How to Hang Your Own Shingle - September 20

Join us for the first Low Bono & Solo Initiative program of the year - How to Hang a Shingle, a full day CLE on starting your own law practice.

We'll cover how to open up shop, communicate with your first clients, use state bar resources, and build tools for representing moderate means clients. You'll also hear vital information directly from new and experienced solos alike.

This event is open (and FREE) to 2, 3, and 4Ls at Seattle University as well as 2013 grads, and is low cost for SU Law alumni (with a special reduced rate for 2011 and 2012 grads).

This will be a great program in its own right, but it also serves as a kickoff for the full series of Initiative programming.

Please register for How to Hang a Shingle online.

Hope to see you there!

Find a Job Series

CPD is launching a brand-new series centering on navigating the ever-changing legal job market. Every Thursday, from noon until 1:00, we will present a different panel focusing on a different aspect of the job hunt, and will be bringing in a variety of speakers to share their stories and experiences. These events are not to be missed! You can sign up for all of them in Symplicity, under the Events section.



Can you land a position that will allow you to
serve your community? YES YOU CAN!!
Thursday, September 19 • Noon - 1 p.m. • Room C5

Lawyers from the government, private practice, and non-profit sectors will share the path
they took to succeed in developing a career focused on Social Justice. Come explore how
you can:
• work in the private sector and serve your community through your work
• differentiate yourself in a super competitive job market
• gain the experience, establish the contacts, and take the classes that will help you
be “practice ready” as a public interest attorney

Three attorneys who took very different routes will provide paths to success and share their
insights on how they landed a position that they consider a “DREAM JOB”.

Speakers:
Stephan Thomas, King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
Andra Kranzler, Columbia Legal Services
Meghan Casey, Villacorta & Bailey Law, P.S


Stories from the Trenches: Learn the secrets of networking
your way to job search success 
Thursday, September 26 • Noon - 1 p.m. • Room C5

The overwhelming majority of jobs will never get posted on traditional job search sites.
Many positions are filled by word-of-mouth and through personal referrals.

• How can you be the person that gets recommended for a highly coveted job that no
one knows about?
• What methods are most effective to build relationships within the legal and business
community?
• How can you make strong contacts when you hate to network?
• Three alums who landed incredible positions and are thriving will share their
experiences and stories of how they landed in positions by developing amazing
advocates in the community.

Speakers:
Maria Leininger, Political Director at DelBene for Congress
Kripa Upadhyay, Orbit Law, PLLC
Kelly Turner, Lane Powell


Beyond Traditional: What I do and how I landed 
Thursday, October 3 • Noon - 1 p.m. • Room C5

A law degree is highly beneficial in a number of fields related to the practice of law, and can
open doors beyond the traditional lawyer route. Whether you know early that you don’t
want to practice law after graduation, or just want to explore other ways to use your degree
down the road, a law degree can open doors to new opportunity.

• Are there really positions that value the J.D. where I do not have to practice law?
• What are they and how do I find them?
• How do I determine whether my skills, abilities, and personality may be a fit with this
position, and how can I make myself a more competitive candidate?

Three attorneys who took very different paths and are thriving in their careers will share just
how they did it.
Speakers:
Helen Stocklin-Enright, Practice Technology Services Consultant at Perkins Coie
Jihan Caskey, Senior Estate Settlement Specialist, Wells Fargo Private Bank
Joe Polito, Development Associate at Touchstone Corporation


Litigation or Transactional: A Nuts and Bolts Discussion
Thursday, October 10 • Noon - 1 p.m. • Room C5

Most lawyers in private practice focus on either transactional work or litigation, but what
does that mean?

• What does litigation look like? What does a transactional attorney really do? And
what’s the difference?
• How can I determine what may be a good fit for my skills, values, and personality?
• What can I do in law school to set myself up for a career in litigation or transactional?

Three practitioners will share which path they chose and why.

Speakers:
Amanda Rose, Fenwick & West
Carrie Hobbs, Perkins Coie
Tim Jones, Pepple Cantu Schmidt



Two unique stories of attorneys successfully pursuing
their passion and how they did it
Thursday, October 24 • Noon - 1 p.m. • Room C5

Two incredible attorneys will share their career development experiences.
• Twyla Carter, a public defender with The Defender Association will share how she found
her calling, the highs she has gone through, and the very real lows as well as her efforts
to make herself one of the most highly respected public defenders in the state.
• Brian Howe will share how he found a passion for Social Entrepreneurship and pursued
it with such purpose and vision that it led to the founding of Impact Hub Seattle,
(http://impacthubseattle.com/) the Seattle meeting place for Social Entrepreneurship.

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.

Army JAG Live Chat

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.

Bryan Inn of Court Reception

The Honorable Robert J. Bryan American Inn of Court will host a student reception from 5-7 p.m. at Doyle's Public House in Tacoma.

If you're interning in the south sound this summer or you'd like to learn more about the Tacoma Inn be sure to stop by!

Consulting CPD is a Capital Idea, Old Chap!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! No, not Christmas, OCI prep time!

CPD fields a lot of questions about grammar issues that frequently pop up in legal resumes and cover letters this time of year. In particular, we get quite a few questions about capitalization.

When grappling with resume and cover letter questions, capitalization related or otherwise, please come to us. We’re here to help you figure these things out; the right answers aren’t always intuitive. Meanwhile, here’s a quick capitalization refresher as you fine tune your OCI applications.

Volunteer Opportunity

Schwerin Campbell Barnard is putting on a training for its clients on how to present an arbitration.  They need volunteer witnesses, and it would be great networking opportunity for students interested in labor/employment law. 

The event will be held on Monday and Tuesday, July 22nd and 23rd. This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with local attorneys! If you are interested, please contact Elizabeth Ford.

It's Not Too Late for a Summer Internship

There are numerous summer internships currently posted at Symplicity. If you're still looking for a primary or supplemental summer experience, please visit the site. Both short and long term, paid and unpaid opportunities are available.

It's not too late to find a summer internship that will not only allow you to build valuable experience, but help you explore practice areas and settings so you can make informed decisions about what you want to pursue for your future career.

Registration is now open for the Northwest Minority Job Fair

Davis Wright Tremaine is honored to serve as host of the Northwest Minority Job Fair in its 27th year. Our firm is committed to encouraging opportunities that promote diversity throughout the legal community. We benefit from the talents, ideas and commitment of people who represent a world of differences. We recognize the need for diversity in the workplace and the fact that fostering an atmosphere of inclusion and respect leads to increased employee satisfaction, productivity, and client loyalty. The Job Fair provides employers with an opportunity to interview applicants from national and local law schools while offering law students a forum to interact with both potential employers and fellow students.

Sponsored and funded by a consortium of private and public sector employers, the Job Fair will be held on Saturday, August 24, 2013, at the Seattle office of Davis Wright Tremaine, 1201 Third Avenue, Suite 2200, Seattle, WA 98101.

Registration is open until July 31 at http://www.nwmjf.org/.

Department of the State 2013-2014 Virtual Student Foreign Service (VSFS) eInternship

VSFS is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to gain REAL experience with the State Department, virtually.  VSFS is a virtual internship program for students to learn about and support the work of the State Department and other foreign affairs agencies.   eInterns will complete work virtually without the need to leave their academic institution.

The Virtual Student Foreign Service (VSFS) is an academic year-long, unpaid eInternship program. VSFS virtually connects U.S. citizen college students with State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) domestic offices and U.S. diplomatic posts overseas to engage in digital diplomacy.  Because these eInternships are virtual, students can have a flexible virtual work schedule during the academic year, allowing both academic and eInternship goals to be met.

The State Department is looking to American college students to lead the State Department in conducting digital diplomacy and engage American citizens in its diplomatic efforts. A Virtual Student Foreign Service eInternship is an opportunity to play an important role in advancing the federal government's reach in diplomacy, development, journalism, trade, and agriculture initiatives.  eInterns will act as citizen diplomats to connect with posts abroad to engage in our increasingly interconnected world.  We also envision opportunities for eInterns to connect with each other and work collaboratively with eInterns across the country.

The Department of State and the Bureau of Information Resource Management's Office of eDiplomacy encourage college and graduate students from all majors and backgrounds to apply to the Virtual Student Foreign Service eInternship program.

A complete description is available on Symplicity, under Job #4290. The Application Deadline is July 22nd.

WSBA Lawyers Assistance Program Bi-Monthly Job Seekers Group

On Wednesday, July 10th, from 12-1:30, Jennifer Willner, Greg McLawsen, Julie Fowler and Mark Jordan will present at the WSBA Lawyers Assistance Program's bi-monthly job seekers group meeting.  These experienced attorneys will be part of a panel discussion focusing on what you need to know about solo practice. Join in the insightful discussion about the challenging aspects to consider when starting a solo practice and get your questions answered by the attorneys who know! 

Topics to be addressed:

• Pros and cons of solo practice
• What it really takes to have a successful solo practice
• Getting started
• How to get clients
• Promoting yourself in a competitive market
• More!

The bi-monthly group is a free informational session and brown bag networking opportunity, please bring your lunch.  As this is a drop-in group, RSVPs are not required but are always welcome.  This meeting will take place at the WSBA office, 1325 Fourth Ave., Suite 600, Seattle.

If you are interested in participating in the weekly job search group, attending this presentation would be a good first step.

 

Questions can be directed to Heidi Seligman at the WSBA.

Evening Appointment Times Continue to Be Available Throughout the Summer

Dive into career planning with a summer evening appointment!

Whether you're an evening student with a full-time day job, or a day student currently interning during business hours, please remember that evening appointments are available to you.

Contact Emily von Seele to set up a time to meet to discuss OCI, networking strategy, fall planning, and more.

FREE CLE and Networking Opportunity - Practicing Before Magistrate Judges: Do’s and Don’ts

Join the Federal Bar Association and the King County Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division for a CLE panel of three United States magistrate judges with valuable tips for practice in the courts (1.5 CLE credits pending).
 
SPEAKERS: Hon. Mary Alice Theiler, Hon. James Donohue, and Hon. Brian Tsuchida, United States Magistrate Judges

DATE/TIME: Wednesday, July 10, 2013 from 12 – 1:30 p.m.

 

LOCATION: United States Courthouse*, 700 Stewart Street, 19th Floor, Seattle

NO COST: Please RSVP to Cate Humpage at cateh@kcba.org

 *Must have ID to enter the courthouse