2012 Conference Materials

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The following materials from 2012 Conference and Career Fair workshops have been made available for download:

Career Strategy

What does success look like to you? Is it finding that elusive dream job? It is finding any job? Is it finding a job that will put you on a path toward a fulfilling, lifetime career? First things first: tailor your resume and cover letter, maximize your networking, and polish overall job search strategy for personal success in any public service career. Join Michele Woodward a nationally recognized career strategist for an interactive workshop on hard and soft skills necessary to find success.


Demystifying the Government Hiring Process

As the largest U.S. employer, the Federal Government employs over 2 million civilian employees, of which about 85 percent work outside the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Despite reforms instituted in November 2010, the government’s hiring process remains daunting. Join us as we discuss the ins and outs of searching, applying and interviewing for government jobs and using www.usajobs.gov. This session will also explore how a specific agency, the Department of Justice, recruits and hires, and what opportunities exist at this and other agencies.


Drowning in Debt? Learn How Public Interest Lawyers Can Earn Loan Forgiveness

A must attend for law students planning to pursue public interest law, this session explains how you can benefit from the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, the most significant law affecting public service in a generation. In addition to getting the details on Public Service Loan Forgiveness, you will learn how to use affordable income driven repayment plans and loan repayment assistance programs to manage your debt.


Equal Justice Works Law Student Opportunities and Postgraduate Fellowships: Beyond the Basics

Postgraduate fellowships are an excellent way to creatively address unmet community needs while gaining valuable work experience. Join Equal Justice Works staff and a current Equal Justice Works Fellow to discuss the benefits of doing a public interest fellowship; an overview of programs including our Equal Justice Works Fellowships, AmeriCorps Legal Fellowships, and Summer Corps; tips for navigating the application process; what it is like to be a fellow; and what a fellowship can mean for your future legal career.


Helping Those Who Served: Addressing the Legal Needs of Veterans

Veterans face higher levels of unemployment, incarceration, and homelessness than the population at large. The current administration’s major initiatives aim to transform the Veteran’s Administration into a high-performing 21st century organization that can better serve veterans, especially those returning from war in Iraq and Afghanistan. This focus combined with an influx of federal money offers employment opportunities in challenging and rewarding areas of law, including housing, criminal law, public benefits, employment, and military law. This informational session will include a discussion of legal issues facing veterans and military families.  You will also learn about existing resources, case law, funding sources, and discuss ways students can build their skills, gain the “cultural competence” necessary to effectively work with veterans, and get involved in this major social justice issue.


How to Write a Federal Resume

The federal resume is unlike any other. Its average length is 3 to 5 pages, and preparing it is like writing a take-home exam. Different federal jobs require different resumes; there is no such thing as a one-fits-all resume. Federal resumes must respond to the knowledge, skills and abilities set forth in the announcement; they must also reflect the level of supervisory responsibilities, subject matter expertise, and other factors. Learn all these nuts and bolts at this session.


Opportunities for Law Students at Teach For America

Teach For America is growing the movement of leaders who work to ensure that kids growing up in poverty get an excellent education. What has that got to do with law school? You may be surprised to learn that a number of law school graduates are choosing to serve with Teach For America before moving on to a legal career. Come and hear from some of these alums as they share their experiences in the program and learn how it has helped their legal career.

 

Professional Social Networking

Social media is an increasingly important medium for connecting with others and maintaining your network. As such, it can also play a powerful role in managing your job search and career. Learn how to leverage social media strategically to advance your professional career.

 

Social Media Tools for Public Interest Law Professionals

Social media is here to stay – and its role in job search continues to evolve. Learn more about the tools and how to help students to think strategically about their use of social media and its potential impact for their careers and job search.


Strengthening Law Student Pro Bono to Increase Access to Justice

This is an important year for re-considering the role of law student pro bono as a response to the justice gap. Can we make choices that will enable pro bono to reach more clients, have broader systemic effects, fill gaps in state access to justice networks, coordinate better with courts, involve more students, and instill a deeper commitment? Can we improve quality through: supervision, reflection, training, support, faculty involvement, and deeper integration with other school initiatives? Can we reduce the burden on provider organizations and control costs through collaboration? Can we do more with technology to help law school professionals? How can we replicate the models likeliest to help close the justice gap? Through what policy reforms can we bring more resources to pro bono? All are invited to join the conversation about and with experts from the law schools and from the public interest bar.


Once You're in the Room: Taking Advantage of Interviews

Congratulations, you landed the interview! You’ve got your foot in the door, but now what? In this practical and informative session, you’ll learn how to ace an interview by showcasing what’s best about you, and asking really great questions, including Career Strategist Michele Woodward’s killer Best Job Interview Question Ever.

© 2012 Equal Justice Works - 1730 M Street, NW, Suite 1010, Washington, DC 20036-4511