By: Steve Grumm

Legal education is gonna look a lot different in a couple of decades.  NYU is the latest law school to greatly expand outside-the-classroom (in this case, even outside-the-country) opportunities for 3Ls, with an eye toward reworking the legal education model by building in hands-on learning opportunities.  From the New York Times’s Dealbook blog:

The move comes as law schools are being criticized for failing to keep up with transformations in the legal profession, and their graduates face dimming employment prospects and mounting student loans.

N.Y.U. Law’s changes are built around several themes, including a focus on foreign study and specialized concentrations. Some students could spend their final semester studying in Shanghai or Buenos Aires. Others might work at the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, or the Federal Trade Commission. Another group, perhaps, will complete a rigorous one-year concentration in patent law, or focused course work in tax.

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N.Y.U. Law is the latest law school to alter its academic program significantly. Stanford Law School recently completed comprehensive changes to its third-year curriculum, with a focus on allowing students to pursue joint degrees. Washington and Lee University School of Law scrapped its traditional third-year curriculum in 2009, replacing it with a mix of clinics and outside internships.

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There has been much debate in the legal academy over the necessity of a third year. Many students take advantage of clinical course work, but the traditional third year of study is largely filled by elective courses. While classes like “Nietzsche and the Law” and “Voting, Game Theory and the Law” might be intellectually broadening, law schools and their students are beginning to question whether, at $51,150 a year, a hodgepodge of electives provides sufficient value.

“One of the well-known facts about law school is it never took three years to do what we are doing; it took maybe two years at most, maybe a year-and-a-half,” Larry Kramer, the former dean of Stanford Law School, said in a 2010 speech.

Yet no one expects law schools to become two-year programs any time soon. For one thing, law schools are huge profit centers for universities, which are reluctant to give up precious tuition dollars. What is more, American Bar Association rules require three years of full-time study to obtain a law degree. Several law schools, including Northwestern University School of Law, offer two-year programs, but they cram three years of course work — and tuition — into two.

N.Y.U. Law’s new curriculum plan is highlighted by experience outside of the school’s Greenwich Village campus. While the school has dabbled in foreign study, it is now redoubling its focus on international and cross-border legal practice. N.Y.U. Law is preparing to send as many as 75 students to partner law schools in Buenos Aires, Shanghai and Paris, where the students will study the legal systems and the languages of those regions. With the ever-increasing influence of government and the regulatory state in private legal matters, N.Y.U. Law will also offer students a full semester of study, combined with an internship, in Washington.

Another key initiative gives students the chance to build a specialty. Called “professional pathways,” the program will offer eight focused areas of instruction, including criminal law and academia.

None of these programs will be mandatory, as students can still choose a conventional course load. But Richard L. Revesz, the dean of N.Y.U. Law, said that he hoped the students would take advantage of the new offerings.

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N.Y.U. Law’s moves illustrate the continuing evolution of the legal education model. Until the late 19th century, most lawyers — like Abraham Lincoln — were trained through the old-fashioned apprenticeship method. But for the last hundred years, law school classrooms have been dominated by the case method of instruction, which trains law students by having them read court cases and questioning them via the Socratic method.

Now, in an era of globalization and specialization, law schools are acknowledging the inadequacy of the traditional approach.

Are you attending the Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair (CCF) October 26-27? Do you have questions that haven’t been answered yet? Equal Justice Works is joining PSJD in a tweet chat to answer all your questions about CCF! Use hashtags #PSJDChat and #EJWCCF to send questions to our panelists—Nita Mazumder and Lauren Fuchs of Equal Justice Works. Come join the conversation with @EJW_org and @PSJDTweets tomorrow on October 17 at 3 p.m. EDT and get all your CCF questions answered!

Also, Equal Justice Works recently sent out this exciting press release:

Supreme Court justice Sonia Sotomayor to share her public service experiences at Equal Justice Works annual Conference and Career Fair

What:  Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor will share the public service experiences that led to her appointment to the Supreme Court of the United States at the annual Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair, Oct. 26 and 27 in Arlington, VA.  Judge David Tatel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit will join Justice Sotomayor in a conversation designed to inspire the audience of current and future public interest lawyers. 

 Appointed as the 111^th justice by President Barack Obama in 2009, Justice Sotomayor is the first Hispanic and third woman to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States. Justice Sotomayor and Judge Tatel will take questions from the audience during the session.  Please note that this event is only open to registered attendees of the Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair.

 The Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair is the largest national conference and career fair specifically designed for law students interested in public interest careers.  Attracting more than 1200 law students from nearly 200 law schools around the country, the event offers two days of interview opportunities with more than 120 public interest employers; career development and skill-building sessions; mock interviews and resume revision; and networking opportunities.

 When:             Friday, Oct. 26, 7:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. & Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 8 a.m. – 3:20 p.m.

 *Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor will speak Friday, Oct. 26 at 4:15 PM*

 Where:            Crystal Gateway Marriott – 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA 22202

For more information on the 2012 Conference & Career Fair, visit the EJW website. Tomorrow’s #PSJDChat is not to be missed if you’re attending the conference this year, so come prepared to ask any questions you’ve had about anything career fair related. See you tomorrow!

Everyone knows that applying for jobs can be an incredibly competitive process. Your resume is often the first impression employers have of your skills and experience, and starting off on the wrong foot can quickly diminish your chances of landing a desired position.

In the CNN Money article “10 Reasons Your Resume Isn’t Getting You Interviews,” career blogger Alison Green offers up several common resume blunders that could stop you from getting that call-back you’ve been waiting for. Of Green’s list, here are PSJD’s top 3 that apply to law students on the public interest job hunt:

1. It Just Lists Duties and Responsibilities, Not Accomplishments. Generally speaking, law students do a lot of the same things at their respective jobs and internships (memos, legal research, etc.). However, potential employers may be more impressed by facts, figures or special awards related to your legal work. For instance, did you help the organization start any new projects? Have you ever been recognized for your service to a particular community or client population? Make yourself stand out by noting awards and accomplishments for the work you’ve done!

2. It wastes space on things that are irrelevant, like descriptions of your employer’s business. Public interest legal organizations do amazing work, and it’s tempting to add their mission to your resume. However, Green points out that this information is more suited for the job interview than your resume. Use this space to describe your role and how you contributed to the organization.

3. It includes everything you’ve ever done, rather than just the highlights. In the article, Green states that the initial scan of your resume takes employers only 20 seconds. Law students are pretty accomplished individuals, but you only want employers to know about the best of the best of your accomplishments. Keep your resume short, focused and concise to convey your most important highlights.

Click here to read the rest of the article for more tips. Once you’ve landed an interview, check out PSJD’s Interviewing Tips for Postgraduate Public Interest Jobs for tips and best practices gathered by PSJD from nonprofit and government legal employers. For guidance on following up, Harvard Law School’s Office of Public Interest Advising (OPIA) offers extensive tips and best practices on public interest job interviewing in their Job Interview & Follow-Up Guide.

Happy job hunting!

Editor’s note: our “Expert Opinion” series offers thoughts, insights, and career advice from public interest lawyers, law students, and others who work for the public good.  This week’s Expert is Michele Storms, Assistant Dean for Public Service & executive director of the W.H. Gates Public Service Law Program at the University of Washington School of Law.  On to the interview with Michele…

Michele Storms

Can you give us a brief outline of how you got to the job you are in today?

I went to law school because I wanted to be a civil legal aid lawyer and I was really fortunate that I…actually had a legal aid job by the time I graduated.  At my first position I represented domestic violence survivors in protection order and family law cases.  I would have happily done a legal aid practice for my whole career but about six years into my first job I learned of an opportunity to be a clinical teacher at a law school.  Being in clinic during law school was the best part of school and I thought being a clinical law teacher would be amazing.  I was lucky to be hired at the University of Washington School of Law and spent the next 8 years teaching clinics, family law and child advocacy.  As much as I loved doing the clinical work, legal aid was still my passion and when an opportunity arose to return to legal aid on the management side I went for it and then spent the next four years as a statewide advocacy coordinator back at legal aid.  I worked on statewide training events, helped to facilitate several substantive area task forces, mentored and supervised advocates and did a lot of community outreach around access to justice issues.   Now I am back at the University of Washington School of Law – I first returned to direct the Gates Scholarship Program and the job has now evolved into being the Assistant Dean for Public Service.

Was this position what you originally planned on doing, or was your career trajectory part of an evolving process?  

I never imagined I would one day be an assistant dean at a law school!  Getting to where I am today has definitely been an evolution.   What I learned from my first few positions was that I loved public interest law but I also loved working with students.  I’m really fortunate that I am able to combine these two loves.  Although I no longer work directly with clients on legal cases, I am helping many students achieve their public interest dreams by providing career coaching, access to programming, speakers, mentors, funding and more.

How did your contacts with previous employers, professors, and colleagues influence your job search, if any?  

I’ve had some great mentors over time.  I’ve been lucky to have people who were honest with me about my skills and talents and areas for growth and this has helped me figure out which opportunities are best for me.  I’ve also always gotten involved in a lot of committees and community work over the years and I’ve met so many amazing people.  Learning about what other people do and how they’ve achieved their positions has also been educational for me.  I’m thrilled with what I am doing now but who knows what else I might do in my career!  I like to keep an open mind and heart.

Would you change your preparation for this position in any way if you had the chance? 

Every position I had —whether paying job or volunteer opportunity — taught me things that I would need for the next position.  I didn’t always know which position would come next but I dug into every opportunity with gusto and gave it all my best.  So I probably would not change anything!

A very real concern for many law students hesitant to pursue public interest jobs is how to pay off student loans. How have you utilized repayment plans or other programs to balance paying student debt, if any, with living expenses?   

Fortunately during my first year of law school at Gonzaga University School of Law I applied for and was selected to be a Thomas More Scholar.  The Thomas More Program paid my tuition for my 2 and 3L years so I only took out a small number of loans.  I lived very frugally during law school which paid off in the end.  When I started my first civil legal aid job at Evergreen Legal Services they had a loan repayment program which I was able to participate in for the first few years of my practice.   Even though my salary was low, I paid as much as I could in addition to the payments made by my employer so it helped me to get my loans paid off relatively quickly.   Law school costs a lot more now than it did when I went to law school.  So when students are considering law school I always encourage them to apply to schools that have public service scholarships and to apply for the programs – don’t think you don’t have a chance.  You have to go for it.  And then, regardless of whether you get into a scholarship program, take as few loans as you possibly can.

What advice would you offer to law students seeking a position in the public interest arena?

If you really have a passion for public interest work then there is a way to make it happen, you should never give up but you do have to be patient and strategic.  I really wanted to do civil legal aid and those jobs don’t come open very often – but they do come.  If you can be flexible about where you start your practice you’ll increase your chances of getting to do the kind of work you care about so being willing to move someplace new is a plus.   The first job I applied for was in a small rural community I had never visited before.  I would have gone anywhere to do this work!   I wasn’t hired for that position but I think my willingness to interview for what some considered a less desirable position opened other doors for me.  Volunteering is also a great way to get your foot in the door.  Don’t be afraid to reach out to people who have the kind of job you want.  Shadow them, seek them out as mentors and offer to help out however you can.  I see this technique working for recent grads over and over again.  The need for public interest lawyers is huge even though the resources are limited.  There are so many people who need representation and so many causes that need champions.  So most importantly, never give up!

by Ashley Matthews

Did you miss today’s #PSJDChat? Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered! Click here to read the recap!

If you’re attending the Equal Justice Works Conference & Career Fair, next week’s #PSJDChat is not to be missed! Here’s a message from our friends at EJW:

Are you attending the Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair (CCF) October 26-27? Do you have questions that haven’t been answered yet? Equal Justice Works is joining PSJD in a tweet chat to answer all your questions about CCF! Use hashtags #PSJDChat and #EJWCCF to send questions to our panelists—Nita Mazumder and Lauren Fuchs of Equal Justice Works. Come join the conversation with @EJW_org and @PSJDTweets on October 17 at 3 p.m. EDT and get all your CCF questions answered!

See you at next week’s #PSJDChat!

Make a public interest impact in the international arena, and use PSJD’s resources to learn about opportunities around the globe!

For advice on how to start an international development career, the Guide on International Development: Public Service Careers and Opportunities is a good place to begin research. This guide provides real-world accounts on working in the international field, and you can search for employers through a comprehensive directory of international organizations.

If you’re interesting in working with the United Nations, there are great tips in PSJD’s Jobs with the UN & International Organizations: A Brief Guide. Created for NALP/PSJD by the New York University Public Interest Law Center, this guide offers advice on how to pursue a broad array of legal careers on the international stage. Also, you can view a webinar on Landing a Job at the United Nations, presented by Akua Akea, the Director of Public Interest Advising at Yale Law, and Sara Rakita, Associate Director of NYU Law School’s Public Interest Law Center.

Last, but certainly not least, you have to figure out a way to fund your work abroad! For help with financing an international public interest position, check out the “Finding and Funding International Public Interest Opportunities” page. This guide proves useful background info and recommendations for students and attorneys embarking on international public interest careers.

by Ashley Matthews

During last week’s #PSJDChat, we talked about ways to create a cover letter that stands out from the crowd while looking for public interest law jobs. Joined by Brenda Bernstein of The Essay Expert and representatives from Loyola Law School and North Carolina Central University School of Law, the chat was an informative discussion that focused on methods of maintaining brevity while highlighting important aspects of your resume. Click here to read the full recap! This week’s #PSJDChat will focus on drafting a public interest law resume. Tweet your questions to @PSJDTweets with the #PSJDChat hashtag on Wednesday, 10/10/2012, to join the conversation!

Also, don’t forget to mark your calendars for our special edition Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair chat next week at 3 pm EDT! Here’s a message from our chat buddies at EJW:

Are you attending the Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair (CCF) October 26-27? Do you have questions that haven’t been answered yet? Equal Justice Works is joining PSJD in a tweet chat to answer all your questions about CCF! Use hashtags #PSJDChat and #EJWCCF to send questions to our panelists—Nita Mazumder and Lauren Fuchs of Equal Justice Works. Come join the conversation with @EJW_org and @PSJDTweets on October 17 at 3 p.m. EDT and get all your CCF questions answered!

See you at the next #PSJDChat, this Wednesday at 3pm EDT!

Below are some of the best opportunities posted on PSJD.org this week. Today’s weekly jobs round-up includes academic, criminal, electoral/voting rights, employment, environmental, family law/domestic violence, health, human rights, immigration, LGBT rights, and reproductive rights positions. The deadlines are next to the job, internship, or fellowship title. To view more, visit PSJD.org and search our database! Log-in is required to view the listings posted below.

ACADEMIC

Rutgers School of Law – Postgraduate Fellow, Special Education Clinic, 10/31/2012

UC Berkeley – Executive Director, Human Rights Center, 10/12/2012

University of District of Columbia, David Clarke School of Law – Director, Low Income Taxpayers Clinic, 10/31/2012

CRIMINAL LAW

ACLU NY – Summer 2013 Legal Internship, Criminal Law Reform Project, 12/15/2012

Michigan State Appellate Defender Office – DNA Project Attorney, 10/26/2012

Vera Institute of Justice – Entry Level Staff Attorney, Rolling

ELECTORAL/VOTING RIGHTS

ACLU NY – Staff Attorney, Voting Rights Project, Rolling

EMPLOYMENT LAW

AFL-CIO – Fellowship Program, Rolling

ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

EarthJustice San Francisco – Associate Attorney, Rolling

Earthjustice San Francisco – Foreign Environmental Attorney, Rolling

Environmental Defense Fund – Director, Mississippi River Delta Project, Rolling

FAMILY LAW/DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Break the Cycle DC – Staff Attorney, 10/30/2012

D.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence – Spring 2013 Policy Law Clerk, 11/01/2012

Lawyers for Children, Inc. – Attorney for Children, Rolling

Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services – Family Law Lead Attorney, 10/13/2012

HEALTH

American Diabetes Association – PT Legal Advocate, Rolling

Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program – Staff Attorney, TX Medical-Legal Partnership, 10/05/2012

North Carolina General Assembly – Medicaid/Mental Health Staff Attorney, 10/23/2012

Urban Justice Center – 2013 Summer Law Internship, Mental Health Project, Rolling

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services – Attorney, Office of General Counsel, 11/01/2012

HUMAN RIGHTS

American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative – Human Rights & Gender Specialist (Jordan), 07/01/2013

Iran Human Rights Documentation Center – Human Rights Lawyer, Rolling

Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict – Partnerships and Global Advocacy Intern, 10/05/2012

IMMIGRATION

ACLU California – Staff Attorney, Immigrant Rights Project, Rolling

Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project – 2013 Summer Internships, Rolling

U.S. Department of Justice – Legal Internship, Office of Immigration Litigation, Rolling

LAW RELATED POSITIONS

New York Attorney General – Economic Research Analyst, Rolling

Rockefeller Family Fund – Program Officer, Rolling

LGBT RIGHTS

ACLU NY – Spring 2013 Legal Internship, LGBT & AIDS Project, 12/01/2012

WOMEN/REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

Center for Reproductive Rights – 2013 Global Legal Program Summer Internship, 11/26/2012

Center for Reproductive Rights – Mid-to-Senior Level Staff Attorney, 10/31/2012

It pays to be smart about student loan debt, especially for public interest advocates! Take a look at this message from our friends at Equal Justice Works:

Educational debt has become a crippling burden for far too many, and especially for those who want to pursue careers in public service. Equal Justice Works provides in depth information on loan repayment assistance programs and relief programs like Income-Based Repayment and Public Service Loan Forgiveness to help everyone pursue the career of their dreams.

As part of this continuing work, we’ve created a free manual that details how these programs work and covers the basics of student loans and repayment options. Click here to download your free copy.

This month in our U.S. News blog, the Student Loan Ranger, the topics we covered included the striking rise in six-figure student loan debt,  the impact of student loan debt on the middle class and Pell Grants might fare under Obama and Romney.

Every month, our free, live webinars also provide a comprehensive overview of the debt relief options available for students and graduates – including Public Service Loan Forgiveness and Income-Based Repayment – and provide viewers with the opportunity to ask questions. Click here to view a schedule of our webinars and to register for an upcoming session.

Our current sessions include:

Drowning in Debt? Learn How Government and Nonprofit Workers Can Earn Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Thursday, October 11, 3-4 p.m. EDT

A must attend for anyone with educational debt planning to work or currently working for the government or a nonprofit, this webinar explains how you can benefit from the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, the most significant law affecting public service in a generation.

This webinar will teach you how to:

• Understand your federal loans
• Manage your monthly payments using income-driven repayment plans like Income-Based Repayment plan
• How to qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Plan Before You Borrow: What You Should Know About Educational Loans BEFORE You Go to Graduate School

Wednesday, October 24, 3-4 p.m. EDT

Interested in government or public interest work after graduating? This webinar will help you plan ahead and make sure you can take full advantage of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, the most significant law affecting public service in a generation.

The webinar will teach you about:

• Taking out the right kind of loans
• Consolidating or reconsolidating your previous student loans
• How the College Cost Reduction and Access Act can free you to pursue a public interest career

Scouring the internet for current job openings isn’t the only way to find great opportunities. Check out PSJD’s Public Interest Career Fair Calendar to look for upcoming networking events that will put you face to face with potential employers!