Post OCI Job Search Strategies

Now that OCI is over, how do you search for a job? Below are 4 Job Search Strategies that you should incorporate into your fall job search.

STRATEGY 1: SEARCH WITH PURPOSE – check relevant job sites. If you can do this once a week, more power to you!

• USFLawLink.com
• Government Honors and Internships Handbook (username & password on your USFLawLink home page)
• PSLawNet.org
• Public Policy Handbook (username & password on your USFLawLink home page)
• Indeed.com
• Law Jobs
• Craigslist
• Review the “Job Search Resources” handout in USFLawLink’s document library

STRATEGY 2: ATTEND CAREER-RELATED EVENTS OFTEN – take advantage of opportunities to meet alumni and prospective employers and gather information on your desired practice areas.

• Click here for the OCP calendar of upcoming events
• Check the Bar Association of San Francisco’s event calendar
• Join bar associations in your field of interest – memberships rates for students are usually low

STRATEGY 3: KEEP IN THE KNOW – keep up with current developments in the legal industry.

• Read the Recorder or other legal newspapers – hard copies available in the Law Library
• Check OCP’s Facebook page and Twitter feed – industry articles are continuously posted
• Wall Street Journal Law Blog
• Law Jobs – Career Center
• The American Lawyer
• The National Law Journal

STRATEGY 4: STAY ON THE RADAR SCREEN – connect with people who may be of assistance in your job search.

• Meet with an OCP counselor to evaluate and tweak your search strategies – we can work with you create a personalized “Job Search Action Plan”
• Keep in touch with your mentors, professors and previous employers
• Join the USF Law LinkedIn group to manage, maintain and grow your network
• Review the “Networking” and “Informational Interviewing” handouts in the USFLawLink document library for additional tips on networking

US Dept of State Accepting Summer 2012 Internship Apps

The U.S. Department of State is now accepting applications for its Summer 2012 Student Internship Program.

Click here (http://careers.state.gov/students/programs) to read more about the Student Internship Program, and to start the Gateway to State online application process. Please note that the deadline to submit completed applications is November 01, 2011.

To be eligible for this program, you must be:

• Be a U.S. citizen
• Be a full- or part-time continuing college or university junior, or graduate student (including graduating seniors intending to go on to graduate school).
• Have good academic standing
• Successfully complete a background investigation
• Be able to receive either a Secret or Top Secret clearance.

Please read the entire vacancy announcement carefully for all qualifications and requirements.

You can also visit their Student Programs forum (http://careers.state.gov/engage/forums/student-programs) to post questions or read discussions about this program.

Application Period open for Judge Constance Baker Motley Civil Rights Fellowship

MOTLEY FELLOWSHIP, 2012-2013

The Equal Justice Society is now accepting applications for its 2012-2013 Judge Constance Baker Motley Civil Rights Fellowship, named after the first African-American woman to serve on the federal bench. Applicants for the one-year, paid fellowship should be recent law school graduates with up to five years of work experience after law school. Applications must be received in our office, not merely postmarked, by November 15, 2011

The Equal Justice Society is a national legal organization focused on restoring Constitutional safeguards against discrimination. Our goal is to help achieve a society where race is no longer a barrier to opportunity. We use a three-pronged approach–combining legal and policy, Grand Alliance and communication strategies–to reverse those laws and policies that erode the protections intended by the 14th Amendment of the Constitution.

Motley Fellowship applicants should demonstrate experience in civil rights advocacy and a strong commitment to racial justice. The Fellow will work under the supervision of the Supervising Attorney and other attorneys for a 12-month period.

During the fellowship period, the Fellow may lead new research, advocacy, coalition building, and public education efforts related to transforming anti-discrimination law and policy. The Fellow will be a full participant in office events and activities, including staff meetings and strategic planning sessions.

The position is based in our San Francisco office and runs from October 1, 2012, to September 30, 2013, with some flexibility in dates.

To be considered for the Judge Constance Baker Motley Civil Rights Fellowship, applicants should send a cover letter, resume, list of three (3) references and a writing sample (preferably on a racial/social justice topic) to info@equaljusticesociety.org with the subject line “Motley Fellowship Application” or mail hard copies to:

Motley Fellowship Applications

Equal Justice Society

260 California Street, Suite 700

San Francisco, CA 94111

Applications must be received in our office, not merely postmarked, by November 15, 2011.

http://www.equaljusticesociety.org/about/jobs/

Applicants should be recent law school graduates with 0-5 years of work experience after law school. Bar passage is not required. Candidates will be evaluated based upon criteria including: Demonstrated commitment to racial and social justice; Demonstrated interest in civil rights law and policy; Excellent research and oral/written communication skills.

The Equal Justice Society is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered individuals to apply.

On-Campus Interviews: Tips to Thrive in OCI

The Office of Career Planning wishes you the best of luck in your upcoming OCI interview. To assist you in putting your best foot forward here are a few tips for interview success:

1. Confirm date, time and room number of interview. Arrive at least 10 minutes early.

2. Program the OCP phone number into your phone in case anything goes wrong: (415) 422-6757. At your allotted interview time, knock politely on the door.

3. If you know the name of the interviewer, do research on them in particular and about the firm. (Check with OCP for interviewer names).

4. On day of interview: (a) dress professionally in an interview suit and err on the side of conservatism; (b) do not wear cologne or perfume as some interviewers are allergic; (c) make sure hair is neat, combed and styled; and (d) shoes should be polished; women: closed-toe pumps are the best (heels should not be over 3 to 4 inches; 2 inch heels work best.

5. Bring to the interview: (a) pen and writing pad for notes; and (b) a nice padfolio in which to hold copies of your resume, cover letter, writing sample, transcript, and references.

6. During the interview: (a) be sure to have questions to ask the interviewer to show your interest; and (b) ask when you can expect to hear from them regarding a decision for call-back interviews.

7. After the interview: (a) send a thank you email immediately to your interviewer, being sure to note specifically something you talked about so the interviewer can remember you; and (b) send any follow-up materials that the interviewer requested.

Please note that last minute changes often occur with OCI: firms change interviewers due to work conflicts; some employers are late arriving to the interviews; other interviewers often run over their interview time. It is important to remain calm and to call our office if *ANY* issue arises. We are here to help and can often run interference when issues arise.

Participating in OCI? Required Reading re: NALP Guidelines on Offers & Acceptances

NALP: Timing of Offers & Decisions Reminder! NALP's Standards for the Timing of Offers and Decisions (as outlined in Part V of NALP's Principles and Standards) are provided on NALP’s website at www.nalp.org.

Students are responsible for reading the full version of NALP’s guidelines, which is necessary for a complete comprehension.

OCP Summary of Guidelines

• 2L/3L student previously employed by the employer:
  The offer may expire Nov 1. Reaffirm these offers within 30 days from the date of the offer letter.
• 2L/3L student not previously employed by the employer and offer is made on Dec 15 or before:
  The offer may expire 28 days from offer letter or on Dec 30, whichever is first.
• 2L/3L student not previously employed by the employer and offer is made after Dec 15:
  The offer should remain open for at least two weeks after the date of the offer letter.
• 2L/3L students generally:
  Should not hold open more than five offers of employment at any one time.

Exceptions An employer having a total of 40 attorneys or fewer in all offices is exempt from the above guidelines. Offers from such employers made on or before Dec 15 should remain open for at least 3 weeks from offer letter or on Dec 30, whichever is first, and offers made after Dec 15 should remain open for at least 2 weeks

2L/3L student may request that one employer extend the deadline to accept the employer’s offer if the student is actively pursuing positions with public interest or government organizations until as late as April 1, but limited to one open offer.

Upcoming Government Deadlines for 2Ls

Please note that this is a partial listing of government opportunities and upcoming deadlines. In addition to the ones noted, there are numerous other government agencies that hire on a rolling basis; positions may fill up quickly and can close before the stated deadline, depending on how many applications an agency receives. Further information on most of the positions below can be obtained from the online Government Honors and Internship Handbook (www.law.arizona.edu/career/honorshandbook.cfm. The username and the password are posted on your homepage on www.USFLawLink.com.

You will also want to check that website to ensure the below deadlines are correct as information can change. While the following list is limited to summer and post-graduate positions, the Government Honors and Internship Handbook also contains some information on spring opportunities. If you're interested in a spring externship, please see the Externship Office in Room 235 Kendrick prior to applying.

• The U.S. Department of Justice is accepting applications from 2Ls for its Summer Law Intern Program (SLIP). The application deadline to submit electronically is by midnight , Eastern Daylight Time, September 6, 2011. Applicants can access the application through the Office of Attorney Recruitment and Management (OARM) web page (www.usdoj.gov/oarm) by selecting "Opportunities for Attorneys and Law Students," then selecting the appropriate program.

• Alabama Office of the Attorney General's Summer Law Clerk Program has a deadline of October 1.

• Central Intelligence Agency in Washington DC seeks applications from 2Ls for its Summer Legal Clerkship Program. 2L applicants should apply by September 15.

• Environmental Protection Agency, Office of General Counsel in Washington, DC is seeking applications from 2Ls for its Summer Honors Program. Applications must be postmarked no later than August 26.

• Environmental Protection Agency, Kansas City (Region 7) is seeking applications from 2Ls for its Summer Legal Intern Program. The applications are due by September 15.

• Federal Reserve Board is seeking applications from 2Ls for its Summer Law Clerk Program. The deadline is September 30.

• Federal Trade Commission seeks applications from 2Ls for its Bureau of Competition - Summer Intern Program. The deadline is September 15.

• Federal Trade Commission seeks applications from 2Ls for its Bureau of Consumer Protection - Summer Law Clerk Program. The deadline for 2011 has not been set, but the 2010 deadline was September 30.

• Dept of Health & Human Services, Office of Counsel to the Inspector General seeks applications from 2Ls for its Summer Intern Program. The deadline is September 16.

• Department of Homeland Security, Office of General Counsel seeks 2Ls for its Summer Intern Program. The deadline is October 1.

• Office of Government Accountability seeks 2Ls for its Summer Associate Program. Applications are due September 1.

• Internal Revenue Service will be accepting applications from 2Ls for the 2012 Summer Law Intern Program, which operates in the Office of the Chief Counsel in Washington DC and selected field offices throughout the US. Students should submit applications in early Fall as they are considered on a rolling basis.

• Ohio Attorney General’s Office is seeking applications for its Summer Law Clerk Program. The deadline is September 23.

• Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation - Office of General Counsel is accepting applications from 2Ls for its Summer Law Clerkships Program. The application deadline is October 1.

• Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office seeks applications for its Law Student Internship Program. Deadline is October 1.

• U.S. Department of State, Office of the Legal Adviser (Civil) is accepting applications from 2Ls for its Summer Intern Program. Applications are also due September 1.

• U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California is seeking applications from 2Ls for its summer externship program. While in the past the official application deadline for summer has been generally December 15, applications should be submitted in Early Fall since positions are considered on a rolling basis and may fill up early.

Mentorship Networking Kickoff: March 1

The USF School of law invites you to become a mentor for USF law students and join us for a night of networking at the


University of San Francisco's Mentoring Program Kickoff
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
5:30 - 6:00 pm: Registration and Hors d'oeuvres
6:00 - 8:00 pm: Mentorship Success Stories, Online Demo, and Networking
McLaren Conference Center
1st floor, Room 252
USF Main Campus

Free and open to all USF alumni, students, faculty, and staff.

RSVP for the Mentoring Program Kickoff: http://alumni.usfca.edu/s/1307/2Col.aspx?sid=1307&pgid=424&gid=1&cid=1110&ecid=1110

Come connect with old friends and make new ones throughout the USF community.

About Connections, the USF School of Law Mentoring Program

The law school's new online Mentoring Program connects USF students with alumni, faculty, and USF School of Law-affiliated legal professionals who provide advice and support throughout the law school experience and legal career. Students choose mentors who can offer expertise in areas of interest ranging from criminal to intellectual property to public interest law and beyond.