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.
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.
LEGAL EXTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Spring 2010 – For Credit Externship: Office
of Special Deputy State's Attorney
On April 7, 2009, the Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division
for the Circuit Court of Cook County appointed the Honorable
Stuart A. Nudelman (Ret.) to represent the State of Illinois
as its Special State's Attorney in defending claims made
by five post-conviction petitioners on collateral review.
Petitioners have pleaded constitutional deprivations that
include allegations of police brutality and systemic torture
occurring at or around Area 2 Headquarters in the City of
Chicago from the time period of 1973 through 1991. The number
of cases assigned to the Office has since grown.
Post-conviction proceedings are attacks filed by criminal
defendants in an attempt to overturn their conviction and/or
sentence. They are quasi-civil proceedings which are related
to, but separate from the criminal case. A post-conviction
petition is addressed to issues collateral to those before
the trial court and the appellate court on direct appeal.
Review is limited to challenges of constitutional deprivations
such as ineffective assistance of counsel, claims of actual
innocence (supported by new evidence), and prosecutorial
misconduct.
- Externs will be assigned to one or more of the following
kinds of case projects:
- Outlining petitioner's claims;
- Reviewing trial and appellate transcripts;
- Doing legal research for appellate opinions on direct
review and post-conviction appellate opinions;
- Preparing and drafting discovery and subpoenas to be
issued for discovery;
- Drafting memoranda regarding factual particulars of
witness affidavits;
- Researching pertinent cases under Post-Conviction Hearing
Act on claims filed by petitioner;
- Updating omnibus order on post-conviction case law;
- Abstracting deposition testimony; and
- Accompanying Assistant Special Prosecutor(s) to court
for court appearances.
Qualifications:
1. A minimum 3.2 GPA.
2. Completed course work in Evidence and at least 1 semester
of Trial Ad.
3. As this is a 4-credit hour program, it requires 16 hours
of fieldwork for the State's Attorneys Office and participation
in Chicago-Kent's Legal Externship Program.
Please submit your resume and transcript no later than
November 9, 2009 to:
Mr. Myles O'Rourke
Suite 1400
55 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60601
Screening and selection of externs will be completed prior
to the start of the Spring semester to ensure timely registration.
Please notify Prof. Gross (vgross@kentlaw.edu)
if and when you are selected as an extern.
CORPORATE LAW EXTERNSHIP
Spring 2010: Accenture/DLA Piper Commercial Law Externship
(4 credit hours)
2Ls and 3Ls
G.P.A. 3.2
This corporate externship will expose a student to the
daily operations of the Legal Department at Accenture, a
commercial management consulting, technology services and
outsourcing company for half of the semester (7 weeks);
and to the corporate/commercial law practice area at DLA
Piper, a leading global law firm, for the remaining 7 weeks.
At Accenture, the extern will be assigned to a client services
group (e.g., Products, Resources, Communications & High
Tech, Financial Services) and 1-2 areas of specialty (e.g.,
Employment, Intellectual Property, Litigation, Compliance,
etc.), thereby gaining experience in legal research, drafting
and internal client management. At DLA Piper, the extern
will be assigned to one or two of the following five departments
and will participate in research, drafting or project management
assignments: Intellectual Property, Mergers & Acquisitions;
Litigation, Insurance and Reinsurance, and Real Estate.
All interested applicants should submit their resume and
transcript to Professor Gross by no later than Wednesday,
November 4, 2009. Professor Gross will then forward the
materials to Accenture and DLA Piper, who will make their
selection as quickly as possible to comply with law school
pre-registration timelines.
If you have any questions, contact Professor Gross at vgross@kentlaw.edu.
Spring 2010: Externships with Chicago Transit
Authority Legal Department
CTA Legal Department is a general in-house legal department
doing employment law, labor law, corporate law, policy and
appeals, workman's compensation and tort defense. Those
students who are eligible for 711 licenses may appear in
criminal and traffic court as well as arbitration proceedings.
If you are interested in applying, please submit the following:
- A current resume;
- Two writing samples, each of which is no more than
ten pages; and
- An official law school transcript.
Please submit these materials by email to Nancy Isaac at
nisaac@transitchicago.com
or by mail to:
Nancy Isaac
Chief Administrator
Office of the General Counsel
Chicago Transit Authority
567 West Lake Street
Chicago, IL 60661
All applications must be completed and submitted as soon
as possible, but by no later than Tuesday, November 10,
2009.
Please notify Prof. Gross (vgross@kentlaw.edu)
immediately if you are selected as an extern.
Spring 2010: Disability Law For Credit Legal Externship
Opportunity
Equip for Equality (EFE) is a private nonprofit, statewide
organization whose mission is to advance the human and civil
rights of people with disabilities. EFE provides legal representation
in individual cases, and engages in impact litigation and
public policy advocacy seeking systemic change. Externs
can work in one of three programs: (1) Special Education
Clinic – assisting families with obtaining the education
and support that their children with disabilities need;
(2) Abuse Investigation Unit – investigating abuse and neglect
of people with disabilities and providing individual assistance
and advocating for systemic change; and (3) Community Living
Team – representing people with disabilities on a wide range
of issues, including discrimination, community integration
and self-determination.
Interested students should submit a resume and cover letter
to Barry Taylor via e-mail at barryt@equipforequality.org.
The cover letter should indicate your preference, if any,
for one of EFE's three legal programs.
Please notify Prof. Gross (vgross@kentlaw.edu)
immediately if you have been selected.
Spring 2010 Semester: Externships with
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: http://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 Spring 2010 semester, you must
submit your application by Monday, November 2, 2009.
To receive law school credit for Kent's Spring Externship
Program, please contact Prof. Gross (vgross@kentlaw.edu)
to set up a meeting.
Spring 2010 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, interested students should e-mail a cover letter,
resume and writing sample by Friday, November 6, 2009
to:
Ms. Ava Gould
Trial Team Leader
Commodities Futures Trading Commission
525 W. Monroe Street, Suite 1100
Chicago, IL 60661
agould@cftc.gov
Please notify Prof. Gross (vgross@kentlaw.edu)
if and when you are selected as an extern.
SPRING 2010 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.
SPRING 2010: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (IP) LEGAL EXTERNSHIP
FOR IP CERTIFICATE PARTICIPANTS
2L and 3L applicants must have a minimum G.P.A. of 3.35
A well-known Chicago-based national firm will select a
qualified Kent IP Certificate student for a Spring externship
in their IP division.
To apply:
Submit your resume and transcript to Prof. Gross by Thursday,
November 5, at noon. Professor Gross will then forward
the information to the participating firm to make its selection.
For more information about intellectual property externship
opportunities generally, please contact Professor Vivien
Gross (vgross@kentlaw.edu).
SPRING 2010: FOR CREDIT LEGAL EXTERNSHIPS WITH U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF JUSTICE IMMIGRATION COURT
The extern will assist a panel of six immigration judges
by writing legal memoranda, conducting in-depth legal research
and analysis, and drafting judicial decision. This position
offers extensive exposure to asylum and removal law and
an excellent opportunity to improve research, writing and
analytical skills. United States citizenship is required.
Location: Immigration Court – EOIR
55 East Monroe Street, Suite 1900
Chicago, IL 60603
If you are interested, please submit a cover letter, resume,
copy of recent transcript (unofficial is accepted), and
unedited writing sample (5-10 pages) via email to greta.hendricks@usdoj.gov
no later than Monday, October 19, 2009. Interviews
will be conducted in person.
Inquiries should be directed to Greta Hendricks at (312)
353-7313, ext. 232, or at the email address listed above.
Please notify Prof. Gross (vgross@kentlaw.edu)
if you are selected as an extern.
Spring 2010: For Credit Externship with New Trier Partners,
LLC
New Trier Partners, LLC ("New Trier") is a privately
owned Chicago-based real estate private equity firm. New
Trier seeks to achieve above market, absolute risk-adjusted
returns by acquiring and actively managing commercial real
estate assets in select U.S. markets. New Trier currently
has over $100 million of commercial real estate assets and
development projects under ownership and management.
Externship responsibilities will include:
• Drafting transactional and business documents (drafting
experience strongly recommended);
• Assisting with due diligence;
• Legal research;
• Corporate entity compliance; and
• Monitoring arbitration and litigation cases.
Qualifications: 2L or 3L. Some training or experience at
a law firm is strongly preferred. Understanding of basic
business and real estate concepts is helpful.
If you are interested, please submit a copy of your resume
and transcript by no later than Friday, October 30th
to:
Mr. Robert G. Goldstein, Esq
New Trier Partners, LLC
6815 N. Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, Il 60712
or via e-mail to:
vlamarca@newtrierpartners.com
If you have any further questions, please contact Prof.
Gross (vgross@kentlaw.edu).
SPRING 2010: EXTERNSHIPS WITH U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS
The United States Department of Education, Office for Civil
Rights (OCR), enforces several Federal civil rights laws
that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color,
national origin, sex disability and age. OCR also enforces
the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act of 2001 that
prohibits the denial of equal access or a fair opportunity
to meet with, or discriminate against, any group officially
affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America. Successful extern
candidates will work with OCR attorneys and investigators
on one or more teams in the Chicago Office to resolve discrimination
complaints.
The extern will observe and participate in complainant
and witness interviews, participate in the drafting of all
documents pertinent to an OCR investigation, including letters
of notification, data requests and letters of finding. The
extern may have the opportunity to participate in local
on-site investigations and will assist with data analysis,
engage in substantial legal research and be expected to
adhere to the tight time frames of the Department. The team
attorney(s) with whom the extern will work will supervise
the extern's work. The extern coordinator, the deputy chief
attorney and chief attorney will also be available to assist
the extern.
If you are interested, please submit a letter of interest
along with a copy of your resume and writing sample, postmarked
no later than Friday, October 30, 2009 to:
Ms. Leticia Magdaleno
U.S. Department of Education
Office for Civil Rights
Citigroup Center
Suite 1475
500 W. Madison St.
Chicago, IL 60661
Applications may also be submitted by email to Leticia.Magdaleno@ed.gov.
Please notify Prof. Gross (vgross@kentlaw.edu)
if you are selected as an extern.
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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