A New Bar Exam Study Game: "Passing the Bar"

Touro Law Center alum Caryn Pincus (Class of 2006) has created a new board game to help those studying for the Bar Exam (and really anyone studying the Multistate Bar Exam practice areas). The game is called "Passing the Bar" and it is receiving national exposure.

Caryn is licensed to practice law in New York, New Jersey, and Florida. She graduated cum laude and received CALI Awards for Academic Excellence in Contracts II and Disability Law. She interned with the New York Appellate Division, First Department, the Suffolk County Attorney's Office, and Nassau-Suffolk Law Services. After graduation, she worked at a matrimonial and criminal law firm and subsequently with a commercial litigation firm.

Passing the Bar includes hundreds of flashcards on Multistate Bar Exam and legal trivia questions which players answer as they role the die and move their game pieces around the board to be the first person to reach the Admission Ceremony and get sworn in. Prior to being sworn in, however, a player must answer three professional responsibility questions. Additional flashcards may be purchased separately. The game looks like a lot of fun and a great addition to the more traditional ways to study for the Bar Exam.

For more information about the game and to place your order, go here.

The 2009 Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements

The American Bar Association and the National Conference of Bar Examiners publishes the annual Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements, which sets out the rules and practices of all U.S. jurisidictions for admission to the Bar. This valuable resource can be downloaded for free here.

So, you passed the Bar Exam. Change your resume!

The July 2009 New York State Bar Examination results were recently announced, so it is time for those who passed the exam (woohoo!) to do a little resume updating.

Create a new section between your name/address header and the education section on your resume as follows:

BAR ADMISSIONS New York State (awaiting admission)

The "awaiting admission" designation lets employers know that you have passed the Bar Exam and are awaiting to be formally admitted to the Bar. In addition, include the fact that you are awaiting admission to the New York State Bar in the first sentence of your cover letter. Do not use "Esq." or any other honorific which might lead an employer to think you are actually admitted.

Please feel free to email your updated resume to a Career Services Office counselor to have it reviewed.

Be Aware: Some NYU Job Fair employers capping number of resumes they receive

Last year, many employers at the NYU Public Service Job Fair were inundated with resumes, with several employers receiving close to 2,000 applications for interviews. This year, a cap of 500 resumes will be enforced for those employers who request it. Accordingly, for capped employers, applications will be accepted from only the first 500 students who apply to the employer. The online system will work on a first come, first served basis. Once a capped employer has received 500 applications through the system, the system will tell a student seeking to apply to that employer that the employer is full and will not permit additional applications.

Accordingly, it is very important for a student who has a strong interest in an employer to register for the Job Fair and upload a resume to that employer as soon as possible. Registration for the Job Fair is now open.

To date, the employers listed below have requested to receive no more than 500 applications this year:

Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law
Federal Defender of New York for the Eastern District of New York
New York Attorney General’s Office
New York County District Attorney’s Office
Legal Aid Society — Criminal Practice
Legal Aid Society — Civil Practice
Legal Aid Society — Juvenile Rights Practice
Spivak Lipton

NY County District Attorney's Office Resume and Interview Workshop

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NYC Bar Program - Resume and Cover Letter Writing: Telling Your Story, Selling Yourself

The New York City Bar Association presents:

Resume and Cover Letter Writing: Telling Your Story, Selling Yourself

Monday, November 16, 2009, at 8:30 a.m.
at the House of the Association, 42 West 44th Street, NYC

featuring our own Margarett Williams, Director of Employer Relations.

In this competitive job market, your resume must be flawless. If you are looking to switch practice areas, or transition into a quasi-legal position, or simply need to update an old resume, come to this two-part program and listen to our panel of experts offer advice on general resume rules, crafting resumes for transition periods, and avoiding common mistakes. Afterwards, you will have the opportunity to ask your own individualized resume questions in a breakout group led by one of our expert panelists. You will also receive guidance regarding cover letters and how to use them with e-mail submissions. You will leave this program with lots of ideas for improved and enhanced materials that will better tell your story and sell your talents.

Moderator:
PATRICIA MORRISSY, Chief Legal Recruiting Officer, Sullivan & Cromwell

Speakers:
GIL ALLISON, Senior Vice President, Right Management;
BRUCE BLACKWELL, President, Career Strategies International;
JESSICA SILVERSTEIN, Principal, Attorney’s Counsel;
JULIA HERR SMITH, President, Esquire Prep, LLC;
MARGARETT M. WILLIAMS, Director of Employer Relations, Touro Law Center

The fee is $15 for members, $25 for non-members.

To register, go here.

If It’s November, Think NYU Job Fair

Beginning November 1, students can register online for the NYU Public Service/Public Interest Job Fair. The Fair takes place in early February at NYU and hosts over 100 government and public interest employers offering both summer internships and post-graduate jobs. Registration is free and required to participate in the Fair. There is no penalty for registering for the Fair and then deciding not to participate, so you should register to reserve your right to participate. Once students have registered, they can upload resumes to specific employers and check interview schedules online.

The Fair is a public service job fair in the broadest sense. In other words, any employer who touches upon the public service – be they public interest organizations, government offices, or private law firms that do public interest work – can be at the Fair.

All first-year students are encouraged to register for the fair, as almost every employer that participates would provide excellent legal experience for a first-year law student. Remember, first-year students are looking for summer opportunities that are supervised by an attorney and provide legal research and writing or client advocacy work. The actual practice area engaged in by the employer is a secondary concern at this point in your legal career. There will be plenty of time over the next couple of years for you to focus your resume on particular practice areas in which you become interested.

Upperlevel students, particularly those interested in careers in public interest or government, should seriously consider registering for the Fair. Even “law firm bound” students should think about the Fair, as many of the participating employers could provide useful skills in many different practice areas.

To register for the Fair, go here.

Pursue Your Dreams, Manage Your Expectations

How many times does a person have to hear, “You can’t do that, don’t even bother” before he or she begins to believe it? Probably not as many times as we would like to think. In any event, it is not the kind of thing you should hear when you are planning your career, and you should not and will not hear it from a counselor at CSO.

Many students come to law school with certain dreams of a particular kind of legal career. Some of you may want a government career, others a career in a small to mid-size law firm on Long Island, some seek to open their own firm, others see themselves practicing in New York City at large law firms or with a different kind of employer, some seek to practice out of state entirely, while still others dream of being public interest lawyers. These dreams should be nurtured by a Career Services office, not ridiculed or, worse, destroyed.

When you meet with one of us, we will talk with you to develop a plan to obtain your dream job. We will talk about how best to prepare yourself while in law school, and we will discuss the kinds of opportunities that are out there after you graduate. We will strive to leave you with a clear idea of what you have to do to get yourself in a good position to accomplish your goal.

Effective career counseling does not end there, however, particularly in an economy which is, well, difficult. While we will plan with you the most direct path to your dream job, we will also talk about expectations and how to manage them. Like a doctor explaining the likelihood of success of an operation, you should be able to plan your life based upon real world facts. Therefore, once we plan the most direct path to your dream, we will talk about alternative roads to the same goal. This Plan B, Plan C, and maybe even Plan D will help you just in case Plan A does not work out. We should not take our eyes off the prize, but we will talk about different paths to obtain it.

So, the next time you meet with a CSO counselor, be sure to express yourself about your dream job. We will work on Plan A through Plan D so you are prepared to get to your goal, one way or another.

Happy Halloween!

The Court of Federal Claims Bar Association Law Student Writing Competition

The Court of Federal Claims Bar Association is pleased to announce the creation of its Law Student Writing Competition. All students enrolled in law school are eligible to participate in this competition. The winning entries will receive cash prizes and an opportunity to be published via the Association’s website. Entries may address any topic that lies within the procedure, substance, or scope of the jurisdiction of the Unites States Court of Federal Claims. The rules of the contest are posted here (scroll down). Entry deadline is December 31, 2009.

"So You Want to Go Solo? You Sure?"

The November 2009 issue of the ABA Journal has an interesting article, written by Deborah L. Cohen, about "the tasks you need to master to live the shingle life." A portion of the article is reproduced below. Go here to read the entire article, and don't forget to read the comments for a few additional pearls of wisdom.

"As of 2005, some 62 percent of attorneys in private practice work as solo or small-firm practitioners, according to the most recent data avail­able from the American Bar Association. Those numbers likely have swelled and will continue to do so as law firms reorganize and re-evaluate their professional staffing needs.

What was once a calculated career decision has become a matter of survival for many. But wheth­er a lawyer can cut it as a solo is not necessarily a sure thing, experts say. Not all lawyers have what it takes.

There is no magic formula for building a successful solo practice. It takes planning, persistence, long hours, sweat equity and personal sacrifice.

So whether you’re in for the long haul or just staving off the bill collectors, here are some useful tips from experts and newly minted solos to help ease the transition."

New York City Bar Association Career Search Support Group

Due to demand, the City Bar is continuing to hold support groups for its members who have been affected by the current economic climate. The group will be led by practicing attorney, psychologist and Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Einstein Medical School, Sylvan Schaffer. The meetings are not self-contained but continuous and progressive, so the participants should try to come for multiple sessions.

Dr. Schaffer has a unique approach that will help members cope with the emotional and psychological blocks related to job loss and job search. The support group will:

Provide a forum for members to discuss the impact of job loss and job search on their daily lives

Provide insight for members to overcome hurdles to job search, e.g., negative thinking, feelings of shame and diminished self-esteem, depression

Address the "myths" of what a lawyer can or cannot do, e.g., temporary work, contract work

Help members refocus their energy on a new venture before abandoning the profession

At each meeting Dr. Schaffer will present some instructive material, coaching and skills training. There will be ample opportunity for the participants to discuss their particular needs and feelings regarding their situation. The group will meet on Wednesdays from 12-1 PM at the House of the Association on the following dates: November 4, November 11 and December 2. There is no fee to attend these groups, but enrollment is restricted to NYC Bar Association members (so join), and registration for each date is required.

Law Students Should Participate in Legal Writing Competitions

Writing competitions are wonderful things. They motivate you to sharpen your research and writing skills on a topic of law you care about, and they allow you to show an employer that you have the discipline and skill necessary to do outstanding written legal work. In addition, should you happen to win, your paper is typically published in the journal of the organization that sponsored the competition, you are often invited to attend annual awards banquets on the house, and, of course, there are the cash prizes. Yes, cash money, sometimes running into thousands of dollars.

There are dozens and dozens of annual writing competitions sponsored by just as many organizations and covering a plethora of practice areas. In other words, there is a writing competition for just about everyone. Rather than reinvent the wheel and post them all here, a simple Google search yields good results. For example, you can go here and here. You also can visit bar association websites, such as the American Bar Association, to find other competitions.

We strongly encourage you to search out these writing competitions and dive into them. Winning papers create star power on a resume, and the coin you may receive for winning is, well, enriching.

Forward Thinking for Upper Division Law School Students

Sometimes, at about this time of year, upper class students ask assistant deans for career services where the summer and post-graduate jobs are. It’s a natural question, after all. I mean, fall on-campus interviewing usually concludes right about now and results in the hiring of relatively few students nationwide. So what about everyone else?

There is a natural tension between the needs of employers and the desires of law students. Only the largest of employers, employers with the resources to plan 6-9 months ahead, are in a position to hire summer interns and grads now. All other employers tend to put off hiring until they realize that they cannot afford to delay any further. Law students, of course, would like to move the issue of a summer or post-graduate job off their plate early, so they can focus on other matters, such as final exams or studying for the bar.

Historically, the equilibrium that is reached ends up yielding the following results: the vast majority of summer clerks and interns and a good-sized plurality of graduating students obtain their positions anywhere between February and July. In addition, depending upon the kind of work they are seeking, many graduating students will find jobs after graduation, the bar exam, or on learning that they passed the exam. Take it from me, who worked for a smaller law firm for more than 10 years, some law firms simply cannot afford to hire graduating students until they know the grad will soon be admitted.

So, what does all this mean? I’ll tell you what it means. It means that, at this time of year, patience is a virtue. There are plenty of things for you to be doing now to plan ahead, but actually applying for jobs is not one of them. Make an appointment to see a counselor before the end of this semester or early next semester to discuss your job search plan. Most of the problem during this time of year is the anxiety that accompanies not knowing when you are going to get a job. Talk to us and send the anxiety packing!

"Writing Your Résumé: Tips from Leading Litigators"

The website of the Section of Litigation of the American Bar Association lists many very useful tips on resume writing from the litigators of the Section.

"Your résumé is often the first point of contact between you and your prospective employer. Writing an effective resume is a challenging task, but it need not be intimidating. We've compiled advice from leaders in the Section of Litigation who have risen through the ranks and have learned a thing or two about effective résumés along the way.

General Tips

* Nothing will hurt your employment chances more than a typographical error in your résumé. Lawyers have to be able to keep track of the little details.
* Be especially careful about your use of plurals and possessive as spellcheck won’t catch improper use.
* Although “memorandums” it not technically incorrect, the common usage in the legal field is “memoranda.”
* Your personal email address says something about you. If it is not a professional choice, such as your name, consider choosing a new email address.

. . ."

To read the remainder of this very good article, go here.

The ABA Section of Litigation Summer 2010 Judicial Internship Program

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Intellectual Property Legal Writing Competition

The Virginia Journal of Law and Technology, in conjunction with Altacit Global, is holding its 1st Annual Intellectual Property Law Writing Competition. The Topic for 2009 is “The varying treatment of patentable subject matter” (the paper should be a scholarly analysis of the topic and not just a global survey of patentable subject matter). Go here for for detailed information and to submit your article.

Career Planning for Evening Students

As an evening student, you may feel like there are not enough hours in the day to do all you have to do. We understand that balancing full- or part-time work, family and friends, community service activities, recreational activities, and school is not an easy task. The fact that you do it, and do it well, says a lot about your perseverance, strength, and skills.

Along with everything else on your plate, you should make time to evaluate your legal career objectives and begin implementing a career strategy. We have found that the sooner you implement a Personal Career Plan, a plan which you and your counselor work on together, the greater the likelihood of success in finding a fulfilling legal career upon graduation.

For those of you who have non-legal jobs, the first question you should ask yourself as you evaluate your career objectives is whether to leave your current position in pursuit of legal experience, or whether to keep your position and seek alternative ways to gain legal experience. For many, this is a very difficult decision, as you presently may be in a well-paying position with responsibilities that are challenging and satisfying.

Sometimes, a legal position you take while in law school will be lower paying, may have reduced fringe benefits (health insurance, life insurance, etc.), and may give you less responsibility than your current position. Keeping the non-legal job may keep the paycheck higher, but it may reduce your marketability when you graduate. Taking a legal job now may mean taking a pay cut short term, but it will increase your options upon graduation.

We have found that a good balance between these competing considerations is to attempt to make a transition from non-legal to legal employment at the beginning of your third year. In that way, you will have two years of legal experience, just as full-time students have that opportunity (since they do not generally work during their first year of law school).

However, such a transition will prove impossible for some. In that case, other avenues to gain legal experience must be explored with a counselor. Here are a few ways evening students can develop practical legal experience:

Examine Your Skills: Evaluate your skills, experiences, and expertise in your current non-legal position that may be transferable to the practice of law.

Law-Related Projects in your Present Position: Your employer may have a legal department that may be willing to assign you a short-term project involving legal research or writing. If your company does not have a legal department, consider whether there are other ways you could participate in legal-related projects, such as contract review or due diligence. Contact the person in your company in charge of legal matters to discuss this possibility.

Bar Association Activities: Become an active member of the Suffolk County, Nassau County, New York City, or other bar association in the geographic area in which you are interested in practicing (see links for these bar associations on page one). As an active committee member, you can network and work collaboratively with attorneys.

Volunteer/Pro Bono: One excellent way to obtain legal experience is through volunteering with a public service organization or government agency.

Law Journal and/or Publish: Writing a law-related article reflects your research and writing abilities. Write publishable papers on subjects that interest you, especially in areas that you want to specialize in later. Legal employers will recognize the time and commitment that goes into writing an article. You should also consider: Moot Court, serving as a Research Assistant, participating in clinical programs and/or externships, networking, conducting informational interviews, attending career panels, and joining student organizations.

Evening students need to make a special effort to consider how to gain legal experience before graduation. If you presently have a legal job, talk to a counselor to discuss if it is the right one for you to keep until graduation. If you do not have a legal job, consider making a transition at the end of your second year of law school. You need to stay in touch with your counselor to discuss these and other issues that arise during the course of your law school career.

Free Public Relations and Marketing CLE for Attorneys

On November 5, The Public Relations and Marketing Group (PRMG) will hold its “PR and Marketing for Lawyers” lecture at Trio Restaurant, located at 700 Patchogue-Holbrook Road in Holbrook. The lecture is from 12:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. and is free of charge for attorneys. Attorneys will receive one (1) Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit for ethics and professionalism for this three-hour program. The course is appropriate for both newly admitted and experienced attorneys.

The CLE lecture will be presented by PRMG’s Founder and President, John Zaher, an attorney. It will cover marketing; advertising; press conferences and press releases; public relations; practice development techniques; relationships with existing clients; Web site design, marketing and optimization; professionalism requirements, including an update on New York’s advertising rules; and the impact of Web 2.0 concepts — such as blogs and social networking — on lawyer marketing.

This program will provide attorneys with strategies to grow their practice while conforming to ethical requirements. In addition, those in attendance will gain practical tips for choosing marketing methods that are suited to their practice, personality and their means.

Registration and lunch will begin at noon. Please note that this lecture is open to attorneys only. Seating is limited to the first 35 persons.

To register, call (631) 207-1057, or e-mail: johnzaher@theprmg.com.

You've Survived Your First Year of Law School: Now What? A Roadmap for Students

The New York City Bar Association presents:

Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 6:30 - 8 PM
House of the Association, 42 West 44th Street
Registration: This program is free of charge, however registration is required.

You’ve made it through the Socratic method, mandatory classes, outlining, and first-year finals. Now what? Come hear panelists discuss the ways in which you can continue to develop your skills and make yourself marketable. Panelists will cover topics such as important classes to take, the Bar Exam and the Multistate Professional Responsibility Test, internships, externships, clinics, study abroad programs, and Bar Association membership. A reception will follow and light refreshments will be served.

Speakers:

ANDREW CHAPIN, Director of Counseling and Public Interest Scholars, Fordham University School of Law

STUART D. SMITH, Director of Legal Recruitment, New York City Law Department

No fee required. To register, please RSVP to Jodi Savage at lspchairman@yahoo.com

Sponsored by:

Committee on Law Student Perspectives, Jodi Savage, Chair

Members of the Association and their guests are all welcome. The program is free.