Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Public Service Law Resources from Harvard Law School

Harvard Law School has several websites helpful to students and alums from all law schools who have an interest in public interest/public service law.

Overview of Public Service Practice Settings

Resumes

Cover Letters


Networking


Interviewing

Various Public Interest Links

Specialty guides that cover a wide range of public interest legal work

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

New York State Appellate Division Seeks Volunteer Clerks

The The New York State Appellate Division, Second Department, is soliciting applications from the Class of 2009 and earlier years for volunteer clerk positions with the court through its Judicial Fellowship Program.

For those interested, a cover letter, resume, law school transcript, LSAT score, and writing sample should be mailed to:

Honorable Mark C. Dillon
Chair, Judicial Fellowship Program
Appellate Division of the Supreme Court
Second Judicial Department
45 Monroe Place
Brooklyn, NY 11201

The application deadline is July 17, 2009.

For more information about the Appellate Division, Second Department, go here.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Touro Law Announces Public Service Project for Incoming Students

Touro Law Center is committed to academic excellence, social justice, and community service. This commitment is deeply rooted in the moral and ethical obligations of the legal profession. In the 1980’s, Touro created one of the first mandatory Pro Bono/Public Service requirements in the country. An emphasis on community service has been woven into the fabric of Touro’s mission and daily activities, and this commitment begins with Touro’s administration and faculty – many of whom are also leaders in the public interest field because of their past work as members of legal aid or legal services programs or their current pro bono activities.

It is for these reasons that Touro invites all incoming students to voluntarily participate in TLC – Touro Law Cares. On Sunday, August 16, 2009, we will host a community service project after the formal Orientation program that day.

Project

Our project this year is historic preservation work with the Central Islip Civic Council. In 1996, the Central Islip Civil Council purchased 2 historic homes and 4½ acres of land on Wheeler Road. The property has lovely trees, gardens, and a blacksmith shop that belonged to Henry Heines, the Central Islip’s village blacksmith from 1903 until 1977. The Council has also built a replica of Central Islip’s first one-room schoolhouse (1861) on the property. The historic Heines Homestead is a living history exhibit and a showpiece for our community. The Council can use help with historic preservation work, specifically painting and assisting with the restoration of historic buildings (over 100 years old) that once stood at the Central Islip State Hospital. These buildings are used now for a “Step Back in Time” program where special tours for schoolchildren from pre-kindergarten to 6th grade are held. On this property the Civil Council provides many services to our neighbors in Central Islip including a food pantry, foreclosure counseling and community organizing. In addition to the work described above, the Civic Council has asked us to assist in similar work at other locations within the Central Islip community. These efforts will also involve restoration work in other locations such as houses abandoned or empty due to foreclosure.

This is hands-on-work. Our project will involve physical labor (teams may be involved in site clearance, painting, plantings in a community garden, etc.) as part of an effort to contribute to neighborhood revitalization in partnership with the community. No previous experience is necessary. The Council will provide work gloves, all tools, paint and water. Come dressed in clothes you don’t mind getting dirty and that are comfortable. Wear long pants.

We look forward to seeing you for this great project!

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

HOT TOPIC CLE: Dealing With Residential Foreclosures

This is a great CLE program for those interested in breaking into residential real estate foreclosure work:

The New York State Bar Association presents:

Dealing With Residential Foreclosures
Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Melville Marriott Long Island
1350 Old Walt Whitman Road
Melville, NY

Description:

Dealing with Residential Foreclosures: Defenses and Remedies from the Borrowers' Standpoint-Long Island

7.5 TOTAL CREDITS
7.5 credit hours of practice management and/or professional practice

This Basic-level course may be used for New York MCLE credit by all attorneys,
including those who are newly admitted (less than 24 months).

Co-sponsored by the Real Property Law Section
and the Committee on Continuing Legal Education of the New York State Bar Association

Program Description

In light of the subprime lending crisis and the increases in mortgage foreclosures, lenders and government have opted to change the rules under which borrowers and lenders operate. The New York State Bar Association’s Real Property Law Section is responding with this timely program that will not only address the foreclosure process, but also the foreclosure defenses and remedies from the borrowers' standpoint. Recent developments addressed by Congress and the New York Legislature have given the practitioner new procedures to follow in representing the borrower in the foreclosure process as well as arming the borrower with more rights to protect the property. The mandatory settlement conference and the availability of non-lawyer counselors are but two of the new features in this foreclosure environment that will be covered during this program.

An expert faculty will give those in attendance an overview of recent legislation along with recent court cases. The faculty will discuss how the recent developments may affect the borrowers' ability to negotiate short sales, deeds in lieu of foreclosure, forbearance agreements, and other settlement tactics. Attend this program and get the latest information and practice tips you need to protect your clients.

To read more about this program including an extensive agenda, and to register online, go here.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

New York State Bar Association's
Free Career Development Webinar Series

The NYSBA Committee on Lawyers in Transition is sponsoring free LIVE webinars for all attorneys in need of career assistance.

If you are currently unemployed, looking to make a career change, leave your current job, or transition back to the workforce after time away from the profession, the Committee on Lawyers in Transition is in the midst of offering a series of free webinars to help you. Session Three of the series will take place on Wednesday, June 3, 2009 from noon - 2:00 p.m. Presenters will discuss Crafting Your Resume for Today’s Market: How to Make Them Want to Meet You and Selling Yourself in the Interview: Listen First Then Speak. Session Four is scheduled for Thursday, July 9, 2009 from noon - 2:00 p.m. and will feature a panel of attorneys who followed their passions to alternative careers.

Materials and program links will be forwarded to all registrants.
The programs are free to all attorneys, but pre-registration is required. Register online today.

Session Three:
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Crafting Your Resume for Today’s Market: How to Make Them Want to Meet You
and Selling Yourself in the Interview: Listen First Then Speak

Presented by Chelsea Silverman, Senior Vice President - Director of National Staffing, Strategic Legal Solutions and
Inna Idelchik Swinton, Esq., Managing Director, Strategic Legal Solutions

Session Four:

Thursday, July 9, 2009
12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

The Next Wave:
A Panel of Lawyers Who Followed Their Passions to Alternative Careers

Presented by Lisa Montanaro, JD, CPO, Certified Professional Organizer, Business & Life Coach, Motivational Speaker,
Alex Barnett, Comic, New York City, and
Adaora Udoji Former Correspondent, CNN and ABC News

Moderator: Elena Kaspi, JD, MSW, ACC, Certified Executive Career and Business Coach, President & Founder, LawScope Coaching LLC