Monday, April 30, 2007

Suffolk County Women’s Bar Association
Writing Competition

The Suffolk County Women's Bar Association will be awarding six scholarships to graduating law school students this year. There will be two $500 awards, two $300 awards and two $200 awards. The winners of the $500 awards will be invited to the SCWBA's installation dinner on June 20th when they will be presented with checks.

The scholarships are awarded based on essays written by students. The essays cannot be more than 2 double-spaced pages in length. This year the SCWBA would like applicants to respond to the following question: What do you think should be done to address the negative image of attorneys and the legal profession that is so pervasive in the media and in the minds of the general public?

Entries are due in the Career Services Office by 2 pm on Friday, May 18. Please feel free to contact Erica Edwards-O'Neal for more information.

Writing Sample Tip

Remember to keep your writing sample between 5 to 10 pages, unless a longer sample is requested by an employer. Usually, an employer does not want to go through a 20 or 30 page writing sample.

It is a good practice to have a writing sample cover page with your name and contact information (identical to the header on your resume and cover letter) at the top, and with the words "Writing Sample" below it. You may also include a few sentences describing what your writing sample is about and in what context (class, work) you wrote it.

For example, one or two points (that total 10 pages) of a brief is fine. You may include on the cover page a few sentences about the facts of the case and the issue(s) presented. You may also indicate that the complete brief is available upon request.

Political Appointees No Longer to Pick
Justice Department Legal Interns

By Dan Eggen and Amy Goldstein
Washington Post Staff Writers
Saturday, April 28, 2007

The Justice Department is removing political appointees from the hiring process for rookie lawyers and summer interns, amid allegations that the Bush administration had rigged the programs in favor of candidates with connections to conservative or Republican groups, according to documents and officials.

The decision, outlined in an internal memo distributed Thursday, returns control of the Attorney General's Honors Program and the Summer Law Intern Program to career lawyers in the department after four years during which political appointees directed the process. . . .

To read the entire article, go here.

Monday, April 23, 2007

Senator Harkin Introduces
Civil Loan Repayment Bill

On April 19, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced S. 1167, a bill amending the Higher Education Act of 1965 in order to authorize funding to provide loan repayment assistance payments for civil legal assistance attorneys.

The bill would provide $6,000 for any borrower in a calendar year, not to exceed an aggregate total of $40,000. The borrower would be required to remain at a program for a minimum of three years. Senator Harkin's bill would amend the Higher Education Act to authorize payments in the amount of $10 million for FY 2008 and such sums as may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal year. It has been assigned to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, chaired by Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA).

To view Senator Harkin's statement introducing the bill, go here.

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Heartland Diversity Job Fair

The Third Annual Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair (HDLJF), will be held September 7-8, 2007 at the Kansas City Marriott Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri. Last year, Kansas City played host to 143 students from 48 Law Schools from across the nation. The students had the opportunity to interview with 35 area law firms, organizations and government agencies.

The 2007 HDLJF will offer students the same opportunities as the past two years. They are anticipating over 150 student registrants and nearly 40 employers. This year's job fair will begin with a Welcome Reception on Friday evening. Employer interviews will be conducted on Saturday, along with a Keynote Luncheon. In addition, a resource room will be available where students can visit exhibitors or visit with HDLJF Ambassadors regarding Being a Lawyer in Kansas City, KC Nightlife, Kansas City Real Estate and Cost of Living, and Networking and Interviewing Tips.

For additional information, go to the Job Fair website.

Monday, April 16, 2007

Class of 2007: Apply-for-Me Program

All members of the Class of 2007 should check their mailboxes for a memorandum from Dean Gilbert. In the memo, the Dean discusses what you should be thinking about with your post-graduate job search. In addition, attached to the memo is a form you may return to CSO to participate in the Apply-for-Me Program, in which CSO will apply for you to job listings that come into the office as you study for the Bar Exam.

Loan Forgiveness Fund Wine & Cheese