2L Public Interest & Government Job Search

1. 2L Public Interest &Government Job Search Fall 2009 Eric Stern, Linda Maranzana & Alex Lee Career Development Office

2. Today’s Agenda • Introduction • Public Interest Job Search • Review of Key Internship Opportunities • Job Search Resources & Timeline • Government Job Search • Federal Government Internships • State & Local Government Internships • Summer Funding • Q&A

3. Timing of a 2L PI/PS job search • The 2L PI/PS search is much earlier than the 1L search. You should be researching & applying now! • Use PIPS Day as a back-up. • Some competitive organizations & agencies have early fall deadlines or hire on a rolling basis (esp. for 2Ls). Check with these places for deadlines. • Enormous variety in the summer hiring timeline; many will not hire until January or February.

4. How does my 2L summer relate to my post-graduate job search? • Most organizations don’t offer post-grad jobs to those in their summer class. But 2L summer is still very important to your post-grad search. • What skills do you want to develop? legal and trial strategy client relationships complex litigation community organizing oral advocacy and negotiation legal writing and research • What substantive areas of law do you want to explore? • Other factors location investment in mentorship & intern development potential fellowship sponsor or future employer (networking!)

5. How does my 2L summer relate to fellowship applications? • 2 major kinds: organization-based & project-based • Ideal to have secured host by end of 2L summer • Apply in Fall of 3L year; come talk to us! • May be easier to develop project if you have worked with the organization that will sponsor you. But not necessary. • Review which organizations have sponsored fellows in the past or have their own organization fellowship. • It’s okay to discuss fellowships with potential employers during the interview process.

6. Conducting Your Job Search • Research organizations and make a list of employers in which you are interested. • Attend the Fall Field Placements & Externships Employer Fair (Nov 3, Goldberg Rm)! • See Externships & Field Placements page on Boalt website for list & descriptions of potential employers • Find alumni through CA Bar supplemental search site (http://californiabar.globl.org/)

7. How do I research opportunities? • PSLawNet (http://pslawnet.org/) • b-Line • Organizations’ web sites • CDO website: student placements list and b-Line evaluations • Student-to-Student PI/PS Career Fair (Nov 17, Goldberg) • Last year’s list on CDO website (3Ls have graduated) • Feel free to apply even if no internship announcement posted (but consider whether there is a structured internship program)

8. What should my application include? • Most require a customizedcover letter, resume, and list of three references. • Resume should be tightly written -- acceptable to go over one page if necessary. Include clinic descriptions under the “Experience” section. • It is also advisable to send a writing sample. A writing sample should demonstrate your reasoning and writing ability. • You do not need to send a transcript unless the employer asks for it. • Cover letter & resume writing guides on CDO website.

9. Prosecutors and Public Defenders • Both prosecutors and public defenders often hire entry-level “classes” of graduate law clerks. • Doing an internship in a PD/DA office is essential in the graduate hiring process. • Most summer hiring deadlines have passed, but still keep looking! Best chance if you’re geographically flexible. • Sought after skills: speaking experience (clinics, trial advocacy classes, moot court) and direct advocacy, coursework in criminal procedure and evidence, and a commitment to public service/criminal justice.

10. Federal GOV Internships:The Basics • FED GOV Research Resources on the CDO Website • Where do you find the FED GOV internship opportunities? • GOV Handbook, PI/PS Day • Field Placement List (evaluations & contacts) • B-Line (employer database & summer evaluations) • Paid or Unpaid? • Application Deadlines? • What are they looking for in candidates?

11. Specific FED GOV Opportunities • SEC (111) – 11/15/09 (DC); 12/15/09 (Regional Offices; SF – 2 interns) • Defense Department (12-15) – 11/20/09 • EPA (55) – 2/20/10 • Commerce Department (20) – 3/15/10

12. FED GOV Internships:Opportunities in the Bay Area? In the GOV Honors & Internship Guide • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) • Hiring 2-4 Interns; Deadline is 10/15! • U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security – Immigration & Customs Enforcement • Hiring 1-3 Interns; Rolling – Apply Now!

13. FED GOV Bay Area Internships:Where Else Have 2Ls worked? • Federal Trade Commission • National Labor Relations Board (OAK & SF) • U.S. Dept. of Agriculture • U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services • U.S. Dept. of Labor • Equal Employment Opportunity Commission • Internal Revenue Service

14. DOJ Internship Opportunities:Volunteer Legal Internship Program • Over 1,000 unpaid volunteer internship opportunities with wide range of DOJ offices • Same work assignments; same experience as SLIP • More SF Opportunities: ENRD, Antitrust, U.S. Attorney’s Office (Oakland & SF), EOIR, Civil Division • De-centralized application process – deadlines vary

15. State & Local GOV Internships:The Basics • Where can I find Bay Area opportunities? • GOV Guide, Field Placement Page, B-Line, Agency Websites • Where can I find opportunities outside of CA?

16. Common Bay Area State & Local GOV Internships • California Attorney General’s Office (150) • San Francisco City Attorney’s Office (35) • County DA and PD Offices • CA Energy Commission & PUC

17. Summer Funding • Certain employers have paid positions for 2Ls. • Boalt Hall provides $2000 plus supplementary competitive funds for 2Ls. You can also use banked funds. Additional student group funding for 2Ls. • Funding cap is $6000. • PSLawNet maintains a comprehensive list of outside funding sources. • Consider specialized sources of funding (e.g. Peggy Browning Fund sponsors fellowships for labor-related organizations)