BASF Event: Latino Partners & Summer Associates Reception

Latino Partners & Summer Associates Reception
July 16, 2009 : 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

The Bar Association of San Francisco La Raza Lawyers of San Francisco, East Bay La Raza Lawyers, La Raza Lawyers Association of Santa Clara County cordially invite you to attend their Latino Partners and Associates Reception, welcoming Latino Summer Associates to the Bay Area.

BASF is honored to have Dean Kevin Johnson from UC Davis School of Law as our Guest Speaker for the event. BASF recognizes the benefits that minority and LGBT law students and young lawyers receive when afforded opportunities to network with other lawyers and successful partners who look like them and/or have similar experiences. Established in 2007, BASF's annual Partner-Summer Associates Receptions provide an opportunity for networking, meeting mentors and appreciating the achievements of minority and LGBT partners in the Bay Area. At this event, Latino partners and summer associates can gather to network and learn about the achievements of Latino attorneys in the Bay Area.

Please RSVP by July 10th to mailto:%20DiversityEvents@sfbar.org and specify the name of this event in your reply OR go to http://www.sfbar.org/calendar/eventdetail.aspx?id=D097402/D097402

Location
Jones Day
555 California Street
San Francisco, CA

BASF Event: LGBT Partners & Summer Associates Reception

LGBT Partners & Summer Associates Reception
July 8, 2009 : 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

The Bar Association of San Francisco and Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom cordially invite you to attend their LGBT Partners, Associates and Counsel Reception.

BASF recognizes the benefits that minority and LGBT law students and young lawyers receive when afforded opportunities to network with other lawyers and successful partners who look like them and/or have similar experiences. Established in 2007, BASF's annual Partner-Summer Associates Receptions provide an opportunity for networking, meeting mentors and appreciating the achievements of minority and LGBT partners in the Bay Area.

Please RSVP by July 2nd to DiversityEvents@sfbar.org. and specify the name of this event in your reply OR at http://www.sfbar.org/calendar/eventdetail.aspx?id=D097406/D097406

Location
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman
50 Fremont Street
San Francisco, CA

BASF Event: African American Partners & Summer Associates Reception

African American Partners & Summer Associates Reception
June 25, 2009 : 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

The Bar Association of San Francisco
Bay Area Black Partners Group
Charles Houston Bar Association
California Association of Black Lawyers

Cordially invite you to attend their African American Partners and Associates Reception

BASF recognizes the benefits that minority and LGBT law students and young lawyers receive when afforded opportunities to network with other lawyers and successful partners who look like them and/or have similar experiences. Established in 2007, BASF's annual African American Partner & Summer Associates reception provides an opportunity for networking, meeting mentors and appreciating the achievements of African American attorneys in the Bay Area.

RSVP by June 19th to mailto:%20DiversityEvents@sfbar.org and specify the name of this event in your reply OR at http://www.sfbar.org/calendar/eventdetail.aspx?id=D097405/D097405

Location
Hanson Bridgett
425 Market Street 26th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105

TODAY @ 5PM: AABA Summer Law Clerk Reception

The Asian American Bar Association invites you to:

22nd Annual Summer Associate Reception
Thursday June 18, 5-9pm (TODAY)
Yank Sing Restaurant, Rincon Center
101 Spear Street, SF

There is no charge for law students to attend this event and ALL law students regardless of their background are welcome. No RSVP required.

As one of AABA's most popular events, the Summer Law Clerk Reception creates an ideal social setting for Bay Area attorneys, summer associates in firms and in-house positions, and law clerks in government and public interest sectors to get to know each other. Additionally, the reception recognizes each year's AABA summer grant recipients for their dedication to community service and client advocacy.

The event is sponsored by Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP and Bay Area Asian-American partners.

CURRENT STUDENTS: OCI and Resume Collect Employers Now Viewable on www.USFLawLink.com

Starting today, students who have submitted to the Office of Career Planning their Memo of Understanding (MOU) can now view descriptions of employers who will be participating in On Campus Interviews and Resume Collect programs this upcoming Fall Semester. MOUs can be submitted electronically via email attachment to lawcareer@usfca.edu, by fax at 415.422.6710, or in person at Kendrick 230. If your summer travels or other circumstances will make it difficult to submit this paperwork, please contact our office as soon as possible, so that we can work with you individually to obtain this documentation from you before any application submission process begins.

To provide an adequate time period for students to research employers and prepare their application materials, currently students are only able to view participating employer descriptions on www.USFLawLink.com. Students will be able to submit their applications online to organizations they wish to apply starting on Monday, July 20.

ONLY THE POSITIONS THAT APPLY TO YOUR CLASS LEVEL WILL BE VISIBLE TO YOU. MAKE SURE THAT YOUR CLASS LEVEL IS CORRECT BY GOING TO THE "PROFILE" -> "ACADEMIC INFORMATION" SECTION.

Viewing On Campus Interview and Resume Collect Employer Descriptions
1) Login to www.USFLawLink.com and click on the "OCI/Resume Collect" section at the top of your browser.
2) In the gray "Search Filters" area, select the Session that you would like to view. Please note that there are multiple sessions included in this dropdown menu, and you must select a specific session to view the full list of employers participating in Fall Recruiting Season:

SESSION NAMES:

"Phase 1 Fall 2009 OCI (August 26-September 4 Interview Dates)"
List of employers who will be conducting on campus interviews from August 26-September 4. The application deadline for these employers is TUESDAY, AUGUST 4 @ 12PM.

"Phase 2 Fall 2009 OCI (September 8-16 Interview Dates)"
List of employers who will be conducting on campus interviews from September 8-16. The application deadline for these employers is TUESDAY, AUGUST 18 @ 12PM.

"Phase 1 Fall 2009 Resume Collect"
Employers that unable to interview on campus and have requested that resumes be collected and forwarded to them by FRIDAY, AUGUST 28 @ 12PM. Employers will contact those students they wish to interview directly.

"Phase 2 Fall 2009 Resume Collect" Employers that unable to interview on campus and have requested that resumes be collected and forwarded to them by THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 @ 12PM. Employers will contact those students they wish to interview directly.

"Phase 3 Fall 2009 Resume Collect"Employers that unable to interview on campus and have requested that resumes be collected and forwarded to them by THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1 @ 12PM. Employers will contact those students they wish to interview directly.

3) Click on the "Review" icon to see more information regarding the position and the documents requested. Again, please note that the application submission period has not started yet, and you will be able to begin submitting your applications to employers beginning on MONDAY, JULY 20.

Have the OCP Review Your Application Materials Prior to July 20th
The Office of Career Planning strongly encourages you to prepare your application materials early in the summer before the application submission period begins on July 20th. Have your resume and one (1) cover letter reviewed by our counselors before July 20th by uploading them onto www.USFLawLink.com under the "Documents" section. Our counselors will provide feedback on your materials via email. Our office is also open for counseling appointments throughout the summer. Please call 415.422.6757 to schedule an appointment. Students not in the area or are unable to come on campus due to externships or their work schedule can also schedule phone appointments.

If you have any questions about any aspect of Fall Recruiting Season, please do not hesitate to contact our office if you have any questions.

Jocelyn Simon
Recruiting Coordinator

lawcareer@usfca.edu
415.422.6757
www.USFLawLink.com

Minnesota Minority Recruitment Conference

Minnesota Minority Recruitment Conference
August 14-15, 2009

The Minnesota Minority Recruitment Conference aims to increase legal diversity in the Twin Cities by joining the largest legal employers in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area with top-quality 2L and 3L candidates from around the country.

The MMRC is held each year, joining the largest legal employers in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area with top-quality 2L and 3L candidates from around the country. Each year includes around 30 employers and upwards of 150 law students. Employers participating in the interviews will include small, medium and large firms; corporate law departments; and public interest, nonprofit and government entities. The conference is co-sponsored by Twin Cities Diversity in Practice and the Twin Cities Committee on Minority Lawyers in Large Law Firms ("TCC").

For more information, visit: http://www.diversityinpractice.org/minnesota-minority-recruitment-conference/

Public Interest Fellowship- now accepting applications!

May 2009
PUBLIC INTEREST FELLOW

Public Justice (formerly Trial Lawyers for Public Justice), a national public interest law firm specializing in precedent-setting and socially significant individual and class action litigation, seeks to hire a recent law school graduate to serve as a Public Interest Fellow for two years in its Washington, D.C. headquarters beginning in September 2009. The Fellow will help develop, coordinate the handling of, and litigate Public Justice’s cases.

Public Justice is America’s public interest law firm, handling a broader range of high-impact, cutting-edge litigation than any public interest firm in the nation. Our litigation fights for consumers’ and victims’ rights, the environment, civil rights and civil liberties, public health and safety, workers’ rights, government and corporate accountability, and the protection of the poor and powerless. Our Access to Justice Campaign keeps the courthouse doors open for all – by battling federal preemption, unnecessary court secrecy, class action bans and abuses, the misuse of mandatory arbitration, and other efforts to deprive people of their day in court.

The Fellow will help expand Public Justice’s docket and impact by networking with other public interest groups and working collaboratively with Public Justice’s staff attorneys and the over 3,000 outstanding lawyers who support Public Justice’s work. She or he may also help to develop educational materials designed to further advance Public Justice’s activities and projects.

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

REQUIREMENTS:
Superb analytical, research, writing, and speaking skills
Strong organizational skills and self-motivation
Creativity, good sense of humor, and ability to get along with others
Healthy sense of outrage and desire to change the world for the better

Preference will be given to individuals with demonstrated commitment to the public interest. Salary is $50,000 per year. Excellent benefits. Public Justice is an equal opportunity employer with a non-smoking environment. Public Justice values and promotes diversity. Applications invited regardless of race, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, age, or disability. Send cover letter, resume, writing sample, and references to: Public Interest Fellow Opening, Public Justice, 1825 K Street, NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20006, or via e-mail to publicjustice@publicjustice.net.
No calls please. For more information, visit our website at www.publicjustice.net.

Tips for Tackling Summer Work Assignments

by Molly Coughlin, Assistant Director for Law Career Development

Tackling your summer work assignments can be an intimidating part of the job. It is important that you seek, receive, complete and follow up on your projects with professionalism and enthusiasm. Consider these tips as you embark upon this important aspect of your job performance:

1. Seek Assignments Thoughtfully. Some employers may assign your specific projects. If so, accept them enthusiastically and remain open to learning about new practice areas and legal skills. If you have flexibility in choosing your assignments, choose wisely. Consider which practice areas seem the busiest, and which areas you would ultimately like to focus your practice on. Try to work for a number of lawyers so that you receive evaluations from multiple perspectives.

2. Come Prepared. When receiving an assignment, bring a pad of paper and a pen with you. Be sure to take detailed notes that you can refer to later about the project and the supervisor’s expectations.

3. Get the “Big Picture” Perspective. Make sure you know the purpose behind your project, what it will be used for and by whom, and where it fits in into the grand scheme of things. It is a good idea to find out what other attorneys are working on the project, should you need guidance.

4. Understand the Scope of What You Are Being Asked to Do. Sometimes a supervising attorney will ask you to look under every rock and sometimes he/she will just ask you for a general overview of a research topic. Sometimes the attorney wants a formal memorandum, and sometimes he/she wants an outline or an oral report. Make sure that you understand exactly what the supervising attorney expects of you. Be an active listener and ask questions when you are unclear. It is a good idea to ask the attorney for a recent example of a particular type of document that you are being asked to prepare.

5. Confirm the Due Date and Time Expected on the Project. Ask if the attorney has an expectation of how many hours you should spend on the assignment, and when asking for a deadline, be specific, e.g., not “Friday,” but “Friday, June 12 at 9:00 AM.”

6. Listen Carefully. Before embarking on your new assignment, confirm your understanding of what needs to be done, as well as how and when. Often upon hearing again what they have asked you to do, supervising attorneys may revise their initial directions.

7. Get Guidance When You Come to Forks in the Road. If you find yourself at an unexpected fork in the road on a project, stop and contact the supervising attorney for clarification before spending numerous hours and resources going in the wrong direction. Remember to value attorneys’ time when seeking guidance.

8. Communicate. It is your responsibility to keep the attorneys you work with informed as to the status of your projects. Do not wait for the assigning attorney to ask you how the project is going. In the absence of communication, attorneys may leap to a negative conclusion about the status of the project and your work habits.

9. Make Sure Your Work Product is Professional in Appearance and Content. Even if an attorney asks for a “rough draft,” never turn in a true draft, e.g., make sure that your work product is free of grammatical errors, spelling mistakes and improper citations and formatting. It is a good idea to print out your work product and read it aloud, or have someone else review it for you before you turn it in. Self-evaluate your product: Have I answered all the questions? Am I presenting it well? Will my work product be easy for the attorney to use?

10. Meet Deadlines. Turn projects in by the deadline, or earlier! If a project is taking much longer than expected or if you are being pulled in too many directions to meet the deadline, it is critical to tell the attorney well in advance of the deadline.

11. Seek Feedback and Handle it Gracefully. In a perfect world, you would receive an evaluation of each project after it has been submitted. In reality, this does not always happen. If feedback is not forthcoming, show initiative and actively seek an assessment of your work. Such feedback, particularly if it is constructive criticism, can help you adjust your work style and get on track. Remember that feedback is among the most important developmental tools in a job, so be open to receiving it – good or bad.

Summer Career Fair and Conference Opportunities

The Office of Career Planning has compiled a list of career fair and conference opportunities nationwide that are taking place during the summer and fall semester. Please note key registration deadlines. Current students can find this list on www.USFLawLink.com, in the Document Library.

Limited funding is available for current students and student organizations for registration fees for conferences and events that provide organized job fairs, interviewing opportunities, and other networking events that are clearly organized with the intent to provide law students with meaningful opportunities to interact with potential employers. Funding for registration fees for other types of events with demonstrable potential for networking or career development will be considered on a case by case basis. Funding requests for other costs associated with attending the conference or event may be requested from the Deans' Office.

Students and student organizations should consult with the Director of Career Planning about the request.

San Francisco Intellectual Property Law Association Annual Job Fair

Students can now select the employers they wish to interview with at the San Francisco Intellectual Property Law Association's Annual Job Fair. Note that the registration deadline for this event is June 19.

The job fair will be held at the University of California, Hastings College of Law on Sunday, August 9, 2009. To register, please visit https://law-sfipla-csm.symplicity.com/students/. NOTE: The username and password information is NOT the same as your http://www.usflawlink.com/ account.

You must create a new account through the SFIPLA.
(1) Complete the Employer Selection Form; and
(2) upload your resume and any supplemental materials such as transcripts or writing samples for firms that require them. Be assured that your information/forms will not be public and will only be seen by potential employers and those of us administering the job fair.

ALL REGISTRATION INFORMATION (INCLUDING EMPLOYER SELECTIONS) MUST BE COMPLETE BY 5:00 PM (PDT) JUNE 19, 2009. Furthermore, please note that employers will not accept interview requests/resumes directly from students. Employers are provided the opportunity to pre-screen resumes. Scheduling will ultimately depend on the number of responses from interested applicants and employer interest.

Should you have any questions please email them to the SFIPLA at sfiplajobfair@sfipla.com.

7 STEP JOB SEARCH PLAN

by Marina Sarmiento Feehan, JD, Assistant Director

Still searching for that summer law clerk position? Unemployed or recently laid off? Having a “Job Search Action Plan” can help you conduct an efficient, effective search and keep you on track until you reach your goal.

Here are a few items to check off as you start your search:

• Update your “Marketing Materials”. Prepare your Resume, Cover Letter, Writing Sample(s), References, and Transcripts (undergraduate and graduate).

• Get Organized. Manage your search by creating a system of organization, as simple as an Excel spread sheet or binder, to keep records of employers to whom you sent resumes, contacts, research on potential employers and any other items related to your search.

• Make a Contacts List. Create a list of family, friends, acquaintances, other lawyers, professors, and any other persons who you can contact to help you in your search, either with leads, openings or information.

• Identify Your Ideal Employers. Compile a list of employers for whom your skill would be a good match. You’ll want to send them targeted, focused mailings with a personalized resume & cover letter.

• Identify Resources for Job Postings. Identify websites, legal newspapers, bar associations, professional newsletters, and other sources of job postings.

The Multi-Faceted Approach

A successful job search utilizes a multi-faceted approach. Instead of just relying on one method to find a job, such as applying to online job postings, your Job Search Action Plan will yield a job faster if you attack your job search using different tactics:

1. Conduct Informational Interviews. From the list of contacts you created, set up meeting to interview and gather information or leads from your contacts, alums and other persons in your field of interest. I got my current position at USF through an informational interview. I was interested in re-entering the field of Career Services and sent an email asking for a meeting to discuss opportunities in the field and ten minutes later, I got a phone call asking me to come in for a real interview. How did I know to contact USF? I contacted my former colleagues at Hastings and Golden Gate and met with them to find out what the current market for career services. They told me that they heard USF was experiencing some changes and suggested I contact them. Now I work here.

2. Attend Job/Career Fairs and Conferences. At some job fairs, employers conduct interviews on site. You can also make new contacts and identify new employers of interest.

3. Network: Build and Maintain Your Contacts. Attend legal events, join www.LinkedIn.com, a professional networking site to expand, manage and organize your network. The Office of Career Planning maintains the University of San Francisco School of Law networking group on LinkedIn which you can join to reach alums in your field of interest. Keep in touch with your network and let them know how your search is progressing.

4. Volunteer - Build Your Skills. Consider volunteering at government or public interest agencies to maintain and build upon your skills set while you are searching for work. For law students, look into clinical coursework opportunities at the law school such as the Child Advocacy Clinic, Criminal Juvenile Defense Clinic, or Mediation; or consider doing a clinical internship (working for school credit) for public interest/public sector agencies, private firms or corporations. Join a journal and learn the Bluebook citation style.

5. Join and Attend Legal or Non-Profit Organizations and/or Bar Association events. Consider taking a leadership role in a legal or non-profit organization focused on your field of interest. Joining a professional bar association will help build your network and expose you to important members of the legal profession. One especially effective way to meet attorneys is to volunteer to plan an event. Lawyers like to hire whom they know. Coordinating an attorney event is a terrific way to network without feeling like you are “using” people. Instead, you are working on a common goal as part of a team, getting to know other attorneys with similar interests.

6. Send out Targeted Mailings. Send focused and customized cover letters and resumes to the list of potential employers you identified. If you received any job leads from your contacts or network, contact those leads. Be sure to follow-up with employers, via phone call or email, if you have not heard from them in 2 - 4 weeks to indicate your interest.

7. Visit Your Law School Career Services Office. Conducting a job search on your own can be lonely frustrating work. A job search is a job in itself! Visit your law school career services office for help with your search. More than likely, they have handouts, alumni contacts, and job listings resources you may not have found on your own. For students and alumni who are conducting job searches outside of the Bay Area, “Reciprocity” may be available to allow you to use another law school’s career services office. All reciprocity requests must originate from USF’s Office of Career Planning so please contact our office for the necessary forms. Almost all schools are closed to reciprocity during the fall interview season and reciprocity is typically granted by another school on a case-by-case basis.

The Office of Career Planning is open all summer. Contact our office to set up an appoint to create your personalized Job Search Action Plan: lawcareer@usfca.edu or (415) 422-6757.

San Francisco La Raza Lawyers Association 2009 Summer Associate Reception

The San Francisco La Raza Lawyers Association (SFRLA) would like to cordially invite you to its 2009 Summer Associate Reception on Friday, June 5, 2009.

Come mingle with attorneys that have been summer associates and learn what it takes to get a job at a law firm. Please come join us for complementary drinks and appetizers. We look forward to meeting you!

What: SFRLA’s 2009 Summer Associate Reception
Where: DLA Piper, 555 Mission Street, Suite 2400, San Francisco, CA (right across from Golden Gate University)
When: Friday, June 5, 2009, 6-8 p.m.

Please RSVP to Lea Villegas at lea.villegas@gmail.com.

The SFRLA would like to thank DLA Piper for sponsoring this event.