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: 
• Intellectual Property Law Survey - Thursday, February 14
• Intellectual Property Law Patents - Thursday, February 28
• Complex Issues in the Trial of OUI Cases - Friday, March 1
• The Masterman Institute: On  the First Amendment and the Fourth Estate - Wednesday, March 6
• Intellectual Property Law Dispute Resolution - Thursday, March 7
• Elder Law Institute XIX: The A-Zs of Real Property Revisited - Friday, March 8
• 3L Group Job Search Drop-in Hour!  Are you graduating and still seeking a post-graduate position?  Drop into PCD on Tuesdays from 2:00 to 3:00pm during February 26 through April 30 to talk about your job search strategies.  Talk with PCD staff and other 3Ls about what you can do now to make yourself more marketable.
• Marine Judge Advocate General Program -  Getting a law degree demonstrates your desire to defend and uphold the principles of our nation. Becoming a Judge Advocate in the United States Marine Corps will give you the unique training and opportunity to fight for justice both in and out of the courtroom. Not only are Judge Advocates licensed attorneys, they are also riflemen and leaders of the finest fighting force in the world.  Judge Advocates receive unparalleled physical, academic and leadership training from one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions in the country. Their training consists of:  (1) 10 weeks at Officer Candidates School; (2) 6 months at The Basic School (after having passed the bar); and (3) 10 weeks at the Naval Justice School.  Only a few can endure the challenges of becoming a Marine Officer and Judge Advocate. Those who do can gain courtroom experience right away as trial or defense counsel in the military justice system. Judge Advocates specialize in International, Operational, Criminal, Environmental, Fiscal, Contract Labor, Family, and Claims and Tort Litigation Law, and they provide a full range of legal services to support Marines in the accomplishment of their missions.  Positions are available for 1Ls and 2Ls.  There are two remaining program selection boards: February 25,  2013 and April 4, 2013.  For more information about becoming a Marine Judge advocate, contact:  Captain Bryan Warner, 617-753-3009, bryan.warner@marines.usmc.mil.
• 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 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
• Q&A on International 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 13, 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. 
• Unemployment Training, February 14 - Great Pro Bono Opportunity!  On February 14 from 2:00 to 3:00 in room 375, Volunteer Lawyers Project staff attorney Hsindy Chen will be conducting a training for students interested in participating in VLP's Unemployment Project. Participating in the Project involves the representation of individuals appealing their unemployment insurance benefits decisions before the Division of Unemployment Assistance. Students will meet with clients, prepare for hearings, and conduct hearings (under the supervision of an attorney). All work completed for this Project, including the training, is eligible for Pro Bono Program credit. This is a terrific opportunity for students to get hands-on experience with client interaction and trial skills.  RSVP to rappaportcenter@suffolk.edu. 
• Boston Bar Association Summer Judicial Internship Information Session, February 14 - On February 14 from 3:00 to 4:00pm in Room 265, come learn about how you can apply to the BBA Summer Judicial Internship program and spend your summer interning for a judge in the Boston Municipal Courts, the state district courts, or the Probate and Family Court. Several judges who participate in the program will be in attendance to explain what a terrific opportunity this is for 1Ls and 2Ls. This unpaid, non-credit internship provides students the opportunity to work directly with a judge, observe courtroom proceedings, and enhance legal research and writing skills. The BBA Diversity & Inclusion Section's Pipeline and Recruitment Committee is helping to connect the judges with potential interns. Students who have completed their first year of law school and are able to work at least 15 hours per week will be considered. Diverse students are strongly encouraged to apply. A flexible schedule is available to accommodate other commitments. This deadline to apply is March 1 and applications will be considered on a rolling basis so students should apply early. Download the application and don't forget to RSVP to rappaportcenter@suffolk.edu.
• Alternative Spring Break with the Public Action Law Society at the University of Memphis - The Alternative Spring Break is the only student-led Alternative Spring Break program in the country to recruit nationally, taking applicants from any ABA-accredited law school. Only twenty students will be accepted on the national level. The projects offered this year include tracks in Family Law, Elder Law, Criminal Defense, Nonprofit Administration, Neighborhood Planning, Human Trafficking, and two tracks in Immigration. The program seeks to serve the community while simultaneously providing students the opportunity to gain experience in the legal field. The deadline to submit your application is Friday, February 15th.  To apply for this program log on to TWEN and navigate to the nationalTWEN pages. Add  "Memphis Alternative Spring Break 2013" or contact ASB Coordinator, Andrew Solarski, at solarski@memphis.edu or (901) 297-0702.

Diversity Announcements    

• The application deadline for the Boston Lawyers Group 1L Diversity Clerkship Program has been extended to this Wednesday, February 13!  The BLG 1L Diversity Clerkship offers a unique opportunity for 1L clerks to spend five weeks of a ten-week clerkship working in one of the BLG's participating Boston-area law firms or corporations and a second five weeks within a government legal office. Download the application today.

• The BBA Diversity & Inclusion Summer Judicial Internship Program announces their Meet and Greet with the Judges on Thursday, February 14 frm 3:00 to 4:00pm at Suffolk Law School in Room 265. Looking for a summer internship? Interested in learning more about law student opportunities in Massachusetts State courts? Please join us for an informal meet and greet with judges from the Boston Municipal Courts, Massachusetts State District Courts, as well as the Probate and Family Court to learn about the BBA's Summer Judicial Internship Program. RSVP online. More information about the program is available on the BBA site. Applications for the summer internship are due by March 1. Contact Susan Helm at shelm@bostonbar.org or 617-778-1984 with questions.

• Join Holland & Knight  for Demystifying the Large Firm Practice: A Seminar for First-Year Law Students from Diverse Backgrounds on Thursday, February 28 from 5:30 to 7:30pm at the offices of Holland & Knight, 10 St. James Avenue, 11th Floor, Boston.  What qualities are firms looking for in prospective summer associates? What can I do to strengthen my candidacy in this tough economic climate? What differentiates one law firm from another? A panel of Holland & Knight associates and partners will provide insight into these questions and more. Following the discussion, students are invited to join the panelists, as well as other Holland & Knight attorneys, for a cocktail reception. For more information or to RSVP, please contact bronagh.fay@hklaw.com.

Other Programs   

• 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 Federal Circuit Bar Association (FCBA) is sponsoring a webinar panel titled Going In-House: Tips for a Successful Transition to Corporate Counsel on Tuesday, February 19 from 12:00 to 1:30pm. The panel is directed to law students and lawyers, and will explore the transition to corporate counsel. Details and registration information is available online.
• The Massachusetts Younger Lawyers Division of the Federal Bar Association is holding a Membership Drive/Networking Event on Thursday, February 21 from 5:30 to 7:30pm at The Bell in Hand Tavern, 45 Union Street, Boston.  Join them for cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and networking.  For any questions about the event, please contact Christina Ricotta at cmricotta@sherin.com.
• 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 initial 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.
• Fletcher Tilton will be interviewing 2LD/3LE students at Suffolk on March 6 for summer associate positions. Bidding is due on Symplicity by 10:00am on Wednesday, February 13.  (Session:  OCI2 - Spring 2013)
• Registration is now open for the 2013 Patent Law Interview Program to be held on Thursday, August 1 and Friday, August 2 in Chicago, IL> This is a nationwide interveiw program that targets patent law employers, rising 2L and 3L students, and students in Intellectual Property LL.M. programs. Students with undergraduate or graduate degrees in engineering or a technical science should consider registering for the program. For more information on the program, please refer to the Loyola Patent Program website. Student registration will close on Monday, March 4.
• 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.  We have one registration available for an interested student! Contact mdobbins@suffolk.edu for details.
• Want to work or study in Europe?  Looking for a full-time job, internship or a study program?  Resumes are still being accepted for the 17th European Career Fair to be held at MIT on February 23-25, 2013. Visit www.euro-career.com for details.
• Please notify Michelle Dobbins in the PCD (mdobbins@suffolk.edu) if you receive a call back interview or offer. This feedback is appreciated.