Vocare

Check out this very helpful article from the NCDA website: Federal Government Internships Offer Hope in the Tight Economy by Laura Kapelski

"Statistics on rising unemployment and decreased hiring projections across widespread career industries have led college students to wonder about their career possibilities and competitiveness in a tight job market. These challenging times also present difficulties for college career counselors. In particular, counselors must manage college students' expectations of the job market while at the same time offering strategies and tips for obtaining career related experiences."

Job Search Resources for Federal Government Internships/Jobs

* http://www.usajobs.gov/
* http://www.studentjobs.gov/
* http://makingthedifference.org/index.shtml
* Federal agencies' employment sections. To access a listing of federal agencies visit: http://www.usa.gov/Agencies/Federal/All_Agencies/index.shtml

For the complete article, click here.

Posted by Victor Massaglia at 7:59 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Don't miss the information session for the 2010 Upper Midwest Human Rights Fellowships coming up:

Thurs., Oct. 29, 12:15-1:45, Rm 55

Pizza will be served!

Upper Midwest Human Rights Fellows receive an award to cover their costs, and in some instances also to provide a modest stipend, as they serve approximately ten weeks as volunteers with a human rights advocacy or service organization of their choosing, worldwide. These fellowships are funded by numerous generous groups and individuals, notably including the Robina Foundation. The program is sponsored by the Law School's Human Rights Center. The event includes presentations and a chance to ask your own questions.

Posted by at 3:28 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Government Job & Internship Fair
http://mcucsa.org/govjobfair
Monday, October 26th, 2009
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
at University of Minnesota, Minneapolis - Coffman Union

Just a few of the opportunities for YOU:

Business:
-- Department of Veterans Affairs is hiring Loan Specialists and Review Appraisers
-- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is looking for interns for the Summer Honors Business Program and Examiners

Health and Human Services:
-- Minnesota Department of Human Services is looking for interns
-- VA Medical Center is looking for interns
-- The Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, is hiring Food Inspectors.
Science and Engineering:
-- USDA/Natural Resources Conservation Service has internships in Natural Resources , Soil Conservation,
Soil Science and Agricultural or Civil Engineering
-- FDA / Center for Veterinary Medicine for internships in Animal Science and Veterinary Medical Officer Internship
-- Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, has a Veterinary Medical Officer Internship

Also hiring:
-- FBI, special agents
-- MN Dept of Public Safety, state troopers
-- Senator Amy Klobuchar, intern

Posted by Victor Massaglia at 4:26 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

There's a lot to know about student debt relief and the College Cost Reduction and Access Act. Attend a free, live webinar to learn more about public service loan forgiveness, income-based repayment and how to qualify.

Click here for more information.

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Posted by Victor Massaglia at 11:01 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Here is an informative article federal job seeking by Barbara Reinhold, Monster Contributing Writer

According to the Office of Personnel Management, in the next 10 years, 60 percent of federal workers will be retiring. There is plenty of opportunity, but job seekers need to remember that the process for landing a job with the federal government is radically different than what they may be used to in the private sector.

We've compiled six common myths job seekers believe when going for that government job, based on calls and emails to the USAJOBS customer support team and feedback from federal recruiters.

Click here for the entire article with the six myths .

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Posted by Victor Massaglia at 7:00 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

If you are interested in a career in public interest, this is a must! Meet public interest and government lawyers from the local community and learn what it is like to work as a lawyer in public interest or government. This career fair is sponsored by the Minnesota Justice Foundation and the 4 area law schools. This year, the expo will be held right here at the University of Minnesota Law School on Wednesday, October 28, 2009. The MJF Clerkship Panel will be held from 4:30-5:00pm in Room 30 and the Expo will run from 5:00-7:00pm in Auerbach and Spannus Commons.

Posted by at 11:08 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

The annual National Pro Bono Celebration is scheduled for October 25 through 31, 2009. Sponsored by the ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service, the celebration is a coordinated national effort to showcase the great difference that pro bono lawyers make to the nation, its system of justice, its communities and, most of all, to the clients they serve. The week is also dedicated to the quest for more pro bono volunteers to meet the ever-growing legal needs of this country's most vulnerable citizens

For more information click here.

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Posted by Victor Massaglia at 12:04 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Department of State is Hiring Diplomatic Security Special Agents

The Department of State is hiring - Diplomatic Security Special Agents (known overseas as Regional Security Officers - Foreign Service Specialists)

The Department of State is accepting applications for Foreign Service Diplomatic Security Special Agent positions.

Click here (http://careers.state.gov/specialist/opportunities/secagent.html) for more information, and to start the application process. Please note that the deadline to submit completed applications is October 8, 2009.

Special Agents (SA) are sworn federal law enforcement officers who are responsible for the security of Foreign Service personnel, property and sensitive information throughout the world. Major activities include protective services, management of security programs for Foreign Service posts, criminal investigations, and background investigations, in addition to administrative, training, and liaison functions. Special Agent applicants must be U.S. citizens and must have a bachelor's degree at the time of appointment. Candidates must be within nine months of receiving their Bachelor's degree in order to apply, specifically, they must receive their degree prior to July 22, 2010 (exceptions cannot be granted). Special Agent candidates must be appointed prior to their 37th birthday.

(Thanks to our friends at University of Miami Law School)

Posted by Victor Massaglia at 6:32 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Passing a message to me from the Partnership for Public Service:

According to the results of a report released by the Partnership for Public Service earlier this month, the federal government will need to hire 273,000 new federal workers for mission-critical positions over the next three years. This surge in hiring is the result of an increased demand for services, priority program initiatives like climate change and healthcare, a wave of baby boomer retirements and normal attrition.

The majority of these positions are expected to fall into five broad fields:

* Medical and public health

* Security and protection

* Compliance and law enforcement

* Legal

* Administration/program management

These jobs, and those in other categories, cover almost all occupational fields and issue areas, and are located across the country and around the world. From doctors and nurses to law enforcement and immigration personnel to lawyers and program managers, there are positions available for nearly all academic majors, interest areas and skill sets.

Arriving at a time of high national unemployment and a renewed enthusiasm for public service, this hiring surge could not have come at a more appropriate moment. It presents an incredible opportunity for your students and alumni to find meaningful careers, and a chance for the federal government to select high-caliber talent, reinvigorate the civil service and build a workforce for tomorrow.

For more information, click here.

Posted by Victor Massaglia at 11:56 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

I received a great question from a student earlier today and I wanted to share the information more widely.

Q: As I look at usajobs.gov, I find a lot of interesting openings at GS 10-14 levels. I am aware that GS 9 is the typical entry level for law graduates. Should I not apply for any jobs above GS 9 level?

A: Great question! Many entry-level positions at the federal government are at GS (pay scale) 9. However, do not limit yourself to only GS-9. Entry-level attorneys may also start at GS 10 or 11, or even 12 with previous government or military experience.

More information about federal GS pay scales is available here.

Posted by at 3:53 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

From the U.S. Department of State:

We are pleased to inform you that we are now accepting applications for the Summer 2010 Student Internship Program.

Please click here (http://careers.state.gov/students/programs.html#SIP) for more information, and to view the vacancy on USAJobs and start the online application process. The deadline to submit completed applications is November 2, 2009.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens and a student in order to be eligible. Please read the vacancy announcement for all eligibility requirements.

PLEASE NOTE: You may experience some technical difficulties with the online application system. Please click here (http://careers.state.gov/students/workaround.html) for workaround instructions. We apologize for the inconvenience - we are working to fix this issue as quickly as possible.

We appreciate your interest in a career with the U.S. Department of State.

Posted by Victor Massaglia at 12:38 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

The CIA will be hosting two information sessions next week on:

Thursday, September 17th
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Room 215 Hubert H. Humphrey Center, West Bank

All U of M undergraduate and graduate students interested in learning
more about the CIA and their career opportunities are welcome to attend.
No registration is required.

*Students attending the information sessions should bring a copy of
their resume. *

The CIA will be setting up interviews at the info sessions with selected
students for Friday, September 18 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Center.

Posted by at 12:22 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Here are the handouts from today's program on Federal Government Hiring. Feel free to make an appointment with your counselor to discuss opportunities.KSA Handout.pdf, 2009 Government Presentation Handout.pdf, and 2009-10_NALP_Federal_Opportunities_Guide.pdf.

Posted by at 1:22 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Talk to a panel of professionals working in many interesting government and law enforcement fields. Learn about their career paths, what it requires to do their job, and why you might consider a career in any of these fields. Ask any questions you have.

Attend the whole event or come for as much as you can!

This event is FREE and open to all U of M undergraduate and graduate students. Feel free to bring your lunch--cookies will be served. This event will be great preparation for the Government Job and Internship Fair, October 26th. Learn more at http://mcucsa.org/govjobfair/

Questions? Contact your career office or the Career and Community Learning Center, the career office for the College of Liberal Arts at cclc@umn.edu or 612-624-7577.We look forward to seeing you there!

Sponsored by: The Employer Relations Group and the Career Development Network

Posted by Victor Massaglia at 10:31 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

If you are applying for the DOJ's Honors Program, start NOW! The application is due Tuesday, Sept. 8, and it is a lenghty application. This past spring a DOJ Attorney presented a great program on working for the DOJ. The power point from the program is attached and will give you more information about the application process.

Now Is the Time to Do Your Career Justice.final.ppt

Posted by at 4:05 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Students interested in attending the 2009 Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair may sign up for a Symplicity account and submit their cover letter and resume beginning Monday, August 31. Deadline is Sept. 11.

Signing up for a Symplicity account is free. Most student registrations to attend the Conference and Career Fair will be free. To sign up:

1. Create a Symplicity account at https://ejw-csm.symplicity.com/students/. Even though the U of M usues Symplicity you will still need to create a new account.
2. Confirm your email address by clicking on the link that is emailed to you.
3. Update your profile information under "Profile"
4. Upload a cover letter, résumé and transcript, if applicable. Please note that you may not upload writing samples into the system. Bring these to the interview with you.
5. Register to attend the Career Fair under "Events." You must register in order to be admitted into the Conference and Career Fair. A Symplicity account does not constitute as registering.
6. Submit applications to employers through Symplicity

For more information and for tips on how to have a successful Conference and Career Fair, visit the Equal Justice Works website at www.equaljusticeworks.org.

Posted by at 2:58 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Check out Symplicity for new Work Study jobs that are posted for fall: Minneapolis City Attorney's Office, Central Minnesota Legal Services, Children's Law Center and Volunteer Lawyers Network. Most law students qualify for Work Study, contact Jim Parker, j-park1@umn.edu, to see if you are eligible to apply!

If you are in a current Work Study position, talk to your employer about continuing on for fall.

Any questions contact Dana Bartocci at bartocci@umn.edu.

Posted by at 3:08 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

The University of Minnesota Law School is proud to introduce its new Robina Post-Graduate Fellowships. The Fellowships were funded by the Robina Foundation, which was established through the generosity of a Law School graduate.

The Law School will award up to 15 Robina Public Policy Post-Graduate Fellowships and up to 7 Robina Second Judicial District Public Defender's Office Post-Graduate Fellowships.

Fellows are required to work a total of 400 hours, typically scheduled as 15-30 hours per week. However, if a special situation (e.g., the offer of a permanent job) requires early completion, an accelerated schedule can be arranged. Fellows receive an award of $5,000.

APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS
Applications are open to 2009 graduates of the University of Minnesota Law School. Graduates are not eligible if they have secured another permanent law or law clerk position, regardless of the start date of that employment.

Public Policy applicants must have obtained a firm commitment to work on a public policy project or in a public policy role at a nonprofit agency or organization. Each agency will determine whether bar admission is required.

Public Defender's Office applicants must have taken the bar exam or be taking it in July 2009. Offers of employment are contingent on bar passage. Preference will be given to applicants with criminal law experience.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS
Public Policy applicants will design a public policy project or role with a nonprofit agency and apply for funding for that specific undertaking, which can be a new project or an existing one that is unfunded. Funding is not available for alumni with positions that are 100% direct legal services.

Organizations that have public policy project openings and are willing to host a Robina Public Policy Fellow can be identified with assistance from the Career and Professional Development Center (CPDC). At present, projects are available at the Battered Women's Legal Advocacy Project, Cancer Legal Line, Center for Victims of Torture, Children's Law Center of Minnesota, Disability Law Center, HOMEline, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, and Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault. Interested applicants should obtain appropriate contact information from Dana Bartocci (bartocci@umn.edu) and not contact the agencies directly.

The required 400 hours are usually completed in weekly segments of 15-30 hours, depending on the organization's needs. Fellows are paid as employees of the host agency and receive paychecks, with proper withholding, according to the organization's regularly scheduled payroll process.

Public Defender's Office applicants will be trained to interview and represent clients in criminal matters in felony, gross misdemeanor, misdemeanor, and juvenile courts across the Second Judicial District. They also may conduct policy research and have office hours, during which they assist attorney staff and handle incoming information phone calls.

A commitment of 15-30 hours per week during office hours (8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday) is required, and Fellows must be available to work in 4-hour increments (8:00 a.m.-noon; 12:30-4:30 p.m.) in various arraignment courts. Fellows receive a $2,500 award when they begin and a $2,500 award when they complete the 400 total hours. Fellows are responsible for all applicable taxes on their total $5,000 award.

The University requires Fellowship recipients who have maxed out their financial aid during law school to receive their award in the form of loan repayment; the award will be applied directly to the loans. Applicants who are unsure whether this provision applies to them should contact Jim Parker in the Office of Student Finance at j-park1@umn.edu.
APPLICATION PROCESS
To apply for a Robina Post-Graduate Fellowship, upload your resume and a cover letter into Symplicity.

Public Policy applicants must also upload a policy project description and a letter of intent to host a Fellow from the nonprofit agency. The deadline is 5:00 p.m. on Monday, August 17. The CPDC will notify applicants who receive an interview.

Public Defender's Office applicants must have their documents uploaded by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 14. The Public Defender's Office will notify applicants who receive an interview.

QUESTIONS
For additional information about the Robina Post-Graduate Fellowship Program, please contact Dana Bartocci, Employer Relations Coordinator, CPDC, University of Minnesota Law School, at bartocci@umn.edu or 612-625-4694.

Posted by at 8:06 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

The University of Minnesota Law School is proud to introduce the Fourth Judicial District Law Clerk Post-Graduate Fellowship. The Law School will award up to five Judicial Law Clerk Post-Graduate Fellowships. Fellows are required to work a total of 400 hours and will receive an award of $5,000.

APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS
Applications are open to 2009 graduates of the University of Minnesota Law School who have taken the bar exam or will take it in July 2009. Graduates are not eligible if they have secured another permanent law or law clerk position, regardless of the start date of that employment.

Placement in the top 50% of the Law School class is preferred. Successful applicants will have knowledge of general law, state law, established precedent, sources of legal reference, court practices and procedures, and legal terminology and concepts. They will be able to communicate clearly and concisely in both oral and written forms with diverse audiences, research complex legal questions and apply legal principles, represent the court in a respectful manner, establish and maintain effective working relationships, and skillfully use word processing and legal research software.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Fellows will perform professional legal work under general supervision of a justice, judge, or other legal officials in the Fourth Judicial District. Duties involve legal research and other related clerical or administrative work in preparation of memoranda, opinions, or orders for judges or court officials concerning the cases before them. Fellows' work is reviewed through conferences and written reports.

Some examples of a Judicial Law Clerk's responsibilities may include review, research, and annotation of laws, court decisions, documents, opinions, and briefs; preparation of briefs, legal memoranda, statements of issues, and appropriate suggestions or recommendations; compilation of references on laws and decisions necessary for legal determinations; conferring with justice, judge, or court official on legal questions, construction of documents, and granting of orders; attendance at oral arguments to record necessary case information; maintenance of records attendant to court proceedings; and performance of such courtroom duties as calling the calendar, swearing in jury panels and witnesses, taking court minutes, and assisting in arraignments, motions, hearings, pre-trial conferences, and trials.

Fellows are required to work a total of 400 hours, at 30 hours per week. Fellows are paid as employees of the Fourth Judicial District and receive paychecks, with proper withholding, according to the Judicial District's regularly scheduled payroll process.

APPLICATION PROCESS
Applicants are required to prepare the following supplemental material:

•Rank in order of interest the following types of law: family, civil, criminal, and juvenile.
•Describe what would make you a successful clerk in each area.
To apply for a Fellowship, upload your resume, cover letter, supplemental material, and a short writing sample into Symplicity. The deadline is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 14. The Fourth Judicial District will notify applicants who receive an interview.

QUESTIONS
For additional information about the Post-Graduate Fellowship Program, please contact Dana Bartocci, Employer Relations Coordinator, Career and Professional Development Center, University of Minnesota Law School, at bartocci@umn.edu bartocci@umn.edu or 612-625-4694.

Posted by at 8:03 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

From Equal Justice Works Fellowships Staff:

The 2010 Equal Justice Works Fellowship application is available at http://info.equaljusticeworks.org/fellowships/login.asp. You may review the application form in order to advise students by creating a profile and an application name.

Important reminders:

Review the application ASAP. We recommend that prospective candidates review the online application form as soon as possible to familiarize themselves with how it works and to prepare the necessary items required to apply -- the online application, the Certification Form (signed by both candidate and host organization and accompanied this year by a Benefits Summary Sheet) and up to two letters of recommendation.

Begin working on the application early. There are character limits noted for each text box, and character counts may differ between a word processing program and the application. It is therefore important for candidates to paste the text into the application well in advance of the deadline to ensure that the text fits in the allotted space. The server also grows increasingly busy as the deadline approaches.

Hard copy documents must be received by September 17th. The deadline for submission of the application, which is done online, is 5pm EDT on September 17th. A signed Certification Form and up to 2 recommendation letter(s) must be received by Equal Justice Works no later than September 17th. These items must be mailed or hand delivered. Faxes and emails will not be accepted.

If you have any questions, please email fellowships@equaljusticeworks.org or call (202)466-3686, extension 202.

We hope you are having a pleasant summer!

Posted by Victor Massaglia at 4:31 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

For those who are unfamiliar, please note that PSLawNet's Federal Government Careers page - which is free and publicly accessible - is newly updated and expanded:
http://www.pslawnet.org/governmentcareers.

From Steve Grumm, NALP's Director of Public Service Initiatives

Posted by Victor Massaglia at 7:45 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

The Partnership for Public Service and American University's School of Public Affairs recently released the 2009 edition of Best Places to Work in the Federal Government. The Best Places to Work rankings are the most comprehensive and authoritative rating and analysis of employee satisfaction and commitment in the federal government.

While the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Government Accountability Office maintained their top positions in 2009, both agencies also significantly increased their scores. On the other side of the spectrum, the three lowest-ranked agencies in 2007, the Department of Education, Department of Homeland Security and Small Business Administration (SBA), were all among the most-improved agencies in 2009. SBA improved its index score by a whopping 30 percent.

For the fourth time in a row, survey data showed the primary driver of job satisfaction in the federal space to be effective leadership. While this finding is no surprise, the reasons behind it are. Although conventional wisdom holds that the greatest influence on an employee's satisfaction is his or her immediate supervisor, the 2009 Best Places rankings reveal that the quality of the agency's senior leadership is the primary indicator of employees' leadership satisfaction.

Schools: There has never been a more exciting time for your students to pursue a career in federal government. Click here to learn more about the wide variety of opportunities available to job seekers.

Agencies: Are you committed to improving your score? Click here.

Posted by Victor Massaglia at 7:33 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

The Partnership for Public Service has learned from our research that students in college are generally interested in working for the federal government but lack the knowledge to actually find and apply for those jobs and internships. We also learned that students look to their peers for advice and assistance throughout the job-search process. As such, the Federal Service Student Ambassadors program is designed to increase interest in federal service on college campuses through developing a corps of passionate student advocates who will actively promote public service following their completion of a federal summer internship.

As a Federal Service Student Ambassador you will educate and inform students on your campus of federal jobs and internships. Having already completed a federal internship yourself, you will lead outreach efforts to your campus community during the 2009-10 academic year. The federal government needs to fill 45,000 entry level jobs each year and you can help to fill this gap with the best and the brightest.

Click here for more Information.

Continue reading "Federal Service Student Ambassadors" »

Posted by Victor Massaglia at 8:13 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Looking for an opportunity with the federal government? Take a look at this great resource.

Uncle Sam needs you according to a new report — Where the Jobs Are: Mission Critical Opportunities for America, released in July by the Partnership for Public Service. The report outlines government-wide projected hiring needs through 2009 and is based on a survey of 34 federal agencies representing nearly 99 percent of the federal workforce. The survey finds nearly 193,000 mission critical jobs need to be filled in the next two years!

For more information, visit http://www.makingthedifference.org/federaljobs/.

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Posted by Victor Massaglia at 6:33 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Equal Justice Works has launched a new web resource for students and educators regarding student debt. The College Cost Reduction and Access Act - legislation that forgives student debt and limits monthly loan payments - becomes fully effective on July 1, 2009. Signed into law nearly two years ago, the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA) will now help thousands of recent graduates cope with student debt and enter public service.

To help college graduates and their advisors understand, qualify and take advantage of benefits under the CCRAA, Equal Justice Works has developed a free online resource center that provides a comprehensive overview of its provisions as well as many practical tools including simple checklists, calculators, lists of loan repayment assistance programs, FAQs and podcasts.

Visit the Equal Justice Works Debt Relief online resource center. Please feel free to forward this email to any interested students, lawyers or others using the "send this to a friend" feature at the top right corner of this email. Look for more information about upcoming events, including webinar sessions, coming this summer.

Posted by Victor Massaglia at 11:42 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Equal Justice Works Public Service Career Fair
WHEN: October 24-25, 2009

WHERE: Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington D.C.

Visit http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/ or e-mail Nada El-Eryan at neleryan@equaljusticeworks.org for more information.

Posted by Victor Massaglia at 9:50 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Please visit 2008-2009 National Summer Funding Resources for an updated listing of National Summer Funding Resources for your summer internships.

As always, please contact the CPDC for more information.

Posted by Victor Massaglia at 9:55 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

A Notice from the ABA

The American Bar Association Center for Pro Bono is pleased to announce a new innovative project -- Medical Legal Partnerships Pro Bono Support Project -- to coordinate an ABA-based national medical-legal partnership pro bono support initiative. The Project will expand the current landscape of Medical-Legal Partnerships by increasing the targeted patient populations, and it will provide support to existing medical–legal partnerships by developing a national support center. Moreover, the Project will work to actively engage the private bar as a consistent provider of legal services in the hospital and clinic settings.

For further information or to view the Medical-Legal Partnerships: Pro Bono as a Healing Art website, click here.

Posted by Victor Massaglia at 8:01 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Equal Justice Works and American University’s Washington College of Law have teamed up to launch an all-new podcast: The Student Debt Relief Series.

The first episode, “How to Figure Out if You Benefit from the College Cost Reduction & Access Act - and How Much?� is available now. Listen to the episode (below) or visit the main page to stream, download or subscribe to the series. You can also download the corresponding Loan Forgiveness for Public Service Employment Checklist.

Student Debt Relief Series: Episode One

Running time: 20 min.

(From the Equal Justice Works Blog)

Posted by Victor Massaglia at 5:30 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

From the NALP Public Service Section

National Disaster Legal Aid Website
www.disasterlegalaid.org

The new National Disaster Legal Aid www.disasterlegalaid.org website serves as a national clearinghouse for legal information and resources to persons affected by disasters, legal aid lawyers providing representation, and volunteer attorneys wishing to assist others.

The goals of this new permanent disaster website are to:

1) Serve as a centralized national resource for legal aid and pro bono attorneys across the country on legal issues related to all types of disasters;

2) Recruit and help mobilize pro bono attorneys in the aftermath of a disaster, and

3) Provide accurate and timely information on legal issues, related to disasters, to the low income public affected by disasters.

More click below for the rest of this posting.

Continue reading "Four Organizations Launch Online Resource for Victims of Disasters, Legal Aid Lawyers, and Volunteers" »

Posted by Victor Massaglia at 5:54 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Check out this Washington Post article regarding public service careers and debt:

Options for Reducing Student Loan Debt for Those Choosing Public Service Careers

Extract: "The good news is that in 2007, Congress recognized that there were so many students [interested]... it passed the College Cost Reduction and Access Act. There were two programs established by this act that [students] should look into, two advisers I contacted said.

The first is the income-based repayment plan, which allows lower-income graduates with a lot of debt to reduce their monthly payments. Depending on a graduate's income and level of debt, the program, which goes into effect July 1, could limit his or her annual educational loan debt repayment to 15 percent of discretionary income, said Peter Mazareas, vice chairman of the College Savings Foundation, a Washington-based advocacy association.

The second is the public service loan forgiveness plan, in which the federal government will forgive the remaining debt of borrowers who make 120 loan payments while working full time in public-service jobs. The graduate must have a Federal Direct Stafford, PLUS, graduate PLUS or Federal Direct Consolidation loan."

Posted by Victor Massaglia at 10:35 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Have you looked at opportunities at the U.S. Department of State? Check out their site: http://careers.state.gov to learn more.

"Students of all levels will find that the U.S. Department of State is a rewarding place to acquire skills that will last a lifetime. We have a variety of programs, from summer clerical positions to management fellowships, all of which allow students from high school to the post-graduate level the ability to participate in projects vital to the success of U.S. foreign policy. Overseas or in Washington D.C., there's a student program that matches your background and will help you to achieve your goals." From their student's page.

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Posted by Victor Massaglia at 3:03 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Is Public Interest Law Right for You?

By Jennifer Wimberly, program associate at the Florida Bar Foundation in Orlando, Florida.

"If you went to law school because you wanted to “help people� when you graduated, there’s a good chance that public interest law is the right career choice for you. However, there are several important points to consider before you accept a public interest job.

How comfortable are you with regular client contact? More importantly, how comfortable are you with having regular contact with low-income clients? Most public interest law clients have incomes at or below the Federal Poverty Level. For 2007 that meant a single mother with two children had a total monthly income of $1430.

If you are interested in legislative or policy work and you are not interested in hands-on client work and litigation, you need to find out exactly what your duties will be before you accept a public interest law job. Look for a job where you will be regularly conducting research and writing memos on public policy issues. Otherwise you may find yourself miserable in a job where you must regularly meet with indigent clients and maintain an active litigation caseload." The entire article is located at http://www.abanet.org/yld/tyl/sept08/wimberly.html

Posted by Victor Massaglia at 3:02 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Just in case you missed this announcement. Here is news of the PSLawNet's improved website.

"We are writing to inform you that a new version of PSLawNet launched in July. It contains several upgrades for public interest job seekers, including enhanced search functionalities and the ability to flag and store job postings that interest you. The new PSLawNet also contains a greatly expanded career resource library with sample resumes/cover letters, information on an array of public interest career paths, and much more."

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Posted by Victor Massaglia at 1:23 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Late last June I had the opportunity to attend the US Army Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps Career Services Conference in Washington D.C. We had a packed agenda and learned a lot. Here are some of the topics that were covered:

* Professional & Personal Rewards of Service with the JAG
* Life of a New Army Judge Advocate
* An Overview of Practicing Law in the Military
* Application Process
* Overview of International and Operational Law Practice in the Army JAG
* Career Progression

We have a binder of print material from the conference in our office. Also, visit Army JAG for more information.

A JAG representative will be visiting the Law School this fall.

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Posted by Victor Massaglia at 7:53 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Last fall, President Bush signed federal legislation dramatically altering the federal student loan program to make it much easer for students with an interest in public service to pursue their career goals. The College Cost Reduction Act (CCRA) altered the kinds of loan repayment options available to graduates with federal loans and provided for a loan forgiveness option for graduates who engage in public service for a ten year period.

Because the legislation is complex, how it will affect your specific circumstance should be the topic of discussion with your financial aid office representative, particularly if you are a graduating student this spring. Equal Justice Works has created a helpful, one-stop resource page on its website:

http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/resource/ccraa

The EJW page provides helpful analysis, the full text of the legislation and links to useful resources. Graduates and recent alumni will want to spend some time exploring how the CCRA can enable them to engage in a public service career.

Posted by Steven Marchese at 12:34 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Making the choice to use your law degree for less traditional reasons requires you to be both strategic and thoughtful about your skills and abilities. Many law students express interest in working in the non-profit sector, either because they see such organizations as places where it is possible to be involved in public service and social change or where the expectations are less driven by bottom-line financial success. However, it is not always apparent to employers in non-profit organizations, particularly non-legal related ones, why a person with a JD degree would be a good match for their needs. This makes it incumbent on the candidate to help explain the connection between his or her background and the work of the non-profit entitiy.

A recent New York Times article provides some helpful advice for non-profit job seekers, "Your True Calling Could Suit a Non-Profit". The article can be found at the following (registration required):

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/06/jobs/06career.html?ref=jobs

While not specifically addressed to lawyers or law students, I think it presents a good overview of how/why candidates can make the transition to this sector and some successful strategies to use. There are additional resources in print, including "What Can You Do With a Law Degree" and other texts. More information can be found on the NALP website at the following:

http://www.nalp.org/content/index.php?pid=371

Posted by Steven Marchese at 10:40 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

The Partnership for Public Service (PPS) has compiled a report outlining the compelling need for Federal hiring driven by the fact tht half of all federal employees will be eligible to retire during the next ten years.

Federal Human Capital: The Perfect Storm. is a summary and analysis of federal human capital issues and needs as expressed by Chief Human Capital Officers across government.

This 28-page report may be downloaded from the PPS site. A paper copy is available in the CPDC.

Posted by Susan Gainen at 7:35 AM | Permalink

Although private sector employer hiring seems to dominate this time of year, it is important to also keep track of opportunities to connect with employers in the public sector. Federal agencies present law students and recent graduates with fertile ground for employment. (Indeed, not surprisingly, it is the largest legal employer in the nation.) Although many of these opportunities are located in the Washington, DC area, there are also plenty of openings throughout other parts of the country.

NALP just recently updated its Federal Legal Employment Opportunities Guide for 2007-8. This resource is available as a free PDF download from the NALP website and is chock full of helpful tips, ideas and leads. You may find the document at the following link:

http://www.nalp.org/assets/859_0708fedlegalempguide.pdf

In addition, the Law School subscribes to the University of Arizona Government Honors and Internship Handbook, which is updated continuously throughout the year. This is the definitive resource for finding information, including hiring contacts and application requirements, about both federal and state legal hiring programs for both summer and post-graduate employment. If you are interested in accessing the Arizona Guide, please e-mail our office at cpdc@umn.edu

Finally, for those interested in non-legal employment with the federal government, the Presidential Management Fellows program offers students who will be graduating this academic year the opportunity to be hired with one of dozens of federal agencies in what would normally be civil service positions. Although these are not practice positions, many agencies actively seek out law graduates. (Please note there is both a nomination and assessment process.) For full information, please see the following link:

https://www.pmf.opm.gov/

Posted by Steven Marchese at 4:43 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

With the start of the spring semester, now is the time to get focused on applying for public service opportunities for this summer. Following are some important reminders about available programs:

1) MJF Summer Clerkships -- Over 20 opportunities to work with public service organizations in the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota. Stipends are $4200 in the Twin Cities, $4700 in Greater MN. Applications are available at the MJF office on the subplaza, Room 90, or on the MJF website as a PDF download -- www.mnjustice.org. The deadline is THIS THURSDAY, 1/25 at 5 PM. Do not delay!

2) Mansfield Fellowships -- for 2Ls only with legal services organizations in the Twin Cities. Dean Keyes sent an e-mail today with full information. Applications will be due on February 5th in her office.

3) State Public Defender Community Clerkships -- One clerkship for each judicial district in the state of Minnesota and the appellate office. John Stuart will be here TODAY at 12:30 PM in Room 40 to discuss these opportunities. Application information will be available at the program or on-line at the State Public Defender website -- http://www.pubdef.state.mn.us/employment/clerkship.pdf. The deadline for applications is Friday, February 9th at 4:30 PM at the office of the state board of public defense in St. Paul.

4) MJF Student Chapter Public Interest (PIC) Grants -- These clerkships are administered by the student chapter and allow students to obtain funding with organizations with which they already have placements for the summer. Can be anywhere in the United States. A limited number (2 or 3) available. Please stay tuned for more information in the next month about this opportunity.

5) 2007 Upper Midwest Human Rights Fellowships -- Administered by the Human Rights Center here at the law school. Enables students to obtain practical experience with human rights organizations locally, nationally and throughout the world. For full information, please check the Center's website -- http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/center/uppermidwest/. Applications must be received at the Center by Monday, February 26th at 4 PM.

6) Summer 2007 Work Study Program -- Last year, the law school was able to offer work study funding for 15 eligible students interested in working with a defined group of public service employers (e.g., Legal Aid of Minneapolis, Ramsey PDs office, FLAG) We will again offer this program, although details are currently being worked out with the financial aid and student employment offices. We also anticipate being able to fund a limited number of students (1Ls and 2Ls) who have already obtained placement commitments from organizations able to receive work study funding (private non-profits or public sector entities). More information will follow by mid-February with applications due before Spring Break in March.

Posted by Steven Marchese at 12:10 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

VOCABULARY:

1. JUDICIAL CLERKSHIP The post-JD job with the judge is a Judicial Clerkship. You apply for federal and most state trial court clerkships in your third year, and for some state appellate clerkships in spring of second year. There is virtually unanimous agreement among lawyers who have had clerkships that their clerkships were the best jobs of their careers.

2. JUDICIAL EXTERNSHIP The while-you're-in-school gig with a judge is, in U of MN vocabulary, a Judicial Externship. You may do an externship for free (arrange it yourself) or for either two or three credits in the summer or during the school year.

While virtually everyone loves an externship, the students who do them in the summer, when they can spend either two or three whole days each week in chambers, love them even more -- because they can feel as if they are part of the chamber, instead of dropping by between classes.

Prof. Chomsky arranges externships in the Metro Area for students who register for summer school (and during the school year). If you want to extern for credit outside of the Metro, or if you have a "Family Friend or Mentor Judge" who will agree to host you, see Prof. Chomsky's so that you can get the paperwork describing the judge's responsibilities. You will want to make sure that the judge has the document before making the decision to accept you.

WHY DO AN EXTERNSHIP? Advice from an extern:
http://www.law.umn.edu/uploads/images/412/Judicial_Externship.pdf

WHAT MIGHT YOU HAVE TO DO AS AN EXTERN? Here is the syllabus from Fall 2005: http://www.law.umn.edu/uploads/images/1995/Law6057_syl.pdf

Posted by Susan Gainen at 9:32 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

PSLawNet, NALP’s Public Service Law Network Worldwide, is a network of over 170 law schools and more than 11,000 law-related public interest organizations in the U.S. and around the world.

Through its online database, PSLawNet provides a comprehensive clearinghouse of public interest organizations and opportunities for lawyers and law students. Users can perform customized searches of public interest opportunities around the world, ranging from short-term volunteer and paid internships to full-time jobs, fellowships and pro bono opportunities.

PSLawNet facilitates a sharing of public interest resources and expertise by:

* Sponsoring the NALP/PSLawNet Public Service Mini Conference, an educational meeting for law school public interest advisors
* Appearing on and initiating a variety of panels and programs on public interest issues at other conferences nationwide
* Presenting annual Pro Bono Publico awards to formally recognize law students for outstanding pro bono commitment
* Publishing an annual edition of The Comprehensive Fellowship Guide – The Ultimate Resource for Lawyers and Law Students, containing the most extensive information available on post-graduate fellowships
* Providing information on a wide variety of public interest events, job fairs, and other resources through links on our website.

Posted by Victor Massaglia at 8:52 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Many students express interest in working for the public sector. Perhaps it's the sense of satisfaction that comes with working on behalf of the public good. Or the impression that the lifestyle is more liveable. Or a substantive interest in an area of practice heavily regulated by the government (for example, corporate law and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)).

There are many excellent reasons to consider working for the federal government. To get a broad overview, I recommend starting with the 2006-2007 NALP Federal Legal Employment Opportunities Guide. A copy of the guide can be obtained here (It's a long document, so be prepared to read on-line.) The Guide provides helpful information about the range of practice opportunities, career paths and strategies for getting a legal job with the federal government.

Another often overlooked program for law students is the Presidential Management Fellows Program (PMF). This program enables fellows to work for executive agencies in the federal government at largely non-practice positions. Many of these positions do involve law, but usually as it relates to policy, legislation and regulatory administration. Law students are often sought after by employers in this program, a welcome change from other competitiive legal hiring environments. (Oh, yeah, that OCI thing.) For more information on the PMF, got to the following link:

https://www.pmf.opm.gov/Index.aspx

Posted by Steven Marchese at 10:58 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)