New Website Launched

A new website provide prospective applicants with information about applying to government positions in the Obama-Biden Administration. Applicants for any of these non-career positions - whether in the White House or in any Federal Department, Agency or Commission - should use this website, as applying on-line is the fastest and most accurate way to get your information to us. Alternatively, if you are interested instead in a career, civil service position with the federal government, you should proceed to the Office of Personnel Management .

Opportunities in Capital Defense Offices

Are you a student interested in Criminal Law and Capital Defense? If so, you must check out this wonderful resource offered by The Berkeley Law Death Penalty Clinic. The Clinic has compiled a list of internship and job opportunities for law students and recent graduates in offices around the country. Students should have a strong interest in the defense of death row inmates or capitally-charged defendants. Take some time to review this great resource.

The Career Services Department will be closed until January 5, 2008. We look forward to working with you in the Spring. Happy Holidays!

North Carolina or Rhode Island?

If you are a student interested in opportunities in either state take the time to apply for two great summer programs: North Carolina State Government Internship Program or the Rhode Island State Government Internship Program. These fabulous programs run by the state government are the only ones we are aware of which run formal (and truly organized) summer internship programs.
The deadlines are rapidly approaching, so Winter Break is a great time to be working on your applications. For further information and application requirements, click the links below.

• North Carolina
• Rhode Island

Reminder . . . Approaching Deadline!!!

If you have not already applied for the The Florida Bar Foundation 2009 Summer Fellowship Program, make sure you do so before the upcoming deadline. It is expected that approximately 40 full-time fellowships will be offered to first and second-year law students. The Legal Services Summer Fellowship Program runs for a period of 11 weeks and is a full-time position for the summer. Fellowship stipends are $5,500 for first-year students and $7,000 for second-year students for the eleven-week period.

What Are They Looking For?

First and second-year law students attending accredited law schools are eligible to apply as long as they are in good-standing with their law school. Minority students are specifically encouraged to apply. Among the factors to be considered in selections are: experience in working with the low-income community, academic achievement, writing skills, and previous contact with and long-term commitment/interest in public service/pro bono work. Law student applicants will be provided an opportunity to specify program placement preference. Due to the necessity of insuring placement throughout Florida in a variety of programs and sites, student flexibility in preference sites may be a factor in selection.

For more information including application instructions, click HERE.

Application Deadline = January 22, 2008

Looking For Summer Funding?

Are you a student interested in public interest work but concerned about funding? Take a moment and review PSLAWNET's listing of funding opportunities for students who are considering a non-paid position addressing a certain population, cause, or goal. The application deadlines vary, so make sure to pay close attention to each opportunity. This could be a great opportunity to complete the type of work which interests you while also receiving some funding for the summer.

Coming Soon ... OCI Spring Dates

Remember to keep checking your email and logging on to Symplicity over the Winter Break to sign up for Spring 2009 OCI Interviews.

More details about participating employers forthcoming ...

Job Search Advice In Today's Economy

If you are looking for guidance on your job and internship searches, take a moment and read "Job Advice for 1Ls Who Are 'Scared to Death' by Lynne Traverse. Ms. Traverse, a recruiting and professional development manager at Byran Cave offers her reflections on things ALL law students should be doing in their individual searches. A few points are listed below and the full article is available HERE.

BE SPECIFIC
A generic, meant-for-mass-consumption application letter won't work this year (if it ever did). Your research will tell you something about prospective employers. Use the details you dig up in your application materials. There is no rule that you should send the same cover letter and resume to every potential employer. And by addressing employers correctly and specifically, you show them you are genuinely interested in them. That helps make you stand out in a crowd.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
In the current climate, it is even less likely than usual that you will have luck applying to an area of the country where you cannot demonstrate a strong connection. (By strong, I mean you have lived there, have parents, siblings or other close family members living there, attended college there, or a similarly compelling connection.) Employers take local ties as a sign that there is good chance that they will see you again in the future, which increases the potential value of their investment in a summer intern. Instead of papering the country with generic applications, devote your time and energy to a thorough exploration of possibilities in areas where you can show a connection.

BE PATIENT AND STAY PROFESSIONAL
Finding a summer job this year will be tough and take perseverance. Keep in mind that whatever job you have this summer, you will use the skills you gain, and the relationships you build. Even the search itself will offer you a major learning experience, as well as opportunities for new proficiencies and a perspective you did not have before.

For more tips, click HERE to access the full article.

Exciting News

The U.S. Department of Justice offers approximately 1,000 summer volunteer internships each year and the window for applying is NOW OPEN. Click HERE to access the list of agencies looking for law students as well as application instructions. Some of the agencies include the Antitrust Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Civil Division, Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section, Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Obscenity Prosecution Task Force, Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT), and MORE!

New Podcast: The Student Debt Relief Series

Are you still confused about the College Cost Reduction & Access Act and whether it is a good option for you ? Do you have lingering concerns about whether you can afford to pursue a career in Government or Public Interest Law? If you answered "Yes!" to either of these questions, consider taking advantage of a new resource, courtesy of Equal Justice Works and American University’s Washington College of Law. These entities have teamed up to launch an all-new podcast: The Student Debt Relief Series which is available to students. The very first episode, “How to Figure Out if You Benefit from the College Cost Reduction & Access Act - and How Much?” is available NOW and can be accessed HERE through streaming, downloading, or subscribing.

Take 20 minutes of your time to explore this great new resource!

Judicial Intern Opportunity Program

The ABA Judicial Intern Opportunity Program is a full-time, six-week minimum, summer internship program open to all first- or second-year minority and/or financially disadvantaged law students who want to do legal research and writing for state or federal judges in Illinois; Texas; Miami, FL; Phoenix, AZ; Los Angeles and San Francisco, CA; and Washington DC.

The program seeks to provide internship opportunities for minority or financially disadvantaged law students, those who are members of traditionally underrepresented groups in the legal profession. For more information including application instructions, click HERE. The application deadline is rapidly approaching (December 31, 2008)

Is Public Interest Law Right For You?

If you went to law school because you wanted to “help people” when you graduated, there’s a good chance that public interest law is the right career choice for you. Take a moment and read the recent ABA Young Lawyers Division publication, "Is Public Interest Law Right For You" by Jennifer Wimberly. In this article, Ms. Wimberly notes that students should carefully consider several important points before pursuing a public interest job. Click HERE for the full article.

The Legal Studies Institute sponsored by The Fund for American Studies provides students with the chance to gain firsthand exposure to the American legal system through legal internships, 3-credit Constitutional law seminar and career development activities. The 2009 summer program will extend for ten weeks from May 24 - August 1, 2009 in Washington, DC and offers five components:

Legal Internship: Participants will be placed in a 9-week legal internship where they will gain substantive experience in the legal profession. Internship sites will include law firms, courts, public interest legal organizations, and the legal departments of trade associations, corporations and government agencies. Refer to the attached brochure for more specific internship sites and student testimonials.

Seminar on Constitutional Law: Participants will attend a 3-credit seminar on Constitutional law taught by leading legal scholars, including Dr. John Baker from the Louisiana State University School of Law and Dr. Roger Pilon from the Cato Institute. The 3 credits are transferable from New York Law School.

Briefings and Activities: Participants will attend private briefings at institutions of the judicial and executive branches and will meet with prominent judges, lawyers and judicial scholars.

Career Development Activities: Workshops will be held to help prepare participants for success in their law careers.

Attorney Mentor Program: Each participant will be matched with an experienced lawyer who will serve as a professional mentor.

Applications for the program will be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis. The early deadline is January 30, 2009. Click HERE for the online application and more information about fees and application requirements.

The buzz on the College Cost Reduction and Access Act is growing as more and more students become aware of the program. In a recent Washington Post article, the benefits and some drawbacks of the program are discussed. This article and others about the Program should definitely be on the radar of any law student considering a public interest or government career.

Do You Have Ties To Boston?

The Boston Lawyers Group (BLG) announces its 2009 1L Diversity Clerkship Program for first-year law students of color. Clerks will spend the first five weeks of the ten-week clerkship working in the Boston office of one of the BLG's participating law firms, and the second five weeks working in the law department of one of the BLG's corporate partners or government agencies. To be eligible, students must

(1) Be a 1L Student of Color Currently Attending an Accredited Law School

(2) Demonstrate a connection to Boston

For application instructions, click HERE.

For the actual application, click HERE.

Applications are due NO LATER than February 13, 2009.

Do You Know About NALP Job Listings?

If you are a law student looking for a career in the public interest arena, make sure you are checking the NALP Job Listings regularly. Both law firms and law schools hire attorneys for public interest related positions. The postings are continually updated and should be checked routinely. A recent December posting (still looking for applicants!) is listed below and may be a perfect fit for a Coastal graduate with previous experience in the public interest sector.

Assistant Director, Public Interest Specialist. Posted 12/2/08. (Position # 1170) Description: American University Washington College of Law is seeking a qualified candidate for the position of Assistant Director and Public Interest Specialist, Office of Career & Professional Development. Incumbent will provide specialized counseling and organize school-wide programs for those interested in public service careers, including the public interest and government sectors. The position regularly works with the Public Interest Committee and assists with the administration of the Public Interest Loan Repayment Assistance Program. Responsibilities also include assisting in the administration and management of the Office of Career & Professional Development. In particular, the successful candidate will assist with overseeing of the front desk staffing and operations as needed. Position Requirements: J.D. highly preferred. A minimum of 2 to 3 years of professional experience in the public service/public interest field is required, as well as excellent organizational, interpersonal and oral and written communication skills. Ability to function in a fast-paced environment is necessary. Knowledge of legal resume writing, interviewing, and job search strategy strongly preferred. Previous supervisory experience preferred. Must be comfortable marketing American University's Washington College of Law to employers, particularly in public interest organizations and government agencies. To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to the American University main campus at careers@american.edu. You must include the position number (# 1170) and position title to be considered.

Are You Interested In Labor Law?

Several labor law firms have recently agreed to participate in the nationwide AFL-CIO’s Lawyers Coordinating Committee Minority Outreach Program. The program is designed to introduce minority law students to the practice of labor law and to the labor community by providing summer clerkship opportunities with participating firms and union legal departments. Students with a demonstrated interest in labor law, as well as those students who may be interested in the field, are encouraged to participate in the program. Students should contact the firms directly with inquiries or applications, and are advised to reference the “LCC Minority Outreach Program” in all correspondence.

Have you taken an Educational Law course?

Are you interested in the issues of educational equity and opportunity?

Would you consider a working as a fellow or summer intern?

The Institute for Educational Equity and Opportunity has two unique opportunities available:

• A 1-year fellowship for a 2009 law school graduate to work with a public interest educational equity project or attorney of their choice in the areas of educational equity and opportunity. This Fellowship will be in the amount of $60,000 dollars for salary plus additional funds for benefits.


• A similar Summer Associate Award is available for a 2nd year law student in the amount of $1,000 per week for 12 weeks.

Applicants must have taken a course in Education Law (or be currently enrolled in Education Law) and be recommended by her/his Education Law Professor.

Application details and further instructions are located HERE. The strict deadline for applying is January 31, 2009.

Civil Rights Internship Available

The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) is currently accepting internship applications from law students for Summer 2009. LDF, a non-profit civil rights law firm founded in 1940 by the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, is one of the finest human rights law firm in American history. For decades LDF has worked through the courts and Congress to make the nation’s constitutional and statutory guarantees of equal treatment and civil rights a reality for African Americans and other disfranchised groups. If you plan to pursue a career in racial justice and civil rights law, this may be a great opportunity for you to consider.

The New York and D.C. offices award 2L unpaid summer internships independently. Applicants should send a cover letter, resume, 5-10 page writing sample, and list of three references to the appropriate office. Positions will be filled on a rolling basis and applicants are encouraged to apply no later than January 2009.

For more information and further application instructions, click HERE.

The Career Services Department Team Wishes Everyone Good Luck On Their Exams!

Fellowship Opportunity For 3L Students

Are you a 3L interested in public interest work? Do you have a project you would like to get off the ground next year? If so, apply for funding from the Initiative for Public Interest at Yale.

The Initiative is a non-profit organization that provides start-up money for projects that protect the legal rights or interests of inadequately represented groups. It funds cutting-edge projects whose successful execution might be a model for other organizations seeking new and better ways to represent clients. The deadline to submit applications for one-year grants of up to $30,000 to be awarded in the summer of 2009 is February 2, 2009.

For information about how to apply, visit The Initiative's web site. Please note that while Yale students may receive some preference in the selection process, the opportunity is open to all 3L law students who apply.

New Faces...

The Career Services Department is excited to introduce two new members to the Career Services Team.


Jocelyn Donahue is a new Counselor in the department and will be responsible for promoting government and public interest outreach to employers. To reach Jocelyn, click HERE.

Heather McArthur joins us from Salt Lake City and will be responsible for Reciprocity and scheduling of Counselor appointments. To schedule an appointment, click HERE.

Please take a moment to stop by Suite 180 and meet our new team members!

Maximize Your Winter Break

Your Winter Break can be a great opportunity to begin exploring careers in the government or public interest sectors. Below are five simple things you can start now.

Five Tips For Winter Break

1. Apply to the 2009 Florida Bar Foundation Legal Services Summer Fellowship Program

This amazing summer program provides funded opportunities at 40 different public interest entities across the state of Florida. The application deadline is January 22, 2009, so start your applications early. For more information, click HERE.

2. Triple check the Arizona Honors Internship Handbook

If you are looking for a federal government position, you must check out this resource. The nationwide handbook contains over 200 pages of internship listings for 1L, 2L, and 3L students in every state and most agencies in the country. Whether you are interested in working for the White House, the State Department, the Environmental Protection Agency, or hundreds of others, you should look into this list of opportunities. Log in to the Symplicity Document Library to access this incredible resource.

3. Bookmark the CSD Blog

This is a great time to make a habit of checking this Blog daily. The CSD is committed to updating this resource with information about government and public interest opportunities. Subscribe to the Blog. Make it a favorite. Check the Blog daily.

4. Complete some pro bono work

The benefits of pro bono work are too numerous to list. Not only can you provide assistance to those in need but you can also use the opportunity to meet attorneys in the community and explore areas of law that interest you. No matter where you are spending your Winter Break, there are pro bono or volunteer opportunities available. For a sample list, click HERE.

5. Make an appointment with a CSD counselor

Each of the CSD counselors are excited about meeting with students interested in government and public interest work and opportunities. Email the CSD now to make an appointment with a counselor to jump start your job and internship search strategies.

2009 Legal Services Summer Fellowship Program

The Florida Bar Foundation is sponsoring the 2009 Summer Fellowship Program at legal aid and legal services programs in Florida . Approximately 40 full-time fellowships will be offered to first and second-year law students. The Legal Services Summer Fellowship Program runs for a period of 11 weeks and is a full-time position for the summer. Fellowship stipends are $5,500 for first-year students and $7,000 for second-year students for the eleven-week period

Student Eligibility and Selection Criteria
First and second-year law students attending accredited law schools are eligible to apply, as long as they are in good-standing with their law school. Minority students are specifically encouraged to apply. Among the factors to be considered in selections are: experience in working with the low-income community, academic achievement, writing skills, and previous contact with and long-term commitment/interest in public service/pro bono work. Law student applicants will be provided an opportunity to specify their program placement preference. Due to the necessity of insuring placement throughout Florida in a variety of programs and sites, student flexibility in preference sites may be a factor in selection.


Fellowship applications are available on The Florida Bar Foundation website and must be received Thursday, January 22, 2009.

College Cost Reduction & Access Act

For those students interested in learning more about the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, the recent press release from Equal Justice Works should be on your reading list. The release indicates that The Department of Education has released the final regulations that govern the Public Service Loan Forgiveness and Income-Based Repayment programs of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act. Although the final regulations are significantly similar to the previously issued proposed rules, there are some important clarifications and changes which are outline in the Release. Some changes include:
>> The Department rejected suggestions for annual certification of eligibility, but stated that “we will continue to examine ways to assist borrowers who are interested in, or already employed in public service, to determine and document their eligibility for the loan forgiveness program.” Equal Justice Works continues to advise borrowers to collect and retain records that support the borrower’s eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
>>The Department announced its intention to develop a form for borrowers to use to apply for the public service loan forgiveness which will include “all the information the borrower and the borrower’s employer need regarding the eligibility criteria, applicable definitions, and procedures for applying for the loan forgiveness benefit.” Equal Justice Works will work with the Department to develop clear and simple administrative procedures.
>>The Department revised the definition of full-time to apply the ... to continue reading the entire press release, click HERE.