BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!!

The Government & Public Interest Blog is changing addresses!

Make sure to bookmark the below address for all of your great information about government and public interest news!!!!

http://fcsl.edu/blogs/gpi/

Don't worry ... the new Blog will continue to be updated DAILY with the information you need to know ... we're just hanging out at a new address. See you there!

Great Article on Federal Jobs

A recent Washington Post article noted that job applicants looking for federal government positions need to be more creative in their approach. Just because you have a law degree doesn't necessarily mean that certain Departments do not have opportunitites for you. To read the entire article and learn some valuable job searching tips, click HERE .

Job Fair: National Black Prosecutors Association

The National Black Prosecutors Association Annual Job Fair will be held on Tuesday, July 24th at the Minneapolis Marriott City Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This is a GREAT opportunity to interview with prosecutors and district attorneys from around the country!

Job fair participants can mail in their payment, registration form and resume or go to the website at http://www.blackprosecutors.org/ and register online.

If lodging is needed, the Minneapolis Marriott City Center has extended a special room rate to students of $99.00 per night for a single or double room for July 25th and July 26th ; for laterals, the rate is $130.00 To make reservations, interviewees should call the Minneapolis Marriott City Center at (612) 349-4000 . Please note that the Minneapolis Marriott City Center 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.

For more information, visit this website: http://www.blackprosecutors.org/

Interviewing For Public Interest Positions

It's never a bad idea to make sure your interviewing skills stay sharp. Take a moment and check out "Five Tips For Summer Public Interest Job Interviews". The article is a quick read and provides some helpful hints towards making your interview meaningful and successful.

Good Luck!

Happy Last Day Of Classes!

A Question To Start The Week

How long does it typically take to hire a federal employee?

The Office of Personnel Management recently released data stating that hiring time is down to 105 days from 122 days last year. Furthermore, President Obama has set out a goal of decreasing time-to-hire to 80 days. To start your federal application, click HERE.

The Department of Homeland Secruity is seeking an Intelligence Operations Specialist for the Washington, DC area. The Job Announcement Number is DHSHQ11-461298-IA and can be accessed HERE.

Act quickly ... the posting expires on Monday April 25th!

Florida Coastal Pro Bono In The News

A recent Jacksonville Daily Record article praised Florida Coastal students and Jacksonville Area Legal Aid. Florida Coastal School of Law, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid and area pro bono attorneys visited the Burpee U.S. Army Reserve Center in Jacksonville from 9 a.m.-noon April 2 to offer free legal services to Army reservists, specifically, the creation of advance directive documents: Durable Power of Attorney, Health Care Surrogate Designation, Designation of Preneed Guardian, a Living Will and a Simple Will. The goal was to enable reservists to leave the event with a fully executed set of these legal documents. Each reservist had an appointment with an attorney/law student team and was given ample time to understand the purpose of ... to continue reading the entire article, click HERE.

The Beazley Institute for Health Law and Policy is accepting applications for the Health Justice Project Public Interest & Health Law Fellow. The Fellow will join the Beazley Institute's Health Justice Project, a medical-legal partnership clinic. The two year fellowship is designed to provide leadership development, clinical teaching experience, interdisciplinary collaboration and career growth for public interest attorneys. To apply, applicants should visit http://www.careers.luc.edu/ . In the upper left corner, click on "search postings." At the next screen, from "job category" select "faculty" and click on the posting Good Luck!

Loan Forgiveness 411 --- Sign Up For A Webinar

EASING THE BURDEN OF EDUCATIONAL DEBT: INCOME-BASED REPAYMENT 101 Thursday, April 21, 2 – 2:30 p.m. EDT

Space is limited, so participants are required to register at http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/

Upcoming Deadline

Getting experience is a key ingredient for success in landing great government and public interest positions. Remember ... the deadline for applying for clinical programs and credit bearing externships for the fall semester is this Friday, April 22nd. Applications are available on the website and in the Clinic Office, Room 255.

Blog Is Under Construction!

March comes in like a lion ... and out like a lamb. Remember to keep up your studies, even though the weather is getting warmer.

Interested in D.C?

Hundreds of sought-after jobs in the Washington, DC area all focused on Jobs in Government Affairs & Policy, Public Relations & Advocacy, Media & Journalism, and Entry Level Jobs & Internships are available here. These jobs are on Capitol Hill, in non-profits, think tanks, institutions, the government and in corporations and professional firms. To read Opportunities in Public Affairs March 22, 2011 issue on-line, click: http://www.opajobs.com/login_subs.php

For login information, contact Career Services.

Judicial Externship Meeting

In case you missed the Dean's Message ... An informational meeting regarding Judicial Externships for fall 2011 will take place on March 30 at Noon in room 420. The application for these externships is due April 4, 2011 by 5:00. Judicial Externships are a wonderful opportunity to earn credit while working for a judge or court. You can find more information about Judicial Externship opportunities at http://www.fcsl.edu/academics/judicial-internships or contact Professor Boeckman.

Interesting Job Posting

Are you longing to do something meaningful with your law degree? The Institute for Justice (http://www.ij.org/ ), the nation’s leading libertarian public interest law firm, is seeking a staff attorney to join its merry band of litigators in its Minneapolis, Minnesota Chapter. To learn more about this position and the application instructions, log into Symplicity today.

New Public Interest Postings In Symplicity

Asylum Access is seeking exceptional candidates for three open positions. Check out Symplicity to learn more about the necessary qualifications.

1. Policy Manager:
Leads Asylum Access's policy advocacy with the US government, UN bodies, and non-traditional allies to make refugee rights a reality.

2. Development Manager:
Leads Asylum Access's fundraising strategy and implementation as we plan for expansion to three new offices in 2013.

3. Communications and Development
Assistant:
Supports Asylum Access's global communications and fundraising, with an emphasis on new media, branding, and creative outreach.

Looking For A Great Conference?

The University of Georgia School of Law is hosting a Public Interest Weekend on April 1st -2nd 2011. Read below for details on how to attend!

Online Registration is now available!
Join us for one of the Southeast’s premier public interest events so that you can be in the midst of the greatest students, leading professionals, and experienced faculty who share your passion for public interest. This two-day event will begin with a Public Interest Celebration on Friday evening at the Melting Point in Athens, Georgia. On Saturday, Working in the Public Interest (WIPI) will host another great year of thought-provoking panels featuring renowned specialists in various subjects related to public interest law. Visit our website for more information. Register now to receive early registration pricing before March 13, 2011. Students who register early receive free housing.
www.law.uga.edu/wipi

Friday, April 1, 2011
Equal Justice Foundation Auction (EJF)
EJF will kick off the celebration with the EJF Auction the evening of Friday, April 1. The auction raises funds to provide stipends for law students who work in unpaid public interest positions. Visit EJF’s website to read about student projects supported by the fellowship.
www.law.uga.edu/ejf

Saturday, April 2, 2011
Working in the Public Interest (WIPI) Conference
The WIPI Conference will be held on Saturday, April 2. This student-run conference has been offered annually since 2005, and seeks to bring together eminent practitioners in their respective fields, students, and faculty to discuss practical approaches to law to promote social justice and human rights for all.
The conference offers CLE credit and includes:
 Breakfast prior to a general plenary on judicial nominations hosted by American Constitution Society.
 Lunch during roundtable discussions
 Panels on health care, immigration, the 1st amendment, juvenile law, criminal law, elder law and education
 A closing reception for networking with panelists, practitioners, professors, and students

Visit our Web site for more information: www.law.uga.edu/wipi

Have You Checked PSLAWNET lately?

Rumor has it that PSLawNet has added 99 job listings in recent weeks, including 52 attorney positions, 27 summer internship announcements (some of which are seeking multiple interns), and 15 law-related professional positions. All told, there are nearly 1000 opportunities listed on PSLawNet.

Why aren't you looking right now????

Public Service and Pro Bono Career Resources

There are resources everywhere for law students interested in learning more about opportunities available for public service. If you are one of these students, take a moment and check out the American Bar Association's website offering public service and pro bono career resources.

Summer Plans?

Summer Corps is an AmeriCorps-funded program that in 2011 will provide 700 law students with the opportunity to earn a $1,132 education award voucher for dedicating their summer to a qualifying legal project at a nonprofit public interest organization.

The Equal Justice Works Summer Corps program provides law students with the opportunity to dedicate their summer to a legal project at a qualifying nonprofit public interest organization. Summer Corps members expand the delivery of critically needed legal assistance in low-income and underserved communities across the country on a broad range of issue areas.

Summer Corps members:

• Gain first-hand experience and legal skills in areas such as client intake, representation, and legal research and writing;
•Earn a $1,132 AmeriCorps education award upon completion of 300 hours of service that can be used to pay current educational expenses or qualified student loans;
•Have access to the Equal Justice Works network of alumni, experience and expertise as the nation’s largest provider of public interest opportunities for law students and attorneys;
•Become an official member of AmeriCorps, one of the largest national service networks in U.S. history.
Please visit http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/law-school/summercorps for information how to apply. The application will only be available on the website from March 16 – April 5, 2011.

Questions? Email Summercorps@equaljusticeworks.org

Are You Nervous About Interviewing?

The CSD is here to help! Counselors are available to meet with you to fine-tune your interview skills. Remember ... you often only have ONE CHANCE to make a great impression. Don't walk into an interview without preparing. Make your appointment today.

Government & Public Interest Presentations

All presentations and panels hosted by the CSD are recorded. If you missed a previous government or public interest panel presentation, come by the Career Services’ Office to check out a copy of the DVD. The videos from the previous semester are also added to the Symplicity Document Library via YouTube.

HINT: If you have not received your username/password for Symplicity, please contact Abby Lee at alee@fcsl.edu .

Still Confused About Equal Justice Works?

Equal Justice Works is celebrating their 25th Anniversary. Take a few minutes and learn about the mission of EJW and what opportunities exist for law students.

Looking For Summer Housing?

Make sure to look at the NALP Apartment Exchange which has listings for available sublets throughout the United States. This free Apartment Exchange for law students will be available from the NALP website through May 15.

Think about CLE's

CLE's are a great way to network with practicing attorneys! Make sure you keep up to date with upcoming CLE's both in Jacksonville and where you intend on practicing. Spring Break is a fantastic time to start making contacts during your time off.

For a list of upcoming CLE's, click HERE.

Federal Judicial Clerkships

It's not too early to be thinking about federal judicial clerkships. The upcoming deadlines for the 2011-2012 application process were recently posted. Make sure to keep an eye on the SPRING WORKSHIPS offered by the Career Services Department to determine if this is a good choice for you.

Question? Contact Lydia Russo.

The Federal Government and YOU

The federal government continues to search for great candidates! According to a recent article,
Government agencies need to add about 193,000 new employees to fill "mission critical" jobs in many fields in the next two years. The key to success is "patience and stamina to plow through the cumbersome federal hiring process.

To learn more about the hiring process as well as tips for navigating through the federal government, take a moment and read this interesting article.

Got Loans?

If you have loans, you must become familiar with this new Blog. Authored by Heather Jarvis, a national expert on educational debt, Ms. Jarvis regularly posts topics, articles, links and advice to law students.

Bottom line ... if you have loans .... follow this Blog!!!!

2011 Public Policy Handbook Is Now Live

Interested in policy work?

Want a career in Washington or New York City?

Take the time to review this resource which lists over 200 internships and full-time positions in the area of public policy.

Contact careerservices@fcsl.edu for login and password information.

Want To Be A Public Defender ... think about Wisconsin

According to a recent report, the State intends to add nearly 30 full-time public defenders next summer because of an expected increase in caseload. Officials say new income guidelines will make more defendants eligible for a public defender. The state will spend $4.1 million to hire more public defenders and staff -- a move counties expect will save them millions of dollars. To continue reading more about this hiring increase, click HERE.

New Website!

Do you have a free minute? Take a moment and check out Equal Justice Work's new website!

Looking For Some Motivation?

A recent article outlines the benefits of pro bono and public service for those who commit their time providing their help as well as the benefits for the communities they serve. For some inspiration, read the authors' thoughts in 'The Greatest Feeling in the World': What Giving Does for the Giver by clicking HERE.

How The Federal Government Is Trying To Recruit Candidates Like You

The federal government is constantly looking for ways to improve their hiring pool. A recent article highlighted how agencies are reaching out to other agencies to learn best practices for attracting talent to service in the federal government. To learn more about this report, click HERE.

Alumni Spotlight ... Look What Florida Coastal Alums Are Doing!!!

Folio Weekly recently published an article touting the excelelnt work of Florida Coastal graduate, Kara Roberts. Kara is a staff attorney at Jacksonville Area Legal Aid where she works for the Refugee Immigration Project. To learn more about Kara's work and how you can help her cause, click HERE.

It's wonderful news to hear about all of the excellent contributions our alumni are making in the world of public interest!!!

PAID Summer Public Interest Position

NALP seeks a law or graduate student to work full-time as its PSLawNet Summer Publications Coordinator, editing and producing NALP’s PSLawNet Comprehensive Fellowship Guide during the summer of 2011. The employment period is approximately 10 weeks. The position is ideal for a law or graduate student who has editing experience and is interested in public interest law and/or nonprofit administration. The Publications Coordinator serves as an integral part of the PSLawNet team.

Specific responsibilities associated with producing the 2011 Fellowship Guide -
• Research and update all PSLawNet online fellowship listings for use in the print
fellowship guide. This is accomplished through outreach (email and phone) to several
hundred employer organizations;
• Search for new fellowship listings to be added to the guide;
• Edit content and layout for publication;
• Other tasks as assigned.

This is a full-time, summer position, requiring a 10-week commitment. The Coordinator will
report directly to the Director of Public Service Initiatives, and will also receive guidance from

Qualifications
• Must be a current law or graduate student;
• High level of familiarity with Microsoft Excel and Word is preferred, as is the ability to
run data merges using these programs;
• Basic familiarity with legal public interest organizations and government agencies is
preferred;
• High level of attention to detail and accuracy;
• Excellent communication skills (on phone and in person) and comfort in collaborating
with project partners;
• Basic web content management knowledge/abilities preferred;
• Abilities to: work independently and be self directed, pay close attention to detail, handle
multiple tasks and deadlines, carry out delegated assignments, and maintain friendly
working relationships with colleagues.

Compensation
Stipend will be provided at $675 per week for a 40 hour work week (at a maximum of 10
weeks). No health, dental, retirement, or other benefits accompany this position.

For the application procedures, click HERE. The deadline for applications is March 11, 2011.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Great News From Las Vegas!

What an inspiration! In an economy filled with individuals needing legal services, many Nevada attorneys have stepped up to donate their time and talents. In Clark County, Nevada, it was a record-breaking year for pro bono services, where more than 16,000 hours of free legal services were provided to the county’s lowest-income residents. To read more about this fantastic acheivement, click HERE.

For great news like this, let's hope that what happens in Vegas

doesn't stay in Vegas!

Today's Lesson: The Importance of Experience

The value of legal experience cannot be underestimated. Read about some recent law school graduates who took their recent lay offs and turned the experiences into something positive and proactive for society. Several California attorneys are volunteering their time at the Sacramento Public Defender's Office, serving those accused of crimes. Their efforts are serving a dual purpose --- graduates are getting additional experience on their resumes and offices facing cutbacks are getting the help they need to represent individuals.

For the entire article, click HERE.

Remember ... it's never too early or too late to get experience!

It's worth your time to read a recent article, Experience A Good Bet for New Law Grads, which discusses how important it is to get EXPERIENCE while in law school. The Florida Law Journal article found that training and experience in a high-demand practice area led all of the other factors in determining marketability of new graduates.

How do you get experience? Just to name a few ideas ...

* Pro Bono Work
* Internships
* Externships
* Clinics
* Volunteer
* Work-Study
* Part-time Positions
* Research Assistants
* Teaching Assistants
* Shadowing
* Networking
* AND MORE!!!!

Talk to a CSD Counselor today to get started on the right path.

Volunteer Opportunities in Jacksonville

Looking for volunteer work? HandsOn Jacksonville may be the place for you. Check out the website and learn all about the opportunities to give back to your community.

Great Job For Recent Graduate

The PSLawNet Fellowship provides a wonderful opportunity for a public-interest minded
law graduate who also has an interest in nonprofit administration. Further, the fellowship offers a bird’s-eye view of the public interest arena for law graduates on public service career paths. PSLawNet, which is housed at NALP, is an “online career services center” for law students and lawyers interested in public service careers. The website contains the largest public interest law jobs database, detailed information on thousands of public interest and government employers, as well as a library of resources to aid job seekers and employers. The Fellow is the principal manager and administrator of the PSLawNet website. S/he will also have responsibilities for: development of online educational content, management of student interns, basic technology and data management, co-editing the PSLawNet Blog, interacting with NALP members, delivering presentations about PSLawNet, and other tasks as they arise.

For more information on this GREAT opportunity, please click HERE. The applicaiton deadline is March 4, 2011.

Do You Love Pro Bono Work?

If you love pro bono work, you may want to consider practicing in Mississippi - a state demonstrating its committment to pro bono initiatives of attorneys. In a recent article, it was suggested that the state is requiring a pro bono mandate for its attorneys. To read the entire article about this effort, click HERE.

HINT!!! Interested in learning more about pro bono work at Florida Coastal? Click HERE.

Student Spotlight: Caroline Cowan

Three Rivers Legal Services recently highlighted third year law Florida Coastal law student, Caroline Cowan for her exemplary public service. While at Three Rivers, Caroline has worked on a variety of legal issues while interning with us. For example, she has researched various legal issues (e.g. landlord/tenant, child custody, debt collection, unemployment comp, foreclosure, evidence, municipal code enforcement, veterans' disability, tax), Drafted Answers (foreclosure complaints), drafted Petitions (summary administration, formal administration, homestead exemption, expungement), Orders (summary administration, formal administration, homestead exemption), Appeals (unemployment comp, veterans' disability), Motions (to dismiss, for default judgment), Drafted Wills, Edited Custody Arrangement Pamphlet, Drafted Advice Letters (debt collection, unemployment comp, probate), Ineligibility Letters, Demand Letters, and Closing Letters, and Completed a Tax Return for 2009

Caroline says that she has learned much while interning at Three Rivers because has worked on so many different legal issues. Working here has made her realize what she really likes doing and what she wants to avoid in the future. In Caroline’s opinion she has received ... to continue reading the entire article and learn more about Three Rivers, click HERE.

How Can Job Seekers Compete in the Current Job Market?

A recent NALP survey asked public interest legal employers what kinds of experiences would make job applicants, particularly law students, the strongest candidates for employment. The results may surprise you ....

• Civil legal services providers look for a demonstrated passion for serving low income communities and for direct experience interacting and working with low income clients. This serves as a reminder of the importance of building cultural ompetencies for legal services attorneys. Without this awareness, it is difficult to develop trusting relationships with clients who may have limited educational background and be distrustful of service providers. Civil legal service providers also highly value bilingual ability in their attorneys, especially knowledge of Spanish or of an Asian language.
• Federal government employers seek to hire individuals with a demonstrated commitment to public service and practical legal experience gained through clinics, internships, and/or pro bono opportunities.
• Public defenders desire candidates with ... to continue reading what public defenders, prosecutors, and nonprofit legal organizations look for in candiadates, click HERE to access the full survey.

Welcome To February