The Career Services Office offers a number of resources to assist you in learning about opportunities available to you with a law degree.  Listed below are some new publications available in the Career Services Office.

During your years in law school, it is easy to lose track of how versatile a law degree is.  THE OFFICIAL GUIDE TO LEGAL SPECIALTIES: An Insiders Guide to Every MAJOR PRACTICE AREA by Lisa L. Abrams, J.D. is a fast-paced book that gives a look at what it’s like to practice law in 30 major specialty areas, from entertainment to immigration, from tax to telecommunications.

Choosing Small, Choosing Smart by Donna Gerson, Esq. is a wonderful resource for anyone thinking about working for a small firm.  This book covers everything from contacting small firms to what you can do after you leave a small firm.

Perhaps you are thinking about starting a solo practice.  If so, How To Start & Build a Law Practice by Jay G.  Foonberg will get you started in the right direction.  This book is a basic comprehensive guide to planning, starting, and growing a successful practice.

You can learn vital skills to make the most of law school, build and sustain a professional network, and succeed in your job search from Maximize Your Lawyer Potential: Professionalism and Business Etiquette for Law Students and Lawyers by Amee R. McKim.  Filled with quotes from experts in the legal field, this book will guide you through professional expectations and help you maximize your legal career.

The publications listed are just a few of the many resources available in the Career Services Office.  Stop in and take a look at these and many other books and guides!  All books may be checked out for (2) weeks and the brochures are yours to keep.

The American Bar Association announces teleconference programming for lawyers seeking professional guidance during the economic downturn. Law students are encouraged to participate.

The “ABA Recession Recovery Teleconference Series” begins May 19, 2009 and runs through June 30, 2009. The series consists of four audio programs providing practical tips and strategies for success in today’s career climate. The programs are “How to Sell Yourself, Developing the Perfect Pitch,” “Solotions: Overcoming the Obstacles of Going and Being Solo in a Down Economy,” “Recession-Proof Yourself: Take Control in a Down Economy,” and “Staying Positive in a Down Economy: Beyond the Group Hug.”

The audio teleconference programs are available via telephone or internet broadcast. They are free to students and lawyers who are ABA members. There is a reduced-fee structure for students who are not ABA members.

For more information, go to http://www.abanews.org/.

With interest in federal legal careers building rapidly among law students and attorneys, the PSLawNet site features a newly enhanced federal government careers page. This resource, available at www.pslawnet.org/governmentcareers, provides explanations about federal hiring processes and points of entry to federal jobs, downloadable resources, and answers to frequently asked questions.

PSLawNet is an online resource for public service legal careers.With interest in federal legal careers building rapidly among law students and attorneys, the PSLawNet site features a newly enhanced federal government careers page. This resource, available at www.pslawnet.org/governmentcareers, provides explanations about federal hiring processes and points of entry to federal jobs, downloadable resources, and answers to frequently asked questions.

PSLawNet is an online resource for public service legal careers.

In an effort to curb costs, many big law firms have deferred the start dates for their new hires by up to a year or more. This has posed an unanticipated and unwelcome challenge for third-year students who believed the job search was over.

If you have a delayed job-start date, how will you fill the gap? The following suggestions may assist you:

To help build your practical legal skills, consider working in the public interest arena. PSLawNet, a public service career center, has more than 300 opportunities for deferred and out-placed associates in its job database. You may refine your search geographically and by practice area.

Click the following link for a step-by-step guide to finding public interest opportunities using PSLawNet,

https://pslawnet.org/uploads/How_to_Search_for_Public_Interest_Placements_on_PSLawNet_-_A_Screenshot_Guide.pdf.

In addition to PSLawNet, you may contact public interest organizations directly. For a list of Michigan organizations, click the following link: http://law.wayne.edu/pdf/description_of_internships_f08.pdf.

Public interest organizations are perennially cash-strapped. If an organization is unable to pay you, volunteer your services on a part-time or full-time basis. You’ll hone your legal skills and effect positive change for disadvantaged populations.

If your deferment is for a year or more, consider a postgraduate fellowship. Fellowships allow recent graduates to secure entry-level positions with nonprofit organizations, government entities, and educational institutions. Typically, fellowships are one or two years in length and are designed to give new lawyers experience in public interest practice.

You may search for fellowship opportunities using the PSLawNet Opportunities Database. The database contains between 200 and 300 fellowship listings, and is updated annually to provide current application deadlines and job descriptions. The PSLawNet Fellowship Application Deadline Calendar organizes fellowships by application deadline.

Fellowship positions are also published in the Yale Law School Guide to Postgraduate Public Interest Fellowships and the Guide to Postgraduate Legal Fellowship Programs. For a comprehensive guide to fellowship resources, including the resources mentioned here, click the following link: http://www.pslawnet.org/informationandresources.

For graduates entering public service during their deferral, LexisNexis has launched a new program that provides free access to certain LexisNexis services.

The ASPIRE (Associates Serving Public Interest Research) program gives qualified graduates use of a specified menu of LexisNexis services during the deferral period. To qualify, graduates must have accepted an associate position at a law firm, but are 1) experiencing a deferred fall 2009 start date, and 2) taking on public interest work during the deferral period. For more information and to register, go to www.lexisnexis.com/aspire.

Many bar associations provide pro bono representation to the indigent. You may contact bar associations to offer your assistance. The CSO’s Internet Resource Guide includes contact information for local and specialty bar associations. If you’re drawn to a particular area of law, you may request a case in your area of interest.

Additional worthwhile pursuits: attend a training seminar (or two, or three) at the Institute for Continuing Legal Education (ICLE). ICLE hosts live and video seminars throughout the year on a great range of practice areas and legal issues. ICLE seminars allow you to grow your network, learn about law practice from experts in their fields, and enhance your resume with an impressive “continuing education” credential. If a seminar costs more than you can afford, ask whether you can assist at the seminar (make copies, man the registration table, etc.) and attend for free. For more information, go to http://www.icle.org/.

Become active with the Wayne Law Alumni Association and at least one bar association. These organizations provide continual opportunities to network with new and seasoned attorneys, and they often host skills-building seminars and workshops.

If you’re in need of health insurance, the State Bar of Michigan has a full range of insurance programs available, including health, dental and reduced auto, plus many others. You need not be a licensed attorney to sign on for coverage. For more information, contact the Paul Goebel Group at 1-800-632-4591, or visit their website at http://www.paulgoebelgroup.com/.

 If you are having trouble repaying your student loan, an economic hardship deferment and forbearance may provide some reprieve. For more information, click the following link and then click “Help for borrowers who are having trouble repaying education loans.”  http://law.financialaid.wayne.edu/loan-repay.php.

 If your job is on hold, use the time wisely – grow your network, sharpen your practical legal skills and, perhaps, do good through a public interest organization or pro bono work. If you’d like to discuss your plans or have questions, contact the Career Services Office at 313-577-3949 or lawcareers@wayne.edu.