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September 27, 2007
Public Interest Week
Considering a Career in Public Interest? Then Don’t Miss Public Interest Week!
Starting Tuesday, October 2, the CSO will host a week of events focused on public interest careers. Attend as many events as you like - each event is open to all classes (including 1Ls)! Check out the schedule of events below.
Tuesday, October 2nd
Student Public Interest Panel—Learn how your classmates found their summer positions in public interest, the types of employers they worked for, and the types of assignments they worked on.
Room A57, 12:00—1:00pm *Lunch will be served*
Wednesday, October 3rd
Public Interest Resources Table—Learn about the resources available for your public interest job search.
Upper Rotunda, 12:00—1:00 pm
Thursday, October 4th
Public Interest Career Panel—Hear attorneys discuss their practice in the public interest field.
Room 159, 12:00—1:00 pm *Lunch will be served*
Posted by kcc17 at 11:35 PM
Networking: Alumni Want to Hear From You!
If you attended the CSO’s Job Searching Beyond the Fall Interview Program Workshop yesterday, you heard a lot about the benefits of networking. Recently while meeting with alumni to obtain advice for current students, the topic of networking has also arisen multiple times. When asked whether they receive networking phone calls from current students, many alumni are disappointed to tell the CSO that the answer is no. Not only do these alums want to hear from you about what is new at the law school, but they also want to share advice with you based on their own experiences.
Networking is about building relationships. It can help you establish connections in a certain legal market, obtain advice about law school and legal practice, and learn more about different practice areas. True, networking will not always get you a specific job, but it can help you to gather information that may be useful to you throughout your career. And networking skills are skills you likely will be expected to have throughout your career as an attorney. So start now! You can network at specific events, including conferences and meetings held here at the law school. You can also network by contacting people on your own.
To effectively network on your own, start by creating a list of people to contact, including Case Western Reserve alumni and alumni from your undergraduate institution. Send a short note or make a polite phone call requesting a brief informational meeting at a time that is convenient for the person you are contacting. Talking to strangers can be difficult so prior to the meeting, take some time to prepare by thinking of things you have in common with the person and developing specific questions that the person might be able to answer. Think of the meeting as an opportunity to learn from the person and build your network by asking the person if he or she has suggestions about additional people you might contact to discuss your interests or career goals. After the meeting has occurred, send a thank you note to show you appreciate the person taking time to talk with you.
If you need help identifying a list of people to contact, the CSO is available to help. We are constantly meeting alumni who are willing to talk with students and share career advice. We’re also more than willing to help you prepare for a networking meeting so stop by to schedule an appointment with a counselor.
Posted by kcc17 at 10:05 AM
September 26, 2007
NALP's Principles & Standards for Law Placement and Recruitment Activities
The National Association for Law Placement (NALP) adopted "Principles and Standards for Law Placement and Recruitment Activities" in 1978. These Principles and Standards are organized by General Principles, Principles for Law Schools, Principles for Candidates, Principles for Employers, and General Standards for the Timing of Offers an Decisions. Please go to http://www.nalp.org/content/index.php?pid=16 to review these Principles and Standards.
We wanted to highlight the Standards for Timing of Offers and Decisions on this blog. Please keep in mind that employers and law schools that are members of NALP (Case Western Reserve University School of Law is a member) are expected to abide by these Standards -- employers that are not NALP members are not expected to follow them, and most likely would not. If you have an offer or offers from NALP employers, please refer to the chart at http://www.nalp.org/content/index.php?pid=28 so you know when you need to respond to the offer and how long you may hold offers. If you ever have any questions about accepting and rejecting offers, please ask someone in the CSO.
Posted by smp20 at 12:34 PM
September 24, 2007
Following Up After Interviews
Once your interview is over, there are still a couple of housekeeping tasks that must be done. First, always be sure to send a thank you letter or email to the attorney(s) you met with. A thank you note is the perfect opportunity to reiterate your interest in the position and remind the interviewer(s) why you are the perfect candidate for the job. You should send your letter in a timely manner (within one week of the interview at the latest, but the very next day would be ideal) and make sure it is free of any grammatical or spelling errors. For sample thank you letters and emails, please look in Section 4 of your Legal Career Search Guide.
When it comes to following up after an interview, the best way to approach this situation is to broach the subject at the end of your interview. Simply ask the interviewer(s) when they plan on contacting students for second interviews or offers. Make a note of that date and, if you have not heard from them by then, give it a couple more days and then call. You'll introduce yourself and explain that you are calling to follow up on the interview you had a couple weeks ago. As long as you are polite, a follow up phone call will not be considered overreaching or inappropriate.
If you have any questions about the follow up process, please stop by the CSO to chat with a counselor!
Posted by cld30 at 01:51 PM
September 23, 2007
Job Searching Beyond the Fall Interview Program Workshop
Attention 2Ls & 3Ls:
Whether you have been participating in the Fall Interview Program or not, you will not want to miss the Job Searching Beyond the Fall Interview Program Workshop!
There are a lot of opportunities available throughout the year and through various avenues!
Hear 3L students discuss how they found their summer position outside the traditional Fall Interview Program, including through their own initiative, job postings, the Spring Interview Program, networking, targeted mailing, etc.
Get tips and advice on conducting local and long distance job searches, networking, targeted mailings, and much more!
When: Wednesday, September 26
Where: 12:00 noon, Room A57
Pizza will be served!
Please contact Kelli Curtis in the CSO with questions.
Posted by kcc17 at 08:55 PM
September 19, 2007
College Cost Reduction Act
Great news! Debt relief! Yay! On September 7, 2007, Congress passed the College Cost Reduction Act and the White House announced that President Bush will sign it. The Act will make it more feasible for law students interested in public service who also have significant educational debt to take nonprofit and government jobs. Among the provisions in the bill: an annual ceiling on loan payments for borrowers with high educational loan debt compared to their incomes and the ability for such borrowers to make affordable monthly payments for ten years while in public service, after which the federal government will forgive the remaining obligation.
The text of the bill is available at http://kennedy.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/HR2669_conf_report.pdf.
Posted by smp20 at 02:59 PM
September 17, 2007
Fall Interview Program Bid Deadline - Phase III
The next bid deadline for the Fall Interview Program is Tuesday, September 18 at 1:00pm.
Please note that new employers are regularly being added to the Phases and you should check Symplicity for recent additions. Be sure to bid for all employers that interest you prior to tomorrow at 1:00pm. Please upload all documents to Symplicity prior to bidding and keep in mind that it can take the system some time to process uploaded documents.
In addition, be sure to check for new Resume Direct postings as all Resume Direct employers and opportunities (posted in the Jobs section of Symplicity) are also being continually updated.
If you are experiencing any difficulties with your Symplicity account, please contact the CSO as soon as possible prior to the bid deadline.
Posted by cld30 at 12:19 PM
Small to Medium Sized Firm Lists
Remember that the fall interview program is just one component of your job search. In addition to bidding for jobs through OCI, consider sending out targeted mailings to firms you are interested in that are not participating in Case's fall interview program. We have small to medium sized firm lists for several cities/states available in the resource room, and also electronically on Blackboard. These lists were just updated over the summer and new cities have been added. Additionally, if the CSO does not have a small to medium sized firm list for the particular city you are interested in, you can always run your own list. Simply go to www.martindale.com and enter your specific search criteria. These lists are a great tool to use for researching potential employers and ensuring you are conducting a thorough job search.
Posted by cld30 at 12:00 PM
September 16, 2007
Intellectual Property Career Fair/ Networking Reception - Sept. 20
The Student Intellectual Property Law Association and the CSO are hosting an Intellectual Property Career Fair/ Networking Event this Thursday, Sept. 20 from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm in the Upper Rotunda of the Law School.
Anyone interested in a career in Intellectual Property is invited to attend, including first year students. You will have an opportunity to meet with employers in the Northeast Ohio area that have Intellectual Property practices. This is a great opportunity to network with representatives of these employers! Learn about each employer, what practicing in this field of the law entails and each attorney’s IP career path.
Please keep in mind that this is not an interviewing session and that the primary purpose of this event is to provide as many students as possible with an interest in Intellectual Property an opportunity to speak with the employers that are present.
The participating employers include:
• American Greetings
• Jones Day
• Driggs, Hogg & Fry
• Hahn Loeser
• Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell & Tummino
• Thompson Hine
• Fay Sharpe
• Ulmer & Berne
If you have any questions about the event feel free to contact Kelli in the CSO! We look forward to seeing you on Thursday!
Posted by kcc17 at 09:55 PM
September 13, 2007
Advice from Los Angeles Employers: Clearly Express your Commitment to Los Angeles
While in Los Angeles for the Southern California Interview Program last month, the CSO took time to also meet with employers in Los Angeles that do not participate in the Southern California Interview Program. These meetings included meetings with three law firms willing to consider Case Western Reserve students who apply for summer associate positions by sending in a cover letter and resume. Two things these law firms had in common were: 1) a desire to see cover letters and resumes that express a well-articulated reason for wanting to be in Los Angeles; and 2) a willingness to consider interviewing students who take the initiative to make a self-planned trip to Los Angeles.
Although the extent of the required tie to Los Angeles varied depending on the law firm, all three firms that the CSO met with said they like to read a cover letter that clearly expresses why someone wants to be in Los Angeles. Not all of the firms require a permanent tie to the area, but they do want to know why you are considering Los Angeles and they want you to express a desire to establish a career in Los Angeles. It seems that some Los Angeles firms may fear that a student who is not originally from California will choose to spend a summer in Los Angeles enjoying the weather and lifestyle, but ultimately will seek permanent employment in the student’s home state. Thus the firms want you to explain to them why you want to stay in Los Angeles.
As for students willing to make their own trips to Los Angeles, all three firms that the CSO met with indicated that this is something they like to see. One recruiting coordinator specifically said that a student from a school where the firm does not interview on-campus has the best chance of being considered if he or she sends a cover letter that says exactly when the student will be in Los Angeles for an interview. The firm is open to interviewing interested and qualified students who foot their own bill for the trip to Los Angeles because the firm believes this shows a true commitment to being in Los Angeles.
The staff in the CSO is available to share additional advice with any student interested in employers in Los Angeles, and throughout California. Stop by to schedule a meeting with one of the counselors.
Posted by kcc17 at 10:43 AM
September 12, 2007
Judicial Clerkships -- Helpful Websites
In addition to the Federal Law Clerk Information System https://lawclerks.ao.uscourts.gov/ and the Online System for Clerkship Application and Review (OSCAR) https://oscar.symplicity.com there are a number of informative websites for students interested in judicial clerkships. These include:
Debra Strauss's Judicial Clerkships website for application questions: www.judicialclerkships.com.
FindLaw's Greedy Clerks web board, with postings from former, current, and prospective clerks: www.infirmation.com/bboard/clubs.tcl?topic=Greedy%20Clerks.
The Clerkship Notification Blog: http://tcnb2006.blogspot.com/.
Posted by smp20 at 08:55 PM
September 11, 2007
What is NALP?
So you've been hearing about NALP guidelines, timelines and standards, but many of you may be wondering what exactly NALP is. NALP is short for the National Association for Law Placement. It was originally formed in 1971 as a response to a perceived need by many law schools and legal employers to create a common forum for discussion of placement and recruitment issues. Memebers of NALP include virtually all ABA approved law schools in the United States, Canadian law schools, and hundreds of legal employers from both public and private sectors. NALP's core objectives are:
* To provide vision and expertise in research and education for legal career counseling and planning, recruitment, employment, and professional development;
* To cultivate ethical practices and fairness in legal career counseling and planning, recruitment, employment, and professional development;
* To promote the full range of legal career opportunities and to foster access to legal public interest and public sector employment; and
* To advocate for diversity in the legal profession and in our membership.
To find out more about NALP, go to www.nalp.org. Here you will be able search NALP's directory of legal employers, and have access to important NALP principles and standards.
Posted by cld30 at 03:49 PM
September 10, 2007
Fall Interview Program Bid Deadline - Phase II
The next bid deadline for the Fall Interview Program is Tuesday, September 11 at 1:00pm. The bid deadline is for Phase II, which includes both On-Campus Interview and Resume Collect employers.
Please note that new employers are regularly being added to the Phases and you should check Symplicity for recent additions. Be sure to bid for all employers that interest you prior to tomorrow at 1:00pm. Please upload all documents to Symplicity prior to bidding and keep in mind that it can take the system some time to process uploaded documents.
In addition, be sure to check for new Resume Direct postings as all Resume Direct employers and opportunities (posted in the Jobs section of Symplicity) are also being continually updated.
If you are experiencing any difficulties with your Symplicity account, please contact the CSO as soon as possible prior to the bid deadline.
Posted by kcc17 at 05:59 PM
September 06, 2007
Resumes, Cover Letters, and Interviews: Basic Tips From Employers
As part of our efforts to increase employer outreach in different markets, the CSO spent much of the month of August meeting and communicating with employers in New York City, Los Angeles, and Northeast Ohio. Although the bulk of the meetings and discussions were spent talking about the law school and learning about the employers, many employers also took the opportunity to share some basic cover letter, resume, and interview advice for us to pass along to students. Almost every employer we met with emphasized the following:
• Make sure that any cover letter and resume that you submit to an employer is free of typos. A typo in a cover letter or resume almost always gives the employer an automatic reason to stop considering the resume no matter what else is listed on it.
• Make sure that your cover letter is addressed to the correct person and the correct employer. And make sure, if you mention particular practice areas in the cover letter, that the employer actually has those practice areas. Employers dread receiving a cover letter that is addressed to someone else, that is addressed to the wrong firm, or that mentions working in a practice area that the employer does not have.
• Make sure that you can talk about everything that is listed on your resume. One employer in Los Angeles emphasized that if a person chooses to list personal interests or hobbies on his or her resume, the person had better prepared to talk in detail about those interests and hobbies in an interview.
• Do your best to make sure your cover letter specifically explains why you are interested in the particular employer. Employers can tell when they are receiving a mass-mailed cover letter and most employers prefer to see a letter that specifically explains why you are interested in working for the particular employer. An alum in New York City explained that, although it took her some time to tailor each cover letter to a particular employer, it really helped her obtain interviews with small and mid-size New York City employers.
• Do your research. Be prepared to explain in an interview what specific reasons you have for wanting to work for the employer with whom you are interviewing. Use the interview to demonstrate that you have familiarized yourself with the available information about the employer.
Feel free to schedule an appointment with the CSO to discuss cover letters, resumes, and interviewing tips. Remember that the CSO is available to review your cover letter and resume, provide substantive suggestions, and help you avoid typos! We’re also available for mock interviews and to answer any questions you have about the job search process.
Posted by kcc17 at 11:30 AM
September 05, 2007
Median Annual Pay of U.S. Lawyers
Good news! According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, median attorney pay has outpaced inflation by 17% over the past decade. From 1996 to 2006, annual pay in raw dollars rose from about 60K to 90K. During the same time period, annual pay adjusted for inflation rose from between 75-80K to about 90K.
For more salary information, take a look at some new resources in the CSO Library. We just received NALP's 2007 Associate Salary Survey and Starting Salaries: What New Law Graduates Earn (Class of 2006).
P.S. -- If you want to borrow resources from the CSO Library, please speak with Ray. Many of our resources have "disappeared" -- we purchase them so that ALL of you will have access to them. Thank you.
Posted by smp20 at 01:00 PM
September 04, 2007
DOJ Honors Program & Summer Law Intern Presentation - Sept. 7
Second and third year students are invited to learn more about the employment opportunities available at the Department of Justice for interns and attorneys. Ian Hoffman, a trial attorney with the Department of Justice in the Antitrust Division, will provide an overview of the Department’s four hiring programs, with a particular emphasis on the Attorney General’s Honors Program and Summer Law Intern Program on Friday, September 7 from noon to 1 pm in room A57.
If you are planning to apply for the 2007-2008 Attorney General's Honors Program or the Summer Law Intern Program you should attend this presentation. The application deadline is midnight eastern time, Monday, September 17, 2007. You may access the application through the Office of Attorney Recruitment and Management web page at www.usdoj.gov/oarm by selecting “Opportunities for Attorneys” or “Opportunities for Law Students," then selecting the appropriate program.
Posted by kcc17 at 06:07 PM