On October 24th and 25th a group of ten students from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law attended the Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair in Washington, DC.  Ten students, seven third-years and three second-years ventured to the nation’s capital in order to explore Public Interest opportunities. This was the first time that any of our students attended.

Assistant Dean for Career Services/Public Service, Kathy Urbach, got the ball rolling in September and encouraged students who were interested in attending the conference to meet with her to have their resume reviewed.  There was also an application process to be completed.

Funding for travel and lodging came from two sources.  Some of the money used was from the Career Services budget in lieu of other travel expenses.  Victor Revill, Student Bar Association President, obtained funds from University of Louisville’s Student Government Association.  One student even used frequent flyer points to get to the conference.

A meeting was held prior to the conference to provide information about what students could expect, how they should approach the employers at Table Talk, networking, workshops and other related topics.  Also, students outlined plans of action which gave fellow students ideas of how to assist one another.

Some of the students had specific goals.  Jessica Kingley, a third-year student, knew that she wanted to meet with the New York District County Attorney’s Office as well as Public Service people from New York City and turn it into a job.  Guion Johnstone, a second-year student, attended with four actual interviews scheduled.  Rexena Napier and Melissa McHendrix, both third-year students and both interested in animal law, knew that there wouldn’t be any employers dedicated to solely animal law, but viewed the conference as a way to learn about other related opportunities.  Victor Revill, a third-year student and president of the SBA, knew ahead of time that his approximately “five minute introduction speech” needed to be well-rehearsed and fine tuned for each prospective employer. 

All of the students were committed to public service work prior to attending the conference.  Jamie Izlar, a second-year student, worked in a public interest position before attending law school.  Her work involved working with indigent, undocumented immigrants.  Colleen Hagan, a third-year student said that the rewarding part of going to such a big conference with so many attendees is that the students all are like-minded and want to be part of a greater good.  Students felt encouraged to see so many employers who focus on public service.

Besides the career fair and Table Talk sessions, students attended workshops, sessions, discussions and had the privilege of hearing Ralph Nader speak.  Samantha Thomas, a second-year student, attended a government workshop which supplied her with tips (call specific government agencies, keep applying and find a niche).  Jamie Izlar attended a resume building session which she found extremely helpful and also attended several discussions where she learned which employers will pay for law school student loans.  Rexena Napier attended a workshop that gave her a lot of ideas including applying for grants.

All of the students who attended felt it was worthwhile to attend and felt a deeper sense of commitment to public service.  Duffy Trager came away with connections and a lot of business cards that he intends to follow up with.  Samantha Thomas plans to capitalize on what she observed at the conference and use it to shape what she does in law school.  Melissa McHendrix said that the most worthwhile aspect of the conference for her was meeting other students and discussing what organizations are non-profit and in the public sector.

The three second-year students are looking forward to returning to the Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair next year.  This is a great experience for our students and an opportunity for them to represent the law school.  The University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law would like for all students interested in attending the conference in 2010 to have the opportunity to do so.

~Debra Reh, Program Assistant for the Office of Career Services

• A companion article by Beth Haendiges will appear in the December 2009 edition of the LBA's Bar Briefs.
• Photo Gallery
• Public Interest Law Blog

 

     
    

 

"What You Need to Know About Clients"

The panel discussion addressed various client issues, including where to find them, how to keep the good ones, how to spot the bad ones, how to bill and how to avoid bar complaints.

Speakers included distinguished lawyers from large firms, small firms and the Kentucky Bar Association who are members of the Louis D. Brandeis Inn of Court.

Three more exciting CLE programs are being offered this spring.

• Should Law Firms Use Independent Contractors to Handle Client Affairs?, April 10, 2009
• 12th Annual Estate Planning Institute, April 24, 2009
• 26th Annual Carl A. Warns Jr. Labor & Employment Law Institute, June 18-19, 2009

Online registration is now available for each.

Recent graduates and law school students are invited and strongly encouraged to attend the program on April 10. Current students may attend the program portion free of charge. Lunch will be available for a small fee. 

Program	Date and time	Location	CLE hours	Cost	Brochure	Online registration
Should Lawyers Use Independent Contractors to Handle Client Affairs?	April 10 11:30 a.m-1:30 p.m.	Masterson's, 1830 South Third Street	2 hours (1 ethics hour)	$50 for CLE credit; $15 for lunch.
12th Annual Estate Planning Institute	April 24 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.	University Club, University of Louisville	7 hours (2 ethics hours)	$225
26th Annual Carl A. Warns, Jr., Labor and Employment Law Institute	June 18-19 7:45 a.m.-4 p.m.	Louisville Marriott Downtown Hotel, 280 West Jefferson Street	13.25 hours (2 ethics hours)	$395. 10% discount for multiple registrations and early registration by May 1.

Everyone should know about the extraordinary service of two of our students, Barry Dunn and Johnna Spicer and a recent graduate, Justin Fowles. Barry, Johnna and Justin organized and implemented a two-day mock interview program for our 1L students. 

The first day, led by Johnna, was held at the law school and involved 2Ls and 3Ls interviewing our 1Ls. This was the first professional interview for many of our first year students and excellent practice for the second day of the mock interview program.   The second day, led by Barry and Justin, involved the LBA Young Lawyers interviewing our 1Ls at the offices of Frost Brown Todd.

One of our 1Ls, Teresa Kenyon, told me that she had an actual interview the following Monday and having interviewed  the previous Friday and Saturday contributed to the success of the real interview a day later.

According to Holly Hudelson, another 1L participant, it can sometimes be hard to talk about yourself.  "The more you do it, however,  the more comfortable you become."  Holly's last professional interview was three years ago.

~Kathy Urbach, Assistant Dean Career Services and Public Service 

The program was excellent.  I was one who was unsure about BigLaw because I didn't know what to expect about the environment.  And, although our event Saturday didn't give a real glimpse into the world of BigLaw, it certainly inspired me nonetheless.  The attorneys I interviewed with were awesome and they gave me excellent feedback that I could implement immediately and benefit from.  I've already written them both thank you letters and let them know that I hope they will continue to support this SBA effort because it had such an impact on me and really to every fellow classmate that I have spoken with about it.  I believe the experience both with the students on Friday and the attorneys on Saturday will prove to make a huge difference in my interview skills when it counts.  I feel much more confident after these rounds of mock interviews and I would certainly recommend the experience to all future 1L's.  You guys did an awesome job!  Thanks again.

Best, Kimberley Gant, 1L

Are you graduating in December 2008 or May 2009? If so, the law school would like to introduce you to our Alumni.

The 2008 Fall Alumni Magazine will include photos and a little information about next year's graduating class. This information will help our alumni get to know about the great new lawyers we are graduating this year. All law students graduating in August or December 2008 or May 2009 are urged to share a little bit about themselves with our alumni.

This is the same opportunity posted in August. We received many profiles, but not everyone's, and we want the whole graduating class represented!

Don't have a photo? Please contact Beth Haendiges to set up a time for a photograph.

To participate, please click on this link: http://www.law.louisville.edu/node/1963 and complete the form. (You must be logged in to access the form.)

The deadline to participate has been extended to October 1.

Assistant Dean for Career Services Jerie Torbeck was honored at a Metroversity Awards Ceremony in the category of Outstanding Faculty of Adult Learners.

The University of Louisville's Brandeis School of Law welcomes new Assistant Dean for Career Services and the Public Service Program Kathy Urbach. In this role, Urbach will assist students in obtaining part-time positions while in school and full-time legal employment upon graduation; she will also direct the Law School's Samuel L. Greenebaum Public Service Program. Urbach will join the law school on July 7, 2008.

Urbach is a Louisville native. She received her juris doctor from Georgia State University in 1991. She has experience in nonprofit management, legal services, and career and public service programs at law schools in Florida. Between 1998 and 2003, Urbach was at the University of Florida's Levin College of Law. During her tenure there, she served as Director and Assistant Director of the Public Service and Pro Bono Programs and as Assistant Dean of Career Services. Most recently, she worked as a career counselor for Florida Coastal School of Law.

 

You can now pick up your graded BLS briefs (if your BLS professor was Prof. Hall, Prof. Levinson, or Prof. Duncan) in the Faculty Resource/Copy Center (room #272 across from classroom #275 on the second floor) during regular business hours.  If you wish to confirm that it will be open when you plan to stop in, call Marilyn (852-6389) or Becky (852-1230).

Here's the plan for distributing information  related to Career Services over the summer.  On the law school's website (www.law.louisville.edu) click on Career Services and just read the front page for notices to students. 

Of course, if the Docket does actually get distributed during the summer when anything new is added, then we'll use that system also.  In either case, you'll have to take steps to receive the information, whether by regularly checking our website or by actually opening the Docket.

Have a wonderful summer, y'all, and don't forget that we will be here in the office if you find you would like our assistance.

Topic: On-Campus Interviewing in Fall semester 2008.

The firms are asking us to start on-campus-interviewing early this coming fall semester.  To be specific, Stites & Harbison is our first OCI and they are coming on Friday, September 5th.  THEREFORE, resumes and other items they request will need to be turned into career services no later than Tuesday, August 19th. 

What does that mean for you? The 19th is only the second day of school; so needless to say, people will have to have updated their resumes while still on summer vacation.

Your Career Services staff are here throughout the summer.  Monday through Friday from 9:00 - 4:30.  We recommend that you call for an appointment because, with such a small staff and vacations and everything, it is unlikely but possible that the office will occasionally be unmanned.

Contact Jerie at 852-6096 or Debra at 852-6368.