February 2017 – Pre-Law Advising Services Blog

Mark Your Calendars — Week of February 27

U of I kicks off its Sesquicentennial Celebration this week! Also don’t forget — TODAY is the day for our Negotiating Scholarships Workshop, featuring Rebecca Ray, Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid, UIUC College of Law, on Monday, February 27 at 5:00pm, Room 514 IUB! This is a MUST for those of you looking for tips on how to handle a scholarship negotiation! Finally — the end of February/beginning of March is a time of internship and scholarship deadlines. Scroll down for more information on several opportunities with application deadlines THIS WEEK!

UI Sesquicentennial Kickoff Celebration: Funkadesi

February 28, 2017, marks the 150th anniversary of the passage of the legislative act that created the University of Illinois in 1867. This sesquicentennial milestone provides the opportunity to commemorate our shining accomplishments of the past 150 years and to look forward to the possibilities the future holds. Krannert Center hosts the sesquicentennial kickoff celebration with a keynote address by Chancellor Jones, and a free lobby concert and reception featuring six-time Chicago Music Award winners Funkadesi, who meld musical styles from around the globe and whose one-world sound and positive vibe make the band a unique, compelling, and flat-out fun musical force. Here’s to the past 150 years and to the next! For more information on UIUC’s Sesquicentennial Celebration, go here.

PLAS Opportunities

TODAY Monday February 27th – Negotiating Scholarships Workshop with UIUC College of Law Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid Rebecca Ray, 5:00pm, Room 514 IUB

The hard part of applying to law school is over, and now you’re starting to receive acceptances and financial aid offers. So…what happens next? Now is the time to assess aid offers and discuss options for additional scholarships with your law schools. What information can you provide that will persuade a law school to reconsider your aid? How can applicants have a respectful yet productive conversation that potentially results in more scholarship dollars being awarded? Join us as we examine exactly how to go about negotiating law school scholarships with the expertise of Dean Rebecca Ray, the Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid at the University of Illinois College of Law. This session is a must-see for anyone applying to law school, and the information applies whether U of I or another law school is your goal.

Internships and Summer Pre-Law Programs

We hope that you have been keeping up on our blog and Facebook posts about internships and summer pre-law programs. Another resource you should continue to utilize is 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.) The Internship Newsletter has lots of job and internship listings for spring, summer and long-term opportunities from Champaign to D.C. and beyond. In addition, you should regularly check iLink to see if summer internships have been posted there. Read on for a reminder about the TRIALS Summer Program at Harvard Law School.

TRIALS Summer Program — Application Deadline is TOMORROW, February 28.

Trials is a unique partnership of NYU School of Law, Harvard Law School, and the Advantage Testing Foundation. It is a fully subsidized summer study program for students of modest means whose backgrounds are currently underrepresented at the nation’s top law schools.

For five weeks in the summer, Trials students take residence at Harvard or New York University. The residency alternates from year to year. In 2017, Trials will be held at Harvard Law School from June 25 to July 30. For more information and to apply, go here: http://trials.atfoundation.org/program/index.

Campus Events and Opportunities

Subcommittees on Student Conduct — Students Needed — Applications due TOMORROW, February 28, 2017

The Senate Committee and the Office for Student Conflict Resolution are now seeking to fill vacant student and faculty seats on the Subcommittee on Undergraduate Student Conduct and the Subcommittee on Graduate Student Conduct, and vacant faculty, student and staff seats on the Subcommittee on Sexual Misconduct. Applications are due TOMORROW, February 28, 2017. For more information and to apply, go here.

UPDATE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED. More information will be coming soon. Minority Association for Future Attorneys (MAFA) Meeting. Join Director of Pre-Law Advising Services Jamie Thomas-Ward and PLAS Graduate Assistant Lydia Faklis as they discuss “New Perspectives on Choosing a Law School” at MAFA’s. Jamie and Lydia will be talking about bar passage results and why these numbers matter, how to make sure you are getting a good return on your law school investment, exploring law schools, law school scholarships and more! The meeting is open to anyone that would like to attend.

Women’s Career Institute — Saturday, March 4, 9:00am-5:00pm, 616 E. Green Street, Room 213. The Women’s Resources Center, 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 institute is designed for undergraduate 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.

Resume, Cover Letter and Linked In Reviews — Feb. 27, 2-4:30 pm Career Center; 7-9 pm Undergrad Library, Consultation Corner. There are multiple other dates and times for this workshop. Go here to see more options.
Finding An Internship — Feb. 28, 4-5pm, Career Center Room 143
Creating Your Powerful Resume — March 1, 4-5pm Career Center Room 143
Acing Your Interview — March 1, 5-6pm Career Center Room 143
Linked In and Job Search Resources for International Students — March 3, 4-5:30pm, The Interview Suite, 616 East Green Street, Room 213

New Sociology Minor of Criminology, Law, and Society!

The Department of Sociology is very excited to announced that coming this Fall they are launching a Minor in Criminology, Law, and Society. Pizza will be provided! For more information about this minor, go here. Interested students should attend one of these info sessions, all held in Room 3057 Lincoln Hall on the following dates:

Wednesday March 1 at 5:00PM
Thursday March 9 at 5:00PM

Scholarship and Grant Opportunities

The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) is now accepting applications for the Research Support Grant (RSG). This grant provides students from all disciplines with the funds necessary to conduct research or creative projects during the academic year both on and off campus (including summer terms). Awards will be up to $2,000 and are meant to cover research travel costs, living expenses incurred during academic breaks (i.e., winter break and summer terms, NOT regular semester living expenses), and materials or other ancillary costs. We hope that this competition will both broaden and deepen the types of research being conducted by undergraduate students on campus, and that the recipients are able to use this opportunity as a way of engaging with their fields. For details and eligibility requirements please visit: http://go.illinois.edu/OUR_RSG. Deadline for applications will be THIS Wednesday, March 1, at 11:59 p.m. Questions may be addressed to ugresearch@illinois.edu

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 2017 and submit an application, personal statement, and statement of financial need by THIS THURSDAY March 2. Find the application and more details here.

Carlton Caspers Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship—Carlson Caspers, a Minneapolis-based IP law firm, fosters a culture that welcomes and embraces differences in people and perspectives. Our commitment to inclusion is the foundation for a vibrant work environment and unparalleled client service that comes from varied perspectives in developing strategies and solutions to serve our clients’ business goals. In keeping with the firm’s focus on recruiting, retaining, and promoting members of groups that are under-represented in the field of intellectual property law, Carlson Caspers’ Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Program provides up to two $5,000 scholarships each academic year to prospective law students who are pursuing or have obtained a degree in chemistry, physics, life sciences, pharmacy, engineering, or computer science and who are interested in practicing intellectual property law in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. The scholarship recipients will also participate in Carlson Casper’s 2017 Summer Program. Applications are due April 1, 2017. Learn more about the Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Program at Carlson Caspers.

Mark Your Calendars: Week of February 20

Connecting with Pre-Law Services–Join us for even more internship, scholarship, and event opportunities!
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Pre-Law Upcoming Events

Monday February 27th – Negotiating Scholarships Workshop with University of Illinois College of Law Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid Rebecca Ray

The hard part of applying to law school is over, and now you’re starting to receive acceptances and financial aid offers. So…what happens next? Now is the time to assess aid offers and discuss options for additional scholarships with your law schools. How can applicants have a respectful yet productive conversation that potentially results in more scholarship dollars being awarded? Join us as we examine exactly how to go about negotiating law school scholarships with the expertise of Dean Rebecca Ray, the Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid at the University of Illinois College of Law. This session is a must-see for anyone applying to law school, and the information applies whether U of I or another law school is your goal. For more information, click here.

Scholarship and Grant Opportunities

Carlton Caspers Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship—Carlson Caspers, a Minneapolis-based IP law firm, fosters a culture that welcomes and embraces differences in people and perspectives. Our commitment to inclusion is the foundation for a vibrant work environment and unparalleled client service that comes from varied perspectives in developing strategies and solutions to serve our clients’ business goals. In keeping with the firm’s focus on recruiting, retaining, and promoting members of groups that are under-represented in the field of intellectual property law, Carlson Caspers’ Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Program provides up to two $5,000 scholarships each academic year to prospective law students who are pursuing or have obtained a degree in chemistry, physics, life sciences, pharmacy, engineering, or computer science and who are interested in practicing intellectual property law in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. The scholarship recipients will also participate in Carlson Casper’s 2017 Summer Program. Applications are due April 1, 2017. Learn more about the Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Program at Carlson Caspers.

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 2017 and submit an application, personal statement, and statement of financial need by March 2. Find the application and more details here.

The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) is now accepting applications for the Research Support Grant (RSG). This grant provides students from all disciplines with the funds necessary to conduct research or creative projects during the academic year both on and off campus (including summer terms). Awards will be up to $2,000 and are meant to cover research travel costs, living expenses incurred during academic breaks (i.e., winter break and summer terms, NOT regular semester living expenses), and materials or other ancillary costs. We hope that this competition will both broaden and deepen the types of research being conducted by undergraduate students on campus, and that the recipients are able to use this opportunity as a way of engaging with their fields. For details and eligibility requirements please visit: http://go.illinois.edu/OUR_RSG. Deadline for applications will be Wednesday, March 1, at 11:59 p.m. Questions may be addressed to ugresearch@illinois.edu

Upcoming Campus Opportunities and Events for Pre-Law Students

The University of Illinois College of Law hosts many speakers and events that are free and open to the public! Check out their upcoming speakers and events here.

New Sociology Minor of Criminology, Law, and Society!
The Department of Sociology is very excited to announced that coming this Fall they are launching a Minor in Criminology, Law, and Society. Interested students should attend one of these info sessions, all held in Room 3057 Lincoln Hall on the following dates:

Thursday February 23 at 3:30PM
Wednesday March 1 at 5:00PM
Thursday March 9 at 5:00PM.

Career Center Opportunities

Excellent Workshop for Students Considering Taking a Gap Year – The Career Center is hosting a workshop about Finding & Applying to Federal Government Jobs today, February 20th, from 4:00PM – 5:00PM in the Career Center Conference Room 143. This workshop will give you tips on how to make yourself competitive for federal government opportunities as well as discuss the benefits of working for the government, how to find the right agency fit, and how to best navigate USAJOBS.gov and other government resources. This is a great opportunity for students planning on taking a gap year or two! For more information, click here.

Here are some additional programs the Career Center is hosting. Visit their website here for additional details.

Creating Your Powerful Resume, Feb. 21, 5-6 pm & Feb. 23, 4-5 pm
Making Your Major Decision, Feb. 22, 4-5 pm
Global Career Opportunity: Careers in Japan, Feb. 22, 4-6 pm

Internship Opportunities

Students Pushing INnovation (SPIN) Internship Program–The National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) needs talented, creative Illinois undergraduate students to participate in hands-on research and development projects in areas including supercomputing, data analytics, visualization, and more. NCSA’s SPIN (Students Pushing Innovation) program offers paid internships to Illinois students who can contribute to challenging projects with support from members of NCSA’s expert staff who act as mentors. Explore their website here.

New summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA)

Incubating a New Community of Leaders Using Software, Inclusion, Innovation, Interdisciplinary and OpeN-Science (INCLUSION) is seeking students to apply for 10-week paid summer software-in-research training program. Successful applicants will work full-time on one of socially-impactful INCLUSION research projects that develop and use open source software. Applications must be submitted by March 13, 2017 for full consideration. REU-INCLUSION program information and online application form are available on the REU-INCLUSION website at: http://reu.ncsa.illinois.edu. Priority is given to minority undergraduate students applying from outside of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Summer Pre-Law Programs

Summer Pre-Law Programs

Summer pre-law programs are an excellent opportunity for undergrads to learn more about law school! Some are paid and other programs have fees and a cost for students to attend. These programs are a different way to explore being pre-law during the summer months. These programs are a great addition to a resume, but are in no way mandatory for a pre-law student.

Some universities offer pre-law programs on their campuses. This is a way for you to learn more about law school, visit a law school and campus, and learn more about law school in a structured setting. If you are considering attending law school at any of the schools below, these summer pre-law programs are an excellent way to get your foot in the door and experience what your life could be like there throughout law school.

Here is information about three pre-law summer programs; there are many other programs in addition to these three. The lengths of the programs vary from school to school. The program at Chicago-Kent takes place over a few weeks in June, Penn State’s program takes place over one weekend in May, and Saint Louis University’s program runs for a few weeks in June.

IIT Chicago-Kent

Program: Pre-Law Undergraduate Scholars (PLUS) Program

Dates: Sunday, June 4, to Friday, June 23, 2017

Cost: Free

Location: Chicago, IL

Application Deadline: March 1, 2017

Program Information: The PLUS program is a free, three-week summer program that will: provide participants with a deeper understanding of legal education via the program’s rigorous doctrinal and experiential skills-based curriculum; help participants develop essential core competencies needed to succeed in the law school application and admissions process, as well as insight into navigating the process; and expose students to a wide range of career paths within the legal profession.

Students must attend all classes and participate in all program activities in order to be accepted and to receive a stipend. This is a full-time commitment. Therefore, students must be available during the day and some evenings, and have no outside commitments that would prevent them from giving the program their full attention. Students must agree to provide PLUS administrators with education and career updates after completion of the program.

Website: https://www.kentlaw.iit.edu/academics/pre-law-undergraduate-scholars-program

Penn State

Program: Explore Law

Dates: May 15 – 17, 2017

Cost: Free

Location: University Park, PA

Application Deadline: April 1, 2017

Program Information: Explore Law, a tuition-free, residency program held at Penn State Law in University Park, Pa., available to any undergraduate student–regardless of location, major, or residence–who is interested in learning more about law school. Explore Law will give you the opportunity to learn about multiple fields of law and myriad law careers from law professors, judges, and practicing attorneys. The program will help prepare you with detailed information on the admissions process, how to write an excellent personal statement on your law school application, and how to finance your degree. Explore Law is designed exclusively to mentor and build relationships with all students who may be interested in studying law.

Website: https://pennstatelaw.psu.edu/admissions/explore-law

Saint Louis University

Program: DiscoverLaw.org Pre-Law Undergraduate Scholars (PLUS) Program

Dates: Sunday, June 4, 2017 to Saturday, July 1, 2017

Cost: Free

Location: Saint Louis, MO

Application Deadline: March 31, 2017

Program Information: The DiscoverLaw.org Pre-Law Undergraduate Scholars (PLUS) Program is held at Saint Louis University School of Law is aimed to recognize and reward students for their demonstrated interest in community service and social justice and provide them the best opportunity to successfully enter the legal profession. This four-week summer immersion program will: Introduce students to the essential skills and competencies of a law student and legal professional; assist them in gaining a broader appreciation for the practice of law and how to navigate a path to law school; inspire them by demonstrating how lawyers can use their skills and training to serve their community and bring about social change

Website: http://law.slu.edu/admissions/plus-program

Discoverlaw.org offers similar programs at the University of Maine, University of Texas, and University of Wisconsin. For more information: http://www.discoverlaw.org/diversity/plus.asp

To reiterate, these programs are completely optional. They provide another way to gain exposure to law schools and learn more about those schools. Most of these programs are encouraged for freshman and sophomores, but some programs are open to juniors and seniors, too. Summer break is a great time to expand your resume. Also, consider other opportunities like an internship, taking a summer class, studying for the LSAT, or working on your applications!

Check out our Compass page for more information in the “Summer Pre-Law Programs” folder.

Mark Your Calendars – Week of February 13th

We have updated our Spring Semester calendar of events! Upcoming PLAS programs include the Negotiating Scholarships Workshop, featuring Rebecca Ray, Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid, at the UIUC College of Law, on Monday, February 27 at 5pm!

Scholarship and Grant Opportunities

The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) is now accepting applications for the Research Support Grant (RSG). This grant provides students from all disciplines with the funds necessary to conduct research or creative projects during the academic year both on and off campus (including summer terms). Awards will be up to $2,000 and are meant to cover research travel costs, living expenses incurred during academic breaks (i.e., winter break and summer terms, NOT regular semester living expenses), and materials or other ancillary costs. We hope that this competition will both broaden and deepen the types of research being conducted by undergraduate students on campus, and that the recipients are able to use this opportunity as a way of engaging with their fields. For details and eligibility requirements please visit: http://go.illinois.edu/OUR_RSG. Deadline for applications will be Wednesday, March 1, at 11:59 p.m. Questions may be addressed to ugresearch@illinois.edu

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.) The newsletter has lots of job and internship listings for spring, summer and long-term opportunities from Champaign to D.C. and beyond. In addition, you should regularly check iLink to see if summer internships have been posted there.

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 2017 and submit an application, personal statement, and statement of financial need by March 2. Find the application and more details here.

Upcoming Campus Opportunities and Events for Pre-Law Students

Monday February 27th – Negotiating Scholarships Workshop with UIUC College of Law Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid Rebecca Ray

For more information, click here.

Career Center Opportunities:

Excellent Workshop for Students Considering Taking a Gap Year – The Career Center is hosting a workshop about Finding & Applying to Federal Government Jobs next Monday February 20th from 4:00PM – 5:00PM in the Career Center Conference Room 143. This workshop will give you tips on how to make yourself competitive for federal government opportunities as well as discuss the benefits of working for the government, how to find the right agency fit, and how to best navigate USAJOBS.gov and other government resources. This is a great opportunity for students planning on taking a gap year or two!

For more information, click here.

The Career Center is also hosting a Finding an Internship workshop, TODAY February 13th from 5:00PM – 6:00PM in the Career Center Conference Room 143. Learn how to search for internships and other opportunities by using different search engines including I-Link, Illinois’ campus-wide recruiting platform.

The Career Center is hosting a Creating Your Powerful Resume workshop Wednesday February 15th from 4:00PM – 5:00PM in the Career Center Conference Room 143. Upon completion of this workshop, you will be able to draft an effective resume that describes your qualifications, skills, and experience. A great resume is an advantage in the law school application process.

Study Abroad- Approaching Deadlines!

Many of the Summer/Fall study abroad applications are due Wednesday, February 15th. Some programs have different/extended deadlines. The Summer SOCW Greece faculty-lead program deadline is February 12th. Additionally, the Rome Summer program has a March 15th deadline and the Rome Fall program has an April 15th deadline. If students have questions about their application, send them to 112 International Studies Building during walk-in advising hours from 12PM-4PM, Monday through Friday.

New Sociology Minor of Criminology, Law, and Society!

The Department of Sociology is very excited to announced that coming this Fall they are launching a Minor in Criminology, Law, and Society.

All info sessions held in Room 3057 Lincoln Hall on the following dates:

Thursday February 23 at 3:30PM

Wednesday March 1 at 5:00PM

Thursday March 9 at 5:00PM.

New summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA)

Upcoming Law School Events

THIS WEEKEND–OPEN TO ALL PRE-LAW STUDENTS

Indiana University Maurer School of Law Diversity Law Day is Saturday, February 18. You’ll learn about what lawyers do, experience a mock class, meet current law students, and tour the school. For more details and to register visit their website. http://www.law.indiana.edu/what/professional-careers/jd-degree/diversity-day/

The Wisconsin Statewide Pre-Law Diversity Day is set for Friday, February 17, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the University of Wisconsin Law School in Madison. This event is open to all students. For more information and to register, visit their website here. Cosponsored by the University of Wisconsin Law School and Marquette University 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. Click here for a list of law schools that are registered for this year’s event.

Join OIIR every weekday for a noontime discussion, and learn something new. Featuring speakers, panels, and resources at the University of Illinois, all lunches introduce you to the cultures, histories, and societal issues that the diverse communities of our campus face. Programs take place from noon to 1 pm. Lunches are paid for in part by the Student Cultural Programming Fee. For their spring schedule, click here.

OIIR is also hosting a Diversity and Leadership Summit this Sunday February 19th. The Summit will be held in the SDRP Multipurpose Rooms. Join students from across campus and our guest facilitators for this leadership-altering workshop. This training will help participants:

Build Connections
Develop New Skills
Cultivate Passion
Create Social Change
Explore Identity
Lead Consciously

This training is free to Illinois students. Lunch and snacks are included. Register @ http://leadership.illinois.edu. (Click on the Login button and select Diversity & Leadership Summit in the Workshops link). For more information contact SJLEOA@housing.illinois.edu.

Admissions Cycle Roundup — February Checklist Items

February is here! Sadly, per the famous groundhog Punxsutawney Phil, we still have to endure several more weeks of winter. Now is a good time for those of you in the midst of the application cycle to think about a few things.

Admitted Student Days Many of you have been admitted to several law schools and are in the process of deciding where you will go next year. Most law schools offer “Admitted Students” days or weekends. We encourage you to try to attend these events for the law schools where you are still considering attending. Remember: you will be spending the next three years of your life there. It is important to determine if the school is a good fit, both in terms of your classmates and the school’s location BEFORE you accept an admissions offer. There is no substitute for a campus visit.
Declining Admissions Offers Those of you who have already accepted an admissions offer should notify the other law schools to which you applied that you will not be attending their law school. This allows those schools to plan and to offer admission to another applicant so is the right thing to do.
Financial Aid and Housing Once you have accepted an admissions offer, you should touch base with the Financial Aid office to make sure that you have submitted all of the necessary paperwork to secure your scholarship/financial aid package. In addition, it is a good idea to reach out to the admissions office to find out the best way to begin researching your housing options. Some law schools actually maintain lists of housing options with reviews by law students.
Negotiating Scholarships If you are still deciding among multiple law school admissions offers and wondering how to negotiate additional scholarship funds, plan on attending our Negotiating Scholarships Workshop, Monday, February 27, 5pm, Room 514 IUB, featuring Rebecca Ray, Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid, UIUC College of Law.

Mark Your Calendars — Week of February 6

Pre-Law Advising Services Workshops and Programs

We have updated our Spring Semester calendar of events! Upcoming PLAS programs include the FREE Practice LSAT on Friday, February 24, and the Negotiating Scholarships Workshop, featuring Rebecca Ray, Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid, at the UIUC College of Law, on Monday, February 27 at 5pm! For more information and to register for the practice LSAT, go to our website here.

Upcoming Campus Events

Pre-Law Honors Society is taking applications for new members with a minimum 3.3 GPA and sophomore status. Applications are due THIS FRIDAY, Feb. 10 at 5:00pm. Click here for the application: PLHS Application Spring

The Office of Inclusion & Intercultural Relations has posted its spring events! Check them out here.

The Career Center has posted its spring workshop calendar on their website at: https://www.careercenter.illinois.edu/events. Now is a great time to update your resume, plan your job search or summer internship, and get to know their office and resources. This Friday, February 10, the Career Center is hosting a “Pizza & Professionals” lunch (with free pizza) on internships at Research Park. Scroll down for information about that and other upcoming workshops.

Resume, Cover Letter and Linked In Reviews — Feb. 6, 2-4:30 pm Career Center; 7-9 pm Undergrad Library, Consultation Corner. There are multiple other dates and times for this workshop. Go here to see more options.
Career Fairs: Maximizing Your Experience — Feb. 6, 4-5 pm Career Center Room 143
Creating Your Powerful Resume — Feb. 6, 5-6 pm Career Center Room 143
Career Services Paraprofessional Info Session — Feb 7, 5-6 pm Career Center Room 143; Feb 8, 6-7pm Native American House
Finding An Internship — Feb. 8, 5-6pm, Career Center Room 143
Creating Your Powerful Cover Letter — Feb. 9, 5-6 pm Career Center Room 143
Linked In and Job Search Resources for International Students — Feb 9, 5-6:30pm, The Interview Suite, 616 East Green Street, Room 213
Pizza & Professionals Lunch Series: Internships at Research Park, Feb 10, 12-1pm, The Interview Suite, 616 East Green Street, Room 213
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for International Students — Feb 10, 3-4pm, The Interview Suite, 616 East Green Street, Room 213
Optional Practical Training (OPT) for International Students — Feb 10, 4-5pm, The Interview Suite, 616 East Green Street, Room 213

Internship and Scholarship Opportunities

Student Affairs internships are now available! Many internships are available at various sites on campus including: Asian American Cultural Center, Campus Recreation, Illinois Leadership Center, Office of Volunteer Programs, and Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. Explore these internship opportunities on their website here.

PAID internship opportunity in Chicago – The deadline to apply is TODAY Monday February 6th! The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois has paid internship opportunities for students in the court areas of Judicial Services, Operation Services, Administrative Services, and the Computer Systems Department. For more information and to apply, go here.

The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) is now accepting applications for the Research Support Grant (RSG). This grant provides students from all disciplines with the funds necessary to conduct research or creative projects during the academic year both on and off campus (including summer terms). Awards will be up to $2,000 and are meant to cover research travel costs, living expenses incurred during academic breaks (i.e., winter break and summer terms, NOT regular semester living expenses), and materials or other ancillary costs. We hope that this competition will both broaden and deepen the types of research being conducted by undergraduate students on campus, and that the recipients are able to use this opportunity as a way of engaging with their fields. For details and eligibility requirements please visit: http://go.illinois.edu/OUR_RSG. Deadline for applications will be Wednesday, March 1, at 11:59 p.m. Questions may be addressed to ugresearch@illinois.edu

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, you should regularly check iLink to see if summer internships have been posted there.

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 2017 and submit an application, personal statement, and statement of financial need by March 2. Find the application and more details here.

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

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. Click here for a list of law schools that are registered for this year’s event.

LSAC Fee Waivers–Apply now!

Many pre-law students are beginning to think about the Law School Admission Tests coming up in June and September. Did you know that you can receive an LSAC fee waiver that will cover the cost of the Law School Admission Test? This blog post will share what it is, why it is important, and how to get it.

What is the LSAC fee waiver?

The Law School Admission Council oversees both the LSAT and the law school application process. Applicants can apply for a fee waiver which, if granted, will waive any fees for:

Two LSAT exams (valued at $180 each)
Credential Assembly Service (required for applying to law schools; valued at $175)
Four Law School Reports (which are required for applying to law schools; valued at $120); and
One copy of the Official LSAT SuperPrep book (valued at $22.75).

Why is it important?

The LSAC fee waiver is even more valuable than the amounts listed above. Why? Many law schools will waive their application fees (generally $75-100 per school) for applicants who have received an LSAC waiver. Some LSAT prep companies will also offer scholarships to students with an LSAC waiver.

How can you apply?

The application process is entirely online. The LSAC advises applicants to apply at least six weeks prior to the registration deadline of the LSAT you wish to take. For this June’s LSAT, the registration deadline is April 26, and six weeks before that is March 15, which is the application deadline for a June LSAT waiver. But why wait? Getting your application materials in early will help ensure that you get the waiver in time and it will help you get your preferred June LSAT site. The UIUC June LSAT will typically fill around spring break, so you’ll want to register ASAP if this test site is your preferred location.

You will need tax documents, so make sure you collect those.

The entire application process is explained here: http://www.lsac.org/jd/lsat/fee-waivers and you can find a helpful checklist here: http://www.lsac.org/docs/default-source/jd-docs/usfeewaiverchecklist.pdf.