Chicago-Kent home page Student portal Faculty portal Staff portal About The Record Current Record headlines Publication deadlines The Record archives

Career Services Office

Career Services Office home page
Week of June 19 & June 26, 2017

Information & Announcements

  • Make an Appointment!
  • 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
  • CSO Open All Summer Long
  • Listserv Registration and Testing
  • Community Based Federal Work Study Available for Summer 2017 - Applications accepted on a rolling basis
  • Mentor a Legal Prep High School Student in 2017-18

Fall Recruiting

  • Mark Your Calendar - Fall Recruiting Important Dates

Programming

  • June 19: Skadden Chicago's Diverse Student Rising 2L Reception
  • June 22: PracticePro Chicago Career Conference & Diversity Reception
  • July 15: CCBA Minority Job Fair Preparation Workshop
  • Various: Public Interest Law Initiative Weekly Lunchtime Programming - From June 20 through August 8

Employment Opportunities

  • Air Force JAG Corps 2017 Fall Externship - Applications due June 23
  • U.S. Attorney's Office (Chicago) Spring 2018 Law Student Intern Program - Applications due September 5

Fellowships & Scholarships

  • Reed Smith Diverse Scholars Program - Applications due July 24
  • Roscoe Trimmier Jr. Diversity Scholarship - Applications due August 31
  • Bryan Cave Diversity Scholarship for (Rising) 2Ls - Applications due August 31

Job Fairs  

  • July 18: National Black Prosecutors Association Annual Job Fair - Registration deadline is July 1
  • July 29: 13th Annual Bay Area Diversity Career Fair (San Francisco, CA) - Registration deadline is June 18
  • August 2-4: National LGTB Bar Association Annual Conference & Career Fair - Registration deadline is July 19
  • August 3-4: 2017 Patent Law Interview Program
  • August 4-5: 13th Annual Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair - Registration deadline is June 23
  • August 11: Cook County Bar Association Minority Job Fair - Bidding deadline is June 8
  • August 14-15: 2017 IndyBar Diversity Job Fair - Registration deadline is July 1
  • September 8: 2017 HNBA Career Fair - Registration available on August 1

Diversity

  • PracticePro Chicago Career Conference & Diversity Reception - June 22
  • National Black Prosecutors Association Annual Job Fair - July 18: Registration deadline is July 1
  • Reed Smith Diverse Scholars Program - Applications due July 24
  • 13th Annual Bay Area Diversity Career Fair (San Francisco, CA) - July 29: Registration deadline is June 18
  • National LGTB Bar Association Annual Conference & Career Fair - August 2-4: Registration deadline is July 19
  • 13th Annual Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair - August 4-5: Registration deadline is June 23
  • Cook County Bar Association Minority Job Fair - August 11: Bidding deadline is June 8
  • IndyBar Diversity Job Fair - August 14-15: 2017: Registration deadline is July 1
  • Roscoe Trimmier Jr. Diversity Scholarship - Applications due August 31
  • Bryan Cave Diversity Scholarship for (Rising) 2Ls - Applications due August 31
  • 2017 HNBA Career Fair - September 8: Registration available on August 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
  • Chicago Bar Association Career Center

Information & Announcements

Make an Appointment!

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

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

Mandatory 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.

CSO Open All Summer Long

The Career Services Office remains open with its regular hours throughout the summer, and continues to provide students and graduates with counseling, resume review, and other services.  Please do not hesitate to set up an appointment, call or email!
You can set up an appointment through Symplicity. Once you are logged in, you can click the "Request a Counseling Appointment" link on the right side of the page to view your counselor's availability and make an appointment.

Listserv Registration and Testing

The Career Services Office used the student registration forms from the Spring 2017 “What’s Next for Fall” programs to create listservs for the classes of 2018 and 2019. The Career Services Office will use these listservs to send important relevant email updates to students during the summer and 2017-2018 school year.
The listservs are:
  • Fall Recruiting
  • Federal Government Hiring
  • State and Local Government Opportunities
  • Small and Midsized Firms
  • Public Interest
  • Fellowships
  • Judicial Clerkships
  • Military
  • Alternative Careers

The Career Services Office tested these listservs the week of May 8th. If you signed up for a listserv but did not receive a test email for that listserv by the end of that week, please contact kentcso@kentlaw.iit.edu to let us know that you were erroneously omitted from that listserv.

If you received an email from a listserv in which you no longer want to be included, please email kentcso@kentlaw.iit.edu noting from which listserv(s) you wish to be removed.

The Career Services Office remains open with its regular hours throughout the summer, and continues to provide students and graduates with counseling, resume review, and other services.  Please do not hesitate to set up an appointment, call or email!
You can set up an appointment through Symplicity. Once you are logged in, you can click the "Request a Counseling Appointment" link on the right side of the page to view your counselor's availability and make an appointment.

Community Based Federal Work Study Available for Summer 2017 - Applications accepted on a rolling basis

Chicago-Kent will have Community-Based Federal Work Study available during Summer 2017. Chicago-Kent students who are Federal Work Study eligible may be paid though Federal Work Study funds to work at government and public interest organizations outside of the law school. Please visit the Chicago-Kent Community-Based Federal Work Study webpage for a more detailed explanation of this opportunity, as well as the form you need to complete in order to participate. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis for any summer start; processing time may take a week or more; allow plenty of time for approval of your application, and the time it takes to be added to the Chicago-Kent payroll. Please e-mail Michelle Vodenik (mvodenik@kentlaw.iit.edu) with any questions.

Mentor a Legal Prep High School Student in 2017-18

Legal Prep Charter Academy is currently seeking mentors for its 2017-18 mentoring program. Mentors work with an individual student on a monthly basis. Legal Prep plans the programming centered around college and career readiness and transports students to the meeting location. Mentors are also welcome and encouraged to meet with students outside of the monthly meetings. The program is a great opportunity to influence the life of a high school student at Legal Prep and to serve as a role model for youth on the west side of Chicago.  Our students highly respect and value their relationships with their mentors. The program meets the first Thursday of the month from 4pm-6pm, typically at the Chicago Bar Association.  Click here to apply now! Contact Lena Walsh at lwalsh@legalprep.org with questions.

Fall Recruiting

Mark Your Calendar - Fall Recruiting Important Dates

  • Monday, June 5, 2017Resume Reviews begin. All first-time program participants must have a mandatory resume review by a Career Advisor.  Students who participated in the program last year are not required to have a resume review but are encouraged to do so. OCI resume reviews end at 12:00pm, Friday, June 30th. All resumes must be reviewed and uploaded by 12:00pm on June 30th.  We advise sending your resume via email or making an appointment in June or early July, as appointments tend to fill up fast later in the summer.
  • Monday, June 5, 2017Information on employers participating in Fall Recruiting will be available on Symplicity. To see lists of On-Campus Interview (OCI), Resume Collect and Direct Contact employers, select the “Resources” tab, then “Document Library” and search for “2017 Fall Recruiting.” These lists will contain information regarding application documents to be submitted, hiring eligibility requirements (e.g. class rank) and on-campus interview dates.
  • Tuesday, June 6, 2017 at 12:00pm and 5:30pm, Room CK590: Mandatory Fall Recruiting Program (required for all first-time participants) This mandatory Fall Recruiting Program will provide information regarding registration requirements and participating employers. If you plan to participate in Fall Recruiting, you must attend one of these sessions. 
  • Friday, June 30, 2017 at 12:00pm: Resume Reviews end. All first-time program participants must be have a mandatory resume review by a Career AdvisorAll resumes must be submitted to their career advisor by Tuesday, June 27, 2017 at noon and must be uploaded to Symplicity by 12:00pm on June 30th.
  • Wednesday, July 5, 2017 at 12:00pm: Bidding system will be open for student bid entry. Students may begin bidding on interviews with employers in Symplicity for OCI and Resume Collect employers.
  • Wednesday, July 12, 2017 at 12:00pm: Deadline for Fall Recruiting Program computer bidding, uploading of required application materials to Symplicity, and turning in all hard copy materials to the CSO. The CSO will close on this date (July 12) at 12:00pm.
  • Thursday, July 13, 2017: The CSO will be closed for processing OCI resumes and interview schedules.
  • July 31-August 4, 2017: Mock Interviews will be available. Sign-ups will be managed online; more information will be available at the June 6th program. 
  • Friday, August 4, 2017: Student interview schedules will be available for viewing online.
  • Monday, August 7, 2017: On-Campus Interviews begin.

Programming        

Skadden Chicago's Diverse Student Rising 2L Reception

Date:  Monday, June 19, 2017
Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Chicago, IL (Venue TBD)

Please save the date for Skadden Chicago's Diverse Student Rising 2L Reception!  If you are working in the Chicago area this summer, come meet some of Skadden's diverse attorneys after work for happy hour! Formal invitation to follow.

RSVP by sending your resume to norman.chen@skadden.com.

PracticePro Chicago Career Conference & Diversity Reception

Date: Thursday, June 22, 2017
Time: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm (reception to follow)
Location: Jenner & Block (353 N Clark Street, Chicago, IL)

PracticePro has partnered with the Chicago Committee to bring its popular Career Conference to Chicago!  

This Conference is for all law students - 1Ls, 2Ls, 3Ls, and LLMs. Join PracticePro to learn the skills necessary to excel in your summer clerkships and get your career started on the right foot. For topics, speakers, and registration information, visit the website at http://www.practicepro.cc/2017-career-conferences.

CCBA Minority Job Fair Preparation Workshop

Date:  Saturday, July 15, 2017
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Location: Chicago-Kent College of Law

Mock Interviews Will Be Conducted & Panel-Discussion Topics Will Include:

  • Interviewing Preparedness
  • Overview of Job Fair
  • Research & Due Diligence
  • Anticipating Questions & Preparing Answers
  • Dress For Success
  • After the Interview
  • Thinking Like a Lawyer - Intangibles 

Public Interest Law Initiative Weekly Lunchtime Programming -
From June 20, 2017 through August 8, 2017

The Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) offers a wide array of weekly lunchtime programming on public interest topics in Chicago throughout the summer for PILI interns and fellows; and they welcome law students and recent law school graduates who are working at public interest law or government organizations to most of the programs as well. 

Please click here to sign up and receive notices regarding weekly programs. From this page, you can view the dates and topics for those programs and register. Please be aware that PILI requires students to register 24 hours in advance for each session, as lunch is typically provided to attendees.

To register for individual sessions, see full list hereand click on "Read More" to see the registration information.

Employment Opportunities

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

Air Force JAG Corps 2017 Fall Externship -
Applications due June 23, 2017

The Air Force Judge Advocate General‘s Corps is currently seeking applications for our 2017 Fall unpaid externship program at participating Air Force installations across the country. 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. Our program is an excellent way to gain exposure to substantive legal work while serving alongside active duty Air Force Judge Advocates. Positions are available for full-time or part-time work for 14-16 weeks during the 2017 fall semester. Applications are due June 23, 2017. For application requirements and qualifications, please be sure to log into your student Simplicity account and click here.

U.S. Attorney's Office (Chicago) Spring 2018 Law Student Intern Program - Applications due September 5, 2017

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois offers intern positions to 12-18 law students during the Spring, Summer and Fall semesters. The students are required to work 16 hours a week for 12 weeks during the Spring and Fall semesters. All application packages must be received in the U.S. Attorney’s Office by Tuesday, September 5, 2017 for the Spring 2018 semester.

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

All intern positions are uncompensated. Interns may not work at another legal job while working as an intern in the United States Attorney’s Office. Some schools offer work study programs whereby the students may receive money from their schools or through grants they apply for through their school. Some schools offer class credit for participating in our intern program. Students should check with their individual schools for this information. The United States Attorney’s Office will work with the schools by providing information or evaluations that may be required by each school.

For application requirements and qualifications, please be sure you are logged into your student Simplicity account and click here.

Fellowships & Scholarships

Reed Smith Diverse Scholars Program -
Applications due July 24, 2017

Reed Smith LLP is pleased to present its Deborah J. Broyles Diverse Scholars Program for 2017.  Reed Smith has a strong commitment to diversity which has resulted in a firm in which diversity and inclusion permeate the culture.  Rewarding young future leaders for their efforts in the area of diversity and introducing them to the Reed Smith culture are two important goals of this program. 

The Deborah J. Broyles Diverse Scholars Program provides two $20,000 awards to be used to defray necessary expenditures related to her/his legal education for the second year of law school, as well as a paid summer associate position after completion of the second year of law school.  The program is open to first-year law students who have demonstrated excellent academic scholarship and a commitment to diversity and  inclusion.

Scholarship applicants must submit a resume, a completed application, a personal statement, law school transcript, undergraduate transcript and a legal writing sample to:  DiverseScholars@reedsmith.com

Summer associate positions in 2018 are available in:  Chicago; Los Angeles; San Francisco; New York City; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Houston, and Washington, D.C.  Applications must be submitted on or before  July 24, 2017.

The application is attached. Students may also visit the Diverse Scholars page located within the law students section at http://careers.reedsmith.com for more information about our program and to download an application. 

To learn more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion, please visit http://diversity.reedsmith.com/

Roscoe Trimmier Jr. Diversity Scholarship -
Applications due August 31, 2017

Ropes & Gray has long been a proponent of law firm inclusion and diversity, with a dedicated mission to attract and retain outstanding lawyers of varied backgrounds. To further promote inclusion and diversity within the legal profession, the firm created the Roscoe Trimmier Jr. Diversity Scholarship, named after our beloved retired partner. Mr. Trimmier was the firm’s first African American partner and a leader of our efforts.

This scholarship provides a $25,000 award to up to five outstanding second-year law students to offset the expenses of their legal education, and includes a paid summer associate position following completion of the second year of law school. The funds will be paid out half upon completion of the summer program, and half upon starting as a full-time associate at the firm.

The application process for the summer of 2018 will be open from May 15 through August 31, 2017. For eligibility requirements and to apply, visit https://www.ropesgray.com/diversityscholarship.

Bryan Cave Diversity Scholarship for (Rising) 2Ls - Applications due August 31, 2017

Bringing diversity and inclusiveness into every aspect of our work and culture is one of Bryan Cave’s core values. As part of its ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion, Bryan Cave is pleased to sponsor a diversity scholarship program awarded to up to four rising second-year law students. Each recipient will receive a $10,000 scholarship to help defray the cost of law school tuition and related expenses during the student’s final year of law school. Half of the scholarship will be paid after successful completion of Bryan Cave’s Summer Associate Program. The second half of the scholarship will be paid prior to the second semester of the recipient’s third year of law school, providing they have received and accepted an offer to join Bryan Cave as an associate following the completion of their legal education.

For qualification requirements and to access the application, please visit https://www.bryancave.com/en/careers/diversity-scholarship-program.html. Applicants should submit their materials to Chief Legal Recruiting & Development Officer Tom Grewe at tom.grewe@bryancave.com
between June 1 and August 31, 2017.

Job Fairs

National Black Prosecutors Association Annual Job Fair -Registration deadline is July 1, 2017

The 2017 National Black Prosecutors Association Annual Job Fair will take place on Tuesday, July 18th at the Westin Cleveland Downtown, Cleveland Ohio.  EARLY REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! The registration and fee schedule is as follows:

  • Early registration fee (March 1 - April 30): $25.00 for law students and 2017 law school graduates; $50.00 for experienced attorneys 
  • Regular registration fee (May 1 - June 24): $50.00 for law students and 2017 law school graduates; $75.00 for experienced attorneys. On
  • Late registration fee (June 25 - July 1): $100 for law students and the class of 2017, and $150.00 for experienced attorneys.

Registration closes on July 1st. All Job fair participants can mail in their payment, registration form and resume or go to the NBPA website at http://blackprosecutors.org/annual-conference and register online. 

If lodging is needed, the Hilton Ballpark has extended a special Job Fair room rate of $134.00 per night for a single or double occupancy rooms.  To make reservations, interviewees should call the Westin Cleveland Downtown at (314) 421-1776.  Please note that the Westin Cleveland Downtown will not accept reservations under the NBPA conference block of rooms at the discounted rate until you are a registered job fair participant, therefore; job fair participants must register for the Job Fair prior to making hotel reservations.  

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact the NBPA by phone at (212)-335-4300 or email at NBPAJobFair2017@dany.nyc.gov.  Additional information about the NBPA and the conference is also available at www.blackprosecutors.org.

13th Annual Bay Area Diversity Career Fair
(San Francisco, CA) - July 29, 2017

The Bay Area Diversity Career Fair attracts hiring representatives from the most prominent law firms, government legal departments, and nonprofit organizations. The career fair will be held at Hilton San Francisco Financial District (750 Kearny Street, San Francisco, CA (map)). Only law students who have completed their first year of law school by the time of the interviews are eligible to participate. Openings are for 2018 2L summer associate positions.

Registration begins on Monday, May 22, 2017. The registration site can be found here. The registration and bidding deadline is Sunday, June 18, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. PST.

A welcome reception for registered students and employers will be held on Friday, July 28 at 6:00 p.m. at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP (The Orrick Building, 405 Howard Street, San Francisco (map)).

For questions, please contact:
Elizabeth McGriff
Bay Area Diversity Career Fair Project Manager
registration@orrick.com

2017 Patent Law Interview Program -
August 3-4, 2017

Loyola University Chicago School of law is hosting this year’s nationwide Patent Law Interview Program. The program will be accepting registrations from JD students graduating in May/June of 2018 or 2019, December/January of 2018 or 2019, and students in Intellectual Property LLM programs with anticipated graduation dates in 2018 and 2019.

Last year roughly 150 employers, 190 law schools, and 1,200 law students from across the country participated in the program. The program is entirely pre-selected, which means that students submit resumes and transcripts to bid on interviews with the employers they are interested in, and employers then review the materials of the students who bid on them and select the students they wish to interview at the program. Last year, approximately half of the participating students were selected for interviews. For more information on the program, please refer to the Loyola Patent Program website at: http://www.luc.edu/law/career/patent_students.html.

Registration is now closed. Once registered, the program staff will communicate with you directly via email. Please direct any questions about the program to Jayne Schreiber, the Patent Program Liaison in Kent’s Career Services Office, via email to jschrei3@kentlaw.iit.edu.

August 2-4, 2017: National LGTB Bar Association Annual Conference & Career Fair - Registration deadline is July 19, 2017

The National LGBT Bar Association's Annual Conference & Career Fair, Lavender Law, will take place this year on August 2-4 in San Francisco, California. 

In the 2016 Conference & Career Fair, over 170 recruiters attended the Career Fair, including large firm, corporate, government, and nonprofit employers. Students such as Alicia Morales, for example, have successfully received job offers as a result of their attendance. 

Register here and to learn more!

13th Annual Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair - Registration deadline is June 23, 2017

Date: Saturday, August 4 through Sunday, August 5, 2017
Time: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Location: Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association (2300 Main St #100, Kansas City, MO 64108)

The 13th Annual Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair (HDLJF) will be held August 4-5, 2017, in Kansas City, Missouri.  Students who are interested in becoming part of Kansas City’s dynamic legal community should strongly consider attending this event.  Students who will be returning to school in August and those graduating in May are eligible to attend the job fair, as employers will be interviewing for both summer and post-graduate positions.

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

The HDLJF will be held at the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association headquarters.  It will kick off with an evening Welcome Reception on Friday, August 4th at the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association.  The Saturday schedule includes a continental breakfast, interviewing from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and a luncheon at which participants will be greeted and addressed by a special Keynote Speaker.

Please register online as soon as possible.  Students who register before May 26th will be entered into a drawing for exciting prizes.  The final deadline for registering is June 23, 2017.

Cook County Bar Association Minority Job Fair -
Bidding deadline is June 8, 2017

The Cook County Bar Association (“CCBA”) is pleased to invite you to participate in the 34th Annual CCBA Minority Law Student Job Fair (“Job Fair”). In an effort to keep the student-to-employer ratio as low as possible, CCBA is only inviting JD students in the classes of 2019 (current 1Ls/rising 2Ls) and 2018 (current 2Ls/rising 3Ls). Please note that students graduating in any month prior to December 2017 (current 3Ls) are not eligible. 

This year’s Job Fair will be held on Friday, August 11, 2017, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Please note that the Job Fair will return to the Embassy Suites Chicago – Downtown/Lakefront, located at 511 N. Columbus Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60611. 

The Job Fair typically attracts more than 500 students from eligible U.S. law schools. Each year law firms, corporations, and governmental agencies register for the Job Fair. These employers are located primarily in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Washington D.C. In addition, the Job Fair attracts several employers from Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.

The Job Fair primarily is designed to obtain summer associate positions for rising 2Ls (current 1Ls) during their second summer in law school. A limited number of employers also wish to interview rising 3Ls (current 2Ls) for entry-level associate positions. Rising 3Ls should be aware that Job Fair interview slots for rising 2Ls typically outnumber those for rising 3Ls by a 4:1 ratio.

Please note that the bidding window for students to bid on employers has been extended to June 8, 2017.

Please click here for more information and to register!

2017 IndyBar Diversity Job Fair -
Registration deadline is July 1, 2017

The 10th annual Indianapolis Bar Association Diversity Job Fair has a strong history of success. More than 650 students from 31 states and 82 law schools across the nation have interviewed over the last nine years. Annually, 20 percent of interviewing students have accepted job offers. This year, the job fair will be located at the Hilton Indianapolis, 120 W Market St, Indianapolis, IN 46204.

Over the course of 24 hours, there will be:

  • Numerous networking opportunities available for students through a reception, interviews and a luncheon
  • More than 25 firm, government, court and corporate legal employers conducting hundreds of interviews with students
  • A student workshop focusing on presenting oneself in interviews and social media

Employers participating in the job fair seek candidates who represent all aspects of diversity and who are looking for a one-of-a-kind legal community in a Midwestern city that has both cosmopolitan style and small-town charm. Fall 2017, full-time 2L law students (graduating May 2019) or part-time 2L and 3L law students (graduating 2019/2020) are encouraged to participate in the fair. For more information about the fair, visit http://www.ibadiversityjobfair.org/.

Registration for the IndyBar Diversity Job Fair opens Wednesday, March 1, 2017. To register, click here. Please note that first you will need to create a username and password to register and access the fair’s career services management system.

2017 HNBA Career Fair -
Registration deadline is August 1
, 2017

Date: Friday, September 8, 2017
Time: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location: Kansas City Marriott Downtown Hotel

The HNBA Career Fair is open to all students and to attorneys looking to make contacts and lateral moves. This signature HNBA program will provide you with an unparalleled opportunity to meet and interview with some of the nation’s most respected law firms, companies, organizations and government agencies. The HNBA Career Fair is also a unique and cost-effective way to enter the workforce or advance your career. This year, the Career Fair will take place on Friday, September 8, 2017 in Kansas City, Missouri.

If you would like to participate in the Career Fair, please register via the HNBA Registration Portal. Once you have paid for your registration, you will be contacted by Michelle Avelino, HNBA Programs & Administrative Coordinator, with instructions on how to set up your account with Symplicity.

The Career Fair participant registration deadline is August 1, 2017. For more information and to register, please visit https://hnba.com/2017-annual-convention/career-fair/. If you have questions, please contact Ms. Avelino at support@hnba.com.

Diversity

PracticePro Chicago Career Conference & Diversity Reception - June 22, 2017
(See above)

National Black Prosecutors Association Annual Job Fair - July 18, 2017: Registration deadline is July 1, 2017
(See above)

Reed Smith Diverse Scholars Program -
Applications due July 24, 2017
(See above)

13th Annual Bay Area Diversity Career Fair (San Francisco, CA) - July 29, 2017: Registration deadline is June 18, 2017
(See above)

National LGBT Bar Association Annual Conference & Career Fair -
August 2-4, 2017: Registration deadline is July 19, 2017
(See above)

13th Annual Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair -
August 4-5, 2017: Registration deadline is June 23, 2017
(See above)

Cook County Bar Association Minority Job Fair - August 11, 2017: Bidding deadline is June 8, 2017
(See above)

2017 IndyBar Diversity Job Fair - August 14-15, 2017: Registration deadline is July 1, 2017
(See above)


Roscoe Trimmier Jr. Diversity Scholarship -
Applications due August 31, 2017

(See above)

Bryan Cave Diversity Scholarship for 2Ls -
Applications due August 31, 2017

(See above)

2017 HNBA Career Fair -
September 8, 2017: Registration deadline is August 1, 2017

(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” Guide
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!

Chicago Bar Association Career Center

The Chicago Bar Career Center is the place to go to find legal industry professionals, jobs, and resources. Legal professionals can search for jobs, post resumes, and browse career resources to help them in all stages of their career. Employers looking for quality candidates can post jobs, search resumes, and connect with prospects. Have you visited a premier resource to connect career opportunities with highly qualified legal professionals - ? Whether you're searching for a new career or searching for a new hire, the CBA Career Center provides multiple avenues to help you achieve your goal.

The CBA Career Center will allow you to:

  • Search and apply to the best legal jobs at firms that value your credentials!
  • Upload your anonymous resume so employers can contact you, but you maintain control of your information and choose to whom you release your information.
  • Receive an alert every time a job becomes available that matches your personal profile, skills, interests, and preferred location(s).
  • Access career resources and job searching tips and tools.
CBA membership is not necessary to access the CBA Career Center. Log on today to search current openings!

CALENDARS

.: Main Chicago-Kent event
   calendar

.: Academic calendar

.: CLE calendar

.: Alumnae/i event calendar

.: Admissions calendar

Chicago-Kent home page Student portal Faculty portal Staff portal About The Record Current Record headlines Publication deadlines The Record archives