Month: April 2015

June LSAT Test Takers Checklist

The June LSAT is Monday, June 8, which is only five and a half weeks away.  What should you be doing both now and on the day of the exam?  The Law School Admission Council (LSAC) provides the following checklist.  As always, if you have any questions about LSAC’s requirements contact them directly at (215) 968-1001 or by completing an online form which can be found here.

Now or as soon as possible:
  1. Check your ID –
    • Is it an acceptable government-issued ID as stipulated at LSAC.org and on the LSAT Candidate Information Sheet (pages 3-5)?
    • Is it current (or has it expired within 90 days of your test)?
    • Does it contain a recent, recognizable photo?
    • Does it contain your date of birth?
    • Do your first and last names match the names on your LSAT Admission Ticket and your ID exactly? Corrections must be submitted no later than 5:00 PM (ET) on the Friday before the test.
  2. Obtain a passport-type photo (no larger than 2×2 inches or 5×5 cm and no smaller  than 1×1 inch or 3×3 cm). The photo must be a different photograph than the one on your government-issued ID. You will not be admitted if the photo on the admission ticket is the same as the photo on your ID.

One week before the test:

  1. Obtain a clear, plastic ziplock bag (maximum size 1 gallon/3.79 liters) to contain the allowable items.  Go here for LSAC’s list of allowable items.
  2. Update your email and mailing addresses if necessary at LSAC.org.
 The day before your scheduled test:
  1. Print an updated LSAT Admission Ticket from your online account to ensure that you  have the final and correct reporting address for the test center.
  2. Check the school’s website and print directions and a campus map.
  3. Review the list of items allowed in the ziplock bag. Read pages 3–5 of the LSAT  Candidate Information Sheet and read the Test Center Regulations at LSAC.org.
Test day:
  1. Report to the test center no later than the reporting time indicated on your LSAT Admission Ticket. Take only page 1 of the Admission Ticket to the test center. Leave this checklist and pages 3–5 at home.
  2. Do not take any prohibited items or electronic devices (including cell phones) to the test center. Possession and/or use of such items is grounds for immediate dismissal from the test.
  3. For more information or a copy of this LSAC-crafted checklist, go here:  http://www.lsac.org/docs/default-source/jd-docs/lsat-checklist.pdf

Mark Your Calendars – Week of April 27

PLAS Announcement

Our events have concluded for this semester but we do have a public service announcement.  Fall law school applicants — do not forget to identify and meet with people whom you would like to write letters of recommendation on your behalf BEFORE you leave campus!  If you wait until the fall to make the request(s), you will likely find yourself waiting in line behind others who asked first!  For information on how to solicit letters of recommendation, first go to our webpage, and then to the PLAS Compass Page and check out our “Guide to Letters of Recommendation” in the “Application Pointers” section.

Campus Events and Opportunities

Career Center Workshops – Unless otherwise indicated, all workshops are held at the Career Center, 715 S. Wright Street. For more information or to register, click here.

  • Creating Powerful Resumes and Cover Letters,Tuesday, April 28, 5-6pm
  • Careers in the Federal Government, Wednesday, April 29, 4-5pm

 

UK & Ireland Scholarships Info Session and Application Workshop

Fancy a fully-funded graduate degree at a top British or Irish university? Join us to learn about a group of scholarships that allow you to pursue your academic goals in the United Kingdom and Ireland!

This informational session and application workshop is targeted to juniors, seniors, and graduate or professional students, and will provide an overview of the Gates Cambridge, Marshall, Mitchell, and Rhodes scholarships.

When: Thursday, May 7, 3:30-5:00pm
Where: 514 Illini Union Bookstore Building (entrance near Coble Hall)

We will discuss the:
• basic eligibility requirements,
• selection criteria, and
• application processes for these awards.

The University of Illinois’ newest Marshall Scholar, Jacob Calvert, will be on hand to share his application experience!

The latter portion of the event will help participants begin to craft their applications for these scholarships. This is a great opportunity to strategize and get feedback on your ideas for your application essays. The priority deadline for the Marshall and Gates Cambridge scholarships is June 1, 2015, and the required campus deadline for many of the UK/Ireland scholarships is August 25, 2015, so now is the time to get started!

Questions? Send an email to topscholars@illinois.edu.  For more information, go to: http://www.topscholars.illinois.edu/.

 

Other Opportunities

The law firm of Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. is currently accepting applications for its Fellowship for Advancement and Resources (“FAR”).  Snell & Wilmer names up to two FAR Fellows annually, and recipients receive the following benefits: (1) a fully paid commercial LSAT preparation course and a stipend covering the costs associated with sitting for the exam, (2) a 1L law school prep course, (3) money for books for all three years of law school, (4) a technology stipend (if needed), and (5) mentorship from a Snell & Wilmer attorney. This pipeline initiative will have a meaningful and lasting impact for FAR Fellows, and Snell & Wilmer are excited to continue the program this year.

A link to the application, which explains the FAR Fellowship in greater detail can be found here. Applications are due July 1, 2015. Any questions can be directed to Kara Blakely via e-mail at kblakey@swlaw.com.

 

Looking for a summer course?

Pre-Law students come from every major and have a wide variety of interests. Law schools have no specific prerequisites beyond having a Bachelor’s degree and building writing, research, communication, and analytical skills. If you’re a pre-law student looking for a summer course, here are some options that may interest you. NO SPECIFIC CLASSES ARE REQUIRED FOR LAW SCHOOL AND THESE ARE ONLY SUGGESTIONS. Check out Course Explorer for more options.

PHIL 102  Summer Session I
Instructor:  Professor T. McCarthy, tgmccart@illinois.edu
This is the standard introduction to logic and critical thinking taken by both philosophy majors and by students that require a background in basic logic for other fields.  This course will emphasize the concepts, methods and examples that have become increasingly relevant to pre-professional training for law and medicine and for the social sciences.  The LSAT exam has long emphasized problems requiring special sorts of inference (causal inference, statistical inference, truth-functional and analogical inference, in particular) relevant to legal study.

Special stress will be put on substantive examples from recent health, science and environmental policy, including inferences surrounding the issue of climate change and arguments concerning vaccination.  Requirements:  Daily assignments, discussed cooperatively in class, and 4 tests, one at the end of each week.  The homework and exam problems will be taken in part from LSAT and MCAT sample exams.

Psych and Law (Psych 468), Summer Session II 
Prerequisite: Six hours of social science. In this class, we will discuss issues at the interface of psychology and the law. We will cover topics such as age, gender and race discrimination, eyewitness memory, polygraph testing, interrogations and false confessions.

UP335: Cities and Immigrants (online) Summer II
This course introduces students to the experiences of foreign-born residents living in U.S. cities, towns, and rural communities. We examine the local policies that both welcome and integrate immigrants as well as those policies that restrict and exclude immigrants. By the end of the course, students will better understand the reasons for anti-immigrant backlash, the economic opportunities of immigration, and ways in which immigrants claim their right to the city. Students will have the option to participate in several half-day field trips in the Chicago area. Watch the video for more information. https://mediaspace.illinois.edu/media/UP+335+Online+-+Informational+Video/1_ioktgjvn/9425781

Popular Political Science classes for pre-law students offered this summer

  • PS 301: US Constitution I, Summer I
  • PS 280: Intro to International Relations,Summer II
  • PS 303: United States Congress, Summer II
  • PS 305: United States Supreme Court, Summer II

Popular Communication classes for pre-law students offered this summer

  • CMN 211: Business Communication, offered Summer I and Summer II
  • CMN 220: Communicating Public Policy, Summer II
  • CMN 230: Intro to Interpersonal Communication, Summer I

These are just a few suggestions to get you started. Check out Course Explorer for more details and to explore all of the Summer I and II course options.

 

Mark Your Calendars: Week of April 20

Pre-Law Advising

We have one workshop left for this semester: Perfecting the Personal Statement & Resume for Law School, which will be held TODAY, Monday, April 20 at 4:00 in 514 Illini Union Bookstore Building. Join us to learn what the personal statement is; how to approach it; how to create a realistic timeline for writing it; how the personal statement and resume work together; suggestions and tips for maximizing the impact of the personal statement as part of the application.

Also, we have updated our Compass page to add lots of resources for fall law school applicants to utilize over the summer. Here’s how to access our Compass page if you haven’t already: http://prelaw.illinois.edu/compass

MORE Summer Pre-Law Opportunities!

We’ve already posted lots of summer pre-law opportunities here and on our Facebook page, and here are a few more that we’ve recently been informed about.

Pre-Law & Order: The Summer Advocates Academy is a pre-professional program May 26-29 for undergraduate women. Held at Carlow University in Pittsburgh, this program is designed for pre-law women to receive coaching and mentoring from faculty, lawyers, and legal professionals, as well as networking with successful women attorneys and learning more about the law school applicaiton process. Housing and scholarships are available. Applications are due May 1 and can be found at http://www.carlow.edu/Pre-Law_and_Order_-_The_Summer_Advocates.aspx

Reminder: Snell & Wilmer is once again offering its prelaw program called Fellowship for Advancement and Resources.Applications for the Fellowship for Advancement and Resources are open!

The FAR Fellowship is sponsored by Snell & Wilmer, with two FAR Fellows being selected annually. Recipients receive the following benefits: (1) a fully paid commercial LSAT preparation course and a stipend covering the costs associated with sitting for the exam, (2) a 1L law school prep course, (3) money for books for all three years of law school, (4) a technology stipend (if needed), and (5) mentorship from a Snell & Wilmer attorney. We believe this pipeline initiative will have a meaningful and lasting impact for FAR Fellows, and we are excited to continue the program this year.  Indeed, we have already assisted four fellows in their quest to attend law school.  Below is a link to the application on our website, which explains the FAR Fellowship in greater detail. Applications are due July 1, 2015.

http://www.swlaw.com/assets/pdf/diversity/far_scholarship.pdf

Career Center’s Summer Break Job Shadow Program

The Career Center’s Summer Break Job Shadow Program is a one-day commitment over Summer Session I (between May 18-June 12, 2015). The Job Shadow Program is open to ALL MAJORS and will include a variety of industries in different locations. Students must graduate after December 2015 to be able to participate.

To find and apply to a Job Shadow opportunity, use the “Advanced Search” tab in I-Link and click on “Show Me…Job Shadow Listings”. Applications will be accepted from Friday, April 17 – Thursday, April 23.

For more detailed information, view the Job Shadow Program Student Handbook. Still have questions? Please contact Tori Spring.

This week’s Career Center workshops include:

Paralegal Certificates: A Path to Law School?

A paralegal position can be helpful because it will allow you to “get your feet wet” and learn some tangible, transferable skills.  Such a position will also allow you to see the practice of law first-hand before deciding whether the field is the right fit for you. Moreover, law school admission departments and hiring partners at law firms will see the experience as a positive aspect of your resume.  Working as a paralegal (or anything else) prior to law school will not make up for poor grades or low LSAT scores, but it may offer a better chance at admission in some cases.  Some schools, such as Harvard and Northwestern, view work experience as nearly a prerequisite to admission.

Deciding whether to pursue a paralegal certificate prior to law school is an additional decision that requires serious contemplation.  A certification in paralegal studies can cost thousands of dollars in tuition as well as months of additional schooling.  The debt accrued in terms of time and money may not be worth the investment for someone who is not considering a paralegal position as a possible career path in itself.  Moreover, the costs associated with a paralegal certificate may not be necessary because some law firms are willing to hire job-seekers for paralegal positions without a certification.

Going straight from undergraduate to a paralegal position without any law firm experience can prove difficult, but that is not the only available option.  One non-conventional path to becoming a paralegal is to take a job at a law firm as either an assistant or another similar administrative role.  This will allow you to learn how the firm works and what is required of its paralegals.  During your time at the firm you can speak with current paralegals about their responsibilities and make clear your intentions to join their ranks.  With such knowledge and experience in hand, you can apply for a paralegal position within the firm or elsewhere.  The issue with this path is time.  Often a transition of this type may take at least a couple of years.  If you foresee yourself applying to law school within a year of graduation, the paralegal route may not be the best option.

Becoming a paralegal can have many advantages in terms of learning the legal industry, developing tangible skills and becoming more attractive to certain law schools.  Additionally, if you are on the fence about applying to law school, working as a paralegal will give you first-hand knowledge of the field, while also allowing you to save up for tuition expenses.  Working prior to law school can be a valuable asset for your career, but it is not required at all law schools.  If you are not sure whether to work for a period of time prior to law school, speak with friends and family or check with schools you are interested in to see how highly they value work experience.

Mark Your Calendars — Week of April 13

PLAS Events

Applying to Law School: A Webinar for Fall Applicants: TODAY Monday, April 13, 4:00-5:15pm.

If you are planning to apply to law school this fall, this workshop is for you! We will create a plan to help you maximize your law school applications for admission and scholarship purposes by getting them in EARLY. Topics include: First steps to take in the application process; Making the most of summer; Tackling the personal statement; Creating an application strategy; and Financing your law school application cycle. Bring your questions about law school applications! We are piloting this workshop as a WEBINAR and we will be using Compass. Please register at this link and we will send login information prior to the workshop.

Perfecting the Personal Statement and Resume for Law School workshop, Monday, April 20, 4-5pm, IUB 514.

Designed for students applying to law school this fall, this workshop will cover: What the personal statement is; how students can approach it; how to create a realistic timeline for writing it; how the personal statement and resume work together; suggestions and tips for maximizing the impact of the personal statement as part of the application. Please register at this link so that we can ensure enough seating and materials for everyone.

For more info about these and other PLAS Events, go here.

 

Campus Events

Career Center Workshops – Unless otherwise indicated, all workshops are held at the Career Center, 715 S. Wright Street. For more information or to register, click here.

  • Finding an Internship, Wednesday, April 15, 5-6 pm.
  • Creating Powerful Resumes and Cover Letters,Wednesday, April 15, 4-5pm

 

Fulbright Workshop – Interested in research, teaching, or graduate work abroad? Come learn about Fulbright, the premiere U.S. academic exchange to 140 countries around the world!  The National and International Scholarships Program will provide a Fulbright workshop featuring advice from recent Illinois Fulbright recipients in 180 Bevier Hall on April 21, at 5 pm. There will be lots of time to get your questions answered and enjoy free pizza! The session is targeted to juniors, seniors, and graduate/professional students who wish to explore Fulbright opportunities and begin preparing materials for the Fulbright Priority Deadline of June 29, 2015 for grants beginning in fall 2016.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards approximately 1,900 full scholarships annually to students for studies, research, or English teaching in every region of the world.  Applicants must be U.S. citizens and either seniors, graduate/professional students, or alumni.  Please see the Fulbright page for more information.

 

Snell & Wilmer is currently accepting applications for the Fellowship for Advancement and Resources (“FAR”).  Snell & Wilmer names up to two FAR Fellows annually, and recipients receive the following benefits: (1) a fully paid commercial LSAT preparation course and a stipend covering the costs associated with sitting for the exam, (2) a 1L law school prep course, (3) money for books for all three years of law school, (4) a technology stipend (if needed), and (5) mentorship from a Snell & Wilmer attorney. This pipeline initiative will have a meaningful and lasting impact for FAR Fellows, and Snell & Wilmer are excited to continue the program this year.

A link to the application, which explains the FAR Fellowship in greater detail can be found here. Applications are due July 1, 2015. Any questions can be directed to Kara Blakely via e-mail at kblakey@swlaw.com.

 

New volunteer opportunity – GLOBE is a program working to build friendships between international and domestic students. GLOBE stands for Global Leaders Orange and Blue Engagement and is sponsored by the Counseling Center and the Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Affairs.

Over the Fall 2015 semester, students will meet once a week to engage in planned or self-initiated social activities such as cook-outs, movies and social outings. Although domestic students will help introduce students to the University of Illinois campus, the primary focus is on friendship and cross-cultural understanding.

The process of recruiting domestic and experienced international students on campus has already begun. No international experience or foreign language skills are required and both graduate and undergraduates are welcome. The program does require at least a 2.7 GPA, involvement with other campus activities, availability for a one hour training session this semester, and a commitment of at least one hour a week for the fall semester.

For more information, please see the GLOBE webpage http://oiir.illinois.edu/node/11620. To apply to become a Blue Member, please go here or click the link on the GLOBE webpage.  An information session will be held on April 13, Monday, 5-6 pm @ The Interview Suite of the Career Center Room 213, 616 E. Green St. Champaign. (Second floor after entering under the Intensive English Institute​ sign next to McDonald’s on Green Street.)

If you have any additional questions, please contact Kat Becker via e-mail at kbecker4@illinois.edu.

 

Re:Search, the Undergraduate Literary Criticism Journal at Illinois, is still seeking applications for Executive Board positions  The deadline for Executive Board Applications has been extended until TODAY Monday, April 13th at 11:59pm!  You can also find the application (downloadable as a Word Doc) at Re:Search’s microsite, here: http://publish.illinois.edu/undergradliterarycriticismjournal/links/.

All students of ANY standing (Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior) are encouraged to apply for an Executive Board Position. This is a fantastic opportunity to be involved in a student-run academic publication, which is also searchable on Google Scholar and cataloged in the University Library!

Please email your application to uiuclitjournal@gmail.com by 11:59pm on Monday, April 13th. Email any questions to uiuclitjournal@gmail.com.

 

Have a great week!

Be An “Early Bird” Fall Applicant — Tips for Getting Started Now!

You have decided to apply to law school in the fall.  You are prepping for either the June or October LSAT.  What else should you do this spring?

1. Attend PLAS Programs! Attending our upcoming “Early Bird” PLAS programs will help you get a jump start on your applications.  Remember — most law schools admit applicants on a rolling basis so the earlier you apply, the better!

  • Applying to Law School — A Webinar for Fall Applicants — THIS Monday, April 13, 4-5:15 pm. Applying to law school early in the application cycle can result in more admission offers, more aid, and much less stress. This workshop is designed for students who will be applying to law school this fall and want to maximize their law school opportunities. We will provide an overview of the law school application process, including information about the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) and the LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service.  We will also share a timeline for an optimal application completion process.  Bring your questions about law school applications! We are piloting this workshop as a WEBINAR and we will be using Compass. Please register by clicking on this link and we will send login information prior to the workshop.
  • Personal Statement Workshop for Fall Applicants — Monday, April 20, 4:00-5:00pm, Room 514 Illini Union Bookstore Building.  Law school applicants consistently say that the personal statement took much more time to write than they expected. This workshop will provide an overview of how to craft the personal statement and the resume for law school applications. Please register by clicking on this link and then click on “register.”  Registration is required so that we can provide enough seating and materials for everyone.

2. Request Letters of Recommendation. Consider whom you should ask to write your letters of recommendation and plan to request your LORs BEFORE you leave campus for the summer.  Applicants frequently make the mistake of waiting until fall to approach their professors and then find themselves waiting quite a while.  Your professors are busy so you need to plan ahead to give them enough time to write your letters… and the letters that others are requesting. Not sure how to request an LOR?  Check out our website for tips and suggestions.

3. Draft Your Personal Statement. If you are taking the LSAT on June 8, your primary focus now should be preparing for the test.  Once the test is over, begin working on your personal statement. October LSAT takers should be both studying and finding time to begin drafting the personal statement.  It may be the hardest 2 page writing assignment you have ever had.  A good personal statement isn’t written in 1 or 2 days.  It takes weeks of drafts and edits and re-writes to get you where you need to be.  We urge you to make time to attend our Personal Statement and Resume Workshop on Monday, April 20 (see above) to help get you started on drafting this very important document. We also have some helpful information about personal statements on our website.

4. Stay informed… about all of our PLAS Programs, information sessions, updates on law school admissions, the legal profession, etc.  How???

Mark Your Calendars — Week of April 6

PLAS Events

The Path to Practicing Law in the US: An International Law Student Panel & Discussion: THIS Wednesday, April 8, 2015, 4:30 – 5:30 PM in IUB Room 514. Are you an international student considering attending law school in the U.S.? Join us as we host a panel of international law students from China and Brazil. PLAS welcomes four current College of Law international students, Ning Ning, Andre Reis, Zhiqi Wu and Xi Zhou, to answer questions and discuss their experiences studying law in the U.S. After the panel, students will get to talk to the speakers in small groups. Bring your questions! For more information on the event and the panelists, go here. Food will be served. No registration necessary.

Applying to Law School: A Webinar for Fall Applicants: Next Monday, April 13, 4:00-5:15pm.

If you are planning to apply to law school this fall, this workshop is for you! We will create a plan to help you maximize your law school applications for admission and scholarship purposes by getting them in EARLY. Topics include: First steps to take in the application process; Making the most of summer; Tackling the personal statement; Creating an application strategy; and Financing your law school application cycle. Bring your questions about law school applications! We are piloting this workshop as a WEBINAR and we will be using Compass. Please register at this link and we will send login information prior to the workshop.

For more info about these and other PLAS Events, including our upcoming “Perfecting the Personal Statement and Resume for Law School” workshop, set for Monday, April 20, 4-5pm, IUB 514, go here.

Campus Events

Career Center Workshops and Career Fairs —Unless otherwise indicated, all workshops are held at the Career Center, 715 S. Wright Street. For more information or to register, click here.

  • Hire Big 10 Plus Virtual Career Fair, Tues, April 7 and Wed, April 8, 8:00am – 5:30pm.  To see what employers are participating and for more info on this live, online event, go here.
  • Getting the Job: Interviewing Tips, Tues, April 7, 5-6 pm
  • Research Park Career Fair, Wed, April 8, 4:30-7:00pm, John Deere Bldg, 2021 South First Street, #101. For more info, go here.
  • Creating Powerful Resumes and Cover Letters, Thurs, April 9, 4-5pm
  • Professional Communication for International Students, Thurs, April 9, 4-5:30pm, The Interview Suite, 616 E. Green (enter Kaplan building next to McDonald’s and head to 2nd floor).

 

Tips on Building Relationships with Law School Admissions Offices

ICYMI: Recently Nicole Vilches, Assistant Dean for Admissions at IIT-Chicago Kent College of Law visited to share her insight about how to effectively build relationships with law school admissions office professionals. Here are some highlights and tips she shared.

Why should you make an effort to build these relationships?
For prospective students–You can gain more insight into an institution and enhance your chances of admission.
For admitted students–You can develop your networking skills and begin to build your legal reputation.

Making a good impression at a law fair

  • Dress well–casual but neat is fine at a fair. Business casual is a good bet for most events.
  • Make eye contact and use a firm handshake.
  • Bring specific questions–beyond what you could easily get from a website. (For example, instead of asking for median LSAT scores, ask about a clinic or externship offered by the school.)
  • Don’t approach representatives as salespeople or challenge them to “tell me why I should attend” their school. They want to share information and help you make the right choice.

Tips for law school open houses or school visits

  • Realize that everyone you interact with–from the receptionist to the dean of the law school–can influence the decision of whether to admit you.
  • It’s okay to bring parents, but don’t let them dominate the conversation. It’s your career–you should be the one asking questions and engaging with the law school community.
  • Don’t overindulge (in alcohol) at admitted student events. View it as a business function rather than a happy hour.
  • Pay attention to titles and roles so that you can ask appropriate questions in a respectful way. (Don’t ask the dean about campus parking–ask him/her about the school’s employment outcomes or recently developed programs.)
  • Don’t ask very personal questions in a public forum. Ask for a private conversation or appointment.

Correspondence 

  • Create an appropriate email address (meaning one that is not offensive or unprofessional) and check it regularly.
  • Take care to edit all of your written correspondence the same way you would edit your personal statement. Remember that you are still making an impression and typos or overly casual emails will be remembered.
  • Proofread. Make sure to submit final versions of all of your documents rather than drafts.

Linked In Etiquette

  • Don’t send Linked In requests to admissions professionals of schools where you were denied admission. This is very awkward for them.
  • Realize that many professionals only accept Linked In requests from people they know. Don’t be offended if your request is not accepted.
  • Don’t request admission status or information from admissions office professionals via Linked In.

Our thanks to Dean Vilches for sharing her insight during her visit. For more information about law school admissions, visit her website at http://ask.kentlaw.iit.edu/.