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Week of July 7, 2008

Job Opportunity!

The Law Offices Low Income Tax Clinic is seeking to hire a work study student for approximately 20 hours per week in the fall and spring semesters. Duties will include database management, file maintenance, client communications and a variety of administrative and operations-oriented tasks. Spanish-speaker is a plus. Interest in public service a must. Student must be work study eligible. To find out of you are work study eligible, please email Tracy Kish at tkish@kentlaw.edu.

Contact Professor Jon Decatorsmith at 906-5041.

 

LEGAL EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM

What is the Legal Externship Program?

LEP is a 4-credit hour non-graded program which enables you to extern with a supervising attorney in a wide variety of legal areas – private or public, civil or criminal. Externships are available for the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters. Most public sector externships enable you to obtain a 711 license and appear in court.

Students interested in civil law may extern in a wide variety of places. For example, some have externed at the City of Chicago Corporation Counsel’s Office, Office of the Illinois Attorney General, Illinois Commerce Commission, Immigration Court of the U.S. Department of Justice, Internal Revenue Service, and Environmental Protection Agency, as well as major corporations like Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company and Rush University Medical Center.

Students interested in criminal law have externed at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Office of the Federal Defender, and at the offices of the State’s Attorney and Public Defender in Cook County as well as the surrounding counties.

Why Extern?

To become a good lawyer and to supplement what you learn in the classroom, you need practical experience in real-world legal work. Most students aren’t fortunate enough to receive a paid clerking position — or even a volunteer opportunity — that teaches what they want to learn. LEP presents a unique and important opportunity to gain exposure to an area of the law in which you are interested and helps you significantly broaden your future employment opportunities.

Applications for Fall 2008 Legal Externships are currently available in the Law Offices reception area (Room 600), in the Career Services Office, and outside of the Cafeteria.

If you would like more information about externships, please e-mail Professor Vivien Gross (vgross@kentlaw.edu) to set up an appointment. There are lots of different types of opportunities in which you might be interested.

 
Fall 2008 Semester: Litigation Technology Externship

Adjunct Professor Mike Rogers, in his capacity as President of Ronin Consulting, Ltd. is interested in interviewing qualified Kent students for a Fall 2008 externship. Students will learn how to organize and present civil and criminal cases with computers and will work on real cases that are set for trial or on their way to a trial. In appropriate circumstances students will participate in mock trials against real trial lawyers, participate in jury focus groups, create story boards for trial presentations, create demonstrative trial presentations and set up and run trial technology during trials.

The externs will work on cases that range from medical malpractice or complex commercial litigation to first degree murder, and will work extensively with video capture software, Photoshop, Adobe Acrobat Professional, CaseMap, TimeMap, SmartDraw, PowerPoint and Sanction.

Students must have completed Evidence, Trial Ad 1 and Litigation technology. If accepted, the extern would enroll in the 4-credit hours Legal Externship Program.

Applications for this externship must be submitted directly to Professor Vivien Gross, Room 617, as soon as possible.

 

Fall 2008 Semester: U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Division of Enforcement

The Chicago office of the Division of Enforcement is seeking externs who will receive law school credit.

The Division of Enforcement investigates and prosecutes alleged violations of the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC regulations. Violations may involve commodity futures or option trading on domestic commodity exchanges, or the improper marketing of commodity investments. The Division may, at the direction of the Commission, file complaints before the agency’s administrative law judges or in the U.S. District Courts. Alleged criminal violations of the Commodity Exchange Act or violations of other Federal laws which involve commodity futures trading may be referred to the Justice Department for prosecution. The Division also provides expert help and technical assistance with case development and trials to U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, other Federal and state regulators, and international authorities.

Primary duties include conducting legal research, writing memoranda, aiding in the preparation of court pleadings and papers in the U.S. District Courts across the nation as well as in an administrative forum; aiding attorneys and investigators who are preparing to take investigative testimony and depositions, working with exhibits, Freedom of Information Act responses; aiding with the discovery process and interacting with and/or interviewing customers or investors with complaints.

To apply, e-mail a cover letter, resume and writing sample to:

Ms. Ava Gould
Trial Team Leader
Commodities Futures Trading Commission
525 W. Monroe Street, Suite 1100
Chicago, IL 60661
agould@cftc.gov

To receive externship credit, please contact Professor Gross at vgross@kentlaw.edu.

 
Fall 2008 Semester: Resurrection Health Care

Resurrection Health Care is seeking motivated volunteer Legal Externs to work at least two days a week in a busy and dynamic legal and regulatory environment during the Summer and Fall 2008 terms. Resurrection Health Care (RHC) is the parent corporation for a comprehensive health care system that provides services throughout the Chicagoland area through 8 hospitals, a long-term acute care hospital, 7 skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers, 4 retirement communities, and numerous community clinics and other health care facilities and providers.

Resurrection Health Care’s externship opportunity is in the Office of Legal Affairs and open to J.D. students who will:

• Work closely with the system General Counsel and other attorneys in the Office of Legal Affairs;
• Engage in a broad range of legal activities, including research and legal analysis, writing, preparation of legal documents and contract review;
• Gain exposure to numerous types of legal matters, including regulatory, contracts, medical staff, estate and gifts, corporate transactional, non-profit, employment and labor, governmental relations, real estate, corporate compliance, HIPAA and litigation that arises in a health care setting;
• Have the opportunity to attend and observe significant meetings, depositions, mediations, court hearings, and other events as may be available during the term. Parking and lunch are free for volunteer externs.

To apply for an externship:

Please submit your resume and a cover letter that specifies (a) the semester for which you are applying, and (b) which days of the week you would work at RHC, if known. Students will be asked to come to RHC for an interview and to submit a writing sample. Please send your materials to Julie Roknich, Assistant General Counsel, via email at julie.roknich@reshealthcare.org, or at 7435 W. Talcott Ave., #345, Chicago, Il 60631.

Location and Transportation:

The Office of Legal Affairs is located at:

Resurrection Health Care
7435 W. Talcott Avenue, #345, Chicago, IL 60631
(Near Harlem Avenue and the Kennedy Expressway)

If you are accepted, to receive credit and enroll in Legal Externship, please contact Prof. Gross (vgross@kentlaw.edu).

 
Fall 2008 Semester: Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board

Externs will perform with supervision all aspects of a Board Agent’s job, except for conducting an unfair labor practice hearing, including the processing of representation petitions, the investigation of unfair labor practice charges, and preparing and presenting memorandum to the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board.

If you are interested, please e-mail a cover letter and resume to:

Ms. Helen Higgins
Helen.Higgins@Illinois.gov

Please notify Prof. Gross (vgross@kentlaw.edu) if and when you are selected as an extern.

 
Fall 2008 Semester: Cook County State’s Attorneys Office, Worker’s Compensation Division

Exciting opportunity with the Worker’s Compensation Litigation Unit of the Cook County State’s Attorneys Office, Civil Division. The extern will assist in those matters and cases leading to and currently in litigation. Students who are eligible for a 711 license will also have the opportunity for in-court experience. You will learn a lot.

If you are interested, please contact:

Mr. Curtis A. James
Assistant State’s Attorney
312/603-5691

To receive externship credit, please contact Prof. Gross (vgross@kentlaw.edu).

 
Fall 2008 Semester: Illinois Attorney General’s Office

The Illinois Attorney General’s Office provides excellent opportunities for law students to improve their skills and knowledge in a wide range of subject areas, including consumer protection, government representation, civil rights, environmental enforcement, antitrust, complex civil litigation, civil and criminal appeals, and criminal law enforcement.

Working closely with attorneys in the Chicago office, externs investigate facts, review documents, research legal issues, and draft legal memoranda, correspondence, and pleadings. Students who qualify for a 711 licensed may appear in court under the supervision of an Assistant Attorney General.

For further information, and to download an application form, please visit the Illinois Attorney General’s website at: www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/about/index.html. Inquiries may also be directed to Adelaida Otero at 312/814-5197, aotero@atg.state.il.us.

If you are interested in externing at the Illinois Attorney General’s Office during the Fall 2008 semester, you must submit your application as soon as possible. In addition, to receive law school credit for Kent’s Fall Externship Program, please contact Prof. Gross (vgross@kentlaw.edu) to set up a meeting.

 
Fall 2008 Semester: City of Chicago Department of Consumer Services

The Department of Consumer Services regulates consumer-oriented businesses – such as limousines, tour boats, valet parking, taxis, and the Maxwell Street Market; inspects retail establishments; investigates consumer fraud complaints; and enforces the Chicago municipal code. All violations are prosecuted by department attorneys. Externs could be involved in helping with trials. They would also be exposed to consumer law and government work environment. Because the Department prosecutes at the administrative level, a student need not have a 711 license to assist attorneys at trial.

Interested students should submit a cover letter, resume and transcript to:

Ms. Rosemary Krimbel
General Counsel
Deputy Commissioner
Department of Consumer Services
Suite #208
50 W. Washington St.
Chicago, IL 60602
rkrimbel@cityofchicago.org

In addition, to receive law school credit for Kent’s Fall Legal Externship Program, please contact Prof. Gross (vgross@kentlaw.edu) to set up a meeting.

 
Fall 2008 Externship: Internal Revenue Service, Office of Chief Counsel
3Ls preferred

Applicants with prior expertise or experience in tax matters are preferred, but the IRS will consider all applicants.

Applications should include: brief cover letter, resume, law school transcript and writing sample.

Contact: Ms. Patricia Davis
Area Counsel
Internal Revenue Service
Suite 2300
200 W. Adams St.
Chicago, IL 60606

Please contact Professor Gross (vgross@kentlaw.edu) if you are accepted or for more information about this externship opportunity.

 

Fall 2008 Externship- Immigration Court

An extern will assist a panel of seven immigration judges by writing legal memoranda, conducting in-depth legal research and analysis, and drafting judicial decisions. This position offers extensive exposure to asylum and deportation law and an excellent opportunity to improve research, writing and analytical skills.

Location:

Immigration Court – EOIR
55 East Monroe Street, Suite 1900
Chicago, IL 60603

Qualifications: – 2L, 3L

  • Coursework and/or volunteer and clinical experience in immigration law preferred
  • United States citizenship required

Application: Please submit a cover letter, resume, copy of recent transcript (unofficial is accepted), two employer references, and writing sample (5-10 pages) via email or mail (Attention: Carolyn Norton, Judicial Law Clerk) to the address listed above.

Interviews will be conducted in person.

Inquiries should be directed to Carolyn Norton at (312) 353-7313, ext. 232 or carolyn.norton@usdoj.gov.

To receive credit, please contact Professor Gross (vgross@kentlaw.edu).

 

Awards

Richard Kling and Susana Ortiz received two awards re the Herb Whitlock case:

  • The Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers for “Excellence in Public Service;”
  • The University of Illinois’ Downstate Illinois Innocence Project for “Defender of the Innocent.”

Richard Gonzalez received the "Award for Excellence in Pro Bono and Public Interest Service" on May 13.

Richard Kling will be receiving The Northwest Suburban Bar Association “Award for Distinguished Public Service.” On June 5th.


 

Law Offices Attorneys Help Free Innocent Man

On January 8th, 2008, Professor Richard Kling and his Law Offices Colleague, Susana Ortiz, saw victory in the case of their client, Herb Whitlock. Mr. Whitlock, of downstate Paris, Illinois, was wrongfully incarcerated on murder charges for over 20 years and thanks to the efforts of Professor Kling and Ms. Ortiz and teams of Law Offices clinic students who have been working on the case for the past 7 years, Mr. Whitlock saw freedom when the State dismissed the charges against him as a result of a new trial obtained for him by Kling and Ortiz. In the Appellate Court opinion which granted Mr. Whitlock a new trial, the Court cited the fact that favorable evidence was hidden from the defense and that Mr. Whitlock’s trial counsel was ineffective for failing to investigate key forensic evidence that would have shed serious doubt on the credibility of the State’s witnesses. After his release, Mr. Whitlock was reunited with his daughter, Brittany, who was 12 at the time of his original trial and he met his seven-year old grandson for the first time. Read the article from the Chicago Tribune. CBS television show 48 Hours Mystery ran a show about this case on March 1, 2008. For more information about this show, please visit the CBS 48 Hours Mystery webpage.

 

Law Offices Professor Admitted into U.S. Supreme Court

On January 7, 2008, Professor Daniel Coyne was admitted on motion in open court before all nine justices of the supreme court in a group admission ceremony. The admission was sponsored by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. There were ten admittees from various jurisdictions across the country. Immediately following the admission, the death penalty case of Baze v. Rees was argued. Baze challenges the propriety of the use of lethal injection to execute condemned inmates.

 

For a complete description of all clinical programs, please visit the Law Offices' Home Page at http://www.kentlaw.edu/academics/clinic

 

 

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