Touro Law Center Featured in The Chronicle of Higher Education

Touro Law Center is featured in a great article in The Chronicle of Higher Education on how law schools are changing their curricula to better focus on practical lawyering skills. The article features the first-year Court Observation Program and our own Professor Lynne Kramer.

The article reads, in part:

"Touro's program represents part of a broader soul-searching at law schools, which have been accused of being stuck in a model that is more than a century old. For years practicing lawyers and judges have complained that law-school graduates lack the skills they need to adequately represent clients.

In 1992 the American Bar Association issued a report that urged law schools to identify skills, values, and ethics lawyers should possess and adapt their curricula accordingly.

Since then, many law schools have offered more externships and mock courtroom exercises to give students more hands-on practice.

. . .

As the Touro program shows, sometimes little things make a difference. Ms. Kramer, who spent 25 years as a divorce and family lawyer, can be irreverent with her students but is unfailingly polite with the court employees, including the officers who, as they escort students to the courtrooms, offer running commentaries about what they're about to see."

Scholarships for Law Students

The University of Idaho College of Law has collected information on over 400 scholarships available to law students and has placed the information online. The website also contains a link to helpful tips to complete scholarship applications.

To view this collection of scholarships, go here.

10 Guidelines

The ABA Law Journal is a great source for legal news throughout the country.

A recent article, 10 Guidelines for Newbie Associates, should be read by all law students and new graduates, as the guidelines can apply to legal internships, too. The guidelines are actually a summary of an article in the Texas Lawyer written by David Dummer, Esq., a litigation/regulatory associate with Weil, Gotshal & Manges in Dallas, in which Mr. Drummer talks about associate survival tips.

Here are just a few of the tips. Click on the links above to read them all.

Don't be afraid to be a new associate. While being prepared is incredibly important, it is OK not to know everything — no one does. Supervising attorneys know that new associates need training. A first-year associate who is uncertain about an assignment should ask questions and seek clarification. Specific, thoughtful inquiries demonstrate attention to the matter at hand and a recognition of one's limits as a brand-new practitioner.

Managing supervisors' expectations is half the battle. An important aspect of new associates' jobs is understanding the scope of assignments and meeting deadlines. But projects can take on lives of their own. One lawyer may ask for a deposition outline in one case, while another asks for a response to a temporary restraining order in another. Don't rush to complete both projects when the allotted time makes competently doing so impossible. Keep supervising attorneys aware of time-management obstacles and other issues as they come up, so they can adjust staffing, deadlines and expectations. That kind of open dialogue leads them to perceive the new associate as responsible and prepared rather than sloppy and delinquent.

Learn the case. When assigned projects, learn the facts and motives that drive the case. This is an easy way to dramatically increase the quality of the work product. It also makes you an invaluable team member. Although you may not realize it at first, junior associates often have the best command of the facts. For example, you may be the only person who has read all of the key e-mails and reviewed every document in the case. You may also be the person who learns the most about the client's business. Combining this encyclopedic knowledge of the facts with an understanding of the case strategy makes an associate valuable. For this reason, when it is time to attend hearings, prepare witnesses or draft critical motions, your knowledge will make you a natural go-to person (and a likely recipient of increased responsibility).

Diversity & the Legal Profession

Coming Together to Achieve the Dream -
Diversity and the Legal Profession

presented by
The Nassau County Bar Association
Amistad Black Bar Association of Long Island
Columbian Lawyers' Association of Nassau County
Jewish Lawyers' Association of Nassau County

Tuesday, January 15, 2008
at DOMUS, the Nassau County Bar Association
Cocktails: 5-6 p.m.
Buffet Dinner: 6-8 p.m.
Students: $20

Speakers:

New York State Lt. Governor David A Paterson
Honorable Juanita Bing Newton, Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Justice Initiatives, NYS
and several attorneys and law professors active in diversity causes.

RSVP by January 10, 2008.

2008 Rebellious Lawyering Conference

What is Reblaw?

The Rebellious Lawyering Conference is an annual, student-run conference that brings together practitioners, law students, and community activists / advocates from around the country to discuss innovative, progressive approaches to law and social change. Last year, over 550 practitioners, law students, and community activists traveled to New Haven to discuss progressive strategies for social change within and without the law.

Click here to read the recent article about Reblaw in the Hartford Courant!
Click here to read the Yale Alumni Magazine article about Reblaw's founding.

When is Reblaw?

The 14th Annual Rebellious Lawyering Conference will take place on the weekend of February 22nd, 23rd, and 24th, 2008.

Registration for Reblaw is now open! Go here to register.

You can also sign up on the website to receive free housing for the weekend in New Haven on the spare beds, couches and floors of local friendly, rebellious law students.

2008 Patent Law Interview Program

Save the Date:

The 2008 Patent Law Interview Program will take place on Thursday, July 31st and Friday, August 1st. The Patent Law Interview Program is a nationwide interview program that targets second and third year J.D. and L.L.M. students with engineering and/or technical science academic backgrounds. The program is held each year at the Marriott Suites Hotel near Chicago's O'Hare airport.

More information will be available in February, so stay tuned.

LeGaL Summer Judicial Internship

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Law Association of Greater New York (LeGaL) is an association of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) legal community in the New York metropolitan area.

The Dr. M.L. “Hank” Henry Jr. Fund for Judicial Internships, sponsored by LeGaL, is accepting applications for the LeGaL Foundation’s summer internship program. The intern will receive a $3,500 stipend to support a 10 week judicial internship. The internship is designed to give exposure to a variety courts and tribunals. Applications are due by January 4, 2008. The applications will soon be posted on LeGaL’s website, and can also be obtained by contacting the LeGaL office at 212-353-9118 or by emailing le_gal@earthlink.net.

2008 Summer Labor Law Fellowships

The Peggy Browning Fund is a nonprofit corporation established in memory of Margaret A. Browning, a prominent labor attorney and member of the National Labor Relations Board. President Clinton appointed Ms. Browning to the NLRB in 1994, and she served in that position until her death in February 1997.

The Fund's mission is to provide law students with diverse and challenging work and educational experiences in the area of workers' rights. Such unique and positive opportunities will both increase student understanding of workers' needs as well as promote their entry into the practice of public interest labor law.

This summer, the Fund will sponsor 40 positions in labor-related organizations throughout the United States.

Complete information about these fellowships is here.

Application deadline: January 15, 2008.

NYU Job Fair: News and Deadline!

The following students should register for the NYU Job Fair (to be held in early February):

1. All first-year students.

2. All upper-class students who are interested in public service/public interest (if you do not know if you are so interested, register and then look at the employers who will be attending the Fair; some of them may be of interest to you).

Go here to register.

The deadline to register is Wednesday, December 5, at 3:00 p.m. Do not wait until the last minute, as the NYU servers have been known to crash due to the high level of traffic and you may not be able to log on to the system.

Remember, registering for the Fair commits you to nothing. There is no penalty for registering and then deciding not to participate in the Fair. However, if you fail to register, you may not participate in the Fair.

Cover Letters:

The NYU Job Fair people have just announced a new rule regarding cover letters that may be sent to employers. Here is the message:

"This year, students are allowed to upload a cover letter in addition to their resume so long as the two are uploaded as a single document. When a student selects the "Apply" link next to an organization, the following instructions are given:

Upload Resume

You have selected to submit your resume to [organization name]. We recommend that you submit a cover letter along with your resume. If you wish to do so, you must first combine the cover letter and resume into one document. You may upload most common document formats, including Word (.doc/.docx), Works (.wps), WordPad (.rtf), WordPerfect (.wpd), Portable Document Format (.pdf), HTML (.html), and Plain Text (.txt). Shortly after you upload your résumé, a PDF version will become available.
Select 'Browse' to select your resume/cover letter and click 'Upload' to continue."

A cover letter is a great way to highlight experience and interests you may have that are relevant to an employer. We encourage all students to have their cover letters and resumes reviewed by a CSO counselor before these documents are uploaded to employers through the NYU Job Fair online system.

Please be mindful that the primary deadline to choose and apply to employers and upload your resume (and any cover letters) is January 1, 2008. After that date, your ability to choose a large number of employers is severely diminished. Look on the online system for details about the deadlines to upload your resumes and cover letters.

ABA Business Law Summer Clerkship Opportunities

The American Bar Association Summer Business Law Diversity Clerkship Program encourages students to pursue business court clerkship opportunities and to consider careers in the practice of business law. In considering a student's diversity, the Section will give special consideration to individuals who have overcome social or economic disadvantages such as physical disability, financial constraints, or cultural impediments to becoming a law student.

The objectives of the Program include:

• To encourage more diverse law students to apply for clerkship positions
• To foster relationships between business court judges and diverse law students
• To provide students with a foundation in various aspects of business law

Up to nine interns will be placed in business court clerkships in the Philadelphia Commerce Court or the Delaware Court of Chancery. Interns will also be given a summer stipend of $6,000.

The Application Process:

Applications are due January 31, 2008. Students will be notified in March 2008.

For more information about the Business Law Diversity Clerkship Program click here.

Take the Fear Out of Your Job Search

Job Search Networking and Interviewing

Thursday, December 6, 2007, 9-10:30 am
House of the Association, 42 West 44th Street

This is an interactive workshop that will provide guidance on how to network and interview, and discuss ways to take the fear out of those job search processes.

Speakers:

CAROL KANAREK, J.D. C.S.W.
Kanarek & Brady LLC; Career Management for Lawyers

LINDA E. LAUFER, J.D.
Director of Career Development, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

Sponsored by:
Committee on Career Advancement and Management, Tanya Gill, Chair

Space is limited to 25 people. Registration is necessary. The fee is $10. Please register online here.

International Pro Bono and Public Service Opportunities

A World of Opportunity:
International Pro Bono and Public Service

Wednesday, December 5, 2007, 6-8 pm
New York City Bar Association, 42 West 44th Street

This program will cover international pro bono and public service work that can be done here and abroad, the variety of organizations sponsoring such opportunities, and firsthand accounts by attorney volunteers. The panel will be followed by a reception, giving attendees a chance to chat with panelists and volunteers. This program is open to attorneys who are interested in exploring pro bono and public service opportunities with an international focus.

Speakers:

JOAN VERMEULEN
Executive Director, Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice

JEAN BERMAN
Executive Director, International Senior Lawyers Project

CHRISTINA STORM
Founder and President, Lawyers Without Borders

EDWIN REKOSH
Executive Director, Public Interest Law Institute

PAUL WILLIAMS
Executive Director, Public International Law & Policy Group

Sponsored by:
Committee on International Environmental Law, John Rousakis, Chair; Committee on International Human Rights, Mark Shulman, Chair; International Legal Services Task Force, Steven Hammond, Chair; Committee on Pro Bono and Legal Services, Madeleine Schachter, Chair; Committee on Senior Lawyers, David Ellenhorn, Chair

Co-sponsored by:
City Bar Public Service Network; Corporate Counsel Pro Bono Coordinators; Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice

Registration is necessary. Please respond to rsvp@nycbar.org

The Fastest Growing Legal Field That Doesn’t Pay a Dime

Today, Long Island Business News has an article about how big Long Island law firms are taking pro bono matters into their own hands. The article provides another reason why even those students who seek to go into private practice should consider having a semester or two of public interest experience before they graduate. Go here to read the article.

Criminal Defense Training in the South

Are you interested in indigent criminal defense practice in the south? The Southern Public Defender Training Center (SPDTC) is an organization committed to providing training to new public defenders throughout the south. SPDTC offers a three-year training curriculum designed for public defenders with less than three years of experience representing indigent defendants. This curriculum includes roughly 100 hours of instruction during the first year and 16-20 hours of instruction the following two years.

The SPDTC is designed to fill a void in training currently available to young public defenders. It takes into consideration a big-picture view of what public defenders need to better represent their clients. Rather than being limited to trial skills or discrete legal topics, the SPDTC offers a comprehensive curriculum designed specifically for public defenders. Training is designed to be interactive, making use of exercises requiring role play and simulation. With an average student to faculty member ratio of three to one, participants receive an extraordianry amount of individual attention in small group settings. The SPDTC offers a faculty of both current and former public defenders from around the country. These lawyers are all committed to the improvement of indigent defense representation and have been responsible for raising the standard of practice in jurisdictions nationwide.

Bad Handshake? Fix it.

CareerBuilder recently ran a column entitled The Worst Ways to Shake Hands, describing some of the classic examples of bad hand shakes, including the "I won't let go" and the "cold and clammy."

To read about these poor attempts to shake hands and suggestions on how to shake hands well, go here.

Boo!

LegalTech: A Legal Technology Fair

Summer Funding Sources

PSLawNet has a great collection of national summer funding sources for many summer legal jobs that traditionally do not provide a salary (government, public interest, etc.). Go here to learn more about these funding sources.

International Law Weekend

The New York City Bar will again co-sponsor and host the annual International Law Weekend, along with a number of groups, including the American Bar Association Section of International Law, the American Society of International Law, and the International Law Students Association.

This year’s theme is “Toward a New Vision of International Law.” Registration is free for students and members of the New York City Bar and sponsoring organizations. Meal functions are additional.

Thursday, October 25 - Saturday October 27, 2007

Below is one session which may be of interest....

Pathways to Employment in International Law
Sponsored by the ABA Section of International Law and the International Law Students Association

Thursday, October 25, 2007
4:00 pm to 5:30 pm

Ingrid Busson, Calyon Corporate and Investment Bank
Marc Goldstein, Marc J Goldstein Law Offices and Arbitration Chambers
Nandini Mani, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
Albert Garrofe, Cuatrecasas
Michael Scharf, Professor, Case Western Reserve University School of Law

The Opening Evening Reception will follow (5:30-8:00 pm)

Details of the entire program , and a registration form, due by October 19th, may be found here. Registration for law students and members of sponsoring organizations is free.

New York City Law Department 2007 Diversity Reception

LeGaL and Wachtell Lipton to Host Networking Event

LeGaL (The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Law Association of Greater New York) is pleased to announce that it will be joining with Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, a large national law firm, for a networking and social event for LGBT attorneys and law students from all areas of public and private practice. The event will be held at the offices of Wachtell, Lipton, 51 West 52nd Street, on October 25 from 7-9pm.

What Do Law Graduates Really Earn?

The National Association for Law Placement (NALP) is the professional organization for law school career services offices and large employer recruiting offices. One of NALP's missions is to collect employment data from the nation's law schools, analyze it, and issue reports to help law schools, law students, and legal employers see a national legal employment picture.

This month, in its monthly bulletin, NALP reported on the salary figures from over 22,000 law graduates in the class of 2006. For the class of 2006, the vast majority of graduates started work in small firms of 50 or fewer lawyers, or in non-firm settings, such as government, public interest, or business. Just 20% of all law students in the country took jobs in firms of more than 100 lawyers. The earnings reality for class of 2006 graduates is that there were two clusters of salaries, one in the $40,000-$50,000 range (the larger cluster) and the other in the $135,000 range. The median salary was $62,000, meaning half of the salaries were higher and half were lower than $62,000.

A picture really is worth a thousand words. Go here to see a graph of the 2006 salary figures.

Fall Semester 2007 Federal Work Study Grants Available

Through the Federal Work-Study Program (FWSP), Touro Law Center plans to provide approximately five-to ten stipends to students willing to work as interns with the agencies housed in Touro’s Public Advocacy Center ( PAC) and PAC affiliates in public interest legal positions this semester. The stipend will pay $10.00 per hour for 12-15 hours per week for the remainder of the fall 2007 semester. Submissions will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis and should, therefore, be submitted as soon as possible.

To apply, students must submit a Letter of Intent to Thomas Maligno, Executive Director of the Public Advocacy Center. The Letter should state which agency you want to work for and why. After receipt of your letter, Tom will transmit it to the appropriate agency that must approve Tom’s placement of you with them. Please speak to Tom if you have questions about the work that each agency does. All of the PAC agency descriptions are listed on the CSO website under the public interest job listing section.

Students should also speak with Michelle Kaminski, Director of Financial Aid, concerning their eligibility to participate in Tour’s FWSB program.

Practice Area and Specialty Guides

Harvard Law School's Office of Public Interest Advising has posted updated versions of its practice area and specialty guides. These references are great tools to learn about such topics as:

* Children's Rights
* Civil Rights/Civil Liberties
* Conservative Public Interest Law
* Environmental Law
* Foundations
* Health Law
* How to Make the Most of Your Summer Job
* Immigration & Refugee Law
* Law Firms Sponsoring Public Interest Summers and Summer Fellowships
(Split Summer, Externship, and Summer Fellowship Opportunities)
* Legal Services
* LGBT Rights Law
* Outstanding Lawyers in Action: A Day in the Life of Wasserstein Fellows
* Political Campaigns
* Private Public Interest Firms
* Pro Bono
* Public Defenders/Indigent Defense
* Sizing Up the Prosecution
* US Attorneys' Offices
* Women's Rights

To access these free online resources, go here.

The Suffolk Academy of Law

Are you interested in building expertise on your resume in a particular area of law? Have you recently become interested in a practice area in which you have no experience? Do you want employers to take notice of your resume because it contains experience that few students pursue?

The Suffolk Academy of Law, the educational arm of the Suffolk County Bar Association, offers a wide variety of practice area programming that is open to student members at a greatly reduced rate (typically $25 a program). Programs run the gamut from the Academy's annual updates in topics such as New York Civil Practice and Criminal Law & Procedure to programs on New York's sex offender laws, matrimonial mediation, time management skills, drug treatment courts, mortgage foreclosure issues, and more. Moreover, in addition to what you learn at the program, you will also have the chance to meet attorneys who are interested in the same practice areas as you. Needless to say, any program you attend should be placed on your resume (talk to a CSO counselor to find out how to include such programs on your resume).

So, go to the Academy's website and check out the great programming that will make you stand out from the crowd.

NYC Bar Association Events

Check out these exciting events taking place at the New York City Bar Association in October.

For further information about the Association's October events and to register for them, go here.

October 1: Careers in Journalism

October 2: Welcoming Reception for Law Students and Recent Law School Graduates

October 3: Using Your Law Degree in Academia

October 9: Intelligent Interviewing: Is that what I really look like?

October 10: Clarence Darrow Taking on Prejudice, Violence, and Political Complicity in the Jazz Age.

October 11: A Fair and Free Press: The special problems of the high-profile criminal prosecution

October 17: Speed Networking: Fast business for busy women

October 18: LL.M. International Law Degree Students' Reception

MetLife Career Forum

(Click on the picture to make it larger.)

Fall Semester Federal Work Study Grants Available

Through the Federal Work-Study Program (FWSP), Touro Law Center plans to provide approximately five-to ten work-study stipends to students willing to work as interns with the agencies housed in Touro’s Public Advocacy Center (PAC) and PAC affiliates in public interest legal positions this semester. The stipend will pay $ 10.00 per hour for 12-15 hours per week for the remainder of the fall 2007 semester. Submissions will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis and should, therefore, be submitted as soon as possible.

To apply, students must submit a Letter of Intent to Thomas Maligno, Executive Director of the Public Advocacy Center at thomasm@tourolaw.edu. The Letter should state which agency you want to work for and why. After receipt of your letter, Tom will transmit it to the appropriate agency that must approve Tom’s placement of you with them. Please speak to Tom if you have questions about the work that each agency does.

All of the PAC agency descriptions are listed on the CSO website under the public interest job listing section. All PAC agencies are eligible placements and many of the agencies already have job descriptions on the Career Services’ job posting site here.

Students should also speak with Michelle Kaminski, Director of Financial Aid, concerning their eligibility to participate in Tour’s FWSB program.

LALSA Receives Award!

The Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) has named the Latin American Law Student Association (LALSA) of Touro Law Center HNBA's Law Student Organization of the Year. Congratulations go to Lisa Purzak and the LALSA team for having their hard work receive such high praise! The Award will be presented to Lisa and other LALSA members at the Awards Breakfast during HNBA's National Convention in St. Juan, Puerto Rico on October 5, 2007.

CSO Hires Director of Employer Relations

Recently, the Career Services Office received approval from Dean Raful to fund a new position, Director of Employer Relations. In an ever increasingly competitive marketplace, more and more law schools are funding this type of position, which focuses on reaching out to employers in order to develop strong lines of communication. Touro Law Center is on the front lines of this movement.

Touro's new Director of Employer Relations, Margarett Williams, Esq., is a 2005 graduate of the law school and a member of the New York State Bar. Following graduation, Margarett practiced employment and matrimonial law. Prior to law school, she had a substantial career in human resources with Symbol Technologies, Inc. (now Motorola). Her business experience along with her legal background make Margarett a terrific fit for this position, and her love of Touro Law Center will make her an effective advocate for our students.

Margarett is presently meeting with students, faculty members, and administrators in order to arm herself with valuable information when she visits employers. Her mission is to meet with employers and establish ongoing relationships, so that when an employer is ready to hire an intern, summer associate, or post-graduate attorney, they will know to whom to turn. While she will certainly develop connections with students, her position will not focus on counseling. Rather, she will often be in the field, visiting several employers a day, and presenting how the amazing accomplishments of our students can be a benefit to employers.

Welcome aboard, Margarett!

Minority Law Student Leadership Summit

Dress for Success

Bronx Adds New Prosecutors

The New York Law Journal reports, in its September 14, 2007 edition, that the Bronx County District Attorney's Office recently announced the hiring of 54 new assistant district attorneys to commence in the fall of 2007.

Among those hired were Touro grads Jessica Goodwin and J.R. Reynolds, both of whom graduated this past May.

Congratulations go out to Jessica and J.R.!

New York City Bar Association Event

The Committee on Law Student Perspectives
Annual Welcoming Reception
For Law Students and Recent Law School Graduates

Start the academic year off right by joining the Committee on Law Student Perspectives at our Annual Welcoming Reception! Members of the Committee, as well as representatives from other committees, will discuss the exciting opportunities and programs offered by one of the largest and most respected Bar Associations in the country. Come learn about:

* The Committee on Law Student Perspectives’ programs for the up-coming year.

* The Committee’s resources for perspective and current law students, and recent graduates.

* The City Bar’s other committees and opportunities for student involvement

WHEN:
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
6:30 p.m. TO 8:00 p.m.
A reception will follow and light refreshments will be served.

WHERE:
THe New York City Bar Association
42 West 44th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues)
New York, NY

WHO:
Sponsored by the Committee on Law Student Perspectives. The program is open to all.

RSVP:
No fee required. Please RSVP to Jodi Savage, Chair of the Committee on Law Student Perspectives, at lspchairman@yahoo.com

Government and Public Interest Job Fair

The Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair is a month away! Over 250 government and public interest employers will be interviewing for both permanent and summer 'o8 jobs. Registration is now available at the Equal Justice Works website. Touro students and alums receive free registrations because the Law School has already paid the fee. For more information, visit their website or speak with Tom Maligno in the Public Advocacy Center. The job fair is worth while even if you don't have an individual interview.

At the CSO/PILOT meeting on Tuesday, September 18th at 5:00 PM, students will discuss transportation and lodging for the job fair.

Save the Dates!

Last day for students to submit resumes to employers: September 14
Deadline for employers to notify students of interviews: September 21
Registration closes for students to attend job fair for programs and table talk: September 28
The Conference and Career Fair: October 6 and 7

Interested in the Patent Bar Examination?

Do you have a science or engineering undergraduate or graduate degree and are you interested in utilizing that degree in patent law practice?

Sitting for the United States Patent and Trademark Office's Registration Examination (the official name for the patent bar exam) is something you should think about before you graduate from law school.

The Practicing Law Institute is the only organization that offers a live patent bar review course in New York. This year, the course is scheduled for October 3-7. This is your only chance to attend a live patent bar review course in New York until PLI's next live course, in May 2008. Upcoming major changes to the procedural rules may make the patent bar exam more difficult by next year, so it is wise to get it out of the way now, if you can. If you have any further questions about the exam or PLI's course, go here.

In addition, Dean Gilbert sat for and passed the patent bar exam, so please make an appointment to see him to learn about how to prepare to study for the exam.

Privacy and Security for the Online Job Seeker

The online world can be a dangerous place and online job search sites are no exception. Monster.com recently revealed that hackers broke into its system and that all users of the service may be at risk of having had their personal information stolen. Read more about the Monster.com debacle here.

The World Privacy Foundation lists a few tips online job seekers should keep in mind when using the Internet to apply for jobs:

1. No matter what site you access, you should always be extremely careful about giving out your SSN, date of birth, gender, race, and any sensitive medical or personal information.

2. There is never a circumstance in which you should give an employer or Web site a scan of your driver's license, your credit card number, your bank account information, plus your SSN and date of birth. Valid employers will not ask for a credit card number, even to conduct a background check.

3. Please keep in mind that some job ads are for fake jobs that are scams. For more information about this topic, please see the Consumer Job Fraud Tips page at the World Privacy Forum.

4. The Foundation encourages all job seekers to either accept only session cookies at job sites, or to opt-out of "tracking" cookies wherever possible. This is true even if you are just browsing job ads and not posting a resume. For more information about cookies, see their page on cookie privacy.

5. And finally, before you post a resume online, please read their cautions and tips on how to do this. General tips on resume posting can be found here.

Resume Tips!

Here are a few tips to make your resume the most effective marketing document it can be for you...

A resume is a formal document. Accordingly, minimize abbreviations:

Use Juris Doctor, not J.D.
Use Bachelor of Arts, not B.A.
Use Professor, not Prof.
Use Honorable, not Hon.
State abbreviations (e.g. NY, NJ, CA) are fine, but do not use periods after the letters.

Try not to use seasons for dates, except for "Summer."

Use January 2006 - April 2006, not Spring 2006

In general, prospective employers most value research and writing skills. According, the first item in a job description for a previous employer should be something like:

Conducted legal research and drafted memoranda, motions, and ....

Lawyers tend to use Times New Roman as a font for their legal documents. Using this font for your resume and cover letter will make your documents look familiar to prospective employers, which is good.

Remember, your resume is one of the first writing samples a prospective employer will see. Make sure it is perfect. Have it reviewed by a CSO counselor before you submit it, and please make an appointment with us if you have any questions about your job search documents.

Interested in Health Law?

The First Annual Student Health Law Conference and Job Fair.

The American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law are co-sponsoring the Taking the Health Law Career Path: Student Conference and Job Fair on Friday, October 19, 2007 in Pittsburgh, PA.

This new outreach program aims to involve law students in the society and to expose students to careers in health law.

Topics covered will include:

* What Do Health Lawyers Do?

* How to contact Prospective Employers - The Logistics of the Health Law Job Search

* Who Does Health Law in the Federal Government, State, County, and Local Government, Trade Associations, Nonprofits, Consulting Firms, Insurance Companies, and Small Firms

* Starting You Own Firm

* Nontraditional Jobs for Health Lawyers

* Telecommuting

Featured Speaker: Donna Gerson, author of Choosing Small, Choosing Smart, Job Search Strategies for Lawyers in the Small Firm Market

Other speakers have commited to participate from organizations including:

* University Hospitals Health System (Cleveland)
* University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
* Forum Health
* US Attorneys Office
* PA Dept. of Public Welfare
* PA Dept. of Health
* American Society of Anesthesiologists
* American Psychological Association
* CA Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems
* Office of Federal Government Relations, University of Pittsburgh
* UnitedHealth Group
* Blue Cross Blue Shield
* Grane Healthcare, Inc., and Graciano Corp.
* Respironics Corporation
* IntegriGuard, LLC
* Coventry Healthcare
* New York State Technology Enterprise Corp
* Pennsilvania Health Law Project
* Children's National Medical Center

Registration will be $35 per student and will cover materials and meals.

For general information on and to register for the conference, go here.

The Suffolk County Women's Bar Association Annual Cocktail Party

The SCWBA Annual Membership Cocktail Party will be held on Tuesday, September 25, 2007, from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the Sonoma Grill in Holbrook. This is a great opportunity for students to meet and greet Suffolk County lawyers who have always been very supportive of Touro Law Center students. In the past, business cards have been given to students by several interested attorneys and internship possibilities were discussed. Several of us from CSO will be there as well.

Please let Assistant Dean Emeritus Barbara Mehrman know by September 14 if you would like to attend ($10 for students – includes hot buffet) and to receive additional information about this great event. The Annual Membership Fee is waived for students.

Equal Justice Works Conference & Career Fair

The Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair will again offer its trademark features — a national career fair to match public interest employers with applicants, and public interest and social justice workshops, including a special track for law school public interest professionals.

Career Fair: Over 75 employers have already registered for the Career Fair and are currently accepting resumes. Submit your resumes soon, as interview slots fill up early. The deadline to submit resumes to employers is September 14, 2007. Students do not have to be registered for the EJW Conference and Career Fair to submit a resume. We suggest that students visit the website often for an updated status on employer registrations.

Conference: More information about the Conference sessions will be available online this month. Sessions will include topics such as same sex marriages and death penalty moratoriums.

New events this year for the Conference and Career Fair include:

* Law School Awards Luncheon Students, law school professionals and employers will gather on Saturday, October 6, to honor those in the law school community who serve as role models of public service.
* Student leaders from around the country share what is happening on their campuses.
* Student discussion groups supplement workshops, giving students the opportunity to get to know one another better.

Another change this year is that the Conference and Career Fair will be held a week prior to the Equal Justice Works Awards Dinner, scheduled for October 11 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.

Important Dates:

August 27: Registration goes online
September 14: Last day for students to apply for interviews.
September 28: Last day to register for the Conference and Career Fair
October 6-7: The Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair

Additional Information:

Registration: Students, alumni and law school professionals may begin registering for the Conference and Career Fair beginning August 27, 2007. Each school receives a number of free registrations based on its membership level. Once registered, students must be approved by his or her law school to receive a free registration. More information can be found here in the coming weeks.

Updates

We continually seek to keep the blog updated with new websites that we think students and alums might find useful. The links along the right hand column of this page are there for you to easily access websites that are important. The most recent additions to the blogroll on the right are the Federal Government Legal Opportunities Guide and a new section entitled Practice Area Links which links you to websites that have a multitude of links in various legal practice areas.

Be sure to scan the blogroll on the right from time to time to see if there is anything new that might interest you. And bookmark this page as a one-stop shopping site when you are ready to look for a job.

Classes start in two days! Un-freakin'-believable. The summer is over, yet the summer is not over. In any case, we are looking forward to seeing all of you!!

Professor Jonathan Ezor Writes About Career Services

In the August 2007 issue of Law Technology News, Professor Jonathan Ezor pens a column entitled Revamping Career Services: Technology tools to improve student and alumni job searches. In his article, Professor Ezor discusses the technology which Touro is presently using and will soon use to help students and alums with their job search, including computer workstations, job listing capabilities, telephone and video conferencing abilities, and new web-based career services technology modules.

Thanks go out to Professor Ezor for his interest in career services! Go here to visit Law Technology News online.

The 2007-2008 Federal GovernmentLegal Opportunities Guide

The 2007-2008 edition of the Federal Government Legal Opportunities Guide has been published by NALP, the Partnership for Public Service, and the American Bar Association's Government and Public Sector Lawyer's Division.

As always, the Guide contains detailed information on applying for legal jobs with the federal government, testimonials from current federal lawyers, descriptions of dozens of federal agencies/entities that hire lawyers, salary/benefit/LRAP info, and much more!

Anyone interested in federal government employment should take a look at this wonderful (and free) resource here.

Of course, you should also look at the University of Arizona Law School 2007-2008 Federal Government Honors and Internship Handbook here. To obtain the username and password for this resource, contact the Career Services Office at (631) 761-7030.

Legal Services for New York City Implements Loan Repayment Assistance Program

In July 2007, Legal Services for New York City (LSNY) – the largest provider of free civil legal services to the poor in the United States – inaugurated its in-house loan forgiveness program. LSNY distributed $60,000 to help its lawyers and social workers pay their professional school debts. The goal of LSNY’s loan forgiveness program – to make it easier for public interest-oriented law students to take legal services jobs and stay in the program – is critical to the continued viability of legal services programs. In New York State, less than 14% of the legal needs of the poor are being met. In order to not lose ground, the ability to attract, hire and retain talented staff becomes ever more important.

LSNY’s loan forgiveness program is one of the few programs of its kind. While almost half of the nation’s law schools and 13 states now have Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (known as `LRAPs’), very few legal services providers have such programs. LSNY’s LRAP program supplements graduate school and government programs and has a progressive structure: the level of benefit to each participant is based on debt payments each year, household size and total household income. The benefit is provided in the form of one-year loans with principal and interest forgiven annually after the completion of two years of service.

For additional information about Legal Services for New York, go here.

New York City Prosecutors and Legal Aid Society Receive Additional City Funding

The New York Law Journal recently reported that the New York City Council has given the Legal Aid Society (LAS) $85.4 million, the full amount of city funding it had requested for its criminal defense operations in the fiscal year that started July 1. The city's six prosecutors' offices also all received increases in the recently enacted budget.

The mayor in his May executive budget had approved $74.6 million for LAS' criminal defense operation. That amount is $3 million higher than last year's appropriation, but the total was still $10.8 million less than what LAS said it needed. The Journal reported that the the City Council added the full $10.8 million requested by LAS. The additional money "was critically needed to increase staff to handle a rising case load," said Steven Banks, LAS' attorney-in-chief.

LAS will now double the number of new attorneys it brings on board in October to more than 40. Though staffing levels fluctuate, Legal Aid is aiming to add 13 lawyers to its criminal defense division, bringing it to a total of 488 staff attorneys and supervisors, Mr. Banks said.

The Journal also reported that Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown said the $5 million in new funding that Mr. Bloomberg provided in his executive budget for the six prosecutors' offices was "helpful." Citywide, funding for the six prosecution offices climbed by $10.1 million to $253.3 million this fiscal year from FY 2007. The City Council added $4.1 million to the $248.2 million provided by the mayor in his executive budget for prosecutors, the same amount as it added in FY 2007.

CSO subscribes to the New York Law Journal, and you may read it in our office or in the library. In addition, the NYLJ is online here.

Ninth Annual National Law Students Workers' Rights Conference

The Peggy Browning Fund is a nonprofit corporation established in memory of Margaret A. Browning, a prominent labor attorney and member of the National Labor Relations Board. President Clinton appointed Peggy to the NLRB in 1994, and she served in that position until her death in February, 1997.

The Fund's mission is to provide law students with diverse, challenging work and educational experiences in the area of workers' rights. Such unique and positive opportunities will both increase student understanding of workers' needs as well as promote their entry into the practice of public interest labor law.

This year, the fund's annual conference will be held on October 19 and 20, 2007 in Silver Springs, Maryland. Three students from each school may attend, and pre-registration is necessary. For more information, go here.

Interview Preparation

Students who have interviews during the fall on-campus interview season should be sure to call the Career Services Office (631-761-7030) to schedule an interview preparation session with a counselor.

In addition, the University of Southern California has a terrific interview preparation tip sheet on its website. We've published the link before, but it is worth repeating. Go here to read and print out this valuable resource.

CSO Welcomes High School Students

Today, the Career Services Office hosted a group of high school students involved with the Central Islip Civic Council's summer internship program. We gave the students a tour of the new building, talked about the opportunities law school creates for them, and reinforced good study and educational habits.

The students seemed amazed at the new building, and were quick to sit in classroom and auditorium chairs to get the view from a law student's perspective. One student, Maurice, knew that one day he would become a lawyer. Indeed, Maurice may be heading for the judiciary some day, as he was the first one to sit behind the bench in the auditorium. We gave all of the students a Touro Law School goodie bag filled with Touro chachkas.

For information about the good work conducted by the Central Islip Civic Council, go here.

Word of the Day: Kerfuffle

Those of us in law school career services offices throughout the country belong to these list serves that cause us to receive countless emails a day from our colleagues requesting information or providing answers to questions previously asked. They can be very useful and also very amusing.

In one recent email, a colleague from another law school used the word "kerfuffle" in a particularly appropriate way. It is not a word you hear very often in this country (the British use it much more frequently), but it can be very effective when used appropriately.

Kerfuffle: a disorderly outburst or tumult; a commotion or fuss; a noisy, nervous shuffling around with the connotation of useless, annoying movement.

Use in a sentence: Failing to complete the appropriate paperwork before reporting for work will cause quite a kerfuffle in the Human Resources Office.

For information about the etymology of kerfuffle, you may go here or here.

Latham Watkins Diversity Scholarship

Latham & Watkins, a large national law firm, is seeking applications for its annual Latham Diversity Scholars Program, which awards four second-year law students a $10,000 non-renewable scholarship each for use during their third year of law school. For a Diversity Scholars Program overview and application for the 2008 scholarship, please click here.

In 2005, Latham launched their Diversity Scholars Program in the United States, which is designed to increase the number of diverse law students seeking to pursue careers in global law firms such as Latham. Factors considered in choosing the Latham Diversity Scholars include academic and leadership achievements, life experiences and challenges that have shaped values, and a desire to practice at a global law firm and contribute to its diversity objectives. In April 2006, four second-year law students were named as Latham's inaugural Diversity Scholars, and in January 2007, Latham named four additional Diversity Scholars. Each Scholar received a $10,000 non-renewable scholarship for his or her third year of law school. For information about the recent recipients, please click here. For more background on the launch of the program, please click here.

2007-08 Federal Government Honors & Internship Handbook

The 2007-08 Government Honors & Internship Handbook, published by the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, is now "live" on their website!

The Handbook is the go-to place to learn of hiring deadlines, procedures, and program descriptions for all federal government agencies, including the Department of Justice, that hire summer interns and post-graduate attorneys. The several appendices to the Handbook are very helpful with planning your application timetable.

Please keep in mind that many government agencies have early application deadlines, so be sure to review the Handbook soon if you have any interest in federal government legal employment.

CSO has purchased a subscription to the Handbook. Please contact us for the username and password for this terrific resource.

Equal Justice Works Fellowships

The Equal Justice Works (EJW) Fellowships Program provides financial and other forms of support to lawyers (new grads) working on innovative legal projects throughout the U.S., including New York City. The two-year Fellowships offer salary (up to $37,500 annually) and generous loan repayment assistance; a national training and leadership development program; and other forms of support during the term of the Fellowship.

This year,projects include areas such as :

Aid to disadvantaged children and youth
Civil rights litigation
Special education
Transactional law
Transgender rights

The 2008 Equal Justice Works Fellowships application is available here. You may review the application form by creating a profile and an application name. All applications will be judged according to the quality of the proposed project, the host organization and the individual candidate, taking into consideration other factors such as issue area and geographic diversity. Interviews will be conducted nationwide throughout the fall, and offers will be extended on a rolling basis.

The application deadline is September 18, 2007, 5 p.m. EDT.

If you have any questions, please email fellowships@equaljusticeworks.org or call (202)466-3686, extension 202.

The Legal Services Corporation Announces "Quality Initiative" to Encourage Public Interest Careers

Karen J. Sarjeant, Vice President for Programs and Compliance of the Legal Services Corporation in Washington, D.C., has written a terrific article in the July 2007 issue of the NALP Bulletin entitled, "Working to Encourage Public Interest Careers with Legal Services Corporation Programs: The LSC Quality Initiative."

Although NALP does not often allow Bulletin articles to be published beyond its membership, we received special permission from NALP to reproduce the article here.

Any student or alum who is considering a career in public interest should read Ms. Serjeant's article, which addresses recruitment, retention, loan assistance, professional development, diversity, mentors, and other important issues that can make a public interest career successful.

Senate Passes Bill to HelpProsecutors and Public DefendersWith Student Loan Debt

Recently, the United States Senate passed Senate Bill 442 (higher education reauthorization) that provides debt relief for law graduates going into state prosecutors and public defenders offices.

The House passed similar stand-alone legislation separately earlier this year (see the Blog's report on this here). The House and Senate will now conference to determine what the parameters of the final Bill will be.

A Writing Competition:The Rights of Transbeman Persons

Here's an odd little writing competition.

Terasem Movement, Inc. is sponsoring a writing competition and asking for papers containing an analysis of the legal rights and obligations of transbeman persons. "Transbeman" is defined as a being who claims to have the rights and obligations associated with being human, but is beyond currently accepted notions of legal personhood. (Examples would include a computer claiming to be conscious; a person successfully revived from post-mortem cryonic biostasis; or downloading cyberconsciousness into bionano bodies).

The deadline is December 10, 2007. Winner(s) will receive a $1,000 prize plus all related travel and lodging to/from a Colloquium in Melbourne Beach, FL.

Your paper must be 6,000 to 10,000 words in length, including footnotes. Send submissions to: Terasem Movement, Inc. 201 Oak Street Melbourne Beach, Fl 32951.

Good luck, and may the best nanite win!

(Look along the right hand column for links to websites that list many more writing competitions. The year is just getting into gear and many websites have yet to be updated for 2007-2008 competitions, but at least you can get a good idea of the requirements and deadlines from last year. Winning a writing competition is an incredible boost for your resume. Think about it.)

The Student Loan Albatross

In the July/August 2007 edition of the New York County Lawyer, the monthly newspaper of the New York County Lawyers Association, the President of the Association, Catherine A. Christian, pens an article entitled The Student Loan Albatross, in which she discusses the burden student loans place upon a graduating law student's public service career options and potential federal legislation which may address it.

Go to the New York County Lawyer online to read Ms. Christian's article on page 5.

Corporate IP Intern Scholarship

The Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation (IPOEF) will award two $10,000 scholarships this year to law students who have completed internships in corporate intellectual property law departments and who intend to pursue a career in intellectual property law. The deadline for application materials is October 12, 2007.

For more information, go to the IPOEF website.

PRLDEF Hosts Incoming Law Student Reception

ABA Law Student Division Career Fair: August 9 in San Francisco

The ABA Law Student Division Career Fair kicks off the Division’s portion of the ABA Annual Meeting in San Francisco. The event takes place Thursday, August 9 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Marriott San Francisco Hotel (55 Fourth Street) in the Yerba Buena Ballroom Salon 9 on the Lower B2 Level.

This inaugural Career Fair is structured as a table-talk and resume submission event to provide law students an opportunity to learn more about each firm or agency, while actively gaining valuable career advice. Legal employers will have tables where attendees can drop off resumes and meet representatives from law firms of all sizes, state and federal government agencies, military JAG, and public interest and non-profit groups to discuss summer and new associate positions, as well as internships and volunteer opportunities. Students may interact with legal employers without the typical stress of formal, sit-down interviews.

The Law Student Division’s Career Fair also features a Resume Review component, with a panel of lawyers and legal recruiters available to critique resumes and offer suggestions to maximize impact and improve effectiveness.

Law students must be registered for the ABA Annual Meeting to gain access to the Career Fair. Pre-registration has closed, but students who have not yet registered for the Annual Meeting, may do so beginning Thursday morning, August 9 at 8:00 am in the Exhibit Hall, 1st Floor, Moscone Center West (800 Howard Street). The registration fee for law students is $75. Only law students wearing official ABA Annual Meeting badges will be admitted to the Career Fair.

For more information about registration and ABA Annual Meeting events, please go here. The American Bar Association offers many educational sessions that give students the opportunity to meet and interact with legal professionals from across the country. While lawyers must pay for CLE events, registered law students generally are allowed complimentary admittance to educational events.

Participating Employers:

Arnold Law Practice - San Francisco, CA
The Florida Bar Foundation - Orlando, FL
Florida Department of Children and Families / General Counsel's
Office - Tallahassee, FL
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP - New York, NY
Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis (K&L Gates) -
Seattle, WA
Leonard, Street and Deinard - Minneapolis, MN
Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand - Minneapolis, MN
McCormick, Barstow, Sheppard, Wayte, & Carruth, LLP - Fresno, CA
Morgan, Lewis - San Francisco, CA
Seyfarth Shaw LLP - Los Angeles, CA
U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps - Washington, DC
U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps - Rosslyn, VA
U.S. Coast Guard - Washington, DC
U.S. Department of Justice / Office of Attorney Recruitment and
Management - Washington, DC
U.S. Postal Service - Washington, DC
U.S. Public Interest Research Group - Boston, MA
White & Case - Palo Alto, CA

Confirmed Resume Reviewers:

Ilene R. Breitbarth, Manager, Law Student Field Recruitment, ABA
Membership & Marketing Division
Andrew Chapin, Director of Public Interest Scholars &
Counseling, Fordham Law School
Lisa Dickinson, Attorney Recruiting and Professional Development
Manager, Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Cathy Fitch, Director of Career Development, Stetson University
College of Law
Shelley Levine, Professional Recruitment Manager, Heller Ehrman
LLP
to be determined from Latham & Watkins

For more details about the ABA Law Student Division’s Career Fair or Annual Meeting programming, please go here.

2008 State Court Clerkship Guide Available

Vermont Law School has published the 2008 State Court Clerkship Guide, an invaluable resource when trying to figure out the tangled web of 50 state court clerkship application procedures.

CSO has purchased the username and password for this year's Guide for students. Any student interested in the Guide should contact CSO (631-761-7030) for this information.

The website for the Guide is here.

In addition, there is a hard copy of the Guide in the CSO suite.

Registration Deadline for Diversity Job Fair Looming

Vault and the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) are hosting 4 legal diversity career fairs in August, 2007.

Register today to:

Gain exposure to 150 legal employers from across the U.S. (attending the 4 events) actively looking to recruit 2L, 3L and lateral hires for positions nationwide.

Obtain valuable educational content through presentations, panel discussions, and interactive sessions focused on interviewing, career options, associate life, women & minority law leaders.

Listen to diverse industry leaders reveal their recipes for a successful legal career.

For more information on the event, go here.

For a list of participating legal employers, go here.

For the event agenda, go here.

To register, go here.

Deadline to register is August 6th -- register today!

“Finding and Funding International Public Service Opportunities”

The newly updated “Finding and Funding International Public Service Opportunities” guide is available on PSLawNet here.

2008 Equal Justice Works FellowshipApplications are Now Available

Go here for more information.

The deadline for Fellowship applications is September 18th.

Important reminders:

Review the application ASAP. EJW recommends that prospective candidates review the online application form as soon as possible to familiarize themselves with how it works and to consider the necessary items required to apply -- the online application, the Certification Form (signed by both candidate and host organization) and up to two letters of recommendation.

Begin working on the application early. The online application does not have spell check capability, so candidates are advised to draft their application text in a word processing program. There are character limits noted for each text box, and character counts may differ between a word processing program and the application. It is therefore important for candidates to paste the text into the application well in advance of the deadline to ensure that the text fits in the allotted space.

Hard copy documents must be received by September 18th. The deadline for submission of the application, which is done online, is 5pm EDT on September 18th. A signed Certification Form and up to 2 recommendation letter(s) must be received by Equal Justice Works no later than September 18th. These items must be mailed or hand delivered. Faxes and emails will not be accepted.

Practicing Law as a Woman in New York City

Labor/Employment LawSummer Intern Reception

Some Law Firms Reach Out to Gay Attorneys

By Daniel Ostrovsky
Daily Business Review
June 29, 2007

Richard A. Wilson, chairman of the National Lesbian and Gay Law Association, recalls that as recently as 2002 only a couple of law firms made the trip to recruit at the group's Lavender Law Career Fair.

In 2003, the National Association for Law Placement began analyzing information about the number of openly gay and lesbian lawyers at law firms.

By 2004, the Lavender Law Fair attracted 40 firms to its Minneapolis conference. More than 70 firms attended the fair in San Diego in 2005. Last year, the fair attracted more than 120 firms to Washington, D.C. In September, more than 140 firms are expected in Chicago.

* * *

"All of a sudden -- overnight -- we went from nothing to something in terms of interest," said Wilson, who has his own law firm in Chicago.

Gay lawyers always have made important contributions in the legal profession, whether they are out or not. In today's cutthroat recruiting environment for legal talent, however, more large firms are aggressively reaching out to talented gay lawyers just as they do with racial and ethnic minorities and women.

One driving factor is that clients increasingly ask about the number of gay and lesbian lawyers at law firms, according to gay lawyers and law firm leaders. Some gay and lesbian clients feel more comfortable working with lawyers of the same sexual orientation.

To read the complete article, go to lawjobs.com.

NYC Public Interest Reception

United States House of Representatives Passes Bill Aiding Public Service Lawyers

The June 2007 edition of the ABA eNewsletter reports as follows:

On May 15, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill that would help new law school graduates who wish to take positions as state or local prosecutors, or as federal, state or local public defenders but might be deterred because of relatively low salaries and high student loan payments. Under the program, lawyers who join the criminal justice system are eligible for forgiveness of a portion of their student loans when they commit to complete at least three years of qualifying public service.

ABA President Karen J. Mathis, noting the monthly loan repayment of $800 to $1,100 that many lawyers face with a median starting salary of $42,000 for public service lawyers, wrote, "Under the current system, lawyers often are forced to leave such public service for higher paying positions in law firms or other venues, meaning that the lawyers who do remain are stretched thin and must assume considerable case loads. In addition to such strain on the individual lawyer and family, this threatens the administration of justice and the very fundamentals of our nation."

The Senate Judiciary Committee passed its version of the bill on April 10. It is now awaiting full Senate action.

Fall On-Campus Interview Materials Mailed

CSO has mailed a packet of information concerning the Fall On-Campus Interview season to all returning Touro students. These are preliminary materials, as additional employers will contact us in the coming months to schedule on-campus interviews or resume collection deadlines.

Please be sure to read all of the materials carefully. In addition, be sure to check the CSO website here for updates to the schedule. If you have any question, contact CSO.

New York City Bar AssociationPresents Its Summer CLE Catalog

Taking a CLE class is a great way to show your commitment to a particular practice area and supplement your resume if you are lacking experience in a practice area of interest to you. The New York City Bar Association has released its Summer CLE Catalog. Check it out to see if any CLE classes are right for you.

Northeast Regional BLSA Job Fair

The Northeast Black Law Students Association has announced that the Annual NEBLSA Job Fair is scheduled for Friday, August 17, 2007, at the Sheraton on the Hudson in Weehawken, NJ. Students can pre-register on their Job Fair website, www.easelaw.com/nblsa; upon registering students will be able to view Job Fair details, pertinent dates, and all relevant information. The Fair is free for all paid BLSA members.

Class of 2007: Congratulations from the Nassau County Bar Association

Craig's List Becoming More Popular with Legal Employers

As Craig's List has grow in popularity with the general public, employers have come to see it as a useful tool to recruit new employees. Legal employers have also jumped on the bandwagon, and Craig's List is now seen by many as a worthwhile website to look for legal job listings, including listings for internships. For listings in the New York vicinity, go here.

International Criminal Tribunal Seeks Legal Interns

The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia is seeking interns beginning in August 2007. While the experience is unpaid, it is an excellent international opportunity, and the Tribunal often hires its interns as attorneys. For additional information, go here.

VAULT Diversity Career Fairs

Vault and the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) are hosting 3 legal diversity career fairs in August, 2007. This is a great opportunity for you to gain exposure to over 100 legal employers from across the U.S. (attending the 3 events) as well as valuable educational content through presentations, panel discussions, and interactive sessions focused on interviewing, career options, associate life, women & minority law leaders and more.

Students are invited to participate in the events to be held:

Chicago -- August 14, 2007 -- 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

New York -- August 16, 2007 -- 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

San Francisco -- August 21, 2007 -- 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Here are some answers to a few FAQs about the Fairs:

Q. Who will be invited to attend the Legal Diversity Career Fair?

A. While all students and lateral associates are welcome to attend, the Legal Diversity Career Fair specifically targets the following underrepresented groups:

Minority, female and GLBT 1Ls who are researching future employers
Minority, female and GLBT 2Ls and 3Ls who have not yet committed to a firm or other employer
Minority, female and GLBT lateral associates who are looking for new opportunities

Q. Is there a charge to attend the Legal Diversity Career Fair?

A. There is no charge for students and lateral associates to attend the event. We simply ask that they pre-register through our website.

Q. Will interviews be held during the Career Fairs?

A. Employers will have access to the resume database prior to the event and may choose to set up interviews with 2L, 3L and lateral candidates that have pre-registered for the event. Please note, submission of resume does not guarantee an interview.

Q. Is the Legal Diversity Career Fair open to students and lateral associates from across the U.S.?

A. Yes, we are promoting this event nationwide and encourage everyone, especially minority, female and GLBT law students and lateral associates to attend one or more of the events.

Q. What employers will be exhibiting at the Legal Diversity Career Fair?

A. Law firms, government agencies, legal recruiters and corporate counsel departments that are interested in meeting with a diverse group of students and lateral associates have been invited to exhibit at the event. To view a current listing of sponsors and exhibitors please visit our website.

Q. What if my resume changes after I register for the Legal Diversity Career Fair?

A. When you register for the event, you will receive a confirmation email containing a link that will allow you to update your resume prior to the event (s).

Q. Is there a deadline to register?

A. There is no deadline, however, we recommend that you register as soon as possible.

Q. Can I register for more than one of the events?

A. Yes.

The FDIC is Hiring for Fall 2008

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is accepting applications for employment in the Legal Division’s Honors Attorney Program in Washington, DC, for employment beginning in late August, early September, 2008. The application period runs from June 1, 2007, through September 30, 2007. Please refer to their Honors Attorney Program website for additional information, including qualifications and application requirements.

LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell Fellowship

Applications are being accepted for the LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell Fellowship, which supports a lawyer or nonprofit legal-services organization that practices education or public-interest law. One $15,000 fellowship will be awarded. Additional information is available on the company’s Web site.

Contact: Michael Gibeault, LNMH, 121 Chanlon Road, New Providence, NJ 07974; (800) 526-4902, ext. 3577; michael.gibeault@lexisnexis.com; http://www.martindale.com/xp/Martindale/Peer_Review_Ratings/ratings_fellowship.xml">www.martindale.com/xp/Martindale/Peer_Review_Ratings/ratings_fellowship.xml">http://www.martindale.com/xp/Martindale/Peer_Review_Ratings/ratings_fellowship.xml.

Burglar Leaves His Resume At Scene Of The Crime

(CBS) BROOKLYN:

At least we know he was actively pursuing a real career.

Police in Brooklyn apprehended a man suspected of burglarizing a home and leaving his resume behind at the scene of the crime.

Al Waxter, 39, faces burglary and other charges after police say he broke into the Clinton Hill home of Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Yvonne Graham. Police say Waxter made off with some money and valuables, but he left behind a bag containing his keys and his resume.

Graham was glad the suspect was captured, but she's also relieved she didn't encounter the burglar herself. "I am very happy I wasn't home when it happened so I didn't have to have a confrontation with this individual," she told CBS 2.

Waxter didn't waste time blowing his cover when police found him either -- he was apparently wearing Graham's diamond studded earrings when he was placed under arrest.

Waxter told police the gate to Graham's home was left open.

A Virtual Approach to Job Interviews: Have Your Avatar Talk to My Avatar

Last week, Sodexho decided to skip the phone-screening process for potential job candidates. Instead, the Gaithersburg food and facilities management company took to the computer-based virtual world, where job-seekers were invited to create avatars (animated graphic characters) of themselves to be interviewed online by avatars of Sodexho recruiters.

To read the rest of the article, go here.

Public Interest Positions in Washington, D.C.

The City Council for the District of Colombia has increased its funding for civil legal services, resulting in the need for new legal services attorneys. Go here to learn about these exciting new opportunities.

Program on Civil Rights and the Latino Community

Save The Date: Thursday, June 7, 2007

Civil Rights and the Latino Community:
Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Mendez v. Westminster decision, and a review of current civil rights issues impacting Latinos

United States Courthouse
Southern District of New York
500 Pearl Street
New York, NY
Brieant Conference Room, 8th Floor
6:00-8:30 p.m.

In 1946, the Mendez and other families challenged California's segregated public school system, which provided separate, inferior schools for Latino students. The US District Court decision held that the segregated school system was unconstitutional, and its decision was affirmed in 1947 by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, seven years before the US Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education.

The program will feature a viewing of the Emmy award winning documentary, Mendez v. Westminster: For the Children, with remarks by Sandra Robbie, its creator. Additional remarks by Sylvia Mendez, a daughter of the plaintiffs who testified at trial; Jenny Rivera, Special Deputy Attorney General for Civil Rights, NYS Attorney General's Office; and Norma Ramos, Esq., Executive Director, Coalition Against Trafficking in Women and West Harlem
Environmental Action (WE ACT) Board Member.

Co-Sponsors:

The Dominican Bar Association
The Hispanic National Bar Association, New York Region
The Latino Lawyers Association of Queens County
The Puerto Rican Bar Association
The West Harlem Environmental Action

Light food and beverages to follow program.

Please RSVP at rglebron@aol. com

Thinking about starting your own practice?

If you are thinking about hanging a shingle and practicing law as a solo practitioner, you should check out a lunch program sponsored by the New York City Bar Association aimed at recent graduates and soon-to-graduate students. The program, The Necessities of Opening Your Own Practice, will feature three solo practitioners and a CPA to discuss important issues faced by new attorneys who begin their own practice.

The program is to be held on Thursday, May 17, from 12:30-2:00, at the house of the Association on West 44th Street in Manhattan. The fee, which includes lunch, is $25 for members and $35 for non-members. For more information and to register (by May 10), go here.

Identity Theft: Jury Duty Scam

Please be aware of a Jury Duty scam that is currently making the rounds. The scam is an effort to steal your identity, and it has been verified by the FBI. It is spreading fast so be prepared should you get this call.

Most of us take summons for jury duty seriously, but enough people skip out on their civic duty that a new and ominous kind of scam has surfaced.

A caller will contact you and claim to be a Jury Coordinator. If you protest that you never received a summons for jury duty, the scammer asks you for your Social Security number and date of birth so he or she can verify the information and cancel the arrest warrant. Once you give out any of this information, your identity has been stolen.

The scam has been reported so far in at least 11 states, and it is particularly insidious because the scammers use intimidation over the phone to try to bully people into giving information by pretending they are with the court system.

The FBI and the federal court system have issued nationwide alerts on their web sites, warning consumers about the fraud.

What is a contract attorney?

In the May 2007 issue of 44th Street Notes (page 28), the monthly newsletter of the New York City Bar Association, the topic of contract attorneys is discussed in a very helpful article. Many attorneys are turning to contract work as a way to change their quality of life. In addition, there is often contract work to be performed by law school graduates awaiting to hear the results of the Bar Exam or who are awaiting to be admitted.

Contract attorneys are generally brought in to work for an employer for a limited period of time in order to meet a temporary staffing need. Assignments can last as long as a few days or weeks to over a year or more. Most contract attorney positions are obtained through staffing agencies, and most assignments are with large firms and corporations. The pay is quite decent, and benefits are offered through the agency. CSO has a list of temporary legal staffing agencies, so please ask us for it if you are interested. Check out 44th Street Notes to learn more about this legal career option.