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.

Nashville Bar Association Minority Clerkship Job Fair

The Nashville Bar Association is looking for candidates for the their annual Damali Booker First Year Minority Clerkship Job Fair. The Job Fair will be held in Nashville on February 25 & 26, 2011. If you are looking for a summer clerkship and professional career in Nashville, this Job Fair may be for you.

A list of participating employers will be posted on the NBA website located HERE. The deadline for applying is January 27, 2011.

Summer 2011 Judicial Intern Opportunity Program

Attention all 1Ls & 2Ls:

Don’t forget to apply for an internship through the Summer 2011 Judicial Intern Opportunity Program (sponsored by the American Bar Association Section of Litigation).
The program is a full-time, six-week minimum, summer internship program open to all first- or second-year minority and/or economically disadvantaged law students.
The deadline for applying is January 7, 2011.

Selected students are given an opportunity to intern for six weeks or more during the summer with a participating state or federal judge. The program offers a $1,500 award to each selected student. The award is intended to be reimbursement of some of the expenses associated with the placement.

Internship opportunities were offered to 170 minority and/or economically disadvantaged law students, representing 75 schools last year. You can find a copy of the program application and all of this information on the program website: www.abanet.org/litigation/jiop

For more information, contact Lydia Russo in the Career Services Department.

Interested in Working as a Public Defender?

Consider applying for a Law Clerk Position with the Southern Public Defender Training Center . This is a great opportunity to work closely with public defenders in the South. Full information is available on Symplicity!

Use OSCAR For Your Judicial Clerkship Applications

OSCAR is now open to all rising 3L students. To register, click on the below link. Once registered,you may research federal judicial clerkship opportunities, and build online applications for federal judges who choose to utilize OSCAR.

https://oscar.uscourts.gov/

Although OSCAR will not release your online applications to judges until September 7th, 2010, you should become familiar with OSCAR as soon as possible. The application process is quite time-consuming and you do not want to wait until the last minute!

Good Luck!

Florida Supreme Court Opportunities

If you are a graduating 3L, check out this fabulous opportunity with the Florida Supreme Court: http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/employment/central.shtml
Applications should be completed ASAP but will be accepting them until May 14th.

If you are a rising 3L, check this one out .... http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/employment/lewis.shtml
Accepting applications now for a clerkship that will begin in August of 2011.

AVAILABLE: Paid Fellowship For Florida Coastal Students

Interested in public service work? Looking for a job? If your answer is yes to these questions, then you do not want to miss out on this terrific opportunity.

The Florida Bar Foundation has awarded Florida Coastal School of Law a grant to offer second and third year law students fellowships during the summer 2010, fall 2010, and spring 2011. The Florida Bar Foundation Fellowship was established to offer law students the opportunity to assist public service organizations located in Florida.

Eligible students will work with organizations that represent traditionally underrepresented clients, groups, or interests. In the past students have worked with the American Civil Liberties Union, State Attorney's Office, Public Defender's Office, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, and Three Rivers Legal Services.

This year there are nine positions available, two in the summer 2010, three in the fall 2010, and four in the spring 2011.

To be eligible, students must have a 2.4 cumulative GPA, and they must have completed thirty credit hours as of April 16, 2010. Students who are selected will be required to work 140 hours; students will receive $10 per hour for their work.

If you are interested in applying for a fellowship, you should submit your resume and cover letter to Professor Millard at kmillard@fcsl.edu The deadline to apply is Friday, April 16, 2010 by 5 p.m. See http://www.fcsl.edu/pro-bono/fellowship-program for more information about the Florida Bar Foundation Fellowship.

JOB FAIR For Florida Coastal Students

Southeastern Minority Job Fair

The Southeastern Minority Job Fair (SEMJF) provides law students with the opportunity to interview with legal employers from throughout the U.S. This interviewing opportunity is for both summer and full-time attorney positions and is open to second and third year law students, as well as recent graduates. This year, SEMJF will be held in Marietta, GA (just north of Atlanta) on July 30 - July 31.

SEMJF provides an excellent opportunity to interview with employers from across the country in one location. In order to register for this event please provide the following information to Lori Lorenzo (llorenzo@fcsl.edu ) no later than Thursday April 22nd at 5:00pm:

Student first name
Student middle name
Student last name
Student email address (PLEASE NOTE: Students MUST use their school email addresses)
Student graduation date
Student year in school

Registrations received after 5:00pm on April 22nd will not be considered, so make sure to register early.

For more information about SEMJF including a calendar of important deadlines, visit the SEMJF website or contact the Career Services Department.

Attention 2L Students - Do You Want To Clerk

The Florida Supreme Court is accepting applications NOW for clerkship opportunities following graduation. For all of the necessary information, click HERE. It is not too early to start thinking about what your career as a lawyer will look like.

Don't forget ... the Peggy Browning Fund summer work applications are due on Friday! Click HERE for all of the great information about these PAID summer positions nationwide!

Focus On Homeland Security

Throughout the year, the Florida Coastal Blog is interested in focusing on careers which may be of interest to our students. If you think a career in the federal government sounds interesting, you will definitely want to check out the many opportunities at the Department of Homeland Security.

The Department offers Career Opportunities, Honors Program, Summer Law Internship Program, and Volunteer Legal Intern/Extern Program.

Attorneys from the Office of the General Counsel and its major components play major roles in crafting, developing, and defending policies relating to many of the most important issues facing the nation today, including counterterrorism, immigration and border security, emergency response and recovery, and countless other matters.

For more information about the Department of Homeland Security, click HERE.

To access vacancies in the Office of the General Counsel, click USAJOBS Web site

Great Resource For Students & Alumni

If you are not checking PSLAWNET yet, you should.

PSLAWNET is a great resource for students. A search earlier this week found 49 opportunities in Florida alone. Log in today and use the search opportunities function to custommize your own search for a public interest or government job. Positions from all fifty states are listed. Log in today.

Searching For A Judicial Clerkship?

If you missed the program last week about Judicial Clerkships, please stop by Career Services to pick up a packet of information or check out the DVD covering the program. A few highlights in the meantime . . .

• EDUCATE YOURSELF. Clerkships are available at the state and federal levels. Make sure to apply BROADLY in your searches at both levels. For federal, click HERE. For state opportunities, click HERE.


• START EARLY!!! Managing all of your applications and letters of recommendation can take time, so do not wait until the last minute.


• USE RESOURCES. The Online System For Clerkship Application & Review (OSCAR) can be set up to email you whenever there is a new judge posting a opening. What a great way to keep up-to-date on possible opportunities


• LET US HELP YOU. Career Services Counselors are here to help you with your judicial clerkship applications. From deciding your competitiveness to preparing you for the interview, we want to help guide you through this process. Set up your appointment TODAY.

Great Experience In Minnesota

The Minnesota Supreme Court and Court of Appeals are looking for law clerks. Over 25 clerks will be hired in October 2009 for positions beginning AFTER graduation in August 2010. This is a GREAT opportunity for a student looking for excellent and reputable experience. Applications are due in August. For more information, log on to Symplicity.

What You Need To Know About Judicial Clerkships

Most judicial clerkships must be applied for at the very beginning of your 3rd year of law school. If you are interested in obtaining a judicial clerkship following graduation, it is imperative that you understand the intricacies of the hiring process involved and start your planning THIS SUMMER!

Please attend the Career Services Department’s Judicial Clerkship Workshop TODAY (Tuesday, April 21st at 12:00 Noon in Room 550) where the following topics will be discussed:

· Assessing your candidacy for judicial clerkships
· Where to apply
· The timing of applications
· What to include in a judicial clerkship application
· Understanding OSCAR (Online System for Clerkship Applications & Review)

Please RSVP on Symplicity or send an email to careerservices@fcsl.edu. Pizza and drinks will be provided!

Do You Have A Bookmark???

Career Services is excited to announce a new resource for students. Come stop by the CSD (Room 180) to pick up a YELLOW Bookmark of websites you will want to know. Included on the bookmark is information on:

• Symplicity Job Bank
• Nationwide Internship Postings
• Government Internships
• Public Interest Internships/Fellowships
• Nationwide Judicial Clerkships
• The Intercollegiate Job Bank (postings from other schools)
• The Non-Traditional Legal Career Guide

Do not be the only one without a bookmark. Pick up yours today!

Mark Your Calendars

There are TWO great panel programs this week focusing on public interest opportunities and judicial clerkships. Make plans to attend both for lunch and valuable information!

TUESDAY

12:00 ~ Public Interest Opportunities (Room 550)

Find the answers to some of your pressing questions including ...

What are the personality traits and skills of a successful public interest lawyer?
What are the benefits and drawbacks of practicing public interest law?
What types of clients are represented and what types of matters are handled?
What specific experience and skill set do public interest organizations look for when hiring a law clerk or first year associate/lawyer?
What are the most useful classes/experiences a student can have in law school?
Financially speaking, can a student afford to enter a career in public interest?
Panelists include:
Hilary A. Creary, Esq. Guardian ad Litem Program, Supervising Attorney
Christa Figgins, Esq. Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Development Director
Roger Lennox DeVere Williams, Esq. Department of Children and Families, Circuit 4 Assistant Region Counsel
Erica Renee Shaffor, Esq. Three Rivers Legal Services, Attorney

THURSDAY

12:00 ~ Judicial Clerkship Panel (Room 450)

Sponsored by the Career Services Department and Prof. Laura Boeckman.

Please join us to learn such things as:

What it means to be a judicial clerk
What judges look for when hiring clerks
How the application process works
How being a judicial clerk can help your career

Moderator:
The Honorable Timothy J. Corrigan, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida

Panelists:
Susanne Weisman, Esq., Law Clerk to the Honorable Timothy J. Corrigan, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
Jacob A. Brown, Esq., Former Law Clerk to the Honorable Jerry A. Funk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida (now with Akerman Senterfitt)
Kara Wood, Esq., Law Clerk to the Honorable James R. Klindt, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
Carrie D. McClain, Esq., Staff Attorney for the 4th Circuit Judicial Staff Attorney's Office

Email Heather to RSVP for one or both panels.

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

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!