Month: February 2016

Mark Your Calendars — Week of February 29

PLAS Opportunities

June 2016 LSAT Study groups – Taking the June LSAT? Think about joining a study group.  PLAS is helping to coordinate the creation of study groups for the June LSAT.  The process is simple. Students fill out the requested information in the Google form here: http://goo.gl/forms/UxIjxoxpG2.  We will create study groups based on your responses and email each student so that the group can coordinate study times.

Upcoming Campus Events

Free Practice LSAT — Saturday, March 5

The PLAS-sponsored free practice LSAT, set for this Friday, March 4, is full.  If you were unable to register for our event, Kaplan Test Prep is sponsoring a free practice LSAT this Saturday, March 5, 9:30am, 319 Gregory Hall.  To register, go to Kaplan’s website.
Note: PLAS does not endorse any LSAT test prep company.

Women’s Career Institute- Saturday, Mar. 5th from 9am-5pm
Women’s Resources Center | 703 S. Wright St. 2nd Fl. Champaign

The Women’s Resources Center, together with the Career Center and the YWCA of the University of Illinois are sponsoring the Women’s Career Institute, a day-long women’s leadership and career development institute featuring practical workshops, networking opportunities, and strengths-assessment. This year’s Institute Keynote Speaker is Illinois State Representative Carol Ammons. This institute is designed for students of all genders eager to explore considerations for women in seeking career and leadership opportunities. The Women’s Career Institute will offer meals for attendees and is free of charge. For additional information or if you have any questions, contact Women’s Resources Center Assistant Director, Rachel Lauren Storm, at rstorm2@illinois.edu. To register, fill out an application here: https://illinois.edu/fb/sec/7977462.

Diversity & Inclusion Networking Event (D.I.N.E.) – Tuesday, March 8

Registration for the 3rd annual Diversity & Inclusion Networking Exchange (D.I.N.E.) is open. This is a great opportunity to engage with employers who value diversity in the workplace and practice your networking skills with company representatives in a casual setting. Network with 40 employers such as Facebook, FBI, Rolls-Royce, Cargill, Cisco, Carle Foundation Hospital and many more!
This event will be held on March 8th from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Illini Union Ballroom.
We will have food, beverages and prizes. Join by RSVP’ing at https://illinois.edu/fb/sec/9294325.
This is event is sponsored by: Career Services Network, Office of Minority Student Affairs and the Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations. It is co-sponsored by: Alpha Kappa Delta Phi (aKDPhi), Illini Veterans, Minorities in Agriculture Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS), Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE), Association of Minorities in Political Science (AMPS), Gamma Phi Omega Lambda Chapter and Minority Association for Future Attorneys (MAFA).

Illini Career and Internship Fair – Wednesday, March 9, ARC, 12-4pm

Seniors — still not sure what is next for you?  Freshman, Sophomores and Juniors — still searching for something to do this summer? Then you should attend the Illini Career and Internship Fair NEXT Wednesday, March 9, at the ARC, 12-4pm!  This is a great opportunity for Illinois students to find jobs and internships.  Scroll down for information on upcoming Career Center workshops to help you prepare for the fair! 

Want to do some additional research on internships?  Check out our Internship Newsletter on our Compass page.  In addition, click on this link for some recently published internship listings on Fastweb.

The Career Center’s workshop calendar is on its website at: https://www.careercenter.illinois.edu/.  Now is a great time to update your resume, plan your job search or summer internship, and get to know their office and resources. All sessions will be held at the Career Center, 715 S. Wright Street, unless otherwise indicated. Upcoming workshops include:

  • How to Sell Your LAS Degree at the Illini Career and Internship Fair – Wed, March 2, 3-4pm, Lincoln Hall 1092
  • Finding and Applying to Government Careers – Wed, March 2, 4-5pm
  • Finding an Internship – Wed, March 2, 6-7pm
  • Getting the Job: Interviewing Tips – Thurs, March 3, 4-5pm
  • Best Job Search Resources for International Students, Fri, March 4, 4-5:30pm, The Interview Suite, 616 E. Green Street, Room 213

UIUC College of Law:  Volunteer Jurors Needed March 11 and 16!

If you always wanted to be a juror, now is your chance. Jurors are needed March 11 and 16 at the College of Law from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Parking and continental breakfast provided. Jurors sit on a jury trial presented by law students with an Illinois judge and deliberate to a verdict in a criminal or civil case. Contact Julie Campbell, jjhill@illinois.edu, or Steve Beckett, becketts@illinois.edu.

Feminist Activist Academy – Saturday, Mar. 12th from 9am-5pm
Women’s Resources Center | 703 S. Wright St. 2nd Fl. Champaign

The Feminist Activist Academy is an annual free activist training for UIUC undergraduate students focusing on understanding feminist theory and practice! We’ll explore contemporary feminist issues and offer attendees practical skills for engaging in feminist activism. This year’s Academy is specifically focused on the intersection of feminism and racial justice! Join us for a fantastic day full of fascinating speakers, workshops, and training. All meals are included! The Feminist Activist Academy is sponsored by the Strategic Initiatives Grant (SIG) at the University of Illinois. Registration is on a first come, first served basis.  Click on this link to access the registration form. 

Upcoming Off Campus Events and Opportunities

The Wisconsin Statewide Pre-Law Diversity Day is set for THIS Friday, March 4, 2016, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Marquette University Law School in Milwaukee is open to all students. For more information and to register, visit their website here. Co-sponsored by Marquette University Law School and University of Wisconsin Law School, this FREE event includes lunch and:

  • an update on law school admissions in Wisconsin featuring the University of Wisconsin and Marquette Law Schools;
  • an overview of the Law School Admission Test with practice questions;
  • breakout workshops featuring a mock class for students; and
  • law school fair featuring admissions representatives from law schools around the country. Over 20 law schools have already registered for this event! Click here for a list.

Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law — Master of Science in Law Webinar Info Sessions — March 9 and April 7

Interested in Law, Business, and Technology?
The one-year Master of Science in Law (MSL) program at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law prepares students for careers at the intersection of law, business, and technology. Designed especially for students with engineering, science, technology, mathematics, and medical backgrounds, the MSL provides practical, focused, business-centered legal training that enables students to communicate across disciplines; develop, protect, and manage intellectual property; bring ideas to market; and navigate the legal and regulatory structures that exist in STEM settings. MSL graduates are well positions for careers as: patent agents; IP/patent portfolio managers; scientific and/or technical consultants; business developers; regulatory strategists; compliance officers; patent coordinators; entrepreneurs; and more. Scholarships are available.

Learn more by joining us for our upcoming webinar. We will provide a comprehensive overview of the MSL program, including curriculum, full-time and part-time scheduling, career opportunities, and more. We will also take questions from the audience.

• March 9 at 5pm
• April 7 at 4pm
• Join online: https://northwesternuniversity.adobeconnect.com/mslwebinar

Anyone interested in the Master of Science in Law program is welcome to contact Susan Dennehy, Administrative Director, at susan.dennehy@law.northwestern.edu.

Wait listed, or just waiting? What to do now.

We’re hearing from a lot of students who have submitted their applications and now find themselves either waiting to hear back or finding out they’ve been wait listed. Here are some helpful tips and pointers to help you position yourself in the best manner for admission and aid!

If you’re still waiting for an admission decision…
You are NOT alone! Many students tell us they have been waiting weeks or months. What is going on? It could mean:

  • The school is essentially “wait listing” you, but not calling it that, by waiting to respond to you until they see the rest of the applicant pool.
  • The admissions office is understaffed or inundated with applications.
  • You applied later in the cycle and a backlog of applications must be reviewed before yours.

What can you do?

  • IF it has been at least 4-6 weeks or whatever time frame the school has indicated, reach out and gently inquire about anticipated time frames for a decision. Reiterate your interest in the school.
  • Follow the law school on Twitter; many deans have taken to updating applicants about expected decisions there.
  • Don’t: Complain about their slowness or criticize the school’s process, tell them you’ve already heard back from everyone else or from “better” schools, give the school a deadline. Sometimes patience is key.

If you’ve been waitlisted…Understand what this means: that you are an admissible candidate but the school needs to hit its institutional goals before they can admit you. Institutional goals could be LSAT/GPA related but could also be related to balancing the class with regard to gender, diversity, in state/out of state, age, etc. Very few schools can accurately predict how many applicants–and with what qualities–they will be pulling from a wait list. When the school tells you they don’t know, it is very likely true.

What can you do?

  • Follow the school’s directions carefully. Do not email to ask them what to do after the school sends very specific instructions. Some law schools will ask you to confirm that you want to be on their wait list–if you don’t do so, you will not be considered.
  • Update your application by sending an updated resume, a new recommendation, or a letter or email expressing continued interest in that school (sometimes called a LOCI, or letter of continued interest).
  • Stay in touch–no more than once every week or two–to demonstrate your interest in the school. IF the school is your top choice, then say so.
  • Continue to make other plans. No one should proceed by “expecting” to be pulled from a wait list…even if this does happen, it can be anytime up to the day classes begin. You need to start making other plans if you haven’t heard by April or so.
  • Don’t demand a decision right now…you may get one but it will not be the one you want.

Be “pleasantly persistent” as we move into March and April, which are prime decision-making times for schools and for entering students. And always remember that professionalism and good manners go a long way in this business!

Mark Your Calendars–Week of February 22

Pre-Law Advising Services Workshops and Programs

Check out our Spring Semester calendar of events here!

Join us for Negotiating Law School Scholarships on Wednesday, February 24, 2016, at 5:00 pm in IUB 514. Negotiating law school scholarships has become quite common in the last few years. While many students have successfully bargained for additional scholarship dollars, the process of negotiating can be risky and stressful. Join us as two Deans of Admission–Rebecca Ray from the University of Illinois College of Law and Ann Perry from University of Chicago Law School–share their insight into negotiating financial aid packages with law schools. Under what circumstances should students negotiate? How can they successfully engage with law schools? What would make a law school deny a request to renegotiate? This is invaluable advice, including tips for success that could save pre-law students thousands of dollars on a legal education! All pre-law students should attend. No registration necessary.

June 2016 LSAT Study groups – Taking the June LSAT? Think about joining a study group.  PLAS is helping to coordinate the creation of study groups for the June LSAT.  The process is simple. Students fill out the requested information in the Google form here: http://goo.gl/forms/UxIjxoxpG2.  We will create study groups based on your responses and email each student so that the group can coordinate study times.

Upcoming Law School Events–OPEN TO ALL PRE-LAW STUDENTS

The Wisconsin Statewide Pre-Law Diversity Day is set for Friday, March 4, 2016, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Marquette University Law School in Milwaukee is open to all students. For more information and to register, visit their website here. Cosponsored by Marquette University Law School and University of Wisconsin Law School, this FREE event includes lunch and:

  • an update on law school admissions in Wisconsin featuring the University of Wisconsin and Marquette Law Schools;
  • an overview of the Law School Admission Test with practice questions;
  • breakout workshops featuring a mock class for students; and
  • law school fair featuring admissions representatives from law schools around the country. Over 20 law schools have already registered for this event!Click here for a list.

 Upcoming Campus Events

Whether you’re interested in diversity, housing, environmental concerns, safety, or the performing arts, there are campus committees that need your voice. Check out the list of campus committees and apply to serve on one of them for 2016-2017. http://studentaffairs.illinois.edu/collaborations/campus-committees-and-boards

The Career Center has posted its spring workshop calendar on their website at:https://www.careercenter.illinois.edu/. Now is a great time to update your resume, plan your job search or summer internship, and get to know their office and resources. All sessions will be held at the Career Center, 715 S. Wright Street, unless otherwise indicated. Upcoming workshops include:

  • Getting the job: Interviewing tips, Feb 23, 4-5:00 pm
  • Creating Powerful Resumes and Cover Letters, Feb 18, 4-5:00 pm

Internship, Scholarship and Summer Pre-Law Program Opportunities

Still looking for a summer internship? The Career Center also announced a new summer internship program called UIntern. Mandatory info sessions will be held at The Interview Suite at 616 E Green St. Find more details here.

  • Monday, Feb. 22 at 3 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Feb. 23 at Noon

University of Wisconsin Law School-James E. Jones Jr. Pre-Law Scholars Program

The University of Wisconsin Law School is now accepting applications for the James E. Jones Jr. Pre-Law Scholars Program. This four-week summer immersion program is designed to improve access to legal education for undergraduate students from historically underrepresented groups and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, as well as those with other significant barriers to entering the legal profession.

The program is open to students who have completed their freshman or sophomore years in college, and is designed to help students explore legal education and careers, and to help them succeed in applying to, enrolling in, and graduating from law school.Students will spend four weeks living on the beautiful University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. All program materials, and room and board, will be provided FREE of cost. Students will also receive a $1,000 stipend for participating in the program. For more information or to apply, go here.  Applications are due April 1!

Scholarship opportunity for those entering law school this fall

The ABA Diversity Scholarship is designed for underrepresented students who demonstrate financial need and community involvement. Awards will be $5,000 for entering law students, which is renewable for years 2 and 3 of law school.  Applicants must be entering law school in 2016 and submit an application, personal statement, and statement of financial need by March 2. Find the application and more details here.

Have a great week!

Next Steps in the 2015-16 Application Cycle

  • Learn as much as you can about the finances involved in pursuing a legal education. Each law school will have a different cost of attendance so be sure to check out their specific websites for more information. Understand the various costs that you will need to account for such as tuition, books, and housing.
  • If you have not done so already, complete your FAFSA. For information on deadlines and answers to other questions, visit https://fafsa.ed.gov/.
  • Review scholarship offers, weigh your options and take the time to learn how to negotiate with law schools. Join us on Wednesday, February 24 at 5:00 pm in IUB 514 for “Negotiating Law School Scholarships” with Deans of Admission – Rebecca Ray from the University of Illinois College of Law and Ann Perry from University of Chicago Law School.
  • Look for scholarship opportunities outside of the law school. Many bar associations, religious groups, business entities, social groups and others organizations offer scholarships. Putting in some work now could save you money in the long run.
  • Start thinking about where you will submit your seat deposits. Seat deposit deadlines vary from school to school, but most are due in April or May. Make sure that you have these deadlines in mind because you do not want to lose the spot you earned. Also, if you know you will not attend a specific school, send them an email and let them know. Then they can offer your spot to someone else.
  • If you do not know anyone with whom you will be attending school, take the time to sign up for a roommate matching program. Alternatively, you can begin searching around your new campus for available apartments. Students often sign leases for apartments early and you will not want to live somewhere that is either far away from the school or not as nice as you would like it to be.

Keep up the hard work!

Mark Your Calendars — Week of February 15

PLAS Events

Pre-Law Advising Services Workshops and Programs

Check out our Spring Semester calendar of events here!

 

Join us for Negotiating Law School Scholarships on Wednesday, February 24, 2016, at 5:00 pm in IUB 514. Negotiating law school scholarships has become quite common in the last few years. While many students have successfully bargained for additional scholarship dollars, the process of negotiating can be risky and stressful. Join us as two Deans of Admission–Rebecca Ray from the University of Illinois College of Law and Ann Perry from University of Chicago Law School–share their insight into negotiating financial aid packages with law schools. Under what circumstances should students negotiate? How can they successfully engage with law schools? What would make a law school deny a request to renegotiate? This is invaluable advice, including tips for success that could save pre-law students thousands of dollars on a legal education! All pre-law students should attend. No registration necessary.

June 2016 LSAT Study groups – Taking the June LSAT? Think about joining a study group.  PLAS is helping to coordinate the creation of study groups for the June LSAT.  The process is simple. Students fill out the requested information in the Google form here: http://goo.gl/forms/UxIjxoxpG2.  We will create study groups based on your responses and email each student so that the group can coordinate study times.

 

Upcoming Law School Events–OPEN TO ALL PRE-LAW STUDENTS

Diversity Law Day at Indiana University, Mauer School of Law, Bloomington, Saturday, February 20, 9am – 2:30pm

Diversity Law Day gives curious, ambitious high school and college students an inside look at law school. You’ll meet with professors, students, and practicing lawyers and have a chance to ask them about student life and career choices. Plus you’ll experience a class in how to think critically followed by a mock law class, taught by one of our professors. Diversity Law Day will help you decide whether law school is the right choice for you. Join us this February at Indiana University Maurer School of Law to experience what a legal education has to offer. A continental breakfast and lunch will be served.  For more information and to register, go here.

The Wisconsin Statewide Pre-Law Diversity Day is set for Friday, March 4, 2016, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Marquette University Law School in Milwaukee is open to all students. For more information and to register, visit their website here. Cosponsored by Marquette University Law School and University of Wisconsin Law School, this FREE event includes lunch and:

  • an update on law school admissions in Wisconsin featuring the University of Wisconsin and Marquette Law Schools;
  • an overview of the Law School Admission Test with practice questions;
  • breakout workshops featuring a mock class for students; and
  • law school fair featuring admissions representatives from law schools around the country. Over 20 law schools have already registered for this event!Click here for a list.

 

Upcoming Campus Events

The Career Center has posted its spring workshop calendar on their website at:https://www.careercenter.illinois.edu/. Now is a great time to update your resume, plan your job search or summer internship, and get to know their office and resources. All sessions will be held at the Career Center, 715 S. Wright Street, unless otherwise indicated. Upcoming workshops include:

  • Finding an Internship, Feb 17, 5-6:00pm
  • Career Fair Prep: Maximize Your Experience, Feb 17, 6-7:00pm
  • Creating Powerful Resumes and Cover Letters, Feb 18, 4-5:00 pm

Ilinois Leadership Center will host the Imprint  I-Program on Saturday, February 27. For more information and to register, visit their website here.

A Conversation with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor

Monday, March 07, 2016
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
7:00 PM–8:00 PM

The University of Illinois will host “A Conversation with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor,” a public event on Monday, March 7. Justice Sotomayor will discuss a wide range of topics with College of Law Professor Robin B. Kar.

The event is sponsored by the University of Illinois College of Law and is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Tickets will be available beginning TODAY, February 15 at 10 a.m. via phone at (217) 333-6280, in person at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts Ticket Office counter, or online at KrannertCenter.com.

Justice Sotomayor, who has served on the U.S. Supreme Court since 2009, was born in the Bronx, New York, and is a 1976 summa cum laude graduate of Princeton University. She earned her juris doctor degree in 1979 from Yale Law School, where she served as an editor of the Yale Law Journal. She was an assistant district attorney in the New York County District Attorney’s Office from 1979 to 1984. From 1984 to 1992 she litigated international commercial matters in New York City as an associate and partner with the firm Pavia & Harcourt.

Nominated by President George H.W. Bush to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, in 1991, she served in that role from 1992 to 1998 and as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit from 1998 to 2009. President Barack Obama nominated her as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court on May 26, 2009.  For more information, go here.
 

Internship, Scholarship and Summer Pre-Law Program Opportunities

We hope you have been utilizing our 20 page Internship Newsletter over on our Pre-Law Compass page that we posted in December! (Click here for instructions on how to access our Compass page.) It’s got lots of job and internship listings for spring, summer and long-term opportunities from Champaign to D.C. and beyond.  In addition, a few more summer internships have been posted on I-Link so keep checking there to see what has been added!
University of Wisconsin Law School-James E. Jones Jr. Pre-Law Scholars Program

The University of Wisconsin Law School is now accepting applications for the James E. Jones Jr. Pre-Law Scholars Program. This four-week summer immersion program is designed to improve access to legal education for undergraduate students from historically underrepresented groups and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, as well as those with other significant barriers to entering the legal profession.

The program is open to students who have completed their freshman or sophomore years in college, and is designed to help students explore legal education and careers, and to help them succeed in applying to, enrolling in, and graduating from law school.
Students will spend four weeks living on the beautiful University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. All program materials, and room and board, will be provided FREE of cost. Students will also receive a $1,000 stipend for participating in the program. For more information or to apply, go here.  Applications are due April 1!

The Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division is currently accepting applications for student volunteers. See their description here.

Scholarship opportunity for those entering law school this fall

The ABA Diversity Scholarship is designed for underrepresented students who demonstrate financial need and community involvement. Awards will be $15,000 for entering law students, which is renewable for years 2 and 3 of law school.  Applicants must be entering law school in 2016 and submit an application, personal statement, and statement of financial need by March 2. Find the application and more details here.

 

Have a great week!

Taking the LSAT in June? Less than 4 months to go!

If the headline for today’s post shocked you speechless (and you missed last week’s PLAS LSAT Prep Fair), you need to begin your LSAT prep NOW!  Not sure what to do? Here are some tips and suggestions to jump start your LSAT prep.

  1. Begin at the source — the Law School Admission Council (LSAC).  The LSAC administers the LSAT so there is no better place to start your preparation.  As the LSAC advises, very few people achieve their full potential on the LSAT without some preparation.  Most law school applicants also study test-taking techniques and strategies using a variety of test prep materials.  The LSAC has created some short but helpful videos to familiarize you with the test content.  They also have books of previously administered tests and the LSAC’s SuperPrep II guide for sale on their website.  Go here to view the videos and learn more about purchasing test prep materials from LSAC. PLAS also provides an overview of the LSAT on our website.
  2. Create a schedule. Looking for information to help you figure out a good schedule for your LSAT preparation? Go to the PLAS Compass page, login, select the “LSAT Preparation” tab and scroll down to the “LSAT Prep Guide,” provided courtesy of Michigan State University College of Law.  Along with a suggested LSAT study schedule, the Guide contains information on commercial test prep options as well as tips from successful test takers on how to maximize your preparation. The PLAS Compass page also contains a schedule from a former UIUC student that tracks his progress and preparation as he went from a 150 on his first practice test to a 171 on an actual, administered test.
  3. Consider commercial LSAT prep options. In addition to the “LSAT Prep Guide,” referenced above, the PLAS Compass page contains other test prep suggestions and DISCOUNTS for several commercial LSAT prep companies.  Go to our Compass page, select “LSAT Preparation” and scroll down for links to test prep suggestions, information about inexpensive test prep options and the commercial LSAT test prep company discounts!
  4. Think about joining a study group.  PLAS is helping to coordinate the creation of study groups for the June LSAT.  The process is simple. Students fill out the requested information in the Google form here: http://goo.gl/forms/UxIjxoxpG2.  We will create study groups based on your responses and email each student so that the group can coordinate study times.
  5. Practice! Practice! Practice!  Most experts agree that the key to successful LSAT prep is studying effectively and building up to taking as many previously-administered actual LSAT exams as practice tests, under real test conditions, as possible. And if you start today, you will have 4 weeks of studying under your belt before the PLAS sponsored practice LSAT, scheduled for Friday, March 4, 9:00am-12:30pm.  Taking this practice LSAT is a great way to gauge how effective your studying has been.  It can also point to weaknesses that you might want to focus on as you continue your preparation.  Click here to register for the practice LSAT.

Good luck!

 

 

 

 

Mark Your Calendars — Week of February 8, 2016

Lots of things going on this week!  Scroll down for info on Pre-Law 101, tomorrow’s visits from Case Western Law School and Indiana University, McKinney School of Law, Indianapolis, and information on the newly-launched Summer Pre-Law Program at the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Pre-Law Advising Services Workshops and Programs

Check out our Spring Semester calendar of events here!

Are you new to pre-law at Illinois? Pre-Law 101 will be held TODAY, Feb. 8 at 4:00pm, Room 514 IUB. This workshop will cover: What it means to be pre-law at Illinois;what law schools are really looking for; what pre-law students can do to maximize their undergraduate years; how to build a strong pre-law resume; what resources are available to assist pre-law students at Illinois. For more details and to register, click here.

Case Western Reserve University School of Law Presents Law’s Violence: Justifying and Unjustifying Domestic and International Uses of Force, TOMORROW, February 9, 5-6pm, 1065 Lincoln Hall

Professor Avidan Y. Cover, Director of the Institute for Global Security Law and Policy at Case Western Reserve University School of Law, will give a talk concerning the need to limit government abuse of power–as applied to both the domestic (police) realm and in the international realm (military and covert operations). Following the talk, questions about applying to and attending law school will be answered. Food will be provided. No registration required.

Upcoming Law School Events–OPEN TO ALL PRE-LAW STUDENTS

Diversity Law Day at Indiana University, Mauer School of Law, Bloomington, Saturday, February 20, 9am – 2:30pm

Diversity Law Day gives curious, ambitious high school and college students an inside look at law school. You’ll meet with professors, students, and practicing lawyers and have a chance to ask them about student life and career choices. Plus you’ll experience a class in how to think critically followed by a mock law class, taught by one of our professors. Diversity Law Day will help you decide whether law school is the right choice for you. Join us this February at Indiana University Maurer School of Law to experience what a legal education has to offer. A continental breakfast and lunch will be served.  For more information and to register, go here.

The Wisconsin Statewide Pre-Law Diversity Day is set for Friday, March 4, 2016,  from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Marquette University Law School in Milwaukee is open to all students. For more information and to register, visit their website here. Cosponsored by Marquette University Law School and University of Wisconsin Law School, this FREE event includes lunch and:

  • an update on law school admissions in Wisconsin featuring the University of Wisconsin and Marquette Law Schools;
  • an overview of the Law School Admission Test with practice questions;
  • breakout workshops featuring a mock class for students; and
  • law school fair featuring admissions representatives from law schools around the country. Over 20 law schools have already registered for this event! Click here for a list.

Upcoming Campus Events

Indiana University, McKinney School of Law, Indianapolis — Tuesday, February 9, 6-7pm, 165 Noyes Lab

Join the Minority Association for Future Attorneys (MAFA) as they welcome Julie Smith, Director of Recruitment, IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law.  Ms. Smith’s presentation will include an overview of the IU McKinney J.D. Program, suggestions on how to prepare for law school and information on the application process.  In addition, Ms. Smith will be discussing the tuition discount for Illinois residents.  All are welcome!

The Career Center has posted its spring workshop calendar on their website at: https://www.careercenter.illinois.edu/. Now is a great time to update your resume, plan your job search or summer internship, and get to know their office and resources. All sessions will be held at the Career Center, 715 S. Wright Street, unless otherwise indicated. Upcoming workshops include:

  • Finding and Applying to Government Careers, Feb 8, 4-5:00pm
  • Career Certificate – International Students (CCI) Info Session – Monday, Feb 8, and Tuesday, Feb 9, 4-5:00pm, The Interview Suite, 616 East Green Street, Room 213
  • Creating Powerful Resumes and Cover Letters, Feb 9, 5-6:00 pm
  • Finding an Internship, Feb 9, 6-7:00pm
  • Career Fair Prep: Maximize Your Experience, Feb 10, 4-5:00pm
  • Peace Corps General Information Meeting, Feb 10, 6-7:30pm
  • Pizza and a Professional: Learning About Careers in the Sports Industry, Feb 12, 12-1:00pm, The Interview Suite, 616 E. Green St., Room 213. Enjoy lunch on us and hear from professionals who work in the sports industry! Network and listen as they share their experiences with choosing a major and pursuing their career.
  • Strategic Use of Linked In for International Students, Feb 12, 4-5:30pm, The Interview Suite, 616 E. Green St., Room 213

Ilinois Leadership Center will host the Petullo Insight I-Program on Saturday, February 13. For more information and to register, visit their website here.

A Conversation with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor

Monday, March 07, 2016
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
7:00 PM–8:00 PM

The University of Illinois will host “A Conversation with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor,” a public event on Monday, March 7. Justice Sotomayor will discuss a wide range of topics with College of Law Professor Robin B. Kar.

The event is sponsored by the University of Illinois College of Law and is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Tickets will be available beginning February 15 at 10 a.m. via phone at (217) 333-6280, in person at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts Ticket Office counter, or online at KrannertCenter.com.

Justice Sotomayor, who has served on the U.S. Supreme Court since 2009, was born in the Bronx, New York, and is a 1976 summa cum laude graduate of Princeton University. She earned her juris doctor degree in 1979 from Yale Law School, where she served as an editor of the Yale Law Journal. She was an assistant district attorney in the New York County District Attorney’s Office from 1979 to 1984. From 1984 to 1992 she litigated international commercial matters in New York City as an associate and partner with the firm Pavia & Harcourt.

Nominated by President George H.W. Bush to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, in 1991, she served in that role from 1992 to 1998 and as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit from 1998 to 2009. President Barack Obama nominated her as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court on May 26, 2009.  For more information, go here.

 Internship, Scholarship and Summer Pre-Law Program Opportunities

We hope you have been utilizing our 20 page Internship Newsletter over on our Pre-Law Compass page that we posted in December! (Click here for instructions on how to access our Compass page.) It’s got lots of job and internship listings for spring, summer and long-term opportunities from Champaign to D.C. and beyond.  In addition, a few more summer internships have been posted on I-Link so keep checking there to see what has been added!

University of Wisconsin Law School-James E. Jones Jr. Pre-Law Scholars Program

The University of Wisconsin Law School is now accepting applications for the James E. Jones Jr. Pre-Law Scholars Program. This four-week summer immersion program is designed to improve access to legal education for undergraduate students from historically underrepresented groups and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, as well as those with other significant barriers to entering the legal profession.

The program is open to students who have completed their freshman or sophomore years in college, and is designed to help students explore legal education and careers, and to help them succeed in applying to, enrolling in, and graduating from law school.
Students will spend four weeks living on the beautiful University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. All program materials, and room and board, will be provided FREE of cost. Students will also receive a $1,000 stipend for participating in the program. For more information or to apply, go here.  Applications are due April 1!

The Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division is currently accepting applications for student volunteers. See their description here.

Scholarship opportunity for those entering law school this fall

The ABA Diversity Scholarship is designed for underrepresented students who demonstrate financial need and community involvement. Awards will be $15,000 for entering law students, which is renewable for years 2 and 3 of law school.  Applicants must be entering law school in 2016 and submit an application, personal statement, and statement of financial need by March 2. Find the application and more details here.

 

New legal job posting, internships, and Pre-Law Honors Society

So many great opportunities have come our way to share with you for this mid-week blog posting. We’re happy to announce a NEW legal opportunity, internship info, and details on joining the Pre-Law Honors Society.

Pre-Law Honors Society Announcement
Applications are being accepted until February 15 to join the Pre-Law Honors Society. PHS Application  To find out more about their organization, visit their website here.

NEW Paid Legal Position! Applications due February 26
Project Assistant Construction Law group – January 2016

Schiff Hardin’s Construction Law group is hiring a Project Assistant. This is a GREAT opportunity for a pre-law student who graduated in December 2015 or will graduate in May 2016. The Project Assistant will assist the Construction Law attorneys with their day to day work, including: document preparation, file review, preparing court filings, conducting research, and assisting attorneys in their trial preparation process. The ideal candidate would be willing to commit 2 years as a Project Assistant prior to attending law school.

Requirements: Must possess a Bachelor’s degree, strong technical skills, excellent oral and written communication skills, professional demeanor. Preferred: Proven ability to work independently and meet deadlines, familiarity with legal research or case management tools. Start date will be in May/June.

This is a wonderful opportunity to gain legal experience prior to law school or to confirm whether law school is the best fit for you. Click on the Project Assistant link above for more information and a link to the application, which is due February 26. To find out more about Schiff Hardin visit their website here.

Paid Summer Jobs and Internships

Are you on I-Link yet? You should be. I-Link is where you will find jobs and internships from recruiters seeking Illinois students and alumni. Register for I-Link here. The following paid summer internship is an example of what you’ll find there.

The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) is hiring paid summer interns to complete research projects and help staff members with writing, case work, fundraising, public relations, and administrative duties. Applications due March 7. Find the details over on I-Link.

Mark Your Calendars: Week of February 1

Pre-Law Advising Services Workshops and Programs

We have updated our Spring Semester calendar of events! Check them out on our website here.

TODAY is the LSAT Prep Fair from 4-6 pm in Illini Union Room B. Are you looking for the perfect LSAT prep course? Wondering what’s on the LSAT and what it’s all about? The LSAT Prep Fair is the perfect opportunity to: talk to a variety of LSAT prep companies about their offerings, learn more and watch a mini demonstration of LSAT test questions, get discounts on LSAT prep courses, or win an LSAT prep course scholarship! Have some snacks, learn about your LSAT prep options, and figure out how to ace logic games at the LSAT Prep Fair. Stop by or stay the whole time. More info–including participating LSAT prep companies and an LSAT workshop schedule–is posted at http://prelaw.illinois.edu/lsat-prep-fair. This event is free and open to all students. No registration is necessary.

Another way to win an LSAT Test Prep Scholarship!  Are you taking the June LSAT but are not sure you can afford a full LSAT test prep course? Thanks to the generous donation of Kaplan Test Prep, Pre-Law Advising Services is pleased to announce the availability of two full LSAT prep course scholarships courtesy of Kaplan Test Prep. The recipients will be able to use the scholarships on Kaplan’s LSAT In Person, Live Online or Self-Paced Courses. To learn more about Kaplan, go here: http://www.kaptest.com/LSAT/Home/index.html.

If you are interested in applying for one of these scholarships, please submit the following: 1) Your resume, AND
2) A short essay (no more than 600 words) that addresses each of the following:

  • Have you taken an LSAT prep class before?
  • What is your financial need? It is not necessary to provide exact numbers, just give us a sense of your financial situation and why a scholarship is necessary.
  • How can this scholarship help you achieve your goals?

Email your resume and essay to Judy Argentieri at jargenti@illinois.edu by February 5, 2016 at 5pm.  Winners will be announced the week of February 8!

Note: Pre-Law Advising Services does not endorse any commercial LSAT test prep company.

Upcoming Law School Events–OPEN TO ALL PRE-LAW STUDENTS

Indiana University Maurer School of Law is hosting Diversity Day on Saturday, February 20 from 9 am to 3 pm. This free event is open to all students and includes a tour, mock law class, lunch and conversation with current students, and information about what lawyers do. For more information and to register, visit their website here.

The Wisconsin Statewide Pre-Law Diversity Day is set for Friday, March 4, 2016,  from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Marquette University Law School in Milwaukee is open to all students. For more information and to register, visit their website here. Cosponsored by Marquette University Law School and University of Wisconsin Law School, this FREE event includes lunch and:

  • an update on law school admissions in Wisconsin featuring the University of Wisconsin and Marquette Law Schools;
  • an overview of the Law School Admission Test with practice questions;
  • breakout workshops featuring a mock class for students ; and
  • law school fair featuring admissions representatives from law schools around the country. Over 20 law schools have already registered for this event! Click here for a list.

Upcoming Campus Events

Illinois in Washington summer semester applications are due Feb. 1. For more information check out the Illinois in Washington website.

Illinois Leadership Center presents these two upcoming workshops.Visit their website here to register.

  • Ignite–Develop skills in leading change and understanding systems thinking. Feb. 6
  • Petullo Insight–Discover your strengths, your values, your social identities, and explore your intrinsic leadership styles. Feb. 13.

The Career Center has posted its spring workshop calendar on their website at: https://www.careercenter.illinois.edu/. Now is a great time to update your resume, plan your job search or summer internship, and get to know their office and resources. Upcoming workshops include:

  • How to sell your LAS degree at the Business and Engineering Career Fairs, Feb. 1, 4-5 pm
  • Creating powerful resumes and cover letters, Feb. 1, 5-6 pm
  • Career fair prep: Maximize your experience, Feb. 1, 6-7 pm 
  • Getting the job: Interviewing tips, Feb. 4, 4-5 pm

Study Abroad Summer 2015 Faculty Led Programs–Applications due Feb. 1. These are 2-5 week study abroad programs over summer break with automatic Illinois credit. This could be a great way to manage both study abroad and taking the LSAT. For a list of available courses and application materials, visit the study abroad website here.

Internship and Scholarship Opportunities

We hope you have been utilizing our 20 page Internship Newsletter over on our Pre-Law Compass page that we posted in December! (Click here for instructions on how to access our Compass page.) It’s got lots of job and internship listings for spring, summer and long-term opportunities from Champaign to D.C. and beyond.  In addition, a few more summer internships have been posted on I-Link so keep checking there to seek what has been added! We have listed a couple of these new openings below.

Paid Summer Internship Program at Reproductive Rights and Social Justice Organization — Application Deadline February 1, 2016!

The Reproductive Rights Activist Service Corps (RRASC) is a 10-week paid summer internship program sponsored by the Civil Liberties and Public Policy Program at Hampshire College. Undergraduate students intern at reproductive rights and social justice organizations around the country. Organizations work on a wide array of issues from reproductive health, immigrant rights, food justice, LGBTQ rights, anti-violence, prison abolition, intimate partner abuse, labor rights, and public policy.

Some of the participating organizations include: Advocates for Youth, Sadie Nash Leadership Project, National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Amnesty International, Political Research Associates, HealthRight International, Justice Now, the Audre Lorde Project, Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health, Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, Law Students for Reproductive Justice, Tewa Women United, the Prison Birth Project, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, National Asian Pacific American Womens Forum, and the Sylvia Rivera Law Project.

Locations include: Washington DC, New York, NY, Boston, MA, Chicago, IL, Atlanta, GA, New Orleans, LA, Montgomery, AL, Denver, CO, Los Angeles, CA, San Francisco/Oakland, CA, New Orleans, LA, Santa Fe, NM, Bloomington, IN, Louisville, KY, Amherst, MA, Burlington, VT, Miami, FL, Nashville, TN.

Internship stipend is $3500.

Eligibility requirements:

-Must currently be an undergraduate student at a US college/university
-Must not be graduating in Spring/Summer 2016
-Must be able to attend the CLPP Conference in Amherst, MA, April 7-10, 2016 (CLPP will cover all travel costs for students who live outside of Western Massachusetts)

More information and an application are available at: http://clpp.hampshire.edu/internship

Application deadline: February 1, 2016. Note: This week’s highlighted internship opportunity was posted in I-Link so access it through your I-Link account:

Paid Summer Internship at the Nuclear Energy Institute – Application Deadline is January 31!

The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) has a number of openings for paid interns beginning in the summer of 2016. The Nuclear Energy Institute (www.nei.org) is the policy organization of the nuclear energy and technologies industry and participates in both the national and global policy-making process. NEIs mission is to ensure the implementation of policies that promote the beneficial uses of nuclear energy and technologies in the United States and around the world. To that end, NEI works to establish unified industry positions on the regulatory aspects of generic operational and technical issues. NEI’s members include all entities licensed to operate commercial nuclear power plants in the United States, nuclear plant designers, architect/engineering firms, fuel fabrication facilities, nuclear materials licensees, and other organizations and entities involved in the nuclear energy industry.

Interns at NEI will work with seasoned nuclear professionals in the technical, communications, policy development, government relations and legal areas on issues critical to the industry. Internships are 10 weeks and take place during the summer. All applicants must submit an application that includes a resume and a copy of their transcript. Applicants must participate in an in person interview or by phone, if requested.

For more information on NEIs internship program, please contact the NEI Human Resources Department at resumes@nei.org. Applications are being accepted for review between December 15, 2015 and January 31, 2016. Applications submitted beyond January 31, 2016 may be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis thereafter.

In addition, there are other opportunities for jobs in the nuclear industry, at nuclear facilities, law firms and consulting and lobbying organizations. For information on jobs in the nuclear industry please visit our website at http://www.nei.org/careersandeducation/.

The Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division is currently accepting applications for student volunteers. See their description here.

Scholarship opportunity for those entering law school this fall

The ABA Diversity Scholarship is designed for underrepresented students who demonstrate financial need and community involvement. Awards will be $15,000 for entering law students, which is renewable for years 2 and 3 of law school.  Applicants must be entering law school in 2016 and submit an application, personal statement, and statement of financial need by March 2. Find the application and more details here.