Archives for the Month of January 2007 on CSO Blog
Intellectual Property Law Theme Week
Considering a career in Intellectual Property? Be sure to check out the following events:
Tuesday, February 6
Intellectual Property Resources Table – Learn about the resources available for your intellectual property job search.
Upper Rotunda, 12:00 -1:00 pm
Wednesday, February 7
Intellectual Property Career Panel co-sponsored by the Student Intellectual Property Law Association – Hear attorneys discuss their practice in the field of intellectual property.
Room A57, 12:00 -1:00 pm ***Pizza will be served***
Thursday, February 8
Student Intellectual Property Panel – Learn how your classmates found their summer positions in intellectual property, the types of employers they worked for, and the types of assignments they worked on. Panelists who participated in the Annual Patent Law Interview Program in Chicago last year will also discuss their experiences with the program.
Room A57, 12:00 -1:00 pm ***Pizza will be served***
Spring Interview Program Phase I Deadline
The first deadline for the Spring Interview Program is tomorrow (Tuesday) at 1pm. Please be sure to bid for all employers that interest you prior to that time. Please note, you will need to have all documents uploaded to Symplicity prior to bidding and it can take the system some time to process uploaded documents.
The following On Campus and Resume Collect employers are participating in Phase I:
Employer
Class year
City of Shaker Heights, Dept. of Law
1L & 2L
Kegler, Brown, Hill & Ritter
1L
Mannion & Gray, Co., LPA
1L & 2L
Millisor & Nobil
3L
Smith Marshall, LLP
2L
The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland
1L & 2L
University Hospitals Health System, Inc.
1L, 2L
U.S. Army JAG
1L & 3L
U.S. Marine Corps JAG
1L, 2L & 3L
Critchfiled Law Firm
1L
Davis Wright Tremaine
3L
McEwen Gisvold LLP
3L
Pace Women's Justice Center
1L & 2L
Towards Employment
1L, 2L & 3L
*Note, Towards Employment is a new addition to the Resume Collect list as of last week.
In addition, be sure to review the postings under the Jobs tab for the employers participating through Resume Direct.
The Alaska Public Defender Agency registered for our program this morning. Please note, their deadline is Wednesday, January 31.
In addition, the Cleveland Clinic elected to move their deadline for resume receipt up to February 15.
Finally, Hickman & Lowder is a new addition to the Resume Direct program as well, with a deadline of February 16.
If you are experiencing any difficulties with your Symplicity account, please contact the CSO as soon as possible prior to the bid deadline.
Vault Career Library
One of the resources the Career Services Office subscribes to for your use is the Vault Career Library. Vault publishes a wide variety of resources inlcuding Guidebooks, Industry and Firm Research, Company Profiles, and Career Advice Articles.
Popular Guidebooks include the Top 100 Law Firms, Corporate Law Careeers, Government and Non-Profit Legal Employers, and Regional Law Firms, just to name a few.
For those of you thinking about business related careers, Vault also offers resources on consulting firms, finance interviews, and investment banking careers.
You can view these resources online or review print versions in the CSO Resource Room. To access the Vault Career Library online, go to the law school intranet and click on the Career Services tab. Under that tab you will see an option marked Career Services vault.com Access.
Even if you have reviewed some of the materials before, you may want to check out some of the new/updated materials.
New on the Online Library:
View From the Top: Q&A With Legal Women Leaders
2007 Edition: Vault Guide to the Top 100 Law Firms, with all new rankings and profiles
2007 Edition: Vault Guide to Law Firm Pro Bono Programs
2007 Edition: Vault/MCCA Guide to Law Firm Diversity Programs
Cover Letters -- The Basics
Hopefully you are busy applying for jobs and working on those ever-so challenging cover letters. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you are drafting letters.
1. Before you write the letter, research the employer and consider how to link what you know about a particular employer with your background, education, interests, and skills.
2. Create a tone that is enthusiastic and sincere.
3. Limit your letter to three paragraphs and just one page. In the first paragraph explain the purpose of your letter and why you are applying to this particular employer. In the second paragraph elaborate on your background and how it relates to the particular employer. In the third paragraph request an interview.
4. Proofread carefully and do so many, many times -- employers are not sympathetic to typos and grammatical errors.
5. Do not just assert that you have certain qualifications or skills -- back up your assertions with examples.
6. Market yourself -- let the employer know why you are the right person for the job.
7. Make every effort to address your letter to a particular person. That way it gets where it needs to go and you have someone to follow up with.
8. End your letter with Sincerely yours, Yours truly, or Very truly yours -- and don't forget to sign it!
9. Please ask the CSO staff to review your letters.
If you are feeling frustrated and challenged in writing cover letters, you are not alone -- they are hard to write, and please do not hesitate to ask the CSO for help!
1L Interview Skills Workshops
Attention 1Ls:
To help you prepare for legal interviews, the CSO will hold mandatory 1L Interview Skills workshops starting on Monday, January 29. Please review the schedule below as each firm is assigned to a specific day and time.
Information covered will include:
- what to expect from legal interviews
- how to prepare
- what to wear
- thank you letters
Here is the schedule:
Monday, January 29
Barristers (Firms M, N, O, P) 12:00 -1:00pm, Room A57
Tuesday, January 30
Counselors (Firms Q, R, S, T) 12:00 – 1:00pm, Room A57
Wednesday, January 31
Advocates (Firms E, F, G, H) 12:00 – 1:00pm, Room A57
Wednesday, January 31
Barristers (Firms I, J, K, L) 4:30 - 5:30pm, Room 158
Thursday, February 1
Advocates (Firms A, B, C, D) 12:00 -1:00pm, Room A57
Thursday, February 1
Counselors (Firms U, V, W, X) 1:15 - 2:15pm, Room A64
Please feel free to bring your lunch to the noon sessions. Have questions? Feel free to contact Kelli Curtis in the CSO.
Military Opportunities
Interested in exploring the JAG Corps? How about General Counsel or civilian positions in the military? The CSO now has information handouts available to students containing loads of information on legal opportunities in the Navy, Army, Marines, Air Force & Coast Guard. Each military branch has its own unique requirements and deadlines, so stay on top of things by picking up your information handout today!
Spring Interview Program Information
The Spring Interview Program is about to begin! All first year students will learn about the Spring Interview Program and receive all the necessary documents in the 1L Spring Interview Program Overview sessions. If you are a second or third year student be sure to check your mailbox for the Spring Interview Program Packet. This packet includes important dates, reminders regarding interview schedules, and tips on using Symplicity to bid for employers.
Any student wishing to participate in the Spring Interview Program must return a signed Authorization Form to the CSO prior to bidding for employers. All second and third year students will find the Authorization Form attached to the Spring Interview Program Packet in their mailboxes.
Bidding for all Phases opens on Tuesday, January 23rd. The bid deadline for Phase I is 1:00 pm on Tuesday, January 30th. Be sure to review the Spring Interview Packet for further bid deadline information as each deadline is a strict deadline. You can also view the bid deadlines on your calendar in Symplicity or http://law.case.edu/careers/students/interviewPrograms.asp?period=spring
If you have any questions after attending the Spring Interview Program Overview sessions or reading through the Spring Interview Program packet please feel free to stop into the CSO to make an appointment to talk with a counselor.
Time to Schedule a Counseling Appointment
The start of the new semester is a great time to schedule an appointment with a counselor in the CSO to talk about your job search. We can help you develop your job search strategy, point you towards resources and job postings, help you connect with alumni, review your documents, and provide interview tips. Even if you have already secured employment, you may want to schedule an appointment to talk about the best ways to make sure you summer experience or first year as a new attorney goes as smoothly as possible. To schedule an appointment stop in to the CSO and speak with Brian or contact one of the counselors directly. We look forward to meeting with you!
NALP's 2007 Online Apartment Exchange
Law students seeking summer housing and students with housing available for the summer are invited to participate in NALP's free online 2007 Apartment Exchange. Visit www.nalp.org and follow the link to the Apartment Exchange. The Apartment Exchange will be available from January 16, 2007 until May 15, 2007. This is a terrific resource if you are headed out of Cleveland for the summer and need to sublet your apartment and/or need housing in another city!
Business Law Brown Bag Lunch
Please join the Center for Business Law & Regulation and the CSO for the first in a series of Business Law Brown Bag Lunches. Speaker Bill Gagliano, Chair of Ulmer & Berne's Real Estate Group, will discuss his real estate practice, opportunities in real estate law, and legal issues relevant to his real estate practice.
When: Wednesday, January 24, 12:00 - 1:00 pm
Where: Room A57
Please RSVP through Symplicity if you plan to attend this event. Simply log on, click Events, click Business Law Brown Bag Lunch, and RSVP. Feel free to bring your lunch to this event.
1L Introduction to the Spring Interview Program
Mandatory Career Services Workshop for 1Ls
Barristers –Friday, January 19 (12:00 – 1:00 pm) A57
Advocates – Monday, January 22 (12:00 – 1:00 pm) A57
Counselors – Tuesday, January 23 (12:00 – 1:00 pm) A57
Sessions will cover the Spring On-Campus Interview Program, Resume Collect, Resume Direct, Important Dates and the Participation Agreement
Please feel free to bring your lunch to the sessions
Questions? Contact Kelli Curtis in the CSO
Art at the Bar
The Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts Committee and the Young Lawyers Section of the Cleveland Bar are hosting an event called Art at the Bar on January 31 from 5-7 p.m. This event will feature 20 prominent local artists courtesy of Artist Review Today Showcase. This is a great opportunity for students interested in Law and the Arts to network. If you are interested in attending you must rsvp by sending an email to askerl@clevelandbar.org with "VLA - art at the bar rsvp" in the subject line.
Periodicals in the CSO
Another reason to stop by the CSO is the opportunity to sit down in the resource area and leaf through some of the many legal publications we subscribe to. Here is a listing of some of the periodicals we subscribe to:
ABA Journal
The American Lawyer
Crain's Cleveland Business
Cleveland Bar Journal
The Bar Examiner
Fast Company
Business 2.0
Law & Fact
Ohio Lawyer
The National Law Journal
The Chronicle of Higher Education
We look forward to seeing you in the CSO!
Department of Homeland Security Internships
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is currently accepting applications for summer 2007 internships at the DHS headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Please note that applications will only be accepted through January 12, 2007.
Interested applicants can apply online at http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=52017856
Do your research before the interview!
To be adequately prepared for your upcoming interview, you must be sure to research your prospective employer. Not only will you be able to impress your interviewer with all that you know about the employer, but you'll also be able to come up with some great questions to ask during the interview and you'll be more relaxed and confident too.
So what should you know about your prospective employer? How about:
Areas of practice
Location and size of office(s)
Professional and educational background of interviewer(s)
Significant lawsuits and/or legal matters involving the firm
Firm clients
Prominent/infamous lawyers at the firm
You can find information about legal employers in a variety of places, including:
Employer websites
Employer's NALP form - www.nalpdirectory.com for information on larger law firms, corporations, government agencies and public interest organizations that are registered with NALP
Martindale-Hubbell - www.martindale.com
CSO - We have firm brochures and literature for your review!
Peers
With all the information and resources literally at your fingertips, there is no excuse not to include employer research as part of your interviewing preparation. If you are having trouble finding information on a specific employer, please be sure to stop by the CSO and speak with a counselor - we would be more than happy to help!
Case University Career Networking Night
Interested in networking with local Case Western Reserve University alumni? On January 23, 2007 the University Alumni Relations Office will be hosting a Career Networking Night at National City Bank in Cleveland. This event is an opportunity for current undergraduate juniors and seniors and graduate students to develop networking contacts with Case alumni.
While there will likely be law school alumni in attendance, this event is open to all University alumni so don’t miss this opportunity to meet and mingle with Case graduates of various backgrounds living and working in and around Cleveland.
If you are interested in attending you must RSVP as soon as possible by registering online at http://www.case.edu/alumni/network/cleveland.html or contacting the Office of University Alumni Relations at 800.866.6280.
If you have any questions about this event please feel free to call the Office of University Alumni Relations at the phone number above.
Alternative Career Brochure
According to recent studies, the number of law students who decide not to practice law upon graduation is increasing. With this in mind, the CSO has created a brochure which addresses the issues surrounding a decision to seek alternative employment. Some of the topics addressed in the brochure include the pros and cons of pursuing an alternative career, job search strategies, interview tips, a list of transferable skills learned in law school, among many others. If you are interested in alternative careers or simply want a copy of the brochure for your own reference, stop by the CSO or make an appointment with one of our career counselors.
Opportunities in Human Rights Law
If you are interested in human rights law, now is the time to apply for opportunities. First, the Klatsky Human Rights Fellowship provides the opportunity for two first or second year students to work at Human Rights Watch in New York or Washington, DC for the summer. The selected fellows will receive $4,000 to complete the eight to ten week internship. Applications are due to the CSO by Friday, February 2, 2007 at 1:00pm. The application materials include a resume, a one-page statement of interest, and a signed application form (available in the CSO Resource Room).
In addition, you can find information on many other Human Rights internships through the Human Rights Internships 2006 resource published by the Career Education Institutes. You can review this publication in the CSO resource room or go to the CSO blackboard site and search under Job Search Links, Internships for Law Students. This publication includes internships across the U.S. and internationally.
Employer Development Update
With the spring semester about to start, the CSO wanted to give you a brief summary of the geographic areas we have visited over the past few months. We base our trips on your responses to our geographic surveys at the beginning of the year so if there is a market you are interested in be sure to let your career counselor know. Now, on to the summaries:
New York
We met with a number of non-profit organizations and an alumnus whose practice revolves around the importation and exportation of liquor, wine and beer.
Los Angeles
On two trips to L.A. we met with a number of government employers and law firms of various sizes, including the firm of an alumnus who is actively looking for both clerks and attorneys.
San Francisco
We met with the City Attorney’s office as well as a few firms and a non-profit organization who all provided great advice on how to break into the San Francisco market.
Columbus
We met with seven different employers who were all excited at the opportunity to recruit from Case, including both government employers and law firms of various sizes.
Pittsburgh
We met with a number of employers including a mid-sized health law firm who was impressed with the quality of our health law program and subsequently posted open positions in their summer associate program.
Seattle & Portland
We met with a number of employers, both government employers and law firms, who provided tips on how to get into the market and alumni who were interested in helping current students get their foot in the door.
Charlotte
We met with ten employers who committed to participating in our interview programs and were extremely impressed with quality of students that attend and graduate from Case.
If you are interested in these markets and want to learn more about the employers we visited or the local employers that we visit throughout the year, just make an appointment with a counselor in the CSO. We are happy to talk with you about the employers we met with, their hiring practices, and the advice that they have for students.
Interview Tip - Ask Impressive Questions!
When an interviewer gets ready to wrap up an interview they will most likely ask you "do you have any additional questions?" You don't ever want your answer to be "no, I think you covered everything." Show the interviewer that you did your research, came prepared, and have questions that go beyond (or expand on) what you have already talked about!
The questions that you ask should not only enable you to learn more about a potential employer but also allow you to demonstrate your interest in the employer and the position. Show you have done your research by saying (if true) "I recently read an article that highlighted your work in x area and I was hoping you could tell me more about that project." Or "I was reading on your website that you are growing x practice group and I am excited at the opportunity to work with that group. Is that a possibility for the summer and do you plan to continue to grow this group and/or other groups in the coming years?"
You want your interviews to feel like a conversation as often as possible so feel free to ask questions as you talk with you interviewer if they are relevant to what you are discussing. But keep in mind that you don't want to ask all of your questions! Hold a few back for the inevitable "do you have any questions?" You can impress the employer with your well researched and well prepared questions. If you still have a question about something you talked about earlier then say something along the lines of "we were talking earlier about how you mentor your law clerks, could you elaborate on that? Does that include weekly meetings, written feedback, etc.?"
Be sure to check out the CSO Blackboard course for additional tips on interviewing - just click on the Interviewing Info link on the left for great interviewing resources! And don't forget that the CSO counselors are available to conduct mock interviews to help you fine tune your interview skills. Feel free to stop by the CSO to make an appointment for a mock interview or to chat with a counselor about the types of questions to ask in interviews!