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Career Services Office

Career Services Office home page
Week of September 26, 2016

Information & Announcements

  • Mandatory 1L Orientation to the Career Services Office
  • CSO Seeks Student Worker
  • Welcome, 1Ls!
  • Mandatory Meetings for 2Ls and 3Ls
  • Interview Preparation and Mock Interviews Available Through the CSO
  • Free ABA Memberships for Students

Fall Recruiting

  • On-Campus Interviews Continue - Check Interview Schedules for Updates
  • Please Report Callbacks and Offers!

Programming

  • September 29: Mandatory 1L Orientation to the Career Services Office
  • September 28: CBA YLS Illinois Bar Exam Bootcamp 
  • September 30-October 2: Food Law Student Leadership Summit
  • October 4: Spring 2017 Judicial Externship Program Informational Meeting
  • October 5: Small & Mid-Size Law Firm Reception
  • October 7-8: 7th Circuit Fellows' Fall Program for Law Students
  • October 14 & 15: National Law Students Worker's Rights Conference
  • October 15: Explore the Possibilities: Public Interest Law Opportunities for Law Students
  • October 17-21: ConneKtions @ Dinner Week
  • October 18: Preparing Your PILI Application
  • October 19-23: ABA YLD Fall Conference
  • November 2-4: PLI 48th Annual Institute on Securities Regulation

Employment Opportunities

  • Securities and Exchange Commission SPRING 2017 Student Honors Program - Applications due October 9
  • Securities and Exchange Commission SUMMER 2017 Student Honors Program - Applications due October 12
  • Judicial Externship Program - Spring 2017 - Applications due October 13
  • ALDF Criminal Justice Program Summer 2017 Legal Clerkship - Applications due October 14
  • ALDF Litigation Program Summer 2017 Clerkship - Applications due October 14
  • Internal Revenue Service Chief Counsel’s Spring 2017 Law Student Volunteer Externship Program - Applications due October 28 
  • City of Chicago Mayor's Office Fellowship Program - Applications due November 6

Fellowships & Scholarships

  • Faegre Baker Daniels 2L Diversity & Inclusion Fellowship - Application Now Available
  • Franczek Radelet LEADS Fellowship Program - Applications due January 9 for 1Ls 
  • Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP Minority Scholarship - Applications due October 3
  • Skadden Fellowship - Applications due October 3
  • Michael Weiner Scholarship For Labor Studies - Applications due November 7
  • Sidley Austin LLP Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship 

Job Fairs  

  • Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair - October 28 & 29

Diversity

  • LCLD Success in Law School Mentoring Program
  • Faegre Baker Daniels 2L Diversity & Inclusion Fellowship - Application Now Available
  • Franczek Radelet LEADS Fellowship Program - Applications due January 9 for 1Ls 
  • Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP Minority Scholarship - Applications due October 3
  • Sidley Austin LLP Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship 

Resources

  • Government Honors & Internship Handbook & Public Policy Handbook: log-in now available
  • 2016-2017 PSJD Comprehensive Fellowship Guide
  • 2016-2017 Chicago Area Law Firms List
  • Equal Justice Works’ Student Debt E-Book: Take Control of Your Future: A Guide to Managing Your Student Debt
  • ABA Law Student Podcast: Public Service Loan Forgiveness
  • CareerShift
  • Practising Law Institute (PLI)
  • CSO Resources

Information & Announcements

Mandatory 1L Orientation to the Career Services Office

All 1L students are required to attend the Career Services Office orientation. One more session will be offered on Thursday, September 29 from 5:15 – 5:50 pm in Room 510. Please see the full description of the orientation in the Programming section below.

CSO Seeks Student Worker 

The Career Services Office seeks a student worker for a paid, federal work study position (you must have a federal work study award through your financial aid; if you are interested, and have a question about how to go about getting an award, contact Michelle Vodenik at mvodenik@kentlaw.iit.edu). 

Help is particularly needed on Wednesday mornings and all day on Friday, approximately 12 hours a week. 

Duties will include creating flyers for CSO programs and posting them to our Facebook page; organizing, editing, and updating CSO resources; creating and updating spreadsheets in Excel; welcoming students who come to the office; scheduling appointments; posting jobs; checking email; calling employers and potential speakers; answering the phone and returning calls; and other tasks as needed as part of our dynamic team. 

Applicants must be comfortable with social media and have the ability to post to our Facebook page, as well as create flyers/announcements using PicMonkey. Must be proficient in Excel. 

Please send your resume to 
mvodenik@kentlaw.iit.edu, and include in the email message your availability. 

Welcome 1Ls!

Welcome to your first year at Chicago-Kent! We look forward to assisting you in reaching your career goals.

According to guidelines adopted by the National Association of Legal Professionals (NALP), to which Chicago-Kent College of Law as well as all other ABA-accredited law schools subscribe, 1Ls cannot meet individually with a career services advisor until mid-October and cannot initiate contact with or interview with certain prospective employers until December 1st.  However, there are still many things you can do to start planning for your future career.

  • Attend CSO panels and career development workshops during the fall semester
  • Check our Record page often for updated information on upcoming programs
  • Research various career paths and talk to attorneys and upperclassmen to come up with a list of practice areas and practice settings that interest you
  • Finally, attend the mandatory orientation to learn how to prepare the materials you'll need for your job search

1Ls may meet individually with their career services advisor beginning October 24th by making an appointment in Symplicity. We hope you have a great first semester, and we look forward to seeing you in October!

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.

Interview Preparation and Mock Interviews Available Through the CSO

The Career Services Office is available to review student resumes and cover letters, and to conduct mock interviews, to help you better prepare for a variety of opportunities! If you have an upcoming interview, please consider scheduling a mock interview with your Career Services counselor. You can schedule an appointment directly through Symplicity! If you have questions about how to schedule an appointment, please email the Career Services Office at kentcso@kentlaw.iit.edu.

Free ABA Memberships for Students

The American Bar Association offers 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

On-Campus Interviews Continue - Check Interview Schedules for Updates

Please remember to check Symplicity frequently during the 2016 Fall Recruiting process. Changes to room numbers, interviewers, and possibly even changes to your interview schedule itself may occur at any point in the recruiting process. The CSO will not always be able to send out emails regarding such changes unless entire interview schedules are canceled. It is your responsibility to continually check Symplicity.

Please Report Callbacks and Offers!

If you receive callbacks or job offers during the fall interview season, please report this to Tamara McClatchey in the Career Services Office by sending an email to tmcclatc@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        

Mandatory 1L Orientation to the Career Services Office

Date: Thursday, September 29, 2016
Time: 5:15 – 5:50 pm
Location: Room 510

Come learn about volunteering and employment options and opportunities for evening students, and creative ways to get legal experience. Attendance is MANDATORY for 1Ls that have not yet attended a Career Services Office orientation session.

CBA YLS Illinois Bar Exam Bootcamp

Date: Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Time: 4:45 pm – 7:30 pm
Location: Chicago Bar Association (321 S. Plymouth Ct.)

All law students and bar takers are welcome to join the CBA YLS Law Student and Professional Responsibility Committees for an Illinois Bar Exam Boot Camp taking place at the CBA Headquarters on September 28 from 4:45-7:30pm! First, mingle and discuss bar exam study tips with young lawyer CBA members over a complimentary pizza dinner starting at 4:45 p.m. Then, get a comprehensive overview of everything you need to know about applying to and studying for the Illinois Bar and the character and fitness process. Speakers from ARDC, Lawyers Assistance Program (LAP), Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness, Barbri and more will share their insights. 

Program will feature:

  • Networking roundtables with young lawyers
  • Bar exam study tips
  • Overview of professional responsibility
  • Character and fitness rules
  • Navigating the character and fitness process
  • The Lawyers Assistance Program (LAP) as a resource for law students during bar prep and beyond
  • Attendees will receive dinner generously sponsored by Barbri
  • Come with your questions for the Q&A session!
The program is open to all law students - CBA Law Student Members are free, $15 for nonmembers. Click here to learn more and to register. Nonmembers can join online at www.chicagobar.org/jointheCBA.

Food Law Student Leadership Summit

Dates: Friday, September 30 – Sunday, October 2
Location: Drake Law School (Des Moines, Iowa)

Are you passionate about food law and policy? Attend the Food Law Student Leadership Summit, to be held September 30th – October 2nd at Drake Law School in Des Moines, Iowa.

Hosted by Drake’s Agricultural Law Center and Harvard’s Food Law and Policy Clinic, the Summit will provide a forum for training, networking, and engagement among law students interested in food law and policy. The Summit is the only conference to convene students from around the country who share a passion for all things food law – last year’s Summit brought together 100 law students from 50 law schools! Over the course of three days, students heard from national experts on a variety of topics, visited local food justice organizations, participated in small group policy simulations, and learned about a vast array of opportunities for pursuing food law and policy at law school and beyond. This year’s event will feature many exciting speakers, hands-on policy activities, and tours of area farms and farmers’ markets.

Hotel accommodations and all meals in Des Moines will be provided for all admitted students. A limited number of transportation scholarships will be available to cover the cost of flights or other travel.

For more information and application requirements, please visit the Food Law Student Network’s website. You can also use the site to navigate to the application for the 2016 Food Law Student Leadership Summit

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning in June and students are encouraged to apply early. Admitted students will be notified no later than August 31st. Please email any questions to flpc@law.harvard.edu.

Spring 2017 Judicial Externship Program Informational Meeting

Date: Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Location: Room 581

On Tuesday, October 4, at noon, in room 581, Professor Gross will conduct an informational meeting for students interested in participating in the Spring 2017 Judicial Externship Program (JEP). 

For additional information about JEP, you may also refer to the Law School Website, “Law Offices/Clinical Programs”.

If you have any questions about the Program or the application itself, please contact Professor Vivien Gross (vgross@kentlaw.iit.edu).

Small & Mid-Size Law Firm Reception

Date: Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Time: 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Location: Morris Hall (10th Floor Event Room)

Law firms offer a diverse range of practice areas and employ the largest percentage of law school graduates. They are also a significant source of law clerk positions, and the majority of Chicago-Kent students will spend time working at them during law school.

Come join the CSO, Alumni Relations, the Corporate Law Society, the Land Use and Real Estate Society and the Law Firm Management Society as they host a panel of practitioners from small and mid-size firms. Learn what they do every day and then stay to network with the panelists and other alumni who work in small and mid-size firms. 

Please send RSVPs to: kentcso@kentlaw.iit.edu, and include “Small & Mid-Size Firm Reception” in the subject line. Business professional attire, please.

7th Circuit Fellows’ Fall Program for Law Students

Networking Reception

Date: Friday, October 7, 2016
Time: 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Location: Littler Mendelson LLP (321 North Clark Street, Suite 1000)


Program

Date: Saturday, October 8, 2016
Time: 9:30 am – 3:30 pm
Location: Winston & Strawn (35 West Wacker Drive, 47th Floor)

The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers is hosting a 7th Circuit Fellows’ Fall Program for Law Students. Join them for a cocktail reception on Friday evening, October 7, and attend the program on Saturday, October 8, to hear from experienced panelists on the following topics:

  • Identifying the Employer
  • Classification and Misclassification
  • Class Actions as the New Collective Bargaining
  • What’s New in the World of Benefits
  • LGBT Issues
  • Transitioning to Practice: Getting Noticed, Getting Hired & Being Successful

The discussions will be moderated by Professor Martin Malin and Professor Richard Gonzalez.

These events are free of charge; however, an RSVP is required for both.
Please RSVP by Wednesday, October 5, 2016 to Jennifer Motley at 410-972-4712 or jmotley@laborandemploymentcollege.org.

National Law Students Worker's Rights Conference

Date: Friday, October 14 & Saturday, October 15, 2016
Location: The Conference Center of the Maritime Institute (692 Maritime Boulevard, Linthicum Heights, MD)

Attend the 18th Annual National Law Students Worker's Rights Conference on Friday, October 14 & Saturday, October 15, 2016 at The Conference Center of the Maritime Institute, 692 Maritime Boulevard, Linthicum Heights, MD.       

Mark Gaston Pearce, Chairman of the National Labor Relations Board, will deliver the keynote address. The Conference will include multiple interactive workshops and panel discussions, and will give each participant additional insight into becoming an advocate for workers and their families. Students will:

  • gain a greater understanding of, appreciation for and interest in the issues facing American workers;
  • supplement their labor and workers' rights courses; and
  • network with fellow law students, top labor attorneys, professors, nonprofit practitioners and government officials.

Registration is now open. Register Early! The Conference has often been fully booked before the deadline. Registration deadline is Monday, August 29, 2016 for those requesting PBF pay for their airfare and Friday, September 30, 2016 for all others. Click here for more information and to register. Questions may be addressed to Mary Anne Moffa, Executive Director, at mmoffa@peggybrowningfund.org.

Explore the Possibilities: Public Interest Law Opportunities for Law Students

Date: Saturday, October 15, 2016
Time: 10:00 am – 2:30 pm
Location: Registration on 5th Floor, Chicago-Kent College of Law, please pre-register at www.pili.org/events/event/explore-the-possibilities by 3:00 pm on Thursday, October 13, 2016

Looking to secure a legal aid, public interest law or government position during or after law school? This program is for law students who are interested in learning more about placements as volunteers, interns, externs, fellows or staff in the public interest law sector. The program is FREE for all law students and will provide them with a broad exposure to opportunities within the public interest law sector during and after law school.

All law students are invited to attend this complimentary program, but advance registration is required. Additional details about the program and online registration are available at www.pili.org/events/event/explore-the-possibilities. If you have any questions, please contact Ocie Davis at odavis@pili.org or 312-832-5127. Lunch will be provided. Business casual attire is recommended.

Please pre-register at www.pili.org/events/event/explore-the-possibilities by 3:00 pm on Thursday, October 13, 2016

ConneKtions @ Dinner Week

Dates: October 17 – 21, 2016
Times and Locations: TBD

Watch for opportunities to sign up for a dinner with Chicago-Kent alumni during the week of October 17-21! This event is coordinated by the Alumni Relations Office.

Preparing Your PILI Application

Date: Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Location: Room 370

The Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) offers $5,500 internships for students who spend their summer at one of their designated Chicago-area legal aid organizations. Learn helpful tips from past recipients and alumni to prepare the best application possible!

ABA YLD Fall Conference

Date: Wednesday, October 19 Sunday, October 23, 2016
Location: Westin Book Cadillac Hotel (1114 Washington Blvd., Detroit, MI)

Join the Young Lawyers Division of the American Bar Association in Detroit to discover new strategies, make connections and get the practice and leadership edge to make you a well-rounded and dynamic counselor.

• Interact with practice-area experts and legal profession influencers 
• Share perspectives and learn best practices to drive diversity and inclusion in the profession
• Network with young lawyers at great special events with a Motor City flavor
Free for law students. Click here for more information.

PLI 48th Annual Institute on Securities Regulation

Date: Wednesday, November 2 – Friday, November 4, 2016
Time: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Location: Webcast or Roosevelt Hotel in New York City

Practising Law Institute, along with its Co-Chairs, Alan L. Beller (Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP), Carmen J. Lawrence (King & Spalding LLP) and David M. Lynn (Morrison & Foerster LLP), cordially invites law students to join them on a complimentary basis at the 48th Annual Institute on Securities Regulation, November 2-4, 2016 on the Web, or live at New York City’s historic Roosevelt Hotel.  

For more than four decades, PLI’s Annual Institute has been the premier conference on securities regulation and corporate governance for lawyers, from students to seasoned practitioners. This year’s Institute will once again feature the nation’s leading securities and corporate legal experts to deliver the practical information, insights and real-world strategies and solutions to the many challenges facing practitioners today. At the same time, the Institute is a unique opportunity to connect with the best and brightest in the field of securities law.

 The scholarship application must be submitted by Wednesday, October 12, 2016. Click here for the scholarship application form (you must be logged in to Symplicity).

 Space at the live program is limited, so sign up today if you can attend in person. Click here for more information: 48th Annual Institute on Securities Regulation.

Employment Opportunities

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

Securities and Exchange Commission SPRING 2017 Student Honors Program - Applications due October 9, 2016

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 Spring 2017 Student Honors Program in its ten (10) regional offices. They offer law students robust responsibilities and experiences that enhance their legal careers. Over the course of the semester based 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.

The Spring 2017 Student Honors Program will officially begin on Monday, January 10, 2017 and end on Friday, April 21, 2017.

Applications are due Sunday, October 9, 2016See here for more information!

Securities and Exchange Commission SUMMER 2017 Student Honors Program - Applications due October 12, 2016

The SEC is seeking bright, innovative, results-oriented individuals for its 2017 Summer Honors Program in the Washington, DC Headquarter and Regional Offices. They offer 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.

The Summer 2017 Student Honor Program will official begin Monday, May 22, 2017 and conclude Friday, July 28, 2017.

Applications are due Wednesday, October 12, 2016. See here for more information!

Judicial Externship Program - Spring 2017 - Applications due October 13, 2016

Judicial Externship Program (JEP) is a 4-credit hour Pass/Low Pass/Fail program open to students who have completed at least their first full year of law school and want to do legal research and writing for a federal appellate, district or magistrate judge or designated Illinois appellate or circuit court judges.

JEP enables a student to become involved in particular legal problems through research and writing, and to contribute to the resolution of those problems by participating in drafting memoranda and opinions. Depending upon the judge, an extern may also have the opportunity to observe the judge’s day-to-day routine and to discuss with him/her the issues and problems that judges confront. Take advantage of this prestigious learning opportunity while enhancing your marketability in the legal world. 

Application Process

Applications for Spring 2017 Judicial Externships will be available in the Law Offices reception area (Room 600), in the Career Services Office, online(http://kentlaw.iit.edu/academics/jd-program/practical-skills-training/externships/students) and on the table by the third floor elevators.

Completed applications should be submitted in hard copy to Carole Ross, Secretary to Professor Gross, Room 610, by Thursday, October 13, 2016 at noon.

For additional information about JEP, you may also refer to the Law School Website, “Law Offices/Clinical Programs”.

If you have any questions about the Program or the application itself, please contact Professor Vivien Gross (vgross@kentlaw.iit.edu).

ALDF Criminal Justice Program Summer 2017 Legal Clerkship - Applications due October 14, 2016

When: The clerkships are full-time, during summer 2017, for a period of 3 months (approximately 12 weeks) with a flexible starting date (dependent upon the student’s schedule).

Location
: Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Portland, Oregon office.

Responsibilities:
 The clerks will be closely supervised and trained by top experts in animal law. Clerks will learn how to review cruelty reports, communicate with law enforcement officers, animal welfare investigators and prosecutors, assist in the development of proposed legislation, research a wide range of legal issues, and help draft pleadings and research memoranda. The successful applicant must have a sincere interest in animal protection and be willing to accept a variety of assignments within the expanding field of animal law. The primary focus of this clerkship is on criminal cases involving animal cruelty, but there will exposure to civil animal law issues as well.

Stipend
: This is an unpaid clerkship. There is a monthly stipend of $2,400 (the total stipend is $7,200.) This is to assist you in paying for reasonable expenses, including room and board, gas, travel, and other expenses.

Eligibility: 
The Criminal Justice Program summer clerkships are open to second-year students only (rising third year students) attending U.S. law schools.

Applications are due Friday, October 14, 2016. Click here for more information.

ALDF Litigation Program Summer 2017 Clerkship - Applications due October 14, 2016

When: The clerkships are full-time, during summer 2017, for a period of 3 months (approximately 12 weeks) with a flexible starting date (dependent upon the student’s schedule).

Location
: Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Cotati, California office.

Responsibilities: 
The clerks will be closely supervised and trained by top experts in animal law. Clerks will complete legal research, work with ALDF’s litigation department in developing new cases, and learn how to prepare pleadings in cases currently handled by ALDF. The successful applicant must have a sincere interest in animal protection and be willing to accept a variety of assignments within the expanding field of animal law. The primary focus of this clerkship is on civil animal law issues, but there will be exposure to criminal anti-cruelty cases as well.

Stipend
: This is an unpaid clerkship. There is a monthly stipend of $2,400 (the total stipend is $7,200.) This is to assist you in paying for reasonable expenses, including room and board, gas, travel, and other expenses.

Eligibility: 
Summer clerkships are open to second-year students only (rising third year students).

Applications are due Friday, October 14, 2016. Click here for more information.

Internal Revenue Service Chief Counsel’s Law Student Volunteer Externship Program - Applications due October 28, 2016

Tax Law Externship Program

Students who are interested in Tax Law are invited to participate in an unpaid externship program with the IRS Office of Chief Counsel in Chicago. During the academic year, the Chicago Chief Counsel office offers volunteer positions for a limited number of highly qualified law students from law schools accredited by the American Bar Association. The program allows law students and LL.M. candidates to volunteer on either a part-time or full-time basis, subject to the approval of their law schools. Students may have the opportunity to receive course credit for this experience.

The externship program provides an opportunity for law students to obtain legal work experience while gaining a familiarity with the Chief Counsel organization and its work. The program helps students improve their ability to identify, understand, and analyze federal tax issues as well as enhance their legal research and writing.
Generally, law students are assigned to one of Chief Counsel’s main divisions: Large Business & International, Small Business/Self Employed, and Tax Exempt and Government Entities. Each division handles different issues related to tax matters.

Externs work alongside Chief Counsel attorneys on a variety of tax related work assignments and provide legal assistance to them. Students may assist in assignments involving fact gathering and reviewing, legal research, drafting opinions and memoranda, pre and post-trial preparation, and providing trial team assistance in Tax Court.

Applications are due Friday, October 28, 2016. Click here for more information (you must be logged in to Symplicity).

Labor and Employment Law Externship Program

Students who are interested in federal sector labor and personnel law are invited to participate in an unpaid externship program with the IRS Office of Chief Counsel, General Legal Services Division (GLS), Area Counsel Office in Chicago. During the academic year, the Chicago Chief Counsel office offers volunteer positions for a limited number of highly qualified law students from law schools accredited by the American Bar Association. The program allows law students and LL.M. candidates to volunteer on either a part-time or full-time basis, subject to the approval of their law schools. Students may have the opportunity to receive course credit for this experience.

The externship program provides an opportunity for law students to obtain legal work experience while gaining a familiarity with the Chief Counsel organization and its work. The program helps students improve their ability to identify, understand, and analyze federal sector labor and employment law issues as well as enhance their legal research and writing.

The GLS Chicago Area Counsel Office litigates and arbitrates labor and personnel cases arising in its geographic area before various administrative fora, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Federal Labor Relations Authority, and arbitrations under the collective bargaining agreement. It also provides advice to management and litigation support in Federal courts to the Department of Justice in a variety of matters, such as EEO, Bivens suits and suits arising under the Federal Tort Claims Act. 

GLS externs work alongside GLS attorneys on a variety of labor and personnel related work assignments and provide legal assistance to them. Students may assist in assignments involving fact gathering and reviewing, legal research, drafting opinions and memoranda, pre and post-trial preparation, case management, and providing assistance at administrative hearings.

Applications are due Friday, October 28, 2016. Click here for more information (you must be logged in to Symplicity).

City of Chicago Mayor's Office Fellowship Program - Applications due November 6, 2016

The Chicago Mayor’s Office Fellowship Program offers a unique opportunity for students to engage in policymaking from inception to implementation. The Fellowship Program is highly-regarded as a leader in municipal fellowship programs. Fellows gain hands-on experience working directly with the Mayor’s Office staff in budgetary, legislative and programmatic areas of city government. Fellows gain a broad understanding of city-level policymaking and have an opportunity to connect what they are learning in the classroom to real world challenges.

Fellows will:

  • Gain an understanding of the work and mission of other City Departments through weekly tours and presentations;
  • Interact with and attend weekly meetings with Commissioners, Aldermen, experts in a variety of policy areas as well as senior level staff; and
  • Attend press conferences, City Council meetings and hearings, staff meetings and strategic planning sessions

The program seeks candidates who:

  • Are enthusiastic to learn about city government;
  • Have demonstrated a substantial commitment to excellence as evidenced by academic honors, leadership ability, extracurricular activities, and involvement in community or public service; and
  • Embody strong personal character and conviction.

Applications are due by Sunday, November 6, 2016. Click here for more information.

Fellowships & Scholarships

Faegre Baker Daniels 2L Diversity & Inclusion 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 2016 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, South Bend or Washington, D.C. office in 2017.
  • 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 2018.

For more information and to complete the application, visit FaegreBD.com/Fellowship. Students are encouraged to submit their application materials as soon as possible.

Franczek Radelet LEADS Fellowship Program - Applications due January 9, 2017 for 1Ls

Franczek Radelet's Legal Education for the Advancement of Diversity and Scholarship (LEADS) Fellowship Program was established by the firm in 2010 to create a pipeline of talented and diverse law students in the Labor and Employment space.

The LEADS program is an intensive eight-week program designed for diverse first- and second-year law students who have an interest in pursuing a legal career in private practice representing employers in labor and employment matters. The program’s goal is to provide concentrated labor and employment legal experience while developing a pipeline of highly qualified, diverse candidates for potential future employment in the legal profession.

This program, unlike most traditional law firm summer associate programs, includes specific learning and experience modules for the LEADS Fellows during an eight-week fellowship period. The curriculum combines substantive legal experience with practical training provided by Franczek Radelet attorneys. LEADS Fellows will also receive an orientation to the business of practicing law with a focus on transitioning from the life of a law student to that of a private practice attorney.

With each Fellow assigned to a small group of Franczek Radelet attorneys, Fellows will also learn first-hand the work and demands associated with being a practicing labor and employment attorney. Work experience includes substantive exposure to real time labor, employment, employee benefits, immigration and education issues facing employers.

Completed and signed applications and all required supporting documentation is due by Monday, January 9, 2017 for 1L students (the deadline for 2L students has passed). Please note that applications will be reviewed and applicants interviewed and selected on a rolling basis, so please submit your application as early as possible.

Click here for more information.

Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP Minority Scholarship - Applications due October 3, 2016

Minority students who have completed their first year of law school are eligible to apply for the Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP Minority Scholarship Program. Two $15,000 scholarships will be awarded to students participating in the firm’s 2017 Summer Associate Program (one in the Chicago office and one in the New York office). The recipients will be selected based on several criteria, including superior academic achievement, leadership experience and personal qualities that reflect the potential for outstanding contributions to Katten and to the legal profession.

Applications are due Monday, October 3, 2016. Click here for more information.

Skadden Fellowship - Applications due October 3, 2016

The Skadden Fellowship Program, described as "a legal Peace Corps" by The Los Angeles Times, was established in 1988 to commemorate the firm's 40th anniversary, in recognition of the dire need for greater funding for graduating law students who wish to devote their professional lives to providing legal services to the poor (including the working poor), the elderly, the homeless and the disabled, as well as those deprived of their civil or human rights. The aim of the Skadden Foundation is to give fellows the freedom to pursue public interest work; thus, the fellows create their own projects at public interest organizations with at least two lawyers on staff before they apply.

The foundation will award two-year fellowships for 2017 law school graduates and outgoing judicial law clerks who want to work in the public interest. Grants are made to organizations only, not to individuals. Therefore, before the application date of October 3, all applicants must identify a sponsoring public interest organization. The sponsor must be a 501(c)(3) organization that provides civil legal services to the poor, including the working poor, the elderly, the disabled or those deprived of their civil or human rights.

Skadden provides each fellow with a salary and pays all fringe benefits to which an employee of the sponsoring organization would be entitled. For those fellows not covered by a law school low-income protection plan, the firm will pay a fellow's law school debt service for the tuition part of the loan for the duration of the fellowship. Fellows will be notified by December 2, 2016.

Applications are due by Monday, October 3, 2016. To learn more about the fellowship, go here: https://www.skaddenfellowships.org/about-foundation. Download the Skadden Fellowship Application here: https://www.skaddenfellowships.org/application.

Michael Weiner Scholarship For Labor Studies - Applications due November 7, 2016

Major League baseball players are honoring the life of former MLBPA Executive Director Michael Weiner through the Michael Weiner Scholarship for Labor Studies.

Awarded by the Major League Baseball Players Trust, this scholarship seeks to recognize and support the efforts of graduate and/or law school students dedicated to improving the lives of workers. The Players Trust will award up to five $10,000 scholarships annually.

Applications are due Monday, November 7, 2016.

Click here for more information and to apply.

Sidley Austin LLP Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship

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 US$20,000 (less any applicable withholdings and taxes) to selected 2017 Sidley summer associates. The Sidley Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship is intended to defray the costs of the recipients’ legal education.

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 Program or a Sidley 1L Diversity Summer Mentorship Program.

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

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. The firm strongly prefers 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. Students must apply separately for a summer associate position.

Click here for more information.

Job Fairs

Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair - October 28 & 29, 2016

The Equal Justice Works Conference & Career Fair is the largest national public interest legal career fair in the country, and one of the best places for law students and recent graduates to connect with government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and public interest law firms. 

In addition to the career fair, Supreme Court Justice Elena Kegan will be this year's keynote speaker and there will be lots of networking and capacity-building opportunities for public interest law students!

The event is Friday, October 28th and Saturday, October 29th in the Washington DC area. 

Student registration for workshops and table talk is open from September 15th-October 28th (job application period is closed).

Information on key dates, deadlines and how to register is located here.  A list of registered employers will be updated on a rolling basis - keep checking for new additions!

Diversity

LCLD Success in Law School Mentoring Program

The primary objective of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Success in Law School Mentoring Program is to ensure that talented and diverse first-year law students receive the mentoring and preparation that they need to maximize their potential in law school and beyond.

Individual Mentoring Program (IMP):

The IMP is a comprehensive initiative for first-year law students from diverse backgrounds based on the principles of legal excellence and personal involvement. Attorney Mentors are matched 1:1 with talented law student Mentees to ensure that Mentees receive the mentoring they need to navigate their first year of law school and maximize their long-term potential. LCLD provides a comprehensive Mentoring Toolkit to assist both Mentor and Mentee in developing a successful relationship.

Group Mentoring Program (GMP):

The GMP allows diverse 1L, 2L, or 3L law students to receive advice and support from successful attorneys from LCLD Member organizations. Three GMP events are scheduled during the school year in each city in which LCLD hosts the Success in Law School Mentoring Program. GMP events are designed to provide guidance from experienced attorneys in an informal, interactive, and collegial setting. Many GMP events include attorney Mentors in a networking session and a panel presentation. Panel presentations cover a variety of topics including networking and relationship building, interviewing skills, professionalism, practice area choice, and attorney evaluation.

Student registration opens Saturday, October 1, 2016. Law students may register to be Mentees on the LCLD website. LCLD will match Mentors and Mentees based on geographic proximity.

For additional information about the LCLD Success in Law School Mentoring Program, please visit: http://www.lcldnet.org/programs/law-school-mentoring/. For questions, please contact Nancy Richardson, LCLD Program Manager, at nrichardson@lcldnet.com or 804-787-8009.

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

Franczek Radelet LEADS Fellowship Program - Applications due January 9, 2017 for 1Ls
(See above)

Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP Minority Scholarship - Applications due October 3, 2016
(See above)

Sidley Austin LLP Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship
(See above)

Resources

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

The Government Honors and Internship Handbook and the 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! 

2016-2017 PSJD Comprehensive Fellowship Guide

The 2016-2017 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/2016-2017_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!

2016-2017 Chicago Area Law Firm List

The Chicago Area Law Firm List is a spreadsheet of the private sector law firms in the Chicagoland area with 4 or more attorneys. Students can use the list to identify firms that include their practice areas of interest. The Chicago Area Law Firm List can be found in the Symplicity Document Library, under the Resources tab.

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.

ABA Law Student Podcast: Public Service Loan Forgiveness

If you plan to go into public service, you may have heard about public service loan forgiveness (PSLF for short). This economic incentive offers student loan forgiveness following a minimum period of service and on-time payments towards the borrower’s debt. The cost of this benefit is aimed at making public work more attractive.

In this extended two-segment episode of ABA Law Student Podcast, hosts Fabiani Duarte and Madison Burke interview Bryan Tyson, the executive director of the Georgia Public Defender Council and Jonathan Rapping, co-founder of Gideon’s Promise. 

In segment one, you will hear from Bryan about the debt to income gap, his organization’s survey of public defenders about PSLF, and the increased importance of public defenders outside the practice of law.

In segment two, you will hear from Jonathan about student debt’s barrier to public service, the lifelong commitment of student loans, and concerns about poor people not getting justice in the event of PSLF cuts or caps.

Listen now!   

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!

Practising Law Institute (PLI)

Practising Law Institute (PLI) invites law students to attend most of its live CLE programs, or view its live or archived Webcasts, for free, on scholarship (see PLI’s student scholarship form). They are all great sources of cutting-edge, practice-oriented content, and the live programs are terrific networking opportunities.

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:

  • 2016-2017 Government Honors and Internship Handbook
  • Chicago Area Law Firm List
  • 2014-2015 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!

CALENDARS

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