Monday, August 30, 2010

Behavioral Interviewing Gains Momentum in Law Firm Hiring

"As on-campus recruiting season hits top gear, potential law firm hires might not notice anything unusual about the questions they are asked, but the underlying goals of law firm interviewers have shifted.
No longer does the ability to quickly analyze a court opinion or a lawyer's status on law review earn a guaranteed spot in a summer program. Though still important, intertwined with questions about GPA and resumes are ones that probe how attorneys will handle tough or unexpected situations. They are pretty typical for a job interview, but the goal for law firms now is to see how new attorneys can handle the sometimes stressful law firm environment and, even more, whether they can provide real world value to clients beyond just handing in strong work product.
The concept is called behavioral interviewing and helps interviewers gauge future job performance on how interviewees handled previous situations. It is also called competency-based interviewing, which falls right in line with law firms' move toward competency-based advancement."

Click here for the full lawjobs.com article.

Programs this Week

Tuesday, 8/31
Government Opportunities

Come hear Professor Michael Seigel, former Ass’t U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice, Organized Crime and Racketeering Section and Rochelle Kentov, Regional Director of the National Labor Relations Board, as they share their insights on the challenges, benefits and rewards of government employment. CCD Assistant Dean Linda Calvert Hanson will speak about how to gain government positions & counselor Kristen Bryant will be on hand to talk about Equal Justice Works, a recruiting event in Washington, D.C. in October that hosts many government employers.
12pm, HOL 345

Wednesday, 9/1
2L & 3L Call Back Interview Workshop
Join CCD Assistant Dean, Linda Calvert Hanson and Attorney-Advisor, Karen Miller as they explain how to prepare for, present yourself and perform best in full interviews and call back interviews. You will also be able to learn strategies to handle difficult and inappropriate interview questions and find out what legal employers are seeking. This workshop will include a Q&A session.
12pm, HOL 345

Thursday, 9/2
CCD: Who we are & What we do
1L’s: This is a chance to meet the Center for Career Development staff and learn about what we can do to help you find a satisfying career. Most importantly, it is an opportunity to hear from a panel of 2L’s on how they utilized our office during their 1L year to successfully jump start their career.
4pm, HOL 180

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Dinsmore & Shohl Minority Scholarship

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP, one of the largest law firms in the Midwest, along with international consumer product giant Procter & Gamble, will provide a unique clerking experience next summer. The chosen scholar will gain valuable experience in P&G's legal department for six weeks, followed by six weeks in Dinsmore & Shohl's main office. Both are located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The scholarship winner also will be assigned mentors from both organizations, providing a dedicated resource to assist with professional development.

They are specifically seeking applicants who have a record of academic or professional achievement and demonstrated leadership qualities.

In addition, Dinsmore & Shohl has a number of summer associate positions with scholarships of up to $10,000 available.

For additional information and application go to dinslaw.com/careers or email
Jennifer Stark, Manager of Legal Recruiting at dinsmore.legalrecruiting@dinslaw.com.

Second-year law students may apply beginning July 15, but no later than September 15, 2010.

American Planning Association Fellowship

The Planning and Law Division ("PLD") of the American Planning Association will be offering one student fellowship opportunity for the 2010-2011 academic year. The Daniel J. Curtin Jr. Fellowship is a great opportunity for students to learn about the diverse legal issues that affect the planning profession and to work with the planners and legal professionals who are involved in these areas on a day-to-day basis. The legal issues underlying the planning of our cities and communities are an important and essential component in the education and training of those who would become professional planners and land use practitioners. The purpose of the Fellowship Program is to foster increased interest in the study of land use planning and its interrelationship with the law at the advanced undergraduate, graduate, and law school levels.The Program is open to third and fourth year undergraduate students, first and second year master’s degree students, and first and second year law students. One fellowship with a stipend of $4,000.00 will be awarded. The term of the fellowship is approximately ten months (the typical length of two semesters or three quarters).

Contact Career Development for details and application.

Application package must be received by PLD no later than October 4, 2010. Questions may be directed to:
Dan Friedlander, Esq., AICP
Jackson DeMarco Tidus Peckenpaugh
2815 Townsgate Road, Suite 200
Westlake Village, California
91361805.418.1909 Direct
818.584.1233 Mobile
805.230.0087 Fax
dfriedlander@jdtplaw.com

ACLU Fellowship Opportunities



William J. Brennan First Amendment Fellowship


The Speech, Privacy and Technology Project of the ACLU National office in New York City invites applications from 3Ls and recent graduates for the William J. Brennan First Amendment Fellowship, which will last for a one-year period beginning in September 2011.

OVERVIEW:
The Project on Speech, Privacy, and Technology is part of the ACLU’s Center for Democracy, which works to strengthen democratic institutions and values and advocates for government transparency and accountability. In addition to the Project on Speech, Privacy, and Technology, the Center for Democracy includes the Human Rights Project and National Security Project.

The Brennan Fellowship, established by a special gift from author Tom Peters and poet Catherine Abbe and named after retired Supreme Court Justice William Brennan, was created to give people just starting their careers an opportunity to receive training and experience in First Amendment advocacy, and to help the ACLU advance its First Amendment goals.

Freedom of expression as guaranteed by the First Amendment is an area of special concern to the ACLU, and the ACLU has litigated numerous free speech cases before the United States Supreme Court. Historically, the ACLU has been vigilant in fighting government censorship that disproportionately impacts marginalized speakers and communities, including immigrants, people of color, lesbians and gay men. Currently, the ACLU is at the forefront of groundbreaking cases to protect freedom of expression on the Internet. The ACLU is also fighting government efforts, in the name of the war on terrorism, to silence protestors and suppress the free speech and privacy rights of other individuals.

The Brennan Fellow will function as an integral part of the Speech, Privacy and Technology Project, and will focus on our extensive docket of First Amendment cases. The docket currently includes several major cases relating to free speech, privacy, and technology. For example, attorneys in the Project are litigating a novel and landmark First Amendment challenge to the constitutionality of patents granted on the human genes associated with breast and ovarian cancer. They are representing several individuals who were improperly removed from presidential events based on the viewpoints they were expressing. They have also filed suit on behalf of former chief Guantanamo prosecutor Morris Davis in a lawsuit against the Congressional Research Service, which fired Davis from his government job because of his public writings concerning the military commissions.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Brennan Fellow's responsibilities will include, but will not be limited to:
• Participating in trial litigation at all levels of federal and state courts, including legal and factual research, interviewing clients, drafting briefs and pleadings, and discovery and motion practice;
• Assisting in drafting amicus curiae briefs;
• Providing support for ACLU affiliate litigation;
• Serving as a resource for ACLU legislative and policy work;
• Advancing ACLU policy goals through public education, organizing and participating in coalitions.

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS:
• Third-year law students or recent graduates;
• Capable of performing complex legal analytical work;
• A demonstrated commitment to public interest law;
• Excellent legal research, writing and verbal communication skills;
• Proven ability to work independently as well as within a team;
• Self-starter with excellent interpersonal skills;
• A knowledge of and interest in First Amendment issues is preferred, but not required.

COMPENSATION:
The ACLU offers a generous and comprehensive compensation and benefits package, commensurate with experience and within parameters of the ACLU compensation scale.

HOW TO APPLY:
Please send application materials, which should include a cover letter, resume, two letters of recommendation, and at least one legal writing sample to hrjobs@aclu.org – reference [BRFW-01/LAW] in subject line - or via mail to:

Human Resources
RE: [BRFW-01/LAW]
American Civil Liberties Union
125 Broad Street, 18th Floor
New York, N.Y. 10004


Marvin M. Karpatkin Fellowship


The Racial Justice Program (RJP) of the ACLU National office in New York City invites applications for the Marvin M. Karpatkin Fellowship, which will begin in September 2011.


OVERVIEW
The Fellowship was established by the ACLU Board of Directors in memory of Marvin M. Karpatkin, the late General Counsel of the American Civil Liberties Union, who died in January 1975, at the age of 48. Mr. Karpatkin was one of the ACLU's most active attorneys during the 1960s and early 1970s. He left his special mark in the areas of selective service and military law. His interest in those areas grew out of his own strong opposition to the Vietnam War and his desire to help those who, younger than himself, were faced with performing military service in a war they would not support.
Racial Justice Program (RJP) attorneys and staff work to challenge racial discrimination and related issues that have a disparate impact on communities of color, particularly in the areas of criminal justice and education. In the area of criminal justice, we are dedicated to reducing the unwarranted and disproportionate targeting and incarceration of people of color. In the area of education, we seek to ensure that all children have access to quality education, regardless of race or ethnicity. Specifically, we have filed civil challenges to the inadequate provision of indigent criminal and juvenile defense, racial profiling, and disparate educational opportunities. We have also campaigned against the racially-disproportionate imposition of incarceration and school discipline.


ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
The Karpatkin Fellow functions as part of the ACLU's Racial Justice Program's litigation team. Responsibilities will include but are not limited to the following:
· Provide legal research and analysis and develop theories to support new litigation projects;
· Draft pleadings, affidavits, motions, and briefs;
· Interview witnesses and potential plaintiffs;
· Participate in discovery and trial practice;
· Provide support and assistance to ACLU affiliates and cooperating attorneys;
· Engage in public speaking and attend meetings and/or conferences as needed.
· Supervise student interns.


EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS
· The Fellow is selected from third-year law students or recent graduates and will serve for a one-year period starting September 2011.
· Demonstrated commitment to public interest law;
· Excellent research, writing and verbal communication skills;
· Proven ability to work independently as well as within a team;
· Self-starter with excellent interpersonal skills;
· Excellent computer skills including knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite;
· Commitment to the mission and goals of the ACLU.


COMPENSATION
The ACLU offers a generous and comprehensive compensation and benefits package, commensurate with experience and within parameters of the ACLU compensation scale.


HOW TO APPLY Applicants should send a cover letter, resume, two letters of recommendation and at least one legal writing sample by email to hrjobs@aclu.org- reference [LGLF-06 & LGLF-45/LAW] in subject line – or by mail to:

Human Resources RE: [LGLF-06 & LGLF-45/LAW]
American Civil Liberties Union
125 Broad Street , 18 th Floor
New York , N.Y. 10004

The application deadline for both fellowships is November 1, 2010.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Welcome Back!

The Center for Career Development hopes you had a valuable summer experience that helped you to clarify your career path while filling in the white spaces on your resume. For those who clerked, volunteered, studied abroad or were summer associates, we would like to hear about it! In January we’ll host a program for the 1L’s, “What I Did Last Summer” and we’d love to have you participate as a panelist. Please let us know what you did this summer by completing Summer Experience Survey on the “Evaluation” and “Placement” forms under your Profile in Symplicity. This information can assist other students seeking dynamic summer experiences by helping them make informed decisions about how best to spend their time and resources. Also, please let us know when you have received and/or accepted an employment offer.

YOU are OUR top priority! We are here for ALL UF Law students. For individual, one-on-one counseling we invite you to schedule an appointment with one of our knowledgeable professional career counselors. We’re glad you are back!

Judicial Clerkship Applications

HOME STRETCH FOR FEDERAL JUDICIAL CLERKSHIP APPLICATIONS:

The official first day that federal judges following the Hiring Guideline can receive clerkship applications is Tuesday, September 7th. Most of you received your recommendations over the summer for inclusion in your application packet or for upload into OSCAR. Remember, to finalize everything this week, including obtaining any additional recommendations. Have questions? Attend the Judicial Clerkship Application program at 12pm on Tuesday, August 24th in HOL 345.

Come back the next day with your specific questions about the OSCAR system. We will focus on what you need to know to finalize your judicial applications, new features of the latest version, and clear up any trouble spots that students may be having. See you at 12pm on Wednesday, August 25th in HOL 345.

CCD Student Advisory Committee

Seeking Members for Career Development Student Advisory Committee

The Career Development Student Advisory Committee, comprised of individual students and representatives from student organizations, will meet in September, October, February and March to share ideas about ways that the Center for Career Development can best assist students in meeting their career goals. The committee also will explore ways for Career Development to partner with individual student organizations to provide complementary programming, guest speakers and to combine resources to provide greater benefits to all. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please email your resume along with a one to two paragraph expression of your interest by September 9th to careers@law.ufl.edu

Judicial Clerkship Program

Join Assistant Dean Linda Calvert Hanson on 8/24 at 12pm in HOL 345, as she illuminates how to find clerkships and the judicial clerkship application process. OSCAR - the federal On-line System Clerkship Application Review opens to judges on 9/7 - will the judge have your application packet? It's not too late to apply if you act now!


Post-graduate clerkships are an excellent and rewarding way to begin a law career! There are a number of federal Gator law judges with open positions for August-September 2011 who are seeking applicants. This program is one for third year law students, but curious 2L who want a preview of the process are welcome. Be sure you have everything you need for your OSCAR Judicial Clerkship applications.

Government Opportunities

Come hear Professor Michael Seigel and Rochelle Kentov, Regional Director of the National Labor Relations Board, on 8/31 at 12pm in HOL 345. They will speak on the benefits of government employment and share their insights. CCD Asst. Dean Linda Calvert Hanson & counselor Kristen Bryant will be on hand to give valuable information on the ins and outs of applying to government internships and honors programs and an upcoming October recruiting event with many government employers.

UPCOMING CCD PROGRAMS

8/24 Judicial Clerkship Application Process
12pm, HOL 345

8/25 Judicial Clerkship - Focus on OSCAR
12pm, HOL 345

8/31 Government Opportunities
12pm, HOL 345

9/1 2L & 3L Call Back Interview Workshop
12pm, HOL 345

9/2 CCD: Who we are & What we do
4pm, HOL 180

9/8 Out-of-State Careers
12pm, HOL 355B

National Law Student Workers’ Rights Conference

October 15 & 16, 2010

The National Labor College - George Meany Campus

Silver Spring, Maryland

From the opening networking reception to the keynote speaker (Wilma B. Liebman, Chairman of the National Labor Relations Board) to the interactive workshops, the entire experience will educate and inspire students who want to learn more about public interest labor law.

Deadline if also requesting funding for airfare: 8/26

For more information visit: www.peggybrowningfund.org

ONE QUICK QUESTION?

CCD Counselor Rob Birrenkott will be in the courtyard next Monday from 10-11am and again that afternoon from 1-2pm. Come meet Rob and bring those questions that seem to pop up at the last minute.

Need a mock interview or just to talk to someone more in-depth about your job search? Email careers@law.ufl.edu Make an appointment to speak with a counselor.

Friday, August 20, 2010

3 steps to answering the toughest interview question: What do you want to do?

- by Susan Gainan

Before you are blindsided in an interview by "What do you want to do?" you need to take some time to ask "What do I want to learn?"

This is particularly tricky for law students with minimal work experience and no legal experience whose rational-but-unhelpful response is "I want to learn about being a lawyer." An interviewer is tasked with finding candidates who can do the work, and an interview is not the venue for candidates to point out that they have no clue about what the work entails.

Find out the 3 steps that will help you have a smart answer to that tough interview question in the full article at:

passthebaton1.blogspot.com/2010/08/3-steps-to-answering-toughest-interview.html

Thursday, August 19, 2010

TUNE IN NOW OR MISS OUT!

It is critical that you read your emails from the CCD as you receive them. In the past weeks we have sent numerous essential emails on our careers@law.ufl.edu listserv. There are many upcoming deadlines in August and September that you cannot afford to overlook in this market.

The 7/31/10 email contained a chart of out-of-area large firms who will accept direct applications from students attending law schools where the firm doesn’t currently recruit. If you are interested in these opportunities, it is critical that you submit your credentials now to be competitive with other students currently under consideration. If you wait until October, it will be too late and some firms only hire entry-levels from their 2L summer associate’s class.

The 7/29/10 email contained passwords and charts for government opportunities with deadlines in August and early September.

2L's: note that for some agencies, the only way to gain entry-level employment upon graduation is to have participated in the agencies SLIP (summer law intern program) with deadlines soon.

3L's: note that for some agencies, the only way to gain entry-level employment upon graduation is to have applied for the "Honors" program with deadlines soon.

We are here to answer your questions and help you plan your career search strategy!

OCI Bidding Continues...

Bidding for Phase 2 of On-Campus Interviews opens at 12pm on August 17th and ends on August 23rd at 12pm. Employers will be on site on September 23rd & 24th. Student interview selections are entered as they are received. Be sure to regularly check Symplicity and emails from the CCD Hotline for updates.

SYMPLICITY - NOT JUST FOR OCI

CCD daily receives job listings, full-time, part-time, summer, and entry-level, from many types of employers. These openings are all posted in UF Law’s Job Bank in Symplicity. To view these listings, log in to your Symplicity account and choose the jobs tab. You can search postings by geographic area, practice area, and hiring criteria. Remember, the narrower your search, the less employers who will meet your criteria. Try searching under just your class year for a complete listing of available opportunities.

RESOURCE REMINDER

The CCD has a webpage which gives students access to useful information, articles, samples and needed forms. For example, if you are interested in information on interviewing you may want to review:

· What Should I Know About Interviewing? - covers how to prepare and impress, and provides sample interviewing questions

· Interviewing Secrets … What Is Important To Employers - provides a sample Screening Interview Evaluation used by some employers

Visit: www.law.ufl.edu/career/forms.shtml for these handouts and more! Login information provided on your Symplicity homepage.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Rocky Mountain Diversity Legal Career Fair

September 17, 2010

Invesco Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado


Registration Deadline Extended to August 11th!


The Rocky Mountain Diversity Legal Career Fair provides an excellent forum for legal employers, law students and law school graduates to meet and discuss employment options with the goal of expanding opportunities and assisting the legal profession in fulfilling its commitment to diversity. Legal employers attending the RMDLCF seek to hire law students and graduates from diverse backgrounds that have been traditionally under-represented in the practice of law in the Rocky Mountain region.


For more information on RMDLCF visit: www.rmdlcf.com

To register visit: law-rmdlcf-csm.symplicity.com/students

Thursday, August 5, 2010

EJW WEBINAR SERIES

Student Debt Relief Webinar Series

UPCOMING WEBINARS


COUNSELING STUDENTS AND GRADUATES ABOUT INCOME-BASED REPAYMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS
• Thursday, August 12, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. EDT

GETTING YOUR STUDENT LOANS FORGIVEN: HOW GOVERNMENT AND NONPROFIT EMPLOYEES CAN EARN PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS
• Wednesday, August 18, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. EDT

Space is limited, so participants are required to register at equaljusticeworks.org.

Presented by Heather Jarvis, an attorney and leading
national expert on Public Service Loan Forgiveness.