Public Works

A Chat with Courtney Chu '11: Getting into Public Health Law

We caught up last fall with Courtney Chu ’11 to talk about her work as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Visiting Attorney Fellow practicing public health law at ChangeLab Solutions, a nonprofit in Oakland, CA.

Courtney graduated in 2011 with a J.D. and Master of Public Health, having worked during her summers at the American Association for Health Freedom in Arlington, VA, Keller and Heckman LLP in Washington, D.C., and the Oregon Public Health Division in Portland, OR. 

PSC: Hi Courtney. Thanks so much for joining us! What kind of work will you be doing as a fellow?

Courtney: ChangeLab Solutions provides technical legal assistance on public health matters and doesn’t do advocacy or form attorney-client relationships, so I’ll be doing somewhat non-traditional legal work. I've been hired on to help grow the organization’s new healthy housing program. Over the next year, I'll be assisting the program director, who's a senior staff attorney, with projects and strategic planning. At the same time, I'm developing a fellowship project that will relate to healthy housing, but also bring in some other areas of public health policy.

PSC: When you were a joint degree student at Virginia, did you know what kind of health care law job you wanted after graduation?

Courtney: I knew that I wanted to do public health policy, although I gave traditional legal practice a chance over my second summer at a firm that specializes in FDA law. I wasn't sure whether I wanted to go into government or the private sector (i.e., nonprofit policy organizations), and am still figuring that out for the long term.

PSC:  How did you find out about your fellowship?

Courtney: The Network for Public Health Law announced it in an email newsletter that I receive. My supervisor and a coworker at the Oregon Health Authority, Public Health Division, also brought it to my attention and encouraged me to apply. Since my job at the Division was temporary, they knew I'd be looking for something soon. The Division has worked closely with some of the fellowship host sites, including ChangeLab Solutions, and regards them very highly.

PSC: Were you worried about your chances of getting this fellowship? How did you prepare to maximize your chances of getting it?

Courtney: I was very worried. I was still pretty fresh out of school and I really, really wanted it - it seemed like a dream job. The application process was standardized through an online platform on the NPHL website, and the only written portion that required a lot of work was the application narrative. I worked on that for a long time and got help from my partner and sister. Mostly, though, I was worried about the phone interviews. They always feel awkward. So, when I made it through the first cut and to the interviews, I practically flew over to the Public Service Center to seek help preparing. I think the practice interview and other advice I received from PSC were essential in landing me the job.

PSC: Well, you were already an excellent candidate! You graduated from school without a permanent job in hand and then landed this wonderful fellowship while studying for your second bar exam, as I recall. Do you have any words of advice for 3Ls who are anxious about postgraduate employment?

Courtney: I would encourage soon-to-be grads to see the messy market as an opportunity to keep exploring after school. I graduated with a full debt load, so I know how stressful that is, but I also wasn't entirely clear on what I wanted to do. The temp job with OHA was a great way to get started because I got to do real work, but also had the freedom to move on to something new once my project wrapped up. My current fellowship is only a year long and is intended to give me an opportunity to explore, learn more about the field, and network so I can get a better idea of the opportunities out there. I know that many people would be freaked out by the time limits on these jobs, and perhaps they wouldn’t enjoy my path as much as I have, but I think the varied experience I've gotten may make me more competitive for my next job than candidates who kept the same position for several years.

These short-term opportunities are also often meatier. At the Division, I had six months to start and complete a rulemaking, so there was no time to waste! I anticipate that my year here will fly by too, and, as a small non-profit, ChangeLab Solutions needs its fellows to do important work. There's no "busywork."

PSC: Great advice. Thanks so much for spending time with us and good luck digging into your new job!

Courtney: Thank you! I'm happy to share my experience.

Landing a Federal Government Job: A Chat with Amber Williams '12

Amber Williams ’12 worked her 1L summer at two NGO's in Bulgaria (The Center for Legal Aid--Voice in Bulgaria and the Rule of Law Institute) and during her 2L summer at the National Nuclear Security Administration in D.C.  I interviewed her recently on GChat to talk about her federal government job search.

~

PSC: Hi Amber, I'm so glad you can join us. You just started a job recently working with the Administrative Conference of the United States.  What does the agency do and how are you liking it so far?

Amber: I started at the Administrative Conference of the United States (ACUS) nearly 3 weeks ago.  ACUS is an independent agency charged with making government better and more efficient. I absolutely love my job. Everyday I feel like I am making a positive difference.

PSC: That's wonderful!  When you started law school, what kinds of jobs were you interested in?

Amber: I didn't have a particular job in mind. I knew I wanted to make a difference and that I wanted to work in D.C., but I didn't have a particular career path sketched out.

PSC: Sure. Many of us feel that way when starting out. Let me fast forward then to your 3L year. This is a long, hard year for many public service students. How did you start out your job search?

Amber: I started out by meeting with different people and by pursuing a number of opportunities. I met with you, Kevin Donovan, and other attorneys working in public interest careers to brainstorm particular jobs to pursue and to draft my cover letters accordingly. I also set up alerts through Symplicity and PSLawNet so that I would know when certain jobs became available. Separately, I scoured both Symplicity and PSLawNet about once a week in case any job opportunities fell through the cracks. I also regularly visited both USAJobs and federal agency websites. I stayed in touch with attorneys in D.C. and returned to D.C. a handful of times to attend networking events. I kept a spreadsheet of the jobs I applied to so that I knew at a glance what stage I was at with each application.

PSC: You were organized!  When and how did you find out about the ACUS opening?

Amber:  I found out about the ACUS opening from Professor (now Dean) Magill the last week of winter break 2012. I had never heard of ACUS before, but when I visited the website, I got really excited about ACUS’ mission and knew I had to be part of it.

PSC:  You applied for the position, of course. What did you do after that to help your chances of getting the job?

Amber:  ACUS contacted me for a Skype interview. I set up a meeting with you to prepare for the interview and you recommended I go in person. I did go and both at the interview and since I've started my job, I was told that that was a good decision. After the interview, I followed up by sending ACUS a couple of different writing samples to show my versatility as a writer. I also gave them letters of recommendation from attorneys with whom I had worked at NNSA. In addition, I asked five professors to contact and recommend me to ACUS.

PSC:  When did you end up getting your offer?

Amber:  They called me two weeks after the interview and extended the offer to me. I was absolutely thrilled and accepted on the spot. That was right before spring break, so the whole ACUS application/interview process took nearly two months.

PSC:  That meant you were working on your job search most of your third year. Any words of advice for 3Ls now about things to keep in mind as they enter their job searches?

Amber: I think meeting with ACUS in person was extremely important because it showed my genuine interest in the job. However, those professors and attorneys who advocated for me, especially Professor Magill, were instrumental in helping me attain my dream job. I recommend developing relationships with attorneys and professors who know you and your work. UVA professors want their students to succeed; they are there to help you. I also recommend meeting with Annie and the Public Service Center staff. They have a wealth of knowledge and are ready, willing, and able to help you achieve your dream job. Attend their functions, meet one-on-one with them. Also, keep searching for jobs and applying. Set time aside every week to apply to more jobs. The more applications you have out there, the better chance you have at landing a job. Finally, don't give up. This is still a tough market, but if you are dedicated and stay the course, it will serve you well!

Top 10 Things I Learned about Public Defender Hiring at the PATH Conference

I recently attended the Public Defender Advocacy, Hiring and Training Conference (PATH) sponsored by the Public Defender Service for D.C.  It was amazing. Attorneys from some of the most active and prestigious PD offices across the country gave their insights on PD hiring and best practices.

Here are the Top 10 things I learned about what it takes to stand out and shine as a PD applicant in today's highly competitive pool.

1. PDs want to know your personal motivation for wanting to be a PD.  Wins are relative and the work is tough.  What will sustain you as a PD?
2. PDs don’t think that you can save the world by doing this job.  It’s about helping one client at a time.  Be realistic but passionate in your own explanation about why you want to do this job.
3. If you’re applying to a true believer office, convey in your cover letter that you are a true believer and back it up with examples or reasons.
4. Many top candidates start looking the same on paper.  What distinguishes you is your motivation, your passion, your “why I want to be a public defender” story.  If this doesn’t come out in your cover letter, you won’t make it to the next step.
5. If you’ve done prosecution or domestic /sexual violence victim work in the past, you need to address these experiences in your cover letter and interview to make sure the office understands that you’re ready for PD work.
6. Speaking Spanish – even at a somewhat proficient level – makes you 1000% more employable. 
7. Being a PD is much more than doing trials.  It’s about client relationships.  Are you client-centered?  Can you bring this out in your interview?
8. When asked a hypothetical question in an interview, take advantage of the chance to think out loud and look at the problem from different angles.
9. When asked a hypothetical question in an interview, remember that offices are looking for your instincts.  Is your instinct to sell out your client?
10. Think before an interview how you would handle a first-time client interview.  If you’re asked to role-play one, focus on listening and getting the information you need.  Are you using the right vocabulary and body language?  Being respectful?

Still interested?  Talk to us at the PSC to get help on your cover letter or interview prep.

Becoming Information-Rich

One of the toughest aspects of the public service job search is that we have to work hard to gather information about who's hiring and when.  While we have great guides out there for those interested in federal government (see the Government Honors and Internship Guide on our Employment Resources page), we don't have anything comparable in the crim law world.

So this past spring and summer we've focused on research projects to gather information about which prosecution and public defender offices in a few key regions (NY/NJ, etc.) hire 3Ls before they've passed the bar.  We'll publish this on our site for you once they're done, hopefully by the first few weeks of school.  And throughout the semester we'll continue to gather more data for more regions with the help of our research assistant.

You'll also see some big changes to our website this fall. We're overhauling our Employment Resources page where we store all our important documents and job resources. The new layout will be much easier to search and quickly retrieve content, including some updated and new job search resources. Fewer clicks!

Public Defender PATH Conference in DC - Register by 7/16

Interested in working at the Public Defender Service (PDS), one of the nation's most prestigious public defender agencies?  Wondering what makes you competitive as a public defender candidate at different agencies?  Want to meet attorneys working at defender agencies at the Bronx, Miami-Dade, Alexandria, Philadelphia, Las Vegas and New Hampshire?

Come to D.C. on Saturday, July 28th at the Georgetown Law Center for this year's free Public Defender Advocacy, Hiring & Training (PATH) Conference hosted by PDS.  Registration closes soon: July 16th! 

I'm looking forward to going.  The PDS Director of Legal Recruiting who's organizing this conference, Jennifer Thomas, is phenomenal. This is a must-go event for those of you interested in public defense.

The Fellowship Season's Here!

EJW just opened applications for 2013 EJW Fellows.  Check out their detailed (yes, time-consuming!) application on the fellowship site here. The deadline is EARLY this year - September 18, 2012. 

EJW's also offering again a free webinar on how to create a successful application on Monday, August 6th.  You can register here,  I attended it last year and found it really helpful.  EJW staff offered last year to do some brainstorming with candidates on an individual basis to help them refine their proposals. You should take them up on the offer!

And come meet with us at the PSC to go over all your fellowship questions and woes. It takes a lot of work to get applications just right and we're here to help.

Skadden Fellowship applications should open July 16th according to their website. 

Stay tuned for the full fellowship deadline calendar we'll put out by early September.

Quick Cover Letter Tips for August OGI

As the good old Venn diagram here demonstrates, there's a point of connection between your skills/interests/experiences and what most public service employers want.  You don't have to have taken a ton of courses or worked previously in a particular field to be competitive for many internships.  Even some 3L employers don't expect a high level of specialization, though it always helps.  Many times I've worked with students in counseling appointments who started out saying "I've got nothing relevant to write about," but left with several solid examples to draw out in their cover letters.  Here's where your effort really pays off.

So, some quick tips to get you started.

1. General Legal Skills Experience.  Almost every summer internship offers some litigation experience and many public service employers do at least some litigation.  Even if you don't bring subject matter expertise to the employer, you can talk about your general litigation experience and interest. If your past internships and pro bono experiences weren't litigation intensive, think about whether you've done research in support of litigation handled externally or helped evaluate whether cases should be pursued.  The same applies to transactional skills for employers that need these skills.  Did you help advise a client by researching in advance of a meeting?  Prepare policy or regulatory language drafts?  Help lead an audit or compliance effort?

2. Subject Matter Interest.  If you've worked a previous internship or pro bono project in the employer's main practice area(s), you should highlight this. But if you haven't, think about your courses, papers, and journal assignments. Did you write a note on a relevant topic?  When you worked as an RA or participated on a moot court team, did you do some relevant research?  Have you served as an officer for a student organization that focuses on this area of the law? 

3.  Put it Together With a Few Highlighting Examples.  Employers read hundreds of cover letters--sometimes more.  A sentence or two putting flesh on a particular assignment, project or experience makes you both more memorable and credible.  Your highlights should be the most relevant ones for a particular employer.  Focus on projects that reflect complexity, a high level of responsibility, and/or your strengths, whether it's getting a project done in a short timeframe, a courtroom win, or a strong brief.

Good luck with your cover letter drafting and get in touch with us for help and feedback!

Making the "Ask": A Chat with Josh Katcher ('09) About Networking, Taking Chances & Working Your Way to a Dream Job

Josh Katcher works as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for Arlington County, Virginia.

I caught up with Josh by GChat on February 28, 2012.

PSC:  Hi Josh, thanks for chatting with us. You've been working as an assistant commonwealth's attorney in Arlington since this winter. Did you ever think in law school that you'd be a prosecutor one day?

Josh: I went to law school because I wanted to be a prosecutor. However, like a number of people, I got slightly sidetracked.  After law school I headed to New York to do the Big Law thing at Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft.

PSC: How do you like your work so far?

Josh: The truth is, I love my job.  And I feel so blessed to have been given the opportunity to work in the Arlington County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office. It's like a dream come true.

PSC: That's great to hear. So once you decided to make a career change and leave the firm to become a prosecutor, I know you started networking. What was the first thing you did?

Josh: I quit my job in May and immediately began drawing up a list of every possible person I knew who either was a prosecutor in VA or might know a prosecutor in VA.  And obviously I started with my prosecution clinic professors Richard Moore and Ron Huber. I also reached out to Dean Jeffries, who I worked for during my 1L summer.

PSC: Sounds scary! How did you approach your clinic professors - "hey I need a job?" How did it feel doing that?

Josh: My first step was to email them and let them know what I had been doing since graduation. I also mentioned that I would be down in C’ville and would really like to buy them a bite or a pint. The idea was to get in front of them and start picking their brain. Everyone knows someone. And people feel more invested when you take the time to meet them face to face. That's not to say I didn't use phone calls, but anytime I could, I would drive to them and buy them a sandwich or a beer. And to answer the next question: yes, that did mean I did more than a few day trips all around the state, since I live in Fairfax Station.  As for how I felt, well, I had just quit a perfectly good job in a perfectly terrible economy, so I was pretty motivated

PSC: Motivated is a good way of putting it. When you met with each person or talked on the phone, did you have some kind of plan going into it - some points you wanted to get across or questions to ask - or did you wing it?

Josh: I definitely did not wing it. There were two things I wanted to convey to every person I met or spoke with. First, that I was incredibly passionate about working as a state prosecutor, and second, that I was committed to doing whatever it took to put myself in the best position to get one of these jobs. The idea was to convince the person that if they gave me a chance, if they just opened that door a crack, then I would do the rest.  I also had to get used to making "the ask."  Most of the time, the person would volunteer a name or leave me with an idea. But, when they didn't, I would force myself to ask for any leads they might have.  The other thing that I always tried to convey was that I was the type of person they would want to have as a prosecutor. I think that's really important, because you aren't going to help someone become a prosecutor just because you went to the same school or you think they will take the ball and run with it. Really, you help someone get one of these jobs because, ultimately, you think they would do the job well.

PSC: Sometimes it's hard to cold-call an alum or contact because you feel you'll be a burden to that person. Did you ever get that impression?

Josh: Never. I would say that was partially because UVA alumni really do like helping fellow alums, and partially because I always tried to have a connection to whomever I was reaching out to - no matter how tenuous it might be. That's what I was talking about earlier. By “making the ask” sometimes that meant asking for them to make a call, write an email, or even shoot a text and give some person a head’s up that some random guy named Josh Katcher might be reaching out to them.

PSC: So how did you get from your first round of networking meetings to actually "getting your foot in the door" at Arlington?

Josh: It's actually pretty absurd in hindsight. The first meeting was with Rick Moore. He is one of the prosecution clinic professors and an ACA in Orange County. When I told him I was interested in working in NOVA, he mentioned I should connect with Elliott Casey, because Elliott worked in both the Arlington and Alexandria CA offices at one time. But, Elliott now lives and works in C'ville as an ACA. So I headed back down to UVA and spent a nice coffee break chatting up Elliott. Elliott, in turn, mentioned that I should reach out to two CAs: Margaret Eastman in Arlington and Bryan Porter in Alexandria. So I then set up a meeting with each of them and implored them to let me come work for them for free in any capacity.  Whether it was because I was so incessant in my requests or seemed sufficiently desperate, I will never know. But both offered to let me help out, for free, on some of their cases a few days a week, and so I started working 3 days a week in Arlington and 2 days a week in Alexandria. 

PSC: And in the meantime, I know from talking with Elliott that he emailed one of the attorneys in Arlington about you and that attorney asked him what he thought of you. He gave you a big thumb’s up.  So how long did it take from your first round of networking until you got an actual job offer from Arlington?

Josh: I think my first real, in-person effort occurred in June and I received the job offer the last week of January.

PSC: Networking can feel like a waste of time, especially since the first person you meet almost never has the power to give you the job you want. What advice do you have for students about the relative investment of time versus the payoff?

Josh: First off, always be networking. A lot of people mistake constantly networking as egotistical or somehow selfish. That couldn't be further from the truth if you approach it as a two way street.  Second, you never know where meeting new people will lead.  Trust me, I get it. I am just as inclined to sit at home in my sweatpants, eating junk food, and creating lists of things I should be doing.  But you just have to get out there. What's the worst that's going to happen?  And the most important advice I can give is to know WHAT you want, WHY you want it, and HOW hard you are willing to work for it. I think that passion will come through in discussions with others. You will be able to talk intelligently about why you want whatever you are seeking. And when you get down and out about not having what you want, the "how far" part will give you the inspiration to carry on.

PSC: I personally have a hard time making the "ask," as you put it, and I know a lot of people do because they're self-conscious and feel a bit phony. Any tips for them?

Josh: Most of the people you talk to understand.  They have probably been there themselves. For some reason I always imagined asking them "hasn't anyone ever taken a chance on you?"  I don't think I actually ever said that to someone, but thinking it made me realize that they probably, at one point or another, had been in a similar place and thus could empathize. And that helped me get over that queasy feeling you get when you flat-out ask someone you barely know to help.

PSC: Great advice. Josh, this has been wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing some of your experiences with us.

Josh: My pleasure, and I really would like to thank all the UVA alums who took a chance on me. I wouldn't have landed my dream job without them.  Specifically, I would like to thank Rick Moore, Ron Huber, Elliott Casey, Margaret Eastman, and Bryan Porter.  Without them, I would have never landed my dream job. 

What (not) to Wear

So now you've got your interview selections and you're practicing and prepping for interviews.  Here's the easy part: getting dressed. We put out a list like this every year to make sure you know what the working world expects.  But I want to stress that you need to feel good about yourself when you walk into an interview room.  That means wearing clothes and accessories that are professional but fit your sense of style.

What to Wear

• Dark suit (i.e. black, charcoal, navy, gray)
• Hair: tidy and not overly sprayed/gelled. 
• Shoes: shined.  For women, moderate heels.  (I saw a woman at a career fair last fall wearing a lovely dark suit and 3-inch ivory heels.  She could barely make it down the escalator.  Please leave your Carrie Bradshaw heels behind on OGI days!)
• Men, socks must cover your lower calves.  No bare legs peeking out under pants.
• Women, if you wear a skirt suit you must wear pantyhose.  We recommend nude or sheer colors – not tights.
• Jewelry: keep it to a minimum.  Save the huge hoops and chandelier earrings for the weekends.
• You know that little tag on the sleeve of your new suit?  Cut it off.
• Remove the threads from pleats and pockets of new suits.
• Clean shaves or trimmed facial hair.
• Fingernails: trimmed and clean.

Do’s and Don’t Do's.

• Do knock (2-3 raps) on the interview door when it’s time for your interview.  Make sure it’s loud enough to be heard, but not so loud your interview thinks you’re the fire marshal ready to break down the door.
• Do bring a copy of your resume and cover letter, and any references if requested.
• DON'T bring your 30-pound law school backpack, Greenberry’s mug, or cell phone that plays your favorite Beyonce song every time you get a text.  Leave them in your locker. 

Relax and try to have fun while you’re interviewing.  The more you enjoy yourself, the more your interviewer can do the same.

Can Your Interviewer Enjoy Interviewing You?

Reading a column today in Inc. by Matthew Swyers about what separates good interviewees from great ones, I came across this little gem: "a candidate should...engage you on a level that you will enjoy and that moves you one step closer to offering them the job."

You won't always have a sports team or a hometown in common with your interviewer.  But you can always learn about their work.  As an interviewer, I found myself answering the same questions all day long: "how is your internship program structured?" or "what kind of work would I be able to do?" It was boring.

What's enjoyable to interviewers, then?  Having something like an equal partner in a fencing match or a band jam session.  When you have to explain basic techniques, you're already on totally different levels.

Employers enjoy talking with students who know their work and are excited about it - albeit not naively. Who can name the organization's major divisions and bring up a high profile case, initiative or central mission.  Who can talk about the law in a way that makes them feel that they'd enjoy getting debriefed about the status of research, and maybe even brainstorm solutions together.  It's harder for 1Ls than 3Ls, but the goal is always the same: leave the room feeling like a couple of future colleagues.

3 Funding Sources for Summer Internships

So you know about PSLawNet's Summer Funding Resources site.  If you don't, you should check it out here.  It's a great way to find grants to supplement your PILA application.

Here are 3 other funding sources that you should also check out:

1. The Monroe Leigh Fellowship in International Law.  This is a generous fellowship funded by Class of 1947 alumnus Monroe Leigh for Virginia Law students working at summer internships in their 1L or 2L years (and for postgraduate fellowships). Total of $10,000 for 1 or 2 students.  Deadline: February 8, 2012.  More information here: Download Monroe Leigh Fellowship 2012.

2. Raven Society Fellowships. Another great U.Va. institution - and you don't have to be a member of this elite society to apply. Several fellowships of up to $2,500 are awarded to support innovative undergraduate and graduate research projects. Special consideration will be given to proposed projects with a distinctly interdisciplinary focus. Applications are due February 17th at 5pm. For more information, contact the Raven Society at http://www.uvaravensociety.com/ and see the attachment here: Download The Raven Fellowship 2012

3. James B. McMillan Public Service Fellowships.  For students working at qualifying  North Carolina public service organizations (the list is big - legal aids, prosecution, public defender, etc.), stipends of up to $3,000 are awarded. You don't apply directly to the grantor, the Mecklenburg Bar Foundation, but your employer applies. If you're interested, let us know and we'll send you the list of eligible organizations.

Good luck!

2012 February Public Service OGI - Out-of-State Employers

Who's coming from out of state?  We invited roughly 100 new employers this year to our OGI - many of whom are from the major cities outside Virginia where we know you want to work.  Of those, a number of new employers signed up, and a number more told us they're very interested in U.Va. students and welcome direct applications.

Here's a breakdown of employers from outside Virginia so you won't miss any from your key cities.  Starred employers are interviewing at the OGI; the others are doing resume collects:

CALIFORNIA

Bay Area Legal Aid

DC

American Association of University Professors*

American Cancer Society

FCC, Int'l Bureau, Strategic Analysis & Negotiations Division

Federal Mine Safety & Health Review Commission, ALJ's Office*

U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims

U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights*

U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of General Counsel*

FLORIDA (Miami)

Legal Services of Greater Miami

MARYLAND

Community Law Center (Baltimore)

Maryland Office of the Public Defender (Baltimore)

Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office (Rockville)

National Labor Relations Board, Region 5 (Baltimore)*

NEW YORK (NYC)

New York State Attorney General*

The Legal Aid Society (Brooklyn) (both criminal defense and civil legal services positions)*

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, NY District

PENNSYLVANIA (Philadelphia)

U.S. Social Security Administration, Office of the General Counsel*

 

2012 Mock Interview Program for OGI

1Ls and 2Ls, we're doing something new this year to get you ready for interviews with public service employers at our annual February Public Service OGI.  We've recruited employers--many of whom are alumni--from major public service practice areas to conduct mock interviews.  We're also offering mock interviews conducted by our counselors (me, Amanda, Molly) designed to imitate a typical interview for a particular employer of your choice.

If you're very new to interviewing and could benefit from extra counseling, consider signing up with a PSC staff member instead of an employer.  We can spend more time with you and give you more than one mock interview, if that's what you need.

EMPLOYER OPTION

Date: Friday, January 27th

Interview Length: 20 minutes

Practice Areas/Times available (subject to possible minor changes):

• 9-10               Federal/State Government
• 9-11:30           Legal Aid
• 9:30-11:30      Public Defense
• 1-2                 Federal/State Government
• 1:00-3:00        Prosecution
• 1:00-3:00        County Attorney (Local Government)

To sign up for a mock interview with an employer, please email Assistant Director Andrew Broaddus at publicservicelaw@virginia.edu no later than Monday, January 16th at 5 p.m.  In your email, rank your top 2 choices for employers and provide your full availability during the times posted above.  We will take care of providing employers your resume in advance of the interviews.  All you need to do is show up at the appointed time, dressed appropriately for your interview.

If we do not have enough slots for everyone who's interested, we'll give priority to 1Ls and to those who responded first, so email us soon!

PSC OPTION

Dates: Anytime before your interview when we're offering counseling

Interview Length: Choose 30 minutes or 60 minutes

Practice Areas: Federal/State Government, Public Defense, Prosecution, Legal Aid, Local Government, and any practice area for your particular employer

To sign up for a mock interview with a PSC staff member, please request a counseling appointment on Symplicity, then choose "Public Service Center - Mock Interviews" with any of us in the PSC. You can request either 30 minutes or book two back-to-back sessions for 60 minutes total.

I hope you'll take advantage of mock interviews to get in the best shape possible for interviews.  We've seen students make HUGE progress over the course of 1-2 mock interviews and think everyone can benefit from doing them.

2012 February Public Service OGI - Employer Information

Happy New Year, everybody! Though you're not back on-grounds yet, now is the time to start preparing for our 2012 Public Service OGI, which will be held February 6-11, 2012. We know there's a number of employers who will definitely sign up by January 9th, so please check Symplicity over the next several days to see who's participating.

Every year we hear from employers that some students don't seem to know what the employer does.  This is a sure way not to get the job.  In my own experience as a former county attorney, I always got a few cover letters from students who thought my office prosecuted crimes.  Those students never got interviews, no matter how well qualified they were.  We've also heard from employers who participated in our February OGI last year that some students got to the interviews without knowing what the employer did. Not surprisingly, those students failed to impress them. 

So, to make sure you avoid these pitfalls, take a few minutes to review the information below.

Key Things to Know about our Employers

• Resume Collects (RC) vs. Interviews.  Some employers are participating through resume collects.  There are various reasons why employers choose this option over interviews.  For most, it's about time and money. Unlike firms, most public service employers do not participate in single school OGIs because of staffing and cost.  Many have small internship programs.  We also have some new employers this year from New York and California for whom distance plays a big factor.  The thing to know, though, is that your applications will get reviewed and employers will respond directly to you--not through Symplicity--if they wish to interview you.

• Commonwealth's Attorneys vs. County/City Attorneys. Commonwealth's Attorneys are prosecutors.  This term is specific to Virginia and some other states.  Elsewhere, they're known as district or state's attorneys.  On the other hand, county, city, or town attorneys work exclusively on non-criminal law matters unless they prosecute selected ordinance misdemeanors (if they do, these cases form just a small part of their jobs). Our participating county and city attorneys' offices handle a wide range of civil work on behalf of their localities--land use/zoning, employment law, police & fire, contracts, finance and bankruptcy, child protective services, and litigation, to name several areas.  If you're interested in litigation experience, apply to the Henrico and Chesterfield County Attorney offices, as they both handle a large volume of litigation.
  

• Staff Attorney's Offices and Administrative Law Judges. Staff Attorneys are either term-appointed or career attorneys who advise judges.  Working for a staff attorney's office is similar to working at a judicial internship, as you will get experience handling and preparing cases for judges.  Administrative Law Judges or ALJs (for example, our returning employer, the ALJ for the Federal Mine Safety & Health Review Commission) are federal judges who handle administrative cases for their agency.  Internships with ALJs are also very similar to judicial internships.

• Client and Witness Contact.  Learning how to talk to clients and witnesses is a big part of becoming a good lawyer.  You will get an excellent opportunity to do this at the legal aid organizations participating at our OGI, as well as the Public Defender and Commonwealth's Attorney's offices.  While most of your client and witness interactions will center on litigation, some of it will be to help them understand the legal system and other legal assistance options.

Quick Plug for Cover Letters

• It's tempting to use the same cover letter for all your employers coming to a single OGI.  Don't.  Remember to research your employer and hit in the first or second paragraph of your cover letter WHY YOU WANT TO WORK FOR THAT EMPLOYER.  You can't do this effectively unless you know what they do.
• Stuck?  Need some quick cover letter advice?  Email publicservicelaw@virginia.edu and get help. Or email me (Annie Kim) directly at ak5m@virginia.edu. 

Enjoy, good luck, and remember that January 11th at 10 p.m. is your deadline!

Student Advisory Board

Now that the dog days of summer, August OGI, and clerkship applications are out of the way, consider taking on one more activity this year--the Public Service Center Student Advisory Board. 

The WHAT: We want a diverse group of about 10 students from the 1L, 2L and 3L classes to help advise us on our services and programs.  We're interested in getting advice on how to push out information quickly and effectively to you.  We know you're overloaded.

WHO: Both students committed to public service and those who aren't.  We want a mix of ideas and viewpoints.

TIME COMMITMENT: 1-2 meetings per semester, catered, and an occasional email if we need your thoughts on something.

WHEN and HOW: Apply by Monday, October 3rd by emailing me (Annie Kim) at ak5m@virginia.edu.  Tell us your class year and why you're interested in joining in 2-3 sentences.

Look forward to getting your emails!

JAG Corps Panel - Mon., September 19th at 11:30

We're thrilled to have JAG Corps attorneys from all five branches of the armed forces -- Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy -- speak at the Law School this Monday, September 19th at 11:30 a.m. in WB128.  And yes, PIZZA will be provided.  (Please RSVP by Friday, 9/16 at 5 p.m. so we can place orders.)

JAG stands for Judge Advocate General.  JAG attorneys do everything non-military lawyers do, plus work that specializes in military law.  They litigate in court and in military tribunals.  They advise, counsel and handle many kinds of transactions. Each branch handles summer internships and new attorney hiring differently -- and on  different deadlines -- so hearing from the JAG attorneys on Monday will be a great way for you to compare and contrast and get your deadlines straight.

If you're a 3L, check out our JAG deadline calendar on the PSC website (Employment Resources/Key Internship, Fellowship and Job Deadlines for 2Ls and 3Ls).

This panel will be useful for 1Ls interested in learning more about JAG generally, plus 2Ls and 3Ls who want to get details about internships, jobs, and deadlines.  Hope to see you there!

Presidential Management Fellows Program - Deadlines September 23 (Law School) and 25 (PMF Application)

Quick Overview

As many of you know, the Presidential Management Fellows Program (“PMF”) is an excellent way to enter federal government service after graduation.  The Office of Personnel Management runs the PMF program, which was created by Executive Order in 1977 to attract the most talented graduate students from all disciplines to become future federal government leaders.  PMF Finalists apply for fellowships (2-year jobs) with the approximately 80 federal agencies that participate in the program.

Last year, roughly 9100 graduate students from across the country competed to be finalists and about 850 obtained them.  Virginia Law had 4 PMF finalists.  Our alumni PMF Fellows work in agencies such as the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Office of Personnel Management, and the Space and Missile Systems Center.  Read more general information about the PMF program here.

Selection Process for Finalists

PMF Finalists are selected through the following structured process:

(1)    applying on-line for the PMF program;

(2)    getting nominated by their school;

(3)    taking an on-line assessment that measures leadership skills and judgment; and

(4)    if chosen as a semi-finalist, completing an in-person interview that also measures leadership skills and judgment.  Read here for more information about the selection process.

For the first time in program history, the 4^th phase (in-person assessment) will no longer involve  oral presentations and group interactions at an assessment center.  Instead, trained staff will conduct 2-member panel interviews with semi-finalists that will last approximatley 45 minutes to an hour.  Interviews will focus on behavioral questions. 

Fellowship Placement with Agencies 

Once chosen as finalists, students begin the placement phase. This starts with attending a PMF career fair in the spring at which many finalists find jobs with particular agencies.  For those that don’t, they have 1 year from the the date they are announced as finalists to find an agency match.  It’s important to remember that PMF Fellows are not guaranteed jobs.  Also, jobs for PMF Fellows are typically for non-legal positions, although it’s possible to obtain a legal job. 

PMF appointments last 2 years. Fellows who succesfully complete their appointments are guaranteed continued federal employment.  Read here for more information.

Timelines

Come to our Public Service Center panel on the Presidential Management Fellows Program on September 9^th at 12 p.m.  in WB 105 to ask your questions about the selection and job placement processes.  We’ll have Susan Beall ’11, currently at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, to talk about her experiences, as well as our staff.

Read the PMF website timelines and site in full, as there are many details you’ll need to keep in mind. Here are the timelines (student deadlines in orange): Download PMF Timeline

Questions?

Email us at publicservicelaw@virginia.edu and attend our September 9^th panel at 12 p.m.  in WB 105. 

Good luck!  We hope you’ll think about applying.

 

Equal Justice Works Career Fair in D.C.

What better way to finish the week of Fall Break than a quick trip to D.C. to attend Equal Justice Works' annual career fair?  The dates: October 21-22, 2011, with registration closing September 12.  The cost: $25 for students. The Public Service Center will reimburse the first 20 students who register and submit their printed receipt to our office.

If you're interested in government agencies and nonprofits, this is a great chance to interview with many employers under one roof.  Or, you can chat them up at "table talks" and make some contacts.

We'll be attending the EJW conference on those days and would love to see you there.  Here's the link to their career fair webpage: http://bit.ly/pcYibz

Rising

Whether you’re tiptoeing down obscure halls in the law library searching for your interview room or packing up your apartment, you’re all now in the act of rising—as 1Ls, 2Ls, 3Ls. It’s a busy time. I know, because in the five short weeks I've been back at the  Law  School  as Yared  Getachew’s successor and your new Assistant Dean for Public Service, I’ve met and talked with many of you about your summer jobs and plans for future jobs. I’m already impressed by how much better you are at grabbing your job search by the horns than I was as a student—smarter, savvier, more creative.

Sitting at my desk in Yared’s old office, trying to make sense out of Symplicity, I’m reminded that I’m in the act of rising, too.

My background working as a litigator and transactional attorney with local governments (here in Albemarle and in Henrico) gives me a good sense of what it’s like on the employer’s side of the interview table. But I’ll need to learn throughout this year from all of you and from my great colleagues here at the Public Service Center and Career Services Office. Things like, what do you want to see the PSC offer this year? How can we do a better job of helping you map out your career goals and get there? Stay tuned: in the next couple of weeks we’ll be reaching out to hear your ideas. We’re also putting together a slate of exploratory speaker panels this fall to give you quick windows into the major public service practice areas.

So let me say now what you already know: this year isn’t going to be easy.

Legal aid organizations across the country and even big federal agencies are cutting back in the face of uncertain, shrinking budgets. But know that we are here for you—to counsel, brainstorm, help you with your fellowship applications and networking strategies, your interview skills, your tenth customized cover letter. And if you’ve never been to the Public Service Center but are interested in public service—come. Public service isn’t one-size-fits-all. Whether you came to law school knowing you wanted to be a public defender or decide as a 3L that  you’re interested in working for the federal government,  we want to meet you  and—hopefully—help you launch that career.

So welcome, rising 1Ls, 2Ls and 3Ls. Let’s meet this year’s challenges head-on—and rise to them.

Congratulations to the Class of 2011

By Yared Getachew '98

It was wonderful to see our friends in the Class of 2011 receive their degree yesterday.  The commencement exercises went without a hitch; the weather held up (the clouds gave way to blue Virginia skies a few minutes into the exercises), and both Chris Martin's and the AG's addresses were pretty good.  We will miss all of you, especially those of you who took advantage of the PSC's services. Your class had one of highest recorded pro bono hours in the history of the program - you volunteered 13,200 hours (and this is a conservative number - it only reflects those hours you reported - many of you do pro bono work but don't tell us).

It was a pleasure and honor to serve you during your time at Virginia.  Make sure to stay in touch and never hesitate to let us know if we can be of any assistance.  For all questions and counseling appointments, please use the PSC's e-mail address (publicservicelaw).

Again, congratulations.  Good luck in all your future endeavors. 

Careers in Administrative Law

By YARED GETACHEW

Please join the American Bar Association Section of Administrative Law & Regulatory Practice, Career Services Office, and the Public Service Center for a program on Careers in Administrative Law. The event will feature representatives (see below) from federal and state agencies and law firms, who will give an overview of career paths and opportunities available within administrative law. At the conclusion of the program, time will be allotted for students to speak individually with these representatives. Students considering internships or careers in administrative law are highly encouraged to attend. A light breakfast will be served for all attendees

Caplin Pavilion
Friday, April 8
8:30am-10:45am

If you are interested in attending this program, you must RSVP to publicservicelaw@virginia.edu by Tuesday, April 5. After the jump - list of confirmed speakers.

Skadden Fellowship's Susan Butler Plum with Chinh Q. Le '00

By YARED GETACHEW

Please join the Mortimer Caplin Public Service Center and Professor Anne Coughlin for a presentation on the Skadden Fellowship on Thursday, March 24, at 2:00pm, in Caplin Pavilion.

The event will feature the fellowship's founding director Susan Butler Plum.  Also joining her will be former Skadden Fellow and one of the most respected civil rights leaders of his generation, Chinh Q. Le '00.  Mr. Le is currently Director of the New Jersey Civil Rights Division and will be addressing Professor Coughlin's Law & Public Service class immediately before this event.

Described as "a legal Peace Corps" by the Los Angeles Times, the Skadden Fellowship program was established by the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher Flom in 1988 in recognition of the need for greater funding for graduating law students who wish to devote their professional lives to providing legal services to the poor (including the working poor), the elderly, the homeless and the disabled, as well as those deprived of their civil or human rights. The aim of the foundation is to give Fellows the freedom to pursue public interest work; thus, the Fellows create their own projects at public interest organizations with at least two lawyers on staff.

Over the last 20 years, the Skadden Fellowship program has funded more than 600 outstanding law school graduates and judicial clerks to work full-time for legal and advocacy organizations. Since the program’s inception, almost 90 percent of the Fellows have remained in public interest or public sector work after finishing their fellowships.

Skadden Fellowships are awarded for two years. Skadden provides each Fellow with a salary and pays all fringe benefits to which an employee of the sponsoring organization would be entitled. For those Fellows not covered by a law school low income protection plan, the firm will pay a Fellow's law school debt service for the tuition part of the loan for the duration of the fellowship.

The Skadden Fellowship Program is one of the most competitive and prestigious public interest fellowship programs in the country. In December, 3L Jeree Harris's profound public interest and academic accomplishments were recognized with the award of a Skadden Fellowship, and numerous Virginia Law alumni have participated in the program.  (For additional information on a few of our current and former fellows, please follow the following links: Amy Saltzman, Rebecca Vallas, Matt Van Wormer, Dania Davy, Michael Hollander.

All classes are invited to the presentation. However, 2Ls and 3Ls (who will be clerking for judges next year) and considering applying for project-based fellowships are highly encouraged to attend.

Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission

By YARED GETACHEW

Please join us for a brown bag presentation with Chief Judge Robert Lesnick '77 of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission.  Judge Lesnick will discuss his responsibilities as FMSHRC Administrative Law Judge and will offer advice on how students should approach their federal government job search in the current economy.  The Center's staff will also be available to answer questions regarding internship and permanent opportunities with federal government agencies.

Wednesday, February 8, at noon (SL298).

Battle

By YARED GETACHEW

In counseling sessions and through speaker events featuring prosecutors and public defenders, we have maintained that the path to charting a career toward both professions, despite the divergent outcomes that prosecutors and indigent defenders seek in their pursuit of justice, is very similar. Competition for entry-level positions, even in a flush economy, is downright brutal. But here's a reality that Virginia Law students have enjoyed for decades: 3Ls who remained steadfast in their pursuit of their dream jobs have all secured employment either through competitive 3L hiring programs or soon after they pass the bar exam.  Just so everyone is clear - and I field this question each year: 3Ls and graduating students are not eligible to apply for entry-level positions with federal defender and US Attorney organizations (two exceptions for the latter - USAOs for the Southern and Central Districts of CA - see, e.g.).

So why is student preparation for both careers almost identical?  The ultimate conclusion both prosecutor and public defender offices must reach when making hiring decisions is whether candidate have engaged in sustained efforts to: (1) understand substantive and procedural concepts in criminal, constitutional, and evidentiary law (take as many crim law-related courses offered at Virginia including the two key clinics); (2) hone oral advocacy skills (moot court, oral advocacy classes); (3) understand the day-to-day work of attorneys, detectives, investigators, parole and probation officers in our criminal justice system (summer internships and pro bono work); (4) show commitment to service (see 2-4 above and any volunteer endeavor - for indigent defenders, a desire to work with underserved communities is important); (5) some indicia of geographic connection; and (6) express compelling reasons to pursue either law enforcement or indigent defense work.

On Tuesday, February 8, two speakers - a prosecutor and a public defender -  will expound on these issues while attempting to convince you to join their side.  Joseph Platania is Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney in Charlottesville and Adam Heyman is public defender at the Brooklyn Legal Aid Society, Criminal Practice. Mr. Platania is currently detailed with the United States Attorney's Office, Western District of Virginia, and Mr. Heyman recently returned from Kathmandu, Nepal where he helped represent indigent defendants in Nepal's courts.

The event will take place at 1:00pm in WB154.

2011 Public Interest Interview Week - Update 3

By ANDREW BROADDUS

Final Interview Schedules:  Interview schedules for Public Interest Interview Week are now viewable on Symplicity.

How to View your Scheduled Interviews:

(1)  Log into Symplicity.

(2)  Click on the OCI tab on the top ribbon.

(3)  Select the tab that says Scheduled Interviews.

(4)  Select “2011 Public Interest Interview Week” as the “Session”.

Should any changes to your interview schedule occur, we will e-mail you individually; however, we highly recommend that students check the interview schedule the evening before AND the morning of their interview.

Additional Employer: The Virginia Legal Aid Society will interview 1Ls and 2Ls on February 15. If you wish to submit an application please follow the steps outlined in our previous post with the only change being that you will select "2011 Public Interest Interview Week - Supplemental Session" as the "Session." Due to the late date of this employer registration, you will need to request bids for the employers by Tuesday, February 8, at 10:00pm.

After the jump - special requests and cancellations

Defense Intelligence Agency Recruiting Event - February 1 | National Security Presentation - Feb. 21

By YARED GETACHEW

The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) will hold a recruitment event on Tuesday, February 1 from 9:00am-3:00pm at the Omni Charlottesville Hotel (Downtown Mall). The DIA is a Department of Defense combat support agency and an important member of the United States Intelligence Community. With more than 16,500 military and civilian employees worldwide, DIA is a major producer and manager of foreign military intelligence. They provide military intelligence to warfighters, defense policymakers and force planners, in the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community, in support of U.S. military planning and operations and weapon systems acquisition.

2011 Public Interest Interview Week - Update 2

By YARED GETACHEW

Additional Employers: 4 additional employers will participate in Public Interest Interview Week: Charlottesville City Attorney's Office (resume collect), Fairfax Public Defenders Office, Human Rights Program, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Departmental Appeals Board (resume collect). Please note these employers will only be interviewing 1Ls and/or 2Ls.

If you wish to submit an application to these employers, please follow the steps outlined in our previous post with the only change being that you will select "2011 Public Interest Interview Week - Supplemental Session" as the "Session." Due to the late date of these employer registrations, you will need to request bids for these employers by Thursday, January 27, at 10:00pm.

Accepting and Declining Interviews: Beginning on January 28, students will be able to see if they have been selected for interviews. (This does not apply to the Supplemental Session. Students who have requested interviews with the Supplemental Session employers will be contacted separately.) To review your invitations and accept or decline interviews, please do the following: 

Interviewing with Public Interest Employers - 1L Mock Interviews

By Yared Getachew & Andrew Broaddus

As many of you know, the Public Service Center is preparing to host Public Interest Interview Week.  We have a near record level of employer participation this year and we are grateful to employers – returning and new - for recruiting on North Grounds.  More than forty diverse organizations, ranging from federal government agencies to civil legal services providers will interview students for summer internship and entry-level positions. 

The Center’s extensive programming last semester offered, in part, advice on how students should approach interviews with employers in the public sector. For those of you interested in honing your interview skills, the Center will host mock interviews next week, on Tuesday February 1 and Wednesday, February 2.  For those of you who are not able to participate in the mocks, we will have a Q&A session on Thursday, February 3, at 1:00pm in SL294. 

The Center's personnel will conduct the interviews and will simulate six types of employers indicated below:

PSLawNet's advice for 1Ls and 2Ls: Cover Letters

PSLawNet, the online resource for law students and practitioners considering careers in the public interest just posted advice on its blog for first- and second-year law students applying for summer internship positions.  The piece offers five basic tips when writing public interest cover letters. I suspect my friend Steven Grumm, Director of Public Service Initiatives, penned this post (the reflexive pronoun suggests it) and it's excellent:

Before we get to our tips list, the first, most important, universal tip is that law students should immediately schedule an appointment in their career services or public interest advising office.  Your author, about 10 years ago, fancied himself a sort of rogue public-interest student who didn’t need the help of his public interest career advisor.  This was really, really dumb.  Only after I sent the job applications out did I see the typos (amazing how they jump out at you once the original letter has already been sent), the formatting inconsistencies, etc.  These are things that a trained eye would have caught in no time.  Read more.

2011 Public Interest Interview Week - Update 1

By ANDREW BROADDUS

Employers are continuing to register to participate in our annual Public Interest Interview Week scheduled February 7-11.  We are grateful to all employers - both new and returning - for their willingness to recruit at the Law School despite, in many cases, having received numerous applications this year.  A list of registered employers is available here. Please note employers are able to register through Tuesday, January 18, so continue to check Symplicity.

Students: requesting interviews - the deadline for requesting interviews is Thursday, January 20, 10:00pm. All bids must be made by that date. Please refer to our previous post on how to request an interview.

Transcripts:  Some employers have requested a transcript. As you know, you will not have all of your grades prior to Wednesday's deadline. Here's how to proceed:

• Upload your current [but incomplete] grade report.  If a transcript has not been generated for you, it means that you have not received any grades. You will still be able to make bids without attaching a transcript. (You must, however, attach all other documents that employers require).
• The Public Service Center will contact employers to let them know that students requesting interviews may not have complete transcripts available at this time and that students will bring copies with them to their interviews.

Update No. 2 on how to accept/cancel interviews will be forthcoming.  Please direct questions regarding the 2011 Public Service Interview Week to publicservicelaw@virginia.edu.

Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

By YARED GETACHEW

The Mortimer Caplin Public Service Center honors today the life and legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 - April 4, 1968).  His work to secure civil and human rights for all Americans is an inspiration to all of us especially to those who dedicate their lives to public service.  Meredith Jung-En Woon, Dean of Arts & Science at UVa, has written an excellent piece on her blog today to honor King's work:

On the occasion marking the birth of Martin Luther King Jr., we might pause to reflect on the early days of integration at the University of Virginia, going back now six decades. It was in 1950 that Gregory Swanson, a black attorney from Danville, successfully sued to gain admission to the Law School. For years, African-American scholars had been seeking admission to the graduate program, going all the way back to 1935, when Alice Jackson of Richmond applied to the graduate school in French. Read more (The Desegregated Heart).

BLSA Public Interest Diversity Reception: February 7, 2011

By YARED GETACHEW

My colleagues and I at the Public Service Center have had the pleasure to work with the Virginia Law Black Law Students Association (BLSA) in its tireless efforts to host its second Public Interest Diversity Reception at the Law School.  BLSA's inaugural reception in 2009 was a huge success - it allowed students the opportunity to network with representatives from several employers in the public sector and for some students, the reception led to jobs. BLSA has once again put together its now annual gathering which will take place on Monday, February 7.  Below is a public service announcement by Marina Warner - BLSA's Community Service Chair. Students interested in attending should read the announcement for information regarding registration.  Questions about the event should be directed to service@uvablsa.org.

BLSA Public Interest Diversity Reception

Please join UVA BLSA for its second annual Public Interest Diversity Reception on Monday, February 7 at 6:30pm in Caplin Pavilion.  The reception allows public service organizations and agencies to meet with first, second, and third-year law students interested in working in the public sector.  The reception is open to the entire law student body but members from the following diverse student organizations are especially encouraged to attend:  BLSA, PILA, APALSA, Lambda, LALO, Women of Color, NALSA, VLW, and MLSA.

The following  employers have RSVP'd, but more are expected to be added:  Blue Ridge Legal Services, Supreme Court of Virginia (Office of the Executive Secretary), Legal Aid Justice Center (Immigrant Advocacy Program), Legal Aid Justice Center (JustChildren), US Army JAG Corps (Command Judge Advocate), Federal Public Defender's Office (Western District of Virginia), Supreme Court of Virginia (Office of the Chief Staff Attorney), Virginia Capital Representation Resource Center, Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression, and the Albemarle Country Commonwealth's Attorney's Office.

Students must RSVP using the following form to attend: Public Service Diversity Registration Form. The deadline to do so is Wednesday, February 2 at 11:59 pm.

Attire is business formal.  Questions may be submitted to service@uvablsa.org.

Apartment exchange - summer 2011

By YARED GETACHEW

For students seeking housing for the upcoming summer: we just received notice from NALP announcing its 2011 free online apartment exchange for law students who seek summer housing.  The service will be available January 15 to May 15, 2011.  A link to the exchange is available here and on the left-hand column of this blog, under Summer Housing.

Current issues in indigent defense and prison systems

by YARED GETACHEW

This is for those of you interviewing with indigent defense, civil legal services, and law enforcement organizations. Last year, I referred to a television report in NYC discussing how state budget cuts and rising caseloads have affected the work of public defenders.  The Constitution Project's recent interview with Steve Hanlon below picks up on two aspects of our criminal justice system - the dramatic increase in the number of people entering our prisons and the impact of this spike on school systems.  Being conversant on these issues would go a long way toward showing employers your awareness of important issues regarding our criminal justice system and your commitment to public service. Hanlon is a partner at Holland & Knight and chairs the Constitution Project's Board of Directors.

2011 Public Interest Interview Week: February 7-11

by ANDREW BROADDUS

The 2011 Public Interest Interview Week will be held on February 7-11 at the University of Virginia School of Law.  Public service employers primarily from the mid-Atlantic region will be available on grounds and via video conferencing to interview 1Ls, 2Ls, 3Ls, and LLMs for internship and permanent positions. Currently eighteen employers have signed up; additional employers will continue to register until January 18. We therefore recommend that you check Symplicity on a regular basis.

How to Request an Interview:

(1)  Log into Symplicity.

(2)  Click on the OCI tab on the top ribbon.

(3)  Select “2011 Public Interest Interview Week” as the “Session” in the upper left hand box. 

(4)  Select your “Default OCI Resume” and upload your resume.

(5) To review an employer and the opportunity it offers, click on the “Review” button. Please make sure to review all details pertaining to eligibility and submission requirements before signing up for an interview.

More on how to request interviews and a list of important dates after the jump.

Rwanda and Yugoslav Tribunals - January 5, 2011

By Yared Getachew '98

This is a reminder that the Virginia Human Rights Progam and Caplin Public Service Center will accept applications for summer internship positions with the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) until tomorrow, January 5. Application information for both programs is available in the PSC's December 10, 2010 announcement.

Please note the January 5 date is an internal deadline.  As Professor Hurwitz and I indicated at the December 13 session, students may apply directly to the tribunals (deadlines fast approaching).

NOTE: Students/graduates interested in receiving information about summer and career opportunities in human rights law should Ms. Cindy Derrick in the Human Rights Program.

Rebellious Lawyering Conference: February 18-20, 2011

I took a couple of days off last week (Happy New Year everyone) and upon my return to work this morning found an e-mail from our friends at Yale Law School alerting us to the upcoming Rebellious Lawyering Conference (Reblaw) in New Haven. Reblaw is one of the better conferences for public interest-minded law students - the event offers a terrific array of panels, keynote speakers, and opportunities to network.

Last year's conference featured panels and workshops on domestic and international advocacy in juvenile justice, human rights, custody, forensic science, FOIA, advocacy skills, conducting client interviews, domestic violence, and others.  This year's schedule will be posted soon on the conference blog.

Registration (see also here) costs $30.  The Mortimer Caplin Public Service Center will pay the registration fee for students on a FCFS basis.  (Contact me with questions).  The conference offers travel and lodging assistance (free housing but check important sign-up dates).

Please direct questions about the conference to the conference organizers here:

rebellious.law.questions@gmail.com.

FCIP no more?

By Yared Getachew '98

Over the past year or so, we have advised students interested in pursuing entry-level non-PMF, non-honors positions to consider a little-known program, the Federal Career Intern Program, created under Executive Order 13162.  In a blog posting, I recommended this terrific entryway into occupations that allow for exceptional formal training and development with some agencies, including the DHS, EPA, and DOJ.  However, it looks like this hiring program is on hold. 

On November 2, 2010, the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) ruled that the FCIP violates civil service rules at least as it relates to veterans' preference.  In its final Order, the Board determined:

[The FCIP] is inconsistent with the Civil Service Rules that govern placement of positions in the excepted service under 5 U.S.C.§ 33201(1) - a law relating to veterans' preference - because it allows an agency to invoke an appointing authority reserved for "positions . . . for which it is not practicable to hold a competitive examination" after the agency holds a competitive examination that yields highly-qualified preference-eligible candidates.

If the named defendants in this case - the Office of Personal Management and the Department of Veterans Affairs - appeal the Board's decision, we will let you know. In the meantime, please continue to remain vigilant for opportunities posted on the government's clearinghouse, USAJobs.  And continue to visit us at the PSC.

DOJ CRM

By Yared Getachew '98

Last week, Jennifer Rickets 88' gave us an excellent overview of the Department of Justice's volunteer internship program and the responsibilities of the Civil Division.

This Friday, November 19, at 12:00pm in WB126, Jonathan  Rusch '80, Deputy Chief, Criminal Division, Fraud Section, will offer a presentation about summer volunteer internship opportunities in his division.  DOJ - CRM enforces federal criminal laws except those specifically assigned to other divisions.  The division's sections and the 93 United States Attorney Offices oversee criminal matters under more than 900 statutes. There are numerous sections, offices, and units in the division.  Please join us with your questions.

First Amendment Writes 2010 - November 8, 2010

By Yared Getachew

I happened to be on the Downtown Mall earlier today and as I passed by the Jefferson Theater saw a flyer announcing an event co-sponsored by our friends at the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression.  On Monday, November 8, at 6:30PM, the TJ Center and The Music Resource Center will present First Amendment Writes 2010: Annual Poetry and Songwriting Competition.  Below is the write-up on the Jefferson's site:

First Amendment Writes is the performance component of a truly unique songwriting and poetry competition designed to celebrate the creative heights that can only be achieved when artists are free to express themselves on any theme, subject, or idea. Twenty finalists (10 songwriters and 10 poets) will perform their original works in hopes of being selected to receive a $500 prize from a highly distinguished panel of judges [ ]. Past judges have included Boyd Tinsley of Dave Matthews Band, and former National Poet Laureate Rita Dove. Now in its 5th year, First Amendment Writes 2010 will for the first time allow the audience to choose their favorite song and poem for a $300 prize. Read and hear past winners of the contest [here].

The TJ Center has employed Virginia Law students for summer internship positions since the mid-90s (I was one of those fortunate enough to snag a summer internship at the Center after my 1L year). This promises to be a great event.  Tickets cost only $5.00.

Public Interest Resume Templates (in Word)

By Yared Getachew

Class of 2013: By now, you have read the Public Service Center's and Career Services's guides on how to prepare a legal resume.  I realize all of you have prepared a resume in the past but to the extent you wish to use one of our templates, I have attached 5 below.  My colleagues and I will discuss public interest resumes and cover letters during our presentation and Q&A session on November 4 (and other dates TBA).

Download 1 PSC Sampe Resume Garamond No School Activity

Download 2 PSC Sampe Resume DUAL ADDRESS

Download 3 PSC Sampe Resume Book Antique DUAL Address

Download 4 PSC Sampe Resume INDENTED 

Download 5 PSC Sampe Resume Experienced TcCen Font

 

Public Defender turned Human Rights Advocate: October 28, 2010

Please join the Virginia Law Human Rights Program and the Mortimer Caplin Public Service Center for a discussion with Brooklyn public defender Adam Heyman '03 regarding careers in indigent defense and how US-trained lawyers (and law students) may assist post-conflict nations in their efforts to strengthen their judiciary.

Adam recently returned from Kathmandu, Nepal where he worked for International Legal Foundation (ILF), a New York-based NGO.  ILF helped establish a public defender office in Kathmandu to provide representation to indigent defendants before the country's courts.  Please read more about Adam's efforts in KTM here and here. I will also briefly discuss my own experience in this area - how my legal training and practice allowed me to represent victims of violations of international humanitarian law.

The event will be held in Caplin Pavilion on October 28, 2010, at 11:45.  Pizza will be provided for the first 30 students. Many thanks to Professor Deena Hurwitz and Human Rights Program Coordinator Jessica Lee for helping organize this event.

Partnership for Public Service Webinar

Today's webinar Federal Internships: Find and Apply for Summer 2011 was highly informative. Partnership offered several handouts, including its powerpoint presentation, "resources for students and jobseekers," "finding a federal internship," "sample internships," and a summary of internships at the US Department of State.  Virginia Law students interested in reviewing these handouts may stop by the Public Service Center after Monday, October 25.

2010 EJW Fair - Ace your interviews

By Yared Getachew '98

Students participating in the upcoming 2010 EJW Conference/Career Fair Public Interest 2.0 in Bethesda, MD are invited to attend a presentation co-sponsored by the Virgina Law Public Interest Law Association (PILA) and the Public Service Center.  Wednesday, October 20, 3:30pm in SL294.

Students who attended last year's event will share their experience interviewing with employers in job fair settings.  I will offer advice as well.  Students participating in the fair to attend conference sessions only are welcome.

Anne Coyle '98 | Federal Career Intern Program

By Yared Getachew '98

Many thanks to Anne Coyle '98, Assistant Regional Counsel, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 for her presentation today. Thanks also to those students who came to hear Anne's talk on internship and entry-level opportunities at EPA Region 5. 

3Ls: during her presentation Anne mentioned the FCIP - the Federal Career Intern Program as an alternative entryway into the EPA (and other federal agencies).  I mentioned a blog posting I wrote last year on this program.  Please find it here.

2011 Presidential Management Fellows Presentation

By Yared Getachew '98

Reminder: today, at noon, in WB101, the Public Service Center will give a presentation on the nuts and bolts of the PMF Program application process.  Smitha Dante ’10, Program Analyst with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, will offer a frank assessment of the application and appointment process. Also joining us will be Lauren Roscoe '10, Presidential Management Fellow with the United States Department of Homeland Security, Customs & Border Protection, and Alice Beauheim '09, PMF finalist.

Photo credit: OTS

Education Pioneers: October 15, 2010

By Yared Getachew

Education Pioneers is a national nonprofit that tackles the most critical public education challenges by recruiting business, law, education and policy professionals and matching them with partner organizations.  These partners include, among others, charter schools, research organizations, college preparatory programs, and legal services and advocacy programs.

The Fellowship Program is a full-time, 10-week summer internship program where Fellows work as project consultants on a critical education issue under the guidance of an education leader.  Fellows work with 100 partner organizations in Boston, Chicago, DC Metro Area, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City and the San Francisco Bay Area.  The Program includes training on complex urban education issues as well as access to and collaboration with local education industry experts and professionals from a variety of backgrounds.

On October 15, at noon, in SL258, John Troy, Managing Director for the DC Metro Area, will present information about the program and the application process.  Food will be provided. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to publicservicelaw@virginia.edu by October 12 at 5:00pm. For additional information about the Fellowship Program, please visit Pioneer's page here.

Education Pioneers - UVA Law

Equal Justice Works Conference & Career Fair for 1Ls

By Yared Getachew

Dear Members of the Class of 2013:

Equal Justice Works (EJW) is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization that focuses on public interest careers for lawyers.  Every year, in October, the organization hosts a conference and career fair in Washington that brings together the largest gathering of public interest and government employers to recruit second- and third-year law students (and recent graduates) for internship and permanent positions.  The conference also features conference programing sessions that offer, among other things, advice on opportunities outside the classroom that students can pursue to prepare for a career in public interest law.  This year's event will take place on October 22 and 23 in the Washington, D.C. area (Bethesda, Maryland). The last date to register is October 12.

Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia: September 22, 2010

By Yared Getachew

UPDATE:  many thanks to James Whitehead '04 for his excellent presentation.  I use this opportunity to thank James and his colleagues at the PDS, especially Jennifer Thomas, Director of Legal Recruiting, for the office's annual visits to the Law School and its efforts to recruit our students, year after year, for summer internship, winter pro bono, and entry-level positions.

________

Please join us for a presentation on how to secure internship and permanent positions with public defender offices on Wednesday September 22, 2010 in WB126 at 12:00pm.  Our guest is James Whitehead '04, staff attorney at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia (PDS).

Home to some of the grittiest public defenders in the country, the PDS receives hundreds of applications for a handful of available attorney positions each year. To many, PDS has become the national standard-bearer and the benchmark by which other public defender systems measure themselves.

PDS provides one of the most comprehensive criminal defense training programs of its type.  The office has also developed innovative approaches to representation, addressing the problems clients encounter when returning to the community following incarceration. Throughout the years, PDS attorneys have earned the admiration and respect of opponents, colleagues, judges, and clients alike.

James Whitehead is a terrific presenter and I hope students will turn out for his talk.  He just completed a rotation in Appeals and will return to the Trial Division next month where he began his career.

Pizza available for 30 attendees.

Federal Election Commission: Tuesday, September 21, 2010

By Yared Getachew

Please join us for a brown bag presentation on careers in election law and campaign finance on Tuesday, September 21, 2010, at 12:00-1:00pm in WB101.  The speaker is Adav Noti, Esq. of the Federal Election Commission's (FEC) Office of General Counsel.

The FEC is an independent regulatory agency established by Congress in 1975 to: (1) enforce the Federal Election Campaign Act; (2) disclose campaign finance information; and (3) oversee public funding of presidential elections.  The Office of General Counsel consists of five divisions - Policy, Enforcement, Litigation, General Law, and Office of Complaints Examination. The OGC hires law clerks each summer. 

Mr. Noti is an attorney in the Litigation Division.