FREE Summer Activities in the Bay Area

by Hampton Jackson, LCS Intern

Have you scheduled time for fun recently? While our job here at LCS is to provide networking opportunities for you, we also want you to have a fun, relaxing summer. Check out these fun activities that will give you an opportunity to meet new people, and develop your connection with the San Francisco community.

Legal Diversity Initiatives

by Jared Solovay
Director of Employer Relations and Administrative Director of the Honors Lawyering Program
Law Career Services

A longstanding issue of great concern in the legal profession has been the lack of diversity with respect to women, persons with disabilities, the LGBT community, and racial and ethnic minorities.¹

The result has been disproportionately lower representation for certain groups in the profession, particularly in leadership positions.

For example, according to a recent Law Review article analyzing this topic, “12.6% of the U.S. population was African American, 16.3% was Hispanic American, and 4.8% was Asian American” in 2010, yet these groups made up only “4.3%, 3.4%, and 3.4% respectively” of the legal profession that year.

As the ABA has noted, “Without a diverse bench and bar, the rule of law is weakened as the people see and come to distrust their exclusion from the mechanisms of justice. “ In addition, as some diverse attorneys have explained, this underrepresention can lead to a lack of adequate mentorship and the perceptions of hiring biases within the profession.

FREE Summer Activities in the Bay Area

by Henghameh Poya, LCS Intern

Even though LCS wants you to network, we want you to have fun and find more things to talk about when you meet new people. Take a look at these free or cheap summer activities that will help develop your connection to the San Francisco community!

Summer Associates Receptions

by Susanne Aronowitz

Established in 2007, BASF’s annual Partner-Summer Associates Receptions provide an opportunity for networking, meeting mentors and appreciating the achievements of minority and LGBT partners in the Bay Area.

For more information, visit the webpage.

Make your summer job a success!

Mary Crane, the author of Networking for Students and New Professionals, has just released her “10 Keys to Summer Success”—here’s a summary of her practical, straightforward advice for distinguishing yourself from the rest of the pack:

Take Advantage of LexisNexis, Westlaw, & Bloomberg Law’s Extended Summer Use Programs!

By Melissa LeBlanc
Law Career Services Intern

LexisNexis, Westlaw, and Bloomberg Law offer the following programs that will be useful for 1Ls/2Ls over the summer, and for graduating students after they take the bar exam.

First Year & Second Year Law Students

Lexis Advance’s All Access summer program allows first and second year law students to continue to use their Lexis Advance ID during the summer for all of their legal work purposes. Visit http://www.lexisnexis.com/documents/pdf/20140205051258_large.pdf for more information. 

Westlaw also offers a password summer extension program for academic purposes. This includes pro bono and public service programs, unpaid public internships or externships etc.; however, it may not be used for research conducted for a law firm, corporation or other entity that is paying you. Visit http://lawschool.westlaw.com/registration/SummerExtension.aspx for more info.

Bloomberg Law offers summer use access to law students as well. Visit http://www.bloomberglaw.com/terms_of_service for more information.

Graduating Law Students

If you are a graduating JD or LLM student, Lexis is offering free continued use of Lexis Advance through December 31, 2014. If you would like to have access to their resources for educational use, bar exam preparation, and post-graduate job searching, then you can apply now for a Lexis Advance ID through Lexis’ Graduate program – it only takes a minute! Visit www.lexisnexis.com/grad-access for more information.

If you are a graduating law student and would like continued free access to Westlaw’s resources you may extend your password by going to http://lawschool.westlaw.com/registration/gradelite.aspx. 

Bloomberg Law offers graduating law students 6 months of continued use. Visit http://www.bloomberglaw.com/terms_of_service for more information.

Happy New Year!

by Elisa Laird-Metke

Law Career Services welcomes everyone back from the winter break! LCS counselors are available to meet with you to help with applications for spring and summer jobs. Make an appointment by calling (415) 442-6625

If you need just a quick resume/cover letter review, drop-in hours are also available. Stop by Monday, January 6 through Friday, January 10 between 11:30 and 1:00 pm daily at 40 Jessie, 5th floor.

Don't forget that PI/PS Day applications are due January 16!

We look forward to working with you in 2014!

Career Opportunities Heat Up This Summer

by Jared Solovay
Director of Employer Relations

There is no time like the present to invest in your career development. The most obvious way to do so is through hands-on legal skills, whether that be an internship, externship, or pro bono work. But you should also be aware of the following summer job fairs:

• BASF Diversity Job Fair on July 27 for “diverse” rising 2Ls (registration ends June 16)
• SFIPLA Job Fair on July 28 for rising 2Ls and 3Ls interested in IP law (registration ends 5:00pm PDT on June 17)
• National Black Prosecutors Job Fair on July 16 (registration ends June 14)
• GGU’s Summer Recruitment program (login to LCSonline) for rising 2Ls seeking summer 2014 positions and rising 3Ls seeking post-bar positions (review employers now and upload applications from July 19 to August 5).

Is This The End, Or Just The Beginning?

by Susanne Aronowitz
Associate Dean for Law Career Services

The fall semester starts in exactly one month, which means that many of you will be winding down your summer jobs and internships during the next few weeks. While your assignments might be coming to a close, your ongoing relationship with your organization is just beginning. Before you rush out the door, take some time to take care of these easy, but meaningful steps:

• Tie up loose ends: Plan to complete all of your assignments well in advance of your last day in the office. Rushing to the finish line will likely yield sloppy mistakes that will emerge only after you have left. Don’t let bad work product be your legacy.
• Leave a road map: For projects that will continue on after you leave, prepare some documentation to bring your successor up to speed and let them know what has already been accomplished and what still needs to be done.
• Offer to hire your replacement: Don’t leave your employer short handed. Offer to assist with hiring your replacement by sharing a job announcement with LCS and training your replacement.
• Update your records: Before leaving the office, make sure you have a complete list of the projects and cases you worked on. You will need to refer to this list when updating your resume, seeking a reference from your supervisor or providing your work history to a new employer when completing a conflicts of interest check.
• Share your thanks: Make a point to thank everyone in the office for all that they did to contribute to your experience. Some students have shared a token gift (like candy, cookies or flowers) as a way to show their gratitude, but nothing beats a sincere, personalized thank you note.
• Break some bread: Grab lunch or coffee with your supervisor or co-workers to thank them for a good experience. Share your future plans with them, seek their advice, and learn more about what they are working on.
• Stay in touch: This is the most important step of all! Follow up with your supervisor to check on the results of pending cases; send a greeting to your supervisor during the winter holidays; include your supervisor on your future “good news” emails, like when you graduate from law school, pass the bar exam, and get your next job.

Following these simple steps will convert a 10-week, short-term interaction to a long, term relationship that will enrich your professional development for years to come.

Your Job Search Does Not End in the Summer!

Now that most of you are safely ensconced in your summer internships—building your skills and connections with employers—it’s easy to think you can take a break from seeking out your next position. Not so! In an excellent (and short) piece, my colleague at NALP shares a few insightful tips to “successfully tackle the job search over the summer.” Have questions about these tips? Need help carrying them out? Come visit us at LCS! We are here all summer. - Leeor Neta

Free and Fun in the Bay Area

by Elana Konstant
Assistant Director of Public Interest Programs

One of the best things about living in a city as diverse and fun-loving as San Francisco is that there is no shortage of free activities to enjoy. Now that you have a bit more time during your summer break, we hope you can take advantage of the various neighborhood events, live music and museums. If you have any other ideas, please let us know and we will update the blog with your suggestions.

MUSIC
Stern Grove Festival (www.sterngrove.org)
Established in 1938, the festival is the oldest admission-free summer performing arts festival of its kind in America. Concerts take place on Sundays at 2 pm.

Music In The Park-San Jose (www.sjdowntown.com/Music_in_the_Park.html)
The 22nd Season of Music in the Park begins on Thursday, June 3 and runs through August 26. Concerts are held on Thursday evenings, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. at the Plaza de Cesar Chavez (Market Street between San Fernando and San Carlos streets)

ART, ARTIFACTS & ANIMALS
Several SF museums are open for free; others offer free admission days, usually the first Tuesday or Wednesday of the month. Here are a few listings, but check this link for more information:

• Asian Art Museum (First Tuesday)


• M.H. de Young Memorial Museum (First Tuesday)


• Legion of Honor (First Tuesday)


• SF MOMA (First Tuesday)


• Cartoon Art Museum (First Tuesday)


• Exploratorium (First Wednesday)


• SF Zoo (First Wednesday)


• California Academy of Sciences (Every Third Wednesday)

Admission is always free at:

• Cable Car Museum


• Chinese Culture Center


• San Francisco Fire Museum


• Museo Italo Americano


• National Maritime Museum


• Wells Fargo History Museum

Also, the California Historical Society only charges $1 for students.

STREET FAIRS
Many Bay Area neighborhoods host street fairs and festivals over the summer. Click here for more info.

HIKING/WALKING TOURS
East Bay: Did you know that the East Bay has over 65 parks, encompassing 1,100 miles of hiking trails? (link)

Bay Trail: You might also consider hiking the Bay Trail. (link)

Free Tours
City Guides: offers daily tours at locations around the city. For a schedule of tours, go to the website or call 415 557-4266.
San Francisco Parks Trust: Free walking tours in Golden Gate Park
Fort Point National Historic Site
Golden Gate Bridge
San Francisco Botanical Garden

OTHER FUN OUTINGS/INFO
Anchor Brewing Company on Potrero Hill: The 90-minute tour of Anchor Brewing Company's Potrero Hill plant begins with a lesson in ingredients, brewing methods for steam beer, porter, and ales, and the company's colorful history. Guests will enjoy the traditional sampling at the conclusion of the tour. Kids welcome. Free weekday tours. Need reservations. Book at least a month in advance

Seward Street slides: Take a thrilling ride down the curved concrete slides at the Seward Street Mini Park in Noe Valley. The side-by-side slides are fast and fun, and not for the faint of heart. Bring a piece of cardboard or burlap to get the most out of the run. Some users swear by plastic cafeteria trays. Located on Seward Street, near the corner of Douglass Street.

Sunday service at Glide Memorial United Methodist Church: The famously liberal church known for its diversity attracts movie stars and homeless people alike with its message of hope and the wall-shaking Glide Ensemble choir and band. "Celebrations" are held at 9 and 11 am, 330 Ellis St., at Taylor Street, in the Tenderloin.

SF.FunCheap.com. Weekly fun and cheap/free events around the city.

Now That Summer Is Here...

by Susanne Aronowitz
Associate Dean for Law Career Services

Summertime
We hope you all enjoyed a break after the spring semester. Whether you are taking classes, working, or still trying to line something up, we encourage you to use the summer months to advance your career development. Here are some tips on getting the most out of the summer:

Volunteer
If you are still seeking professional experience, consider volunteering your time through our Pro Bono Program. There are projects available to match a wide range of interests and time commitments. For more information, please visit www.lawstudentprobono.org, or send an email to dnguyen@pic.org.

Apply
Employers are still posting jobs for the summer. Keep checking LCSonline for the current listings.

Read
Catching up on your reading this summer? Add some selections from the LCS library to your reading list. We recommend: Guerrilla Tactics for Getting the Legal Job of Your Dreams by Kimm Alayne Walton; The Opportunity Maker: Strategies for Inspiring Your Legal Career by Ari Kaplan; or simply grabbing a few articles from our Article Spot.

Meet
The summer months present a wide variety of opportunities to meet lawyers. From bar association receptions, to brown bag presentations to alumni mixers, there's something for everyone! Keep your eye on the calendars in the Recorder and Daily Journal, as well as the Public Interest Update and LCS blog for ideas.

Chat
Cocktail parties not your thing? Consider sitting down with alumni and other attorneys for a one-on-one informational interview. Students can access the online GGU alumni directory to find lawyers in your area of interest--contact a counselor at LCS to learn how to access the directory.

Connect
Set up a profile on LinkedIn and join the Golden Gate University and Golden Gate University Law groups.

LCS is open all summer to help you develop your professional development plan. Stop by or call to make an appointment!

Job Fairs: Start Planning Ahead

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 2011! Many employers will be relying on job fairs this summer to recruit law students for next summer.

Job fairs tend to have a particular focus. Some recruit students for a specialized practice area, such as public interest or intellectual property, some focus on recruiting diverse students, and others promote opportunities in a particular geographic region.

For more information, consult the job fair list on the NALP website.

Do Some Good This Summer

by Elana Konstant
Assistant Director of Public Interest Programs

For those of you still looking for a way to get some legal experience this summer or after completing the bar exam, GGU’s Pro Bono Program might be the perfect solution. You can volunteer in numerous different capacities and legal fields to get valuable practical training. Best of all, you can control your own schedule when it comes to the pro bono projects you take on.

Performing pro bono work involves volunteering your legal services without receiving any academic credit or compensation. Students will work under the supervision of a practicing attorney. GGU’s program with the Public Interest Clearinghouse (PIC) connects students and alumni with short-term and long-term volunteer projects all around the Bay Area.

As a pro bono volunteer, you can staff client intake clinics, participate in legislative advocacy, and represent low-income clients in a variety of substantive legal areas, including immigration, family and housing law. Engaging in pro bono work allows you to build your legal skills, while at the same time building your community.

To gain access to the online database of pro bono projects and sign up to receive a weekly pro bono e-newsletter, please visit www.lawstudentprobono.org. The Law Student Pro Bono Coordinator, Doan Nguyen, will be updating this site continuously throughout the summer. You can access the latest postings once you sign up. The site also provides a calendar of events and trainings relating to the pro bono projects.

Current students, please remember that you can apply the hours performed over the summer to next year's application for the Pro Bono Honor Society (remember that all upper class students have to complete 25 hours per year).

If you have any questions about pro bono projects or PIC, please feel free to contact Elana Konstant, at ekonstant@ggu.edu, or Doan Nguyen, dnguyen@pic.org.

In addition to engaging in some pro bono work, be sure to also use your summer break to continue your professional development. Please review this article for some tips on how to make the most of these next few months.

Webinar - Top 10 Tips for a Successful Public Interest Summer Internship

Don't miss the free NALP/NLADA webinar, Top Ten Tips for a Successful Summer Internship in a Public Interest Office... and What To Avoid! The webinar begins at noon on Wednesday, April 14, 2010. Click here for more details and registration information.

RELATED: Ensure Your Summer is a Success (6.3.09)

Your summer internship is an opportunity to put the knowledge you gained in the classroom into practice and to showcase yourself professionally. While some summer jobs may lead to permanent employment after graduation, your primary goals should be to add value to the firm or organization, learn as much as you can, explore the areas of law that the firm specializes in, and build upon your growing network of connections in the legal community. Here are some tips to guide you along...

Timing Is Everything

by Elana Konstant
Assistant Director of Public Interest Programs

Have you just been offered a chance to interview for the job of your dreams? Did this offer come two weeks after you accepted another, less thrilling but perfectly worthwhile position for the summer? If so, you are in a familiar predicament. Given that this situation is common but still confounding, we decided to provide some specific guidance on the issue.

Congratulations first of all on receiving such positive feedback from your applications! That is wonderful news. However, you shouldn’t just assume that it is ok to take this perfect job you’ve been waiting for and dump the employer you already committed to for the summer. Although it may not have been your top choice, you made the decision to accept a job and you should honor that decision.

The fact that you have already accepted a position is a binding obligation on your part. As it states in the GGU Student Handbook, "a student should not continue to 'shop around' for competing opportunities that would conflict with the commitment he or she has made to his or her employer. Doing so could damage the student's reputation as well as that of the School of Law." The bottom line - stick with your first commitment, no matter how much you love the opportunity that just presented itself.

Getting back to the dream job, now you have the opportunity to let that employer know that you are available in the fall or spring. You want to make sure to take advantage of this connection so that you might hopefully bypass at least the screening part of the next application process. Throughout the course of the summer, be sure to touch base with the contact person, letting him or her know that you are still interested in the position and would appreciate the chance to interview again. Hopefully, you’ll come out of this scenario with a summer job, a fall/spring job and your professional integrity intact!

How'd You Spend Your Summer Vacation?

Now that you’ve had a chance to settle in to school, we’d love to hear how you spent your summer “vacation.” There are 2 ways to share your work experiences with the law school community:

1. Complete an evaluation of your recent work experience on LCSonline. LCS is compiling an online database of student work evaluations you can search when looking for new opportunities. (see here for more information)

2. Write a brief testimonial (150 words or less) that we can post on the LCS Blog. Try to include information on where you worked, how you found the position, what you did there, and why you’d recommend it to other GGU students. Feel free to include a photo that we can post on the blog along with your comments. Email submissions to lawcareer@ggu.edu.

We look forward to hearing from you!

ONLINE: Student Employment Evaluations

LCS is happy to announce our new online Student Employment Evaluations. There's only one catch... we need you to fill them out! Some of you may recall from flipping through the old evaluation binders, that student feedback is one of the top resources for law students researching potential positions with employers. To make the evaluations more accessible to all students, we will be posting all new evaluations on LCSonline. (The binders with old evaluations will still be available at LCS.)

Do Your Part
Please take a few moments to submit an evaluation to describe your recent work experiences. You may submit this information anonymously, but LCS encourages you to make yourself available to be contacted by other students if you found the experience remarkable in any way.

To complete an evaluation, login to LCSonline, click the "Student Employment Evaluations" link (found on the LCSonline homepage under shortcuts). Then simply click the "Add New" button to fill out a survey.

Go Have Some Fun!

While we usually devote space in this blog for encouraging you to use your free time to advance your professional goals, we recognize that it is also important to engage in activities that simply feed your soul. The San Francisco Bay Area has a wide range of free summertime events. Here are a few that we’ve found. Please let us know if you have others to recommend and we will update the blog with your suggestions.

Stern Grove Festival
Established in 1938, the festival is the oldest admission-free summer performing arts festival of its kind in America. Concerts take place on Sundays at 2 pm. [ link ]

Free Museums
Several SF museums are open for free; others offer free admission days. Check this link for more information.

SF Mime Troupe
The San Francisco Mime Troupe creates and produces socially relevant theater; their work is political satire and anything but silent. Winner of three OBIE awards and a Tony Award for Excellence in Regional Theatre, the San Francisco Mime Troupe, about which The New York Times stated, "Anyone concerned about the state of global politics -- and about the state of political humor -- should listen to the Mime Troupe's message," creates plays that make sense out of the headlines, close-up stories that make audiences feel the impact of political events on their personal lives. Performances take place throughout the Bay Area. [ link ]

Street Fairs
Summertime brings street fairs to many bay area neighborhoods. Click here for more info.

Get outside!
Did you know that the East Bay has over 65 parks, encompassing 1,100 miles of hiking trails? [ link ]
You might also consider hiking the Bay Trail. [ link ]

Neighborhood tours, lawn bowling lessons and more…
Check out this website for a diverse list of free activities.
 

Ensure Your Summer is a Success

by Amanda Vassigh

Your summer internship is an opportunity to put the knowledge you gained in the classroom into practice and to showcase yourself professionally. While some summer jobs may lead to permanent employment after graduation, your primary goals should be to add value to the firm or organization, learn as much as you can, explore the areas of law that the firm specializes in, and build upon your growing network of connections in the legal community. Below are some tips to guide you along.

Maximize Your Summer Experience

• Learn as much as you can about what your employer does. Try to both observe and participate in a wide variety of legal proceedings, transactions, and client meetings.


• Seek out assignments that will help you develop expertise in your area of interest and seek out an experienced associate or partner as a mentor.


• Request feedback throughout the summer on the assignments you have completed and your performance in general.


• Consult the career books, periodicals and subject area articles at LCS.


• Cultivate relationships with your fellow interns and supervising attorneys. Professional colleagues can be an excellent source of information, job leads, and support.

Present Yourself Professionally

• Treat all staff with respect and courtesy. While you want to impress the attorney you are working for, do not underestimate the importance of building a relationship with administrative staff and first-year attorneys.


• Treat every office event, no matter how casual, like an interview. The truth is that you are under perpetual evaluation and the impression you make should always be professional.


• If you have a part-time work schedule, it may be hard for everyone else at the office to remember your hours. Write your schedule out neatly on an index card to be posted at your work station where anyone looking for you can see it.


• Always carry a pen and paper with you to meetings and every time you go to an attorney’s office.


• Dress professionally to show your respect for the office and its clients. Even if your office has a casual dress code, resist the temptation to dress too casually. You want to create an image of yourself as a future lawyer.

Handle Your Workload Successfully

• Keep a calendar and a log with notes on who assigned you each project, details about the project, and when it is due.


• When you receive an assignment, come prepared, exhibit enthusiasm, take notes, and don’t hesitate to ask questions! Make sure you understand the nature of the final assignment, goals, time frame, and any relevant administrative details.


• Be thorough in your research but also adhere to time constraints. If you are uncertain whether you are going in the right direction or whether you are spending too much time on an assignment, check back with your assigning attorney.


• Be proactive – ask for work, especially from an attorney in the firm who does work you are interested in.


• Communicate regularly regarding your workload and deadlines so that you can prioritize which tasks to complete first and which tasks require more of your time.

Moving Forward

• Update your resume and cover letter to reflect the responsibilities and skills you developed over the summer.


• Upgrade your writing sample by using a redacted brief or memo that you prepared for your employer, rather than something you drafted for a class. Seek your employer’s permission before distributing it as part of your job search.


• Ask your supervisor if s/he would be willing to serve as a reference for future job searches.


• Start applying for Fall positions. Many law firms, courts, government agencies, and public interest organizations have openings for law students on a part-time basis during the fall and spring semesters. Use LCSonline as a starting point, and conduct research to expand your pool of prospective employers.


• Call LCS to make an appointment with a career counselor to explore your areas of interest and to maximize your job search strategies.