Personal Statements – Pre-Law Advising Services Blog

What to do over Fall Break

Fall Break is here — now what?

Aside from relaxing, eating, and watching football (and maybe getting ready for finals?!), what else could/should you be doing?

If You Are Taking the November LSAT

Keep studying! As you know, the test is NEXT Monday, November 25.
Review the LSAC’s Test Center Requirements, which can be found here.
Get plenty of rest and try to eat something before you head to the exam.
Once the LSAT is over, take a day or so to recover, then….

If You Are Currently Applying to Law School

If you are done with the LSAT, then finish your applications! If you have everything you need to apply then there is no reason to procrastinate. This is a rolling admissions process — file your applications ASAP!
If you are waiting on Letters of Recommendation, gently remind your recommenders that you want to submit your applications ASAP but cannot do so until LSAC/CAS receives all required letters of recommendation. Ask them when they can complete your recommendation.
If you are taking the January LSAT — keep studying! A strong LSAT score helps both with admissions and scholarships! Set some goals for how many practice LSATs you can take over break and stick to it.
Attend an Open House or schedule a visit with law schools. (If you’re scheduling a visit, make sure the school is open and staffed during Thanksgiving week!) Click here to revisit our November 13 Blog, which lists several law school Open Houses both within and outside of Illinois. Before your visit, check out this piece on how to make a good impression on a law school dean
Check deadlines for Early Decision! While many schools list November 15 as their early decision deadline, several others allow early decision applications until December 1 or even Dec. 15. Not sure about early decision? Click here for a PLAS blog post on the pros and cons of applying early decision.
Complete your FAFSA.
Did you know that you can already apply for scholarships sponsored by non-university sources? Take a look at the scholarship spreadsheet with over 150 options over on our Compass page–these have a variety of due dates and many are due by the end of the calendar year, so now is a great time to apply!

If You Are Not Yet Applying to Law School

Study for finals and write those papers! Your GPA is a very important part of the law school admissions and scholarship process!
LSAT Prep. In general, we advise those planning to apply to law school next fall to take the June or July 2020 LSAT (unless study abroad prevents you from doing so). You should plan to spend approximately 4-6 months studying for the LSAT–so now is the time to prepare for that process. As you plan your schedule for Spring 2020, consider not overloading on courses since the time necessary for effective preparation equates to the time invested in a rigorous 3 credit class. Remember: the LSAT is NOT like the ACT or the SAT. It does not test what you know. Rather, it tests how you think. It is important to determine how you plan to study for the LSAT (on your own, using the FREE Khan Academy Prep, through a commercial prep company, etc.), and decide where you want to take the LSAT. To begin your research, go to the LSAC’s website for info on the LSAT, how to register and select a test site, and how to be successful on the test. Note – PLAS will be holding the “LSAT Boot Camp” on Monday, February 10, 2020, featuring presentations by both the LSAC and Kaplan Commercial Test Prep! Keep checking back for more info as the event gets closer.
Apply for Internships — Have you thought about what you will be doing next summer? Are you looking into internships? Internships can be a great way to build transferrable skills or learn more about the practice of law. Do you need some suggestions on how and where to find an internship? Check out this Internship Plan from our blog. And remember: the PLAS Annual Internship Newsletter will be out and published on Compass on December 9!
Network and conduct informational interviews. A great way to start building your professional network and get to know various legal practice areas is to meet with lawyers! Do you or your parents know any lawyers? Are any of your friends’ parents lawyers? You can also use the alumni association directory to identify Illinois alumni who are lawyers. Ask a lawyer to spend 30 minutes doing an informational interview with you. Don’t be intimidated; this is an opportunity for you to buy him/her coffee and ask about their professional life. Here’s a resource for planning your informational interview.
Complete your FAFSA
Apply for scholarships! We’ve included lots of scholarships for continuing undergraduate students. Take a look at the scholarship spreadsheet with over 150 options over on our Pre-Law Compass page–these have a variety of due dates and many are due by the end of the calendar year, so now is a great time to apply.

Have a great break!

November 18, 2019 – Mark Your Calendars

As Fall Break approaches, the campus schedule of events is winding down. However, there still are some interesting programs and events, on and off campus, before, during and after the break, so scroll down and mark your calendars!

Pre-Law Advising Services

Personal Statement and Resume Workshop – Monday, December 2, 4-5pm, 503 IUB

This workshop will cover:

What the personal statement is (and isn’t)
The role of the statement in the application process
A suggested plan for drafting it
An overview of law school resumes
How to make sure that your resume and personal statement complement each other.

All Illinois students and alumni are welcome, particularly those who will be applying to law school this fall.

Please register by clicking on this link so that we can ensure enough seating and materials.

Career Center

The Career Center will continue to offer Resume, Cover Letter and LinkedIn reviews this week, over break and when you return from break. Go here for the schedule for these sessions.

Harvard Law School Online Info Sessions. Interested in learning some tips about applying to Harvard Law School? HLS has begun offering online information sessions. Some concern the admissions process, others offer insight into campus life, student organizations, and clinical opportunities at HLS. Click here to register for these upcoming sessions, and to see the entire schedule.

1L Year at HLS
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
6:00 – 7:00 PM Eastern

Students of Color at HLS
Thursday, November 21, 2019
6:00 – 7:00 PM Eastern

Living and Learning in Greater Boston
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
6:00 – 7:00 PM Eastern

Law School Open Houses Over Fall Break

University of Chicago Law School – Monday, November 25, 1:30-4:00pm. For more information and to register, go here.
DePaul University College of Law – Saturday, November 23, 10am. For more information and to register, go here.
Loyola University School of Law – Friday, November 22, 11:15am To register, go here and scroll down the page to find the registration for the November 22 information session.

Go here to see the November 13 PLAS Blog post for a detailed list of other law school Open Houses.

September and October LSAT Takers – The LSAT is over! Now what?

So the LSAT is behind you. Congratulations! Now what? Here is a checklist of items you should be working on to get those applications completed and submitted as soon as possible, with a target deadline of Fall Break.

Complete the writing portion of the LSAT. You will not be able to submit your applications until you finish the writing section of the LSAT so hop on that ASAP!
Register for the Credential Assembly Service if you haven’t already. This is the account where your letter of recommendation writers will send your letter–and they can’t write your letter until you set this up. Click here for more information.
Follow up with your recommenders. By now you should have already approached your letter of recommendation writers, but if not, now is the time. Provide a resume and allow at least 6-8 weeks for them to write and upload the letter to your CAS account.
Order your transcript(s) now. Note: You will need to order a transcript from every undergraduate institution where you took courses–even summer courses–so now is a good time to reach out to the registrar of any community colleges or schools from which you transferred. Here is where you order your UIUC transcript. Want more information about the LSAC’s transcript policies? Go here.
Write your personal statement. Not sure where to start? Sign up for our next Personal Statement and Resume Workshop, set for Tuesday, November 5, 4-5pm, Room 514 IUB. If you are unable to attend a workshop, we also provide a quick overview of the personal statement in our PLAS Handbook. Click on the “Applying to Law School” tab. Once there, select the “Personal Statement” tab. We have additional information in the “Applying to Law School” section of our PLAS Compass page. As both of these resources explain, each law school will have its own prompt(s) for the personal statement. While you may discover that many of these personal statement prompts are similar, you need to CAREFULLY REVIEW each prompt for each law school and reply to that prompt. Besides giving you a topic or direction to take, the prompt may also contain information about font size, page limits, etc. You need to open your CAS account and then begin to apply to each law school to see the details in each application. Note: just because you open an application today does NOT mean you have to finish it today. You can begin your law school applications and then go back and work on them at your own pace. The law schools do NOT see anything until you actually submit your application.
Research law schools. The very first thing to consider is: What are your top 3 priorities in a legal education? (Location, employment, affordability, and admissibility are common priorities.) You’ll want to develop a list of 8-10 law schools that meet those priorities. You can find LSAT/GPA data, employment information, tuition, and more by using a resource like the American Bar Association’s Required Disclosure reports. On this website you will find these reports:
1. 509 Required Disclosures = Previous year’s incoming class data such as GPA, LSAT, ethnicity, number of applicants + admits, etc., plus you can find tuition, number and amount of scholarships awarded, and transfer data.
2. Employment Outcomes = Law schools are required to report the employment status of graduates 10 months after graduation. Here you will see how many of the law schools’s most recent grads are employed, and in what sectors.
3. Bar Passage Outcomes = Law schools must report bar passage data about a year out. This report will show which state bar exam this school’s grads take, how many pass, and comparisons to the general state pass rate.

If you have questions and would like to meet with an advisor, go here to schedule an appointment.

New Downloadable Pre-Law Calendar!!

Download the New Pre-Law Calendar!

Staying organized with school work and applying to law school can be a difficult challenge for many students. That is why we have created a Pre-Law Calendar for students to download that will remind you when to work on applying to law school! We have taken the stress off your shoulder and have offered answers to questions such as “when should I start my personal statement?” “when is the next LSAT exam?” and “when should I get my letter of recommendations?” All these answers and more will be available to you on the Pre-law Calendar.

The Pre-Law Calendar is available for ICal, Outlook, and Google Calendar. For students interested in using the google calendar format must follow the additional downloading steps below.

How to Convert ICal to Google Calendar

1. 1. On the left side go to “Other Calendars” and click on the drop down.
  2. Choose “Import calendar“.
  3. Click on “Choose file” and locate the .ics file on your computer. A copy of the .ics file is below. (https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/uiucprelaw%40gmail.com/public/basic.ics)
  4. Click on “Import” and wait for Google to import your events.

Check out some snap shoots of how the calendar works!

Mark Your Calendars – Week of September 16

Pre-Law Advising Services Events

Pre-Law 101 workshops will introduce you to being pre-law at Illinois. Whether you are a new student or just new to pre-law, this is the best starting point for learning what to do to prepare for law school. We’ll answer all your questions about how to maximize your time at Illinois to become a great law school candidate. This workshop is offered several times throughout the semester.

- - Pre-Law 101 (for all students): Sept. 17 at 4:00. Register here.

Personal Statements & Resumes for Law School Applicants–This workshop is for those who are applying to law school in the next year or so (although all are welcome). We will discuss the personal statement and resume, including: what law schools are looking for, how to get started, what to include and exclude, and a sample plan for drafting them. This workshop is also offered several times throughout the semester.

- - Personal Statement & Resume Workshop–Sept. 23 at 4:00. Register here.

Meet us at the Majors & Minors Fair NEXT MONDAY, Sept. 23 from 1:30 to 4:30 pm in the Illini Union Rooms A, B, C.

WHERE is my workshop? If you look at our Events Calendar you will see that many of our event locations have not yet been identified. Due to construction, locations of these events will be announced about a week before the events. Please continue to check our PLAS Events Calendar and our posts on Facebook throughout the semester to make sure you know where your workshop is being held!

Coming soon…

Law School Admissions Expert Panel – Wednesday, October 2, 7:00pm, 1002 Lincoln Hall

This panel features the law school admissions deans from the University of Illinois, Indiana University, St. Louis University and the University of Texas-Austin! Click here for more info!

Law School Fair – Thursday, October 3, 10am-2pm at the Activities and Recreation Center

Close to 100 law schools will be here to answer your questions! Click here for more info including a list of schools scheduled to attend!

Go here to check out other upcoming PLAS Events!

Campus Internships

ATLAS Internships for all LAS majors. ATLAS internships help students in the College of LAS gain hands-on learning with technology and provide real tech experience. No specific GPA or tech experience required. To apply or for more details visit their website here.

David F. Prindable Undergraduate Internship. This paid internship for undergrads in the Humanities (through the Illinois Program for Research in the Humanities) provides the chance to assist with communications strategies, particularly through email and social media. Visit their website here for more details and to apply. Deadline: Sept. 27.

Office of Undergraduate Research

Getting Started in Undergraduate Research workshop–Learn about various forms of undergraduate research on campus and how to get involved. Visit the Office of Undergraduate Research website to register for both upcoming workshop options below.

- - Sept. 18, 3:00-4:30 pm
  - Sept. 19, 3:00-4:30 pm
  - Sept. 20, 3:00-4:30 pm

Career Center https://www.careercenter.illinois.edu/

Handshake–Looking for internships, jobs, career fairs, networking receptions, or other professional opportunities? Handshake is where it’s at! All students, not just seniors, should set up an account and start checking in on a consistent basis to see what opportunities interest you. Set up your account here.

ALL students should utilize the Career Center’s services! They offer a variety of programs to help you identify career paths through workshops, career fairs and individual meetings. Click on the link above to view all of their offerings.

Here are some of their upcoming events:

- - Gies Business Career Fair – Wednesday, September 18 & Thursday, September 19, Activities and Recreation Center (ARC), 2-7pm
  - Career Drop-Ins (no appointment needed!)–Sept. 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20, 11 am-4 pm
  - Are You Career Ready? –Sept. 17, 5-6 pm
  - Global Careers: Peace Corps Informational Session–Sept. 17, 6-7 pm
  - Global Careers: Japan — Sept. 19, 12-1pm, The Career Center Interview Suite, Room 213
  - Global Careers: Canada — Sept. 20, 4-5:30pm, The Career Center Conference Room, 143
  - Resume, Cover Letter, and Linked In Reviews are offered almost every day. Check the website for times and locations.

Law Schools

Harvard Law School

Interested in learning some tips about applying to Harvard Law School? HLS has begun offering online information sessions. Some concern the admissions process, others offer insight into campus life, student organizations, and clinical opportunities at HLS. To sign up for this week’s J.D. Application Requirements and Insights session, set for TOMORROW, September 17, at 5:00pm Central Time, go here: https://jdadmissions.law.harvard.edu/register/JDInfoSession2-2019. To see the full 2019-2020 HLS Online Information Session Schedule, click on this link: https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/jdadmissions/connect-with-admissions-online-events/

University of Illinois College of Law – Constitution Day 2019

On September 17, 1787, thirty-nine of the fifty-five delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia signed the final draft of the U.S. Constitution. It then went to the states for ratification. Today, federal law designates September 17 as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. Each year, the College of Law hosts a special event on behalf of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to commemorate the occasion.

“The 2020 Presidential Election” – Tuesday, September 17, 2019
12-1 p.m., Room D, Law Building
504 E. Pennsylvania Avenue
Champaign, IL

Donald Trump made the Supreme Court a central issue of his 2016 presidential campaign and, as president, he has made two Supreme Court appointments. Candidates for president in 2020 are already announcing the kinds of justices they would appoint and weighing in on proposals to reform the Supreme Court such as by adding seats or imposing term limits. The Supreme Court views itself as above politics even as it decides cases that impact electoral outcomes–and might be called upon to resolve electoral disputes in 2020. Hear from a panel of experts on the significance of the Supreme Court in the 2020 presidential election and how the outcome of the election might impact the Court itself.

Panel Leaders:

Vikram D. Amar, Dean & Iwan Foundation Professor of Law
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
College of Law

Jason Mazzone, Albert E. Jenner, Jr. Professor of Law
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
College of Law

Alicia B. Uribe-McGuire, Assistant Professor
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Department of Political Science

Event is free, and open to the public. Lunch will be provided to attendees.

Mark Your Calendars – Week of April 15, 2019

Hello Pre-Law Students! Scroll down for info on our Personal Statement Workshop, Fulbright Scholarships and more. Also – the July LSAT will be administered exactly 3 months from today! There are some unique aspects to the July 2019 LSAT, including the fact that you will be able to see your score BEFORE you decide whether to submit it to the law schools. For more information about the July 2019 LSAT, click on this link. You might also want to review our blog post “A Guide to ALL of the 2019 LSAT Options.”

PRE-LAW EVENTS

Personal Statement and Resume Workshop for Fall 2019 Applicants – NEXT Monday, April 22, 4-5pm, Room 514 IUB

Planning to apply to law school in the fall? Not sure what to write in your law school application? Applicants who plan to apply for law school this fall can get a head start by working on your personal statement and resume this summer! This workshop will cover: What the personal statement and law school resume are; how they complement each other; a plan for how to write the personal statement; tips and suggestions for how to maximize the personal statement and the resume as well as how to make them stand out. Bring your questions! For more information and to register please click on this link so that we can ensure enough seating and materials for everyone.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AND INFO FOR PRE-LAW STUDENTS

NOW is the time for July LSAT Registration–Planning to take the July LSAT? Demand is high, so click here to register now to get a seat.

Fall 2019 Course Suggestions: Still looking for some fall courses? As you know, students in ANY major can attend law school, and there are NO specifically required courses for pre-law undergrads. However, given an interest in law, click on the link here for some fall courses that pre-law students may find particularly helpful and interesting.

fulbright scholarship information and workshop sessions

Are you looking for an exciting way to spend a year abroad starting in the Fall of 2020? If so, it’s time to think seriously about submitting an application for a Fulbright Scholarship! Join us for an informational session and on-campus workshops to learn more.

Informational Sessions:

Fulbright Information Session: Tuesday, April 16^th, 3:30-5:00 pm, 180 Bevier Hall

Hosted by the National and International Scholarship Program with recent Fulbright grantee speakers

Can’t make the on-campus session? Please plan to attend an informational webinar (open to all, but particularly useful for Illinois alumni and students abroad):

Tuesday, April 23^rd, 12:00-1:00 p.m. CST

Link to attend the webinar on Tuesday, April 23^rd: https://us.bbcollab.com/collab/ui/session/guest/7e732c00eb1f4a0baeada1df96a2083d

Wednesday, May 1^st, 8:30-9:30 a.m. CST

Link to attend the webinar on Wednesday, May 1^st:

https://us.bbcollab.com/guest/2085a821f124472baf44446a33d22579

On-Campus Fulbright Workshops – All Hosted by the National and International Scholarships Program:

Fulbright Personal Statement Workshop: Friday, April 26^th, 3:30-5:00pm, 514 Illini Union Bookstore

English Teaching Assistant Application Workshop: Thursday, May 2^nd, 11:00 am -12:00 pm, 514 Illini Union Bookstore

Designing a Fulbright Research Proposal Workshop: Thursday, May 2^nd, 4:00-5:00 pm, 514 Illini Union Bookstore

Sessions are targeted to juniors, seniors, and recent alumni who wish to apply for the Fulbright Priority Deadline of June 17, 2019.

PAID SUMMER LEGAL INTERNSHIP IN CHICAGO

Elise Harmening is the Owner and Principal Attorney for Harmening Law, LLC. Elise began Harmening Law, LLC as part of the Justice Entrepreneur’s Project through the Chicago Bar Foundation. Harmening Law, LLC is committed to providing legal services for clients who do not fit into the traditional legal services model or qualify for legal aid. Throughout her life, Elise has found a real connection with working with families and youth. She has personal experience working through the school system to advocate for accommodations and understands, intensely, what it feels like on both sides of the table. Harmening Law only deals with family and education law. Interns will be able to learn the ins and outs of family and education law. Harmening Law is offering a paid summer internship of $13 an hour for 10-30 hours a week to one intern.

Qualifications:

– Currently pursuing an undergraduate degree.
– Preferably majoring in Political Science, International Relations, Criminal Justice, Philosophy and other related fields of study
– Strong writing skills
– Ability to analyze information
– Ability to quickly learn new tasks
– Ability to do projects independently with deadlines
– Passion in law

Responsibilities:

– Filing and making copies
– Writing responses
– Organizing schedule
– Take notes for meetings
– Go to the courthouse at least once a week
– Organizing evidence
– Assist with fillings
– Assisting with client intakes

To apply, send a cover letter (include availability), resume and sample paper to
elise@harmeninglaw.com. Deadline is April 30, 2019.

career center events

Finding and Applying to Federal Government Jobs – Wednesday, April 17, 3-4pm, 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 and how to best navigate USAJOBS.gov and other government resources.

You can find information on other upcoming Career Center Events here: https://www.careercenter.illinois.edu/events

Drop-in Career Advising:
The Career Center, 715 S. Wright, offers drop-in service Monday-Thursday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. for students with quick career-related questions.

Resume/Cover Letter/ LinkedIn Review Hours: The Career Center offers resume and cover letter reviews at various places and times throughout the week:
· Monday-Friday, 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. at The Career Center, 715 S. Wright
· Monday 5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at Ikenberry Commons
· Tuesday 5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at Brewlab
· Wednesday 5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at Brewlab
· Sunday 5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Ikenberry Commons

SCHOLARSHIPS

American Bar Association Legal Opportunity Scholarship–Applications due May 1. The ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund will award $5,000 of financial assistance annually to each scholarship recipient attending an ABA-accredited law school. An award made to an entering first-year student may be renewable for two additional years, resulting in financial assistance totaling $15,000 during his or her time in law school. In addition to whether the applicant is a member of a racial and/or ethnic minority that has been underrepresented in the legal profession, the applicant’s financial need; personal, family, and educational background; personal statement; and participation in community service activities will be considered in selecting the recipients. For more information and to apply visit their website here.

And check out the PLAS Facebook page for NEW internship opportunities, summer programs and more!

Mark Your Calendars – January 11/14, 2019

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, Pre-Law 101, Illinois in Washington, information on paid internships, an internship with a local law firm, a summer pre-law program and scholarships. And as we already posted, the LSAC has opened up the registrations for both the June and July 2019 LSATs. Go here for more information or to begin the registration process: https://www.lsac.org/lsat/lsat-dates-deadlines-score-release-dates. This is a long blog post full of good information so scroll all the way to the end!

Pre-Law Advising Services Workshops and Programs

We have updated our Spring Semester calendar of events! Our schedule begins in two weeks with Pre-Law 101. Check out other upcoming events on our website here.

Pre-Law 101 — Wednesday, January 30, 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.

Upcoming Campus Events

UIUC is hosting many events to celebrate the life of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., including the 34th Annual Dr. MLK, Jr. Service of Celebration at Krannert on Sunday, January 20, 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 list here, and mark your calendars for the RSO Involvement Fair on Wednesday, January 23, 11:00am-3:00pm, Illini Union Rooms A, B, C, Courtyard Café, and South Lounge!

Illinois in Washington Information Session – Thursday, January 17, 5-6pm, David Kinley Hall, Room 119

Illinois in Washington (IIW) is an academic internship program open to all U of I undergraduates. Participants live and intern in Washington, DC, while taking U of I classes. IIW offers an exceptional opportunity to gain rewarding work experience while enjoying the political, intellectual, and cultural experiences that only the nation’s capital can offer. Student internships have included positions with members of Congress, think tanks, social justice organizations, and government agencies. Join us for an unforgettable semester in one of the most exciting cities in the world. Apply for Summer Semester 2019 by February 1, 2019, at http://washington.illinois.edu/

Career Center

For information about 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.

Rolls Royce Innovation: Saturday, January 19
Intersect: Saturday, January 26
Petrullo Insight: Saturday, February 2

The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) is now accepting submissions for the 2019 Undergraduate Research Symposium (URS), set for Thursday, April 18.

Deadline for submitting an application to the URS is Friday, February 1, 2019, at 11:59 pm. The application can be found here.

The URS is the signature event of Undergraduate Research Week (April 14-20), 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 1!

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 2019 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 three workshops will be held during the next two weeks:

Value of Undergrad Research Workshop, January 18, 2019

Date/Time: Friday, January 18, from 3:00-4:30pm
Location: Lincoln Hall Room 1065
Registration is available at:https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/5552337?referrer=https://calendars.illinois.edu/detail/6175?eventId=33328415

Getting Started in Research Workshop, January 22, 2019
Date/Time: Tuesday January 22, 2019 from 3:00-4:30pm
Location: English Building, Room 160
Registration is available at: https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/10880?referrer=https://calendars.illinois.edu/detail/6175?eventId=33328020

Getting Started in Research Workshop, January 24, 2019
Date/Time: Thursday January 24, 2019 from 3:00 – 4:30pm
Location: Mechanical Engineering Building, Room 218
Registration is available at: https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/3523231?referrer=https://calendars.illinois.edu/detail/6175?eventId=33328022

Study Abroad

The Institute for Field Education offers semester-long study abroad programs in France and Belgium for students with advanced French language skills that feature internship and research opportunities tailored to student interests. Students earn resident Illinois credit in this program, arranged through LAS Global Studies.

The 18-week academic semester includes

– An intense five weeks of preparatory courses covering political history, sociology and cultural foundations of French or Belgian society to prepare students for working in-country

– A week for travel and rest before starting the internship

– A three-month full-time internship related to each student’s studies and goals.

– Guided field research on a topic important to the student’s host organization.

– A weekly seminar on the key moments in European history for understanding European integration.

More information and the application can be found here:

https://app.studyabroad.illinois.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgramAngular&id=10127

Questions? Interested students may contact Timothy Wedig, Ph.D., Associate Directory, LAS Global Studies, at: twedig@illinois.edu.

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.

Undergrad PAID Internship at UIUC in Environmental Humanities for 2019-2020 — Applications due March 1, 2019!

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 2019-2020. 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 up to $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 by 5:00pm on Friday, March 1! Please address questions to: Dr. Nancy Castro, at ncastro@illinois.edu.

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

Scholarships

Fulbright UK Summer Institutes – Info Session Tuesday, January 15, 3:30-4:30pm, Room 514 Illini Union Bookstore Building

Attention Freshmen and Sophomores! Do you want to study in the United Kingdom this summer for free? The Fulbright UK Summer Institutes offer nine programs for 2019:

Interested in global leadership? Join the Future Leaders of a Global Age summer institute at the University of Westminster in London.
Interested in the environment? Study climate change issues at the University of Exeter.
Interested in social justice or education policy? Explore these in the post-conflict setting of Northern Ireland at Queen’s University Belfast.
Interested in the performing arts? Practice combat and swordplay, movement, dance and design at Shakespeare’s Globe Theater.
Interested in arts as activism? Consider how social policy, philosophy and the arts have been combined to promote social change at the University of Bristol.
Interested in technology and design? Explore Scotland’s creative and technological industries through study at the University of Strathclyde and the Glasgow School of Art.
Interested in media? Explore film and media culture in the UK at the University of Birmingham
Interested in British or Irish studies? Explore British culture at the University of Sussex or Irish studies at the Queen’s University Belfast.
Interested in international politics? Study identity and nationhood at the Aberystwyth University in Wales.

The Summer Institutes cover the majority of the participant costs (round-trip airfare from the US to the UK, tuition and fees at the university, room and board, and social programs). Students must be US citizen freshmen or sophomores with a GPA of 3.7 or above.

More information about the institutes and their application can be found at: http://www.fulbright.org.uk/going-to-the-uk/uk-summer-institutes

Our info session will tell you everything you need to know about the benefits of attending a Fulbright UK Summer Institute and how to be a competitive applicant. We’ll also hear from previous Illinois recipients. Don’t forget – the info session is Tuesday, January 15, 3:30-4:30pm, Room 514 IUB.

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

Penn State Law – Online Info Session: Wednesday, January 16, 11am-Noon CST

This online information session will provide information about Penn State Law and its J.D. program. The format of the session will be a presentation followed by an opportunity to chat online with the Director of Admissions, Julian Morales. Click here to register!

Diversity Law Day – Indiana University Maurer School of Law – February 9, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Diversity Law Day is dedicated to the idea that the legal profession must reflect the expanding diversity of our society. Joining efforts with the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC), we hope that this day will encourage student from underrepresented and underserved communities to discover career opportunities in law. This day is particularly tailored towards high school juniors and seniors, as well college freshman and sophomores.

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 22, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the University of Wisconsin Law School in Madison, 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.

Minnesota Pre-Law Scholars Summer Program – Application Due March 1!

Minnesota Pre-Law Scholars (MPLS) is a program that offers a select number of students a free LSAT prep class each summer at the University of Minnesota Law School. Admission is highly selective and based on a holistic review of the MPLS application material. MPLS is an approved DiscoverLaw.org event.

College students considering law school, especially rising seniors and those from groups historically underrepresented in law school, are encouraged to apply. The program is open to undergraduate students and recent graduates from any undergraduate institution.

Students will learn about law school admissions preparation from Minnesota Law School staff. The remaining portion of class taught by an instructor from The Princeton Review, will be dedicated to LSAT preparation and practice exams.

There is no cost to participate in MPLS. However, participants must submit a $100 seat deposit which is fully refundable upon successful completion of the program. All books and study materials will be provided. The program will run from early June to mid-August 2019.

To learn more about MPLS or to apply, click on this link:

https://www.law.umn.edu/admissions/minnesota-pre-law-scholars-mpls-program

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 four Illinois law schools.

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

DePaul University College of Law Open House, Saturday, January 26, 10:00am. For more information and to register, go here.

John Marshall Law School Open House, Saturday, February 2, 9:00am-Noon, or Tuesday, February 5, 5:30pm-8:30pm. For more information or to register, go here.

Northern Illinois University College of Law Open House, Saturday, January 19, 10:00am-1:00pm. For more information or to register, go here.

Mark Your Calendars – Week of November 26

Welcome back students! We hope you had a very relaxing break. Scroll down for information about the last PLAS event of the semester, law school admissions webinars and more.

PLAS Event

Perfecting Your Personal Statement and Resume for Law School — TOMORROW – Tuesday, November 27, 4-5pm, 514 Illini Bookstore Building

This workshop will discuss how to draft a personal statement and resume for a law school application. We will cover:

Ideas for personal statement topics
How to get started writing it
What to include and exclude
Length, structure, and formatting details
Law school resume tips
How to have the resume and personal statement coordinate; and
A 5 step plan for writing the personal statement and resume.

We still have room for workshop participants on a first come, first served basis. So if this is something in which you have an interest, please come by!

Career Center Events

Click here to visit the Career Center’s website for more information or to register for these sessions.

International Student Career Meetup – Nov. 29, 4-5:30pm, TCC Interview Suite 213, 616 East Green Street

Join us for an informal gathering where international students can talk with alumni, recruiters, or current international students who have successful job search stories. Information on invited speakers will be posted on Handshake. Open to all international students. Due to limited space, registration through Handshake is required.

Resume/Cover Letter/Linked In Reviews

Nov. 26 , 2-4:30 pm TCC Resource Center; 5-7:30pm Ikenberry Commons
Nov. 27, 2-4:30pm TCC Resource Center; 5-7:30pm BrewLab Coffee Shop
Nov. 28, 2-4:30pm TCC Resource Center, 5-7:30pm BrewLab Coffee Shop
Nov 29, 2-4:30pm TCC Resource Center
Nov. 30, 2-4:30pm TCC Resource Center

Social Justice Education Paraprofessionals – Applications Due December 12

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until December 12th for 2018-2019 Social Justice Education Paraprofessionals! Complete your application here.

The Social Justice Educator Paraprofessional Program is a 3-semester peer education program powered by students for students. The Social Justice Education Paraprofessional Program is designed to promote diversity and student leadership by providing intensive training for students in areas of knowledge, awareness, and skills related to issues of diversity and social justice. Through this program, paraprofessionals serve as a campus leaders in social justice by developing and facilitating educational programs for the campus. Social Justice Education Paraprofessionals receive 11 advanced credit hours in Psychology. For more information, click on this link.

NYU Law Admissions Office – Online Information Sessions

These presentations will be a special broadcast of a live information session with an admissions representative. Participants will have an opportunity to submit questions about NYU’s curriculum, student life, and the admissions process via the online chat tool. The Online Information Sessions will be held at the following times (all times are Eastern Time):

Wednesday, December 5 at 3:00 pm
Thursday, January 10 at 12:00 pm

Please register for one of the Online Information Sessions. Registrants will receive access instructions the day before the online session. If you have any questions, please let us know at law.moreinfo@nyu.edu.

Harvard and Yale Law School Online Webinars

Harvard and Yale Law School would like to invite to you to participate in their Online Information Sessions. Participants will have an opportunity to submit questions about the universities curriculum, student life, and the admissions process. Follow the link to register for these events.

Harvard: https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/jdadmissions/connect-with-admissions-online-events/

Yale: https://law.yale.edu/admissions/jd-admissions/recruiting-schedule

Scholarships–Now is a great time to apply!

DUE DEC. 8–University of Illinois Latina/Latino Alumni Association Scholarship. Open to Latina/Latino undergraduate and graduate students enrolled full-time at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign during the 2018-2019 academic school year. In honor of our ten year anniversary and thanks to a generous donor, IllinoisLLAA is able to grant two $5,000 scholarships to either an undergraduate or graduate student, one of which is reserved for an undocumented student. Click here to apply.

DUE DEC.31–Health and Wellness $2,000 Scholarship. Available to students enrolled at an accredited college or university. You must have at least a 3.4 GPA and submit an essay of 800-1000 words, promoting a practical approach to healthy lifestyle during college years and how these habits can be sustained over a lifetime. Additionally, you must demonstrate detailed knowledge of health and wellness and discuss why healthy living is a lifetime endeavor. Click here to apply.

DUE JAN. 19–Virginia M. Wagner Educational Award. Open to female students in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin who are attending college/university in pursuit of a bachelors, masters, or doctoral degree. Click here to apply.

DUE MARCH 19–Create-a-Greeting-Card $10,000 Scholarship. Open to currently enrolled high school and college students in the United States. To enter, you must design a holiday, get well, or birthday greeting card and submit your work to be judged. Your photo, art, or graphics submitted must be your own original work and you must be at least 14 years of age to be eligible for this award. Click here for more details.

Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship Campus Deadline: TODAY, November 26, 2018

The Goldwater is for juniors or exceptional sophomores who are current U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or resident aliens. The Goldwater awards one- or two-year $7,500 awards to students who demonstrate strong evidence of contributing to the technological advances of the U.S. Applicants should be committed to pursuing a Ph.D in the research fields of mathematics, sciences, or engineering. Go here for more information.

Interested in other scholarships? PLAS has collected information on over 150 scholarships–for both undergrads and incoming law students–on our Scholarships Spreadsheet over on our Pre-Law Compass page. It’s a wide variety of scholarships based on everything from being left-handed to making a video to tweeting, and deadlines vary, so check it out!

Mark Your Calendars – Week of April 16

Although we have less than a month to go in the semester, Pre-Law Advising Services has two important workshops — TODAY and next Monday — for those of you planning on applying to law school this fall. Scroll down for information about these programs, study groups for the September LSAT, Fulbright Scholarships and more, including a campus visit by noted attorney and civil rights advocate Alan Dershowitz!

Pre-Law Advising Services

Applying to Law School Workshop – TODAY, Monday April 16, 4-5:15pm, 514 IUB

This workshop is designed for Illini planning to apply to law school this fall (2018) or who are graduating and plan to apply to law school in the next few years. The workshop will cover:

LSAT options–these recently changed!
Using the LSAC/Credential Assembly Service
How to use the summer to get ahead on law school applications
Developing a law school application strategy
Sending in transcripts
Getting letters of recommendation

And we will allocate time for Q&A. Join us to get a head start on fall applications or to find out what you can do to maximize your applications during a gap year. All students and alumni are welcome!

Personal Statement and Resume Workshop – NEXT Monday, April 23, 4-5pm, 514 IUB

If you’re planning to apply to law school this fall OR if you’re graduating and planning to apply to law school in the next couple of years, then this is a great opportunity to learn about writing a personal statement and resume for law school. The personal statement is a critical part of the law school application in which applicants must show personality, highlight strengths, identify career goals, and address why law school is their next step: a tall order for a 2 page document! Join us as we cover:

What the personal statement is (and isn’t) to law schools
Creating a realistic timeline
Outlining a plan for how to write the statement
How the personal statement and resume work together in the application
What is an addendum?
Knowing the right resources to help you along the way

We’ll have time for Q&A, so bring your questions!

PLAS also has a couple of additional opportunities for you to consider:

LSAT Study Group – The September LSAT is only a few months away! Pre-Law Advising Services is organizing LSAT study groups for those people taking the September 8, 2018 exam. We will organize groups based on the availability you specify in the google form. Sign-ups for the LSAT study groups will close by next Thursday April 19 at noon. To sign up, use the google form provided here: https://goo.gl/forms/nNpDBqrvBI510pg12

2. Pre-Law Club – Pre-Law Advising Services is measuring interest for a possible pre-law registered student organization here at the University of Illinois. The RSO would be for the 2018-2019 school year. Please answer our survey to let us know about your interest in this RSO and possibly joining the Pre-Law RSO! The form can be found here: https://goo.gl/forms/MvL1xYyR2cY8Tvss2

Campus Events

Career Center

Resume, Cover Letter, Linked In Reviews – Monday, April 16, 2-4:30pm, Resource Center; 7-9pm, Undergraduate Library, Consultation Corner. This workshop is offered several other times during the week. Go here for more information.

Creating Your Powerful Resume – Monday, April 16, 4-5pm, The Career Center Conference Room 143

International Student Career Meet Up – Friday, April 20, 4-5:30pm, The Career Center Interview Suite Room 213. Join us for an information gathering where international students can talk with alumni, recruiters, or current international students who have successful job search stories. Information on invited speakers will be posted on Handshake. Open to all international students, but RSVP on Handshake is required due to a space limitation.

For more information on these and other Career Center events, check out their website.

National & International Scholarship Program – Fulbright Scholarship Workshops

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program provides grants for individually designed study/research projects or for English Teaching Assistant Programs. A candidate will submit a Statement of Grant Purpose defining activities to take place during one academic year in a participating country outside the U.S.

During their grants, Fulbrighters will meet, work, live with and learn from the people of the host country, sharing daily experiences. The program facilitates cultural exchange through direct interaction on an individual basis in the classroom, field, home, and in routine tasks, allowing the grantee to gain an appreciation of others’ viewpoints and beliefs, the way they do things, and the way they think. Through engagement in the community, the individual will interact with their hosts on a one-to-one basis in an atmosphere of openness, academic integrity, and intellectual freedom, thereby promoting mutual understanding.

Sound interesting? The National & International Scholarships Program has several workshops scheduled to help you prepare a strong application.

Friday, April 20: Personal Statement Workshop – 3:30-5:00 pm, 514 Illini Union Bookstore. A key part of the Fulbright Application is the Personal Statement, a one-page essay. Come learn how to create this document and tell your unique story.

Webinars for those off campus:

If you are not currently on campus to take advantage of our Fulbright Information Session, join us remotely for these webinars! The same detailed overview will be provided for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, including: eligibility, grant types, and application advice. There will also be plenty of time for questions and answers.

Wednesday, April 25: Informational Webinar for Illinois Alumni and Students Abroad – 8:30-9:30 am CST; https://us.bbcollab.com/guest/96a0120ef64d43dc9f7b43d6e77ce197

Thursday, April 26: Informational Webinar for Illinois Alumni and Students Abroad – 12:00-1:00 pm CST; https://us.bbcollab.com/guest/ed88abfed96540c7a4e96da034f46819

Friday, April 27: English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Application Workshop – 2:00-3:00 pm, 514 Illini Union Bookstore. The Fulbright ETA application includes a one-page essay on your case for Why the Fulbright program should fund You to Teach English to students in ____________ (insert your host country). We will discuss how to approach this essay and more during this workshop.

Friday, April 27: Designing a Fulbright Research Proposal Workshop – 3:30-5:00 pm, 514 Illini Union Bookstore. If you are interested in applying for a Fulbright research grant, join us for this workshop to learn how to craft this important two-page grant request, how to secure a letter of affiliation, and how to select your reference letter writers.

The US Student Fulbright website is: https://us.fulbrightonline.org

Facebook UIUC Fulbright Events page is here.

Alan Dershowitz to Give Public Lecture at University of Illinois

Alan Dershowitz, noted attorney and advocate for civil rights and civil liberties, will be on the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign campus next Thursday, April 26, 2018, for a series of events. The day will culminate in a public lecture held in Foelinger Auditorium, at 7:30pm. This even is FREE and open to the public! This visit is sponsored by Gies College of Business; The Program in Constitutional Theory, History and Law at the College of Law; and the Chabad Center for Jewish Life at the University of Illinois. dershowitz

5 Things to Do After the December LSAT

December is here and the LSAT is over, which means it is time to focus on the remaining elements of your application so that you can get those applications out as soon as your LSAT score is available in the first week of January. What should you be doing now?

Check on your letters of recommendation…NOW!! Your recommendations should already be in your LSAC account. Check your account and follow up with your recommenders ASAP if they aren’t, so that you know when they will be in. Remember that your application is not complete and will not be considered without them. This should be your top priority because the closer we get to break, the busier professors get (or they begin to travel and be unreachable).

Draft your personal statement. It’s time to take that energy and time you were focusing on the LSAT and devote it to your personal statement. Although our personal statement workshops are over, we have some tips and suggestions for the personal statement on our website and a helpful video and handout on our Compass page. You can also get help through the Writer’s Workshop, which is a great place to start. Spend some time thinking about your values, your career goals, and what makes you stand out from the crowd. Then write a draft, set it aside for a few days, and revisit it. Don’t worry if you don’t love the first draft–no one does. Start now so that you can spend at least a few weeks thinking, writing, and editing.

Schedule an appointment now. When you are ready for some feedback, you can make an appointment for a Pre-Law Advisor to review your personal statement and discuss it with you in addition to answering any questions about the application process.

December appointments: Both Pre-Law Advisors will be available for appointments through December 22, and we expect to be very busy with appointments during this time given that applications are up this year. It is a good idea to schedule your appointment now by calling 333-9669. Please email us your statement and resume two business days prior to your appointment so that we have time to review them.
Winter break appointments: The office will be closed Dec. 25 through January 1. Appointments will be available again starting January 2. If you are not in the Champaign-Urbana area, you can make a phone appointment–just let the receptionist know when you schedule that it will be a phone appointment.

Order your transcripts. You’ll need to order a transcript from each undergraduate institution you attended. At Illinois, you can check the “hold for fall grades” box to have your Fall 2017 grades included. Visit the LSAC here, http://www.lsac.org/jd/applying-to-law-school/cas/requesting-transcripts, for more information on the transcript ordering process. You can order your Illinois transcript through the Registrar’s website here.

Schedule law school visits. Many law schools offer open houses. Check your top 3-5 law schools’ websites and social media. Individual law school visits are a good alternative. Call the law school and ask for a tour and to sit it on a class. Visiting a law school is very important to your overall law school choice, and is a MUST for schools that you are seriously considering. Plus, law schools will note your visit and you may even get to meet the person reading your application, so be sure to make a good impression.

Take a look at our earlier post called “The Application Process: LSAC Tips” for even more application details.