Public Works

What it takes to be a Public Defender

by YARED GETACHEW

On April 20, 2010, at 2:00PM, in Caplin Pavilion, a panel of representatives from three public defender offices from the Washington metropolitan area - the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, the Alexandria Office of the Public Defender, and the Maryland Office of the Public Defender, will describe the offices and hiring practices of each for both internship and entry-level attorney positions. 

The representatives, Melinda Douglas (Public Defender, Alexandria - a small office), Jennifer Thomas (Recruiting Director, DC PDS - medium-sized), and Diana Lach (Recruitment Director, Maryland - large), will offer advice on how to prepare for a career as a public defender, including how to tailor a resume for civil legal service/indigent defender employers, building relevant experience through clinics and  pro bono work, and specific job search tips.  They will also describe a day in the life of interns and beginning attorneys.

This presentation is a must for all students interested in criminal defense (and enforcement) practice. Students who will intern in PD offices this summer will also benefit from this conversation; the representatives will offer advice on how to make the most of a summer internship. 

I am grateful to Melinda Douglas, Jennifer Thomas, and Diana Lach for offering this collective presentation and to Professor Anne Coughlin for moderating it.

Creative commons courtesy of flickr user Rick Waller

Bloomberg Law on Making the Most of your Summer

by YARED GETACHEW

The April 2010 issue of Bloomberg Law Reports, Student Edition, includes interesting articles with valuable and practical tips on how to make the most of your summer employment.  A few highlights include: 

• Set some specific goals for your summer before it begins, and then talk with your supervisor about your goals to see if they are realistic.  When your summer is half-way over, think about how you are progressing towards you goals and determine if you need to set additional or alternative goals;
• Remember that the summer is a great time to network and meet with alumni in your area;
• Always be aware of the need to work efficiently and don't be afraid to ask for an estimate of the amount of time that should be spent on a project so that your work is in line with your supervisor's expectations;
• Ask thoughtful questions when you are given an assignment to help you understand how your particular assignment fits into the big picture.  Then use that information to structure your research or work so that it will be of the best help for your supervisor. 

To read both articles, Download Bloomberg Student Edition April

Madison House Volunteers Coming to North Grounds

by YARED GETACHEW

On Monday, April 23, 2010, 2L Jeree Harris will offer a presentation for Madison House undergraduate volunteers on the vital role that public service lawyers play in our judicial system. The session will also offer participants an overview of the myriad public service opportunities at the School of Law. 

Given the extent of it's immeasurable contributions, I find it challenging to describe the full dimension of the service that Madison House provides to under-served communities. Each week, more than 3,000 University of Virginia students serve as volunteer tutors, construction workers, daycare supporters, patient service representatives, role modes, and peer counselors (see a full list of its programs here).  Since my own days as an undergraduate student at the university, I have seen Madison House's deep and far-reaching impact in Charlottesville and its environs. 

Jeree Harris asks all interested students, including Madison House alumni, to join her. Thank you for supporting Jeree in this endeavor.

Making the Most of your Summer Internship

by YARED GETACHEW

National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA), National Association for Law Placement (NALP), and PSLawNet will host a free webinar on April 14, 2010, at 3:00 p.m. titled Top Ten Tips for a Successful Summer Internship in a Public Interest Office and What to Avoid.  Students working with public defender and/or civil legal services organizations this summer are especially encouraged to participate in this session that features Jennifer Thomas, director of legal recruiting for the D.C. Public Defender Service, and Phyllis Holmen, executive director of the Georgia Legal Services Program.

Information on how to register is available here.