Thursday, February 25, 2010

ABA Writing Competition

American Bar Association Standing Committee on Law and National Security
2010 National Security Law Student Writing Competition
“National Security in a Globalized World”
**Cash Prize and Trip to the Law and National Security Conference in Washington, DC**
Overview: The Standing Committee on Law and National Security, founded in 1962 by then-ABA President and later Supreme Court Justice Lewis J. Powell, conducts studies, sponsors programs and conferences, and administers working groups on law and national security-related issues. The Committee's activities assist policymakers, educate lawyers, the media and the public, and enable the Committee to make recommendations and provide advice on such subjects as the legal responses to terrorism, the restructuring of the intelligence community and its role in law enforcement, and operational international law in the conduct of the military. In furtherance of this mission the Standing Committee is proud to announce the 3rd annual writing competition for law students.
Topic: As we begin the second decade of the twenty-first century, the law is changing dramatically as it seeks to shape and adapt to new conditions. Economic markets are becoming global, transactions require cultural adaptation and understanding, populations are more mobile, and communication technologies bridge distances and time zones to form new communities around the world. All of us must renew our commitment to the enduring principles of law, become knowledgeable about other legal systems, recognize the need to adapt our practices, and acquire new cultural understandings. In a global era, matters such as human rights, criminal justice, intellectual property, business transactions, dispute resolution, human migration, and environmental regulation become not just shared concerns but international issues—among nations—with National Security Law implications. In recognition of this rapidly changing era, the ABA May 2010 Law Day focuses on understanding and appreciating the emerging challenges and enduring traditions of law in the 21st century. This theme provides the backdrop and opportunity to explore the many facets of this year’s writing competition topic: National Security in a Globalized World. The writing competition seeks to encourage scholarly debate regarding current issues related to U.S. national security in the global environment; international security; international treaties and their impact on national security.
Prize: The winning essay will receive a cash prize of $500 and free registration to the 20th Annual Review of the Field of National Security Law Conference held in November in Washington, DC. In addition to registration for the conference, the prize will include reimbursement for coach travel and one night’s lodging. Additionally, the essay will be published in the National Security Law Report. Winner must be present at the conference to receive the award.
Eligibility: The competition is open to all students who are in attendance at an ABA accredited law school between September 1, 2009 and August 15, 2010. Only original and previously unpublished papers are eligible. Papers prepared for law school credit are eligible provided they are original work. Jointly authored papers are not eligible. Entrants can have a faculty member or practicing lawyer review and critique their work, but the submission must be the student’s own work product. The name of the reviewing professor or lawyer must be noted on the entry. Committee members, staff, and selection committee members shall not participate in the contest or review process. Only one essay may be submitted per entrant.
Format: Essays may not exceed 5,000 words, including title, citations, and footnotes. Essays over 5,000 words will be rejected. The text of the essay must be double-spaced, with twelve-point font and one-inch margins. Entries should reflect the style of ABA Standing Committee on Law and National Security’s National Security Law Report articles rather than law review style. Entrants are encouraged to review past copies of the News available at http://www.abanet.org/natsecurity/ - prior to drafting their submissions. Citations must be embedded in text or in footnote form, as opposed to endnotes. Cites must conform with The Bluebook: Uniform System of Citation.
Entry Procedure: Each submission must include a SEPARATE COVER PAGE (not included in the 5,000 word count) with the entrant’s name, law school, year of study, mailing and email address, and phone number. The contestant’s name and other identifying markings, such as school name, MAY NOT appear on any copy of the submitted essay.
Deadlines: Submission must be postmarked no later than August 15, 2010 and mailed to: American Bar Association, Standing Committee on Law and National Security, 740 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005; or sent via email to hmcmahon@staff.abanet.org. The winner will be notified by September 30, 2010. By submitting an entry in this contest, the entrant grants the ABA and the ABA Standing Committee on Law and National Security permission to edit and publish the entry in the Committee’s National Security Law Report. Please direct any questions about the contest to the Committee Staff Director at hmcmahon@staff.abanet.org.
Judging: The winning entry will contain a clearly written original analysis of a national security law issue that is substantively accurate and persuasive, and supported by citations. The entries will be judged anonymously by a subcommittee made up of members of the ABA Standing Committee on Law and National Security

Monday, February 22, 2010

Patent Interview Program

Loyola University Chicago School of Law is hosting the 2010 Patent Law Interview Program on Thursday, July 29 and Friday, July 30 in Chicago, Illinois. This is a nationwide interview program that targets patent law employers, rising 2L and 3L students, and students in Intellectual Property LLM programs.

Last year roughly 90 employers, 170 law schools, and 1,800 law students from across the country participated in the program. The program is entirely pre-selected, which means that students submit resumes and bid on interviews with the employers they are interested in, and employers then review the resumes of the students who bid on them and select the students they wish to interview at the program. Last year, less than half of the participating students were selected for interviews, but many students were selected for multiple interviews.

Students with undergraduate or graduate degrees in engineering or a technical science should consider registering for the program. You do not need to be patent bar eligible to register, although the vast majority of employers participating in the program are seeking patent bar eligible students.

For more information on the program, please refer to the program website at http://www.luc.edu/law/career/patent_students.html.

Online student registration for this year’s Patent Law Interview Program is now open and will close on Monday, March 8. Please note that Loyola does not accept late registrations, so you must register by Monday, March 8 to participate in the program. To register, click on the “Register Now” link on the above web page. At this stage of registration, you will only need to enter some basic information (you will upload your resume and bid on interviews later in the semester). Please note that our school is listed alphabetically as University of Florida, Levin College of Law on the registration form’s drop down menu of law schools.

There is a non-refundable $35 dollar registration fee which you must pay by credit card to complete your online registration. Please have your credit card ready when you register.

Please direct any questions about the program to the Patent Program Liaison in our office, Jessie Howell howellje@law.ufl.edu. Do NOT contact Loyola University Chicago.

Programs This Week

Java with Jessie, Monday, 2/22, 3:30 p.m., Royal Park Starbucks (3Ls)
Don’t miss this opportunity to meet with a 3L counselor and your fellow classmates in a neutral and informal setting to share ideas for achieving career success.

Legal Career Opportunities with the US Marines, Wednesday, 2/24, 12pm, HOL 345 (all classes welcome)
Seeking a chance to enjoy immediate responsibility, travel worldwide, & serve your country all while making a difference? Come learn about legal career opportunities in the United States Marines. A representative will be on hand to answer questions and share their legal career experiences in the Marines

Maximizing Your Legal Credentials, Thursday, 2/25, 1pm, HOL 345 (all classes welcome)
Attorneys from Quarles & Brady are returning to campus to show students how to make the most of your time in law school from the practitioner’s perspective.
Pizza will graciously be provided by the firm.
REMINDER: Please RSVP at the JMBA desk.

Business Development Success For New Attorneys, Friday, 2/26, 2pm HOL 180 (all classes welcome)
Learning how to bring in new business is arguably one of the most important aspects of preparing to practice law. Julie Fleming’s program will give graduating students a strong foundation in how to identify, and bring in their ideal clients and provide
1L’s and 2L’s with a greater understanding of law firm economics and firm expectations in the practice of law. Julie Fleming’s 2009 book The Reluctant Rainmaker: A Guide for Lawyers Who Hate Selling, illuminates the connection between practicing law and growing a “book of business.” Attendees will leave the program with an understanding of how to build a solid reputation, relationships that will lead to business, and how to identify and engage their ideal clients. Ms. Flemming’s website is: www.lifeatthebar.com and she is offering a drawing for a free copy of her book.
Co-Sponsored by the Young Lawyers Division of the Florida Bar & Lexis Nexis.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Handling Mealtime Interviews


Preparing for an interview lunch or dinner? Click here for an article with some excellent tips for success.

Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair

The Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair (HDLJF) will be held on August 6-7, 2010, in Kansas City, Missouri. The HDLJF is the result of Kansas City's leading law firms, legal associations, and corporate legal departments coming together to encourage students to practice law in Kansas City. The HDLJF is designed to expose law students of diverse backgrounds to both traditional and non-traditional legal employers. In addition, students can expect to learn more about living in this wonderful city through interactions with diverse legal practitioners and who call Kansas City home.

The HDLJF will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in newly revitalized downtown Kansas City. The event will kickoff with registration, a diversity panel discussion and a welcome reception on Friday, August 6th at the brand new Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association (KCMBA) headquarters. Interviewing will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday with a keynote luncheon featuring Dr. Bernard Franklin.

Event organizers recommend that students register as soon as possible after registration opens on March 22nd Students registering before May 24th will receive an extra entry into the drawing for door prizes at they keynote luncheon. The Crowne Plaza Hotel will also have a limited number of $50 hotel rooms reserved for students participating in the job fair. The final deadline for registration will be June 21st, 2010.

For more information visit http://www.heartlanddiversity.org/
You may also contact Michael Wasinger, KCMBA Diversity Coordinator at 816-474-4322.

Networking Opportunity: Central Florida Diversity Picnic

Hillsborough County Bar Association Diversity Committee, The Florida Bar YLD, HAWL, Tampa Bay Hispanic Bar Association, The George Edgecomb Bar Association, The Sarasota Bar Association, The South Asian Bar Association of Florida - Tampa Chapter
Proudly Presents:
The 3rd Annual Central Florida Diversity Picnic
Family Fun Event
Free of Charge
February 27th 2010
1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Stetson University College of Law
1700 Tampa Street, Tampa 33602
Live Entertainment, Food, Cotton Candy, Popcorn, Drinks
Bouncy House, Obstacle Course
Please RSVP: 221-7777

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Program Today!

Small Firm Practice- Today at noon Hol 345
Members of the General Practice Solo & Small Firm Section of the Florida Bar will be here to speak on what small firm practice is like, job searching for small firms, how to make yourself more marketable to small firms and how the GPSSF Section can help you. The CCD will also talk about the Small Firm Conference and Interview Program to be held in Orlando in March.
Join us for pizza and an informative session!

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

How not to handle a cold-contact e-mail mistake


Check out the following blog for some invaluable information about what not to do in your job search: http://bfwa.com/2010/02/03/how-not-to-handle-a-cold-contact-e-mail-mistake/.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Programs This Week


Successful Interviewing & Call Back
Tuesday, 2/9, noon, HOL 180
What should I expect and how do I prepare for my interview?
Join Shannon Williams, Director of Attorney Recruitment from the Tampa office of Carlton Fields to learn firsthand about mastering the legal interview and call-backs.

Preparation for Interviewing Questions Workshop
Wednesday, 2/10, 10am, HOL 360
Interviewing anxiety? We have the solution. Join the CCD attorney counselors to discuss different strategies in answering difficult questions. This informative workshop will help you ace a legal interview.

Ethics in Real Estate
Wednesday, 2/10, 6:30pm, HOL 345
The Real Property Law Association, Real Property Probate & Trust Law (RPPTL) Section of the Florida Bar, and the CCD have teamed up to host attorney Eugene Shuey to speak about ethical considerations that arise in the practice of real estate law while you enjoy pizza.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Fellowship

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), the nation’s premier Hispanic educational and youth leadership development organization, is seeking applicants for its Graduate and Young Professional Fellowships. The Graduate & Young Professional Fellowship Program offers exceptional Latino graduates and young professionals unparalleled exposure to experiences in the underserved public policy areas of education (secondary, higher) health, housing, law, international affairs, and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The fellowship is open to applicants who have earned a graduate degree from an accredited educational institution in the last three years. This competitive program is comprised of a nine-month fellowship in Washington, D.C. including a substantive work placement at a congressional office or federal agency. The International Affairs Fellowship includes three months abroad in Mexico. Travel, health insurance and a $2,700 monthly stipend is provided. The Graduate & Young Professional Fellowship Program application deadline is February 19, 2010.

To learn more and apply please visit: http://www.chci.org/fellowships/page/chci-graduate-law-fellowship

Vietnamese American Bar Association of Washington Clerkship Program

VABAW is now accepting applications for its 2010 Hong Duc student clerkship program in Vietnam. All materials must be received by February 19, 2010.
http://vabaw.com/foundation.aspx
Recognizing that an international perspective will greatly enrich and broaden a law student’s legal education and experience, VABAW’s Hồng Đức Clerkship, founded in 2007, provides a law student with the opportunity to clerk at an international law firm in Vietnam for a maximum of three summer months. The student will have the unique experience of learning the local cultures and customs while living in Vietnam and learning international and comparative law working at a major law firm. The Clerkship will award up to a total of $5,000 with approximately $2,000 applied to a round trip airfare ticket to Vietnam and $3,000 paid directly to the award recipient for living expenses.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Equal Justice Society Intern and Law Clerk Positions Available

The Equal Justice Society ("EJS") is a national strategy group driven by a vision of society where race is no longer a barrier to opportunity. Our mission is to heighten consciousness on race in the law and popular discourse. Grounded by an agenda that seeks progressive legal reform, we engage a three-pronged strategy that incorporates communications, law and policy, and fostering a "grand alliance" among our progressive allies. For more information on EJS, visit www.equaljusticesociety.org.
EJS has positions available for 2010 SUMMER and FALL semesters. The positions are open to law students who have completed at least their first year of law school. Interns and clerks participate in developing and executing projects that address civil rights and racial justice, the role of government in American society, affirmative action, and judicial nominations through legal advocacy, policy initiatives, coalition networks, media and public education.
Location: San Francisco, California
Compensation: Academic credit, work study or paid positions upon availability.
Deadlines:
- For SUMMER 2010, the application deadline is MARCH 15, 2010
- For FALL 2010, the application deadlnie is JUNE 15, 2010
* Applications must be received in the office, not postmarked, by the dates listed.
How to Apply: Please email COVER LETTER, RESUME and WRITING SAMPLE to info@equaljusticesociety.org with "Law Clerk Application" in the subject line.
OR mail hard copies to:
Clerk/Internship Applications
Equal Justice Society
260 California Street, Suite 700
San Francisco, CA 94111

International Association of Privacy Professionals Summit - Scholarship Applications Now Being Accepted

The IAPP offers conference scholarships to outstanding students in the field of privacy. Scholarship recipients have the opportunity to attend the Summit, network with privacy professionals and be paired with a professional mentor. All applicants must be full-time students and interested in entering the field of privacy. Interested candidates should send a resume and letter of interest to Lindsey Sylvester, Events Coordinator. The scholarship program is sponsored by KPMG.
Learn more about the Summit.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Olin Searle Fellows in Law

The Olin/Searle Fellows in Law program will offer top young legal thinkers the opportunity to spend a year working full-time on writing and developing their scholarship with the goal of entering the legal academy. Up to three fellowships will be offered for the 2010-2011 academic year. A distinguished group of academics will select the Fellows.
Criteria include:
• Dedication to teaching and scholarship
• A J.D. and extremely strong academic qualifications (such as significant clerkship or law review experience)
• Commitment to the rule of law and intellectual diversity in legal academia
The promise of a distinguished career as a legal scholar and teacher
Benefits Stipends will include $50,000 plus benefits. While details will be worked out with the specific host school for the Fellow, in general the Fellow will be provided with an office and will be included in the life of the school. Fellows are not expected to hold other employment during the term of their fellowships.
Applications All those who feel they fit the criteria are encouraged to apply. Applicants should submit the following:

• A resume and law school transcript;
• Academic writing sample(s) with an approximately 50-page limit on the total number of pages submitted (i.e. two 25-page pieces are fine, two 50-page pieces are not);
• A brief discussion of their areas of intellectual interest (approximately 2 pages);
• A statement of their commitment to teaching law; and
• At least two and generally no more than three letters of support. These should come from people who can speak to your academic potential and should generally include at least two letters from law professors. If you are doing interdisciplinary work a letter from someone who can speak to your work in that area is also helpful. You may also include additional references with phone numbers. Applications must be received no later than March 15, 2010. Applicants will be notified in early May 2010.
Please submit applications to:
Olin/Searle Fellows in Law Program
ATTN: Barrett Young c/o The Federalist Society
1015 18th Street, N.W., Suite 425
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 822-8138
Or send an email to Barrett.Young@fed-soc.org with "Olin/Searle Fellowship" in the subject line.

Bar Preparation Scholarship

The F. Malcolm Cunningham, Sr. Bar Association is seeking candidates for the Bar Preparation Scholarship. The F. Malcolm Cunningham, Sr. Bar Association provides scholarships to offset bar examination preparation expenses for economically disadvantaged third-year law students who are members of the Black Law Students Association or the Caribbean Law Students Association, who demonstrate a commitment to excellence. The award will be presented at the annual William M. Holland Scholarship luncheon to be held on February 12, 2010 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. Applicants must graduate from the law school and must be scheduled to take the Florida Bar Examination in February or July, 2010.

Selection Criteria:

• Academic Performance
• Involvement & Leadership in Law School Organizations
• Work Experience While Attending Law School
• Law School Awards and Honors
• Financial Need

All applicants must complete an application (available in CCD) and provide all supporting documentation including personal statement, resume, transcript and declaration of financial need. Submit your completed application by 5:00 p.m. on February 5, 2010 to:
Rosalyn Sia Baker-Barnes, Esquire
Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A.
2139 Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard
West Palm Beach, Florida 33409
rsb@searcylaw.com

Dress for Success

Do you have your interviewing outfit ready for OCI?
Join the CCD & UF Law’s Chapter of Florida Association of Women Lawyers, to hear clothing experts share the professional expectations for men and women in the legal community. Find out how your interviewing attire can help you land the job that is best suited for you on Tuesday, February 2nd at noon in Bailey Courtroom, 136 BG.