Central Florida Diversity Picnic

The Second Annual Central Florida Diversity Picnic is set for Saturday, February 28, from 1– 4 p.m. at the Stetson University College of Law, Tampa Law Center, located at 1700 North Tampa Street in Tampa. Students from all Florida law schools are invited to attend the event, which allows law students from diverse backgrounds an opportunity to meet and establish mentoring relationships with attorneys and members of the judiciary from Central Florida. This is a GREAT opportunity for networking with attorneys involved in the judicial system, government, and public interest. For more information click HERE.

Experience is the key for standing out to public interest and government employers. Come learn about some GREAT OPPORTUNITIES for getting experience while still in law school by attending one of the clinical programs (clinics, externships and judicial internships). If you have not attended an informational session yet, you still have two more opportunities. Don't miss out on learning about these amazing experiences. :

Thursday, Jan. 29th 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Room 585
Friday, Jan. 30th 11:00 am to noon Room 250

Resumes, Cover Letters, & Networking ... Oh My!

Career Services recently presented a very popular Job Skill Strategies workshop outlining resumes, cover letters, and networking information. If you missed the workshop or want more in-depth information about Networking In A Nutshell please feel free to visit Career Services and check out the video from either of the two presentations: Job Skill Strategies or Interviewing In A Nutshell. Both videos are available for students to check out and review.

Students: You Are Invited To A Public Interest Conference

The University of Georgia School of Law invites students to attend the 4th Annual Working in the Public Interest Conference The conference will take place February 27-28, 2009 at the University of Georgia School of Law (approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta). This two day event features panels and round table discussions with speakers drawn from all parts of the country on topics including:

· Plenary - Human Rights in the Southeast
· Juvenile Sentencing - Throwing Away Our Youth: Harsh Sentencing of Juvenile Offenders
· Eyewitness Testimony - The Problem of Eyewitness Testimony in Capital Cases
· Economic Disparity - Combating Economic Disparity with Civic Engagement
· Healthcare - An Examination of the Health Law Partnership: A Community-based

Collaborative of Lawyers, Health Care Providers and Law Students
· LGBT Persons - The Fight for the Right to Marry
· Sex Trafficking - The Modern Form of Slavery: The Prevalence of Sex Trafficking and the

Sexual Exploitation of Minors Nationally and Locally

This is great opportunity to increase your knowledge on these public interest areas as well as meet professionals in the community. For more information including application materials, click HERE.

Pro Bono Fair & Networking Opportunity - Washington, DC

Registration is now open for the Washington Council of Lawyers Pro Bono Fair. This FREE event will be held on February 10th, from 12:00 to 2:00 in the offices of Arnold & Porter in Washington, DC. This year's keynote speakers are Katia Garrett of the DC Bar Foundation, and Aryeh Portnoy of Crowell & Moring LLP. After the provided lunch, students will have an opportunity to meet representatives from legal services organizations. Visit the Washington Council of Lawyers website to register and learn more about this great networking event in Washington, DC.

GET PAID EXPERIENCE NOW!!!

Compassionate Families is currently looking for TWO paid spring interns for their Jacksonville location. Interested students must qualify for federal work study (See Rita in Financial Aid to determine if you qualify). Interns will hold a variety of roles including escorting survivors of crime to court (Trials, Sentencing, meeting with individual Assistant State Attorneys), making calls to verify family notification of upcoming court dates, and assisting with mail outs for upcoming events and candlelight vigils for survivors. What a GREAT OPPORTUNITY to assist victims of crime and acquire legal experience while getting paid this semester!!!

Interested students should email their resume to Lisa Vervynk ASAP. Further information about the positions is also listed in Symplicity.

Internships Addressing Human Rights

Human Rights First welcomes a limited number of interns in the New York and D.C. locations. Positions are available in five program areas as well as other departments. During the summer most interns work full-time. The work includes research, analysis and drafting of memoranda on substantive and procedural issues, legal issues and legislative matters; documenting and reporting on human rights conditions; preparing advocacy materials and assisting with outreach to designated constituencies; Bluebooking, proof-reading and cite-checking legal filings, memoranda, briefing materials and publications.

Funding may be available through two programs: Frankel Fellowship or Everett Public Service Internship Program. Applicants should note in their cover letters any interest in consideration for either of these opportunities.

For more information and application instructions, click HERE. Applications are being accepted NOW through March 2nd.

Are You Interested in Massachusetts?

Law students who have secured a volunteer (unpaid) position in public interest or nonprofit work in Massachusetts are potentially eligible for summer funding!!! The Legal Intern Fellowship Program invites applications from law students who have secured a volunteer internship with a qualified nonprofit organization in Massachusetts. Students should have a demonstrated commitment to public interest law, including experience working with low-income clients and/or issues that affect this population as well as an interest in Massachusetts. For more information including application instructions, click HERE. The application deadline is March 13, 2009.

Florida Coastal School of Law is closed in observance of Martin Luther King Day.

Opportunities Available NOW at the 4th Circuit Judicial Staff Attorney's Office

The 4th Circuit Judicial Staff Attorney’s Office has an immediate need for volunteer law clerks. What a GREAT opportunity for students interested in getting some real legal experience while in school. For more information including application instructions, check the Jobs Tab in Symplicity.

Great Fellowship Available For 3L Student

The PSLawNet Fellowship provides a wonderful paid opportunity for a public-interest minded law graduate who also has an interest in nonprofit administration, and offers a bird’s-eye view of the public interest arena for law graduates on public service career paths. 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, delivering presentations about PSLawNet, and other tasks as they arise in Washington, DC.

For more information click HERE

Applications being accepted NOW

Get Experience At the US Attorney's Office

• Applications are now being accepted for a credit bearing (up to 6 credit hours) summer externship with Florida Offices of the U.S. Attorney. This is a great opportunity to gain practical and reputable legal experience, especially in the federal criminal arena.
• 
  Application Packet Requirements
• Cover letter (letter of interest)
• Resume
• Unofficial transcript
• Writing sample
• USAO Pre-Interview Questionaire (blank ones available in the Clinic Office, Room 255)
  Office Preference: Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando, Ft. Myers

Application packets should be submitted to Professor McDowell or Cleopatra Smith in the Clinic Office. The deadline for submission of application materials is 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 27th.

***Open to 2L students with at least a 2.7 GPA

Looking For Experience???

Look no further. Three Rivers Legal Services is now accepting applications for volunteers to assist with the implementation of Legal Clinics and Community Outreach Programs. These GREAT programs provide you with valuable legal experience, hours towards your pro bono certificate, and the knowledge that you are helping others.

The three programs seeking volunteers are listed below.

1. Pro Se Clinic

Including divorce, sealing, expungement, pardon/clemency, and restoration of civil rights

2. Community Outreach Presentations

Includes landlord/tenant, security deposit demand letter, elder law and small claims court

procedures

3. Research

Includes drafting, researching, and performing client intake

*Registration closes on January 21, 2009 at 4:00 p.m.

To register, please provide the following information:

Name:
E-mail address:
Mailing address:
Year / Semester in law school:
Phone number:
What program do you want to participate in?: (please list two and 1st and 2nd choices)

Are you a returning volunteer?:
Please indicate foreign language proficiency:
*Required Submissions: Resume and Class Schedule

For further information or to submit your application, please e-mail Deanna and Summer.

The American Constitution Society (ACS), one of the nation's leading progressive legal organizations, seeks a talented, versatile and energetic May 2009 law school graduate to serve as a paid Law Fellow beginning in September 2009.

The Fellow will assist in developing and planning ACS speaking programs on cutting-edge legal and policy issues, such as briefings at the National Press Club and on Capitol Hill, conferences around the country and the ACS National Convention; draft program guides for ACS chapters and materials for the public such as short papers based on ACS Issue Briefs; maintain relations with public interest advocates, academics and private practitioners; perform legal research and writing projects as assigned, to further the work of the ACS Issue Groups; attend conferences, hearings or other events as assigned; and more.

The Fellowship is a one-year position, with salary and excellent benefits provided by ACS. The ideal candidate will be a recent law school graduate who has a strong academic record; excellent research, writing and oral communication skills; and strong interpersonal skills. He or she also will have demonstrated initiative, organization and attention to detail. Experience working on Capitol Hill desired.

For more information including application instructions, click HERE.

Sign Up For US Air Force JAG Interviews

Bidding is now open for interview slots with the US Air Force JAG program on February 20th. Sign up through Symplicity for your opportunity to interview with this employer! Any questions? Ask Lisa in the CSD.

The Clock Is Ticking . . .

Have you finished your application for a summer position through the Florida Bar Foundation? The January 22, 2009 deadline is rapidly approaching.

Click HERE for more information.

Public Interest Checklist

Equal Justice Works has provided an excellent resource for students considering Public Interest Work. Click HERE to access the Loan Forgiveness For Public Service Employment Checklist. This extremely helpful Checklist provides information and resources for determining if your loans qualify for loan forgiveness. Other information includes resources for determining your loan balances and options for repayment.

Federal Staff Attorney Positions

If you are interested in working for the federal government, what better training then working for a federal judge? Opportunities for federal staff attorney positions are located nationwide and provide credible and meaningful opportunities for law students. For more information including contact information for Staff Attorneys By Circuit, click HERE.

Interesting In Interviewing?

Army JAG will be on campus next week and YOU may have an opportunity to interview. Army JAG will hold an informational session on Wednesday, January 21st and will interview first and third year students on Thursday, January 22nd. If you are interested in being considered, you must act quickly. Send an email to Lisa with a copy of your resume. Don't miss out!

Internship In Washington, DC

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 2009. The paid term of 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.

To continue reading more about this great opportunity, click here

Applications are due on March 30, 2009

Looking For A Job or Internship?

Law students looking for internships or jobs in the public interest and government sectors have a busy semester in 2009. A recent article in The National Law Journal, Resolutions for Job-Seeking Success, by William A. Chamberlain discusses ten tips students should keep in mind in 2009. The top ten pieces of advice are listed below and the the full list with descriptions can be accessed HERE.

1. Be persistent

2. Be creative

3. Be optimistic

4. Be patient

5. Be flexible

6. Be a good listener

7. Help others with (non-legal) issues in their lives

8. Use your analytical problem-solving skills

9. Establish and maintain connections

10. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, take care of yourself

Every month, the Washington Council of Lawyers publishes the Public Interest Jobs Clearinghouse, a monthly newsletter of public interest jobs in Washington, DC and across the nation. This month's postings include positions with

Office of the Attorney General, Tahirih Justice Center, Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Immigrant Rights Advocate, American Civil Liberties Union, Kids in Need of Defense, ABA Commission on Domestic Violence, Women Empowered Against Violence, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and others …

To access the full list and for more information, acess the document through the Symplicity Document Library or by stopping by the CSD.

Be Popular - Do Pro Bono Work

According to ALB Legal News, pro bono work is becoming increasingly popular as a way for lawyers to spend their time giving back to the community while staying busy during the slow times. Why not start the trend while in law school by volunteering some of your time to help the underrepresented or underserved? Completing pro bono work provides legal experience, hours towards graduation recognition and networking opportunities . . . all while helping others. Get involved today.

For more information about pro bono opportunities at Florida Coastal, click HERE.

The Experts Agree ... Network, network, network

Three professionals** recently commented on job search strategies for attorneys in today's economy. Their opinions are definitely worth a read including the emphasis on networking as the BEST way at obtaining a great position.

Networking is always first. I recommend that the majority of their time is spent in considering networking sources and actually networking. Especially in this market, it can be the most fruitful strategy. (Experts tell us that 70% + of all positions come through a contact.) Meetings can be helpful, but be selective. It is tempting for many people to spend the majority of their time on the job boards. This is a passive job search strategy and may only represent a strategy that leads to 10 - 15% of positions... to continue reading click HERE

**Kathleen Brady (Brady & Associates Career Planners, LLC)

Dr. Rachelle J. Canter (President of RJC Associates)

Marcia Pennington Shannon (Shannon & Manch)

The full ABA article is also available HERE.

Your New Year's Resolutions

With the New Year officially here, now is a great time to be thinking about how to approach your summer or full-time job search in 2009. Below are a 3 quick hints for resolutions to help you formulate your own personalized job search strategy.

In the New Year . . . I promise I will

1. Make an appointment with a Counselor in the CSD by emailing HERE. Remember, January and February are very busy months. Make it a priority to have your appointment EARLY.

2. Apply for the 2009 Legal Services Summer Fellowship Program. The deadline will be here VERY SOON (January 22, 2009)

3. Ensure that my intern and job searches are priorities in my life and will take full advantage of the resources offered from the CSD. (Hint: Symplicity is a great place to start!)

Sarasota Networking Opportunity For Law Students

Are you interested in interning or working in Sarasota? Mark your calendars for An Afternoon At The Courthouse sponsored by the Young Lawyer's Division on January 30th from 3-5PM. This FREE event includes information about the 12th Judicial Circuit as well as an opportunity for networking with local attorneys. What a great way to learn and meet people in the community where you want to practice! For more information including RSVP instructions, click HERE. Space is limited so sign up today.