Office of Professional and Career Development

Suffolk University Law School

Spotlight

Weekly PCD Student Newsletter

 

• Welcome to Spotlight, the weekly PCD student newsletter.  Spotlight will be emailed to all students on Tuesday afternoons and will also be archived on the PCD website.  Most items will not be repeated in future issues of the newsletter, so be sure to read Spotlight every week to keep updated on all career-related news and information.
• Advanced Legal Studies (ALS) runs programs frequently on different areas of the law.  These programs are attended by numerous attorneys who practice in the area of the specific presentations.  The programs are practical and give law students insight into the real world practice, as well as nuts and bolts of interesting and emerging areas of law.  These programs are free or at a minimal cost for students. These are great networking opportunities and wonderful ways to help you decide which area of the law most interests you.  Students are asked to register for programs in advance.  Some of the upcoming programs include: 
• Women's Leadership Skills Series - Thursday, January 31st
• Jumpstarting Your Practice - Friday, February 1st
• Municipal Law 101 - Friday, February 8th 
• The Massachusetts Bar Foundation is pleased to announce availability of applications for its 2013 Legal Intern Fellowship Program. Law students selected to be Legal Intern Fellows will receive a stipend of $6,000 to volunteer for ten weeks during the summer months at a nonprofit organization that provides civil legal services to low-income clients in Massachusetts. Applications are due at the MBF's offices by 5:00pm on March 15, 2013. Detailed information about the program, including application forms, is available online at www.MassBarFoundation.org.
• Interested in JAG? Accepted or applying to a JAG program?  Students interested in or who have applied to a Judge Advocate General program who would like to learn about the day to day responsibilities and duties of a military attorney are welcome to speak to David Merson, Associate Director, in PCD Office. David was a prior JAG in the Navy serving both on active duty and reserve service.
• Interested in Judicial Clerkships? Contact Margaret Talmers, Associate Director for Judicial Clerkships and Internships in the PCD Office - mtalmers@suffolk.edu.  Check out the Judicial Clerkship and Internship Resource Center on Symplicity (Announcements section) for resources, cover letter, and resume samples, announcements and more.
• Interested in careers in government and public service? The Rappaport Center for Law and Public Service can provide additional assistance. Sign up to receive their Rappaport Center Weekly Public Service Email, which includes information on programs, pro bono opportunities, and public service employment internship postings.

• Students interested in doing public service internships this summer should consider applying for one of the several paid public service fellowships available through the Rappaport Center.  Below is a list of the fellowship names and application deadlines. Click on the links for more information:
• Donoghue Barrett & Singal, P.C. Health Law Fellowship - March 1, 2013 deadline
• Suffolk Public Interest Law Group Fellowships - March 1, 2013 deadline
• SPILG International Fellowships - March 1, 2013 deadline
• Consumer Law Public Service Fellowships - Rolling deadline, summer and semester internships available - apply early!
• Fenton Awards - March 1, 2013 deadline
• Save the Date for SPILG Trivia Night, February 5! - The Suffolk Public Interest Law Group (SPILG), the International Law Society, and the SBA Alumni Affairs Committee will present a Three Stooges themed SPILG Trivia Night on Tuesday, February 5 at 6pm in the Function Room.  All proceeds from the event will support the SPILG International Fellowship. Stay tuned for more information! 
• Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project Info Session, February 7 - Interested in constituional law, free speech, equal protection, due process, search and seizure? Want to infect youth with this same passion by teaching in high schools of Boston and Cambridge? This program will be held on  Thursday, February 7th, 2-3pm in Room 265.  RSVP to rappaportcenter@suffolk.edu. Come learn the basics about the Marshall Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project - an innovative, national program combining classroom learning with teaching. Make a difference in the lives of urban high school students. Help prepare these students for national moot court competitions. Earn 6 course credits and pro bono program credit and recognition. Hear from current Marshall-Brennan Fellows about their experiences. 
• Q&A on Inernational Human Rights, February 13 - The Rappaport Center and The National Lawyers Guild - Suffolk Chapter and the Human Rights Law Society presents a panel with Lexis Nexis rep Melissa Joyce. This program will be held on Wednesday, February 13th, from 3-4:30pm in Room 255.  Prior to joining Lexis Nexis, Ms. Joyce worked for the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, REDRESS, and Kaplan, Friedman & Associates, an immigration firm. Students interested in human rights advocacy who would like to start getting involved should come with questions Ms. Joyce will share her personal experiences in the field and also have some pointers for internships etc. For more information check out the NLG's Facebook page. 
• Pro Bono Program Update - Pursuing pro bono legal work makes a real difference in our community and also helps you gain legal skills and expand your professional network.  Dozens of pro bono opportunities for students are available for the Spring Semester.  Don't miss your chance to get involved in rewarding and worthwhile legal work.  Also, students who completed Fall Semester pro bono hours may still turn them in for credit. Contact Mia Friedman, Director of Public Interest and Pro Bono Programs, at mfriedman@suffolk.edu with any questions about the Pro Bono Program.

Diversity Announcements    

• The Board of Directors of the Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association is pleased to announce that it is accepting submissions for the 2013-2014 Alexander G. Gray, Jr. Scholarship Award. The Gray Scholarship, a disbursement in the amount of $2,500, will be awarded to one Massachusetts law student for the 2013-2014 academic year to defray the costs associated with law school, such as tuition, fess, books and similar school-related expenses. Applications should be submitted before Friday, February 15, 2013 for consideration. Applications and more information are available on their website.
• As part of Cooley LLP's ongoing commitment to diversity, they are proud to offer Diversity Fellowships to outstanding first year law school students. Award recipients will receive a paid 1L Summer Associate position and future financial awards of up to $30,000 to assist with law school tuition.

  Students who demonstrate a commitment to promoting diversity are encouraged to apply. Award recipients will be announced in the Spring of 2013, with the Summer Associate position to start following the successful completion of the recipient's first year of law school. An application and more information are available on their website. Applications must be submitted by February 15, 2013.

• Mintz Levin announces their Richard Mintz Diversity Scholarship to be awarded to a community-minded first year law student from a diverse background with a record of academic excellence and a commitment to diversity. Benefits include: (1) $10,000 toward tuition for your second year of law school; (2) a paid summer position in Mintz Levin's Boston office between your first and second years of law school; and (3) a continuing working relationship with the firm throughout your second law school year.  Application materials must be received by February 15, 2013. For details and to download an application, visit http://www.mintz.com/diversity/.

Other Programs   

• The 14th Annual Walk to the Hill for Civil Legal Aid is scheduled for Wednesday, January 30 beginning at 11:00am at the Statehouse's Great Hall. Join MBA members and advocate for adequate funding for legal services throughout the Commonwealth.  Visit www.equaljusticecoalition.org/walktothehill.html for more information.
• The Federal Circuit Bar Association (FCBA) is sponsoring a webinar panel titled Starting and Maintaining a Small IP Firm or Nonprofit on January 31 from 3:00 to 4:30. The panel is directed to law students and lawyers, and will explore the creation and development of several small IP firms and an IP nonprofit.  Details and registration information is available on their website.
• Get answers to your career questions! Experienced ABA lawyers offer career pointers during ABA CareerLine LIVE! from 5:00 to 7:00pm on Thursday, February 7. This virtual one-on-one, sponsored by the ABA Young Lawyers Division and LexisNexis, is FREE to ABA members so register now.  Registration closes January 31.  200 participants will be contacted by Februay 4.  If you are contacted, you will receive additional information from the ABA and a call from an attorney on February 7. Not an ABA member? Learn how you might win a FREE ABA membership, courtesy of LexisNexis.
• Prepare for a professional position! Starting in February, LexisNexis will offer Think Like A Lawyer 2013, a program that will prepare you to: research cost-effectively for any employer and their clients, and become Professional Research Certified to prove that you're ready on day one. Earn rewards too: up to 2,300 LexisNexis Rewards points and entry for a $250 J. Crew Gift Card. Check lexisnexis.com/lawschool in mid-February for more information.
• The 19th Annual Rebellious Lawyering Conference will be held Friday, February 22, 2013 to Saturday, February 23, 2013 at Yale Law School.  This is a student-run conference that brings together practitioners, law students, and community advocates from around the country to discuss innovative, progressive approaches to law and social change.  Registration information is available online.

Recruitment Programs 

• We have received intial information on employers who will be interviewing at Suffolk and/or collecting resumes from student during the spring semester.  A complete list of employers is available on the PCD website.
• Conn Kavanaugh will be interviewing 2LD/3LE students at Suffolk on February 14th for a summer associate position. Bidding is due on Symplicity by 10:00am on Wednesday, January 30th. (Session: OCI1 - Spring 2013)
• Fletcher Tilton will be interviewing 2LD/3LE students at Suffolk on March 6th for summer assocaite positions. Bidding is due on Symplicity by 10:00am on Wednesday, February 13th.  (Session:  OCI2 - Spring 2013)
• Nelson Mullins is collecting applications from 1LD/2LE students for summer associate positions.  Bidding is due on Symplicity by 10:00am on Thursday, February 7th.  (Session:  COLLECTION - Spring 2013)
• The TSA is collection applications from 1LD/2LE and 2LD/3LE students for unpaid summer intern positions. Bidding is due on Symplicity by 10:00am on Thursday, Februay 7th. (Session:  COLLECTION - Spring 2013)
• Registration is now open for the Lavender Law Conference & Career Fair!  The Career Fair, sponsored by the National LGBT Bar Association, will be held on Thursday, August 22, 2013 in San Francisco, CA.  Registration information is available on their website. 
• Please notify Michelle Dobbins in the PCD (mdobbins@suffolk.edu) if you receive a call back interview or offer. This feedback is appreciated.