__________________________________
ALL STUDENTS
Office Hours
The Career Services Office is located in Room 113 and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and to 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. Individual appointments can be scheduled for times when the office is not open. Mary Pat McInnis, Anne Hensley and Jon Baris are available for individual consultations to assist students in all aspects of the career development process, including resume and cover letter review, interviewing tips and general job search strategies. Anne Hensley is also a licensed professional counselor in Missouri and can help with personal issues and career assessments, which include the Strong Interest Inventory and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. We encourage all students to meet with us. Do not hesitate to make an appointment or stop by the Career Services Office.
Career Services Thursday at Noon Programming
March 6: Tax Law Panel
All programs will be held in Room 02. Pizza will be provided. Please bring your own drink.
Apartment Subleasing
For any students interested in subletting their apartment for the summer months, we have made arrangements with the Career Services Office at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law to advertise such to Mizzou Law students.
If you would like to participate in this effort to sublet your apartment this summer, please e-mail your name, telephone number and/or e-mail address to Andrea Follett, Coordinator of Professional Development, University of Missouri School of Law, at folletta@missouri.edu. Along with that information, please include a description of the apartment and the amount of rent you seek. Follett will then compile a Word document for Mizzou students to review and will instruct the students to contact you directly if they are interested.
NALP 2008 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 2008 Apartment Exchange. Visit www.nalp.org and follow the link to the Apartment Exchange. The Apartment Exchange is a free service and will be available from Jan. 18 through
May 16, 2008.
National Housing Law Project
The National Housing Law Project (NHLP) is a policy advocacy and law center focused on advancing housing justice for low-income people. NHLP attorneys are considered national experts on the laws governing the federally-assisted housing programs administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Internal Revenue Service. Each year current law students from throughout the country work as interns and clerks. In 2008, new funds will be available to enable NHLP to provide funding for one student intern in its Oakland, Calif., office as well.
Third year students also may be interested in NHLP’s fellowship program, which seeks interested candidates and project ideas for post-graduate fellowships. NHLP offices are located in Oakland, Calif., and Washington, D.C. Additional information is available in the Career Services Office and online at www.nhlp.org.
Dates and Deadlines
Third Year Student Information
The 2008-2009 Borchard Fellowship in Law & Aging
The Borchard Fellowship in Law & Aging affords one year for two law school graduates interested in, and perhaps already in the early stages of pursuing, an academic and/or professional career in law and aging, the opportunity to pursue their research and professional interests. The Fellowship is $39,000 and is intended as a full-time position only. The Fellow’s sponsoring agency is responsible for providing work space, administrative support, computer, telephone and e-mail access, and employer’s FICA payment. Fellows may live and work where they choose in the United States; Fellows must be either U.S. citizens or legal residents of the U.S.
The Fellowship period runs from July 1 to June 30 each year, or for the calendar year beginning the month after the Fellow’s completion of a state Bar examination. Applicants must submit a completed application form, an explanation of the applicant’s planned activities and projects, a current curriculum vitae, a law school transcript, a letter of support from the proposed supervisor, and two other letters of support. Fellowship application
information and form are available at www.borchardcenter.org.
Completed applications should be sent to:
The Borchard Foundation Center on Law & Aging
Mary Jane Ciccarello, Assistant Director
335 4th Avenue
Salt Lake City, UT 84103
Applications must be postmarked by April 15, 2008. Selections are made by June 1, 2008. For further information, please contact Mary Jane Ciccarello at 801-532-3626 or mjcr@xmission.com.
Second Year Student Information
Air Force General Counsel's Office
Each summer the Air Force General Counsel’s Office hires 5 to 8 law students to work in its office in the Pentagon. The students rotate through divisions and the office tries to get them an assignment in each. This year, each of the summer law clerks had the opportunity to act as an advocate before an administrative board (the cases involved military personnel who were being discharged from the service). Members of the Counsel's office also travel to Andrews Air Force Base, the United States Supreme Court, the National Air & Space Museum and other relevant field trips. This program provides students with an incredible experience and a unique window into both government employment and Washington, DC.
Contact the Career Services Office for more information, or check out the job announcement at
the USA Jobs Web site.
First and Second Year Student Information
Women Lawyers' Association of Greater St. Louis Linda J. Murphy Scholarship Program
Each year this scholarship is awarded to a female law student whose studies and service reflect the mission of the WLA. A mission statement, eligibility criteria and other instructions are included with the application, which is available at www.wlastl.org/index.html.The deadline for submissions is March 1, 2008.
Please feel free to contact Jamie Boyer, WLA Scholarship Committee Co-Chair, if you have any questions or require any further information about the scholarship application process.
Jamie L. Boyer, Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP, 100 South Fourth Street, Suite 700, St. Louis, MO 63102, 314-259-4546 (phone), 314-259-4599 (fax), or jboyer@stinson.com.
United Nations Association for the United States of America Internships
UNA-USA awards a variety of part-time and full-time internships to highly motivated high school, undergraduate and graduate students. Interns must possess a strong interest in international affairs, good writing and research skills, and formidable knowledge of the United Nations and other multilateral institutions. While internships are not salaried positions, interns have found the experience of working at UNA-USA and exploring the UN's resources rewarding in other ways, both educationally and vocationally. Since the internship takes place in New York, interns are often able to attend various United Nations meetings briefings, and special UNA-USA events as well.
Applicants are asked to indicate the department in which they prefer to work. However, if necessary, UNA-USA will suggest another department based on the organization's present needs and the applicant's interests and expressed abilities. Most of UNA-USA's work is performed in English. The ability to write and speak another language is not required unless specifically mentioned in the program description. After reviewing the descriptions of the internships offered, please send a completed application with all other requested materials (see application for details) to the UNA-USA in one packet. Incomplete application packets will not be considered. The three departments in which you have expressed an interest will review your application. Selections are made six to eight weeks after the deadline. Your chances of securing the internship you want, however, are greater the earlier your application is received.Applications for Summer internships must be received no later than March 15.
General inquiries regarding UNA-USA internships should be directed to Gary Su via e-mail at gsu@unausa.org. Further information and application materials can be found at www.unausa.org/site/pp.asp?c=fvKRI8MPJpF&b=640679.
FCBA Foundation Funding of Unpaid Legal Internships at Government Agencies
The Federal Communications Bar Association (FCBA) Foundation will award stipends to law students from its Chairman Robert E. Lee Scholarship and Internship Fund. In 2008, the Foundation will award at least five $5,000 stipends to law students employed as unpaid summer interns in positions with the FCC and other government agencies or entities with a connection to the communications industry (i.e., broadcasting, cable television, telephony, satellite, wireless and information technology). In addition, the Foundation will select one outstanding intern among those chosen to receive an additional stipend of $600 for the summer—the “Max Paglin Award.” Mr. Paglin was the former General Counsel and Executive Director of the FCC, and the founder of the Golden Jubilee Commission on Telecommunications, which compiled a definitive legislative history of the Communications Act.
Applicants will be selected on the basis of: (1) a demonstrated interest in the communications field; (2) having secured or having pending, an unpaid summer position (internship) in communications for at least 8 weeks with a government agency; (3) dependence on financial assistance in order to accept the unpaid internship in a government agency or entity involved in communications; and, (4) community activities. To the extent a recipient receives unanticipated funding for the unpaid internship, the FCBA Foundation’s general policy is to reduce its scholarship awards by any amount that a recipient’s total funding (including all sources) for the internship would otherwise exceed $7,000.
Applications for a Lee Fund scholarship should be submitted to Kerry Loughney, FCBA Foundation, 1020 19th Street, N.W., Suite 325, Washington, D.C. 20036,by Friday, Mar. 7, 2008.Applicants may be asked to interview with members of the Foundation Board; interviews may be conducted by telephone. Winners will be notified by Friday, Apr. 18, 2008. Go to www.fcba.org/foundation/internship_stipends.shtml for the application.
Human Rights First Internship Program
Human Rights First protects people at risk: refugees who flee persecution, victims of crimes against humanity or other mass human rights violations, victims of discrimination, those whose rights are eroded in the name of national security and human rights advocates who are targeted for defending the rights of others. Human Rights First works to prevent violations against these groups and to seek justice and accountability for violations against them.
Human Rights First welcomes a limited number of interns throughout the year. During the summer most interns work full-time. Interns engage in a variety of substantive ongoing projects. The precise nature of the work varies by program; examples of work include:
- Research, analysis and drafting of memoranda on substantive and procedural issues, legal issues and legislative matters;
- Documenting and reporting on human rights conditions;
- Supporting program staff on broader advocacy initiatives, including research, preparation of advocacy materials and assisting with outreach to designated constituencies;
- Bluebooking, proofreading and cite-checking legal filings, memoranda, briefing materials and publications.
Human Rights First is unable to offer funding for internships.
Please submit your resume and cover letter via e-mail to interns_ny@humanrightsfirst.org. We kindly ask that you specify your preferred program/department in the subject line of your e-mail. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Unfortunately, due to the large volume of applications we receive, we are only able to contact those candidates selected for an interview.
Preferred qualifications: strong interest in and commitment to human rights; excellent written and oral communication skills; experience working and/or living abroad; fluency in one or more foreign languages; and a sense of humor.
Positions are available in the New York and Washington, DC offices. For additional Information, please visit www.HumanRightsFirst.org.
Job Fairs and Networking Opportunities
2008 Loyola Patent Law Interview Program
The 2008 Loyola Patent Law Interview Program will be held on Thursday, July 31, and Friday, August 1, 2008. This is a nationwide interview program that targets patent law employers, second and third year J.D. students and LL.M. students with engineering and/or technical science academic backgrounds. Last year 150 patent law employers, 140 accredited law schools and 1,700 law students from across the country participated. Employers prescreen and choose all of the students they interview. The program is held each year at the Marriott Suites Hotel near Chicago's O'Hare airport.
Please note that registration procedures have changed. This year law students are required to register and pay online using a credit or debit card (VISA, MasterCard, AmEx only). Personal checks will not be accepted. The charge for students is $35.00 and is nonrefundable. Registering for the program does not guarantee an interview. Employers select the candidates from those who register. Depending on the number of students registering, Saint Louis University School of Law may be able to reimburse this fee to those registering. Please save registration and payment confirmation.
Student registration will take place between February 27 and March 21. To register, go to www.patentlawregistration.luc.edu/ and click on “Students.” Contact Anne Hensley at hensley@slu.edu after registering or with any questions.
Cook County Bar Association Annual Minority Law Student Job Fair
The Cook County Bar Association (CCBA) is pleased to invite law students to participate in the 25th Annual Minority Law Student Job Fair. The Job Fair typically attracts more than 700 law students and nearly 160 law firms, corporations and government agencies. The job fair is open to all first and second year law students (regardless of their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc.). The only students not eligible are those graduating this May or August. Please be advised, however, that participating employers are looking for students with a demonstrated commitment to diversity in the profession.
This year only students in the classes of 2009 and 2010 are invited.
This year's Job Fair will be held on Friday, August 8, at the Embassy Suites Chicago-Downtown/Lakefront, 511 North Columbus Drive, Chicago, IL 60611.
Registration information will be available in Career Services AFTER March 15, 2008. For more information, please visit www.ccbaminorityjobfair.com. If you have questions, please contact Anne Hensley at hensley@slu.edu or 314-977-2729.
|
Upcoming Workshops
Tuesday, Mar. 11
Multistate Multiple Choice Exam (MBE), Part 2
Recommended for 3L, Noon-12:50 p.m., Room 303
Academic Hint #14
Preparing Well
By this time, many students fall into the habit of using “book briefs” in order to prepare for class. This can work if you are able to focus on the essential facts, note general principles, find supporting policy and other considerations, all while reading a case only once. Realistically, however, most students go “highlight” crazy, and mark anything that looks good – even if it later proves to be a nonessential detail. So in class, students are faced with rereading unnecessary details to get to the important parts of legal analysis.
Another method that combines the best of book briefing (efficiency) with a more complete and effective briefing is called “focused” briefing. This process was developed by Professor Iijima of William Mitchell Law School, and combines the dual goals of initially finding what the case is discussing, while ultimately focusing the reader on the important principles and factors that support them. Space does not permit a complete set of instructions, but many of the students using the technique feel better prepared for class. First years can find the information sheet and a template on my WebCT (spring semester). Other students can email me (herlethj@slu.edu) for copies.
Once you have prepared for class, the next step is good notetaking in class. This doesn’t mean copying every word that everyone speaks, nor does it mean simply downloading the professor’s Power Points. Good notetaking requires you to translate discussion about the case specifics into rules, definitions, exceptions, checklists, etc.
There are two ways you can improve in your notetaking. First, prior to class, ask yourself what is the major focus for this class. Specific jurisdiction? Adverse possession? Duress? By reminding yourself about the point of the cases, you can better filter the classroom discussion. You can then record that information. Second, make sure you listen to the hints the professors give you regarding how to answer a problem. Record hypotheticals; copy down the examples; listen to the questions. This technique will help you decide how you can answer future exam questions.
Just remember: The better the class notes, the better chance you have that your outline is good. Next week we will focus on outlining hints.
Outlining Well
Now is the time to outline, particularly given the amount of time necessary to construct a well-reasoned and organized outline. (In fact several weeks ago was the time!) Essentially, you want to be able to include not only the cases and general principles from those cases, but also the professor’s “take” on the rules, as well as any policy, limitations or other considerations that apply to the general rules. Obviously if all a professor tested was the black letter law, any study aid’s version would do. But you need to consider that an outline should included not only what the rules are but also how to apply them – and to apply them in the order that your professor wishes the rules to be analyzed.
So in order to best prepare yourself for the final examination, you should focus first on the rules of law that form the overview of the course. Next fill in all necessary definitions, explanation, and other factors noted above. The idea is to get the basics down before you fill in the detail. Then look at the factual context, noting what cases and hypos support those principles – and what facts were necessary in deciding how the rule applied. Moreover, some rules have exceptions and limitations that you need to consider. Finally, add a section to your outline that specifically states how the professor would analyze a problem dealing with that issue. Listen to the questions asked in class and/or incorporate Power Points or other handouts from class to create this final analytical part of your outline.
Only after you have completed those steps are you ready to go to the next step of “studying well.” Let’s face it – your understanding of the law is only as good as the materials you are relying upon.
Next hint to further develop outlining and studying well!
1L Writing Drop-In Sessions for LRW Assignment 1
Please be advised of the new 1L Writing Drop-In Sessions for this Spring semester. First years who did not receive a letter of referral from the LRW Director are invited to come with quick questions and paper-in-hand. Drop-in sessions for Assignment #1:
Thursday, Feb. 28
Drop-in 1L Writing Feedback for Non-Referral Students
9:30 a.m.-Noon, 101 Student Services
Kim Novak Morse, Asst. Director Writing Services, morseka@slu.edu
Bar Preparation Workshop Schedule
Handouts from the first and second parts of the MPT seminar are available in Student Services outside of room 105B.
The next seminar will focus on MBE preparation. The MBE is the 200 question multiple choice portion of the bar exam administered by most states. We will work on sample questions and discuss techniques for answering those questions. This seminar will be held Tuesday, March 4, at noon in room 303. It is recommended for 3Ls.
Please direct questions to Professor Twinette Johnson at johnsot@slu.edu or call 977-4141. Professor Johnson will hold office hours in Student Services on Tuesdays from 3 to 5:30 p.m.
|
