From the Career Development Office

Assistant Dean Tasha Everman
Assistant Dean Tasha Everman

Equal Justice Society and the Career Development Office jointly present:

Beyond OCI: Researching & Funding Summer Opportunities (including NPILF)
Tuesday, February 9
12:10-1:10pm
Room 109

Are you are looking ahead to summer and still in need of a plan? Come and learn the many paths you can take to an experience-filled summer! Hear from former Nebraska Public Interest Law Fund (NPILF)* recipients and a student who pursued a Rural Practice Clerkship. Hear about students who have been successful reaching out directly to law firms, and others who pursued externships and study abroad opportunities. There are a lot of options waiting for you! Come with your questions and your lunch!

*Through NPILF you can apply for funding for unpaid summer opportunities with non-profit or government agencies. NPILF is designed to help meet unmet legal needs while simultaneously providing opportunities for law students to gain valuable experience. In 2015, thirteen students were awarded NPILF fellowships.

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Navy JAG Info Session – Brown Bag
Tuesday, February 11
12:00-1:00pm
Room 131 – Union Bank & Trust Room

Please come and hear all about careers with the Navy JAG from CDR Gretchen Sosbee.

Come ready to learn and ask any questions you may have.

This is also for students who have submitted an online application to the JAG Corps, please contact the CDO to schedule a structured interview. The Navy JAG will only consider applicants who have completed both the online application and a structured interview.

Feel free to bring your lunch as we know many of you have class starting at 1:00.

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2016 Loyola Patent Law Interview Program
ATTN: All Law Students Returning for Fall Semester 2016
Loyola University Chicago School of law is hosting the 2016 Patent Law Interview Program on Thursday and Friday, August 4-5 in Chicago, Illinois. This is a nationwide interview program that targets patent law employers, rising 2L and 3L students, and students in Intellectual Property LLM programs.

Each year roughly 1,500 law students register for the program, submit their resumes, and bid on interviews with the nation-wide employers that interest them. The program is entirely employer selected - which means that participating employers review the resumes submitted to them and choose the law students they are interested in interviewing at the program. Roughly half of the students registered for the program are selected for interviews each year.

2016 Student Registration Dates: Monday, February 8 - Thursday, March 10, 2016

For more information, please see this listing in ROSCOE Events.

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Recruiting Season FAQs
FAQ1: I’ve never written a thank you. What should I write and how should I send it?

A#1: It is customary to send thank yous to anyone you interview with. E-mail is fine, although some people do opt for a handwritten thank you or a letter. During the OCI season, e-mail is preferred by most employers as the decisions are made so quickly. The most important thing is to make sure that the letter/e-mail is error-free and short. There are some examples in the Cover Letter & Correspondence Guide in the ROSCOE Document Library, but here is an example:

Dear Mr. Cyr:

I enjoyed the opportunity to interview with you today for the law clerk position with the Lancaster County Attorney’s Office. Your description of the experiences available to your clerks has only confirmed my interest. If you need anything more from me please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to hearing from you and I appreciate being considered for this opportunity.

Sincerely,

Jane Doe

FAQ#2: I am trying to write post interview thank you notes, and am having trouble with Fraser Stryker. Their firm website does not include their email addresses, and neither does LinkedIn or anywhere else I look. I am wondering if you know the e-mail addresses.

A2: I do know the addresses, but I won’t always be available when you need me! So, I want to tell you about a great resource – the Nebraska State Bar Association Lawyer Search. Every barred attorney in Nebraska can be found through the site and every lawyer is required to have an e-mail address on file. If you meet someone at a CLE or networking event and all you know is that he/she is from Fremont, you can search all attorneys in Fremont. If you only remember a first name, you can search by that as well. Here is the link: http://WWW.NEBAR.COM
Lawyer Search (Top right corner)

FAQ#3: WHAT IS A CALLBACK INTERVIEW?

A Call back interview is the second level of interviewing that takes place at the firm’s office after an initial OCI interview. Generally, firms do not make decisions on offers of employment until after a candidate has completed a callback interview. A callback interview generally includes interviews with numerous lawyers conducted in a manner similar to an OCI interview, and often includes lunch or dinner with many attorneys from the firm.

A firm has two main goals for a callback interview: (1) To see whether a candidate is a good fit for the firm and (2) to sell the firm to the candidate. Firms will determine whether a candidate is a good fit by trying to get to know the person during their time at the office. The interviewers’ goal is to feel like they really know who the candidate is by the end of the day. Interviewers will sell the firm to a candidate by describing the firm’s operation, atmosphere and work through personal experiences they have had with the firm.
At the same time, a callback interview is an opportunity for a candidate to see what life is like for a lawyer at the firm.

ACCEPTING AND REJECTING OFFERS

FAQ#4: When can I expect to receive an offer?

It is possible that you will receive an offer during your callback interview. You should respond enthusiastically but you do not need to accept on the spot. You also may receive a phone call telling you that you have an offer. A firm should still put your offer in writing and you can wait until you received the written offer before accepting.

FAQ#5: How long do I have to decide whether to accept an offer?

All offers should remain open for at least two weeks after the date made. Regardless of the guidelines, you should notify the employer of your decision to accept as soon as you make it, even if it is in advance of the deadline you’ve been given. You should also notify the CDO upon acceptance of an employment offer. Do not hold open multiple offers for an extended period of time. As soon as you know you will not accept a position, decline the offer. Your classmates are likely waiting to hear from that same employer and their ability to make another offer is dependent on you.

FAQ#6: How many offers can I hold open at one time?

A student should not hold open more than two offers of employment simultaneously. Your classmates that are behind you are waiting!


FAQ#7: I have an offer I don’t want. What do I do?

You should decline offers that you are no longer seriously considering promptly. You should notify the employer as soon as you make the decision, even if it is in advance of the deadline. You should also notify the CDO upon rejection of an employment offer.