GGU School of Law | Law Career Services

Lawyers Really ARE Different ...

2012-02-13T15:40:00.000-08:00

... At least when it comes to resumes.
If you are using your pre-law school resume to find legal positions, you may be missing an opportunity to connect effectively with employers. This helpful article explains the differences between legal and business resumes.

Remember, when it comes to communicating with prospective employers, you want to focus on how your information will be received.

- Susanne Aronowitz

How To Make Your Cover Letter Stand Out

2012-02-10T10:51:00.000-08:00

by Jan Nussbaum
Assistant Director for Professional Development

The Hook: Remember that potential employers only spend 30 seconds reviewing a cover letter and resume. Think of the cover letter as a direct marketing piece similar to what you might receive in your mail box - it must contain something that peaks your interest and hooks you to read further. You want the employer to be interested enough to read your resume and put your application in the "YES, let's interview this candidate" pile.
Why Are You Writing?: In the first paragraph of the cover letter simply state who you are and the name of the position for which you are applying. This is also a good place to name drop; i.e., inform the reader that someone they know has recommended you or believes you may be a good fit with the firm. Don't say much more. You want the reader to get to the "hook" in paragraphs 2 & 3.
Why Them?: In the second paragraph, tell the reader why you want to work for them. You need to provide specific reasons, preferably beyond those stated in the firm's website, to show that you have thoroughly researched the firm and are genuinely impressed and interested in their practice. You want to stand out, and many other applicants are not going to do more than read the firm website.
Why You?: In the third paragraph, tell the reader about why you are the best candidate for the job. The employer is looking to see if you have those skills that it has outlined in the job description. Print out the description and go over it with a fine tooth comb. Ask yourself "what are the key skills that the employer is looking for in a candidate." You may not have had experience in all of the items listed, but identify in the cover letter the ones that you do have experience in and provide specific examples. Be creative. You may be able to correlate some of your skills and past experiences to what the employer seeks.
The Closer: Close with just the essentials: a) you are attaching your resume and any other requested documents; b) you look forward to the opportunity of speaking with them further; and c) a thank you. By the time they get to this paragraph, the reader should be intrigued enough to want to read your resume. You don't want them bogged down reading any additional information.

A cover letter that shows the employer in as few words as possible that you have skills necessary for the position and a good sense of the firm's practice will often lead to the employer wanting to know more about you, landing you an interview.

You may also wish to review the Cover Letter Handout from our Resource Library.

Another Successful PI/PS Day!

2012-02-07T09:03:00.000-08:00

by Leeor Neta
Assistant Director for Public Interest Programs

On Saturday, a great number of Golden Gate students met and interviewed with public interest employers from around the country. If you were one of the students who met with an employer, don’t forget to send your thank you notes right away. And if you received an offer, please let me know! I would love to hear about it and counsel you about your next steps. In the meantime, take a moment to watch this brief video about the importance of attending PI/PS Day. It was produced by OneJustice. I and two GGU Law students—Keyvan Eliasieh (2L) and Lauren Whitted (1L)—were interviewed.

There Is Still Time To Attend PI/PS Day

2012-02-03T12:49:00.000-08:00

By Leeor Neta
Assistant Director for Public Interest Programs

PI/PS Day is tomorrow. But whether you didn’t apply or didn’t get the interview, you wanted there is still time to register and interview with a host of employers. Here is what you have to do:

1. Show up early! Registration starts at 8:30. But every year, students line up at 198 McAllister as early as 6:30. Why? Many students cancel interviews leaving too short notice to fill their slot. Those open slots are filled on PI/PS Day by students who visit the Open Interview Slot Sign-Up table on the third floor. If you are part of the first group of students to enter the building, you might receive an interview with a coveted employer. Don’t worry if the employer didn’t offer you an interview on your first attempt. It might be that the employer had to make a difficult decision regarding interviews, and that—in person—you are much stronger candidate. So, if there is an employer about which you are very excited, definitely get there early.

2. Attend Meet the Advocates! Every year, students who did not pre-register for PI/PS Day receive job offers after attending Meet the Advocates. This is your chance to express your enthusiasm and work ethic to the employer of your dreams. Just look at the list of employers participating in PI/PS Day:

Administrative Office of the Courts, Office of the General Counsel
AFL-CIO
Alaska Department of Law
API Legal Outreach
Asylum Access
Bay Area Legal Aid
California Appellate Project
California Public Utilities Commission
Catholic Charities of the East Bay
Center for WorkLife Law
Central American Resource Center
Children's Law Center of California
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Consumers Union
Contra Costa County Public Defender's Office
Council on American Islamic Relations - San Francisco Bay Area Chapter
Department of Justice, Antitrust Division
Disability Rights Advocates
Disability Rights California
Disability Rights Legal Center
DNA Peoples Legal Services
Earthjustice - California Regional Office
East Bay Children's Law Offices
East Bay Community Law Center
Eviction Defense Collaborative
Family Violence Law Center
Federal Trade Commission
Greenlining Institute
Hawkins Center of Rubicon
Immigration Center for Women and Children
International Institute of the Bay Area
Justice Now
La Raza de Centro Legal
Law Students for Reproductive Justice
Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area
Legal Aid Association of California
Legal Aid of Marin
Legal Aid Society- Employment Law Center
Legal Assistance for Seniors
Legal Services for Children
National Employment Law Project's Second Chance Labor Project
National Employment Lawyers Association
National Housing Law Project
National Labor Relations Board Region 20
National Labor Relations Board, Region 32
Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc.
Office of Legislative Counsel
Office of the Attorney General, California Department of Justice
Office of the County Counsel, County of Santa Clara Office of the Federal Defender - Eastern District of California
OneJustice
Orange County Public Defender
Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration
Prisoner Legal Services
Pro Bono Project of Silicon Valley
Public Advocates Inc.
Public Interest Law Firm
Public Law Center
Sacramento County Public Defender's Office
San Francisco Human Rights Commission
Santa Clara District Attorney's Office
SCC, Office of the Public Defender
Solano County Public Defender's Office
Stanislaus County Public Defender
Superior Court of California, Alameda
Superior Court of California, County of Solano
Sustainable Economies Law Center
Swords to Plowshares: A Veterans Rights Organization
Tenants Together
Tri-Valley Communities Against a Radioactive Environment (CAREs)
United States Department of Agriculture
U.S. Department of Justice/OARM
University of California, San Francisco
US Department of Labor/Employee Benefits Security Administration
Volunteer Legal Services Program
Volunteer Legal Services Program
Watsonville Law Center
Youth Law Center
Legal Assistance for Seniors

Iron your suit, research these employers, draft a resume and cover letter and be there tomorrow! I will be working at Meet the Advocates and will be more than happy to share more advice with you then.

Good luck!

Get Published to Get Free of the Crowd

2012-01-27T16:27:00.000-08:00

by Jared Solovay
Director of Employer Relations

A common refrain in my career counseling sessions is that students need to stand out from the crowd. Everyone who graduates from law school has a JD. Everyone who passes the bar exam has a law license. What sets you apart from other students—and what makes you more competitive for internships and post-graduate jobs—are the things you do outside of the classroom.

There are many ways to stand out, but a great one is to get published. You don’t have to be on Law Review or a journal to do so either. Attorneys in all practice areas have legal blogs and many are open to offers from students to “guest blog” on their sites.

Mark Wilson, a 2L in Golden Gate’s Honors Lawyering Program, has taken this one step further, regularly contributing to the Harvard Law & Policy Review blog. Mark has written thought-provoking pieces about a wide variety of issues, including warrantless GPS tracking by the police, “indecency” on television, voter ID requirements, Proposition 8 and the death penalty. I encourage you to read some of Mark’s work and to congratulate him the next time you see him.

"I Just Want To Be ME"Employers Screening Applicants'Social Networking Sites

2012-01-25T14:06:00.000-08:00

by Jan Nussbaum
Assistant Director for Professional Development

I read in the Chicago Tribune last week that employers are not only keeping an eye on their employees' social networking sites for inappropriate content, but now employers are also screening job applicants by what their social networking sites contain.

While I know most of you are well aware that your social networking sites should not contain pictures of inappropriate or racy behavior, did you know employers are now going a step further to see what kind of attitude a potential applicant may have? Candidates are being rejected not only for bad-mouthing previous employers but for any type of negative comments on their social networks.

As reported in the Tribune: "Even posting information deemed to have a negative tone can turn off some employers, according to Vlad Gorelick, CEO of Reppler, a Palo Alto, Calif., firm that helps social media users 'manage their online image.' From what employers have told him, Gorelick said, it's a bad idea to constantly post 'I hate this' or 'this really sucks,' because it suggests you might be negative at work. After all, he added, 'Do you want to have somebody sitting next to you who is complaining all the time?'"

While employers often find positive information about job seekers, think twice about posting images or information an employer might in any way consider as evidence that you are not fit for the workplace. Keep that in mind as you social network.

Click here to read the full article, which also touches on privacy and discrimination issues.

Crunching the Numbers: Class Rank

2012-01-19T16:13:00.000-08:00

by Susanne Aronowitz
Associate Dean for Law Career Services

Now that Fall grades have been finalized and class ranks have been calculated, students are often confused as to how to present this information to prospective employers. (If you are wondering whether you ranking warrants mention on your applications, consult with a career advisor at LCS.)

Regardless of whether you consider yourself to be a “numbers person,” you must get it right when it comes to presenting your class rank. Misrepresenting your academic credentials comes with harsh consequences: in addition to losing out on the job you were seeking, you may be subject to disciplinary action at GGU, which could ultimately jeopardize your ability to get licensed by a state bar.

Here are a few pointers to get it right:

Reporting Your GPA. Present your cumulative GPA exactly the same way as it is reported on your transcript; do not round the numbers to the nearest whole number. For example, if your GPA is 2.999, you should list it on your resume as 2.999. (When reporting your undergraduate GPA, use the cumulative - as opposed to major - GPA awarded by each institution attended.)

Reporting Your Class Rank. Divide your place in the class by the total number of students in the class as reported to you by the Registrar’s Office. Class rank percentages are typically reported with whole numbers; to get to a whole number, round up to the next highest number as your class rank. In other words, if your class rank calculation places you in the top 9.99% of the class you will need to list it as Top 10%, not Top 9%.

Here are a few illustrations:

Raw Ranking: 23 out of 219
Calculation: 23 ÷ 219 = .1050 or 10.50%
Class Rank: Top 11%

Raw Ranking: 54 out of 274
Calculation: 54 ÷ 274 = .1970 or 19.70%
Class Rank: Top 20%

Remember, grades and class ranking are only some of the credentials that employers consider in a hiring process. Let the diligence and detail-orientation you use with your academic credentials set a tone for the way you construct your entire application!

Job Search Strategies for the New Year

2012-01-13T10:53:00.000-08:00

by Jan Nussbaum
Assistant Director for Professional Development

See the New Year as a fresh start. The first month of the year is always a good time to step back and examine one's job search strategies:

Resume and Cover Letter Review: Ensure that your resume and cover letter are as good as they can be - Are your documents as polished as they can be? Is the language short and succinct? Are you tailoring your cover letter and resume for each job to which you apply? Are you presenting yourself in the best light possible? Have you tested sending your documents to someone else to ensure that your formatting is not getting scrambled?
Re-Assessment: Consider what worked well for you last year and what did not. What sources led to good leads and interviews and which were duds? Take stock of your tactics and put time into the effective ones. Do a self-assessment of your strengths, which will remind you that you do have a lot to offer a potential employer. Practice a mock interview with a friend or LCS to get back in practice after the holidays with talking about you and your skills.
Focus: Apply to jobs where you have at least some of the qualifications. (If you are a 1L, don't worry if you don't have any legal qualifications. Your interest and enthusiasm may be enough.) You don't always need to have 100% of the requested skills to land an interview, but target those positions where you have a fair shot.
Target Several Employers: Target six potential firms, agencies, or companies where your skills would be a good fit and reach out to them. Use your creativity to connect with each organization. Who do you know there? Who do you know who may know someone there? Do any GGU alumni work there? Alumni love to help GGU students and their fellow alumni. Ask any and all of these individuals out for coffee. Research attorneys at the organization whose work you find interesting. Email them about your interest in their background and set up time to discuss your mutual interests and for advice on your job search. Go to events at the professional associations to which people in the organization belong.

I am happy to help you with any of the above strategies. A very happy New Year to you!

Leeor Neta Featured on National Public Service Blog

2012-01-12T13:46:00.000-08:00

Leeor Neta, assistant director of public interest programs at GGU Law, was featured on a national public service blog recently (link to article). Steve Grumm, the director of public service initiatives at the National Association of Legal Professionals (NALP), wrote the feature piece. Mr. Grumm profiles Mr. Neta's background and expertise, and refers to Mr. Neta's recent article in which he gives advice about the sometimes unpredictable nature of public interest career paths.

Public Interest Scholar Spotlights

2012-01-06T10:12:00.000-08:00

The following article is the third in a series of five spotlights of Golden Gate's Public Interest and Environmental Law Scholars. Each Scholar was interviewed by a current student. If you are a first-year student in the Public Interest or Environmental Law Scholar programs and are interested in finding either an upperclass or alumni mentor, please email lneta@ggu.edu.
Kalla Hirschbein

Kalla is a May 2011 graduate and an attorney and policy advisor at the Institute for Fisheries Resources. Her first job out of college was conducting legal research for National Resource Defense Council to save the San Ignacio Lagoon in Baja, Mexico. It’s one of the few places gray whales go to calf, and Mitsubishi proposed a huge salt plant that would have destroyed it. She participated in one of the first internet campaigns for an environmental cause and the United Nations declared San Ignacio Lagoon a World Heritage site. She was inspired to see the place she helped save when she and her mom drove down to see the whales a few years ago.

Kalla also worked for other nonprofits, mostly in the environmental field, ranging from local small grassroots organizations to national groups including Planned Parenthood. Although she loved working for nonprofits, she decided to go to law school out of her desire to be the one to get things done, rather than merely funding it as her work entailed prior to law school.

While in law school, Kalla spent two years on the Environmental Law Journal. She spent her 1L summer interning with San Diego Coastkeeper. During her 2L summer, she studied international environmental law in Costa Rica.

The ocean is Kalla’s greatest source of motivation as she works towards a career in public interest. She grew up in San Diego going to the beach and tidepools. She has been scuba diving for 14 years and lives to travel to dive spots. Seeing how much the habitat has declined has been very depressing but also has made her more determined. In addition, through her recent work for a nonprofit representing small commercial fisherman she has become acquainted with a number of people who depend on the ecosystem for their livelihoods. She is motivated to do everything she can to help them continue to fish.

Kalla advises her fellow law students to be persistent and assertive with what you want to do, especially regarding jobs and internships. If you get turned down, follow up and take them for coffee. Eventually you will find a position. It is also extremely beneficial to get to know your professors.

Interviewer: Alexandra Baraff is a 2L student and an Environmental Law Scholar. Last summer, she served as a legal intern at Tri-Valley Communities Against a Radioactive Environment (CARE). Currently, she is interning in Kalla's office, the Institute for Fisheries Resources.

Leadership (& Job Success) Is Pursuit

2011-12-22T10:53:00.000-08:00

By Susanne Aronowitz
Associate Dean for Law Career Services

According to Mike Myatt, a leadership advisor to CEOs and corporate boards, and the author of Leadership Matters, “One of the most often overlooked aspects of leadership is the need for pursuit….Pursuit leads to attainment. What you pursue will determine the paths you travel, the people you associate with, the character you develop, and ultimately, what you do or don’t achieve. Having a mindset focused on pursuit is so critical to leadership that lacking this one quality can sentence you to mediocrity or even obsolescence. The manner, method, and motivation behind any pursuit is what sets truly great leaders apart from the masses. If you want to become a great leader, become a great pursuer.”

His advice rings true for job seekers, too. The most effective job hunters (that is, those who ultimately find positions that enable them to perform at their best) know what they are seeking, and they are intentional and focused in their efforts to obtain those jobs.

While your initial pursuit may be centered around finding a job, once you land it, the focus must shift to pursuing excellence within your career. The best lawyers are not complacent; they actively hone their skills and deepen their expertise for the benefit of their clients and colleagues. As Myatt says, “the best leaders pursue being better leaders.”

As we approach the new year, think about what you are pursuing. Do your actions support your intentions?

Lessons from the Job Search

2011-12-16T16:29:00.000-08:00

By Yvonne Li (GGU JD 09)

In the nine months I was unemployed, I have been through it all - getting really close but not getting an offer, taking steps to change my career, throwing anything at the wall and seeing what sticks, sitting at home doing nothing, and so on. I hope what I learned could prove useful for you wherever you are in your job search and for whatever area of law you plan to enter.

Know what you want, but also keep an open mind. I am currently a staff attorney at a fast-paced, non-profit legal support center focused on capacity building, development, and consulting for legal non-profits in California. I always thought I'd persevere and find work in legal aid, but I'm only two weeks into my job and already love the mission and work product of the organization. I'm glad I kept an open mind because, while I'm not doing exactly what I had envisioned, I'm still meeting the same public interest career goals I had set, but in new and exciting ways.
Don't assume you're not qualified for a job. There have been so many times I ignored a listing because I flat-out assumed they wouldn't pick me. It's the employer's job to decide whether you're qualified for their position; not yours. Of course, aim within reason. Your time spent searching for work is valuable and hopefully limited, but, if you love the job description, nothing says you can't go for it and apply. Therefore, if you do apply...
Play up the skills you already have. You've spent three years learning how to finesse your client's side of the story; now it's time to finesse your own. You may not have all the experience the employer seeks (and this is often the case), but you probably have much of the necessary skills from related previous experience. Knowing how to pitch yourself is great; knowing how to tailor your pitch is better.
Stay present. Stay present in your resume and skill sets through volunteering, pro bono, and contract work, even if you would rather spend more time searching for long-term employment. You never know whom you'll meet and who could lead you to a job. For the same reasons, stay present in your network. Also, stay present in your education. Over the summer, I took a course in electronic discovery and e-evidence just to be more marketable to a broader range of employers, and it definitely helped. The legal community is surprisingly small and very navigable.

GGU's Law Career Services is an invaluable resource; do turn to them! I owe my employment to the great insight and perspective of LCS advisors, as well as the relevance of the materials in their library. Best of luck in your search!

Managing Your Contacts and Applications

2011-12-14T14:48:00.000-08:00

by Bailey Bifoss, LCS Graduate Fellow

Proactive, large-scale job searches – the kind required of every student in today’s market – must be well managed and organized. In the December 2011 issue of the Student Lawyer, Erin Binns writes about Managing Your Contacts and Applications, and provides tips on keeping track of your activities, progress and efforts to avoid costly errors and assess your path.

The most important part of managing your contacts and applications involves building an information tracking system that works for you and your activities. Spreadsheets are often the most effective tool for this because they can be easily updated. You can also create a multiple page spreadsheet that details job search activities in different geographical areas or practice areas. You can also use different pages to separate job applications from networking activities. Whatever format you choose for your tracking system, the following should always be included.

Once you have your format down, several pieces of key information should go on your list. You might start by identifying each lawyer you know by name and professional title. Also, don’t forget to include his or her contact information. Keep track of any information that might be important or useful when you meet with that person in the future – Personal information, leads that they provided to you, or documents that you shared with them, for example, can all be included.

Although taking this kind of organized stance toward networking requires a great deal of time and effort, succeeding can yield immense rewards in your job search. Check out the full text of this article here (membership required) or in LCS.

Recent Addition to the Resource Library

2011-12-08T13:41:00.000-08:00

The following resource is now available in Law Career Services:

Careers in Animal Law by Yolanda Eisentein

One of the fastest growing legal disciplines, animal law is concerned with protecting and improving the lives of animals through city ordinances, state and federal laws, international treaties, and cases that impact animals. Over 100 law schools in the U.S. now offer animal law courses, and more lawyers than ever before are looking to start animal law firms or incorporate animal cases into their practices. The first book of its kind, Careers in Animal Law will help you:

Gain an overview of the field from a practicing animal lawyer and professor of animal law
Forge a successful animal law career with firms of all types and sizes, government agencies, major corporations, or nonprofit organizations
Strike out on your own as a solo practitioner of animal law
Learn career tips from a series of animal-lawyer profiles
Understand evolving trends in legislation, litigation, and academia that will change the face of animal law in the decades to come

Law students interested in animal law, seasoned attorneys seeking a new direction, or any lawyer interested in building a satisfying career will benefit from reading Careers in Animal Law.

Holiday Parties: Make Them A “Holly & Jolly” Part Of Your Career Search

2011-12-01T13:33:00.000-08:00

by Jan Nussbaum
Assistant Director of Professional Development

Holiday parties are a great way to meet people and market yourself in a low-key and less stressful way. Here are 5 tips to career success at holiday parties:

Have an Entrance Plan: Events can be intimidating if you don’t know anyone, or just a few people. Having a plan beforehand will lessen your nerves. Survey the scene for someone you know, the event organizer, someone else who is solo or a friendly face. Consider going with a friend, but be careful not to stick to each other the entire night.
Prepare to Talk, but especially to Listen: People at holiday parties tend to want to relax and enjoy themselves. Ask them their name and what they do, but feel free to ask general questions – do you have anything fun planned for the holidays? What is your connection to the organization hosting the event? What other organizations are you involved with? What tips do you have for those interested in your area of law? Have some interesting things to say about yourself, and not necessarily career related. Keep it light; no downer topics.
Dress the Part: Check with the organizer beforehand whether the event is business casual or formal. No cleavage, unbuttoned shirts, short dresses/skirts or jeans, since these are professional functions first and foremost.
Collect the Card: At the end of the conversation, ask for the person’s business card and tell them how nice it’s been to meet them. Write something memorable from the conversation on the back of the card to help with follow up. Be generous in handing out your card out as well. Feel free to write a notation as appropriate so they remember you. For example, “enjoyed talking to you about my passion for environmental law.”
Engage in Post Party Follow-up: Within 48 hours, email or phone those you met. Tell them how much you enjoyed speaking with them, highlighting something memorable from the conversation. Include an action item, such as, requesting a time after the holidays to talk further or meet up for coffee. Close with telling them to have a nice holiday season.

You can apply these same principals to people you meet at any parties.

[ NOTE - Upcoming holiday events are listed in the column to the right ]

Public Interest Scholar Spotlights

2011-11-29T09:45:00.000-08:00

The following article is the second in a series of five spotlights of Golden Gate's Public Interest and Environmental Law Scholars. Each Scholar was interviewed by a current student. If you are a first-year student in the Public Interest or Environmental Law Scholar programs and are interested in finding either an upperclass or alumni mentor, please email lneta@ggu.edu.
Milo Beitman

Milo Beitman’s passion for helping others led to her decision to go to law school. In particular, she wanted to help people navigate the excessively bureaucratic and complex legal system.

Her interest in landlord-tenant law stemmed from an electrical fire that destroyed her house. There were several housing code violations constituting a breach of the warranty of habitability; the electrical outlets and the fire alarms were not functional and did not go off. This experience prompted Milo to volunteer with the Housing Rights Committee of San Francisco and assist people who were in similar situations.

Further, her internship with The Transgender, Gender Variant, Intersex Justice Project (TGIJP) showed her how poorly California prisons treat transgender people. Consequently, her desire to be part of the necessary systematic changes to policy and legislation pertaining to the treatment of prisoners motivated her to seek a legal education.

While in law school, Milo served as co-president of The Queer Law Student Association (QLSA), enabling her to find and build a community of wonderful students and host events addressing queer issues through a social justice lens. She also worked at the California Appellate Project, where she helped a client on Death Row at San Quentin obtain legal recognition as a member of a Native American Tribe and permission to practice his religion at the prison. She found it very rewarding to help her client get through the day-to-day realities of prison life where rights are so few.

As she works towards a career in public interest, she looks forward to using her legal expertise to continue to help underserved and marginalized communities who do not generally have access to the law.

Milo’s advice for fellow law students is to find balance, to put yourself and your passions out there and be open to the opportunities that come to you. Also, she recommends to find what rejuvenates you and do it, whether it is yoga, dance or something else. Moreover, Milo suggests sharing your story with other people, since sharing our stories brings people together and breaks down the feeling of isolation that can exist in law school.

Interviewer: Kelly Densmore is a 1L student. She is interested in Public Interest and Civil Rights Law. When she is not being a law student, Kelly likes to garden in her backyard in Oakland, ride her bike and spend time with her family and friends. Kelly is very proud to have been born and raised in the Bay Area.

1L Thanksgiving Strategy

2011-11-23T12:52:00.000-08:00

Worried about seeing your family over the holidays and how you will handle their incessant (but well-meaning) questions about your career prospects? Check out these helpful tips to enlist your loved ones on your career team.

- Susanne Aronowitz

Present Yourself Like A Lawyer

2011-11-22T10:52:00.000-08:00

by Bailey Bifoss
LCS Graduate Fellow

Up until now, many of us have presented ourselves as eager law students, ready and willing to provide support to employers in exchange for lessons in the tools of the trade (and often little else, save maybe a meager stipend). However, as graduation fades into the past, we must present ourselves in a way that makes us stand out in a post-graduate job search. Present Yourself Like a Lawyer, Not a Student, by Erin Binns, outlines strategies to define yourself as a ready-to-practice lawyer on your resume, in your cover letters and during interviews. The following are some of her tips:

Resumes

Once you are admitted to practice, make certain to include a statement of your bar admission on your resume. Prior to being admitted, you can note the state and date for which you sat for the exam and the fact that results are pending.

Affiliate with professional organizations and add them to your resume.

Clean house on experiences and accomplishments that pre-date law school. An emphasis on undergrad and nonprofessional experiences highlights your lack of legal experience.

Cover Letters

Ditch language that singularly touts your writing and research skills. Although these serve as a valuable foundation, employers want to hire someone with diverse, practical skills.

Highlight your capacity to do rather than to support.

Draft cover letters with a focus on your experience and skills rather than the fact that you obtained these skills as a student.

Interviews

Be ready to discuss your business skills and savvy if applying for law firm positions. The business of law is often ignored in law school, but is critical to success as a for-profit lawyer. Even those of us without a background in business can highlight our “people skills” as an advantage.

Articulate an interest in a long-term relationship with the employer.

How Do I Compete Against People with Experience?

Employers often consider a range of experience levels when hiring. Unless you know the employer wants someone with zero years of experience, you’re not helping yourself by reminding the employer you haven’t practiced yet.

Employers look beyond your immediate capacity to do the work when hiring you as a permanent employee. Employers consider the following characteristics as important traits of new lawyers: strong moral character; intellect; good judgment; work ethic; potential to develop clients; evidence of practical legal skills; and enthusiasm.

Ms. Binns offers effective examples of the above strategies in her article. To read the article in full, and for many other resources, please stop by Law Career Services.

Selling Pieces of Law Firms?

2011-11-18T10:01:00.000-08:00

by Jan Nussbaum
Assistant Director of Professional Development

A recent article in the New York Times discusses the trend by Australia and now the U.K. to allow law firms to sell pieces of the firm to outside private investors.

The article discusses whether the U.S. will be next as the ABA is expected to circulate by early November a draft proposal recommending that ethics rules be amended. However, the decision is ultimately up to individual states. Washington State currently allows outside private investment, and a bill to do so was introduced in the North Carolina legislature. The Law Firm of Jacoby & Meyers is suing New York State’s court system to allow it to receive capital from outside investors.

The article discusses various ethical concerns, such as the attorney-client privilege, and whether lawyers might feel pressured to settle cases in order to make shareholders happy versus what is in the best interest of the client. This assumes that lawyers who currently own law firms are not motivated by profit. If ownership is kept separate from the practice, it can give the lawyers distance from business side pressures.

Legal experts expect that small to mid-size firms will be at the forefront of this trend due to the difficulty of raising capital in this economy. The hope is that by giving law practices access to private capital the firms can expand more quickly, invest in technology and other resources, and operate more efficiently at cheaper rates, providing better service to clients.

As a law student or recent grad it will be interesting to see how this unfolds, and the affect it has on law firm competition over the next couple of years.

Click here for the full article.

Public Interest Scholar Spotlights

2011-11-10T10:03:00.000-08:00

The following article is the first in a series of five spotlights of Golden Gate's Public Interest and Environmental Law Scholars. Each Scholar was interviewed by a current student. If you are a first-year student in the Public Interest or Environmental Law Scholar programs and are interested in finding either an upperclass or alumni mentor, please email lneta@ggu.edu.

Jonah Minkoff-Zern (JD 11)

Jonah Minkoff-Zern graduated from GGU in May. He currently serves as the Senior Organizer for the Constitutional Amendment Campaign for Public Citizen.

After completing his undergraduate degree at Cornell University, Jonah traveled around the country for two years speaking and working for a national student organization which he started, Student Alliance to Reform Corporations. STARC challenges corporate influence on university practices and challenges the environmental and humanitarian impacts of corporate globalization. In 1999, Jonah helped organize a mass protest in Seattle against the World Trade Organization’s international meeting. About 50,000 people attended the protest which halted the WTO’s agenda and influenced significant changes in WTO’s approach to labor and environmental issues.

His experience as an Oakland school teacher prompted him to co-found the nonprofit Education Not Incarceration to address the problem of student dropouts ending up in prison. He played an influential role in persuading the National Education Association to make the issue of dropouts a national priority.

Jonah decided to go to law school to acquire new skills to advance his work for youth justice. While in law school, Jonah brought more youth law opportunities to Golden Gate and helped increase student involvement in social justice work.

Jonah advises fellow law students to remember we are privileged to be in law school and to use that privilege to benefit others and the earth. He adds that having a law degree should not separate us from our clients; we should always remember to treat our clients with dignity, as fellow human beings.

Interviewer: Elvin Vu is a 1L from San Francisco, California. He attended undergrad at Chico State. He is currently working with the Asian Law Caucus, the GI Rights Hotline, Asian American Bar Association, La Raza Student Group on Campus and is running for Social Chair of the Student Bar Association.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas the End of the Semester

2011-11-07T13:30:00.000-08:00

by Susanne Aronowitz
Associate Dean for Law Career Services

If you've been to Walgreens lately, you've probably noticed the change in seasonal candy displays from Halloween to Thanksgiving and Christmas. This change also signals the time in the semester when students are likely to be winding down their internships in preparation for final exams.

If you are getting ready to wrap up your job, we have 2 simple reminders:

Help your supervisor hire your replacement. If your employer has not yet done so, encourage them to post a position via LCSonline for a spring semester intern. They (or you) can simply send an email with the relevant information to lawcareer@ggu.edu.

Complete a "Student Employment Evaluation" on LCSonline to let other students know about your experience. This is a great way to give other students a detailed picture of what it was like to work for that organization. To fill out an evaluation or view the library of evaluations, log in to LCSonline and click the "Student Employment Evaluations" button beneath the Shortcuts heading.

Don’t Wear Pajamas To Your Job Search

2011-10-27T10:32:00.000-07:00

by Susanne Aronowitz
Associate Dean for Law Career Services

While most of us know to wear professional business attire to in-person job interviews, what should you wear if you are doing a telephone interview? What if you are making outreach phone calls for networking purposes? Does it matter what you wear if the person you are speaking with can’t see you?

Apparently, it does. According to a recent article, it can be difficult to sound like a leader "when you aren’t dressed like one.” Whether dealing with people face-to-face or over the phone, dressing down interferes with the image you are trying to present and can undermine your confidence level.

So what should you wear? Recently, Dean Ramey and Professors Neitz and Quan offered their tips on how to dress for success in a variety of professional settings. Check out their advice below.

See the rest here on our GGU Law Career Services YouTube channel.

The Art Of Not Swinging For The Fences: Moneyball's LessonsFor The Legal Profession

2011-10-24T09:45:00.000-07:00

In the movie Moneyball, Brad Pitt plays Billy Beane, the General Manager for the Oakland A’s whose strategies for recruiting new players were out of left field. For decades, talent scouts focused on the wrong metrics, according to Beane. What mattered more than the flashiness and home runs of years past was how often a player could get on base and score. In this intriguing American Lawyer article, the authors argue that the same basic philosophies apply to legal hiring. Flashy statistics like law school rank and a spot on the Law Review have been paramount for decades, but what matters even more is whether or not a candidate can write well and excel at interacting with clients. In fact, as Marjorie Shultz and Sheldon Zedek at U.C. Berkeley have demonstrated, there is often an inverse relationship between law school grades and relationship building. In other words, some of the best team players have far more to offer when you scratch below the surface.

- Jared Solovay

Advice from a Hiring Attorney

2011-10-21T16:24:00.001-07:00

by Jan Nussbaum
Assistant Director of Professional Development

Recently I got together with a friend to celebrate my new position here at Golden Gate. While I knew that my friend works for a large law firm, I didn’t realize until our get together that she used to be on the firm’s hiring committee. She shared with me four of the most common (yet easily avoidable) mistakes that applicants made. While those candidates never realized how they had inadvertently sabotaged their prospects with her firm, you can benefit from their mistakes by following her simple advice.

Be prepared to talk about everything mentioned in your resume and cover letter. If you list an article you wrote, be ready to discuss it in detail. If you wrote the article awhile ago, go back and reread it. You need to be fully conversant on everything listed in all of your application materials.
If you list your personal interests, think twice about how they may be interpreted. Personal interests are listed to provide talking points and to reveal aspects of your personality, but you are not required to provide them. If you choose to include them, only list two or three interests that are truly interesting. Sometimes, sharing your interests can backfire. Make sure that they can not be viewed as offensive, inappropriate, or bragging. One applicant listed “snakes” as an interest. While this is interesting, it may strike some people as quite odd. If you include interests that are extremely time-consuming, employers may wonder whether you’ll want to spend more time out of the office than in it. It can be helpful to list a few of your interests, just be careful. Some safe bets are musical instruments that you play, community or public service, and reading – just be prepared to talk about what type of books you like to read and some examples.
Do not assume that you have caught all typos, misspellings and grammatical errors. Have a trusted friend proofread your documents. Don’t let such mistakes disqualify you from consideration.
Address thank you notes to the right person and reference the correct conversation. Good lawyers are detail oriented; when mistakes happen with even thank you cards, the interviewing attorneys take note. (No pun intended.) My friend said this happens frequently, and the applicants are never aware of how much this hurt their chances. Common mistakes include: (a) referring to an interviewer by the wrong name; (b) using the wrong honorific (e.g., Mr. instead of Ms.); and (c) mentioning a conversation in the note to one attorney that actually occurred with one of the other interviewers. Her advice: immediately after you leave a series of interviews, jot down the names of everyone you met with and which conversations corresponded to which people. Double check contact information, including the spelling of names, on the firm’s website. Last, try to recall the names of receptionists and administrative assistants that you interacted with to send them thank you notes as well, being careful not to mix up who was who. It will make a world of difference.

43rd Annual Progressive Lawyering Day

2011-10-14T10:11:00.000-07:00

Photos by Carlos Villarreal

The 43rd annual Progressive Lawyering Day was held at Golden Gate University again this year, and as in previous years was a great success! Over 100 people attended the 6 panels which showcased the scope and diversity of issues and causes being pursued by the Bay Area progressive legal community. The panel Surveillance and Racial Profiling in the Arab, Middle Eastern and South Asian Communities: A Legal Response featured members of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, The Asian Law Caucus and our very own Nadia Kayyali, NLG National Law Student Vice President. The panel on Prison Law After Plata v. Brown heard a lively discussion between the directors of Legal Services for Prisoners With Children and Justice Now. Exonerating the Innocent brought attorneys from the Northern California Innocence Project to the table. Change Through Conflict had attorneys sharing strategies for impact litigation. The panel Organized Labor: Overcoming Backlash covered the hyper relevant activity taking place in the labor movement. Finally, the panel on International Environmental Human Rights Law heard inspiring testimony from members of Justice in Nigeria Now, Accountability Counsel and the Meiklejohn Civil Liberties Institute.

Our keynote speaker this year was Matt Gonzalez who shared his history participating in progressive causes over the course of decades in the bay area. He spoke on several topics including what it was like running for various national and local offices, holding an elected position and the necessity of making controversial decisions in order to stay true to one's convictions. Our reception after the event saw students from nearly every law school in the greater bay area mingling with practicing progressive attorneys. All of us on the organizing committee are proud to have been a part of nearly a half century of progressive legal tradition, and we're all looking forward to another great event next year! - PLD Planning Committee

Interested in Advocating for Civil Rights? Consider a Career in Disability Law

2011-10-13T15:49:00.000-07:00

By Susanne Aronowitz
Associate Dean for Law Career Services

Several disability law experts gathered at GGU on October 11 to talk with students about careers in disability law. The program was a joint venture between Law Career Services, Law Disability Services, and the Ian Mackey Newman Memorial Fund in honor of Disability Awareness Month.

According to Paul Grossman, chief regional civil rights attorney for the US Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights in San Francisco, disability law is part of the civil rights law framework. He described the Americans with Disabilities Act as a desegregation law that has guaranteed equal access for people with disabilities to a wide variety of institutions from which they had previously been excluded.

Susan Mizner of the SF Mayor’s Office on Disability highlighted the broad range of issues that her office handles, including access to voting, public meetings, public health resources, transportation, buildings, sidewalks, and disaster preparedness.

Because people with disabilities tend to have more contact with government agencies and services, the budget crisis has had a devastating impact. Jung Pham (GGU JD 07) of Disability Rights California finds that 90 percent of his case load involves finding creative solutions to providing services to people with disabilities as a result of California’s budget crisis.

Each of the panelists highlighted some of the cutting edge issues they are dealing with, including: disaster preparedness for people with disabilities, the right to use support animals, the introduction of technology to improve public safety and access to public meetings, and making post-secondary education more welcoming for disabled veterans.

The panelists also offered practical advice and insights for students seeking to pursue a career in disability law. Dolly Trompeter, a solo practitioner who handles Social Security appeals, encouraged students to be flexible and to consider working on the “other side” to enhance their training and expertise. According to Ms. Trompeter, her prior experience working at the Social Security Administration has helped her attract clients and has enhanced her effectiveness as an advocate.

The panel highlighted a wide range of opportunities at public interest advocacy organizations (such as Disability Rights Advocates, Disability Rights California, and Disability Rights and Education Defense Fund), at semi-private organizations (such as the National Disability Rights Network), and at private law firms. The panelists also highlighted the various federal, state and local government agencies (including school districts) that handle disability issues. They encouraged students to seek out classes in administrative law, civil rights law, and disability law to develop the expertise necessary for this work.

Most importantly, students should make it a priority to develop work experience through internships, clinics and pro bono opportunities. The panelists emphasized that demonstrating to future employers that you have learned how to interact with clients will give you an advantage in the hiring process. Students can also explore getting involved with San Francisco’s approximately 120 different citizen advisory committees, all of which would benefit from a disability perspective to be more effective in the recommendations they make.

Because disability issues touch upon so many areas of law, students seeking a career in disability law should remain true to their passion while being flexible in the opportunities they pursue.

See the rest here on our GGU Law Career Services YouTube channel.

Reflections on Don't Ask, Don't Tell

2011-10-07T14:13:00.000-07:00

by Jared Solovay
Director of Employer Relations

Last week, Dan Woods of White & Case LLP visited Golden Gate to discuss his firm's successful legal challenge to the constitutionality of the U.S. military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. Mr. Woods led a team of lawyers in arguing that the policy violated the First and Fifth Amendment rights of gay and lesbian service members. A federal judge in the Central District of California agreed, granting an injunction covering approximately two million service members around the world.

Mr. Woods shared anecdotes and observations from the trial, including evidence suggesting that enforcement of Don't Ask, Don't Tell led to the elimination of key Arabic interpreters before the September 11 attacks, and also led to the military's need to modify its policies and admit convicted felons. Finally, Mr. Woods described the significance of the Ninth Circuit's ruling hours earlier vacating the District Court's decision on the grounds that the recent repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell rendered the decision moot. Watch a recording of this moving and thought-provoking presentation below.

See the rest here on our GGU Law Career Services YouTube channel.

Pearls of Wisdom for your Career from GGU Alumna Judge Loretta Giorgi (JD 85)

2011-10-06T11:57:00.000-07:00

By Carolyn Lee (GGU JD 06) and Jan Nussbaum

Griffin Connect, a program of the GGU Alumni Board for recent alumni, held a professional development symposium, in partnership with LCS and the Alumni Association, for lawyers 0 to 5 years out this past Saturday. The keynote speaker was the Honorable Loretta Giorgi (GGU JD 85) who provided pearls of wisdom on how to open up opportunities in one’s career:

Hone your skills. Understand what skills are required for your position and master them. Then build additional skills. Do whatever it takes to obtain these skills.
Volunteer. This is a great way to obtain skills. If you want trial experience, the courts and municipal attorney offices need volunteers to manage simple cases.
Prepare to be ready for your next position. If some task or assignment comes your way, regardless of how seemingly minor or small, take it and take care of it. Look and be ready for more responsibility from those around you.
Network every way you can – Professional Associations, LinkedIn, the gambit. You never know who and what might benefit you, including going out of your way to help someone else.
Establish and preserve your reputation. Above all, act ethically. Make a point of getting along with others: everyone with the court; other lawyers; opposing parties; everyone.
Do not be afraid to change direction or take on new challenges. You may be surprised that you like things that you thought you would not.
Demonstrate an ability to be flexible and a capacity to deal with change.
Continue your education, including educating yourself. Take CLE in areas foreign to you or in what you want to be doing down the road. Be part of a practice area discussion group. Read & research. Be creative. But keep learning.
Share your skills and knowledge. Mentor others, starting now. There is always someone behind you trying to make their way to where you are. Be available in meaningful ways.
Balance your life. Work isn't everything.

Congratulations to GGU Law 3LsAngela Haren Kelley and Luthien Niland

2011-09-27T14:27:00.000-07:00

by Susanne Aronowitz
Associate Dean for Law Career Services

On Sept. 22, the California Bar Foundation presented GGU students Angela Haren Kelley and Luthien Niland with a 2011 Public Interest Scholarship. These prestigious scholarships recognize California law students who demonstrate a commitment to public service and academic excellence.

Both Angela and Luthien were recognized for their commitment to environmental advocacy. Angela came to GGU after earning a masters degree in environmental and natural resource policy from UCLA. During her time at GGU, she has worked for the Natural Resources section of the California Office of the Attorney General, the Natural Resources Defense Council and served as an extern for US Magistrate Judge James Larson. Luthien has interned with the California Public Utilities Commission, the Sierra Club, the Environmental Law & Justice Clinic and currently serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Environmental Law Journal.

At the scholarship presentation, keynote speaker Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye congratulated the scholarship recipients on their accomplishments and encouraged them to remain true to their commitment to serve the needs of the community.

What Exactly Is An Informational Interview? (& How To Get The Most Out Of It)

2011-09-26T16:25:00.000-07:00

by Jan Nussbaum
Assistant Director for Professional Development
What is an informational interview?

The purpose of an informational interview is to gather information to aid your job search. This is different from a job interview where a potential employer is gathering information on you, your experience and skill set.

In an informational interview, you take the lead to obtain a clearer understanding of the person's practice, how he or she came to practice in this area of the law, and how this person found their way into their current position. Informational interviews are a great way to get information about industry trends, employer preferences, and how best to present your credentials. You also hope to establish a professional relationship with the person that hopefully can be maintained throughout the years.

If you know that you want to practice in the same field as the person you are interviewing, informational interviews are a critical way to get feedback on how best to go about your job search and discover additional people that you should talk to. If you are not sure yet what area of the law you'd like to practice, informational interviews can be an important way to find out more about a particular practice area.

How to get the most out of an informational interview:

Do not approach the interview with the expectation of a job offer. The professional contact may be offended and you will be disappointed.

Before the two of you meet, do your homework researching the person's professional background, their practice, firm or company, contacts, and professional associations. If possible, gather a few personal tidbits about the person to help in casual conversation.

Define what you hope to learn from them, clarify what you want the contact to know about you, and anticipate how he or she may be able to help you.

Prepare questions that highlight your reasons for wanting to talk with the individual. In general, the questions should fall into 3 categories: 1) specific to the person you are meeting with; 2) about the profession; and 3) about you and your job search.

While your questions are directed at gaining as much information as possible, be sure to present yourself in a way that makes the person feel comfortable and become one of your supporters.

Sample Questions: These questions are general in nature, and suggested to help you get started. Feel free to customize your questions to accomplish the goals outlined above.

Questions about the individual: How did you come to practice in this area of law? Did you direct your course of study, and in what way, or did it naturally occur from some other work you were doing? What career track did you follow- summer jobs, internships, participation in professional associations? How typical is this for people in your field? What do you feel was important to your early success in this area? Was there anything that surprised you? What do you find most rewarding about your work?

Questions about the profession: What qualifications, experiences, and courses do you think are important for getting into and succeeding in your field? Do you have a sense of the hiring trends for your practice area right now? Is there a preference for a recent graduate? A lateral? Someone with a specific background? What changes in the law/economy/politics/business /technology have most affected your practice area in the last few years? In addition to what you do, what other career paths are there in this area of the law?

Questions about you and your job search: Based on what I've told you about my experience and goals, how do you think I can better position myself to be a strong candidate for positions in this market? Can you offer feedback on my resume? What professional associations would you suggest that I join? What kind of volunteer opportunities are there with these organizations? Are there any courses you think I should take? Do you have suggestions on other lawyers or non-lawyers that I should contact? May I tell them you referred me?

Be sure to write the person a thank you note, and keep them in the loop on the progression of your job search and career. You want to stay on their radar, and as result, find out when they hear of any job leads, events or people that will be important for you to know about.

Successful informational interviews will not only help you gain access to important information, but help you build professional connections that can benefit you in finding your dream job and throughout your career.

Note: A portion of the concepts, ideas, and suggested questions are attributable to Erin Binns, Assistant Director for Career Planning at Marquette University of Law, in her article Good questions are crucial for info interviews, Student Lawyer Magazine, January 2007.

[ We'd love to hear about any informational interview success stories. Let us know at lawcareer@ggu.edu. For more, please see the Informational Interviews handout in the Resource Library of LCSonline. ]

It's A Small World After All

2011-09-23T16:26:00.000-07:00

by Jared Solovay
Director of Employer Relations

A few years back, when I was practicing law at a firm in Chicago, I was sent to interview students at a local law school for summer associate positions. I met a parade of applicants that day, and took their materials home with me to decide their fates.

I happened to live near the law school, and discovered that one of my interviewees lived on the same floor of my building. To my dismay, she also happened to be throwing a raucous party 'til all hours of the night, complete with loud music, screaming, and the sound of beer cans being tossed around. This didn’t exactly seem like someone we’d want to bring in for callback interviews. Ultimately, in the interest of fairness, I decided not to factor this into my decision (after all, I wasn’t able to stand outside the apartment doors of all the other students I had interviewed), but some of my peers at other firms later told me they would not have been so even handed.

The point of this story is that when it comes to comporting yourself well in the eyes of employers, the journey goes far beyond those few minutes you spend facing off across that interview table. That goes for everyone you encounter at the employer (especially the receptionist), but also your classmates, professors, significant others, blind dates, and even that rude guy who cuts you in line at Starbucks. Time and time again, just as in that tale of the 2L and her drunken party, I’ve come to realize that the world is a lot smaller than it seems.

The same rule of circumspection holds true for your online presence. Employers will do their due diligence. I did when I was interviewing candidates. I know firsthand that other lawyers do too; when I applied for a lateral job later in my career, I was asked about something random I had written online years earlier.

If you have some strong views on recreational marijuana use, don’t Tweet about it, as one of my students did recently. Don’t post photos on Flickr of you doing a keg stand. Don’t blog about how much you hate small children or wish a certain end of the political spectrum would all go to hell. Or, at the very least, lock down your privacy settings so no one unwanted can see these things.

Whether it be in the real world or on the Internet, always put your best foot forward. You never know who’s looking.

Recent Addition to the Resource Library

2011-09-19T09:24:00.000-07:00

The following resource is now available in Law Career Services:

2011-2012 Guide to Internships & Fellowships in Reproductive Rights & Justice
This one-of-a-kind tool can help guide interested law students toward summers, semesters, or careers in reproductive justice advocacy. Public interest and career service counselors, professors, mentors, and students alike can use the Guide to identify, target, and apply for pre- and post-graduate professional training opportunities. The Guide contains listings for legal internships and fellowships at 75 non-profit organizations across the country. The opportunities range from local grassroots education to state court litigation to federal policy advocacy to the analysis of international legal norms. Each entry in the Guide includes information about the organization's mission, contact and application information, and details about internship projects and requirements. Please be aware that LSRJ cannot guarantee that the responses we received from organizations during the summer of 2011 will still be up-to-date when students apply. If you find inaccuracies or internship opportunities we have not identified, please let us know and we will be sure to update our entries accordingly.

If At First You Don't Succeed ...

2011-09-15T15:45:00.000-07:00

by Susanne Aronowitz
Associate Dean for Law Career Services

Has this happened to you? You applied last year for a summer internship you really wanted, and were not selected. That same employer is now posting a spring internship. Should you apply? Or are you worried that employer will somehow remember that they didn't hire you last time and automatically reject you for the position?

Our advice: If you have an interest in an organization, you should apply each semester that you have the opportunity. Not being selected for a position does not place a mark against you in the future. Many legal employers receive more applications than they can accommodate in any given semester. Applying in subsequent semesters enables you to demonstrate your strongly held interest in the employer, and your enthusiasm may distinguish you from all of the other applicants. In addition, with each passing semester, your credentials improve--you have more classes under your belt, your skills set is more developed, you have other internship and leadership positions to promote.

It is likely that many of the students who ultimately intern with some of the more popular employers had to apply more than once. In this case, the old adage may be true: "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again."

Summer Fellowships with the SFTLA

2011-09-13T08:34:00.001-07:00

by Jared Solovay
Director of Employer Relations

Last week, two members of the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association spoke to a group of students about plaintiff’s side litigation. The speakers—Shaana Rahman of Rahman Law PC, and Rebecca Grey of Pillsbury and Levinson, LLP—discussed how representing plaintiffs in employment discrimination, consumer fraud, civil rights, corporate negligence, toxic tort, and personal injury lawsuits gives attorneys like them the opportunity to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves.

Ms. Rahman and Ms. Grey also discussed the SFTLA’s Summer 2012 Trial Advocacy Fellowship Program, a summer litigation program where selected students will be paid a stipend and work for different mentor law firms in rotations lasting 3-4 weeks each. The Fellowship is for current 2Ls and the application deadline is October 31, 2011. For more information regarding the Fellowship, please click here.

See the rest here on our GGU Law Career Services YouTube channel.

Etiquette Tips

2011-09-12T09:55:00.000-07:00

by Jan Nussbaum
Assistant Director for Professional Development

Simple, but important, steps to take when attending networking events:

Look like an attorney: Always dress for the job you want. This doesn’t mean you have to wear your interview suit to all events, but look professional.
Be relaxed and confident: To achieve this, take several deep slow breaths before entering the room. (If you’re really nervous, go to the restroom or coat check area to do the deep breathing.)
Shoulders back and stand tall: This conveys confidence and control.
Self-stick the name tag just below your right shoulder: This is where a person’s eye goes when shaking your hand. You want them to see and remember your name.
Glass in left hand, and shake with your right.
Provide a good firm hand shake: Another sign of confidence and control.
Watch the amount of liquor you drink: You are at the event to impress and make professional connections, not to relax and party. Consider a soft drink or water with a twist. No one notices if you are not drinking alcohol, but will notice if you seem a little off.
Do not scan the room like a lion looking for a fat zebra. Make eye contact with the people in front of you, and introduce yourself.
Start and keep the conversation going by asking others about themselves: This is the best way to engage someone in a conversation and allows you to then naturally tell the person about yourself.
Turn off your phone: You are at the event to meet and engage in conversation with other professionals. This is limited if you are on the phone or texting. It is especially rude to take out your phone while conversing with someone; it signifies that the interaction is not important to you.
Hand your business card to people with the words facing that person: This allows an additional opportunity for the person to remember you and connect your face with the card. In many cultures, it is offensive not to do it this way.
Treat their card with respect: Don’t just throw the person’s card in your pants pocket, but place it carefully in your wallet, purse, inside pocket of your suit coat, or business card case.
Follow up your conversation by sending an email: This allows an additional opportunity for the person to remember you and your conversation. It also allows you the opportunity to suggest getting together for coffee to receive further input on your job search.

Note: Many of these tips are also recommended by the Culture and Manners Institute.

Careers in Labor and Employment Law

2011-09-08T12:01:00.000-07:00

by Bailey Bifoss
LCS Graduate Fellow

On September 6, LCS hosted a “Careers in Labor and Employment Law” event, at which several panelists appeared to speak about their employment or labor-based practice areas. The panelists included: Galen Sorrells, in-house counsel for The Clorox Company; Michael Pedhirney of Littler Mendelson P.C.; Monique Olivier of Duckworth, Peters, Lebowitz, Olivier LLP; and Devon King of the Employee Benefits Security Administration division of the U.S. Department of Labor.

Most compelling about the panelists’ discussion was their varied approaches to labor and employment law. By virtue of his position within The Clorox Company, Galen Sorrells has taken on a primarily managerial role, ensuring his company’s compliance with applicable labor laws. By contrast, Devon King – a recent graduate of Golden Gate University – works with benefit plan administrators and employees to answer questions and make sure that benefit plans are being upheld.

Michael Pedhirney and Monique Olivier both have more traditional litigation positions within the labor and employment law field. Nevertheless, each of their positions is unique. Littler Mendelson is a large firm with upward of several hundred attorneys, and specializes in management-side representation. Monique Olivier, by distinction, works at a small, four-person firm of which she is part owner. Duckworth, Peters, Lebowitz, Olivier provides individual and class action services, and remains steadfastly on the employee-side.

GGU’s Law Career Services offers many programs that focus on particular areas of practice. Be sure to keep an eye on LCSonline and Law School News for programs involving the practice areas of interest to you.

See the rest here on our GGU Law Career Services YouTube channel.

Be Interested and Be Interesting

2011-09-01T09:58:00.000-07:00

by Susanne Aronowitz
Associate Dean for Law Career Services

"Be an interesting person and show interest in learning someone else's story." This was only some of the networking advice offered by attorney Matthew Ahn, one of several panelists speaking at the Asian American Bar Association's Annual Career Day last Saturday, August 27 at GGU. Ahn, an attorney with Morrison Foerster's San Francisco office, urged students to demonstrate genuine interest in learning about the attorneys they meet, rather than focusing on what that attorney might do to enhance their job prospects. By creating opportunities to connect over shared interests, students can develop relationships that will extend well into their professional careers.

Alameda County Superior Court Judge Stuart Hing suggested that as students meet people, they ask questions to learn about how they got to be where they are. By being an engaged listener, and by being diligent about staying in touch, students can build relationships with role models and enhance their own understanding of how to be successful.

Charles Jung, of Nassiri & Jung LLP, echoed these sentiments. When reaching out to new contacts, he suggested that students offer to buy the attorney lunch. "The goal is not to impress them with how smart you are," he said, but to focus on building a long term relationship. Audra Ibarra, of the Law Office of Audra Ibarra, added that it was essential to find ways of being of service to your contacts. Students often diminish the value that they might offer to attorneys. Instead, she suggested, consider linking your contacts with each other if they have mutual business interests. By connecting them to valuable resources, you can strengthen your ties and your reputation.

Jung also stressed the importance of getting "known for something." By developing expertise in a particular area of law, students will be able to differentiate themselves. Seek opportunities to publish on blogs or in law reviews as a way to both enhance and demonstrate your expertise. The best thing you can do to position yourself for a successful career "is to keep up your skills," he said. "The worst thing you can do is to not develop as a lawyer."

EVENT ROUNDUP:How I Spent My Summer Vacation

2011-08-30T15:37:00.000-07:00

Today, nearly one third of the 1L class packed into room 3201 to talk with 2L and 3L students about their summer job experiences. The upper-class students represented every sector of practice — private, public and nonprofit — and many different substantive areas of law, including appellate, intellectual property, environmental, employment, criminal, judicial, labor and personal injury. By making these connections now, the 1L students got a crucial head start on their career search. To learn more about how you can start exploring career opportunities, email me. - Leeor Neta

Battling Your Brain And Finding Those Lurking Typos

2011-08-26T15:21:00.001-07:00

by Jared Solovay
Director of Employer Relations

A few years back, the following paragraph made its way around the Internet:

“Arocdnicg to rsceearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer are in the rghit pcale. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit pobelrm. Tihs is buseace the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.”

It turns out that there was no such study at Cambridge University, but that’s really beside the point. What’s remarkable about this paragraph is that, despite the fact that nearly every word is misspelled, most readers can still process the content at normal speed. The brain, it turns out, is adept at spotting overarching patterns and filling in the missing pieces for you.

The problem is that as helpful as these mental shortcuts can be, when it comes to proofreading your own work, your brain can do you a disservice. Time and time again, when reviewing students’ resumes and cover letters, I find misspelled words arising from missing letters.

Turning on the spell check function in your word processor can catch most of these mistakes—the paragraph I quoted above is lit up like a Christmas tree on my screen—but that’s not always the case. Take this sentence, for example: “Though my extensive experience working at Mulligan & Graves, I developed significant research and writing skills.” The first word should be “through,” not “though,” but because the latter is an actual word, it won’t turn up in a spell check of the document. Thanks to the mind’s helpful tendency to fill in missing gaps, some people overlook the missing “r” when proofreading that sentence. That is especially true if the student is proofreading her own writing, because she knows that the word is supposed to be “through.”

Employers tell us that even a single mistake in students’ application materials can sink their chances at landing a job, so catching these stealthy typos is extremely important. Knowing of the brain’s tendency to gloss over parts of words is a good starting point. So is the awareness that spell checker can lull you into a false sense of security. The key to overriding your brain and spotting these typos will vary from person to person, but if you have fallen prey to some of these mistakes in the past, you might try reading your cover letters out loud, running your finger over the text while reading, or magnifying the size of the text on your screen. What also helps is to share your writing with someone else. Whether it be a career counselor, friend or spouse, other people are further removed from your writing and are more likely to spot such mistakes.

Summer Hiring Holds Steady

2011-08-24T14:44:00.000-07:00

Reuters reported last week that “law firms hiring associates for 2012 say they are planning to make the same number of job offers as they did for the 2011 class – and in some cases may even increase the number of positions.”

This is a positive indicator of job hiring for recent law school graduates and students. Law firms are noting the recent stock market gyrations but are not looking to recalibrate hiring numbers like in 2008 and 2009. According to the article, firm economics have improved. "For the top 100 law firms, gross revenue rose 4% in 2010, after 2008’s decline of 4.3%. Most indicators are the 2011 numbers will also rise. And while they are not hiring in pre-recession numbers, there is work for the associates that are there.”

With a similar or larger number being hired by large firms, there are that fewer number of recent graduates competing for jobs elsewhere - Jan Nussbaum

How Preparing for a Job Interview is like Getting Ready for Trial

2011-08-19T15:49:00.000-07:00

If you were starting a jury trial, chances are you would have invested a significant amount of time researching the legal and factual issues, gathering your evidence, preparing your witnesses, and developing a coherent narrative that would enable a jury to quickly appreciate the merits of your case. According to attorney Brian Cabrera, preparing for a job interview requires the same thorough preparation. - Susanne Aronowitz

Giving Back In The First Week

2011-08-17T10:41:00.000-07:00

By Leeor Neta
Assistant Director for Public Interest Programs

On Friday, a group of first-year students participated in the annual Golden Gate University School of Law Orientation Service Project. This year, a group of 30 students had the privilege of volunteering at the St. Anthony’s Foundation, a privately-funded nonprofit foundation in the Tenderloin community of San Francisco. Aside from providing warm meals and clothing, St Anthony’s provides addiction recovery services and occupational training.

Interested in learning more about pro bono? Email me.

Here is what some students had to say about the Orientation Service Project:

“When we arrived at St. Anthony’s, our group was warmly greeted by our volunteer coordinator, Marie O’Connor. We were introduced to the history of St. Anthony’s as well as the societal circumstances which contribute to the dire need for their services. I learned that the primary mission of St. Anthony’s is to treat individuals from all walks of life with respect - regardless of faith, race, sexuality, and even legal citizenship — and welcome them as friends and equals.

After the session, we were divided into four groups and sent to our respective locations to aid the regular volunteers. One group served in the Dining Room where over 2,500 meals are served each day. Trays of food were served to everyone from the elderly, the disabled, and even families who walked through the door. Other volunteers bussed the tables, picking up trays, receiving kind greetings and praise from the individuals they were assisting, and even striking up casual conversation with the guests.

While bussing I found myself speaking to a woman who knew little English. When I found out she was a native Palestinian, as am I, we struck up a conversation in Arabic and she did not hesitate to share with me the source of her plight.

The irony of meeting a woman whose origins are so closely related to mine truly struck a nerve. That was the last thing I expected to encounter during the project. It was as if I was looking into the eyes of my own grandmother, and the emotional connection was instantaneous. I wanted to help her, and suddenly everything for which this foundation stood seemed so real. Other volunteers had stories to share as they helped provide goods to others in need, distribute food to home-bound people, and visit with the elderly.

At the end of our time, we were introduced to a man in his mid-forties who is working through a recovery and rehabilitation program. After sharing with us his difficult challenges in overcoming alcohol and drug addiction, it became apparent just how real the struggle to stay “clean” is for him and how such behavior nearly destroyed his family relations and, ultimately, his own life. Walking out of the St Anthony’s Foundation as future members of the legal profession, I understood how GGU students are a means of lending a helping hand to individuals who are ostracized by their community. What a powerful experience."

- Aseil Mohmoud, 1L

"When I decided to go along to St. Anthony’s dining hall on Friday, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. When the Tenderloin makes the news, it is usually for drug-related violent crime. By the end of the day, however, I had gained an invaluable lesson in humility, compassion, and civic responsibility.

From my initial orientation to St. Anthony’s, my visit to a nearby affiliated senior center, the sit-down meal in the dining hall, and the final talk given by a man in the rehabilitation program, the one constant and present element that was championed throughout was the common bond of our human condition.

On the heels of Bob Holly’s impassioned speech about professionalism at the close of orientation week, my time at St. Anthony’s was a poignant reminder of the privilege and responsibility we bear to care for our fellow citizens."

- Adam Bentley, 1L

"I will not soon forget how warmly our efforts were welcomed nor the fact that the people we helped are just a small segment of larger populations who need compassion and advocacy.

As we start Law School and feel especially anxious and uncertain, the Orientation Service Project was a helpful reminder to feel fortunate that we are in the privileged position of giving rather than receiving help.

We will only become more capable of serving others in matters of great importance, with skills and training that few of our fellow men and women will possess. Taking the time to serve those in need was a great reminder of the importance of service to others in my future profession."

- Vincent Coffey, 1L

"I went with a small group to the Madonna Center, which is a facility for low-income senior women in the Tenderloin. It was a fulfilling experience to engage with a handful of women as they shared their laughter, struggles and parts of their life stories with me. Afterward at the St. Anthony’s dining room we all had lunch and another opportunity to interact with some folks looking to enjoy a meal. It was very similar to a big family dinner.

New to the San Francisco area, what I’ve heard of the Tenderloin is basically to avoid it. However, I had the honor to see that there exists a sense of hope, generosity and perseverance amongst the inhabitants. The members of our community are our potential clients. Getting to know some of them, even just a little bit, was an invaluable experience."

- Tovah Trimming, 1L

Networking in the New World Order (part 2)

2011-08-10T11:04:00.000-07:00

By Jan Nussbaum
Assistant Director for Professional Development

In my previous blog piece, I talked about the networking strategies that I found most effective - a personal statement, reaching out, organizing and prioritizing a contact list, and becoming active in different groups. Once I started to employ these tactics, things began to happen.

Here are a few examples of how these networking techniques paid off:

Meet and Impress: I set up coffee or lunch dates with those on my contact list. I would always ask to meet for coffee or lunch at a convenient time and location for them. I sometimes found that if the person was not someone I knew, they were reluctant to meet with me in person, but did give me a few minutes over the phone. With that said, I was surprised by the number of people who did spend the time to meet with me in person, and the helpful advice that I received both over the phone or in person. I would not always walk away with a lead on a job, but I never met with anyone who didn’t provide me with useful information that I could add to my “database” of knowledge. I would always prepare for the coffee or lunch (or phone discussion) as I would for any interview - learning as much as I could about the person, their work and the company or firm. Preparation conveys that you are savvy enough to prepare for a real interview. It makes the person more inclined to refer you to someone they know, or consider you down the road for a job that arises at their firm or company.

Don’t assume that telephone meet and greets won’t be productive, or that important busy people that you don’t know won’t help you out. A not-so-close friend of mine knows the general counsel of a well known Fortune 50 company. He provided me her email, encouraging me to mention his name in my correspondence. Since the GC is located in another state, we talked on the phone. The GC not only gave me extremely useful advice regarding my search, but considered me to help out on a potential transaction where one of the parties was located here in the Bay Area.

Note that you should always follow up with a short thank you email, and from time-to-time keep your contacts briefly informed on how your job hunt is progressing. When you do land a job, let them know. Once people are willing to talk with you, they’ve become part of your network and enjoy learning how you are doing.

Attend Events: I would attend at least one event per week, sometimes two or three. This can be physically and psychologically exhausting, and does take time to see results. However, it is effective. (At the very least, you’ll meet lots of interesting people and get great job hunting and interview tips.) Importantly, it allowed me to expand my network of contacts and people to meet for coffee or lunch. At one Association of Corporate Counsel event, I met the general counsel of a company that I had submitted a job application to the month before. Since I had learned about the company in the process of submitting my application, he was impressed that I knew so much about his organization. Even though the position to which I applied had been filled, he offered to interview me for a contract attorney position.

At a British American Business Counsel event, I met a man who was looking for a marketing position. Since I used to do Advertising Law, I introduced him via email to several people that I know in the marketing industry. His partner in turn introduced me to several attorneys that he had worked with when selling start up companies. It pays off to be interested in other people’s job searches, not just your own.

Volunteer: Volunteering to help your organization is a great way to meet more people who will help you with your job search, impress people with your capabilities, and gain additional skills. One great example was my volunteering to put together the legal panels for the British American Business Council’s Transatlantic Conference on Innovation. I got to know a variety of in-house and law firm attorneys by working with them to put together the presentations. Through a series of events this allowed me to meet Susanne Aronowitz who subsequently interviewed me for my current position here at LCS.

As illustrated in both articles on Networking in the New World Order, all my efforts and patience paid off in landing me a job - one that is perfect for me! Happy networking.

[ For a fascinating look into how your networking success increases when you form “loose ties” with those you meet in a variety of different groups or universes, read Six Degrees of Lois Weisberg by Malcolm Gladwell, especially parts 5 and 6. Click here to read. ]

Professional Dress:A Young Lawyer's Guide

2011-08-09T14:51:00.000-07:00

As interview season soon gets under way and fall internships begin in earnest, now is the right time to pin down a subject with which many law students struggle: professional attire. Law students want to be judged on their merit. The best way to pull that off is to avoid distracting supervisors and prospective employers with your fashion choices. The Young Lawyer Editorial Board at The Legal Intelligencer provides this helpful take on how to accomplish that. Keep in mind that not every employer expects you to dress in business formal or even business casual clothing, but until you get a clear indication to the contrary, you should err on the side of formality

- Jared Solovay, Director of Employer Relations

Recent Additions to the Resource Library

2011-08-02T14:33:00.000-07:00

The following books are now available for checkout in Law Career Services:

Lawyers, Lead On: Lawyers with Disabilities Share Their Insights
This inspiring book contains letters of encouragement and advice from lawyers with disabilities to law students and new lawyers with disabilities. The writers share their perspectives on work and disability, based on their own experiences of success and setbacks.

Inside a U.S. Embassy: Diplomacy at Work, The Essential Guide to the Foreign Service, 3rd Edition
Inside a U.S. Embassy is widely recognized as the essential guide to the Foreign Service. This all-new third edition takes readers to more than fifty U.S. missions around the world, introducing Foreign Service professionals and providing detailed descriptions of their jobs and firsthand accounts of diplomacy in action.

In addition to profiles of diplomats and specialists around the world—from the ambassador to the consular officer, the public diplomacy officer to the security specialist—is a selection from more than twenty countries of day-in-the-life accounts, each describing an actual day on the job. Personal reports from the field give a sense of the extraordinary challenges—the coups, the natural disasters, the civil wars—and rewards of representing America to the world.

Inside a U.S. Embassy includes new chapters on the highly competitive Foreign Service entrance process, Foreign Service life outside the embassy, and briefings on topics such as handling high-level visits and service in war zones.

Getting a Job: A Study of Contacts and Careers by Mark Granovetter
This classic study of how 282 men in the United States found their jobs not only proves "it's not what you know but who you know," but also demonstrates how social activity influences labor markets. Examining the link between job contacts and social structure, Granovetter recognizes networking as the crucial link between economists studies of labor mobility and more focused studies of an individual's motivation to find work.

This second edition is updated with a new Afterword and includes Granovetter's influential article "Economic Action and Social Structure: The Problems of Embeddedness."

Networking in the New World Order (part 1)

2011-07-29T08:49:00.000-07:00

By Jan Nussbaum
Assistant Director for Professional Development

As someone who recently looked for employment, I've been in the trenches. I want to share with you the strategies that I have found work well for finding a job. While we all know that networking is critical to finding employment, the techniques I discuss below are not traditionally mentioned in presentations or articles on the topic.

But what is networking? Networking has been defined as “making links from people we know to people they know, in an organized way, for a specific purpose, while remaining committed to doing our part, expecting nothing in return.” (Donna Fisher and Sandy Vilas - Power Networking.) In its simplest terms, networking is connecting with people and sharing each other’s goals and plans. I find this works best when applied broadly because you'll be amazed at who knows who. I am somewhat extraverted, so I bring people into my network that I talk to at the gym, meet at parties, in the neighborhood, etc. The more people that come to know you, the greater your success rate will be in finding employment opportunities, being offered interviews, and landing a job that you truly enjoy.

These are the main networking strategies I found most effective:

Personal Statement: I spent some time developing a short personal statement (no more than 30 seconds if read or said aloud) about my experience and what kind of job I was seeking. I practiced the statement and fine-tuned the phrasing so that it was as natural for me to say as talking about where I grew up. (LCS will hold programs to help GGU law students develop personal statements, but it’s never too early to start working on one as you never know who you’ll meet today!)

Reach Out: I then sent out my personal statement to all my friends, relatives and colleagues (past and present) via email and social media (LinkedIn), or relayed it to them in conversation. I invited these people to join me on LinkedIn, and to let me know of any people that they thought would be beneficial for me to contact, any groups to join, or events to attend. Remember the wider your net, the more connections you'll have.

Organize and Prioritize Your Contact List: I then organized and prioritized a list of who I believed would be most beneficial to talk with about my job search (attorneys and non-attorneys). The list consisted of people I knew (sometimes not well), people referred to me by friends, relatives and colleagues, and people that I identified were a connection to one of my LinkedIn connections. My connections (even if I did not know them well) were more than happy to introduce me to their connections, and to indicate that they had recommended that we connect. (For example, someone I had talked to very little since high school became a LinkedIn connection and recommended me to Microsoft for a position based on my personal statement!)

Join and Become Active in Various Groups and Attend Events: There are a multitude of groups and events one could attend, so I limited my time to three that were of interest to me and diverse from each other. It is important that you find the members fun, interesting, and engaging because you will be spending a good deal of time with these people. Back to my example, I became active again with the Association of Corporate Counsel, attending CLE lunches and networking functions. I joined the British American Business Council (“BABC”), having recently returned from living in London for several years. I also joined a women’s social networking group where many of the members are entrepreneurs and well-connected in the community. (Note: It’s good to be active with both attorney and non-attorney groups.)

Once I got out there and was active, things began to happen. In my next blog piece, I’ll tell you about how these networking strategies paid off in landing a job that is perfect for me - as your Career Advisor here at GGU School of Law.

Quick Tips: Application Materials

2011-07-27T15:20:00.000-07:00

Three Common Mistakes in Application Materials - just in time for Summer Recruitment (deadline: August 1 at noon)!

Incorrect Salutation line. Begin with "Dear Mr. Lastname:" or "Dear Ms. Lastname:" when writing your cover letters. Using the contact's full name in the salutation is too awkward, while using only the first name is too informal. "To whom it may concern" is not acceptable 99.9% of the time. If a contact isn't listed in the job notice, try researching the employer online or calling the employer to find out more information about who does the hiring. If you're really stuck, contact LCS for advice. We're happy to help.

LCSonline conversion problems. What looked good on your computer yesterday might look entirely different on an employer's display tomorrow. Since you spent so much time fine-tuning your documents to be the best they can be (right?), this is problematic. The first step in combatting this problem is to preserve the layout of your documents by converting to PDF before uploading to LCSonline. The second step is to preview your uploaded application materials by clicking the document icons next to your uploaded file in LCSonline. What you see in this preview is what employers will see. Make sure you're happy with that.

Inconsistency. Are you applying to a district attorney's office? You shouldn't be writing about your love of defense work and long-held public defender aspirations in your cover letter. Each cover letter should be tailored to each employer, so you must do your research! Also, get the name right. Are the partner names separated by commas, dashes or a space? Is the name followed by LLP, PC or something else? A quick trip to the employer's website will often give you the answer.

[ Bonus tip: Proofread! ]

Welcome Jan Nussbaum to LCS!

2011-07-25T13:59:00.000-07:00

Please join us in welcoming Jan Nussbaum (GGU JD 85) to LCS as our new Assistant Director for Professional Development (the role previously held by Marcie Areias). Jan has spent most of her career working as corporate counsel at Clorox, as well as other stints as a contract attorney at the Gap, PeopleSoft, and Dole Foods. She is a former president and board member of the local chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel. Jan recently returned to the Bay Area after living in London for several years, and is particularly excited to return to her alma mater to help our students establish their own legal careers.

We are delighted to have such an accomplished alumna join our team. Jan can be reached at 369-5223.

How Clean is Your Digital Footprint?

2011-07-21T12:55:00.000-07:00

by Susanne Aronowitz
Associate Dean for Law Career Services & Alumni Relations

According to a recent article in the NY Times, some companies are requiring prospective employees to pass a social media background check. If put to the test, how would you do?

While the thought of yet another test may send shivers down your spine, remember that you control your own message. We encourage you to use blogs, LinkedIn, and other social media tools to help establish your professional persona and showcase your expertise. Here are some simple tips on how to use LinkedIn effectively to build your profile and your network.

Regardless of whether you actively use social media, you do have a digital footprint and you need to know what it is. If a prospective employer searched you on Google, what would they find? Do you share the same name with someone else who does have online dirt? Protecting your reputation requires constant vigilance. Take a look at NALP's helpful e-guide to get some easy tips on effective ways to manage your digital dirt.

How To Go At It Alone:Advice For Launching A Solo Practice

2011-07-19T09:25:00.001-07:00

by Elana Konstant
Interim Career Counselor

Are you self-motivated and disciplined? Do you want constant direct client contact? Can you run a successful business? If so, then perhaps you would appreciate the challenges and rewards of a solo practice. Many recent graduates are becoming solo practitioners to gain extensive legal experience while retaining control of their schedules and case load. Given the current job crunch, starting a solo practice may be an effective way to make the most of your legal education, your technological abilities and your drive to work hard. However, it is important to realize that functioning as the partner, associate, and office assistant requires incredible confidence, flexibility and ambition.

To help you decide if this career path is right for you, either now or at a later point in your professional life, here are ten things to consider when launching a solo practice:

Know Yourself - talk to mentors, supervisors, colleagues and friends about the prospect of creating your own firm in your field of interest. Perform self-assessment techniques to determine whether you would be right in the role of rainmaker / administrator / accountant / attorney.
Due Diligence - conducting informational interviews with successful solo practitioners may be the most important action you can take to learn about starting your own practice. Many bar associations have support systems for those in solo practice so use those networking resources.
Business Plan and Budget - most lawyers need a crash course in law firm business management to help determine startup costs, capital raising, marketing plans, cash flow projections and fee arrangements. There are a number of CLEs or bar association events that address this topic. By interning or volunteering for a solo attorney or small practice, you can learn business management from the inside.
Financial Considerations - ideally, a person starting a solo practice will be in a position financially to support him/herself for at least the first 6 months. Developing a client base, generating income and earning a profit can take longer than expected so be prepared for fluctuations.
Type of Business Entity - when establishing your own practice, there are tax and liability implications to examine and consulting with a CPA is advised. Accounting advice will also be helpful regarding financial reporting for income statements, balance sheets, tax preparation and personnel hiring.
Insurance Coverage - when launching a solo practice, you likely will need professional liability, business/property and liability coverage, as well potentially worker's compensation. Health insurance costs for yourself and other employees should also be considered.
Technological Needs - client documentation, research, and production can be primarily or entirely electronic, allowing for great flexibility and minimized risk. Although there is less overhead for solo practitioners with virtual offices, specific software may be necessary, including programs for case management, calendaring and docketing, billing and document assembly.
Marketing - with the advent of Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, blogs and other social networks, getting the word out about your business has never been easier. However, differentiating yourself from others is imperative. Getting involved in pro bono activities, joining trade and legal organizations, being listed on various lawyer referral service panels allows you to meet potential clients while simultaneously developing your name recognition.
Work/Life Balance - when you are entirely responsible for all business development, there is a great incentive to always keep working so that you always keep earning. However, this can lead to extreme fatigue and burnout so you want to be sure to pay attention to cues from your body, your mind and your loved ones.
Always Be Learning - without the built-in supervision of a firm or partnership, the onus is on you to stay motivated to learn about new legal developments and to share that knowledge with your clients.

RESOURCES

Books, Publications and Videos
How to Start & Build a Law Practice (5th Ed.), by Jay G. Foonberg (available at LCS)
Solo by Choice: How to Be the Lawyer You Always Wanted to Be, by C. Elefant
Opening a Law Office: A Handbook for Starting Your Own Business, CA Young Lawyers Association and the CEB
The California Guide to Opening and Managing a Law Office, CA State Bar
GP Solo: ABA General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Division
Start Your Own Law Practice: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Success, by Laura P. Valtorta (available for check-out at LCS)

On The Web
www.myshingle.com
www.americanbar.org
www.sba.gov
www.lowbono.org
http://lp.findlaw.com/law-practice-management
http://weilandco.com/manage.html
www.sfbar.org

Summer Recruitment 2011

2011-07-12T09:18:00.000-07:00

by Jared Solovay
Director of Employer Relations

You might think it's premature to be planning for jobs a year away, but many employers prefer to do things that way. Our Summer Recruitment program will give you a crack at those opportunities. For rising 2Ls, these will be jobs the summer after your second year. For rising 3Ls, these will be jobs after you take the bar exam.

Participating employers include law firms, government agencies, and public interest organizations. While this is by no means the only way to line up meaningful experience next year, it may well be your only opportunity with these particular employers. So make sure to participate. The application window opens on July 18 at noon and closes on August 1 at noon. Details can be found on the LCSonline home page.

To help you put your best foot forward, LCS will be hosting a number of drop-in hours between now and August 1. You're also welcome to make an appointment if you'd like.

Good luck with Summer Recruitment!

Project-Based Public Interest Fellowships

2011-06-17T15:22:00.000-07:00

By Leeor Neta
Assistant Director of Public Interest Programs

Every aspiring public interest lawyer should consider applying for a postgraduate public interest fellowship. The summer before one’s last year of school is the time to apply!

While there are many kinds of public interest fellowships, project-based fellowships are some of the most attractive because they account for most of the fellowship opportunities—88 opportunities in the last year alone.

Project-based fellowship applications are time-consuming and complicated. Each applicant must pitch an original idea for a project, and recruit an existing organization to supervise, mentor, and train the applicant. Typically, the process requires months of preparation. At This article address two such fellowships: the Equal Justice Works Fellowship and the Soros Justice Advocacy Fellowship.

The Equal Justice Works Fellowship is the largest postgraduate legal fellowship program in the United States, and a leading innovator in this area. Last year, Equal Justice Works hosted 43 fellows from 30 different schools. The Fellowship is two years in duration.

The Equal Justice Works Fellowship application is extensive and very detailed. Applicants are required to draft a detailed statement of unmet need, project goals, timelines, and a personal statement. Applicants are also required to submit a long-form resume, two letters of recommendation, and a letter from the sponsoring agency. The applicant’s school matters little and grades are not considered at all.

The application is posted online in July. The deadline to submit the application occurs in mid-September. The office for Equal Justice Works West—located in Oakland—reviews all applications from schools in California. Equal Justice Works selects the applications it wishes to approve and “pitches” them to the companies and firms that fund the Equal Justice Works Fellowship. The funders have substantial decision-making power. Interviews typically takes place from the end of the fall through the spring.

In recent years, Equal Justice Works has supported applications in the following areas: immigration, youth (particularly special education), community development, and domestic violence.

If you’re interested in applying for an Equal Justice Works Fellowship, here are some important recommendations:

Applicants should choose a project to which they have a personal connection or one that is in clearly in line with the applicant’s background.
Because each host receives only one fellow, applicants should ask the host if it is sponsoring other applicants.
Because many successful projects have catchy titles, applicants should endeavor to draft such titles for their projects, e.g., the Briefcase Clinic.
Applicants should thoroughly research their project ideas and provide verifiable statistics supporting their statements of need.
Applicants should offer specific six-month milestones in the description of their projects’ goals.
Applicants should demonstrate how their project will offer pro bono opportunities for partner agencies.

For more tips on developing an Equal Justice Works Fellowship, click here.

The Soros Justice Advocacy Fellowship supports individuals—not just lawyers or law students—in the creation of projects that reform criminal justice policy. SJA Fellowships are 18 months in duration, and can begin in either April or September.

There are two Advocacy Fellowship tracks. Advocacy Track I is designed for new and emerging leaders. Advocacy Track II is aimed at more experienced individuals with a demonstrated record of achievement and expertise in their fields. Applicants in Track I do not compete with applicants in Track II. Each year, there are 15-20 Track I Fellowships.

Like the Equal Justice Works Fellowship, the Soros Justice Advocacy Fellowship application is extensive. Applicants are required to draft a detailed proposal—including project explanation, project goals, project strategies, and a timeline. Applicants are also required to submit a long-form resume, two letters of recommendation, and a letter from the sponsoring agency. Projects must also have an advisory board. The advisory board must be comprised of a minimum of three individuals who can lend strategic guidance and substantive expertise to the project.

The application is posted online in August. The deadline to submit the application occurs in early November. A reading committee consisting of Open Society Institute staff and outside experts in the field review the proposals and nominate finalists. Finalists are invited to interview with a selection committee that also consists of Open Society Institute staff and outside experts in the field.

Soros Justice Advocacy Projects must align with the Open Society Institute’s Criminal Justice Fund priorities. While these are in flux for the coming year, the Institute has tended to fund projects that:

Attack the excessive and economically destructive costs of incarceration
Eliminate harsh and unjust sentencing practices
Reform parole and probation policies and practices
Foster new approaches to drug policy
Combat the criminalization of marginalized populations, e.g. people with mental illness, homeless individuals, young people, immigrants
End punitive school disciplinary policies
Eliminate unreasonable barriers to the reintegration of people returning from prison, as well as challenge the stigmatization of people with criminal records
End the treatment of children as adults in prosecution and sentencing
Abolish the death penalty
Reform police and prosecution practices
Improve indigent defense services and systems

Applicants may propose any number of strategies to achieve the goals set forth in their projects, including: litigation, public education, strategic communications, policy advocacy, coalition-building, grassroots organizing and mobilization, and action research. As a general rule, projects must not either wholly or substantially involve direct service delivery or individual representation.

The Soros Justice Advocacy Fellowship favors projects with multiple constituencies that could be served by sectors other than the criminal justice system, e.g., youth, the disabled community, the homeless population, the LGBT community, etc. Also encouraged are applications for projects that cut across various criminal justice fields and related sectors—such as education, health, mental health, housing, and employment. The fellowship favors projects outside of metropolitan areas—though in fact, few are—and particularly favors projects based in the South and Midwest.

The quality of the Soros Justice Advocacy Fellowship applicant is extremely important, perhaps more important than the project itself. The fellowship prefers applicants who have direct experience with the criminal justice system, e.g., ex-offenders, family members of offenders, or at least applicants with connections to their project issues that predate their legal education. The ideal applicant is one with a significant professional or personal connection to the project issue, and one with connections to past fellows and host organizations.

Though not required, host organizations are highly preferred. Even so, projects should clearly originate from the applicant’s background and interests, rather than from the host’s needs. Applicants choosing not to partner with a host organization must convincingly articulate how they will achieve the project goals without the infrastructure and support of an established organization.

If you’re interested in applying for a Soros Justice Advocacy Fellowship, here are some important recommendations:

Applicants should demonstrate that they are familiar with existing similar work.
Applicants should model their applications on past successful applications and clearly demonstrate that their projects are evolutions in the field.
Applicants should assembly their advisory boards as early as possible.
Applicant should talk to past fellows as part of their research.
Projects should combine community organizing with legal strategies.
Projects should meaningfully integrate constituency members, i.e., not just as clients.
Host organizations should be fully committed to the goals of the Open Society Institute, but need not be Open Society Institute grantees.

Applicants who are uncertain whether some aspect of their proposed project fits within the parameters of the Fellowship program guidelines or whether the project is otherwise likely to be of interest to the program may submit an email inquiry before proceeding with the full online application process. The email should provide a brief—no more than 500 words—description of the project, as well as some background information on the applicant, and should be sent to sorosjusticefellowships@sorosny.org.

For more tips on developing any project-based fellowship, click here.

For a list of helpful resources about fellowships generally, click here.

Most importantly, you need to plan now if you want to pursue a postgraduate fellowship. Email me at lneta@ggu.edu for more information.

Upcoming Job Fairs for Rising 2Ls

2011-06-15T09:15:00.000-07:00

The BASF Diversity Career Fair will be held August 6. Students must register by June 17. For more information and to register, please click here.

The SFIPLA Job Fair will be held August 14. To participate, students must register by July 1. For more information and to register, please click here.

Attorney Resume Shuffle: Is It Time Yet?

2011-06-10T13:54:00.000-07:00

by Susanne Aronowitz,
Associate Dean for Law Career Services & Alumni Relations

Recent graduates often ask, "when should I move the education section on my resume from the top of the page to the bottom?"

You can move your education to the bottom of the resume when your legal experience can offer a full picture of your skills and expertise. For most attorneys, this occurs several years into practice, and well after their first attorney position. The education section highlights important information, including academic success, leadership, and identification with affinity groups. Does the work experience that you present provide enough detail to generate an employer's interest? Until your work experience can effectively showcase your legal skills, expertise, and level of responsibility, consider leading with your education.

Salary Negotiation Tips

2011-06-07T09:43:00.000-07:00

by Jessica Crawley, Esq.
LCS Graduate Fellow

Create a budget to determine your “target” salary (what you desire) and “bottom line” number (the minimum annual salary you can afford to accept).
Research the average salary range for the geographic area, type of position and level of experience. Refer to the Salary Range Websites handout in the Resource Library on LCSonline for resources to help you with this step.
Do not discuss salary until you receive an offer. If a prospective employer asks for salary information before offering you a position, try to politely postpone the issue by saying you will consider any reasonable offer or provide a range based on your research with your “bottom line” figure as the lower end of the range.
Negotiate: Maintain a professional demeanor and communicate enthusiasm for the position and firm/organization during the negotiation process.

Determine your power to negotiate by considering all the factors, including the state of the economy, the employer’s financial health and the supply of candidates comparable to you.
If you request an increase in the salary offer articulate why you believe you are worth the extra money.
If salary is not negotiable or your efforts to negotiate a higher salary have been unsuccessful:

Request performance reviews at three or six months, which offers the opportunity to negotiate salary increases in the future based on performance.
Don’t overlook other components of the compensation package other than salary such as bonuses, benefits (i.e., insurance, 401(k), paid vacation, continuing education expenses), perks, billable hours requirements, flexible working hours, etc. For example, negotiating an annual bonus or incentive plan which could increase your annual income.

After you reach an agreement with an employer request written confirmation of your salary and benefits.

NALP E-guides: Effective Email Strategies for Law Students & Lawyers

2011-05-31T11:07:00.000-07:00

by Susanne Aronowitz
Associate Dean for Law Career Services

We all use email, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and other electronic forms of communication on a daily basis, but few of us stop to make sure that our messages support the professional identity we want to create. NALP has developed a series of e-guides on e-Professionalism to help law students understand the unique responsibilities they have when communicating online. Over the course of the summer, we will share these guides with you.

The first guide, "Effective Email Strategies for Law Students and Lawyers," is a must-read before you send that next email message to your professor, employer, or networking contact. In the course of writing the guide, I reflected on many of the pitfalls I observed students falling into while highlighting strategies that students used to create a positive impression on the reader.

Congratulations to Carolyn Lee!

2011-05-26T09:57:00.000-07:00

Pictured from left, Marcie Areias, Susanne Aronowitz, and Carolyn Lee.

Carolyn Lee (GGU JD 07) is the recipient of the Law School's Alumni Volunteer of the Year Award for all the outstanding work and dedication she has shown GGU Law over the past year. Carolyn is an Alumni Board Member and is very active with Griffin Connect. In these roles, Carolyn spearheaded two Griffin Connect Symposia during the 2010-2011 school year. Carolyn has also individually met with numerous students and alumni for informational interviews. The GGU community is very lucky to have such an amazing and dedicated alumna. When presented with the award, Carolyn remarked that she finds all her GGU efforts to be fun and extremely satisfying, and encouraged more alumni to get involved. - Susanne Aronowitz

CA Bar Foundation Scholarship Recipients

2011-05-23T09:54:00.000-07:00

This year, the California Bar Foundation has recognized three of our students with scholarships! Luthien Niland (JD 12) and Angela Kelley (JD 12) each received a $5,000 Public Interest Scholarship. Nicole Edwards-Masuda (JD 11) received a Rosenthal Bar Exam Scholarship.

The Foundation’s Public Interest Scholarships are designed to “recognize law students who demonstrate superior academic achievement, a sustained and extensive commitment to public service, often while overcoming serious personal hardships and obstacles, an intent to pursue a career in public interest law, and financial need.”

The Rosenthal Bar Exam Scholarship Program “recognizes outstanding graduating California law students . . . who are embarking on careers in public service law by providing financial support for costs related to taking the California Bar Exam.”

Having worked closely with Luthien, Angela and Nicole, I can think of few students who deserve this honor more. Congratulations! - Leeor Neta

Dinh Honored, Awarded Fellowship

2011-05-13T16:54:00.000-07:00

Last month, Nikki Dinh (GGU JD 2010) was honored at the offices of Asian Pacific Islander Outreach for receiving the Vietnamese American Bar Association of Northern California’s first public interest fellowship. The fellowship will support APILO, where she will provide legal services and play a key role as an advocate for the Vietnamese American community and other underserved communities in the Bay Area.

Nikki Dinh graduated from GGU with a specialization in public interest law and as a member of the Pro Bono Honor Society. Upon graduation, she was awarded the Golden Gate University Diversity Graduation Award for her efforts in promoting diversity in the legal profession.

Congratulations, Nikki!

- Leeor Neta

Stress Management

2011-05-10T14:47:00.000-07:00

by Jessica Crawley, Esq.
LCS Graduate Fellow

With bar results just around the corner, it may be a difficult time to absorb career development and job search advice, thus we turn to the topic of taking care of yourself. Law is a demanding profession with a high level of burnout. This next week is an opportunity to put one or more of these stress management techniques into practice, and then take them forward with you into your legal career.

Physical activity can ease stress, clear the mind, improve sleep, and naturally boost your mood. Even short brisk walks can relieve stress.

Yoga is an excellent way to relieve stress. It combines many of the benefits of breathing, muscle relaxation, and meditation while toning and stretching the muscles. It also elevates mood and improves concentration and the ability to focus. Check out Yoga on the Labyrinth at Grace Cathedral's FREE yoga classes on Tuesdays every week from May 10 until Tuesday May 31 at 6:15 pm.

Deep breathing is one of the best ways to lower stress in the body. Whenever you feel yourself becoming overwhelmed by daily events, stop and inhale deeply through your nose, then exhale slowly through your mouth to the count of 10. Practice this regularly throughout the day and you'll find yourself better able to diffuse your stressful moments.

Meditation can be used to reduce stress by focusing your attention and eliminating the stream of jumbled thoughts that may be crowding your mind and causing stress. The Shambhala Meditation Center offers FREE meditation instruction every week on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and at Sunday's Open House. Also, the San Francisco Buddhist Center offers Drop-In Introduction to Buddhist Meditation classes weekly on Thursdays from 7 to 9 pm.

Laughter lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones and boosts your immune function. Watch a funny movie, go to a stand up comedy night or just laugh with friends.

Maintain Perspective. You may be increasing your anxiety level if you are engaging in all-or-nothing thinking. Remind yourself that the bar exam does not say anything about your value as a person and that not passing the first time is survivable.

Be Nice to Yourself. If you have been scrimping by on a shoestring budget while waiting for results, this would be a good week to treat yourself to a movie, dinner with non-law school friends, or a massage. And don't neglect the basics of self-care! Get enough sleep, eat well, connect with loved ones, and find a way to have some fun.

For more fun, free or affordable upcoming events in San Francisco and around the Bay Area, visit FunCheapSF.

Loan Repayment Assistance Program

2011-05-05T09:16:00.000-07:00

To help students who want to secure employment in low-paying public interest and government jobs, Golden Gate University School of Law offers a Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP). The Program has two goals: (1) to lessen the degree to which financing the cost of a legal education limits career options and (2) to encourage graduates to choose public interest careers.

Under LRAP, the Law School will make an award to qualifying graduates to assist them with their law school loan repayments. To qualify and remain eligible for LRAP, the graduate must earn a total salary of less than $75,000 and the work performed by the graduate must require her/him to hold a law degree. Funding is limited and not guaranteed. Preference is given to graduates who perform legal services for or under the direction of a government unit or an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and exempt from tax under section 501(a). Among other things, loan forgiveness payments should not normally be counted as part of gross income.

LRAP disbursements are made in July. Eligibility for this year’s disbursement requires timely submission of an application and all necessary supporting materials no later than Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 5:30 pm.

Click here to download the application.

For more information contact:
Leeor Neta
Assistant Director for Public Interest Programs
Golden Gate University School of Law
536 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
lneta@ggu.edu
Phone: (415) 369-5391
Fax: (415) 543-6680
Hand delivery: Law Career Services, 40 Jessie Street, 5th Floor

Contribute to LRAP
If you are interested in giving a donation to the Loan Repayment Assistance Program, click here. Select "Other" Gift Description and type in LRAP.

Managing Your Firm’s Online Reputation

2011-05-02T16:48:00.001-07:00

"With social media now mainstream, the responsibility of understanding online personal branding and how it affects your legal practice is more important than ever."

Click here to read the article GGU LCS Assistant Director of Professional Development Marcie Areias wrote for the Bar Association of San Francisco Bulletin.

1Ls: Start Planning Ahead for Job Fairs

2011-04-21T15:58:00.001-07:00

Even though many of you are still firming up your plans for this summer and fall, it is already time to start planning ahead to summer/fall 2012! Many employers will be relying on job fairs this summer to recruit law students for next summer. Some fairs focus on certain types of positions, such as patent law or prosecution jobs, while others are focused primarily on recruiting diverse applicants. Many of these opportunities will require you to register NOW for interviews that will occur during the summer of 2011 for jobs that will take place in summer 2012.

To learn more about these opportunities, review the job listings on LCSonline and our summer job fair handout, below. - Susanne Aronowitz

Five Surefire Writing Strategies

2011-04-14T13:13:00.000-07:00

by Marcie Areias
Assistant Director of Professional Development

Last week, I helped put on the Bay Area Legal Recruiting Mini-Conference where Kiko Korn, founder of Legal Writing Works, presented on "Five Surefire Strategies for Everything You Write." Kiko's content helped me identify my writing strengths and weaknesses. Writing is a skill set that can always be improved, and here are Kiko's top five tips to get started.

Change Your Writing Habits with a Personal Editing Sheet - It takes time to change a writing habit, so have a tip sheet visible at your work space.
Lead with the Punch Line - Get to the point right away; don't bury it at the end of your writing.
Write Like You Have to Pay for Every Word - Cut out unnecessary clutter.
Use the White Space - Keep your reader’s attention by breaking up long paragraphs and using bullets and bold headings when appropriate.
Read Out Loud to Polish Your Prose - Saying your text out loud helps catch typos and tighten your writing.

Considering a Judicial Clerkship?

2011-04-06T10:27:00.000-07:00

All 2Ls (especially) and any other law students or alumni who are considering applying for a post-graduate Judicial Clerkship must complete the Clerkship Student Interest form on the homepage of LCSonline by April 29. Most clerkship deadlines will occur over the spring and summer; LCS will communicate directly with the students who complete the interest form regarding the deadlines and process.

We also recommend that you watch the video of our recent Judicial Clerkship panel discussion to hear from GGU alumni how clerkships had a positive impact on their legal careers and to learn more about the application process.

GGU Loan Repayment Assistance Program

2011-04-04T15:43:00.000-07:00

Are you planning on taking a public interest or government job after graduation? Are you worried about low starting salaries and high loan payments? Don’t forget about GGU’s Loan Repayment Assistance Program!

Golden Gate University School of Law’s Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) provides grants for recent JD graduates working in public interest and government positions. If you are earning less than $75,000 a year, you may be eligible for a grant to help offset your monthly loan payments.

For more information, please review the LRAP details on the GGU Law website or contact Leeor Neta at lneta@ggu.edu or (415) 369-5391.

Diversity on the Bench:A Panel to Encourage Diverse Lawyers to the Judiciary

2011-03-29T09:26:00.000-07:00

Why is a diverse bench important? Despite our expectation that we be judged by those who reflect our communities, a report (link) published by the Brennan Center for Justice found that every non-white demographic group is underrepresented in the judiciary. Even more disturbing: there has been a decrease in the number of black male judges since 1985.

GGU School of Law is one of the most diverse in the nation. Come learn how the School is capitalizing on the diversity at GGU Law to increase judicial diversity. A panel of judges from diverse backgrounds will discuss the routes they took to their judicial career on Wednesday, April 6 from 5:30 to 6:30 pm in room 2203. A networking reception will follow. They will also share advice on improving diversity on the bench with a new generation of lawyers. Panelists will include Justice Maria Rivera, Judge Harbin-Forte, Judge Stuart Hing, Judge Victoria Kolakowski. The panel will be moderated by Dean Ramey.

To RSVP or for more info, email GGUBenchDiversity@gmail.com. The panel is sponsored by Asian American Bar Association, Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom, and GGU Law & Leadership.

Did You Know?

2011-03-28T09:20:00.000-07:00

just launched News, which makes it easy for every professional to read the articles their network is reading. The service starts by providing articles on a variety of topics, then uses each person's contacts to determine which articles are most important. It is currently in beta testing and only available to a select group of users. Why not jump on and see if you are one of them? News can be found under the "More" tab. - Marcie Areias

Postgraduate Fellowships Workshop

2011-03-25T12:58:00.000-07:00

A postgraduate fellowship is one of the very few ways through which aspiring public interest students start their careers. Because fellowship applications have early fall deadlines and the application process is very time-consuming, the time to start exploring fellowships is right now!

POSTGRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS WORKSHOP
Thursday, March 31 | 5:15-6:15 pm | Room 3201, GGU

MEET THE PANELISTS

Ifetayo Belle
Ifetayo Belle is the Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Fellow at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and works on LCCR’s Racial Justice docket. She is a member of the legal team for Williams v. City of Antioch, a federal civil rights class action suit challenging the Antioch Police Department’s harassment of African American families with Section 8 housing vouchers. Ifetayo also works on efforts to increase utilization of minority-owned businesses in government contracting. This includes representation of defendant intervenors, NAACP of San Diego and the Coalition for Economic Equity, in Associated General Contractors v. California Department of Transportation, defending the state’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise contracting program. During law school, Ifetayo interned at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit for Judge Anne C. Williams and at Outten & Golden LLP, a plaintiff-side NYC employment firm where she worked in the Discrimination and Retaliation Practice Group. Ifetayo graduated from Northeastern University School of Law in Boston, Massachusetts.

Parisa Fatehi
Parisa Fatehi (Attorney and Equal Justice Works Fellow, sponsored by Hewlett-Packard Company and Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP) joined Public Advocates in 2009 after clerking for the Hon. Vanessa D. Gilmore of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Parisa’s work, which includes coalition building, policy advocacy, and administrative and legal action, uses California’s climate change reform policies to secure affordable housing near quality jobs and public transit for low-income communities. Parisa is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, where she served as student body president and received her B.A. in Plan II, J.D., and Masters in Public Affairs. Prior to graduate school, Parisa lived in Washington, D.C., where she worked at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on voluntary programs designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In law school, she served low-income clients in the Transnational Workers’ Rights Clinic and the Immigration Clinic, interned at the Texas Civil Rights Project and the National Employment Law Project, and was president of UT Law’s American Constitution Society. Parisa served on two municipal commissions, the City of Austin’s Commission on Immigrant Affairs and the Day Labor Community Advisory Committee.

Fabián Rentería
Fabián Rentería is the Equal Justice Society’s Judge Constance Baker Motley Civil Rights Fellow. Fabián is an immigrant from México and the first person in his family to attend college and law school. He graduated from UCLA School of Law with specializations in Public Interest Law & Policy and Critical Race Studies. During law school, Fabián was the Editor-in-Chief of the Chicana/o-Latina/o Law Review and he received numerous academic and public interest accolades in law school. Fabián is a former Judicial Extern for the Hon. Stephen Reinhardt, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; Law Clerk for Public Advocates, Inc.; and Research Assistant to UCLA School of Law Professor Gerald P. López. After law school, he worked a county-wide criminal justice committee and For People of Color, Inc. as their Director of Administration and Finance. Fabián attended UCLA and received his B.A.s in History and Chicana/o Studies with minors in Political Science and Education Studies. Fabián graduated magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, and completed the College Honors Program.

Webinar: Destination Public Interest

2011-03-10T16:45:00.001-08:00

Destination Public Interest: Landing the Ideal Public Interest Job is designed for 3Ls and recent graduates who are pursuing public interest jobs. The webinar offers best practices and tips in the areas of cover letter and resume drafting, as well as interviewing and professional networking.

Click here to watch the webinar on the NALP website.

Recent additions to the Resource Library

2011-03-09T09:34:00.000-08:00

The following books are now available to GGU Law alumni for checkout in Law Career Services:

Excellence in the Workplace: Legal and Life Skills
This book deals with fundamental lawyering skills (such as analysis, research, writing, oral communication, and time management) as well as with characteristics of emotional intelligence, effective interpersonal relationships, models of professionalism, conflict and stress management, and generational differences. It also offers practical advice for building a successful career (such as creating a career plan, assessing a job offer, negotiating salaries, money management, and work-life balance). Successful lawyers tell us this is the book they wish they'd read when working at summer jobs during law school, or in their first jobs after graduation.

Typography for Lawyers
by Matthew Butterick
Based on the popular website, Typography for Lawyers is the first guide to the essentials of typography aimed specifically at lawyers. Author Butterick, a Harvard-trained typographer and practicing attorney, dispels the myth that legal documents are incompatible with excellent typography. Butterick explains how to get professional results quickly and easily with the tools you already have. Topics include special keyboard characters, line length, point size, font choice, headings, and hyphenation. The book also includes tutorials on specific types of documents like resumes, research memos, and motions.

Social Media for Lawyers: The Next Frontier
Many lawyers view social media as a passing fad, but lawyers who dismiss social media do so at their peril. This cutting-edge guide shows lawyers how to use a practical, goal-centric approach to social media. By enabling lawyers to identify the social media platforms and tools that fit their practice, lawyers can implement them easily, efficiently, and ethically. Written by lawyers, this book is designed with both novice and advanced users in mind.

State of the Legal Market Address to Golden Gate Law Students

2011-03-04T09:24:00.000-08:00

by Marcie Areias
Career Advisor

W. Jon Escher, co-founder of Solutus Legal, will visit campus to discuss the state of the legal market on March 10 from noon to 1 pm in room 3208. He will share his insight on the job market, what employers want, and the hiring practices of legal employers.

Don't miss your chance to be a part of his cutting-edge presentation. All classes are welcome, and graduating students are highly encouraged to attend. Lunch will be served. Please RSVP to lawcareer@ggu.edu.

Countdown to Spring Break

2011-03-03T10:47:00.000-08:00

by Susanne Aronowitz
Associate Dean for Law Career Services

Spring break is an excellent time to catch up on your career-related New Year's resolutions. We encourage all students to schedule at least one informational interview, attend a CLE program, engage in some pro bono work or participate in a bar association activity during spring break week.

Most of these suggestions require a little bit of advance planning. Use your time this week to send email invitations to attorneys for informational interviews, or to research the availability of CLEs, pro bono projects or bar association activities. To help you research these opportunities, consider using the following resources:

GGU Alumni Directory (access info available on LCSonline)
Event calenders in the Daily Journal and BASF Bulletin (at LCS)
Golden Gate Law LinkedIn Group
www.lawstudentprobono.org
Professional Association Handout (available on LCSonline)
Articles in the "Article Spot" at LCS detailing the benefits and strategies of informational interview and bar association activities for law students

Using some of your "down time" to expand your network and increase your understanding of the legal profession will be a worthwhile investment in your professional success. If you need some direction in getting started, contact LCS at (415) 442-6625 to set up an appointment with a career advisor.

After spring break, be sure to let us know what you did and how it went. We also encourage you to share your experiences with other students via the LCS blog.

Griffin Connect Professional Development Symposium Is A Success

2011-03-01T15:12:00.000-08:00

by Marcie Areias
Career Advisor

Alumni from the entire GGU community gathered on Saturday morning to focus on growing their professional careers. Participants chose from three workshops on everything from being successful at work to succeeding in the job market. The keynote speaker, California Assemblyperson Fiona Ma, spoke about finding her calling in public service and how never giving up is the key to a happy working life. The Symposium closed with a dynamic alumni panel who stated that a positive attitude, learning from mistakes and making connections is always a recipe for success.

Funding Your Summer or Fall Internship

2011-02-23T15:27:00.000-08:00

by Leeor Neta
Assistant Director of Public Interest Programs

Now that most of you have secured positions for the summer (and some of you even have positions for the fall), I want to take this opportunity to talk to you about funding your internship.

There are four places for you to look:

1. Apply for a PILF grant: To provide students with support so that they may pursue work in public interest agencies, The Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF) sponsors an annual fundraising auction. The proceeds from the sale of tickets, auctioned items and the raffle are used to provide grants to Golden Gate law students doing public interest work during the summer and fall (for HLP students). The grants vary in accordance with student income and employer resources, but generally provide support for living expenses and/or transportation. The 2011 grants are expected to average approximately $2,000. Last year, PILF awarded 12 grants for a total of approximately $22,000. Please go to www.pilfhome.blogspot.com for more details on the auction.

2. Equal Justice Works Summer Corps: Summer Corps is an AmeriCorps-funded program that in 2011 will provide 700 law students with the opportunity to earn a $1,132 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award for dedicating their summer to a qualifying legal project at a nonprofit public interest organization. The amount of the education award has increased from $1,000 to $1,132 in 2011. More Summer Corps funding opportunities mean more opportunities for law students to get involved in the public interest field. The 2011 Summer Corps program will be the largest class to date. Also, note that the Summer Corps Standout Program was started in 2009 to recognize members for their innovative approach to meeting the needs of an underserved or marginalized person or community. Winners received an article promoting their service on the Equal Justice Works public interest blog and more! If you have any questions about Summer Corps, please contact summercorps@equaljusticeworks.org.

3. Explore PSLawNet: PSLawNet is the nation’s largest online resource for public service legal careers. Go to www.pslawnet.org and register. Then click on “Career Central” and “Financing a Summer Job” (http://pslawnet.org/summerfundingresources). There are many funding sources listed there. Don’t miss your chance to apply for these scholarships!

4. Workstudy and loans: Please be sure to apply for workstudy. Also, to the extent grants, scholarships and workstudy do not afford you enough funding for the summer, you should also consider applying for a living allowance loan. Gaby De la Vega, our director of financial aid, can discuss these options with you in detail.

For those of you who still need to find summer employment, make sure to apply for Spring Recruitment. The deadline is TOMORROW! Many employers—including prominent public defender offices—have received few resumes. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!

GGU 1L Named Summer Stipend Winner

2011-02-23T09:30:00.000-08:00

Public Interest/Public Sector Day staff selected Golden Gate University 1L law student Toshimi Barks as one of their PI/PS Day Summer Stipend winners. She will receive $500 toward summer or fall work with a public interest or public sector employer.

Congratulations, Toshimi!

Playing to Your Strengths: Re-Energizing Yourself and Your Career in 2011

2011-02-22T11:11:00.000-08:00

With the holiday cheer now over, it is not uncommon to feel a little down this time of year. However, there is something you can do to re-engage yourself at work and build the confidence you need to serve your clients successfully: develop your strengths.

Click here to read the article GGU LCS Career Advisor Marcie Areias wrote for the Bar Association of San Francisco Bulletin.

Recent Graduate Blogs About Job Search

2011-02-10T16:04:00.000-08:00

Caleb Arring, a recent GGU Law grad, started a blog chronicling advice for job seekers. Mr. Arring is currently searching for his first attorney job, and heeding the advice LCS gives to all job seekers: network. The blog (Legally Blind: Seeing your way through the recession from law degree to attorney) summarizes advice from informational interviews Mr. Arring conducts with new attorneys who graduated during the recession and found employment. Legally Blind delves into the job search of these attorneys to understand the different ways of going about the transition and the best practices for job-seeking attorneys.

Check out his blog at legally-blind.blogspot.com.

Griffin Connect Symposium

2011-02-09T14:31:00.000-08:00

Workshop for recent graduates & graduating 3Ls, click to enlarge:

Don't Let A Self-Defeating Attitude Sabotage Your Job Search

2011-02-04T10:30:00.000-08:00

SFGate recently published an article on how a self-defeating attitude can hinder your job search. Whether you realize it or not, things such as a close-minded attitude, unrealistic expectations and underestimating your value make a difference in productivity.

Click here to read the article.

Dean Ramey Inspires Graduating Students

2011-02-03T09:44:00.000-08:00

Dean Ramey recently gave an inspiring talk to graduating students on maximizing opportunities and making connections. Here are a few of the Dean's tips on connecting to the community and preparing for a successful legal career.

Always put forth your passion and make it larger than you.
Life has a way of being a great leveler. When talking to impressive people, don't be intimidated because people love finding a point of commonality with each other.
Nothing will happen in life if you are not there. Showing up is 90% of the game.
There is nothing in life like a face-to-face encounter. Don't let social media keep you isolated from the human component of life. Remember that no one really knows who you are until they physically see you.

GGU Law students and alumni can see Dean Ramey's entire talk by logging into LCSonline.

Alumni Visit Campus To Discuss Exciting Careers in Civil Rights Law

2011-02-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

by Leeor Neta
Assistant Director of Public Interest Programs

Last week, GGU was proud to host a panel of very talented civil rights lawyers, all of whom came to share with us their advice on pursuing a civil rights career. The five panelists—Linda Lye, John Scott (GGU JD 76), Reggie Shuford, Jessica Stender and Virginia Villegas—each took turns answering questions from the moderator, Professor Marci Seville, and the assembled students. A complete list of the panelists, including their biographies, is available here.

Linda Lye, who works on students’ rights, free speech and technology issues for the ACLU, advised students on the many arenas in which to practice civil rights law, including nonprofit organizations, private law offices, and labor unions. Virginia Villegas and John Scott talked about how they created their innovative practices, while Reggie Shuford and Jessica Stender talked about how empowering it was to represent people “who don’t know their rights.”

All of the panelists agreed that it was most important for aspiring civil rights lawyers to get nuts-and-bolts litigation experience and training.

Afterward, everyone congregated in the GGU Center to enjoy food and drink and, most of all, each other’s company. GGU students and alumni can view a video of the panel discussion on LCSonline. For more information about this and other events, please contact Leeor Neta at lneta@ggu.edu.

Attending Meet the Advocates Pays Off!

2011-02-01T09:34:00.000-08:00

by Susanne Aronowitz
Associate Dean for Law Career Services

Back when I was a law student, I found my first summer internship through the Meet the Advocates (MTA) portion of PI/PS Day. (In fact, like many 1Ls, I did not receive any interviews through the formal interview process.) While many students focus their attention on the formal interviews, those of you who take advantage of MTA at PI/PS Day on February 12 from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm at Hastings will find that it is time well-spent.

Here are a few tips for getting the most out of MTA:

Scan the listings of participating employers on the PI/PS Day website. Consider sending a resume and cover letter to those organizations that interest you, letting them know you will introduce yourself to them at MTA. That’s what I did, and when I approached the organization’s table, they had anticipated my visit and used the opportunity to set up an interview at their office soon after PI/PS Day.

Before attending MTA, review the list of participating employers and identify the ones with whom you wish to speak. It’s helpful to start the day with a sense of focus.

If you aren’t sure what an organization does, make a point of visiting their table at PI/PS Day.

If you are nervous about talking with the representatives from the organizations, feel free to hover and listen to the conversations that they are having with the other students. You will learn about the organization and might discover some good questions to ask other organizations.

Dress in a business suit and bring extra copies of your resume. Keep careful records of who you speak with (collect business cards!) and make note of when to follow up.

For more tips, attend How to Work a Job Fair on Thursday, February 10 from noon to 1 in room 3214.

Golden Gate University Among Top Law Schools for Public Interest Law

2011-01-31T10:32:00.000-08:00

"To compile the rankings of Best Law Schools for Public Interest Law, The National Jurist used a scoring system based on a 100-point scale to assign point values to law schools in three equally weighted categories - student involvement, curriculum and financial factors. The categories reflected the same areas that Equal Justice Works recommends that students consider when investigating law schools."

CLICK HERE to read Best Public Interest Law Schools at The National Jurist (& see just how far GGU Law outranks Harvard!)

Careers in Civil Rights Law

2011-01-24T11:27:00.000-08:00

Interested in civil rights law? Want to meet GGU alumni and attorneys working in this growing field? Don't miss Careers in Civil Rights Law on Wednesday, January 26 at 5:15 pm in room 6624 in the main campus building. A networking reception with refreshments will follow.

MEET THE PANELISTS

Linda Lye
Staff Attorney, ACLU of Northern California
Linda Lye joined the ACLU-NC as a staff attorney in 2010 after serving 5 years on its Board of Directors and 7 years on its Legal Committee. She was formerly a partner at Altshuler Berzon, a boutique law firm specializing in labor and employment law, as well as constitutional, civil rights, and environmental law. Early in her legal career, she clerked for Judge Guido Calabresi of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg of the United States Supreme Court. Prior to law school, she was a policy analyst for the fiscal committees of the Assembly in the California Legislature, and also worked as a death penalty investigator at the California Appellate Project. She has an undergraduate degree from Yale University and a JD from Boalt Hall, at the University of California at Berkeley.

John Scott (GGU JD 76)
Founding Attorney, The Scott Law Firm
John Scott hung his shingle straight out of law school in 1977 in San Francisco and quickly realized that his passion was civil-rights work and the courtroom. Some of John’s more recent accomplishments include teaming with John Burris and Jim Chanin to secure an $11.5 million-dollar settlement for over 100 persons falsely arrested, and often beaten, by a group of Oakland police officers known as The Riders. In addition, he recently obtained a jury verdict against Alex Fagan, Jr. on behalf of Adam Snyder, a victim of the off-duty police beating known in San Francisco as Fajitagate. Last year, John teamed with John Burris to obtain a $2 million-dollar verdict on behalf of a woman who was denied promotion to Captain at the Oakland Police Department because she was pregnant. Over the past 30 years, John has devoted himself to helping people who are vulnerable and lack the resources to “take on” public entities and big business. While he can point to many million-dollar verdicts and settlements, his greatest successes are the cases which have changed public policy or positively impacted peoples’ lives. He now offers his pro bono services to the community by acting as a mediator in civil-rights and elder-abuse matters.

Reggie Shuford
Director of Law and Policy, Equal Justice Society
Reggie Shuford is the Director of Law and Policy at the Equal Justice Society. An attorney with the ACLU from 1995 through April 2010, he helped pioneer legal challenges to racial profiling practices nationwide. He was the ACLU’s chief litigator in challenges to racial profiling, leading national litigation efforts and consulting with ACLU state affiliates and others in cases of “driving while black or brown,” airport profiling, and profiling related to the war on terror. Shuford’s advocacy to promote affirmative action includes leading recent efforts in Missouri and Oklahoma to defeat anti-affirmative action ballot initiatives, similar to California’s Prop. 209. His docket has also included cases involving educational adequacy and equity, the school to prison pipeline, and the right to counsel for indigents. He also has been involved in advocacy against racism in the use of the death penalty. Since September 11, 2001, working with colleagues around the country, he has filed a half dozen landmark lawsuits against major airlines alleging racial discrimination, as well as a nationwide challenge to the Transportation Security Administration’s management of the No-Fly List. He has authored numerous petitions and briefs for cases that were presented to the U.S. Supreme Court dealing with matters of discrimination, the Equal Protection Clause and First and Fourth Amendment rights. He has published articles related to racial profiling, affirmative action, and violence in the African American community. Reggie also teaches and speaks regularly around the country and internationally, and has appeared on numerous television programs. He has been interviewed on various radio and TV programs, including National Public Radio and MSNBC, and has been quoted in major newspapers such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today and The Guardian. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina School of Law, where he was his graduating class president. He is a Wasserstein Public Interest Fellow at Harvard Law School for the 2009-10 academic year and the recent recipient of the University of North Carolina School of Law’s Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Jessica Stender
Attorney, Goldstein, Demchak, Baller, Borgen & Dardarian
Jessica is a Civil Rights Fellow at Goldstein, Demchak, Baller, Borgen & Dardarian, a plaintiffs’ public interest class action law firm in Oakland. She represents individuals against large companies in complex, class and collective action lawsuits in the areas of employment and environmental justice. Jessica attended Berkeley Law (Boalt Hall) where she was active in the Boalt chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, the Berkeley Journal of Employment and Labor Law and the Student Liaison Committee for Faculty Appointments. Before attending law school, Jessica worked for three years as a paralegal at Friend of Farmworkers, a Philadelphia-based office providing free legal services to farmworkers and other low-wage workers in various areas of employment. She was also co-chair of the Coalition for Latin American Migrants and Immigrants, a community-based coalition working for and within the immigrant community in Philadelphia.

Virginia Villegas
Partner, Talamantes Villegas Carrera, LLP
As an attorney, Virginia Villegas has dedicated her career to working on behalf of low-wage and mostly monolingual Spanish-speaking, immigrant workers in San Francisco and the Bay Area. After graduating from The University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1995, Ms. Villegas worked at La Raza Centro Legal, a community based non-profit organization until May 2001. As the Supervising Attorney of the Workers’ Advocacy Project, a project created to represent and educate Latino workers of their employment rights, Ms. Villegas won significant victories for some of the most vulnerable and exploited workers such as day laborers, janitors, restaurant workers and domestic workers. Since May 2001, Ms. Villegas has been a partner at Talamantes Villegas Carrera, and has continued to represent low wage, immigrant workers in wage and hour class actions and discrimination matters as well as providing educational trainings to low wage workers. In addition, Ms. Villegas serves as the firm’s managing partner. Ms. Villegas has served on the Board of Directors of various non-profit organizations. Most recently she was the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Center for Young Women’s Development until September 2009. As of January 2010, Ms. Villegas serves as member of the Circle of Advisors for the Center for Young Women’s Development. Ms. Villegas has also served on the Board of Directors of the AIDS Legal Referral Panel, San Francisco La Raza Lawyers Association, Discrimination Research Center, and the Homeless Prenatal Program. In 2006, Ms. Villegas was appointed to the Sweatfree Procurement Advisory Group by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and served on that Board for two years. Ms. Villegas is also a member of the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, California Employment Lawyers Association, Consumer Attorneys of California, San Francisco La Raza Lawyers Association, and the Hispanic National Bar Association.

In Your Own Words:Grüezi aus der Schweiz!!

2011-01-20T13:12:00.000-08:00

John Andy Brunner-Brown (JD 13)

Less than 48 hours after my last exam, the airplane touched down with a friendly notice from the flight crew - “Willkommen in die Schweiz; welcome to Switzerland.” Yet, spending my four weeks of winter break as a legal intern in the town of Zug instead of relaxing posed a potential problem: would the work burn me out or would the experience revitalize me? Fortunately, I quickly realized that working for Zwicky Windlin & Partner would be well worth the risk.

Despite having had only one semester of law school, the work was completely within the capacity of my legal education. On top of writing legal memoranda and researching international civil laws, the firm gave me opportunities to translate contract clauses, to meet with clients (either with a partner or alone) and even to draft a contract for a loan. Luckily, work did not always keep me in the office. By train or by car I traveled to Bern (the capital), to Altdorf (the hometown of the legendary William Tell), and to Morgarten to see the monument of the Battle of Morgarten. It’s always a pleasure traveling through the magnificent Alps and along the breathtaking lakes.

Even though the visit was short, my coworkers and roommates included me in their activities as if we had been old friends. Events outside of work included several dinners at “the boss’ house,” Christmas and New Year’s celebrations with my roommates and sledding during the lunch break.

Though I risked burning out in order to gain practical experience, the gamble paid off. Not only did I learn a great deal and gain valuable real-world experience, I was also able to enjoy the charms of a foreign country: its culture, beautiful scenery and delicious foods (Swiss cheeses and chocolates are amazing!). Most importantly, the experience re-energized me and made me all the more excited for the upcoming semester and my future legal career.

In Your Own Words is an opportunity for GGU School of Law students and alumni to share the wisdom they have gained from experience. If you would like to contribute a blog entry regarding your job and/or externship experiences or your job search, please email us or call 415 442-6625.

Job Seekers: Exercise Your Mind

2011-01-14T14:58:00.000-08:00

photo by Sandra Juto

by Marcie Areias
Career Advisor

Exercising is not just physical, it is mental too. Are you exercising your mind? The daily grind of the job search gets straining. Do you ever feel like you will scream if you have to click on one more job posting only to find they want an attorney with 5+ years experience? The truth is that applying for a job, regardless of the industry, sometimes feels like a never-ending process.

Enter exercising your mind. Exercising and stimulating your mind will lead to increased productivity and self confidence, and both are essential elements to staying on track with your job search. Here are a few quick and easy ways to exercise your mind:

Read Hard Copy Newsletters. Break up your day by reading hard copies of legal newsletters. This will alleviate some stress caused by staring at your computer. LCS has copies of recent publications including the BASF Bulletin and The Recorder. Stop by to pick up these and other current legal reads.
Read Legal Blogs. Blogs are great for easy and condensed reading on current legal news. Visit The Am Law Daily (link) for a list of legal blogs and start reading those that pertain to you.
Do Pro Bono Work. The Law Student Pro Bono Project is open to alumni. Call or email Doan Nguyen (415-834-0100, ext. 311 or dnguyen@pic.org) to find legal work aligned with your interests and schedule.
Write with an Attorney or Professor. Get in touch with a law school professor or an attorney and discuss writing opportunities. Writing is always one of the most valuable skills to continuously develop.

*Bonus* All these mind-exercising activities build your credentials and make you attractive to employers.

Ways to Get the Most Out Of Technology

2011-01-06T10:43:00.000-08:00

"Your gadgets and computers, your software and sites — they are not working as well as they should. You need to make some tweaks. But the tech industry has given you the impression that making adjustments is difficult and time-consuming. It is not. And so below are 10 things to do to improve your technological life. They are easy and (mostly) free."

CLICK HERE to read 10 Ways to Get the Most Out Of Technology at The New York Times

The Sweet Spot

2010-12-21T13:55:00.000-08:00

by Marcie Areias
Career Advisor

I refer to this time of year as the "sweet spot." Rarely do you have time to catch your breath and organize your job search. Rather, you are forced to jump head first into informational interviewing and applying for jobs. Because of this, strategic planning takes a backseat. This time of year, however, the job market is quiet, and it is critical that you use this time to organize your job search strategy. Try the following:

Online Job Search. Compile a list of all the online databases that post live job openings that interest you. A good place to start compiling this list is on LCSonline's Web Resource handout (available in the Resource Library). While there is no magic number for the amount of online job boards you should check daily, try 10 to 15. The goal is to ensure that no job posting is missed.
The "Who You Know and Want to Know" List. Being strategic is critical to conveying confidence. Use this time to compile a few spreadsheet lists consisting of people you know and people you would like to know. Track contact information, reasons for contact (alumni, does interesting work, etc.), dates and notes of each outreach. To get started, try www.martindale.com and Alumni Connect (www.ggu.edu/alumni).

Remember that using this sweet spot for organizing will lead to a more comprehensive job search and allow you to speak with confidence about your diligent job search efforts. Get ahead of the game now by planning for 2011.

A Productive Winter Break Activity – Writing Competitions!

2010-12-13T10:36:00.000-08:00

by Eric Gelwicks
LCS Graduate Fellow

In the legal community, getting published in a law journal can be a significant step in bolstering your resume and furthering your career. While getting published in a law review or journal can be quite difficult; submitting an entry to a writing competition, or a number of writing competitions, can help to get your work read and considered. In addition to the potential reward of publication, writing competitions provide an opportunity to win cash prizes, trips to prominent law-related events and recognition on a national platform. At the very least, you will have a finely crafted writing sample to submit with future job applications.

Information about new, or renewed, competitions is published throughout the year, so conducting a web search for current information is advisable prior to embarking on the writing process. Additionally, it is important to look at the information for the correct year, as the assigned topic may change from year to year.

Lastly, you are encouraged to contact GGU professors who are experts in the areas of specific competition topics. In the past, professors have agreed to coach students on a paper, or "sponsor" students' submissions when necessary. If students are in doubt of whom to approach, please contact the Golden Gate University Law Student Services Office.

The following links are excellent resources for finding the writing competition that is right for you:

ABA Essays and Writing Competitions
University of Oregon Competition Links
University of Idaho College of Law Competition Links
UNLV William S. Boyd College of Law Competition Links
University of Denver Strum College of Law Competition Links
Legal Writing Competitions Blog

Recent Additions to the Resource Library

2010-12-08T09:46:00.000-08:00

The following books and directories are now available to GGU Law alumni for checkout in Law Career Services:

Building Career Connections: Networking Tools for Law Students and New Lawyers
by Donna Gerson
From a working definition of networking to step-by-step instructions on how to cultivate and maintain relationships, this book helps law students and new lawyers tap the power of networking and informational interviewing to enhance their professional opportunities and leverage the value of their law degrees. This is a great book for those entering the workforce, re-entering the workforce or trying to switch careers or jobs. It gives great advice and how-tos on important strategies such as networking and informational interviewing. The book even gives advice on how to make it through a daunting networking function where you show up without knowing anyone. This is a good book for those who don't already have these talents well-developed and are faced with the daunting task of having to employ them in their job search

The 6Ps of the BIG 3 for Job-Seeking JDs: 60+ Ways to Get Hired Using Social Networking
by Amanda C. Ellis
A job search campaign, like a political campaign, is comprised of various pieces. One piece that can no longer be ignored in either campaign is social networking. Social networking alone cannot win elections or jobs, but it can contribute significantly when performed correctly. To get hired using the three most popular social networking sites Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter (collectively, the Big 3 ), job-seeking lawyers and law students should incorporate the following six elements (the 6Ps ) into their job search campaign: Professionalism, Profile, Privacy, Performance, Practice, Protocol. The book teaches law students and lawyers how to incorporate the 6Ps; outlines over 60 ways to use the Big 3 sites to get hired; and provides over 200 examples of lawyers and law students using the Big 3 sites, including profiles of legal professionals who successfully used social networking to get hired.

Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time
by Keith Ferrazzi
The youngest partner in Deloitte Consulting's history and founder of the consulting company Ferrazzi Greenlight, the author quickly aims in this useful volume to distinguish his networking techniques from generic handshakes and business cards tossed like confetti. At conferences, Ferrazzi practices what he calls the "deep bump" - a "fast and meaningful" slice of intimacy that reveals his uniqueness to interlocutors and quickly forges the kind of emotional connection through which trust, and lots of business, can soon follow. That bump distinguishes this book from so many others that stress networking. Ferrazzi may overstate his case somewhat when he says, "People who instinctively establish a strong network of relationships have always created great businesses," but his clear and well-articulated steps for getting access, getting close and staying close make for a substantial leg up. Each of 31 short chapters highlights a specific technique or concept, from "Warming the Cold Call" and "Managing the Gatekeeper" to following up, making small talk, "pinging" (or sending "quick, casual" greetings) and defining oneself to the point where one's missives become "the e-mail you always read because of who it's from."

Beyond the Big Firm: Profiles of Lawyers Who Want Something More
by Alan B. Morrison and Diane T. Chin
This succinct paperback will fill a major information void for students and recent graduates who are interested in a legal career outside the typical large, corporate law firm. "Beyond the Big Firm" offers more than 30 engaging profiles of lawyers who have chosen to follow nontraditional legal careers, in a wide range of subject areas, practice settings, and types of work. This distinctive book explores the many possibilities open to graduates of law school through the use of profiles -- written primarily by students interested in public interest law -- of lawyers who made "alternative" career choices. The editors of this informative compilation are long-time public interest lawyers; the actual authors of the profiles are primarily students who capture the personalities of their subjects in a way that is sure to resonate with the audience because they share the same questions about career choices. The subjects of the profiles have been out of law school 10-15 years, they represent 18 law schools, and they work in 15 states. The lawyers profiled have jobs in governments, non-profits, and small private firms; both civil and criminal law are covered, including prosecutors and defense counsel. Some of the fields that the lawyers work in are civil rights, civil liberties, immigration, personal injury, and human rights. In addition to the fascinating lawyer-profiles, special features include: a special resources chapter to help students determine and follow their career choice; a final chapter with mini-profiles of 3 lawyers who are not practicing law, but for whom their legal training is vital to their work; and short essays by current and former Stanford Law School deans.

BNA's Directory of State and Federal Courts, Judges, and Clerks 2011 Edition
This directory is an invaluable reference providing current and complete contact information on the nation's judges and clerks, as well as comprehensive details on the structure of federal, state, and territorial courts. The Directory covers the Supreme Court of the United States, U.S. Courts of Appeals, U.S. District Courts, all state courts of general jurisdiction, U.S. Bankruptcy Appellate Panels, U.S. Bankruptcy Courts, the U.S. Tax Court, the Federal Judicial Center, and the U.S. Sentencing Commission.

Law Students for Reproductive Justice Guide to Internships & Fellowships in Reproductive Justice
This one-of-a-kind tool can guide you toward summers, semesters, or careers in reproductive justice advocacy. Career counselors and students alike can use it to identify, target, and apply for pre- and post-graduate professional training opportunities. The guide contains listings for legal internships and fellowships at over 70 non-profit organizations across the country. Each entry includes information about the organization's mission, contact and application information, and details about internship projects and requirements. Their approaches range from local grassroots education and state court litigation to federal policy advocacy and analysis of international legal norms.

ABA Top 100 Blawgs

2010-12-06T17:10:00.000-08:00

Like your reading material short and sweet? Looking for some good reading between the semesters (and beyond)? Check out the ABA's list of Top 100 Blawgs--there's something here for everyone. In addition to the Top 100, the ABA maintains a directory of over 3000 law blogs. Set up RSS feeds for your favorite blawgs and let the information come to you!

View the ABA Top 100 Blawgs!

GGU Law Students Provide Free Legal Help To Rural Watsonville Residents

2010-12-02T10:51:00.000-08:00

Seven Golden Gate Law students recently traveled to Watsonville, California, to work at a foreclosure rescue scam clinic. Students worked with staff attorneys at the Watsonville Law Center to provide low-income rural clients with much-needed legal services. The Watsonville community, largely populated by Spanish-speaking migrant farm workers, has seen an increase in loan modification and foreclosure related scams. Law students provided legal assistance to 14 households and helped clients file claims with the State Bar of California, Department of Real Estate, and the Santa Cruz County District Attorney's Office.

In a post-trip survey, 100 percent of students rated their overall experience as positive and said they would recommend the Project to other law students. In addition, 85.7 percent said they improved their legal skills and learned substantive law.

"It's a great way to get out of the city and really use some legal skills and connect with clients. It reminds me why I wanted to go to law school in the first place. Work like this makes you realize how inaccessible this information is to the public and how many people are lacking real honest legal service." - Participating 3L

More info: The Justice Bus Project is coordinated by the Public Interest Clearinghouse (PIC). The Project's mission is to expose law students to the great need for legal services in rural areas of California and to inspire them to provide pro bono work once they become lawyers.

What's Hot December 2010

2010-11-30T12:49:00.000-08:00

Curious what the future holds for the legal profession? Each December, consultant Robert W. Denney offers his analysis of "What's Hot and What's Not in the Legal Profession." Denney offers a broad overview of this year's major trends in law firm practice, including hot (and cold) practice areas, developments in law firm management, and changes to hiring practices.

"What's Hot and What's Not in the Legal Profession"

Discovering Your Inner Leader:A Mid-Level Attorney Development Event

2010-11-18T15:55:00.000-08:00

by Marcie Areias
Career Advisor

The No Glass Ceiling Task Force of the Bar Association of San Francisco hosted the third in a series of conferences in its Pathways to Power series last week. This conference focused on the economic success of mid-level female associates, and addressed everything from becoming indispensable at work to drafting personal career plans. Nothing was off the table for discussion, and real life choices were explored and put into perspective.

Here are a few of the points that grabbed my attention and kept me thinking after the conference.

Networking Really Is For Everyone
I know most people are no strangers to the networking concept, and I personally counsel attorneys and law students on this subject every day. But despite any familiarity with this topic, Nancy Geenen, a partner at Foley & Lardner LLP, had a refreshing outlook. While most people don't like to network, the trick is to convince people that you do like networking, and to always do it with a purpose. With this networking perspective in mind, Nancy shared a great piece of logistical advice. Always wear your nametag on your right side. This way when someone shakes your hand, your name will catch their eye. As soon as this advice was given, the conference room filled with the sound of nametags ripping from fabric. This was the first in a series of “Ah-Ha” moments that morning.

Advocate For Yourself
Regardless of the stage of your career, it is important to think about transitioning into a leadership role and using your inner qualities to make this happen. The name of the game is self-advocacy. After all, if you don't let people know how good you are, then who will? The reality is that your colleagues are too busy to always recognize accomplishments and great work, so it is your job to take credit when it is due. In a society where we are taught to be modest, this can be difficult; however, if taking credit for your hard work leads to proper recognition and career progression, it is time to get comfortable with it and champion for yourself.

Your Personal Career Plan
The biggest topic on everyone’s mind at the conference was developing a personal career plan. And the message was clear: the time to make a personal career plan is now. Think about it, anyone in client service spends hours creating and building a plan to accomplish their clients’ goals. This is what keeps a team organized and moving forward to a successful resolution. So why is your own professional career any different? Short answer, it isn’t. Now is the time in your career when you need to sit down and map out your plan. Drafting a five-year personal career plan, complete with measurable and flexible goals, will keep you progressing and on top of your career. Still can’t find the time? Relate it to your clients. Being in charge of your career increases personal and professional satisfaction which leads to better work product and, ultimately, happier clients.

In sum, this conference offered a great forum for mid-level associates to gather valuable information and direction on the next steps in their career. For me, the most important reminder was that we are not alone in our career endeavors and more things are in our control than we initially might realize.

If you have any questions about any of these topics, please don’t hesitate to call the main desk at LCS (415-442-6625) and ask to speak with me!

To Tweet, Or Not To Tweet

2010-11-11T11:10:00.000-08:00

A law school career counselor offers compelling reasons on the benefits of using Twitter to enhance your networking strategy. The key: finding ways to turn virtual connections into real ones.

Click here to read Moving from Social Networking to Handshakes (article copyright NALP, linked here with permission)

A Word About Holiday Parties

2010-11-10T11:25:00.000-08:00

by Marcie Areias
Career Advisor

It is time for the holidays and with that come holiday parties! Most bar associations and other legal organizations plan holiday parties that are upbeat in mood and full of food and fun. Seize these opportunities to meet new people in a welcoming and cheery environment. Holiday cheer is contagious, so head to these events and enjoy yourself.

Click here to view a list of upcoming holiday season events!

Keeping these holiday party tips in mind will allow you to enjoy your time:

Have an Entrance Plan. When you walk into a room, make sure you know where you are going. Head to the bar/food area or take a quick walk around the room. Having an initial plan helps alleviate anxiety and boost confidence.
Prepare to Talk. Be able to talk about yourself. This includes both your professional self and other interests. "How about those Giants?" I am willing to bet that the Giants are a hot topic of conversation in San Francisco this season.
Prepare to Listen. Listen to what others are saying, and use their name when appropriate. Active listening (eye contact and smiling) is an easy way to win over your audience.
Dress the Part. Your outfit is your first impression, and while people don't necessarily notice a good outfit, they definitely judge an inappropriate one. Make sure your festive holiday attire is still professional. Remember, you can never go wrong with slacks and a collared shirt.
Collect the Card. Casual conversations at holiday events tend to last 5 - 20 minutes. When you have a connection with someone or want to learn more, ask if you can follow-up with them at a later time. Be sure to get their business card.

Report From The Nation's LargestPublic Interest Conference (Part 2 of 2)

2010-11-09T10:54:00.001-08:00

by Leeor Neta
Assistant Director for Public Interest Programs

The annual NALP / PSLawNet Mini-Conference and Equal Justice Works Conference, which took place last month in the nation’s capital, are two of the most important opportunities for public interest advisors at the nation’s law schools — like myself — to attend substantive and skills-based programs. The following article is the second in a series highlighting the programs that I attended. (Read Part One)

Equal Access to Justice

One of the more inspiring presentations during the Equal Justice Works Conference was a discussion between Professor Laurence Tribe and Judge David Tatel on equal access to justice. Professor Tribe was appointed the Senior Counselor for Access to Justice at the US Department of Justice in March 2010.

In discussing his efforts to develop programs that address the justice gap, Professor Tribe admitted that there is no way that everyone who needs representation can get it. But he said that we, as lawyers and aspiring lawyers, need to ensure that we empower people to represent themselves whenever and however possible, e.g., through self-help initiatives.

Professor Tribe called for a greater commitment of resources to equal access to justice initiatives, and explained that Congress needs to be persuaded that they can save money by spending more money. Professor Tribe specifically addressed the need to support juvenile diversion and homelessness intervention programs. In the long run, he said, we need a much more stable source of funding for indigent civil and criminal representation. Law firms also need much more stringent pro bono guidelines, signature pro bono projects and institutions to reward pro bono service.

Turning to law schools, Professor Tribe pointed out that law schools tend to focus too much on “law” — a means, sometimes to oppression — and not enough on “justice” — an indisputably important end that sometimes transcends law. When asked what law schools can do now to promote these values, Professor Tribe claimed that law schools need to change, not their curriculum, but the way they are teaching classes. The law school’s leadership, attitude and focus all need to be aligned towards justice. Indeed, he said, we need to stop calling our institutions “schools of law” and instead call them “schools of justice.”

Finding and Making the Most of a Mentor

On the last day of the conference, I attended a session on how to find and maintain a mentor relationship. The speaker explained that there are three ingredients to successful mentorship: (1) reasonable expectations, (2) a strategic approach, and (3) a two-way relationship.

In order to ensure that one’s expectations are reasonable, mentees should ask themselves specifically what they are hoping to get out of the relationship. The mentor relationship cannot just be designed to find the mentee a job, but it can be designed to help the mentee acquire skills, act as a sounding board for the mentee, and offer answers to specific questions the mentee might have. Because no one mentor can do everything, mentees should “build a board of mentors”, each one of whom is available to provide advice and support on a specific topic.

Finding multiple mentors requires some strategic thinking, and that means planning where to find mentors and how to approach them. Everyone agreed that students need to create LinkedIn profiles and use keyword searches to identify potential mentors. Indeed, one of the attorneys in attendance confessed that she found a job through her LinkedIn profile.

Once a mentor is found, the mentee needs to make sure that the relationship remains “a two way street.” What that means is that mentees need to think about what they bring to the relationship — whether it be a certain kind of energy, a different perspective, or even knowledge about social media advocacy — and offer themselves as resources to their mentors.

Student Debt Relief

The Equal Justice Works (EJW) Conference also featured a lengthy presentation on student debt relief. For many years, most law school graduates that decided to pursue public interest careers had a very difficult time paying back their student loan debt. In the last few years, however, the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) has made it much easier to manage that debt. In fact, PSLF has made it so easy that, according to EJW’s expert on student debt relief, Heather Jarvis, “it is better financially in terms of debt relief to go into public service.”

PSLF was created by the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007. As Heather often repeated in her presentation, to qualify for PSLF, a person must “make the right kind of payment on the right kind of loan while in the right kind of job.” After 120 qualifying payments, one can apply for and receive forgiveness of the remaining debt.

So what is “the right kind of payment on the right kind of loan while in the right kind of job”?

The “right kind of payment” is referred to as income-based repayment (IBR). IBR is different from a term loan of 10 years or 30 years because it is not calculated to be paid off in a finite period of time; IBR is calculated based only on one’s adjusted gross income. As a result, IBR is significantly less than most 30-year term plan payments. IBR is for everyone regardless of whether one is working in public service. For married couples, both spouses’ debt as well as their income will be considered for purposes of determining the IBR payment. You can determine your IBR payment by going to http://www.ibrinfo.org/ and www.finaid.org/calculators/ibr.phtml.

The “right kind of loan” for purposes of PSLF is a Federal Direct loan. It also includes Grad Plus, FFEL, Perkins and Stafford loans if consolidated with federal direct loans after graduation. The only loans that are NOT included are commercial or alternative loans, Parent PLUS loans, late payments, and loans that are currently in default. Even if some of your debt was incurred before 2007 (when PSLF was created), you need only to reconsolidate under Federal Direct in order to avail yourself of PSLF. You can find out what kinds of student loans you have by going to http://www.nslds.ed.gov/.

The “right kind of job” for purposes of PSLF is work for a government, 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization, Americorps, Peace Corps or most other public service organization. The definition is so broad that the only kind of work that is probably NOT included is for-profit sector work, international work, contract work, or work for labor unions. The work must be paid and “full time.” “Full time” means whatever the organization says it means or at least 30 hours per week. The work does not need to be legal, though one needs to be in the qualifying employment when forgiveness is granted.

The best part about IBR is that one can still qualify for loan forgiveness after 25 years, even if one leaves public service, if their income remains low enough for them to qualify. However, if one makes 120 IBR payments while in public service, her debt will be forgiven in just 10 years.

Heather also provided some brief information about two other programs: the Civil Legal Assistance Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program (CLAARP) and the John R. Justice Program. CLAARP reimburses a portion of eligible federal student loan debt for civil legal assistance attorneys—$6,000 per attorney per year to a maximum of $40,000. John R. Justice reimburses a portion of eligible federal student loan debt for district attorneys and public defenders—$10,000 per attorney per year to a maximum of $60,000. Both programs require a 3-year service agreement.

If you have any questions about any of these topics, please don’t hesitate to call the main desk at LCS (415-442-6625) and ask to make an appointment with me!

LCS Halloween Open HouseJack-o-Lantern Contest Winners

2010-11-04T11:09:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Sarah Gounder and Rachel (Lil Ray Ray) Brockl, winners of the LCS Halloween Open House Jack-o-Lantern contest!

No Tricks, Just TreatsLCS Halloween Open House 2010

2010-11-02T10:06:00.001-07:00

Thank you to everybody who stopped by Law Career Services during our Halloween Open House on Friday. There was much candy and conversation to be had, plus heaps of homemade baked goods and a lot of good information for 1Ls. There were also quite a few Giants fans.

Click the photos to enlarge. Special thanks to Oscar for his creativity & organization in remaking the LCS office in the Halloween spirit.