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Career Services Office

Career Services Office home page
Week of January 16, 2017

Information & Announcements

  • Community Based Federal Work Study Available for Spring 2017 - Applications accepted on a rolling basis until February 10
  • Mandatory 1L Legal Resume and Cover Letter Workshops
  • Mandatory Meetings for 2Ls and 3Ls
  • Interview Preparation and Mock Interviews Available Through the CSO
  • Free ABA Memberships for Students
  • January 16: Martin Luther King Holiday - Office Closed

Fall Recruiting

Programming

  • January 18: Corporate Counsel Night
  • January 24: WBAI Women and Wealth Series: Student Loans and Debt Seminar
  • January 26 - February 2: Midwest Public Interest Law Career Conference (MPILCC) Mock Interviews
  • January 31: How to Prepare for the Midwest Public Interest Law Career Conference (MPILCC)
  • February 1: Seyfarth & Shaw’s Senior Counsel Shannon Callahan presents “Life, Law, and the Pursuit of Happiness”: The GRIT Project
  • February 1: U.S. Air Force JAG Informational Interviews
  • February 2: DCBA Niu Pizza Social for Law Students and Alum (Sycamore, IL)
  • February 2-4: 2017 ABA Young Lawyers Section Midyear Meeting (Miami, FL)
  • February 7: Compliance Industry Trends and Careers
  • February 8: U.S. Marine JAG Informational Interviews
  • February 10: ISBA Young Lawyers Section Speed Networking and Wine Tasting
  • February 14: Pre-ASCK (Alumni-Student ConneKtions) Week Tips on Networking and Interviewing
  • February 21: Law Firm Life: Practical Information for the New Associate (RSVP by February 17)
  • February 22: Networking and LinkedIn by Steve Fretzin
  • February 23: Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois (HLAI) Judges Night
  • February 24: Chicago Bar Association Young Lawyers Section Casino Night (Volunteers Needed)
  • February 28-March 3: Alumni Student ConnecKtions Week (ASCK)
  • March 3: Building a Compliance Culture in Financial Institutions

Employment Opportunities

  • PILI 2017 Summer Internships - Apply Now!
  • 1L LCLD Scholars Program
  • ACC Chicago Chapter Diversity Summer Internship Program - Applications due January 22
  • 2017 1L National Association of Women Lawyers and Prudential Financial, Inc. Summer Internship Program - Applications due January 25
  • 2017 1L Hispanic National Bar Association and Prudential 1L Summer Internship Program - Applications due January 25
  • EPIC Internet Public Interest Opportunities Program (IPIOP) Summer Clerkships - Applications due February 5
  • Air Force JAG Corps Summer Externship Program - Applications due February 5
  • 2017 Asian American Advancing Justice Summer Clerkship Program - Applications due January 31
  • 2017 Summer Judicial Internship with Judge Raymond W. Mitchell - Applications due March 10
  • 2017 McGuireWoods/NLF Summer 2017 Law Clerk Program - Applications due March 15
  • 2017 Social Security Administration-Office of the General Counsel Summer  Internship - Applications due March 31

Fellowships & Scholarships

  • Vedder Price Diversity Scholarship for First-Year Law Students - Applications due January 16
  • PracticePro 1L Diversity Scholar Program - Applications due January 16
  • Janet D. Steiger Fellowship Project - Applications due January 31
  • Chicago Schweitzer Fellows Program - Applications due February 1
  • Finnegan Diversity Scholarship - Applications due February 1
  • Bricker & Eckler LLP - Charles H. Walker Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship - Applications Due February 1
  • 2017-2019 Fragomen Fellowship - Applications due February 10
  • Fredrikson & Byron 1L Minority Scholarship Program - Applications due March 31
  • 2016-2017 Asian American Bar Association Law Foundation Scholarship - Applications due May 1

Job Fairs  

  • February 4: Midwest Public Interest Law Career Conference (MPILCC)
  • February 22-23: IIT Campus-Wide Career Fair

Diversity

  • LCLD Success in Law School Mentoring Program
  • 1L LCLD Scholars Program
  • Vedder Price Diversity Scholarship for First-Year Law Students - Applications due January 16
  • PracticePro 1L Diversity Scholar Program - Applications due January 16
  • ACC Chicago Chapter Diversity Summer Internship Program - Applications due January 22
  • 2017 1L National Association of Women Lawyers and Prudential Financial, Inc. Summer Internship Program - Applications due January 25
  • 2017 1L Hispanic National Bar Association and Prudential 1L Summer Internship Program - Applications due January 25
  • Finnegan Diversity Scholarship - Applications due February 1
  • Bricker & Eckler LLP - Charles H. Walker Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship - Applications Due February 1
  • 2017 ABA/Prudential 1L Summer Internship Program for Law Students with Disabilities - Applications due February 5
  • 2017 Asian American Advancing Justice Summer Clerkship Program - Applications due January 31
  • 2017 McGuireWoods/NLF Summer 2017 Law Clerk Program - Applications due March 15
  • Fredrikson & Byron 1L Minority Scholarship Program - Applications due March 31
  • 2016-2017 Asian American Bar Association Law Foundation Scholarship - Applications due May 1

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 Student Loan Best Practices in the Face of Political Change
  • ABA Law Student Podcast: Public Service Loan Forgiveness
  • CareerShift
  • Practising Law Institute (PLI)
  • CBA YLS Webinar - Illinois Bar Exam Bootcamp 
  • CSO Resources

Information & Announcements

Community Based Federal Work Study Available for Spring 2017 - Applications due February 1

Federal Work Study Applications for Spring 2017 are currently being accepted. Chicago-Kent has funds available to pay students working at Community-Based Organizations. Chicago-Kent students who are Federal Work Study eligible may receive payment for their work at government and public interest organizations in the Chicago area through Federal Work Study funds. However, the number of positions will be limited due to FWS budgetary limitations, and there are other restrictions and limitations as to where students can be funded to work.

Early applications receive first consideration. The DEADLINE for Spring 2017 is Friday, February 1, 2017. Processing time may take a week or more; please allow plenty of time for approval, and the time it takes to go onto the Chicago-Kent payroll. 

Please visit the Chicago-Kent Community-Based Federal Work Study webpage for more information and to apply.

Mandatory 1L Legal Resume and Cover Letter Workshop

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 should schedule an initial appointment with their career advisor. Before 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.

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

Programming        

Corporate Counsel Night

Date:  Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Time: 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: IIT Downtown Campus - Chicago-Kent College of Law
(10th Floor Morris Hall)

The Asian Pacific American Law Students Association and the Chicago-Kent Career Services Office, along with the Black Law Students Association, the Hispanic Latino Law Students Association and the Corporate Law Society, are hosting a Corporate Counsel Night.

This exciting event will present the opportunity for corporate counsel attorneys to speak on a panel and provide guidance to Chicago-Kent students who are seeking similar career paths. Additionally, there will be a networking event for corporate attorneys to socialize with fellow corporate attorneys and Chicago-Kent students. More information forthcoming.

WBAI Women and Wealth Series: Student Loans and Debt Seminar

Date: Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Time: 5:30 pm -7:00 pm
Location: Wells Fargo, 10 S. Wacker, 14th Floor

Financial independence begins with a plan. Join the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois and guest speaker Jeffrey C. Simon, Chief Financial Planner and Vice President of Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC for part 2 of a 3-part series focused on student loans and debt. This seminar will teach you how to create a plan for tackling student loans, prioritize paying down various types of debt, and strategize for taking on more debt, ie. buying a home.

The event is free for WBAI members and $25.00 for nonmembers. Wine and light appetizers will be served. For more information and to RSVP (required), please click here.

Mock Interviews for the Midwest Public Interest Law Career Conference (MPILCC)

Date: Thursday, January 27 to Friday, February 2
Time: By appointment
Location: Career Services Office

Students who are scheduled to interview with employers at MPILCC may sign up for a mock interview in the Career Services Office on January 27, 30, 31, and February 1, 2, and 3. These mock interviews are an excellent way to practice and polish your interview skills. If you have not interviewed for a public interest position in the past, or if you have not interviewed for many positions, particularly legal positions, a mock interview is highly recommended. Sign-up information to come!

How to Prepare for the Midwest Public Interest Law Career Conference (MPILCC)

Date:  Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Location: IIT Downtown Campus - Chicago-Kent College of Law (Room 370)

This program will help students strategize for interviewing and networking at MPILCC. Come hear from students who have prior MPILCC experience to learn how to best make connections and build professional relationships. Visit the MPILCC website at www.mpilcc.org for conference details, and be sure to attend this program. This event is co-sponsored by the Kent Justice Foundation. Pizza will be served.

The Midwest Public Interest Law Career Conference is a job fair and an opportunity for students to interview and meet with government agencies and public interest employers for paid and unpaid legal positions for the summer or for after graduation. 1Ls, 2Ls and 3Ls can all participate. The job fair will take place at Northwestern University School of Law on Saturday, February 4, 2017. Student bidding for this career conference will be open from January 2 - 11, and all students will receive an invitation to bid for interviews. Table Talk is also available at the job fair where students can meet with many of the employers, even if the student did not receive an interview in advance. More information is available online at www.mpilcc.org.

Seyfarth Shaw’s Senior Counsel Shannon Callahan presents
“Life, Law, and the Pursuit of Happiness”: The GRIT Project

Date:  Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Time: 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Location: IIT Downtown Campus - Chicago-Kent College of Law
(Room TBD)

Shannon M. Callahan is senior counsel in Labor & Employment Department of Seyfarth Shaw LLP. Her labor and employment practice focuses on complex class actions, including Title VII, ADA, ADEA and ERISA litigation. Ms.Callahan devotes a significant portion of her time to lecturing on topics of lawyer well-being and happiness and to mentoring fellow lawyers. 

The Grit Project educates women lawyers about the science behind grit and growth mindset - two important traits that many successful women lawyers have in common. By providing the tools to assess and learn these traits, the Grit Project enhances the effectiveness as well as the retention and promotion of women lawyers. During this presentation, Ms. Callahan will discuss grit, happiness, and  law students. For more information on the GRIT Project, click here.

U.S. Air Force JAG Informational Interviews

Date: Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Time: By appointment 
Location: Room 360A

On Wednesday, February 1, Major Nussbaum of the U.S. Air Force JAG will be on campus to hold individual informational interviews to discuss opportunities available to law students with the Air Force JAG both during law school and after. All class levels are welcome to sign up.

Please RSVP to kentcso@kentlaw.iit.edu with the words “Air Force JAG” in the subject line.

DCBA NIU Pizza Social for Law Students and Alumni

Date: Thursday, February 2, 2017
Time: 5:30-7:30 PM 
Location: The Forge Brewhouse, 1330 E. State St., Sycamore, IL

The DuPage County Bar Association invites law students to become members and network with lawyers, judges, and fellow students at The Forge Brewhouse in Sycamore, Illinois. All law students, alumni, and lawyers are welcome. Free pizza and beer will be provided. For more information, contact Cindy Allston at callston@dcba.org. To RSVP, click here.

2017 ABA Young Lawyers Section Midyear Meeting

Date:  Thursday, February 2 through Sunday, February 4, 2017
Location: Hilton Miami Downtown (1601 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL)

Register for the 2017 ABA Midyear Meeting to earn CLE credit, develop your career, and make connections with young lawyer colleagues from across the U.S.! Programming throughout the weekend will offer the following:

  • Earn CLE credit while interacting with practice-area experts and legal profession influencers;
  • Get the practice and leadership edge to make you a well-rounded and dynamic counselor;
  • Share perspectives and best practices to drive diversity and inclusion in the legal profession; and
  • Get your voice heard by participating in the Assembly, the highly influential governing body of the ABA Young Lawyers Division

Click here for a schedule of the weekend’s events for the Young Lawyers Division.

Compliance Industry Trends and Careers

Date: Tuesday, February 7, 2017
Time: TBD
Location: TBD

U.S. Marine JAG Informational Interviews

Date: Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Time: By appointment 
Location: Room 360A

On Wednesday, February 8, Captain Tyler Lyons of the U.S. Marine Corp JAG will be on campus to hold individual informational interviews to discuss opportunities available to law students with the Marine JAG both during law school and after. All class levels are welcome to sign up.

Please RSVP to kentcso@kentlaw.iit.edu with the words “Marine JAG” in the subject line.

Illinois State Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Speed Networking and Wine Tasting

Date: Friday, February 10, 2017
Time: 4:00 pm -5:00 pm (Networking) and 5:00 pm -7:30 pm (Wine Tasting)
Location: ISBA Chicago Regional Office, 20 S. Clark St., Ste. 900

Join the Young Lawyers Division of the ISBA for a free speed networking event! Refreshments will be served while participants engage with lawyers and legal professionals. This event will combine the concepts of speed dating and business networking to help you meet & greet others in the legal profession. Sample topics include:
1.    Alternative Legal Careers
2.    Benefits of ISBA Membership
3.    Selecting a practice area
4.    Networking/Business Development
5.    Practice tips and professionalism advice
To register, click here. Stick around for the Annual YLD Wine Tasting event immediately following this program (requires separate registration).

Pre-ASCK (Alumni-Student ConneKtions) Week Tips on Networking and Interviewing

Date: Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Time: 12:00 pm -1:15 pm
Location: IIT Downtown Campus - Chicago-Kent College of Law
(Room TBD)

Alumni-Student ConneKtions Week is a week-long extravaganza of opportunities for students to network and connect with Chicago-Kent alumni and gain valuable career-related skills. Activities include informational interviews, mock interviews, job shadowing, Coffee ConneKtions and a networking reception. ASCK Week 2017 will take place February 27-March 3, 2017.

Alumni Ryan Jacobson (Class of 1999), partner at SmithAmundsen, and Jodi Caro (class of 1989), general counsel at Ulta, will give students tips on interviewing and networking and other career advice in preparation for ASCK Week.

Law Firm Life: Practical Information for the New Associate

Date: Tuesday, February 21, 2017
Time: 12:00 pm -1:00 pm 
Location:
IIT Downtown Campus - Chicago-Kent College of Law
(Room TBD)

What prepares you for succeeding in the environment of the law firm? In an informal setting, attorneys from Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. will discuss practical pointers for success, including: 

  • How to land a clerk or an associate position at a law firm.
  • Tracking your billable hours correctly (the do’s and don’ts).
  • Writing a meaningful time entry.
  • Handling research assignments and writing concise memorandums.
  • Communicating effectively with clients.
  • Creating a successful working relationship with your secretary/legal assistant.
  • Learning or refreshing your knowledge of the business basics of law.
  • Correctly drafting a court order.
  • Finding the right mentor at the firm and building a meaningful relationship with him or her.

Speakers:

  • Sanjay Shivpuri, Principal, Chicago-Kent '99 
  • Sachin Shah, Associate

Don’t miss this helpful panel discussion! Be sure to arrive at noon for the FREE PIZZA.

Please RSVP by Friday, February 17, 2017 to kentcso@kentlaw.iit.edu with "Law Firm Life" in the subject line.

Networking and LinkedIn by Steve Fretzin

Date: Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Time: 3:00 pm -4:00 pm 
Location:
IIT Downtown Campus - Chicago-Kent College of Law
(Room TBD)

Steve Fretzin, noted marketing consultant, will discuss networking and how to use LinkedIn. All students are encouraged to attend.

Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois (HLAI) Judges Night

Date: Thursday, February 23, 2017
Time: 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm 
Location:
McCormick & Schmick’s, 1 E. Upper Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL

The Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois cordially invites you to its first annual Judges Night. The reception includes a premium open bar, appetizers, and networking. Tickets are $25 for law students. However, there are ONLY 25 STUDENT TICKETS AVAILABLE so please register early. To purchase tickets, please click here. Students interested in meeting and networking with judges and judicial clerkships are strongly encouraged to attend.

February 24: Chicago Bar Association Young Lawyers Section Casino Night (Volunteers needed)

Date: Friday, February 25, 2017
Time: 6:00 pm (5:00 pm for Volunteers) 
Location: The
University Club, 76 E. Monroe St., Chicago, IL

The Young Lawyers Section of the Chicago Bar Association welcomes you to its “Miami Nights” themed casino night featuring a Texas Hold’em Tournament with proceeds benefitting the Chicago Bar Foundation. Dress to impress in your most fabulous ‘80s attire for a chance to win prizes for best Miami Vice/South Beach outfit. An All Access Pass may be purchased for $150 per person including admission to the reception, casino games, and a seat in the Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament.  A Casino Pass may be purchased for $100 for those who do not wish to participate in the tournament. Prices increase by $25 on February 11, 2017. For more information and to register, click here. You can also learn more on Facebook.

Want to attend for free? The Chicago Bar Foundation (CBF) needs Chicago-Kent volunteers to deal games. Familiarity with the games is not required. CBF will provide free food and drinks for all volunteers, and unlimited networking in a relaxed environment with a large swath of Chicago legal professionals. Volunteers need to arrive by 5 PM for a refresher course in dealing. Most events will end at 9 or 10 PM. To sign up, Email Mike Gentithes at mgentithes@gmail.com with your name, birthplace (as a name tag icebreaker), your availability, and any experience you have in dealing poker, blackjack, roulette, craps, and a money wheel. Please tell him you are with Chicago-Kent and want to volunteer for CBF's Casino Night.

Alumni Student ConnecKtions Week (ASCK)

Date: Monday, February 27, 2017-Friday, March 3, 2017
Time: Various 
Location:
IIT Downtown Campus - Chicago-Kent College of Law
(Rooms TBD)

Alumni-Student ConneKtions Week is a week-long extravaganza of opportunities for students to network and connect with Chicago-Kent alumni and gain valuable career-related skills. Activities include informational interviews, mock interviews, job shadowing, Coffee ConneKtions and a networking reception.

Informational Interviews will be conducted on Monday, February 27 and Thursday, February 28. Alumni will conduct one or more 30-minute informational interviews with students interested in their area of practice.  

Mock Interviews will take place on Wednesday, March 1. Alumni will conduct one or more 30-minute mock interviews with students looking to work on their interviewing skills. Students will spend 20 minutes interviewing with an alumnus and then 10 minutes receiving constructive feedback. Please note that student resumes will need to be provided in advance.

Coffee ConneKtions: On Thursday, March 2 and Friday, March 3, alumni will host a group of 2-6 students for informal networking over coffee at locations outside of the law school building. More information on times and places to follow.

Alumni will also offer job shadowing, where students are hosted at their place of business for a half or full day to give them the opportunity to see firsthand what the practice of law may be like. The specific date and time will be arranged with each student once their sign up has been confirmed. 

Finally, a Networking Reception will be held for current students to mingle with current alumni and get help honing their networking skills.

For questions, email alums@kentlaw.iit.edu or call (312) 906-5240.

Building a Compliance Culture in Financial Institutions

Date:  Friday, March 3, 2017
Time: 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Location: IIT Downtown Campus - Chicago-Kent College of Law
(Room TBD)

Learn about the recent developments and issues of compliance culture in financial institutions at this one-day conference hosted at Chicago-Kent.  Judge Jed S. Rakoff of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York will be the keynote speaker. There will also be two panel discussions. More details forthcoming.

Employment Opportunities

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

PILI 2017 Summer Internships - Apply Now!

PILI's Law Student Internship Program connects law students from across the country with legal service agencies in Illinois. Interns work 400 hours full-time during the summer, with PILI ensuring quality supervision by experienced agency attorneys, and providing extra educational, networking and mentoring opportunities.

Through this program, PILI helps its partner agencies increase their impact while also helping its Interns develop their legal and client interaction skills, build their professional networks, and strengthen their commitment to public interest law and service.

Applicants will apply directly through the PILI website. PILI offers Internships at 27 different legal service agencies in Illinois, and each applicant may apply to up to 10 agencies. You can review the list of agencies approved to host PILI Interns here.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until all agencies have completed their hiring. Please note that each agency supervisor handles hiring differently: some make hiring decisions early in the application period, while others wait until later. Applicants are encouraged to apply early to ensure the fullest consideration of their application.

If you have questions, please contact PILI’s Executive Director, Michael Bergmann, by email or by phone at 312-832-5129.

1L LCLD Scholars Program

The 1L Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Scholars Program is designed to strengthen the legal pipeline by expanding the number of opportunities for diverse first-year law students. The program offers you the rare opportunity to spend a summer working alongside attorneys from LCLD Member organizations.

Benefits for Scholars:

  • 1L LCLD Scholars Summit: LCLD invites each class of Scholars to this annual event, which includes panel discussions, distinguished speakers, and networking opportunities for the Scholars with LCLD Members and each other.
  • Substantive Work Assignments: LCLD Scholars spend their summer side by side with attorneys from Fortune 500 legal departments and Am Law 350 law firms.
  • Networking: There is a LinkedIn group dedicated to articles and discussions relevant to 1L LCLD Scholars. All are invited to join.

The application period will remain open per the Member organization’s discretion. Click here for more information. If you have any questions about the 1L LCLD Scholars Program, please contact Nancy Richardson, LCLD Program Manager. 

ACC Chicago Diversity Summer Internship Program - Applications due January 22

The ACC Chicago - Diversity Summer Internship Program places 1L law students with diverse backgrounds from Illinois law schools in internships with Chicagoland corporate legal departments. Selected law students work in the legal department of a Chicagoland company for a minimum of ten (10) weeks during the 2017 summer. 

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

The Chicago Chapter is looking for 1L students from diverse backgrounds that are traditionally underrepresented in the legal profession. Additionally, the Chapter seeks diverse students who are eager to learn and are capable of thriving in a corporate environment.

Applications are due Sunday, January 22, 2017. Click here for more information. To apply, you must fill out and complete an application. 

2017 1L National Association of Women Lawyers and Prudential Financial, Inc. Summer Internship Program - Applications due January 25

The National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL) is pleased to partner with Prudential Financial, Inc. (Prudential) to provide a meaningful summer internship opportunity for a highly-motivated first-year law student.  Through this partnership, NAWL will select one student to join the 2016 summer law intern class at Prudential for a 10-week internship at Prudential’s New Jersey offices, for a stipend of approximately $10,000.

The summer internship will provide interns with the opportunity to work with attorneys who support the broad reach of Prudential’s businesses. Other features of the summer internship program include:

  • Paid attendance at the LCLD Scholars Summit in Philadelphia, PA on May 23-25, 2017
  • Participation in training programs presented by Prudential attorneys highlighting different areas of the business and the legal department
  • Pairing with an attorney who will serve as a manager during the program and will provide guidance on projects and other substantive work
  • Pairing with a mentor who will serve as an additional advisor on resume review
  • Interviewing skill development and mock interview practice
  • Networking both within Prudential and externally with law firms and regulatory groups
  • Presentation development and delivery
  • The opportunity shadow attorneys on various projects
  • Opportunities to interview with selected local firms for potential 2L internships

The 1L summer internship will run for 10 weeks, from May 22, 2017 to July 28, 2017.  Summer interns will be paid a stipend of approximately $10,000, which shall accrue and be paid on an hourly basis. 

Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. CST on Thursday, January 25, 2017. For more information on how to apply, please click here.

2017 1L Hispanic National Bar Association and Prudential 1L Summer Internship Program - Applications due January 25

The Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) is pleased to partner with Prudential Financial, Inc. (Prudential) to provide a meaningful summer internship opportunity for a highly-motivated first-year law student.  Through this partnership, HNBA will select one student to join the 2016 summer law intern class at Prudential for a 10-week internship at Prudential’s New Jersey offices, for a stipend of approximately $10,000.

The summer internship will provide interns with the opportunity to work with attorneys who support the broad reach of Prudential’s businesses. Other features of the summer internship program include:

  • Paid attendance at the LCLD Scholars Summit in Philadelphia, PA on May 23-25, 2017
  • Participation in training programs presented by Prudential attorneys highlighting different areas of the business and the legal department
  • Pairing with an attorney who will serve as a manager during the program and will provide guidance on projects and other substantive work
  • Pairing with a mentor who will serve as an additional advisor on resume review
  • Interviewing skill development and mock interview practice
  • Networking both within Prudential and externally with law firms and regulatory groups
  • Presentation development and delivery
  • The opportunity shadow attorneys on various projects
  • Opportunities to interview with selected local firms for potential 2L internship
The 1L summer internship will run for 10 weeks, from May 22, 2017 to July 28, 2017.  Summer interns will be paid a stipend of approximately $10,000, which shall accrue and be paid on an hourly basis. 

Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. CST on Thursday, January 25, 2017. For more information on how to apply, please click here.

EPIC Internet Public Interest Opportunities Program (IPIOP) Clerkships –
Applications for summer due February 5

IPIOP seeks outstanding law students interested in public interest issues related to the Internet to spend a summer or a semester at the EPIC office in Washington.  Learn about the legislative process, public interest litigation, the Freedom of Information Act, online activism, and emerging Internet issues.

The IPIOP Program gives law students the opportunity to actively participate in valuable programs in Internet law, policy, and legislation. The goal of the program is to provide opportunities for clerks to experience first-hand the new and exciting intersection between Internet law and public policy.  Washington, D.C. provides an ideal location for an introduction to Internet law and policy. IPIOP clerks attend agency proceedings, policy meetings, Congressional hearings, and visit many landmarks in the Nation's Capital.

Applications for clerkships will be evaluated as they are received.  Students are encouraged to apply early, as they will be accepting on a rolling basis. For application information, qualifications, and to apply, please visit https://epic.org/epic/jobs.html.

Air Force JAG Corps Summer Externship Program - Applications due February 5

The Air Force Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps is currently seeking applications for its 2017 summer unpaid externship program. The Air Force JAG Corps provides full-spectrum legal advice to military commanders. As an extern, you will gain hands-on experience in diverse areas of legal practice while learning more about the Air Force and the JAG Corps. The program is an excellent way to gain exposure to substantive legal work while serving alongside Active Duty Air Force Assistant Staff Judge Advocates. Positions are available for full-time work for 8-10 weeks during the summer of 2017.

Applications are due by Sunday, February 5, 2017. For more information and application instructions, please click here. You must be logged into Simplicity to access the file.

2017 Asian American Advancing Justice Summer Clerkship Program (Washington, DC)- Applications due January 31

Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC) works to advance the human and civil rights for Asian Americans, and build and promote a fair and equitable society for all. The Advancing Justice | AAJC Summer Clerkship Program is a competitive program for law students. The program provides a structured and intensive experience for students to immerse in civil rights issues and prepare for careers in public interest law and advocacy. Law clerks work together with staff attorneys in an arrangement that fosters leadership, peer learning, and organizational behavior learning. Clerks develop measurable goals and meet regularly with the Summer Program Coordinator to discuss the progress of their work. Equally important, clerks share their progress with each other in a collaborative environment.

The clerkship position is unpaid and located in Washington, DC. Students are encouraged to pursue funding opportunities through their law schools and outside sources. AAJC will try its best to direct accepted students to funding sources and assist in completing funding applications.

Summer clerkship program dates are May 30 to August 4, 2017. Applications will be accepted and interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis. Submission of application materials in time to be received by January 31, 2017. More information and details on how to apply can be found under Job ID 1001464 in Simplicity Job Postings.

2017 Summer Judicial Internship with Judge Raymond W. Mitchell - Applications due March 10

The Honorable Judge Raymond W. Mitchell, Circuit Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, is seeking a judicial intern for Summer 2017. This internship provides an excellent opportunity to work closely with a judge in a state trial court that handles commercial law cases. Interns will be involved in all phases of the court’s work, including analyzing issues, conducting legal research, drafting memoranda and attending trials and hearings.

Interns will function as an additional judicial clerk. In order to benefit from this experience, applicants must possess outstanding writing skills and superior analytic abilities.

More information and details on how to apply can be found under Job ID 1001475 in Simplicity Job Postings. Applications are due no later than March 10, 2017.

2017 McGuireWoods/NLF Summer 2017 Law Clerk Program - Applications due March 15

McGuireWoods LLP, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), and the NAPABA Law Foundation (NLF) invite you to apply for the McGuireWoods/NLF Law Clerk Program Summer 2017. The Program supports students interested in the legal profession and helps students develop a commitment to advocacy on behalf of the Asian Pacific American (APA) community.

The Program seeks to achieve these goals by providing law students with meaningful internship experiences at the NAPABA office in Washington, D.C. The law clerk will be awarded a stipend of $4,500 for the internship duration of 40 hours per week for 10 weeks. Funding for this program is generously provided by McGuireWoods LLP.

For more information on how to apply, click here. Applications are due on or before March 15, 2017.

2017 Social Security Administration-Office of the General Counsel Summer  Internship - Applications due March 31

The Office of the General Counsel of the Social Security Administration is pleased to announce that it is accepting applications for the Chicago Regional Chief Counsel’s Office 2017 Summer Law Internship Program. The internship program will run ten weeks from Monday, June 5, 2017 through Friday, August 11, 2017.

The Chicago Regional Office, located in Chicago’s Loop, represents and advises the Social Security Administration on a broad variety of legal matters, including administration of the agency’s disability benefits programs, personnel and employment disputes, and civil rights matters. Attorneys represent the agency in federal district and appellate courts as well as before administrative agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Merit Systems Protection Board. Summer interns will assist in challenging legal work, such as drafting summary judgment motions in federal district court, responding to Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act matters, and drafting pleadings in bankruptcy court. The interns will also have the opportunity to visit and interact with our internal and external partners, such as SSA’s Office of Disability Adjudication and Review.

The program is open to students who will have completed their first or second year next spring. The intern positions are unpaid, but the office will work with sponsoring schools that grant academic credit or stipends for internships. Applications will be accepted until March 31, 2017. More information and details on how to apply can be found under Job ID 1001486 in Simplicity Job Postings.

Fellowships & Scholarships

Vedder Price Diversity Scholarship for First-Year Law Students - Applications due January 16

In keeping with Vedder Price’s commitment to diversity, the firm established the Vedder Price Diversity Scholarship in 2005. Eligible candidates are first-year law students enrolled at and attending one of the following Illinois law schools: the John Marshall Law School, Chicago-Kent College of Law, DePaul University, Loyola University Chicago, Northwestern University, University of Chicago and University of Illinois.

This scholarship includes a $5,000 monetary award for law school-related expenses, as well as a guaranteed summer associate position in the firm’s Summer Associate Program after the scholarship recipient's first year of law school.

To be eligible, you must be a first-year law student who is a student of color, LGBT, a person with a disability or a person whose background or experience would otherwise contribute to the diversity of Vedder Price and the legal profession.
Applications must be postmarked by Monday, January 16, 2017.  Click here for more information.

PracticePro 1L Diversity Scholar Program - Applications due January 16, 2017

PracticePro is excited to announce that its Diversity Scholar Program is now accepting applications from first-year law students.

Diversity Scholar Program Benefits:

  • Free admission to attend the Chicago Career Conference (Spring 2017)
  • Participation in a free six-month intensive career-coaching program to help you navigate through law school, interviews, networking, and long-term career planning
  • Complimentary Interviewing and resume writing workshops
  • Free admission to attend the New Attorney Basics Conference (any time before December 2019)
  • Unlimited complimentary mentorship from PracticePro coaches and Diversity Program Advisory Board

Eligibility:

  • 1L (Class of 2019) at any participating Illinois law school
  • Member of a racial, ethnic, or gender group which has been historically underrepresented in the legal profession, member of the LGBT community, or those with a physical disability

Applications are due Monday, January 16, 2017. Early applications are strongly encouraged. Visit the Illinois Diversity Scholar Program Page for more information.

Janet D. Steiger Fellowship Project - Applications due January 31, 2017

The Janet D. Steiger Fellowship Project provides law students the extraordinary opportunity to work in the consumer protection departments of state and territorial Offices of Attorneys General throughout the United States, and consumer protection agencies in both Connecticut and Hawaii that are not affiliated with offices of attorneys general. The eight to ten week paid Fellowships were initiated in 2004 by the ABA Section of Antitrust Law, in cooperation with the National Association of Attorneys General, as a consumer protection outreach initiative to introduce law students to the rewards of legal careers in public service. Each selected student will receive a $6,000 stipend.

Applications are due Tuesday, January 31, 2017. Click here for more information.

Chicago Schweitzer Fellows Program - Applications due February 1, 2017

The Chicago Schweitzer Fellows Program is a one-year interdisciplinary, mentored fellowship program focused on health-related community service and leadership development. The Program strengthens Fellows’ resolve to provide health and human services to underserved populations by facilitating opportunities for students to:

• Use their skills and knowledge in real-life situations
• Become culturally sensitive and compassionate caregivers
• Understand the impact of social and environmental determinants of health
• Build capacity for and commitment to improving the health status of individuals and communities as well as contributing to social change
• Work collaboratively and across disciplines in pursuit of a common goal
• Learn how to exercise leadership skills to work with and influence community-based organizations, community leaders, and academic institutions to embrace holistic, service-oriented approaches to health

Upon successful completion of the initial Fellowship year, Fellows have the opportunity to participate in an alumni network of Fellows for Life – an interdisciplinary pipeline of emerging professionals who are dedicated and skilled in meeting the health needs of underserved communities.

Applications are due Wednesday, February 1, 2017. Click here for more information.

Finnegan Diversity Scholarship - Applications due February 1, 2017

Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP, one of the world's largest intellectual property firms, is accepting applications for its 2017-2018 Diversity Scholarship. The Finnegan Diversity Scholarship provides financial support to qualified diverse students who demonstrate a commitment to pursuing a career in intellectual property law.

The Scholarship award of $15,000 may be applied to costs associated with normal tuition and fees. The scholarship recipient will also join the firm as a 2018 summer associate in one of its domestic offices (Atlanta, GA; Boston, MA; Palo Alto, CA; Reston, VA; or Washington, DC). The scholarship may be renewed if an associate offer is extended and accepted for Fall 2019.

Scholarship recipients must be enrolled in an ABA-accredited law school in the JD class of 2019, must meet Finnegan’s hiring criteria (a degree in life sciences/chemistry, engineering, or computer science, or substantial prior trademark experience), and must contribute to enhancing diversity. The firm defines diversity broadly. Successful applicants have included members of racial, ethnic, disabled, and sexual orientation groups that have been historically underrepresented in the legal profession.

Applications are due Wednesday, February 1, 2017 and are available by clicking here.

Bricker & Eckler LLP - Charles H. Walker Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship –
Applications due February 1

The Charles H. Walker Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship was established to provide a first-year law student with a valuable employment experience early in his or her legal career. The scholarship will be awarded to a candidate who: demonstrates leadership skills, academic strength, service to the community, an overall commitment to excellence and who has exhibited a meaningful commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Students who will be 1L students in an ABA-approved law school by January 2017 are eligible to apply for the scholarship. One scholarship in the form of a $10,000 cash award (less any applicable taxes and withholdings) towards law school tuition and other law school related expenses will be awarded. In addition, the scholarship recipient will receive a paid summer associate position for the summer of 2017.

Eligible candidates should forward their résumé with GPA to the attention of Patricia M. Lach, Recruiting/Professional Development Coordinator, Bricker & Eckler LLP, 100 South Third Street, Columbus, OH 43215All résumés must be submitted /received by February 1, 2017. Scholarship finalists will be interviewed by members of the Firm’s Recruiting Committee and we hope to make the final selection by April 1, 2017.

All inquiries related to the Bricker & Eckler’s 2017 Charles H.Walker Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship should be directed to Patricia M. Lach at plach@bricker.com.

2017-2019 Fragomen Fellowship (Metro NYC) - Applications due February 10

The Fragomen Fellowship is a fully-funded, two-year rotating fellowship established by Fragomen—the world’s leading provider of immigration services—to enhance the pro bono legal services provided to immigrants by the City Bar Justice Center, the pro bono affiliate of the New York City Bar Association. The fellowship is open to applicants with two to four years of immigration-related legal experience who are admitted to the New York bar. The Fragomen Fellow focuses on advocacy to enhance the access to and quality of counsel for immigrants in New York. The Fellow is also responsible for training and mentoring pro bono lawyers, and for community education and outreach.

Depending on the Fellow’s prior experience, the Fellow may also have the opportunity to design and run new programs related to immigration.

Applications will be accepted immediately and reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. More information and details on how to apply can be found under Job ID 1001466 in Simplicity Job Postings.

Fredrikson & Byron 1L Minority Scholarship Program - Applications due March 31, 2017

First-year law students are encouraged to apply to Fredrikson & Byron’s $15,000 Minority Scholarship program before the deadline of March 31, 2017. The scholarship is awarded based on law school performance, professional references, work and other activities, writing samples and personal interviews.

The scholarship program is part of Fredrikson's commitment to the promotion of diversity among incoming law professionals. The purpose of the program is to promote the legal training of minority law school students and to encourage them to join and excel in the private practice of law within larger corporate law firms in the Upper Midwest.

Applications are due Friday, March 31, 2017. Click here for more information.

Asian American Bar Association Law Foundation Scholarship - Applications due May 1

The Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area Law Foundation (“AABA Law Foundation”) was established in February 2009, and is a non-profit, charitable and educational affiliate of AABA that is tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). The AABA Law Foundation engages in activities toward the following goals:  (a) provide financial assistance to Asian Pacific American law students who have demonstrated academic excellence and social leadership; (b) support the development of internships and fellowships in the area of public interest and community service relating to the Chicago-area Asian Pacific American community; (c) assist in conducting legal scholarship and education with respect to legal issues affecting the Chicago-area Asian Pacific American community; and (d) develop and support programs to educate the legal profession and Asian Pacific American communities in the Chicago-area regarding legal issues affecting those communities.

As part of achieving its goals, each year the AABA Law Foundation awards scholarships to law students who have demonstrated a commitment to serving the needs of the Asian Pacific American community, and who will continue to serve the needs of the Asian Pacific American community through pro bono, public interest, and/or public service legal work. A connection to the Chicago area is preferred. This year, the AABA Law Foundation intends to award one scholarship of $5,000 to a law student who has exemplified that commitment. 

Applications and all supporting materials must be submitted by May 1, 2017. For more information and application instructions, please click here. You must be logged into Simplicity to access the file.

Job Fairs

Midwest Public Interest Law Career Conference (MPILCC)

Date:  Saturday, February 4, 2017
Time: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (interviews); 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm (table talk)
Location: Northwestern Pritzker School of Law (Chicago, IL)


The Midwest Public Interest Law Career Conference (MPILCC), the largest public interest legal job fair in the Midwest, enables employers from public interest and government organizations and J.D. students to gather for a day of interviews and informal networking. MPILCC is open to students from law schools in Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Each year, the MPILCC Conference attracts nearly 50 employers for on-site interviews, Table Talk (an informal networking session), or resume solicitation. From over fifteen hundred student registrants, about 275 students representing almost 40 law schools attend the conference. The conference is free to students. For more information, visit http://www.mpilcc.org/.

IIT Campus-Wide Career Fair

IIT’s Campus-Wide Career Fair will be held Wednesday, February 23-24, 2017, from noon to 4:00 p.m. in Hermann Hall, located at 3241 South Federal Street. Mark your calendar for this date and click here to learn more about specific strategies to make the most of this event, view a list of companies attending and register!

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 is now open. 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.

1L LCLD Scholars Program
(See above)

Vedder Price Diversity Scholarship for First-Year Law Students - Applications due January 16, 2017
(See above)

PracticePro 1L Diversity Scholar Program - Applications due January 16
(See above)

ACC Chicago Chapter Diversity Summer Internship Program - Applications due January 22
(See above)

2017 1L National Association of Women Lawyers and Prudential Financial, Inc. Summer Internship Program - Applications due January 25
(See above)

2017 IL Hispanic National Bar Association and Prudential 1L Summer Internship Program - Applications due January 25
(See above)

Finnegan Diversity Scholarship - Applications due February 1
(See above)

Bricker & Eckler LLP - Charles H. Walker Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship – Applications due February 1
(See above)

2017 ABA/Prudential 1L Summer Internship Program for Law Students with Disabilities - Applications due February 5

The American Bar Association (ABA) is pleased to partner with Prudential Financial, Inc. (Prudential) to provide a meaningful summer internship opportunity for a highly-motivated first-year law student.  Through this partnership, HNBA will select one student to join the 2016 summer law intern class at Prudential for a 10-week internship at Prudential’s New Jersey offices, for a stipend of approximately $10,000.

The summer internship will provide interns with the opportunity to work with attorneys who support the broad reach of Prudential’s businesses. Other features of the summer internship program include:

  • Paid attendance at the LCLD Scholars Summit in Philadelphia, PA on May 23-25, 2017
  • Participation in training programs presented by Prudential attorneys highlighting different areas of the business and the legal department
  • Pairing with an attorney who will serve as a manager during the program and will provide guidance on projects and other substantive work
  • Pairing with a mentor who will serve as an additional advisor on resume review
  • Interviewing skill development and mock interview practice
  • Networking both within Prudential and externally with law firms and regulatory groups
  • Presentation development and delivery
  • The opportunity shadow attorneys on various projects
  • Opportunities to interview with selected local firms for potential 2L internships

The 1L summer internship will run for 10 weeks, from May 22, 2017 to July 28, 2017.  Summer interns will be paid a stipend of approximately $10,000, which shall accrue and be paid on an hourly basis. 
Applicants must:

  • Be (or become) a member of the American Bar Association
  • Be a law student with a disability
  • Be enrolled at an ABA-accredited law school and have successfully completed the first year with a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent)
  • Be scheduled for graduation in spring 2019 (full-time students) or spring 2020 (part-time students) 

The ideal applicant will have financial or business-related experience or interest. Interns not local to New Jersey will be responsible for their own housing and transportation to and from Prudential's Newark office.

To apply, submit your cover letter, resume, list of three references, and copy of your transcript to Amy Allbright at Amy.Allbright@americanbar.org. Please write "Prudential Internship" in the subject line of all correspondence. All materials must be received by 5:00 p.m. EST on February 5, 2017. Finalists will be selected and notified on or before March 3, 2017.

2017 Asian American Advancing Justice Summer Clerkship Program - Applications due February 13
(See above)

2017 McGuireWoods/NLF Summer 2017 Law Clerk Program - Applications due March 15
(See above)

Fredrikson & Byron 1L Minority Scholarship Program - Applications due March 31, 2017
(See above)

2016-2017 Asian American Bar Association Law Foundation Scholarship - Applications due May 1
(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 Student Loan Best Practices in the Face of Political Change

In today’s political climate, many questions surround the future of America’s student loan repayment programs. The current White House administration has put forth a number of proposals to change key aspects of the income-based repayment and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness programs. While it remains to be seen whether these changes will be adopted and passed by Congress, the next elected president is expected to have a significant impact on the future of student debt in America. The Democratic and Republican presidential candidates have differing visions for federal student loan programs, which could have a significant impact on your repayment strategy.

In the ABA's Student Loan Best Practices in the Face of Political Change webinar, you'll learn:

  • What you should consider when choosing between federal loan programs and private student loan refinancing
  • How borrowers can save $20,200+ over the life of their loans on average by refinancing
  • How the current proposed changes to Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and income based repayment programs may affect your student loan repayment strategy

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

Log in to Symplicity for the link and password to access CareerShift (search “CareerShift” in the Document Library).

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.

CBA YLS Webinar - Illinois Bar Exam Bootcamp

All law students are welcome to register for the webinar of Illinois Bar Exam Bootcamp, sponsored by The Chicago Bar Association Young Lawyers Section’s Law Student and Professional Responsibility Committees.

The webinar includes a comprehensive overview of everything you need to know about applying to and studying for the Illinois Bar and the character and fitness process, and features:

  • Bar exam study tips
  • Overview of professional responsibility and 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
  • Access to “Study Tips for Bar Takers” Guid
Featured Speakers:
  • Shelley Bethune, Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC)
  • Chelsy Castro, Lawyers Assistance Program (LAP)
  • Bradley Pollock, Walsh, Knippen, Pollock & Cetina, Chtd.; Chair of Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness for 2nd District
  • Phillip Skaggs, The American Association of Insurance Services (AAIS); Co-Chair of YLS Professional Responsibility Committee
  • Danae Weidemann, Barbri, Inc
Click here to register. Complimentary for CBA Law Student Members! Not a Law Student Member of The Chicago Bar Association yet? Join now for only $12 at www.chicagobar.org/jointhecba.

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 about the various resources available through the Career Services Office!

CALENDARS

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