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Career Development Office Newsletter
Issue 145 • March 8, 2018
Announcements
  • Spring Interview Program: We are in the final weeks of the Spring Interview Program on Symplicity. Employers will schedule interviews with 1Ls, 2Ls, and 3Ls either at UCI Law, by phone/skype, or at employer offices throughout February and March. You can access the session through the OCI module on the left side of your screen, by selecting the "UCI Law 2018 Spring Interview Program." Final upcoming NOON deadlines include:
    • 1Ls & 2Ls: Disability Rights California (San Diego, CA) - March 9 
    • 1Ls & 2Ls: San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program, Inc. (San Diego, CA) - March 12
    • 2Ls & 3Ls: Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office (Los Angeles, CA) - March 16
    • 1Ls & 2Ls: Christensen O'Connor Johnson Kindness, PLLC (Seattle, WA) - March 23
CDO Workshops
  • How to Secure a Post-Grad Public Interest Job (Fellowships): March 14 (Wednesday), 12:00pm-1:00pm, EDU 1131. This program is designed primarily for 2Ls but open to anyone else looking to understand the timeline for securing a post-grad job in the public sector. The avenues most likely to lead to a position before graduation and approaches to public interest career planning, including fellowships, the timeline for applications, and how to make the most of the available resources. RSVP on Symplicity.
  • Finding and Applying for Post-Graduate Judicial Clerkships: March 20 (Tuesday), 12:00pm-1:00pm, EDU 1111. All 1Ls are encouraged to attend as well as anyone else considering a judicial clerkship. Learn what a clerkship application requires, updates on the timeline to apply, and what judges look for when making interviewing decisions. RSVP on Symplicity to guarantee lunch. 
  • Patent Bar Examination Information Session: March 27 (Tuesday), 12:00pm-1:00pm, MPAA 408. If you are a student with an undergrad degree (or at least two years of coursework) in engineering, computer sciences or the hard sciences (chemistry, biology, physics, or related fields), and are interested in becoming a Patent Agent or Attorney, Practising Law Institute (PLI) invites you to a presentation by Mark Dighton, PLI's Director of Law School Relations and a Director of their Patent Office Exam Course. 

    Topics for discussion include:

    • The latest info on the Patent Office Exam,
    • Who can take it,
    • How it works, now that it's on computer and “on demand,”
    • When you should take it (you don't need to…and probably shouldn't…wait until you graduate),
    • How the America Invents Act and recent US Supreme Court cases have impacted the Exam, and
    • Recommendations on when and how to study for this very difficult Exam.

    Scholarships to PLI's other IP programs will also be discussed. Students interested in attending should RSVP on Symplicity.
  • Engaging with the Legal Community: March 27 (Tuesday), 12:00pm-1:00pm, MPAA 420. Join prestigious alums Kelly Galligan (Rutan & Tucker) and Kristin Garcia (Nossaman) as they discuss why you might benefit from engaging with the local legal community and how to get started! RSVP on Symplicity.
  • Loyola Chicago Patent Law Interview Program Brown Bag Roundtable: April 3 (Tuesday), 12:00pm-1:00pm, LAW 3750. The Loyola Chicago PLIP will be held on July 26-27, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. For students planning to attend, the bidding period will begin on May 29 and end on June 8. Please join us for a roundtable discussion with 2Ls who attended the Loyola Chicago PLIP last year. Topics to be covered include researching law firms/prospective employers, bidding strategy, the relationship between Loyola Chicago PLIP and EIW, and interviewing and callback experiences of the panelists in Chicago last year. Those planning to attend Loyola Chicago PLIP are strongly encouraged to attend. RSVP on Symplicity.
  • Fall 2018 On-Campus Interview Programs: April 5 (Thursday), 12:00pm-1:00pm, EDU 1111. The CDO strongly encourages all first-year students to attend this session to learn about Early Interview Week (EIW) and the Fall Interview Program (FIP). In addition to providing essential information concerning On-Campus Interview logistics and timelines, we will discuss preparation for screening and callback interviews and strategies to prepare for the process. The significant majority of EIW employers are large law firms that seek to hire students as summer associates during their 2L summer, with the potential for permanent offers to be extended for post¬graduate employment. The significant majority of FIP employers are government agencies and public interest organizations that seek to hire students for their 2L summer where they will cultivate substantive expertise and relationships that may prove beneficial for securing post-graduate employment. Please RSVP on Symplicity as lunch will be provided.
  • Succeeding During Your Summer At A Law Firm: April 12 (Thursday), 12:00pm-1:00pm, LAW 3750. This panel discussion will cover the skills and strategies necessary to succeed as a summer associate at a law firm. The panelists will be 3Ls who worked as summer associates at law firms last summer. The program will include a discussion of important topics such as navigating a firm hierarchy and culture, how to manage work assignments, how to succeed at firm social events, and information regarding work productivity and the billable hour. Time will be reserved for student questions. RSVP on Symplicity.
Opportunities
  • Equal Justice Works Regional Public Interest Awards: Deadline March 12 (Monday). Equal Justice Works seeks to identify and honor law students who have provided extraordinary service through clinics, volunteer work, internships, extracurricular projects, and more. Applicants are asked to write a personal statement describing their commitment to public interest law and provide the name, job title, email address, and phone number of two references who are familiar with their public service work. More information available here. 
  • 2018 Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles Fran Kandel Public Interest Fellowships: Deadline March 12 (Monday), 5:00pm. The WLALA is accepting applications from law students for the Fran Kandel Public Interest Fellowships of up to $5,000.  The Fellowship is designed to fund students who undertake summer projects with tangible outcomes. For more information on the application process, visit here. Applications must be received by 5:00pm on March 12. 
  • Orange County Coalition for Diversity in the Law presents: OCI 101 - Insider Insight Into the Law Firm Interview: March 14 (Wednesday), 6:00pm-8:00pm, Gibson Dunn Irvine Office. This program is designed for diverse and minority students to hear from a panel of hiring insiders and network with attorneys from private OCCLD law firms. Bring a paper copy of your resume to drop off: every law firm in attendance will get a copy after the event. Attendance is complimentary, food and drinks will be provided, and the dress is business casual. RSVP by Wednesday, March 7. 
  • The Wm. Matthew Byrne, Jr. Judicial Clerkship Institute: March 15-16 (Thursday-Friday), Malibu, CA. Pepperdine School of Law is pleased to invite those who will start a judicial clerkship within the next few years to attend the Judicial Clerkship Institute for a two-day intensive training session led by federal judges and top-notch academics. For more information and to register, visit here. 
  • California Lawyers Association - IP Section 2018 Student Reporters Program: Deadline March 16 (Friday), Midnight. This program, meant for 2Ls and 3Ls, is looking for people to serve as IP Section Reporters for 2018. Becoming a reporter includes complimentary registration for certain events, an opportunity to learn about IP law, and networking opportunities. Applications require a statement of interest, a short writing sample, and your Twitter handle. Send an email with the subject line "2018 IP Section Reporter" to John Buelter, CLA IP Section Coordinator and copy John Pavolotsky, Program coordinator. 
  • 2018 Loyola Chicago Patent Law Interview Program:Deadline March 23 (Friday). Online registration is now open for the Loyola Patent Law Interview Program, a two-day interview program held in Chicago each summer for patent law employers to interview law students for summer associate positions and post-graduate employment. To register, students must meet the March 23 deadline (students will upload resumes and bid on interviews between May 29 – June 12). Registration confirmation emails include vital information regarding next steps. Please notify Caleb Sullivan if you don't receive a confirmation email within 48 hours of registration.
  • American Bar Associationn Section of Intellectual Property Law Membership: Law students can sign up for five Sections free of charge in addition to free ABA membership. By signing up for the ABA-IPL Section, law students can utilize Section membership to discover more about careers in IP law and to get connected with like-minded law students and lawyers. For more information, visit here. 
Law Firm Receptions

For students interested in working at a large or mid-size law firm, attending law firm receptions may be an important aspect of your job search strategy.  There are several benefits to attending receptions: (a) gain a sense of the firm and learn more about its office, attorneys, and culture; (b) make a positive connection with an attorney that you could later reference in a cover letter or interview (c) some firms may be more inclined to interview students who attended a reception (or it may make no difference at all); and (d) on occasion, firm receptions lead to pre-EIW interviews and subsequent pre-EIW offers.  That having been said, academic performance is often the most important criterion for EIW employers, so it is critical that you balance your attendance at receptions with your academic commitments.  If you have any questions about attending receptions, contact your primary career counselor.

  • PracticePro LLC Fifth Annual Diversity and Recruiting Reception: March 16 (Friday), 5:30pm-7:30pm, Latham & Watkins San Francisco Office. This reception is complimentary for students. For tickets and more information, visit here. 
  • Haynes and Boone, LLP - 1L Reception: March 21 (Wednesday), 5:30pm-7:30pm, Costa Mesa. This reception is for UCI Law students only. The dress is business casual. Appetizers and drinks will be served. RSVP by March 16 with a copy of your resume and law school transcript. 
  • Jones Day Diversity Meet & Greet - 1L Reception: April 10 (Tuesday), 5:30pm-8:00pm, Los Angeles. This reception will include an interviewing tips panel with a reception to follow. The dress is business casual. RSVP by Tuesday, April 3 with a copy of your resume. For more information, visit here. 
  • Sheppard Mullin - 1L Reception: April 19 (Thursday), 5:30pm-7:30pm, Irvine. This reception is for UCI Law students only. The dress is casual and will be held at Eureka!. RSVP to Patty McGraw by Thursday, April 12 with the subject line "UCI Reception". 
  • Akin Gump - Rising 2L Summer Reception: June 20 (Wednesday). More details to follow.