Month: January 2018

LSAT Fee Waivers and How to Get Them

Pre-law students and alumni are starting to think about the Law School Admission Tests coming up in June and September. Note: We expect the June LSAT to fill early, based on the increased number of LSAT takers in 2017. 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–as well as why you need to apply for it NOW if you plan to take the June exam.

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 exam registrations (valued at $180 each)
  • Credential Assembly Service (required for applying to law schools; valued at $185)
  • Four Law School Reports (one required for each law school application; valued at $140); and
  • One copy of the Official LSAT SuperPrep book (valued at $16.25).

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 May 1, and six weeks before that is March 20–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 typically fills around spring break–but we expect it to fill even earlier this year given the increase in LSAT takers–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.

 

Still making summer plans? Here’s what to do now!

What if you’re still searching for summer opportunities? You can still study abroad, get an internship/job, take the LSAT, do a pre-law summer program, participate in Illinois in Washington, or study abroad–if you get organized and apply quickly.

You may recall that we posted about looking for summer internships way back in August in this blog post. It may seem crazy to apply so early, but many jobs and internships require months of lead time. Here are some great resources and next steps to take if you are still looking for summer opportunities.

Illinois in Washington–summer applications are due Feb. 1, and you’ll need a resume review and 2 recommendations, so this deadline is pressing. Explore their website and find application details here.

Summer (or fall) study abroad— February 15 is the application deadline for most Summer 2018, Fall 2018, and Academic Year 2018-19 programs. Check out Study Abroad’s First Steps info here to begin identifying programs and applying for summer opportunities.

Taking the June LSAT? Registration is open here! Register early to get your preferred test site. This one will fill! Now is also the time to register for an LSAC fee waiver. See this week’s other blog post for more fee waiver info.

Summer pre-law programs–many application deadlines are in March and April. We posted about these in our internship newsletter and also in recent blog posts like this one.

Did you know that you can get a scholarship for working at an unpaid internship this summer? Apply for the Fred S. Bailey scholarship here, which provides a $1000 stipend for part-time internships and a $2500 stipend for full-time summer internships. Applications due April 12, so you still have time to find an internship before applying.

How to find Summer 2018 jobs and internships

  1. Explore our Internship Newsletter (over on our Compass page) which we posted over winter break–many of those deadlines are coming up in February and March!
  2. Subscribe to internship websites. You can set them to email you a weekly digest, or just email you when the kinds of internships that you designate become available. Some suggested sites are listed below.
  3. Use Handshake. The Career Center switched from I-Link to Handshake last summer. Click on the link below, log in, set up your profile, explore, and set it to contact you when internships you qualify for become available. Check back regularly.
  4. Attend Career Fairs. Did you know that most campus career fairs, like the Business Career Fair and the ACES Career Fair, are open to all students? And, many of those employers will have both job and internships available. Mark your calendars for the upcoming Business Career Fair and the Just-In-Time All Illini Career Fair this spring. You can find a list of all campus career fairs on Handshake (link below). Check out the Career Center’s workshops on preparing for the fairs.
  5. Create or perfect your resume. The Career Center has numerous opportunities to have your resume reviewed–or attend a resume basics workshop–every week. Click here to see their events. You’ll need a resume for the rest of your life, so the sooner you start building these skills, the better! Aim to have a good quality resume ASAP to avoid delay applying for the opportunities you find.
  6. Calendar it. NOW–right now–go to your Gcal, ical, or good old fashioned planner, and schedule a few hours each weekend for Internships.(Use this time to check internship listings and prepare your applications.) When you find an internship listing, add that due date to your Gcal/ical/planner too. Finding and applying for internships and jobs is not done in an afternoon–it really helps to be organized and persistent.

What internship websites should you use? Here are the Top 5 Internship Sites that we have found to be helpful.

Handshake–Here is where companies post their opportunities for Illinois students. You can also find out about upcoming company info sessions and career/internship fairs.

Internships.com–Continuously updated nationwide internship listings

Idealist.com–Nonprofit internship offerings

Fastweb–Extensive internship listings (click on “Career Planning”)

USAJobs.gov–for federal government jobs and internships. Tip: The website gogovernment.org has a nice overview explaining how to get started and what to look for.

Mark Your Calendars–Week of January 29

Join us at the 2018 LSAT Prep Fair on Feb. 6 from 4-6 pm in Illini Union Rooms B &C to:

  • learn about what’s on the LSAT and how to prepare for it
  • explore LSAT prep options
  • demo sections of the LSAT through mini-workshops
  • get discounts, win a scholarship or other raffle prize!

For the LSAT Prep Fair workshop schedule and other details visit our website here!

Practice LSAT–Friday, Feb. 16, 8:30 am to 12:00 pm. We only have a few seats left, so register soon. This practice LSAT opportunity features an actual, previously administered LSAT in a realistic, timed testing environment. Seating is limited. Test details and location will be emailed to registrants before the exam.  Go here to register. 

Looking for a June LSAT study group? Pre-Law Services will match you with a study partner or group! Click here to complete the form by Feb. 1 to be matched:

Financing Your Legal Education Webinar: Feb. 15 at 6:00 pm. Law school is an important investment. Making informed decisions about how to finance that investment is crucial. This session, provided by Access Lex,  will help you to understand the costs of pursuing legal education and the financial aid application process. We’ll also review the available financing options and identify ways for you to be financially prepared to achieve your educational goals. To register for this free workshop visit http://bit.ly/2ESeyuu

Applications for Chicago-Kent’s Honors Scholars program are due Feb. 12 for current applicants. Honors Scholars receive full tuition scholarships for 3 years. Candidates must have a GPA of at least 3.5 and LSAT score of 160. Visit their website for more details and to apply.

Indiana University McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis is now accepting applications on a rolling basis for its new Pathway to the Law program, featuring online for-credit courses, LSAT assistance, a $2000 scholarship, mentoring, and more for selected applicants. Click here for more details.

SUMMER PLANS–Still looking for opportunities? Check these out.

Career Fairs. Mark your calendars for spring career fairs, which are open to all Illinois students and present both job and internship opportunities. Find these and other fair opportunities in Handshake.

Summer PLUS programs. We posted a spreadsheet full of pre-law undergraduate summer programs over on our Compass page! For example:

June LSAT Registration–Planning to take the June LSAT? Registration is now open here! We recommend registering early because this one typically fills early AND LSAT takers were up nearly 30% last year! Now is also a good time to apply for a fee waiver. For more on LSAC fee waivers revisit this blog post.

Did you know that you can get a scholarship for working at an unpaid internship this summer? Apply for the Fred S. Bailey scholarship here, which provides a $1000 stipend for part-time internships and a $2500 stipend for full-time summer internships. Applications due April 12.

Career Center Resources
Need to draft or improve your resume? Want to learn interview skills or tips on job/internship searching? Use the Career Center’s resources; find their workshop and resource information on their website here!

Upcoming Law School Opportunities–open to pre-law students!

Indiana University Maurer School of Law (Bloomington) is hosting a Diversity Law Day on Saturday, Feb. 17. This free event includes a mock class, lunch, tours of the law school, and sessions about critical thinking and what lawyers do. Visit their website here for more details and to register.

The Wisconsin Statewide Pre-Law Diversity Day will be Friday, Feb. 23 at Marquette University Law School in Milwaukee. This free event features sessions with the deans of both Marquette and University of Wisconsin law schools, a law school admissions update, mock law school class, tours, lunch, and a mini law school fair. For more details and to register visit their website here.

Free Speech After Charlottesville–February 16 from 12-1 pm at the University of Illinois College of Law Rowe Auditorium. Speaker Teresa Sullivan will discuss the August 2017 events that involved clashes between white supremacists and counter-protestors on the grounds of UVA and in Charlottesville. She will discuss how these events have shaped the debate about free speech, led to discussions about the proper dividing line between free speech and hate speech, and changed the way that universities prepare for public assemblies that can lead to violent clashes between opposing groups. Free and open to the public–lunch will be provided to the first 200 participants. Find more details here.

LSAT Prep Fair 2018

When is the LSAT Prep Fair?

On Tuesday February 6, 2018, Pre-Law Advising Services will be hosting our annual LSAT Prep Fair. The event will be in the Illini Union Bookstore Building, Room 514 and will run from 4PM to 6PM. This is a great event that is only offered once a year! The event is open to the public.

What companies will be there?

Currently, we have four companies that will be attending the LSAT Prep Fair.*

Next Step Test Prep

Test Masters

Princeton Review

Kaplan

Who should attend?

Freshmen and Sophomores: Find out what’s on the LSAT and how to prepare for it! Join us for mini-workshops by experts about LSAT content. Have some snacks and talk to different LSAT prep companies about how you can plan ahead to maximize your LSAT performance!

Juniors, Seniors, and Alumni: Learn about the LSAT and figure out which LSAT prep option is best for you! Online? Classroom? One-on-one tutoring? Do you want to take a three month class? Six months? One weekend? Talk to different LSAT prep companies about their most effective class formats for you. All participants will receive LSAT prep class discounts! We will also raffle off some scholarships and other great prizes.

Why should YOU attend the LSAT Prep Fair?

Planning ahead for the LSAT is very important. Prep courses are often expensive and time consuming. You want to make sure you choose a LSAT Prep company and course that is the best fit for you. The LSAT Prep Fair’s attending companies will be providing more information about their courses, practice materials, possible discounts for their courses, and there will be the opportunity to win a free prep course!

 

Taking the June 2018 LSAT? Do you need a study group to hold yourself accountable while you study and meet other students studying, too? Consider signing up for a LSAT study group. Use this link to sign up by Thursday February 1: https://goo.gl/forms/Cq1rIYBU5XtTSiIn1.

 

*Pre-Law Advising Services does not endorse any specific LSAT prep company.

Mark Your Calendars – Week of January 22

There are great events this week for Pre-Law students!

Pre-Law Advising Services Workshops and Programs

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

Pre-Law 101 — Monday, January 29, 4:00pm, 514 IUB

Are you new to pre-law at Illinois? Then this event is a great opportunity for you! 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.

LSAT Preparation Fair — Tuesday, February 6!

The PLAS-sponsored LSAT Preparation Fair is set for Tuesday, February 6, 2018, 4:00-6:00pm, Illini Union Rooms B&C! This event is a chance to learn more about several commercial LSAT test prep companies, participate in informative mini-workshops conducted by the companies and win discounts on test prep materials and scholarships for courses! To find out who is coming and see the workshop schedule, keep checking the PLAS website for updates on the fair.

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

FREE Practice LSAT – Friday February 16

Whether you are taking the real Law School Admission Test in June (or later in 2018) or this is your first-ever baseline test, this is a great opportunity to take the LSAT in a testlike environment with a proctor. This practice opportunity features an actual, previously administered LSAT in a realistic, timed testing environment.

Seating is limited. Test details and location will be emailed to registrants before the exam. Please register by clicking this link.

Taking the June 2018 LSAT? Consider joining a LSAT Study Group. Use this link to sign up: https://goo.gl/forms/Cq1rIYBU5XtTSiIn1. Sign-ups close on Thursday February 1.

Upcoming Campus Events

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

Career Center Opportunities Fair – Tuesday, January 23, 5-6:30pm

Learn about job and internship opportunities on campus! Visit with campus units that are hiring students. Learn about services and work opportunities at The Career Center. Enhance your Illinois experience and build your resume. This event will include games, prizes and a chance to win a FREE Amazon Fire tablet!

For information about other events and workshops at The Career Center, check out their spring calendar 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 week at the Career Center: Paraprofessional Recruitment Info Session – Wednesday January 24 from 4PM – 5PM

The Career Center is currently recruiting enthusiastic, talented, and diverse undergraduate students to apply for our Career Services Paraprofessional (CSP) role for the 2018-2019 academic school year. The CSPs facilitate career-related workshops, resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile reviews, and promote The Career Center at events across campus. For more information, click here.

Illinois Leadership Center will host several upcoming I-Programs. For more information and to register, visit their website here.

  • Intersect: Saturday, January 20
  • Integrity: Saturday, January 27
  • Inclusion: Saturday, February 3

The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) is now accepting submissions for the 2018 Undergraduate Research Symposium (URS), set for Thursday, April 19.

Deadline for submitting an application to the URS is Friday, February 16, 2018, at 11:59 pm. The application can be found here. 

The URS is the signature event of Undergraduate Research Week (April 15-21), and brings together students, faculty, and staff from all disciplines on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus, as well as corporate partners and sponsors, to learn more about undergraduate research and its potential to change the world. Students are encouraged to apply even if titles or abstracts have not yet been finalized – they can be edited.  Just make sure the application is successfully submitted by February 16!

For more information on Undergraduate Research Week, the URS, and OUR programs, please visit our website at: http://undergradresearch.illinois.edu/

Questions may be addressed to ugresearch@illinois.edu; please put “URS Application” in the subject line.

The Office of Undergraduate Research announces its Spring 2018 calendar for the Getting Started in Research Workshop!

PLEASE NOTE – These workshops fill up quickly, so if you are interested, sign up now!

During the workshop, we will discuss the various forms of undergraduate research that take place on campus, guide students to develop a plan of action to locate research opportunities on campus, and discuss ways to contact faculty research mentors. Students will leave the workshop with (1) a better understanding of undergraduate research and how it takes place on our campus, (2) increased confidence to contact faculty research mentors, and (3) a list of faculty mentors to contact. For more information and to register, go here.

The first two workshops will be held next week:

Getting Started in Research Workshop, January 22, 2018
Date/Time: Monday January 22, 2018 from 3:00 – 4:30pm
Location: Lincoln Hall, Room 1027
Registration is available at:  https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/9867056

Getting Started in Research Workshop, January 24, 2018
Date/Time: Wednesday January 24, 2018 from 3:00 – 4:30pm
Location: Noyes Laboratory of Chemistry, Room 165
Registration is available at:  https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/161280

Study Abroad Open Houses – January 25 and February 9

The first open house is Thursday, January 25 from 3:30PM-5:30PM and the second open house is Friday, February 9 from 11:30AM-1:30PM.  There will be a mini fair, resource tables, speed advising, and free coffee! Additionally, IAGE is putting on a “Funding Your Study Abroad Experience” workshop on Wednesday, January 31 from 4PM-5PM in Lincoln Hall 1090 with representatives from Illinois International Programs and the Office of Student Financial Aid.

Illini Media Spring 2018 Recruitment Event – Monday January 22 from 7PM – 9PM

Interested in working in marketing or sales? Want to work for the Daily Illini newspaper or WPGU radio? Illini Media is hosting a recruiting event today from 7PM to 9PM in Gregory Hall, Room 112. Click here for more details.

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, you should regularly check Handshake via the Career Center’s website to see if summer internships have been posted there.

Undergrad PAID Internship at UIUC in Environmental Humanities for 2018-2019        Applications due March 1, 2018!

Environmental Humanities is environmental studies from a humanistic standpoint. Envrionmental Humanities pulls from different movements (environmental philosophy, environmental history, ecocriticism, cultural geography, anthropology, and others) to study the relationship between humans and non-human nature, past and present. The IPRH-Mellon Environmental Humanities Research Group is composed of professors, post-doctoral scholars, graduate students, and undergraduates from different disciplines who are united by their desire to understand the human place in nature, as well as to examine critically the way people make meaning of it.

The research group seeks three undergraduate interns who will work with the group on their seminars, workshops, and programs for the academic year 2018-2019. Interns will also work with the research group director, Professor Bob Morrissey, to develop their own research projects as well as a research symposium for undergraduates at the end of the spring semester.

Interns will work approximately 10-11 hours per week, paid at the rate of $15.75 per hours, and will have $600 to support their research. Applicants must be juniors or seniors the year of the internship. For more information and to apply, go here.  Remember: The application deadline is March 1! Please address questions to: Dr. Nancy Castro, at ncastro@illinois.edu.

Paid Summer Internship at the Nuclear Energy Institute in Washington, D.C. Application Deadline is January 31!

The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) in Washington, D.C., has a number of openings for paid interns beginning in the summer of 2018. 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 one of the following areas: technical, communications, policy development, government relations, legal, and member relations and corporate services on issues critical to the industry. Internships are 10 weeks and take place during the summer. Interns will be paid $15.00 an hour.

All applicants must submit an application that includes the NEI Internship Application, a resume, and a copy of their transcript to resumes@nei.org. If requested, applicants must also participate in an interview either by phone or in person.

Applications are being accepted for review between December 15, 2017 and January 31, 2018. Applications submitted beyond January 31, 2018 may be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis thereafter. Click on this link for more information. https://www.nei.org/About-NEI/Employment-at-NEI/Internships.  If you have additional questions about NEI’s Internship Program, please contact the NEI Human Resources Department at resumes@nei.org.

Legal Internship Opportunity — Holder Law Group, LLP

Holder Law Group, LLP, a young law firm in Champaign-Urbana, is looking for interns who want to be involved in a fast paced, high-tech, multi-area, legal environment. Holder Law Group engages in personal injury, medical malpractice, and civil litigation. Attorneys at Holder Law Group have had experience in both public and private sectors of work, including small and large law firms and are happy to share their knowledge and experience. Interns jobs will vary, and be assigned based on capabilities, but may include medical record organization, filing, abstracting depositions, assisting in trial preparations, Court filings, and attending depositions and Court hearings and legal marketing. Work times are flexible and we are willing to work around your academic schedule. Positions are available for fall, spring, and summer semesters as well as during breaks. Please email resumes and cover letters to Betsy Holder: Betsy@holderlawllp.com  

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 2018 and submit an application, personal statement, and statement of financial need by March 2. Find the application and more details here. 

BARBRI Law Preview $10,000 Scholarship!

BARBRI Law Preview and the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity are offering a $10,000 scholarship to help pay for a student’s first year of law school. For more information, visit their website at https://lawpreview.barbri.com/10000-scholarship/.

Chicago-Kent Honors Scholars Applications Due February 12!

The applications for Chicago-Kent’s Honors Scholars Application are due Monday February 12! Candidates selected as Honors Scholars receive annual law school scholarships of full tuition. These awards have a total value of more than $130,000 over three years. You must complete the online Honors Scholars Program application. You must also complete the fall 2018 Chicago-Kent application for admission through the Law School Admission Council. For more information, visit their website: https://www.kentlaw.iit.edu/admissions/jd-program-admissions/apply-to-chicago-kent/honors-scholars-program.

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

Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law’s Diversity Law Day, February 17, 2018

Diversity Law Day is dedicated to the idea that the legal profession must reflect the expanding diversity of our society.February 17, 2018 at the law school in Bloomington, Indiana.Diversity Law Day is free to attend, but registration is required for planning purposes. To attend, simply complete the registration form at www.law.indiana.edu/diversity-day. Contact Kendra Abercrombie at klabercr@indiana.edu or 812-855-2704 if you have any questions.

The Wisconsin Statewide Pre-Law Diversity Day is set for Friday, February 23, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Marquette University Law School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 University Law Schools;
  • 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 participated in last year’s event.

Law School Open Houses and Admitted Students Days

As we first mentioned in several of our fall blog posts, many law schools host open houses for prospective applicants and all law schools strongly encourage students to visit their campuses.  Note: spring semester is a time when many law schools will host events specifically for admitted students. Make sure you check the law school websites to see what types of events the schools in which you have an interest are offering.   Listed below are upcoming events for three Illinois law schools.

Chicago Kent Law School Open House, Saturday, January 27, 9:00am-2:00pm.  For more information or to register, go here. 

DePaul University College of Law Open House, Saturday, January 20, 10:00am. For more information and to register, go here.

John Marshall Law School Open House, Saturday, January 27, 9:00am-Noon. For more information or to register, go here.

Northern Illinois University College of Law Open House, Saturday, January 27, Noon-4:30pm. For more information or to register, go here.

 

Your Applications Are In — Now What?

You finally submitted the last of your law school applications.  Congratulations!  (For those of you still working on applications, get them in ASAP!) After all of that frenetic activity you aren’t sure what to do next but you understand that you are now in a “wait and see” mode. Fast forward two weeks with no word on your applications.  Should you start calling the admissions offices for a status check?  NO!

First — any follow up contact with law school admissions offices should wait a reasonable time, usually about 4-6 weeks from the date you submitted your application.  The admissions review process is not like texting, folks.  Allow people time to read, reflect and render a thoughtful decision!

Second — the manner of checking in/follow up with admissions offices will be dictated by each individual law school. Check your LSAC CAS account and the law school’s website before doing anything! Did the law school provide a specific time-frame for a decision on your application?  Did they direct applicants to a specific email for application status inquiries?  Is there a phone number to call?  Or, more importantly, have they clearly stated that you should only use your LSAC CAS status/tracking information?  Whatever the case, ignoring directions will not help you in the quest for a successful application cycle.  Read and do what the law schools ask!

Next — when you do hear from the law schools, most of you will have good news in the form of acceptances.   On average, UIUC seniors in the 2015-2016 application cycle received 4 offers of admission. That means you will likely have some choices and therefore some decisions to make.  In addition, part of the admissions process will probably also include offers of scholarships.  Therefore, now is the time for you to reflect on the schools to which you applied and consider how you view the schools and the price that you are willing and able to pay to attend law school. Note — the law schools are not the only source for scholarships.  If you go to our Compass page, you can see a list of over 250 scholarships to help fund your legal education. 

In addition, as part of your research on scholarships, you should attend our “Negotiating Law School Scholarships” panel on Monday, February 26, 5pm, 1090 Lincoln Hall.  Our panelists will be:

  • Amanda Noascono, Assistant Dean and Director of Admissions, DePaul University College of Law
  • Rebecca Ray, Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid at the University of Illinois College of Law
  • Nicole Vilches, Assistant Dean for Admissions, Chicago-Kent College of Law

These deans will be offering suggestions and insights into how applicants can have a respectful yet productive conversation that potentially results in more scholarship dollars being awarded.  This is the ideal way to bolster your research about the next phase of the admissions cycle. So mark your calendars and make this event one of the final aspects of your evaluation process as you try to determine the right law school for you!

 

Mark Your Calendars — Welcome Back Edition — January 12/15, 2018

Welcome back to spring semester! LOTS of excellent opportunities are coming up, including the Illini Union Winter Week of Welcome, campus events honoring MLK Day, paid internships, an internship with a local law firm and scholarships.  Be sure to give this week’s blog a read!

Pre-Law Advising Services Workshops and Programs

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

Pre-Law 101 — Monday, January 29, 4:00pm, 514 IUB

Are you new to pre-law at Illinois? Then this event is a great opportunity for you! 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.

LSAT Preparation Fair — Tuesday, February 6!

The PLAS-sponsored LSAT Preparation Fair is set for Tuesday, February 6, 2018, 4:00-6:00pm, Illini Union Rooms B&C! This event is a chance to learn more about several commercial LSAT test prep companies, participate in informative mini-workshops conducted by the companies and win discounts on test prep materials and scholarships for courses! To find out who is coming and see the workshop schedule, keep checking the PLAS website for updates on the fair.

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

Upcoming Campus Events

UIUC is hosting many events to celebrate the life of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., including the Service of Celebration at Krannert on Sunday, January 14, starting at 5:00pm. Click on the following link to find out more. http://www.diversity.illinois.edu/mlk/calendar.html.

The Illini Union is hosting the Winter Week of Welcome featuring all kinds of fun events this week and next week.  Check out the listing here, and mark your calendars for the RSO Involvement Fair on Wednesday, January 24!

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

Career Center Opportunities Fair – Tuesday, January 23, 5-6:30pm

Learn about job and internship opportunities on campus! Visit with campus units that are hiring students. Learn about services and work opportunities at The Career Center. Enhance your Illinois experience and build your resume. This event will include games, prizes and a chance to win a FREE Amazon Fire tablet!

For information about other events and workshops at The Career Center, check out their spring calendar 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.

Ilinois Leadership Center will host several upcoming I-Programs. For more information and to register, visit their website here.

  • Intersect: Saturday, January 20
  • Integrity: Saturday, January 27
  • Inclusion: Saturday, February 3

Study Abroad – First Steps Info Sessions January 17 and 18!

Not sure how to get started in the study abroad process? Attend a First Steps Info Session to learn what it means to study abroad, how to select a program, components of an application, and how study abroad can advance to your personal and academic goals. The Study Abroad Office will be holding their First Steps Info Session this week on Wednesday, January 17, 10-11am, and Thursday, January 18, 3-4pm.  Both sessions will be held in the International Studies Building, Room 112. Go here for more information.

The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) is now accepting submissions for the 2018 Undergraduate Research Symposium (URS), set for Thursday, April 19.

Deadline for submitting an application to the URS is Friday, February 16, 2018, at 11:59 pm. The application can be found here. 

The URS is the signature event of Undergraduate Research Week (April 15-21), and brings together students, faculty, and staff from all disciplines on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus, as well as corporate partners and sponsors, to learn more about undergraduate research and its potential to change the world. Students are encouraged to apply even if titles or abstracts have not yet been finalized – they can be edited.  Just make sure the application is successfully submitted by February 16!

For more information on Undergraduate Research Week, the URS, and OUR programs, please visit our website at: http://undergradresearch.illinois.edu/

Questions may be addressed to ugresearch@illinois.edu; please put “URS Application” in the subject line.

The Office of Undergraduate Research announces its Spring 2018 calendar for the Getting Started in Research Workshop!

PLEASE NOTE – These workshops fill up quickly, so if you are interested, sign up now!

During the workshop, we will discuss the various forms of undergraduate research that take place on campus, guide students to develop a plan of action to locate research opportunities on campus, and discuss ways to contact faculty research mentors. Students will leave the workshop with (1) a better understanding of undergraduate research and how it takes place on our campus, (2) increased confidence to contact faculty research mentors, and (3) a list of faculty mentors to contact. For more information and to register, go here.

The first two workshops will be held next week:

Getting Started in Research Workshop, January 22, 2018
Date/Time: Monday January 22, 2018 from 3:00 – 4:30pm
Location: Lincoln Hall, Room 1027
Registration is available at:  https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/9867056

Getting Started in Research Workshop, January 24, 2018
Date/Time: Wednesday January 24, 2018 from 3:00 – 4:30pm
Location: Noyes Laboratory of Chemistry, Room 165
Registration is available at:  https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/161280

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, you should regularly check Handshake via the Career Center’s website to see if summer internships have been posted there.

Undergrad PAID Internship at UIUC in Environmental Humanities for 2018-2019        Applications due March 1, 2018!

Environmental Humanities is environmental studies from a humanistic standpoint. Envrionmental Humanities pulls from different movements (environmental philosophy, environmental history, ecocriticism, cultural geography, anthropology, and others) to study the relationship between humans and non-human nature, past and present. The IPRH-Mellon Environmental Humanities Research Group is composed of professors, post-doctoral scholars, graduate students, and undergraduates from different disciplines who are united by their desire to understand the human place in nature, as well as to examine critically the way people make meaning of it.

The research group seeks three undergraduate interns who will work with the group on their seminars, workshops, and programs for the academic year 2018-2019. Interns will also work with the research group director, Professor Bob Morrissey, to develop their own research projects as well as a research symposium for undergraduates at the end of the spring semester.

Interns will work approximately 10-11 hours per week, paid at the rate of $15.75 per hours, and will have $600 to support their research. Applicants must be juniors or seniors the year of the internship. For more information and to apply, go here.  Remember: The application deadline is March 1! Please address questions to: Dr. Nancy Castro, at ncastro@illinois.edu.

Paid Summer Internship at the Nuclear Energy Institute in Washington, D.C. Application Deadline is January 31!

The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) in Washington, D.C., has a number of openings for paid interns beginning in the summer of 2018. 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 one of the following areas: technical, communications, policy development, government relations, legal, and member relations and corporate services on issues critical to the industry. Internships are 10 weeks and take place during the summer. Interns will be paid $15.00 an hour.

All applicants must submit an application that includes the NEI Internship Application, a resume, and a copy of their transcript to resumes@nei.org. If requested, applicants must also participate in an interview either by phone or in person.

Applications are being accepted for review between December 15, 2017 and January 31, 2018. Applications submitted beyond January 31, 2018 may be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis thereafter. Click on this link for more information. https://www.nei.org/About-NEI/Employment-at-NEI/Internships.  If you have additional questions about NEI’s Internship Program, please contact the NEI Human Resources Department at resumes@nei.org.

Legal Internship Opportunity — Holder Law Group, LLP

Holder Law Group, LLP, a young law firm in Champaign-Urbana, is looking for interns who want to be involved in a fast paced, high-tech, multi-area, legal environment. Holder Law Group engages in personal injury, medical malpractice, and civil litigation. Attorneys at Holder Law Group have had experience in both public and private sectors of work, including small and large law firms and are happy to share their knowledge and experience. Interns jobs will vary, and be assigned based on capabilities, but may include medical record organization, filing, abstracting depositions, assisting in trial preparations, Court filings, and attending depositions and Court hearings and legal marketing. Work times are flexible and we are willing to work around your academic schedule. Positions are available for fall, spring, and summer semesters as well as during breaks. Please email resumes and cover letters to Betsy Holder: Betsy@holderlawllp.com  

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 2018 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

The Wisconsin Statewide Pre-Law Diversity Day is set for Friday, February 23, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Marquette University Law School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 University Law Schools;
  • 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 participated in last year’s event.

Law School Open Houses and Admitted Students Days

As we first mentioned in several of our fall blog posts, many law schools host open houses for prospective applicants and all law schools strongly encourage students to visit their campuses.  Note: spring semester is a time when many law schools will host events specifically for admitted students. Make sure you check the law school websites to see what types of events the schools in which you have an interest are offering.   Listed below are upcoming events for three Illinois law schools.

Chicago Kent Law School Open House, Saturday, January 27, 9:00am-2:00pm.  For more information or to register, go here. 

DePaul University College of Law Open House, Saturday, January 20, 10:00am. For more information and to register, go here.

John Marshall Law School Open House, Saturday, January 27, 9:00am-Noon. For more information or to register, go here.

Northern Illinois University College of Law Open House, Saturday, January 27, Noon-4:30pm. For more information or to register, go here.