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October 30, 2008
Brown Bag Lunches
If you’ve been reading “The Record” (the CSO’s weekly newsletter) or flyers posted around the school, you may have noticed that the CSO has offered two separate Brown Bag Lunch events for students in the past two weeks. These Brown Bag Lunch events bring local practitioners here for the sole purpose of talking with students. The CSO encourages you to attend!
Last week, the CSO and the SBA launched a new lunchtime series designed to give all students the opportunity to more closely connect with recent alumni. The “Alumni Brown Bag Lunch” series will continue throughout this year and will provide you with an informal setting in which to talk with recent alumni about their law school experiences and about their lives as practicing attorneys. This is your opportunity to talk with attorneys who were recently in your shoes – and who survived! Please keep an eye on “The Record” (the CSO’s weekly newsletter) and watch for flyers posted around the school advertising these lunches. The next Alumni Brown Bag Lunch will be held on Tuesday, November 18th.
This week, the CSO and the Center for Business Law & Regulation continued a lunchtime series designed to give students interested in business law the opportunity to talk with business law attorneys about their career and their practice area. The “Business Law Brown Bag Lunch” series will also continue throughout the year and will provide you with an opportunity to hear from successful local practitioners about their lives in business law. This is your opportunity to hear from local business law experts about their careers and to ask questions about building your own career. Please keep an eye on “The Record” (the CSO’s weekly newsletter) and watch for flyers posted around the school advertising these lunches. The next Business Law Brown Bag Lunch will be held on Wednesday, November 19th.
Posted by kcc17 at 04:41 PM
Do Not Underestimate the Power of Networking!
Last week the Director of Employer Outreach, Francie Fields, was in Chicago meeting with employers and alumni. With recent developments on Wall Street and in the economy, now is the time to pull out all the tricks up your sleeve. What does that mean? NETWORK! Utilize CWRU Alumni, attend networking events, attend CLEs and reach out to attorneys who practice in areas of the law that interest you.
It is so important to get out there and speak to as many people as you can. Francie spoke with several alumni in Chicago who were in disbelief that current Case Western students have not contacted them to learn about the Chicago market. This is not the first time we have heard from alumni that they feel underutilized. So stop by the CSO to speak to a counselor about where you want to live and what type of law you are interested in learning more about. The CSO counselors will provide you with alumni lists and advice on who to contact. Take the list and research the alumni to see what type of law they practice.
Send a short e-mail or make a quick phone call and request an informative meeting. Remember that you are requesting a networking meeting and that you should not simply request a job. The alumni you may meet may not be in a position to hire you but they may know people who can so be on don’t miss any opportunity to make a connection. Never make assumptions about the lawyer or what they do. Just ask, what do you do? What does a typical day look like for you? Do you like your job? What is your advice for a student like me searching for similar employment? What type of networking events do you think I should attend if I am interested in corporate law? For a list of suggested informational interview questions stop by the CSO.
Remember alumni were just like you a few years ago and they understand the trials and tribulations of searching for employment. In the not so near future you will be an attorney and you will need to be able to relate to your adversaries, clients and co-workers. So get out there and NETWORK! NETWORK! NETWORK!
The Director of Programming, Sarah Beznoska, is working hard to put together informative presentations for you. In the weekly CSO e-letter, “The Record,” upcoming CSO events are highlighted. Make sure to attend CSO events that will assist you in networking!
Posted by kcc17 at 04:32 PM
October 27, 2008
Ohio Women's Bar Association Networking Event
The Ohio Women's Bar Association invites you to join them for their next "Networking at Noon" event on Monday, November 17 from noon to 1:30 pm.
A catered lunch will be provided to all attendees as the OWBA welcomes guest speaker and honorary OWBA member Betty D. Montgomery (Ohio Attorney General, 1995-2003; Auditor of Ohio, 2003-2007). The topic for the networking event will be "Lessons Learned Along the Way: Being a Woman in a Man's World."
Location:
KeyTower
127 Public Square, 21st Floor
Public Square Conference Room
Cleveland, OH 44114
Cost:
$10.00 (includes lunch) - pay at door
RSVP:By Wednesday, November 12 to admin@owba.org or 866-932-OWBA
Don't miss this spectacular networking opportunity!
Posted by cld30 at 03:10 PM
October 22, 2008
“Wherever you are, be there!”
Francie Fields, the Director of Employer Outreach, attended the Health Law Conference on October 17th at the University of Pittsburgh. She also met with several Pittsburgh employers on October 16th to discuss employment opportunities for CWRU law students. Please review the CSO bulletin boards to see which employers Francie has visited and do not forget to stop by her office if you have any questions about the employers Francie has met with.
The Health Law Conference was filled with health law practitioners who had wonderful advice on how to get into the industry and what a new attorney must do to attain their dream job. During the informative session on government jobs, a presenter stated, “Wherever you are, be there!” This is very important to remember in every job you have. As the FDA presenter put it, “do not blind yourself of the opportunities on the way…to your dream job.” We cannot all get our dream job as our first job. It is important to remember that each legal position is a stepping stone in the direction of your dreams, so be sure to be present at all times in every job.
If you are interested in starting your career in health law, think about the federal or state government. Government agencies have many opportunities and not only in the traditional positions when thinking of government. Open your health law search to non-profit organizations that assist children and minorities throughout the world to receive adequate healthcare, academia, County Departments of Human Services, Board of Veteran’s Appeal, US Department of Health and Human Services, FBI, management consulting, Legal Services, Office of the Inspector General, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These a just a few examples to help widen your health law search. There are also conventional jobs at drug companies, healthcare providers, hospitals and private firms. If you have questions about health law careers or about the conference, please feel free to stop by the CSO.
There is not only one way into your dream job - so be patient and open minded. One of the common factors among all the presenters was that they never imagined they would be in the job they are in now. Each person had a different story; a different path to what they believe now is their dream job. It is important to understand that dream jobs do not always come immediately. There is a reason the saying goes, “patience is a virtue.”
Posted by kcc17 at 04:48 PM
October 21, 2008
Informal Brown Bag Lunches with Alumni
Join the SBA and the CSO for the first in a series of informal brown bag lunches with alumni. On Thursday, Oct. 23, three alumni will be available in an informal setting to answer your questions and talk with you about their experiences as new attorneys. Please stop by Room A65 between 12:00 - 1:00 pm with your lunch and your questions.
Desert will be provided courtesy of the SBA.
Posted by kcc17 at 12:01 PM
October 20, 2008
Attend CLE's as a law student?
ABSOLUTELY! Attending continuing legal education classes as a law student is a wonderful way to network. The benefits are quite obvious, but to sum it up, by attending CLE's you:
1. Meet attorneys practicing in an area you're interested in. During breaks or over lunch you have the opportunity to meet your neighbors, and breaking the ice is a no-brainer - just start talking about the seminar!
2. Learn the latest developments in a particular practice area. Use CLE's as an opportunity to figure out if certain practice areas interest you or not.
3. Build your resume. Attending CLE's can show dedication and enthusiasm for a specific area of law. Consider adding an "Additional Legal Education" section to your resume and listing relevant CLEs.
Locally, both the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association and the Ohio State Bar Association offer CLEs. If you are not already a member of these organizations - JOIN! Membership as a law student is FREE! Even better, as a law student member of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association you can attend CLE seminars free of charge. Take a look at their CLE calendar for upcoming events. The Ohio State Bar Association allows its student members to attend one free CLE class per year. Charges for additional classes will be based on the "newly admitted lawyer" rate. OSBA's CLE calendar can be found here.
Do not miss these fabulous opportunities to get out there and network!
Posted by cld30 at 03:09 PM
October 17, 2008
What are Those Bulletin Boards?
You may have noticed that there are three big bulletin board cases in the back hallway leading to the student lockers. Have you ever stopped to look that them? You should! They are three more of the resources that CSO provides to keep you informed about career trends and opportunities.
The board nearest the locker currently contains the bios of the CSO staff as well as the CSO’s “Article of the Week” feature. The Article of the Week changes every Wednesday to keep you abreast of trends in the law, as well as to provide insight and advice on job searching, networking, e-professionalism, and a variety of other career development topics. This board also contains various other items of interest, so take some time every week to peruse what’s there.
The center bulletin board is our “CSO Events” board. Check here for our monthly calendar of events, flyers for upcoming panels and presentations, as well as the map of where the CSO has been conducting employer outreach on your behalf. Coming soon will be a listing of cities that Francie Fields, your Director of Employer Outreach, will be visiting in the near future. If you see a city on the list that is one of your target markets, let Francie know what employers in that city are of interest to you.
The final bulletin board, closest to the Clinic, contains notices of various outside opportunities, from clerkships and internships to study abroad and writing competitions.
The information on all of the CSO bulletin boards is rotated regularly, so be sure to take a few moments each week to see what’s there!
Posted by kcc17 at 12:34 PM
October 15, 2008
Employer Outreach – Equal Justice Works Conference in D.C. and now on to Pittsburgh and Chicago!
Last Friday and Saturday was the Equal Justice Works Conference in D.C. More than 150 public interest employers were in attendance. The Director of Employer Outreach, Francie Fields, was there to speak with many employers (in D.C from all over the country) to learn about employment opportunities for you! She also met with several D.C. employers.
Make sure to check out the CSO bulletin board to see what firms and organizations Francie has met with. She can provide you with detailed information about the employers and their summer or new attorney programs. Francie will be attending the Health Law conference on Friday in Pittsburgh and will be meeting with several firms on Thursday in the Pittsburgh area. If you will be attending the Health Law conference, please do not hesitate to find Francie if you have any questions!
Next week, Francie will be going to Chicago! If you have any specific employers you would like the CSO to contact for further information about their employment opportunities, please stop by Francie’s office with your suggestions.
Posted by kcc17 at 06:26 PM
October 13, 2008
Health Law Theme Week
It is Health Law Theme Week in the CSO! This is the chance for all students, including first-year students, to learn more about careers in Health Law and to talk with local attorneys who are practicing health law.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14th: Attorney Panel. All students, including first-year students, are invited to hear local attorneys from different types of health law practices talk about their careers. The panel is currently scheduled to include attorneys from the following organizations: private practice (health and long-term care); the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland; and University Hospitals. Room A59, 12:00—1:00 pm.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16th: Student Panel. All students, including first-year students, are invited to hear your fellow students talk about their summer positions working on health law issues. Learn how your classmates found their summer position in health law, the types of employers they worked for, and the types of assignments that they completed. Room A59, 12:00—1:00 pm.
Posted by cld30 at 08:19 PM
October 10, 2008
100 Tips and Resources to be a Happy, Successful Lawyer (or Law Student!)
It’s almost the midpoint of the semester and many of you are feeling buried under the pressures of classes, CORE assignments, seminar papers, simulations, part-time jobs, your summer job search, family commitments, and a multitude of other things. Check out the article 100 Tips and Resources to be a Happy, Successful Lawyer, by Laura Milligan.
In her own words:
“Lawyers and law students are under lots of stress tracking billable hours, attracting new clients, landing the right summer program and researching, networking and managing cases after hours. To keep you grounded and focused on elevating your career, we've generated this list of job boards, quick reference guides, tips for avoiding the burnout and advice for finding time for yourself. The rest is up to you.”
Topics of interest in this article include: lawyer associations, lawyer blogs, avoiding the burn-out, articles on work-life balance, resources for new lawyers and law students, and more.
Posted by kcc17 at 05:25 PM
October 09, 2008
2Ls and 3Ls: Continuing Your Job Search
2Ls and 3Ls, did you miss last week’s CSO Workshop on Job Searching Outside of the Fall Interview Program? If so, you may be wondering what you can (and should) be doing now to continue your job search efforts. As a starting point, we suggest the following:
1. Don’t Give Up. Every year, the 2L and 3L job search process often continues into the Spring Semester. The end of the Fall Interview Program is not the end of the process, but the beginning. You must continue your efforts to make contacts in your target geographic and practice areas.
2. Network. Contact alumni practicing in your target city, join local bar associations and organizations and attend their networking events, and attend CLE courses on topics that interest you. In short, do everything you can do to meet practicing attorneys and grow your network of contacts.
3. Take Advantage of Events Here at the Law School. Conferences, networking events, attorney panel presentations, and guest speakers during your classes – all of these are great opportunities to meet and talk with practicing attorneys. But in order to take advantage of these opportunities, you have to attend. So take a few minutes each week to read notices about upcoming events and schedule some time to attend them.
4. Schedule a Meeting in the CSO. The counselors in the CSO are here to listen to your concerns, talk with you about your individual job search strategy, identify available opportunities and specific networking contacts, and help you plan your next steps. We look forward to talking with you.
Posted by kcc17 at 10:59 AM
October 07, 2008
Advice from New York City Employers – Research your market!
The Director of Employer Outreach, Francie Fields, recently returned from an employer outreach visit to New York City. She visited various employers to learn about their recruiting efforts. Many of the employers indicated that a majority of cover letters they receive lack a genuine interest in New York and show that the student has failed to properly research the New York market. For example, one government agency noted that they receive cover letters from students who proclaim they want to practice in New York. Proper research would reveal many of the government entities are distinguished by county and that New York County only encompasses Manhattan. There are 4 other boroughs that make up New York City – this is an important thing to note when applying for government jobs. Private firms also stated that from cover letters they can easily tell when a student has not researched the geographic area. The firms want students who will commit to the area and have knowledge of the housing market and cost of living. Therefore, if you are interested in New York City or any other market that you may not have substantial ties to, it is important to do proper research not only about the employers but also the city itself.
In the Spring of 2009, the CSO will present a market theme week where various geographic job market will be covered. We hope to further address these issues and assist you in properly researching your job market.
Posted by kcc17 at 05:40 PM
October 06, 2008
Latest Additions to the Resource Room
Missed this week's CSO events? If so, the CSO hopes that you've noticed the new hanging rack in the hallway on your way to the lockers. After each CSO sponsered event we will place extra copies of all handouts in the hanging rack - feel free to take a copy!
While you're picking up extra copies from the past week's events, why not stop by the CSO resource room to take a look at the most recent additions. The CSO created a new "Specific Lawyer Populations" section in the resource room which houses information specifically targeted to women attorneys, minority attorneys, LGBT attorneys and attorneys with disabilities. Just last week we received "The Women's Rights Internship Book, 2009," which lists various opportunities across the United States. Remember to consult these resources during your job search!
Speaking of new resources, be sure to check out the CSO's Resource of the Month - "The Comprehensive Fellowship Guide, 2008-2009." This guide is packed with fellowship opportunities that are unique and interesting. A fellowship can be a terrific entry-level experience for new attorneys.
Posted by cld30 at 01:49 PM
October 03, 2008
Conducting Informational Interviews
If you attended the Outside the Fall Interview Program presentation and panel yesterday, then you heard our 3L panelists speak the various ways in which they secured their employment this past summer. You probably also noticed that the thing that all 5 of them did was networking. They got on the phone and talked to people, they attended events, they made trips to their desired destinations, and they spoke with people about what they were looking for, why they were interested, and what options there might be available to them.
This is what networking (also called informational interviewing) is all about. And it is the single best way of learning of potential opportunities for employment. But how do you make the most out of a networking opportunity?
Just like in an actual employment interview, your goal is to have the meeting turn into a true conversation, with a natural back-and-forth and an easy rapport. But you’ll also want to make sure you’ve taken the time before your meeting to determine why you wanted to meet with this particular person and to prepare questions ahead of time to make sure you get the information you’re seeking. The following is a list of some sample questions you might want to ask:
o How did you decide on your practice area?
o What courses did you take in law school that you’ve found to
be most helpful to you in the practice of law? (You can ask the same question about activities or organizations they participated in.)
o What professional publications do you read or what professional organizations are you are member of?
o What’s a typical day like for you?
o What’s the most interesting part of your job, or the most interesting project you’ve worked on recently?
o What do you find most challenging about your work?
o What advice do you have for me in relocating to this market? (if you’re meeting with someone in a different legal market)
And, of course, always remember to close your meeting by saying thank you and asking if there is anybody else you should be talking to in order to learn more. And remember to send a thank you note within 24 hours of your meeting!
For more information and motivation on networking meetings, read Chapter 10 of Guerilla Tactics for Getting the Legal Job of Your Dreams, 2d ed. (available for check-out in the CSO Resource Room).
Posted by kcc17 at 01:26 PM
October 02, 2008
Career Options Networking Event
Interested in Learning about Different Types of Employers? Looking to Network with Attorneys who have established Careers outside of private practice?
Come to the CSO’s Career Options Networking Event
Monday, October 6, 4:30PM – 7PM in BlackAcre
This is not a recruiting event, but an opportunity for all students to gather information and talk with local employers. The Career Services Office will welcome attorneys from a variety of local organizations. Stop by this networking event at any time between 4:30PM and 7PM to talk with these attorneys and learn about careers outside of private practice.
Employers will include: the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association; the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office; the Cuyahoga County Public Defender’s Office; the Federal Public Defender; LexisNexis; the Ohio Civil Rights Commission; the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland; the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights; and University Hospitals.
(Because this is not a recruiting event, students are asked to refrain from distributing resumes to the participating organizations during the event. Contact information will be available should you wish to follow-up with any of the employers that you meet at the event.)
Posted by kcc17 at 06:51 PM
October 01, 2008
3Ls: Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program
The Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program is designed to attract to the Federal service outstanding men and women from a variety of academic disciplines and career paths who have a clear interest in, and commitment to, excellence in the leadership and management of public policies and programs.
This rigorous two-year paid program includes 80 hours of formal classroom training each year, challenging assignments, accelerated promotions, developmental learning, and networking opportunities. Fellows are hired by Federal Agencies and given exposure to domestic and international issues in such areas as public administration, technology, science, criminal justice, health and financial management, to name a few. Two Case Western Reserve University School of Law Class of 2008 graduates, three Class of 2007 and two Class of 2006 graduates are currently serving as Fellows through this program!
The PMF Program seeks graduate students who want to make a difference through public service. Students who complete a graduate degree (master’s, law, or doctoral-level degree) during the 2007-2008 academic year (September 1, 20087 - August 31, 2009) are eligible to be nominated by their schools. Selection begins with the nomination of the student by the school followed by a rigorous assessment process. Application, nomination, and selection information is available online at https://www.pmf.opm.gov.
Important, please read carefully:
Between Wednesday, October 1 and 11:59:59 pm EST on Wednesday, October 15, complete and submit the online application (the vacancy announcement and online application is at www.usajobs.gov). After submitting the online application, you will print a copy of the Nomination Form.
However, you must submit the nomination form to the Career Services Office. There is a procedure for submitting your form to the CSO so you must be certain to speak with a CSO staff member when dropping off your nomination form. The CSO will coordinate with the Dean on the nomination process. The Nomination Official has until October 31 to nominate students.
In addition, if you have any questions about this program or the application process, please ask me or someone else in the CSO! This is a terrific program!
Posted by kcc17 at 11:21 AM