career paths - school of law planning/july 2010 newsletter... · career paths 3 just for public...
TRANSCRIPT
Career Paths 1
Summer Edition July 1, 2010
H I G H L I G H T S I N T H I S I S S U E
2 Federal Honors
Programs
5 Clerkships – read carefully
– 3L memo to follow
2 Job search skills 6 Outreach to Employers
3 Just for Public Interest 6 Networking with Alumni
4 Upcoming Events 7 Making Most of Your
Summer / OCP Resources
From The Director’s Desk:
OCP recently revised its attendance policy at our
Regional Interview Programs. If you are selected for
ONE interview, you must attend.
This policy comports with that of some of our peer
institutions and those in our regional interview
consortia. When an employer selects students to
interview and a few of those students decline to attend
the program, employer satisfaction with their
recruiting outcomes is jeopardized. The interview
programs are designed to ease the employer’s efforts,
not frustrate them. As a result, our policy is now ―one
and you go.‖ Failure to adhere to this policy may
result in consequences as outlined in OCP’s policy and
in the Professionalism Statement you signed. Please
calendar your interview dates and plan carefully!
In light of this policy, make use of your time at the
interview program. If you secure an interview at a
regional interview program make every effort to
arrange for other interviews with employers, or
informational interviews with employers, alumni or
personal contacts you may have in that area. To assist
your efforts to locate alumni in various regions, please
refer to the article on how to use Colonnade
Connections on page 6.
Career paths
DON’T APPLY TO A JOB WITHOUT HAVING
YOUR RESUME AND COVER LETTER REVIEWED
In this economy, every application must be
perfect. You can’t afford typos. Recruiters
will throw your resume in the trash if there
is a single mistake. Don’t waste an
application: ensure that your first
impression with the employer is strong and
positive.
It can be difficult to catch typos when you
have created the document, so have
someone else look at it! OCP can review
any resume and cover letter if you send it to
[email protected], [email protected] or
There is no excuse NOT to have your
materials reviewed and ensure that you are making a great first impression.
THE APPLICATION PERIOD IS NOW OPEN FOR
ALL REGIONAL INTERVIEW PROGRAMS.
See information below for application
information and deadlines:
New England Interview Program - Monday,
September 13, 2010
New Hampshire Interview Program - Tuesday,
August 31, 2010
Northeast Interview Program - Thursday,
August 12 - Friday, August 13, 2010
Southern California Interview Program -
Friday, August 27, 2010
Texas Interview Program - Friday, August 6,
2010
Career Paths 2
…
Federal Honors Programs
Many Federal Government agencies hire for full-time and paid summer positions through their Honors
Programs. Applications for these programs are usually due early in the Fall, but are considered on a
rolling basis. Apply early because decisions can be made before the application deadline! Below are
some of the federal organizations that have announced their Fall Deadlines. For other federal agency
deadlines make sure you check the Government Honor’s Handbook, which will be available with the
2011 deadlines at the end of July on our website.
Department of Homeland Security’s Office of General Counsel
2011 Honors Program (3Ls) — Summary can be found HERE; Information Sheet can be found
HERE
Summer Law Intern Program (2Ls) — Summary can be found HERE; Information sheet HERE
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation—the FDIC is a full service corporate practice providing not only
litigation but transactional, regulatory and administrative legal services to the Corporation. Honors
Attorneys, work in a number of areas, including (1) bank regulatory matters, (2) litigation and bank
receivership matters, and (3) corporate practice
The FDIC is accepting applications now through September 30, 2010 for the 2011 program .
Further information click HERE.
U.S. Department of Justice
2011 Honors Program (3Ls) — Apply online between July 26 and September 7, 2010. For more
information click HERE.
2011 Summer Internship Program (2Ls and 1Ls) — Apply online between July 26 and
September 7, 2010. For more information click HERE.
START NETWORKING NOW
If you would like to practice where you are
working this summer, use the opportunity to
attend alumni and bar association events in
your city. Click HERE for a list of bar
associations.
To use your summer to network wisely, set
achievable goals. For example, meet or call
one new contact each week.
As you establish new contacts, don’t neglect
your existing network. Relationships take time
to develop. Keep in touch with individuals you
have previously spoken with. Advise them of
where you are working, any new career plans,
seek their advice and, always, say thank you.
If a mentor has been particularly helpful, offer
to do something for them, perhaps a small
research project. Relationships are a two-way
street.
Don’t Rely Solely On OCI for Your Job Search
In this job market, you cannot rely solely on
regional interview programs and OCI for summer
and permanent positions. You must also take charge
of your job search by seeking out firms and other
positions to apply to. Below are some websites you
should check for available positions.
http://lawstudentjobs.net
http://www.pslawnet.org/
http://www.idealist.org/
http://www.usajobs.gov/studentjobs/
Non-traditional Career Report—password
required, will be available on OCP’s
webpage in mid-July.
To find law firms to apply to, search the
following websites for firms in your city and
check their website for application
information:
o www.martindale.com
o http://www.hg.org/
If you need help in your job search, and for
additional resources, please contact OCP to set up
an appointment to discuss your strategy.
Career Paths 3
JUST FOR PUBLIC INTEREST…
What are public interest employers looking for in job candidates? In addition to the traditional legal skills like strong
legal research and writing skills, leadership, and initiative, public sector employers want a demonstrated commitment
to serving the public, the mission of their organization or their constituents and a willingness to take on administrative
tasks because they are often understaffed and lack administrative support.
Here are a few things to consider as you explore the public interest option:
1. If your experience warrants it, resumes can extend to a second page in order to demonstrate your commitment
to public service, community service and leadership
2. Don’t overlook the value of a judicial clerkship – the legal research and writing skills gained during a
clerkship and the exposure to administrative, family, criminal and civil laws as well as observing hearings and
trials is invaluable
3. Consider your particular subject area interests and learn about
organizations committed to that cause. Explore the Pslawnet
website, which lists organizations, internships and fellowships
by geography and practice areas. It recently launched a public
service blog, and has information on federal and state
government careers, public interest funding resources and more.
4. Consider pursuing a post-graduate public interest fellowship –
see below – and review the materials on the OCP webpage about
creating a successful application. Don’t miss the early fall
application deadlines.
5. Explore other resources for public interest career information including: Harvard Law School’s Serving the
Public Handbook; Equal Justice Works website, www.idealist.org, Peggy Browning Fund for students
interested in labor law and the Gov’t Honors and Internship Handbook for gov’t summer internships and
permanent position, which will be updated later this summer (login cookie, password dough).
6. Review the upcoming conferences and events on page 4 for public interest oriented programming.
For additional information, or to discuss your job search strategy, make an appointment with an OCP counselor.
Pursuing a Public Interest Career? Most larger, non-profit organizations do not have the budget to hire new graduates for permanent positions. Therefore, fellowships are a gateway for entry-level public interest jobs. There are three main type fellowships:
1. Organization –based Fellowships: The organization determines the salary, duration, and scope of fellow’s work within the organization. Candidates apply directly to the organization.
2. Project-based Fellowships: Some foundations fund fellowships for applicants who develop a specific project in conjunction with a sponsoring non-profit organization.
3. Firm-sponsored Fellowships: Under this model, the fellow is paid by a firm for a period of time while he or she engages in public interest work.
If you are thinking of pursuing a post-graduate fellowship, now is the time to begin preparing your applications. Many of the deadlines are early in the fall, and for project-based fellowships you must approach host organizations now to see if they are interested in a partnership. Start researching types of fellowships at http://www.pslawnet.org. The OCP website includes basic information on fellowships and is a good place to start for those looking for more information. If you need help preparing your application, set up an appointment to meet with a career counselor.
CALLING STUDENT LEADERS:
Consider running for the
National Advisory Committee
of Equal Justice Works.
For more information, click HERE.
Career Paths 4
Upcoming Conferences and Career Fairs (links in titles, listed by registration deadline)
The Michael Diehl Civil Rights Forum: City-Wide LGBT Diversity Reception—Monday, July 12, 2010. 6:30-7:30 the Empire Hotel Rooftop, 44 West 63rd Street, New York City. Guest Speakers: Chris Hampton, Youth and Program Strategist, ACLU and Christine Sun, Senior Counsel, ACLU. RSVP by Tuesday, July 6, 2010 [email protected] or 212.859.4689.
VBA Diversity Job Fair—August 21, 2010 at the Embassy Suites in Richmond. Registration and employer information is now available. Student registration deadline is July 9, 2010. IMPACT Career Fair for Disabled Law Students and Attorneys—Friday August 13, 2010 in Arlington, VA at the Sheraton Crystal City Hotel. The deadline for students to upload materials is Sunday July 11! Students and graduates can register HERE. The Boston Lawyers Group Job Fair for Law Students of Color takes place in Boston on August 19 and in Washington, DC August 26. Student registration closes July 12. Your selection of which program to attend is final - read directions carefully. For more information and registration materials, click HERE. Federal Career Fair—to take place in Washington DC on July 14. This is a wonderful opportunity for interns and recent graduates to meet with agency representatives to learn their mission and discover employment opportunities. Admission is free. Register today for a free webinar: What Agencies Want: How to Prepare for the Career Fair (and Find and Apply for Federal Jobs!). Public Defender Service is hosting a conference for students interested in PD work or who are PD curious. The Public Defender Advocacy, Training & Hiring Conference (PATH) is Saturday, July 31, 2010 at Georgetown University Law Center. The conference is designed to provide students with tools necessary to enter the very competitive public defender job market during law school and as permanent attorneys. Registration closes July 20, 2010. Immediately following the conference, there will be a networking happy hour at a local venue.
In California this summer? Consider attending the ABA Law Student Career Fair on Friday, August 6 in San Francisco where firms and agencies dedicated to the future of the legal profession reach out to more than 400 law student leaders from across the country. This is a table-talk event, providing employers the opportunity to speak one-on-one with law student attendees. Online registrations accepted through July 30.
The Energy and Mineral Law Foundation (EMLF) is sponsoring two programs at the West Virginia University College of Law the first week of August. The Coal Law Short Course is August 1-4, and the Climate Change Course is August 2-4. Five students from W&L Law will receive complimentary registration which includes meeting materials on a CD, daily box lunches, and evening receptions and dinner. To review program materials, click HERE. To apply, complete the registration form available in the brochure or downloaded from the website, mark "COMP" in the payment portion, and fax it to 859.226.0485 or mail it.
Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair—Join students and employers from across the country at a public interest conference and career fair October 22 and 23 in Bethesda, MD. You may register to interview at the career fair for 2011 summer internships and post-graduate opportunities. Check the EJW website over the next few weeks for registration information and tips on the application process. The interview slots are filled on a rolling basis so apply early – don’t wait until the fall! The 2010 Kentucky Mineral Law Conference—October 13-15, 2010 in Lexington, KY. There will be a half-day oil and gas track on Wednesday, general sessions on Thursday, and coal track on Friday morning with members of the Kentucky Coal Association. There will also be a concurrent track for young lawyers, chaired by Heather Blandford of Dinsmore & Shohl LLP in Morgantown, WV.
Career Paths 5
JUST FOR CLERKSHIPS…
LIST OF 4TH
CIRCUIT HIRING JUDGES OCP called all federal judges in the Fourth Circuit, not just the circuit court judges, who were grayed out in OSCAR and compiled a list of those who ARE hiring for 2011. To access the list, click HERE. For information on judges’ hiring criteria, timeframe or application materials, review the notes section of judge’s profile in Symplicity’s clerkship module. The module also contains interview feedback evaluations which are useful to determine which judges consider W&L candidates and what particular interviews are like.
Don’t forget to check job postings for state and federal clerkships too.
Grades Not Good Enough For A Clerkship? Think again.
This page outlines the class rank of judicial clerks
over the last five years. The results may surprise you.
INTERESTED IN CLERKING FOR A STATE AND/OR FEDERAL JUDGES?
Now is the time to prepare your application materials, request recommendation letters, and research
judges. There are a variety of clerkships: federal, state, trial and appellate, specialty courts, staff
attorneys, and administrative law judges. If you are interested in litigation or an appellate advocacy
career – in the private OR public sector—a clerkship is a rewarding and educational place to launch
your career.
Federal Judges: 3Ls can now register for OSCAR, the online clerkship application system. All federal
judges are included in OSCAR by default. About half of all federal judges use OSCAR to post
clerkship vacancies in their chambers and designate how they wish to receive candidate’s application
materials. This year, OSCAR also includes postings for Staff Attorney positions with the U.S. Courts
of Appeal. These are listed under a separate tab from the judges.
State Judges: The Guide to State Court Clerkships is a useful resource that provides information about
each state’s courts applications process and applicable deadlines. Some judges are accepting
applications now – don’t miss these opportunities
Symplicity’s Clerkship Module contains a list of federal and state appellate court judges and their
contact information. This data is used to create a spreadsheet to mail merge your applications and to
have your letters of recommendation personalized. Additional information (who is hiring, where
alumni have clerked, interview evaluations) is added to this module as it is received.
If you did not attend the Judicial Clerkship Nuts and Bolts program in April, click HERE for the
powerpoint and HERE for the research tools handouts.
If you have not already done so, schedule an appointment with Lorri Olan to discuss clerkships,
application strategy and process, and to review your materials. To do so, contact OCP 540-458-8535
or [email protected]. Lunch time and evening appointments are available. Join the judicial
clerkship listserv and read the Career Blog for updated information.
Is the Judge Hiring?
Does s/he follow the plan?
Presume all federal judges follow hiring plan.
Check OSCAR for federal clerkship postings.
Check Symplicity’s Clerkship Module—OCP
adds information about whether a judge is hiring
as it is received.
Call chambers to inquire about vacancies as long
as judge has not posted a ―Do Not Call‖
instruction in OSCAR or the answer is not
otherwise available.
Questions? Call Lorri Olan, 540-458-8534.
Career Paths 6
Etiquette Corner…
Guidelines for using e-mail effectively for job
search-related correspondence from Katie
Schendel‟s Before You Hit Send
Avoid „casual speak‟—don‟t use acronyms
like “BTW.”
Print out a copy of your e-mail and proof
for spelling, punctuation, and
grammatical errors.
Address the recipient using a professional
salutation such as “Dear Ms. Smith.” Do
not use a first name unless the recipient
requests that you do so.
Do not send anything via e-mail to a
prospective employer that you would not
print out on your personal letterhead and
send via regular mail.
For more information, please refer to the NALP
handout, Before You Hit Send: Guidelines for Using E-mail Effectively for Job Search-Related Correspondence by Katie Schendel.
How to Connect With W&L Alumni
Alumni are an excellent resource for your job search. The three ways to search for alumni in the
practice area or city that you are interested in are all available on OCP’s website under Current
Students/Connect with Alumni.
Alumni Support Network
This network includes alumni that have self-selected to be contacted by students. The database can be
searched by name, location, clerkship, practice setting, or practice area.
Colonnade Connections
This database includes ALL W&L Law Alumni and W&L Undergraduate Alumni. If you have not
used Colonnade Connections before, you may need help setting up an account. Once you are able to
log-in, click on ―jobs and careers.‖ Search alumni by location under ―search the alumni directory‖ or
search by employer under ―alumni professional search.‖ Because the site includes both undergraduate
and law alumni, you can limit your search to law school graduates. Don’t forget, however, that many
undergraduate alumni are also lawyers and may be able to offer assistance.
Martindale.com
This site allows you to search for lawyers that have attended Washington and Lee that are in law
firms. You can limit your search by city and practice area.
OCP Outreach to Employers
OCP invited more than 500 alumni and more
than 1100 employers to participate in our
regional and on-campus interview programs.
This outreach involved emails, calls and snail
mailings.
In July, we will send updated W&L Law
marketing materials to state and federal court
judges regarding the new third-year
curriculum.
Applying to employers who don’t recruit at
W&L Law? Let us know. We will gladly
add these employers to our outreach efforts
this summer. To do so, create an excel
spreadsheet - include employer, location and
contact (address or email) - and send to
[email protected] with ―firm outreach‖ in
subject line.
If you’d prefer, we can provide you access to
our marketing materials to include in your
application packets.
Keep OCP in the loop of your aspirations and
we will assist you in any we can.
Career Paths 7
Geographic and Practice Area Surveys
The next time you log into Symplicity, you will be asked to
complete a new geographic and practice area interest survey. OCP asks you to complete this survey so we can plan our Fall Programming. Additionally, we can create practice area handouts and city guides based on the areas that you have expressed interest.
Find us on Facebook
In an effort to communicate more
effectively, OCP has joined Facebook.
Become a ―fan‖ to receive notification
when OCP updates the Careerblog with
articles, job postings, and news.
Read our Careerblog
The Careerblog has regular posts about
job search strategy, application details,
career options, networking opportunities
and skills, articles about the legal market
and more.
How to Make the Most of Your Summer
For those who missed PLI’s free program on "How to Succeed as a Summer Associate," it is now
available (and still free) on its Website.
The program discusses how to make the most of your summer associate experience. It
addresses questions such as: How much work should you take on? How do you turn this
opportunity into a permanent position at the firm? What happens if you don’t receive an offer?
In today’s tough economic environment it’s more important than ever to be successful during
your summer. We encourage you to check out the program.
NEW OCP LIBRARY RESOURCES The Woman Advocate, edited by Abbe F. Fletman and Evelyn R. Storch and published in 2010 by the American Bar Association. In the book, successful women lawyers provide advice and first-hand accounts about various topics such as choosing a career path, perception of women in the legal profession, and work-life balance. Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, provides rankings and commentary on firms across the country. Organized by practice area and location, it can be a great resource for the student looking to find a firm with a strong reputation in the practice area he/she is interested in. Additional resources on working for the federal government, careers in the FBI, and preparing
government applications will arrive next week.
ARE YOU A LEADER OF A STUDENT
ORGANIZATION?
Coordinate with OCP to bring speakers on campus relevant to your organization. Email [email protected] if you are interested in co-hosting a program.