Sign up now for the Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair!

Attention all 2Ls and 3Ls!

If you are committed to or exploring the possibility of a career in public interest or with the federal government, consider attending the upcoming Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair the weekend of October 25-26 in Arlington, VA! More than 125 public interest employers from across the country will be participating.

If you are interested in attending, please note the following important information and dates:

• EJW Registration is currently open. Registration closes for students applying for interviews on Thursday, September 12. If you only want to attend the conference and/or Table Talk, registration remains open until Thursday, October 11.
• Participating employers can be viewed here.
• Applications summer and post-grad positions go live for employers on Thursday, September 19. Given the competitive nature of this process, we STRONGLY encourage you to work with CPD on your application materials.
• Employers notify students by Thursday, October 3 whether they have been selected for an interview.
• Students accept or decline interviews - September 19 - October 8
• Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair - October 25-26

More information about the Fair is available here. If you have additional questions, please contact CPD.

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Goldmark Internship

Applications are now being accepted for the Goldmark Internship program.

GOLDMARK INTERNSHIP HISTORY

The program is named for Charles A. Goldmark, the Foundation’s second president at his untimely death in January 1986. Chuck was a firm believer in, and a forceful advocate for, equal access to the justice system. The internship was created as a tribute to Chuck and to encourage young lawyers to emulate his ardent commitment. The Goldmark Equal Justice Internship is made possible by a matching grant from the Goldmark Family Foundation.

“Chuck believed that it is the responsibility of each of us, in our own way, to try to improve some aspect of our society beyond ourselves. To leave our society just a little bit better than we found it when we arrived here. He believed that, as a lawyer, he could accomplish this. Chuck practiced what he believed.”
Kevin Kelly, Foundation President 1997

INTERNSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT
LOCATION: UNEMPLOYMENT LAW PROJECT, SEATTLE OR SPOKANE, WASHINGTON
BACKGROUND: The Unemployment Law Project (ULP) provides legal representation to unemployed workers of Washington State who have been denied unemployment benefits or whose right to those benefits is challenged.

POSITION: A “total immersion” experience, the legal intern will work with ULP staff on all levels of client assistance, including client intake interviews, case review, representation at administrative hearings, written appeals to the Commissioner of the Employment Security Department, and possible appeals to the Superior Courts and Courts of Appeal.

ELIGIBILITY: The internship is open to law students who have completed their second year prior to the summer of 2014 and to recent law school graduates. The successful candidate will display proficiency in case review and identification of issues, excellent writing abilities and have client intake experience. Although being Rule 9 qualified is not a requirement, being so might open up additional advocacy opportunities.

RESPONSIBILITIES: Interviewing on average two to four potential clients a week, the intern will prepare for and represent clients at an average of one to three hearings a week, as well as meet each of those clients, in person or telephonically, at a pre-hearing conference in preparation for each hearing. The intern will be responsible for identifying the legal issues in assigned cases, researching applicable law, and formulating a written theory of both the client’s and the employer’s case.

SUPERVISION: Following three half-day trainings, the intern will observe several hearings and assist with hearings before taking on the primary advocate role in an administrative hearing. At a minimum, a staff attorney or the director will attend the intern’s first two hearings, and provide the intern with feedback regarding the hearings. Interns are monitored closely throughout their training and during the course of their internship and provided daily feedback and a written evaluation at the completion of the internship.

DURATION: A ten-week internship scheduled at the convenience of both ULP and the intern between May and August 2014.

SALARY: The intern will receive a stipend of $8,000 for the ten-week internship.

HOUSING & The intern is responsible for securing housing and paying all living

TRANSPORTATION: and transportation expenses for the duration of the internship

REPORTING: The intern and the program will deliver a final written report to LFW by November 1, 2014 on the outcomes gained from the internship.

Please see Symplicity posting for application details.

Expeditors International Panel

Attorneys from Expeditors International will be on campus to meet with students interested in learning more about the company, the work environment, and what they offer.

About Expeditors:

Expeditors is a global logistics company headquartered in Seattle, Washington. As a Fortune 500 company, we employ over 13,000 trained professionals in a worldwide network of over 250 locations across six continents. Expeditors satisfies the increasingly sophisticated needs of international trade through customized solutions and seamless, integrated information systems. Our services include air and ocean freight consolidation and forwarding, vendor consolidation, customs clearance, cargo insurance, distribution and other value added logistics services.

• Tuesday, September 17th, 12:00-1:00; Room 110

RSVP in Symplicity 

Description:
Interested in learning more about what it is like to work as in-house attorney? Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. is a Fortune 500 company with a presence in multiple states and countries around the world.  Expeditors, one of the world’s largest global logistics provider, will host a panel discussion on Tuesday, September 17, 2013, from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.   Three Expeditors attorneys, with practice areas in employment, real estate, and transactions, will cover topics related to their experience of working in-house, their respective practice group, what it is like to work for Expeditors, and tips for becoming an in-house attorney.   Join us for an interesting and informative panel!

Bios:
Megan Fouty is assistant corporate counsel for Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.  She has been with Expeditors for almost three years and she works in the employment group.  Prior to Expeditors, Megan worked at a labor and employment defense side firm.  She graduated Seattle University School of Law in 2009 and attended Gonzaga University for undergrad.  She would be happy to speak about the differences between working in-house and at a firm, the field of employment law and career paths in that area, or her experience working with Expeditors.

Nick Mills is a staff attorney with Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. He has been with Expeditors for almost two years and is a member of the company’s real estate practice group. He graduated from Seattle University School of Law in 2011 and received his undergraduate degree from Occidental College in 2007. He would be happy to speak about working in-house, Expeditors’ real estate practice, and his experience working with Expeditors.

Summereen (“Sam”) Nott is Director – Global Legal Services for Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. She started her legal career with Expeditors back in 2001. Her practice for the company started out as a general practice handling various matters, including real estate, bankruptcy, employment and transactional matters. Over the years her practice has become more focused in the transactional arena while still maintaining some of the other general practice areas. She currently assists in overseeing the transactional group in Expeditors’ Corporate Headquarters in Seattle. Ms. Nott graduated from Seattle University School of law and attended University of Oregon for undergrad.

A Conversation with Attorney General Bob Ferguson

Washington State’s 18th Attorney General, Bob Ferguson, will be visiting Seattle University School of Law’s campus to meet with students and discuss his Office and his initiatives which include supporting veterans and law enforcement and protecting consumers and the environment.  Attorney General Ferguson has a long and demonstrated commitment to the State of Washington and public service, and hopes to inspire others to consider a career, either with his own office or in another, that provides the personal and professional satisfaction that comes from a career serving others.

The Office of the Attorney General is the chief legal office for the state of Washington with attorneys and staff in 27 divisions across the state providing legal services to more than 230 state agencies, boards and commissions.

• Wednesday, September 4th; 12:00-1:00; Courtroom

RSVP in Symplicity

Networking Seminar

Networking is critical in the legal community. You can learn about specific job opportunities, meet people who have career paths that inspire you, and learn about a particular practice area. Yet, many people are not comfortable with the mechanics of the networking process. In this seminar, CPD staff will address the importance of networking, environments in which networking is appropriate and fruitful, and ways that you can effectively and efficiently continue building your professional network.

• Thursday, September 12th, 12:00-1:00; Room 143, Annex

RSVP in Symplicity.

Finding a Job in the Federal Government Seminar

Are you interested in possibly pursuing a career in the Federal Government? If so, or if you are merely curious, be sure to attend this seminar. We will cover the variety of government jobs available, as well as address key points in the application process.

• Thursday, August 29th, 12:00-1:00; Room C5.

RSVP in Symplicity.

Interviewing Seminar

You've probably heard us say it before: interviewing is an art. Great interviewees are not born, they're made. In this seminar, you will learn the principles of effective interviewing, including how to prepare, crafting strong answers that highlight your capabilities and experiences, and things to think about when formulating questions that you will be asking of your interviewer.

• Wednesday, August 21st, 12:00-1:00, Room 109
• Wednesday, August 21st, 5:00-6:00; Room 110

RSVP in Symplicity.

Why OCI is Worth Your Time

OCI is quickly approaching. The first deadline is just around the corner, and before you know it, the interviews themselves will be upon us.

A question we are often asked at this time of year is "Should I participate in OCI?" If you are AT ALL interested in any of the firms on the schedule, or the type of work that they do, the answer is a resounding "yes." While you may have heard that OCI is only for the top 10% of the class and you shouldn't even bother if you didn't pull top tier grades last semester, that is not entirely accurate. Yes, it is true that OCI is a very competitive process and some of the employers who participate rely very heavily on grades when making their interview decisions. But not all of them.

Some employers base their decision almost entirely on grades. Others look for students with specific backgrounds. Still others are interested in well-rounded students that have a range of experiences to offer. The criteria can vary a great deal. Additionally, we have had students with borderline grades write outstanding cover letters that really struck the hiring manager and they were invited to interview. Other students have found themselves running into former interviewers at networking events were able to strike up a conversation and solidify a connection. Sometimes, a foot in the door is all it takes.

The point is, there is absolutely no reason to deny yourself the opportunity to interview. You could surprise even yourself and have a fantastic experience, culminating in a job offer. And if you apply and you are not selected, this isn't the only chance you will have this year to secure a summer position (at all). You're only out a couple of hours of your time, and even then, you got some good practice writing and fine-tuning your application materials, so you are that much more ahead the next time you apply for a position. Not bad.

The point is, by not giving yourself the opportunity, you are only hurting yourself. Yes, it is extremely cheesy, but it is also very true. So again, if you are at all interested in any of the employers, give it a shot. And if you are still on the fence about it, make an appointment to come in and speak to one of the CPD staff members. We are always happy to help.