SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24

8 – 9:15 a.m.

TIMELY TOPICS
Congressional Room A
Helpful Information to Make the Most of Your First Conference and Career Fair

New to Equal Justice Works? Is this your first career fair? Wanna know how to navigate table talk? Come to this session to learn just what is Equal Justice Works, what they have to offer you during your law school career and how do you navigate the excitement of Table Talk. Equal Justice Works Staff , experienced law school professionals and returning students will share their experiences and wisdom about how best to use this organization and this conference to enhance and support your public interest law school experience and career!

Presenter:

• TBD

LEADERSHIP SKILLS
Congressional Room B
Beat those Butterflies: How to Master Your Time in Front of an Employer

Networking and building relationships is crucial in a job search. This workshop explores concrete tools for networking and offers a new framework of understanding relationship building for participants who are less comfortable with the process. One aim of the workshop is to get you ready for table talks with employers during the Equal Justice Works Career Fair.

Presenter:

• Amy Potthast, Idealist.Org

ROADMAP TO PUBLIC INTEREST CAREERS
Cabinet Room
Strategies for Surviving Your Student Loans Right Now

You can successfully manage repayment of your student loans, even during financial uncertainty and reduced earnings. Options are available to postpone repayment if needed. There are flexible repayment plans, including the new Income-Based Repayment option that can make loan repayment manageable in most situations. This interactive session will focus on providing strategies to teach future public interest attorneys how to manage loan repayment.

Presenter:

• Jeffrey Hanson, Access Group

9:30 – 11 a.m.

PLENARY
Diplomat Ballroom
The Daily Fight for Justice

Ralph Nader
Honored by Time magazine as “One of the 100 Most Influential Americans of the 20th Century,” Ralph Nader has spearheaded sweeping change in protecting the health, safety, and democracy of everyday citizens. First and foremost an advocate, Nader began his 30-year legacy with his battle against the auto industry in Unsafe at Any Speed, which resulted in life-saving motor vehicle safety legislation. He helped create the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Due to Nader’s zeal, we now have safer drinking water, cleaner air, and freedom of information. His citizen groups such as the Public Interest Research Groups flourish on campus and the national stage, striving to protect the public and advance social justice. Many of Nader’s most significant triumphs: consumer rights, open government, and more humane business practices are now fully integrated into our lives. Among his victories are the ideas we now take for granted: seat belts, air bags, crash-worthy cars, better labeling on food, lower levels of lead in the environment, smoking awareness, and healthier eating habits. Nader organized the Green Party’s first presidential campaign and helped perpetuate a robust progressive political movement of a network of activists and leaders. With a simple, yet profound, credo Nader strongly articulates: “There can be no daily democracy without daily citizenship.” Nader is the author of several books, including Only the Super-Rich Can Save Us! (Seven Stories Press, 2009) and The Good Fight: Declare Your Independence and Close the Democracy Gap (Harper, 2004).

11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

TIMELY TOPICS
Congressional Room A
Who You Gonna Call? Why Every City Needs a Self-Sustaining, Mobile Legal Clinic During a Protracted Recession

The self-sustaining mobile legal clinic model pioneered by LAMLAC (Los Angeles Mobile Legal Aid Clinic) in Southern California focuses on: (1) providing mobile legal services in large, underserved metropolitan areas lacking effective mass transportation systems; (2) providing immediate, substantive services; (3) sustaining itself through the provision of low-cost legal services and; (4) focusing on the provision of preventative legal services when many individuals and families are falling ever deeper into debt. Come learn more about the clinic, volunteer opportunities and how you can start a similar clinic in your city.

Presenters:

• Eshan Zaffar, Chamberlin, Keaster & Brockman
• Ghaith Mahmood, Latham & Watkins
• Sana Muttalib, American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California
• Tyler White, Jackson Lewis

LEADERSHIP SKILLS
Congressional Room B
Operation Collaboration: How to Expand Support for Public Interest Programs at Your Law School

If you are pushing for change on your campus, this session is a great opportunity to learn from others who are trying to do the same. Participants at this session will network and brainstorm strategies for becoming social change leaders at their schools. A panel of law school administrators from various national and regional law schools will share how their programs work and how students have successfully advocated for change and won.

Presenters:

• Stacy Tolos, Emory University School of Law
• Rachel Dawson, The John Marshall Law School
• Shaye Loughlin, DePaul University College of Law
• Alisa Rosales, DePaul University College of Law
• Carol Vizzier, Washington University in St. Louis School of Law

ROADMAP TO PUBLIC INTEREST CAREERS
Cabinet Room
The “Ins and Outs” of Working in the Government Sector

Representatives from a variety of government agencies will share their experiences with interested students. Learn about the pros and cons of working for government agencies, what recruiters are looking for on your resume, and the current hiring climate for government positions. Panelists will also participate in breakout groups with students.

Presenters:

• Jill Wright, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Ken Thomas, Congressional Research Office

12:30 – 2:15 p.m.

AWARDS LUNCHEON
Ambassador Ballroom

Join us in recognizing public service leaders in the law school community.

FEATURING:
A special address from Harold Koh, Legal Advisor to the Department of State. He previously served as Dean of Yale Law School and as Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor in the United States Department of State during the Clinton administration.

Remarks from Carolyn Lamm, president of the American Bar Association.

HONORING:
Outstanding Law School Faculty Award
Patty Ferguson-Bohnee
Director, Indian Legal Clinic
Associate Clinical Professor of Law
Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University

Exemplary Public Service Award for a Student Group
Voters’ Rights Project
Rutgers School of Law – Camden

Information about honorees may be found on pages 21 and 22.

PLEASE NOTE: SEATING AT THE LUNCH IS LIMITED. NAME BADGES MUST HAVE “LUNCHEON” PRINTED FOR ADMITTANCE.

4:45 p.m. – 6 p.m.

DISCUSSION GROUP
Congressional Room A
Equal Justice Corps: Can a Teach for America Model Work for Indigent Defense?

The vast majority of public defender offices are underfunded and under-staffed. Caseloads are untenable and the quality of representation is deplorable. In just the last few months, the situation has deteriorated to the point where public defenders’ offices in at least seven states are refusing to take on new cases or have sued to limit the number of cases assigned. Juxtaposed to this dire situation is the tremendous appetite among law students and recent law graduates to engage in meaningful public service. While they are eager to engage in public service, the opportunities are scarce. Come to this session to find out and weigh in about a new concept being developed by Equal Justice Works and national partners (NLADA, NACDL, SPTDC, The Constitution Project) to provide three-year fellowships in public defender offices.

PILF LEADERS MEETING
Congressional Room B

If you are interested in meeting other PILF leaders and sharing both obstacles and best practices, please attend this session to meet and network with your peers. Equal Justice Works staff will be present to do an initial brainstorm and icebreaker for participants. Participants will then be broken up into small groups to talk and share best practices.

MEET OUR FELLOWS
Cabinet Room

If you are interested in the post-graduate fellowship programs offered by Equal Justice Works, this is an opportunity to meet some of our Fellows and find out firsthand about their experiences. Both current Fellows and Alumni from our AmeriCorps and Equal Justice Works fellowship programs will be on hand to conduct small group information sessions with interested students.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25

9 – 10:15 a.m.

SPECIAL BRIEFING FOR LAW STUDENTS AND LAW SCHOOL PROFESSIONALS
Congressional Room A
Educational Debt and The Need for Public Service

National expert Heather Jarvis explains the ins and outs of Income-Based Repayment, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and other federal student debt relief initiatives. Ms. Jarvis provides detailed information and answers questions about the requirements of the programs, including what counts as qualifying employment, which loans are eligible, and what steps you need to take now to maximize your benefits. New updates about the administration of the programs will be addressed in this don’t miss session.

Presenter:

• Heather Jarvis, Equal Justice Works

10:30 – 11:45 a.m.

TIMELY TOPICS
Congressional Room A
Fighting for Consumer Justice: Challenges in a Changing Economy

Consumer justice issues, often overlooked by those considering careers in public interest law, have recently gained more national attention as a result of the current economic downturn. This panel will explore the ways in which advocates are fighting for consumer rights by focusing on timely issues such as mandatory arbitration, financial regulation, and the increase in home foreclosures. Advocates working through the courts, legislatures and communities will describe their work and discuss how students can get involved and address some of the challenges for the future.

Presenter:

• Deepak Gupta, Public Citizen Litigation Group

LEADERSHIP SKILLS
Congressional Room B
Understanding Differences: Working with Clients Across Socio-economic Divides

This workshop will introduce and reinforce the various skills needed to work with impoverished clients. How does the student lawyer work with a client who lacks a telephone, transportation or childcare? What if they do not use a calendar? Come to this session to explore the cultural, personal and logistical obstacles that may impair the clients’ participation in the legal process. Be prepared to identify your own unconscious assumptions that may be preventing you from building trust with your clients.

Presenters:

• Rebecca Baehr, Rutgers School of Law – Camden
• Jill Friedman, Rutgers School of Law – Camden

ROADMAP TO A PUBLIC INTEREST CAREER
Cabinet Room
Erasing Distance: Online Opportunities for Law Students to Provide Legal Help Across the Country

This workshop will show how to create an online tool to help legal aid groups and pro bono lawyers request legal research assistance from law students. The online tool, managed by the law school students, is user-friendly and low cost, making use of free email accounts, free online file sharing workspaces, and some helper templates. This is an important tool to help create a ‘virtual office’ for lawyers and students to collaborate.

Presenters:

• Lyn Stewart-Hunter, University of Arizona James E Rogers School of Law
• Paula Nailon, University of Arizona James E Rogers School of Law