

Job Fairs

Diversity

Leadership Council on Legal Diversity’s 1L Individual Mentoring Program - Registration Now Open!

The Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) is excited to offer a unique professional development opportunity to diverse 1L law students.  LCLD believes that success in law school is the first step to a successful legal career. To support the success of diverse students in law school, LCLD is launching the 2015-2016 LCLD Success in Law School Mentoring Program in over 30 cities around the country, including Chicago. Participating mentees will be paired with an experienced lawyer in Chicago, from one of LCLD’s Member organizations. Mentees will also have an opportunity to participate in the LCLD Group Mentoring Program, which includes networking events and substantive informational programming. 

LCLD has recruited lawyers from its Member organizations to provide one-on-one mentoring to qualified law students. These volunteer Mentors can help you achieve the professional goals you've set for yourself. Our Mentors not only have their experiences in law school to share, but also their experience of the profession, including networking, practice area choice, and knowledge of the legal job market.

To register for the Individual Mentoring Program, please complete the form located here. Mentee registration is NOW OPEN! While LCLD has enlisted a substantial number of volunteer Mentors, this is a "first come, first serve" opportunity, so please act quickly.

Faegre Baker Daniels 2L Diversity Fellowship - Application Now Available!
(See above)

Sidley Austin LLP Diversity Scholarship
(See above)

Donald W. Banner Diversity Scholarship for Law Students - Applications due January 11
(See above)

JTBF Summer Judicial Internship Diversity Project for Summer 2016
(See above)

Resources

Government Honors & Internship Handbook and Public Policy Handbook: log-in now available

The Government Honors and Internship Handbook and the (separate) Public Policy Handbook are now available!  To access the handbooks, use the link, login and password, which can be found in the Document Library in Symplicity.  Note that many 3L/post-grad government honors program and 2L summer/semester internship program deadlines are very early in the semester; log in now to avoid missing an opportunity!

2015-2016 PSJD Comprehensive Fellowship Guide

The 2015-2016 PSJD Fellowship Guide is an online compilation of post-graduate fellowships.  To access the database and for information about how to effectively use the database, visit https://www.psjd.org/2015-2016_Comprehensive_Fellowship_Guide.  Note that many fellowships have very early fall semester deadlines; 3Ls that are interested in applying for post-graduate fellowships should access the Guide now!  

Equal Justice Works’ Student Debt E-Book: Take Control of Your Future: A Guide to Managing Your Student Debt

Take Control of Your Future: A Guide to Managing Your Student Debt, is now available free on the EJW website.

Take Control of Your Future is a comprehensive guide to managing student debt, with chapters on understanding student loans and loan consolidation, planning before borrowing, income-driven repayment plans and a step-by-step guide to earning Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

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) and Ethical Jobs (www.ethicaljobs.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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