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September 29, 2008
Other Opportunities in International Law
Thank you to those of you who attended the events last week for International Law Week! The CSO hopes that you found the events informative. If international law is your career plan, remember that there are opportunities everywhere. You heard many of them during our student and attorney panels. Here are few others that you may be interested in exploring:
U.S. Department of State, Foreign Service Corps: Members of the Foreign Service act as liaisons and representatives of the United States in countries around the world. Career opportunities and concentrations are as diverse as the locations at which you may be posted. Many people find this to be an extremely adventurous, exciting, and rewarding career path. It is a competitive application process, including both written and oral examinations. For more information, visit http://www.careers.state.gov/resources/index.html. The CSO does have contact information for a member of the Corps who is more than happy to discuss her career with students. See Heather DiFranco for her contact information.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): While the primary charge of the FBI is domestic law enforcement, the FBI does maintain more than 70 legal attaché offices (referred to as Legats) around the globe, providing investigative and law enforcement services for more than 200 countries, territories, and islands. Each Legat is situated in a U.S. Embassy and works with sovereign law enforcement to stop foreign crime before it reaches American shores. Information about internship programs and other career opportunities within the FBI may be found at http://www.fbijobs.gov/.
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA): The CIA is charged with providing national security intelligence to senior U.S. policymakers. The Agency accomplishes this through domestic and international intelligence-gathering, both through official and clandestine channels. Career opportunities with the CIA include analytical positions, clandestine service positions, language positions, and more. Information about student programs and careers within the CIA may be found at https://www.cia.gov/careers/jobs/index.html.
United Nations (UN): The UN was chartered in 1945 to promote and maintain international peace, security, and human rights and to develop friendly relations among nations to encourage cooperation in solving economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems worldwide. The UN is headquartered in New York City, with other offices throughout the world. The UN is made up of the main body (the Secretariat) and numerous special programs and funds, such as UNICEF. Career opportunities are available within all these bodies. More information about the UN may be found at www.un.org, and information about internships and career opportunities may be found at https://jobs.un.org/elearn/production/home.html.
Remember that the CSO Resource Room has many guides and resources to aid you in your international law job search! Schedule an appointment or stop in to learn more!
Posted by kcc17 at 07:27 PM
September 25, 2008
Job Searching: There Are Resources Beyond the Fall Interview Program
Although the formal Fall Interview Program is nearing its end, for most students the job search process is not yet over. Rest assured that there are still job search resources – and jobs – out there for you. In fact, the CSO recently met with a medium-sized (25 attorney) local law firm that confirmed it does not begin thinking about summer hiring for 2Ls until February. This doesn’t mean that you can’t reach out these employers now and, certainly, expressing your interest early can be to your benefit. What it does mean, however, is that, as the formal Fall Interview Program reaches its close, now is the time to develop and implement your continuing job search strategy.
For tips and advice on how to do this, please join the CSO on Thursday, October 2nd, at noon in room 159. We’ll discuss job search strategies beyond the Fall Interview Program and we’ll have current 3L students share with you the strategies and resources they used to find summer positions.
Posted by kcc17 at 11:27 AM
September 24, 2008
Registration Now Open for Emory Human Rights Conference
Registration is now open for the Advancing the Consensus: 60 Years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Conference at Emory School of Law in Atlanta October 16th-18th. There will be two Nobel Peace Prize Laureates giving keynote speaches, over 35 panelists and workshop presenters from all over the U.S. and the world presenting about current human rights issues, and 400 conference attendees with whom to network!
Please visit this site for more information: www.law.emory.edu/advancingtheconsensus
Please visit this link to register: http://www.law.emory.edu/current-students/student-organizations/epic/conference/registration.html
Everyone must register, even if you able to attend the conference for free. This will help us make sure we have enough food and other materials for you.
Conferences of these sorts are not only wonderful ways to increase your knowledge but also are excellent opportunities to network with current and future professionals in the field. Take advantage of receptions and panels at events such as these to mingle and introduce yourself to others. You never know who you might meet or who might be able to steer you toward the next great employment opportunity. For tips on how to use networking to your best advantage, stop by the CSO and speak to a counselor.
Posted by kcc17 at 06:21 PM
September 22, 2008
Inside Scoop and Summer Job Evaluations
The most recent edition of the Inside Scoop is now available for viewing on Blackboard!
This spreadsheet will be an invaluable tool for you as you explore future summer, school-year, and post-graduate employment. The Inside Scoop is organized by employer names, and following specific employer names you will find the location of the employer, the name of students who have worked there and their email addresses. The CSO counselors often get questions from students asking for “the inside scoop” about employers, and we feel there is no better source than students who have worked for that particular employer. It is the CSO’s hope that students will use this spreadsheet to contact fellow classmates in an effort to gather information about prospective employers. Just a reminder that only fellow law students have access to The Inside Scoop.
Is your summer employment information missing from the Inside Scoop? Just send Candice Storey an email with your information and she'll be sure to update the spreadsheet.
In addition to the Inside Scoop, this year the CSO is excited to share our 2008 Summer Job Evaluation Binder.
Similar to the Inside Scoop, the CSO anticipates that this binder will be invaluable in helping students locate and evaluate potential employers. The binder is filled with Summer Job Evaluations, which asks students some basic questions about their summer experiences. The forms are alphabetized by employer and the Summer Job Evaluation Binder is available for viewing in the CSO.
Did'nt complete your Summer Job Evaluation Form yet? Stop by the CSO - there are extra copies available in the resource room. Thank you to all who have already completed a SJE form!
Posted by cld30 at 01:02 PM
September 19, 2008
Did You Miss Public Interest Theme Week?
Get your recap right here! The week was filled with great advice and shared experiences from both students and attorneys working in the public interest.
The week started on Tuesday with the Attorney Panel. Attorneys from a variety of organizations came to share their advice about the benefits of a public interest career and how to find out if a career in public interest is right for you. The attorneys shared their favorite things about their jobs, which included the positive impact they make on their clients and their communities, the opportunity to get litigation experience right away, and the opportunity to begin working directly with clients from Day One. The Public Defender panelist perhaps summed up best why he’s passionate about public interest work: “I’m doing the civic work that we expect highly educated people in our society to be doing.” When asked to share their advice for how get started in public interest, the attorneys unanimously encouraged students to talk to their professors, attend programs focused on the public interest, join organizations of interest to them, and seek out volunteer opportunities.
Speaking of volunteer opportunities, the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland paid a visit on Wednesday to talk about their Brief Advice Clinics and the opportunities students have to serve as intake volunteers. As a volunteer, students conduct brief interviews with each client to gather general information about their legal problem and then briefs the volunteer attorney on the issues. The student then gets to sit in on the meeting between the client and volunteer attorney, which is a great way to learn interviewing skills, client relation skills, issue-spotting skills, and more. To learn more about the Brief Advice Clinics and to sign up as a volunteer, stop by the CSO and ask for the contact information.
Your fellow students were the panelists for Thursday’s Student Panel as they talked about their summer experiences – where they worked, what they did, how they found their jobs, what sort of funding they received, etc. The common theme among the student panelists was that they all felt they’d spent their summer not only getting fantastic experience In research, drafting, client intake, interviewing, and oral advocacy, but also getting the job satisfaction of getting to follow a case from start to finish, of helping someone that nobody else wanted to help, and of making a difference in their communities.
Public Interest Theme Week wrapped up today with a session about Equal Justice Works and the Equal Justice Works Conference taking place in Washington, D.C. on October 10-11, 2008. If you missed any of these sessions, please stop by the CSO to pick up copies of the handouts and speak to a CSO Counselor.
Posted by kcc17 at 02:53 PM
September 18, 2008
International Law Week!
Interested in International Law? Be sure to check out the following events next week:
Monday, September 22nd: CSO Attorney Panel, Careers in Public International Law.
1Ls, 2Ls, and 3Ls are invited to hear attorneys speak about their careers in public international law. Panel representatives have experience working within a variety of government organizations and experience practicing immigration and naturalization law. Room A59, noon – 1PM.
Tuesday, September 23rd: CSO Student Panel.
1Ls, 2Ls, and 3Ls are invited to hear fellow students discuss their summer experiences in international law. Learn how these students found their internships and jobs, what types of employers they worked for, and how to get grant money from the Cox International Law Center. Room A59, noon – 1PM.
Wednesday, September 24th: CSO Attorney Panel, How to Become an International Transactional Attorney.
1Ls, 2Ls, and 3Ls are invited to hear attorneys speak about their careers in international transactional law. Panel representatives have experience working on international transactional issues within private law firms and large corporations. Room A59, noon – 1PM.
Thursday, September 25th: Frederick K. Cox International Law Center Information Session, Summer Institute for Global Justice at Utrecht University.
Students are invited to learn about the Case Western Reserve University School of Law Summer Abroad program at Utrecht University in The Netherlands. Room A59, noon – 1PM.
Friday, September 26th: Frederick K. Cox International Law Center War Crimes Research Symposium.
Students are encouraged to attend the Symposium, which will feature foremost academic and international experts on the topic of the ICC and the Crime of Aggression. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from the international law practitioners who will be in attendance.
Posted by kcc17 at 05:42 PM
The Places the CSO goes….
Thank you all for completing the geographic survey! As a result of your comments, the CSO has multiple outreach trips planned starting with New York City at the end of the month! Our Director of Employer Outreach, Francie Fields, already has several appointments with employers in the New York City area and the CSO counselors look forward to advising you about career options in NYC. Ms. Fields is also returning to D.C. in October to meet with additional employers as many of you plan to head to the Capitol this summer or after graduation. The CSO will also be visiting Pittsburgh and Chicago in October as well as meeting with many local employers in the Northeast Ohio area.
Keep your eyes open for updates on our employer outreach meetings. These trips serve to assist you in your job searches throughout the country. This week we will begin to expand the employer outreach map on the bulletin board outside of the CSO to reflect our recent travels and employer meetings. Make sure to stop by the bulletin board to see where the CSO has been and which employers we have met with.
Please feel free to stop by Ms. Fields'office to suggest specific employers you would like to learn more about or even just to discuss the type of employment opportunities you would like to see the CSO explore!
Posted by kcc17 at 04:55 PM
September 16, 2008
ASLME Health Law Student Conference - Oct. 17
On Friday October 17th the American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics (ASLME) and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law will be holding the second annual Health Law Student conference entitled Taking the Health Law Career Path. The conference aims to provide students interested in exploring a career path in health law with a toolkit for success. The main features of the conference are a plenary session to provide an update on health law, panels on a variety of employment possibilities, and a networking reception.
The day-long conference will not include employer interviews but will present four break-out sessions offering insight and advice on topics including public interest and legal services, compliance and risk management, government, trade associations and lobbying, management and consulting firms, and in-house counsel. In addition, the featured speaker will be Donna Gerson, author of Choosing Small, Choosing Smart, Job Search Strategies for Lawyers in the Small Firm Market.
For additional information about the conference and to register please visit www.aslme.org/aslmesecure/info/description.php?conf_id=69 Registration is $35.00 per student and will cover materials and meals.
This conference will be a great program for students interested in exploring health law careers! If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.
Posted by kcc17 at 11:05 AM
September 12, 2008
Advice from Washington, D.C. Employers
The CSO recently met with several employers in Washington, D.C. These meetings included several public interest organizations and a large law firm. These employers are willing to consider Case Western Reserve law students for summer and post graduate positions. Of the six employers we met with there was one constant recommendation to students…make sure there are no grammatical errors in any of your application materials - resume, cover letter and writing sample! Additionally, many of the employers indicated that they receive outdated or improper references. Employers want your references to be people who you have worked for rather than friends or family. You can also seek references from law and undergraduate professors. Do not be afraid to ask. Another common reminder was to make sure the contact information you provide is current. Employers don't want to find out that the person you listed as a reference stopped working for the employer you listed six months ago!
We learned a great deal about wonderful public interest opportunities in the D.C. area and what perfect timing as CSO’s Public Interest theme week starts Monday, September 12. In addition to attending the events next week, be sure to make an appointment with a counselor to discuss public interest opportunities for the summer or after graduation.
The CSO will continue to keep you updated on our outreach efforts!
Posted by kcc17 at 06:27 PM
September 11, 2008
Public Interest Week
Are you considering a career in Public Interest? Curious about summer opportunities in public interest and funding options for public interest work? Be sure to check out the following CSO-sponsored events next week:
Tuesday, September 16th
Attorney Panel—1Ls, 2Ls, and 3Ls are welcome to hear attorneys discuss their practice in the public interest field. Organizations represented on the panel include: the ACLU, Public Defender, and the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland. Room 157, 12:00—1:00pm
Thursday, September 18th
Student Panel — 1Ls, 2Ls, and 3Ls are welcome to hear 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. And, get advice from fellow students about funding options for public interest work. Room 157, 12:00—1:00pm.
Friday, September 19th
Equal Justice Works Info Session and Q&A — 1Ls, 2Ls, and 3Ls are welcome to learn about Equal Justice Works and ask the CSO general questions that you have about public interest careers. Room 157, 12:00—1:00pm
Please feel free to bring your lunch to these events!
Posted by kcc17 at 06:16 PM
Explore the World of Human Rights Law
The Emory Public Interest Committee has announced their conference entitled “Expendable People?: A Human Rights Perspective on the Impact of Global Economic Migration on Georgia.” The conference will be held on Saturday, October 17, 2009, at Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, and it will address three aspects of economic migration—human trafficking, the guest-worker program, and the undocumented workforce—and aims to challenge current law and culture to examine the health of human rights within U.S. borders.
Student conference organizers seek to engage conference participants in an open discussion of each of these topics: their causes, incidences, and effects—on those directly involved and on the greater Georgia community. The conference will serve as a space where individual, government, and community responses to economic migration can be examined and even challenged. Specifically, the plan is to discuss the relationship between human rights and citizenship.
Information is available at http://www.law.emory.edu/academics/conferences/epic-conference.html, and registration is open now. There is no fee to attend but registration is requested in order to plan for materials and meals. Please email conference co-chairs Jenny Hernandez and Sarah Stein at emorylawconference(at)gmail.com if you have any questions.
Conferences of these sorts are not only wonderful ways to increase your knowledge but also are excellent opportunities to network with current and future professionals in the field. Take advantage of receptions and panels at events such as these to mingle and introduce yourself to others. You never know who you might meet or who might be able to steer you toward the next great employment opportunity. For tips on how to use networking to your best advantage, stop by the CSO and speak to a counselor.
Posted by kcc17 at 06:12 PM
September 08, 2008
CSO Resources
Welcome back students! While you were away for the summer the CSO was busy updating the Resource Room to ensure that you have the latest and most recent resources to assist with your job search. We have recently updated many of the small/medium sized firm lists and city guides, and we have several new resources available including:
*The City/County Attorney Internship Book 2008
*The Intership Series - The Big Green Internship Book, Internships and Summer Jobs for the Environment 2008
* Green Law - Legal Internships with Public Interest Environmental Organizations 2008
*The Comprehensive Fellowship Guide, 2008-2009
*2008-2009 Government Honors and Internship Book
*High Impact Interview Questions - 701 Behavior-Based Questions
Please stop by the resource room between classes and spend a few minutes browsing to see what's available to help you with your job search. Questions? Feel free to ask a counselor!
Posted by cld30 at 04:56 PM
September 04, 2008
Career Services Open House!
The CSO is excited to start the new academic year and would like to welcome all the first year students to Case Western Reserve University School of Law as well as welcome back all of the second and third year students!
So that we can catch up with returning students and meet new students, the CSO invites you to join us for an open house on Friday, September 12 from 8:30 am until 11:00 am in the CSO. Please stop by to meet the newest member of our staff, bring us up to speed on your summer experience, and learn about the new resources in the CSO.
We will have coffee and donuts for those students who stop by! We look forward to seeing everyone on Friday!
Posted by kcc17 at 08:49 PM
September 03, 2008
2008 Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair
The 2008 Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair will take place October 10-11, 2008 at The Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC. The Conference and Career Fair offers students an opportunity to meet with employers for volunteer opportunities, summer positions and postgraduate opportunities in the public interest sector.
REGISTRATION
Registration for the 2008 Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair is underway! Students may register online at http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/events/ccf/student Registration will close on September 26 at 5pm PDT.
SUBMITTING RESUMES TO EMPLOYERS
Students may submit their resumes for interviews at the Equal Justice Works 2008 Career Fair by visiting http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/events/ccf/student and following the instructions listed on the page. Employers are added daily, so check back often. Be sure to read the criteria carefully! Some employers provide very specific instructions on how to apply for their available positions. Send in your application materials as soon as possible and no later than September 12, 2008. This ensures employers have time to review your application and notify you of an interview opportunity prior to the Career Fair.
HOTEL INFORMATION
The Omni Shoreham Hotel has blocked off rooms for all Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair attendees at the special rate of $224 per night (excluding taxes) per room. Reserve your room online or call the Omni Shoreham at (202)234-0700. Make sure you mention you are attending the Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair for the special rate.
AIRPORTS
Baltimore-Washington International (BWI) – 34 miles
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) – 6.5 miles
Dulles International Airport (IAD) – 27 miles
If you have any questions about the Conference and Career Fair, please contact the CSO.
Posted by kcc17 at 05:39 PM
Welcome Back to the Blog!
Welcome back! The CSO hopes that everyone had a great legal experience this summer and enjoyed the break! The CSO blog will now be posting daily entries so be sure to check back often for tips and advice, upcoming events, guest bloggers, and much more!
Posted by kcc17 at 05:32 PM