Career Paths 1

Vol. 4, Issue 5 February 2011

H I G H L I G H T S I N T H I S I S S U E

2 UPCOMING 3L DEADLINES 7

PUBLIC SECTOR

INFORMATION

3

UPCOMING 1L DEADLINES 8 JOB FAIRS

5 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 9

PRACTICE AREA RESOURCES

6 INTERNSHIP POSTINGS 10 CALENDAR AND

SURVEY

Career paths

Join us for legal news, job search tips and

employment opportunities.

Student Debt Relief

In an effort to offset the disparity between public and

private sector salaries, and to encourage students and

practitioners to consider public interest careers, the

federal government has enacted legislation to help

graduates pay down their educational debt. If you are

considering a public interest career and don‘t think

you can afford it, the Equal Justice Works website

provides a comprehensive listing of income-based

loan repayment and loan forgiveness programs.

Investigate state loan repayment assistance programs

and review W&L‘s LRAP requirements.

REPORTING SUMMER

EMPLOYMENT

When you accept a summer position,

withdraw all outstanding applications.

Notify your recommenders and thank

anyone who helped you along the way.

OCP collects summer employment

information, which enables us to determine

how to deploy our program and counseling

resources this spring. The data is

informative to other students and helps us to

track and maintain relationships with

employers who hire W&L Law students.

To submit your employment information in

Symplicity, select Employment and then

Employment again and click ―add new‖ to

record your placement information. In the

alternative, you may complete a paper

survey available on OCP‘s library table.

Contact Suzanne Wade if you have any

questions.

If you are a runner, you know that in order to run a personal best, you must dedicate time and energy to train and properly fuel and rest your body. Without suitable training, you risk injury or may not finish. A job search is like a race - a marathon not a sprint. Looking for a legal position takes time and perseverance: time for honest self-assessment, to prepare (and review) your application materials, to search for opportunities and to make personal connections. There is no room for idleness. Inactivity does not create opportunities or advance your mission. Developing relationships and learning about different practice areas takes time and determination. Every search is unique. Candidates have different experiences, skills, connections, grades. OCP looks forward to helping you set realistic goals for your professional development.

Career Paths 2

The following government programs have 3L deadlines coming up in the next two weeks. Details of these programs are provided in the 2010-11 Government Honors & Internship Handbook, located at https://www.law.arizona.edu/career/honorshandbook.cfm.

Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia – Criminal Law Internship Program (Paid & Unpaid, Deadline 02/12/11)

Federal Communications Commission – International Bureau Strategic Analysis & Negotiations Division – Student Internship (Unpaid, Deadline 02/15/11)

Sacramento State Center for California Studies – Capital Fellows Programs Senate Fellows Program (Paid, Deadline 02/23/11)

Sacramento State Center for California Studies – Capital Fellows Programs Executive Fellows Program (Pa id, Deadline 02/23/11)

Sacramento State Center for California Studies – Capital Fellows Programs Jesse Marvin Unruh Assembly Fellowship Program (Paid, Deadline 02/23/11)

Sacramento State Center for California Studies – Capital Fellows Programs Judicial Administrative Fellowship Program (Paid, Deadline 02/23/11)

For a complete list of 3L programs, see the top of Table 4 – 3L Programs Sorted by Deadline.

To access the links be;pw, you need to register in PSLawNet, www.pslawnet.org; registration is

free and you create your own password.

February 2011

Rolling - 2011-13 Hunton & Williams Pro Bono Fellowship - Atlanta

2/15/2010 - Fellowship in Climate Change Law - Columbia Law School

2/15/2010 - 2011-12 California Senate Fellows - California State Senate

2/23/2011 - 2011-12 California Executive Fellowship - Center for California Studies

2/23/2011 - 2011-12 Capital Fellows Program - Center for California Studies

2/23/2011 - 2011-12 Jesse M. Unruh Assembly Fellowship Program - Center for California

Studies

2/23/2011 - 2011-12 Judicial Administration Fellowship Program - Center for California

Studies

2/28/2011 - 2011-13 Educational Advancement and Fair Opportunity Fellow - University of

North Carolina Center for Civil Rights

Upcoming 3L Public Interest Fellowship Deadlines

Upcoming 3L Government Honors Deadlines

Career Paths 3

The following government programs have 1L deadlines coming up in the next two weeks. Details of these programs are provided in the 2010-11 Government Honors & Internship Handbook, located at https://www.law.arizona.edu/career/honorshandbook.cfm.

Summer Programs

Dept. of Justice - Volunteer/Part-time Legal Intern Program (Unpaid, Between Dec. and April 2011)

Transportation Security Administration – Office of Civil Rights Summer Law Student Internship Program (Unpaid, After 12/01/10, but no later than end of March)

Federal Communications Commission – Wireline Competition Bureau Pricing Policy Division, Student Internship Program (Unpaid, Between 01/01/11 & 03/15/11)

City of Chicago – Mayor’s Office Summer Fellowship Program (Paid, 02/11/11)

Environmental Protection Agency – R6 2011 Summer Intern Honors Program (Unpaid, Deadline 02/11/11)

Comptroller of the Currency – Law Dept. Legal Internships (Unpaid, Due 02/12/11)

Wisconsin Dept. of Justice – Division of Legal Services Law Clerk Program (Unpaid, Deadline 02/11/11)

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission – Legal Unit, Chicago District Office Student Externships (Unpaid, Deadline 02/15/11)

New York Attorney General’s Office – Legal Internship Program (Paid, Deadline 02/15/11)

Overseas Private Investment Corporation – Department of Legal Affairs legal Internship Program (Paid & Unpaid, Deadline 02/15/11)

City of Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office – Summer Legal Internship (Unpaid, Deadline 02/15/11)

Smithsonian Institution – Office of General Counsel Legal Internship Program (Unpaid, Deadline 02/15/11)

Environmental Protection Agency – Office of Enforcement & Compliance Assurance Law Clerk & Intern Program (Paid & Unpaid, Deadline 02/20/11)

Election Assistance Commission – Office of General Counsel Law Clerkship Program (Paid & Unpaid, Deadline 02/25/11)

Environmental Protection Agency – R1 Legal Internship Program (Paid & Unpaid, Deadline 02/28/11)

Federal Communications Commission – International Bureau Strategic Analysis & Negotiations Division Student Internship (Unpaid, Deadline 02/28/11)

Alabama Office of the Attorney General – Summer Law Clerk Program (Unpaid, Deadline 03/01/11)

Executive Office of the President – Council on Environmental Quality Legal Internship Program (Unpaid, Deadline 03/01/11)

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporatio n – Legal Division Summer Legal Intern Program (Paid, Deadline 03/01/11)

Dept. of Health & Human Services - Departmental Appeals Board - Volunteer Internship/Externship Program (Unpaid, Deadline 03/01/11)

Career Paths 4

Dept. of Health & Human Services – Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Office of General Counsel Law Student Internship Program (Paid, Deadline 03/01/11)

Illinois Attorney General’s Office – Law Clerk Program (Unpaid, Deadline 03/01/11)

New Jersey Attorney General – Division of Law Volunteer Internship Program (Unpaid, Deadline 03/01/11)

Public Defender Services for the District of Columbia – Criminal Law Internship Program (Paid & Unpaid, Deadline 03/01/11)

Virginia Attorney General – Summer Legal Internship Program (Unpaid, Deadline 03/01/11)

California Franchise Tax Board – Legal Internship Program (Unpaid, Deadline 03/02/11)

Commodity Futures Trading Commission – Summer Legal Intern Program (Paid & Unpaid, Deadline not yet established was 03/02/10)

Many federal and state programs will be filled as soon as the ideal candidates are identified. You should consider that any Federal or State Program with a Rolling Deadline (see the top of Table 2 – 1L Programs Sorted by Deadline) as soon as possible.

References

At some point in the job search process, you will likely be asked for references. You should be prepared

to provide a potential employer with the requested information and you need to make sure the people you

use as references are prepared to receive a call. Some tips from the OCP:

1. Ask your references whether you can include them. Contact potential references ahead of

time, making sure to ask people to be references before providing their name as a reference.

2. Use people who are familiar with your work and your skills. Many legal employers are

particularly interested in your performance in law school and, therefore, establishing a good

relationship with your professors and using these professors as references is important. But past

or current employers are also a great source of potential references, as long as the person you use

is specifically familiar with you and the work you‘ve done. The bottom line is that you should

use people who have the greatest familiarity with you and your work and will be able to speak

about your professional accomplishments.

3. Provide your references a copy of a current resume. To ensure that your references have

accurate information about you, it is wise to provide a copy of your resume. Also make sure they

have information about the specific jobs for which you‘ve used their name as a reference so they

can speak to the skills you have that might be most relevant to the position.

4. Thank your references. No one is obligated to serve as a reference for you so remember to

thank your references for assisting you with your job search and let them know the outcome of

your application.

Career Paths 5

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Do you “Get It”?

Young lawyers are likely familiar with the term

―competencies‖ and if they‘re not, they probably will be

soon. Increasingly, the bar uses the term as a catch-all to

refer to the skills, characteristics, traits and habits necessary

for successful lawyering. Many employers have moved to a

competency-based model for hiring, training, compensation

and advancement; the process for moving to this model, and

the various models in use were among the hottest topics at

the December 2010 ABA/NALP Professional Development

Institute. Insiders have always been able to identify those

who ―get it‖ – competencies are best understood as a

particular employer‘s definition of that amorphous concept.

Examples of general competencies might be Legal

Excellence (analytical thinking and knowledge, writing and

verbal skills), Practice Development (business development,

client relationship skills, client service), Business Know-

how and Judgment (project and practice management, firm

management) and Leadership (work ethic, interpersonal

skills, team building, developing others). Some employers

have developed highly-detailed specific sub-competencies

for each stage of a lawyer‘s career. (If you‘d like to take a

look at an example of a ―Senior Associate Competency in

Professional Branding‖ or a bibliography of core

competency references, stop by my office.)

What does this mean for you? Expect increasing specificity

in the interview process, and in the review and advancement

process once you‘re in practice. Research each employer

with which you interview; if they use a competency-based

model for development, be familiar with it. Even if a

particular employer hasn‘t formally adopted a competency-

based scheme for professional development, start thinking

in those terms. The popularity of the model is great

evidence of what employers tend to value in a new hire:

have a solid idea of the way in which your academic and

work experiences tie into those characteristics and skills.

Finally, choose courses, extracurricular activities, service

opportunities and other experiences that offer you the

chance to develop an area you haven‘t before.

Andrea

Here is one employer‘s working

list of the traits displayed by a

colleague who ―get‘s it‖:

shows initiative

team player

low maintenance

intellectually curious

enthusiastic

goes the extra mile

selfless

keeps current

proactive

creative

perfectionist

mature

focused

practical

intuitive

understands the big picture

These are traits employers are

looking for.

Are you conveying the right

message?

PROFESSIONALISM RESOURCES:

Richard L. Hermann,

Managing Your Legal Career:

Best Practices for Creating the

Career You Want

Amee R. McKim, Maximize

Your Lawyer Potential:

Professionalism and Business

Etiquette for Law Students and

Lawyers

John R. Sapp, Making Partner:

A Guide for Law Firm

Associates

Career Paths 6

SUMMER INTERNSHIPS

SPORTS LAW

CT – POVERTY LAW ADVOCACY Internship:

http://www.nlada.org/Jobs/Job_Search_Detail?job_id=job_1006422

FL - FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES (DCF):

http://www.myflorida.com/cf_web/ - 2Ls

DC – VETERAN’S CONSORTIUM PRO BONO PROGRAM, deadline is March 15, 2011:

www.vetsprobono.org/newsite/intern.htm

GA – GEORGIA RESOURCE CENTER – death penalty representation. Students can apply by

sending a resume and cover letter to Lynn Damiano, Georgia Resource Center, 303 Elizabeth Street,

Atlanta, GA 30307 or emailing lynndamiano@yahoo.com.

SUMMER LEGAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS

Interested in exploring a career in sports law? Check out these summer internship:

CBS: College Sports Network – Legal Intern (New York) (Search for ―Legal‖ postings)

Major League Baseball (New York)MLB offers a general internship program; applicants can

specify interest in Legal Business Affairs department (search for ―internship,‖ then ―2011

summer internship‖ or ―mlb.com 2011 summer internships‖)

Major League Soccer – Legal Department (New York)

Octagon Sports Marketing & Management - Legal Intern (Mclean, Virginia)

U.S. Olympic Committee – Law Clerk/Intern (Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Confidential and Impartial Resources

CAIR Resources for University Policy on Prohibited

Students Discrimination, Harassment, Retaliation and

Sexual Misconduct are available at W&L. For a list of

CAIRs, click here. The CAIRs can provide

information procedures and dispute resolution options,

and for complaints by or against students.

Interested in taking the Patent Bar? Studying for the exam is highly recommended.

Jen Nguyen ‗11L passed the exam and is

willing to discuss the experience with you.

Consider taking the exam before the Patent

Office updates it at the end of April. PLI

offers one review course, but there are other

options.

OCP Welcomes

Heather Briggs ‗12L

as our Administrative

Intern this Spring.

Career Paths 7

PUBLIC INTEREST

APPLICATION ADVICE

PSLawNet, a wonderful resource for the public interest

job search, also has a blog. Check it frequently for

news and information on public interest organizations.

Recently, the blog had articles regarding drafting

effective resumes and cover letters, as well as

interviewing skills. Read the articles for advice on

tailoring your application to public interest employers.

STUDY ABROAD /

SUMMER PROGRAMS

W&L Law students may earn academic credit for

coursework taken as part of an ABA-approved program

offered by another law school, with prior permission of

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Robert Danforth.

If you are interested, apply now! Many of the deadlines

are March 1st.

The January issue of Student Lawyer Magazine contains a

descriptive listing of all ABA study abroad programs by

country. OCP also posts study abroad promotional

materials on the bulletin board down the hall from our

office outside Faculty Services.

NEED SUMMER HOUSING?

Affordable, safe, convenient student housing can be

found at NYU or Emory University. Information and

application materials for these summer housing programs

can be found HERE.

NALP also hosts an apartment exchange for students who

are looking to sublet their apartments this summer. For

more information, click HERE.

OCP LIBRARY RESOURCES

OCP has a 48-hour loan policy. If you have checked

out our resources, please return them so that other

students may use them.

Funding your public interest

internship

Career Planning recently

distributed a Memorandum to all

first- and second-year law

students which explains the

funding options available through

W&L Law. If interested,

carefully read the memorandum

and submit a timely application

after you have secured a summer

internship.

PSLawNet has additional

Summer Funding Resources. To

access the information you must

register at www.pslawnet.org.

Resources for researching private

grants to fund summer

placements:

Corporate Giving

Directory

The Directory of Virginia

Foundations

Career Paths 8

WINTER JOB FAIRS GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC INTEREST INTERVIEW PROGRAM – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25

THE COMMONWEALTH CONSORTIUM SPRING JOB FAIR - FRIDAY, MARCH 25

The 2011 Spring Job Fair, held in conjunction with the law schools of U. of Richmond, William & Mary

and UVA, will be held at William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA on March 25th. More information will

be forthcoming.

JOB FAIR ATTENDANCE POLICY – “One and You Go”

If you are selected for one interview, you are obligated to attend the program. Carefully select employers

with whom you genuinely want to work.

CONFERENCE AND CAREER FAIRS

24th ANNUAL ROBERT M. COVER RETREAT

Fighting for Justice and Social Change takes place March 4 6, 2011 at Sargent Center, Peterborough,

NH. Public interest law students, practitioners and academics gather at this annual retreat to network,

learn and enjoy a weekend together. COST: $140 includes Retreat fees, lodging and all meals/food.

Registration deadline is February 15th, 2011. Email Jamie Rhodes: cover.retreat.2011@gmail.com.

LAVENDER LAW CONFERENCE AND CAREER FAIR

Registration is now open for the 2011 National LGBT Bar Association‘s Lavender Law Conference and

Career Fair being held September 8-10th

at the Hollywood Renaissance Hotel in Los Angeles.

The conference features panel discussions and workshops on cutting edge legal issues affecting LGBT

individuals. The Career Fair is expected to draw over 130 recruiters from across the country.

HEARTLAND DIVERSITY LEGAL JOB FAIR

The 2011 Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair will take place August 5-6, 2011, at the Crowne Plaza

Hotel in downtown Kansas City. Last year, Kansas City played host to nearly 100 students from over 40

Law Schools from across the nation who had the opportunity to interview with 25 area law firms,

organizations and government agencies.

PATENT LAW INTERVIEW PROGRAM

This two-day interview program in Chicago brings together patent law employers and law students from

across the country to interview for summer associate positions and post-graduate employment. The

2011 Program will be held on Thursday, July 28 & Friday, July 29 at the Embassy Suites Chicago -

Downtown/Lakefront at 511 N. Columbus Drive in downtown Chicago.

The 2011 Government & Public Interest Interview Program takes

place Friday, February 25, 2011, at the University of Richmond

Tyler Haynes Commons. Students selected for an interview will

receive an email from Ms. Evans by Friday, February 11. A list of

employers who have made their selections will also be posted on the

Symplicity home page.

Students interviewing at the job fair are invited to an informational

meeting on Monday, February 21st at 12 PM in Classroom C for

final fair instructions and interviewing tips.

Career Paths 9

PRACTICE AREA RESOURCES – NEW SECTION!

FOR PASSWORDS TO ACCESS OCP‘S SUBSCRIPTIONS, CLICK HERE

Interested in Art Law?

Wondering how to mix your passion for the arts with your legal education? Click HERE for a practice

guide on the subject. The guide provides a background on the field, and includes a list of internship

opportunities and links to various art law organizations and employers.

Interested in Health Law?

The field of health law is diverse; lawyers working in health law can work in hospitals, law firms, state

and federal agencies, corporations, professional organizations, and public interest organizations. To

find additional information on this growing field click HERE for a Guide to Health Law Careers.

So You Want to Become a Law Professor?

Professors Bond, Murchison, and Shaughnessy recently led a program on becoming a law professor.

The videotaped presentation can be found HERE. If you are considering a career in academia and were

not able to attend, we encourage you to check it out.

Additional Resources:

During the presentation, Professor Bond mentioned teaching fellowships as one of the pathways

into tenure track positions. The Tax Professor Blog contains a list of teaching fellowships for

aspiring law professors. These two-year fellowships are opportunities to transition into the

legal academy by providing time to develop scholarship.

The Association of American Law Schools provides resources for those looking to enter the

teaching market.

Former W&L Professor Brad Wendel wrote an article on how to get a job in law teaching.

A professor at Marquette University Law School has gathered resources on careers in law

teaching from around the web.

An article from Columbia Law School tells you ―Almost Everything You Need to Know about

Law Teaching.‖

W&L Law’s innovative third year program topic at Virginia Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Roundtable

On January 21, 2011, Professor Jim Moliterno was a panelist for The Changing Landscape of Legal

Education – How to Teach the Craft of Lawyering. Other panelists included UVA‘s Senior Asst.

Dean for Career Services Kevin Donovan, Emeritus Professor of Law at William and Mary John Levy

and McGuire Woods Partner Robert Tyler. Panelists reviewed the purpose and history of legal

education and how it has transformed over the last forty years. Law schools are altering the way they

teach to better prepare lawyers for practice. This transition has been suggested by the ABA and by

employers who are being pressured by clients who are refusing to pay for associates‘ training.

Employers need attorneys who can hit the ground running – lawyers who have good judgment

and character and who know how to take depositions, draft contracts and have experience with

written and oral advocacy. W&L Law‘s 3L program is on the cutting edge of meeting employer‘s

expectations for young associates. Are you marketing yourself properly? Show employers how you

stand out by including our promotional material in your application packets.

Career Paths 10

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Week of Feb. 7 – Judicial Clerkship Committee meets with Kirgis Groups

Feb. 7 Student Advice on the Job Search—From 1L Summer to Post-Graduation – 12 pm

Feb. 15 McGuire Woods‘ Etiquette Dinner, Sheridan Livery – 5:30 pm

Feb. 17 Going Small or Solo After Graduation – 12 pm

Feb. 21 Government and Public Interest Interview Program – Information Session – 12 pm

Feb. 22 Law in Practice Series: Immigration Law; Edward Neufville ‗03L – 12 pm

Mar. 1 Introduction to Clerkships - 12 pm

Mar. 14 Nuts and Bolts: The Clerkship Application Process - 12 pm

Mar. 15 Mergers & Acquisitions; Gerald Shepherd ‘86, Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP - 12 pm

Mar. 16 Mandatory Meeting for Summer Federal Work Study Applicants – 4 pm

Mar. 21 Law in Practice: Sports Law, Ellen Zavarian, George Washington University - 12 pm

Mar. 22 Working as a Magistrate: JDs preferred - 12pm

SURVEY PARTICIPANTS NEEDED:

Take a survey and earn money for the ABA Student Division or the

National Legal Aid and Defender Association

A doctoral study that examines law students‘ attitudes and beliefs toward treatment programs for

juvenile offenders is asking for support from law students, even students not interested in criminal

law. The study is entitled, ―Attitudes and Beliefs about Juvenile Delinquency Rehabilitation.‖

In return for your participation, the project will donate $1 per participant to either the American Bar

Association-Law Student Division or National Legal Aid and Defender Association, at your

preference. In addition, participants interested in receiving a summary of the survey results may

enter their email address during the beginning of the study. Participation involves completing an

online questionnaire and watching an online presentation (with audio). It should take about an hour.

If you would like to participate, please email uapsychresearcher@gmail.com and state that you are

―interested in completing the study‖ and give your university affiliation. You do NOT need to

provide your name or any additional information. In the alternative, you may visit:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/dissertationrecruitmentinfo.

If you have any questions about this research, contact Abigayl Perelman at

amperelman@crimson.ua.edu or (205)348-5000.