Programs, Workshops, and Speakers—Winter 2009
The Office of Career Services offers a variety of workshops throughout the academic year designed to help our students explore their career options, translate individual legal interests into professional paths, and analyze the latest market trends. The Office of Public Service offers additional programming on public service topics.
Listed below are the workshops scheduled for the 2009 Winter Term, arranged chronologically. We also have archived workshops from previous semesters.
Students are encouraged to complete our Workshop Evaluation Form to give us feedback on our programming.
January 15, 2009
Listen* (WMA file: Kerberos authentication required) to OCS staff provide interview tips to LL.M. students in advance of the LL.M. Job Fair.
January 16, 2009
Hear* (WMA file: Kerberos authentication required) OCS staff present an overview of the Winter OCI program. Bidding instructions, interviewing procedures, and deadlines will be discussed.
January 21, 2009
Why clerk? What is the difference between clerking for an appellate judge and a trial judge? What is a bankruptcy clerkship like? Is it worth clerking if I don’t want to litigate? Can I obtain a clerkship if I’m not on Law Review? What is the value of a state court clerkship? What do magistrate judges do and what are those clerkships like?
Hear* (WMA file: Kerberos authentication required) the real scoop from a distinguished panel of Michigan Law alumni who discuss their clerkships and why you should apply for one of the best jobs in law.
January 22, 2009
Listen* (WMA file: Kerberos authentication required) to Jim Jones, Managing Director of Hildebrandt, Chairman of The Hildebrandt Institute, and former Managing Partner of Arnold & Porter, discuss the business of law and how the latest market conditions will impact the legal profession.
View the program's PowerPoint presentation.
February 3, 2009
This is an opportunity for first-year students to meet some of the employers who traditionally interview during Early Interview Week. Students planning to attend should email lawcareers@umich.edu to RSVP no later than Friday, January 23, at 5:00pm.
February 4, 2009
State court clerkships are found at both trial and appellate levels and deal with a wide range of subjects: everything from contract and tort disputes to divorce, custody, and probate issues. Often overlooked by students in the clerkship hunt, most legal disputes in the U.S. are handled in state courts, and these clerkships provide excellent educational and mentoring experiences.
Listen* (WMA file: Kerberos authentication required) to a panel of UMLS alumni describe their experiences clerking for judges in state trial, appellate, and specialty courts.
February 4, 2009
Hear* (WMA file: Kerberos authentication required) Ed Pappas, the Michigan State Bar President, Scott Seabolt of Foley Lardner, and Saura Sahu of Miller Canfield discuss the advantages of practicing in various legal markets in Michigan.
February 5, 2009
Carol Kanarek, '79, spoke to second-year students who will be working in New York City this summer. Her experience includes work as a corporate associate at a large Manhattan law firm and as the director of career services at a law school in New York. In addition to a J.D., she also has an M.S.W. from NYU. For the past 20 years, she has worked as a career coach for lawyers at many large law firms, so she is well aware of the skills and work habits that are both positively and negatively correlated with success in the legal profession.
February 18, 2009
Listen* (WMA file: Kerberos authentication required) to a panel of current 3Ls tell how they selected judges, how they built their applications, how to work with faculty recommenders, and other tips from last clerkship season.
March 4, 2009
This is an opportunity for first-year students to meet some of the employers who traditionally interview during Early Interview Week.
March 10, 2009
Hear* (WMA file: Kerberos authentication required) OPS and OCS discuss how to broaden your job search. Lunch will be served.
March 11, 2009
Listen* (WMA file: Kerberos authentication required) to Professor Joan Larsen, faculty clerkship advisor, and Beth Wickwire, OCS clerkship advisor, discuss the Federal Hiring Plan, outline the procedures for preparing application materials, and answer questions.
Monday, March 16, 2009, at 12:20pm in 220 Hutchins Hall
Hear* (WMA file: Kerberos authentication required) Frank Kimball, '77, a renowned consultant on the Chicago legal market, provide information useful to students interested in interviewing with employers in Chicago during Early Interview Week and the Fall Interview Program. View the market handouts (PDF document).
March 17, 2009
Listen* (WMA file: Kerberos authentication required) to Carol Kanarek, '79, a renowned consultant on the New York city legal market, will provide information useful to students interested in interviewing with employers based in NYC during Early Interview Week and the Fall Interview Program.
March 18, 2009
Carol Kanarek, '79, gave advice on how to succeed in your summer employment in the law firm environment.
March 19, 2009
Hear* (WMA file: Kerberos authentication required) OCS Assistant Dean Susan Guindi discuss policies, procedures, and deadlines for Early Interview Week 2009. View the program handout (PDF document).
The D.C. Legal Market
March 23, 2009
Listen* (WMA file: Kerberos authentication required) to Dan Binstock, a renowned consultant on the D.C. legal market, provide information useful to students interested in interviewing with employers based in D.C. during Early Interview Week and the Fall Interview Program. View the market handouts (PDF document).
March 25, 2009
Hear* (WMA file: Kerberos authentication required) OCS staff give a demonstration of our Judicial Database and the OSCAR Application System, including how to research and create judge lists for mail-merge application letters and request faculty recommendation letters, as well as building online applications through the federal OSCAR system.
March 25, 2009
Listen* (WMA file: Kerberos authentication required) to Jon Escher, a renowned consultant on the Bay Area legal market, provide information useful to students interested in interviewing with employers based in the Bay Area during Early Interview Week and the Fall Interview Program.
March 30, 2009
Hear* (WMA file: Kerberos authentication required) Judge George Steeh, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, speak to students interested in judicial clerkships.
March 31, 2009
Listen* (WMA file: Kerberos authenication required) to Rick Kolodny, '81, a renowned consultant on the southern California legal market, provide information useful to students interested in interviewing with employers based in southern California during Early Interview Week and the Fall Interview Program. View the market handouts (PDF document).
April 1, 2009
Hear the Campbell Moot Court Judges talk about the judicial clerkship experience.
April 2, 2009
Jason Mendelson, '98, Managing Director of the Foundry Group, will give a presentation on careers in venture capital and venture capital law.
April 6, 2009
Listen* (WMA file: Kerberos authentication required) to Nancy Newman, a renowned consultant on the southeast Michigan legal market, will provide information useful to students interested in interviewing with employers based in southeast Michigan during Early Interview Week and the Fall Interview Program.
April 8, 2009
Meeting for students with deferred start dates at their post-graduate employer to discuss options and alternatives.
April 13, 2009
Hear* (WMA file: Kerberos authentication required) Jenner & Block Associate Lindsay C. Harrisonl discuss her oral argument on January 21, 2009 in the US Supreme Court on behalf of Jean Marc Nken, a citizen of Cameroon whom the Firm is representing on a pro bono basis in his efforts to obtain asylum in the United States. Sponsored by OCS/WLSA/SNARL/OPS.
April 16, 2009
This is a student-led roundtable talk with 3Ls who applied for clerkships last season. 2Ls: bring your questions about application strategies, how to make a list of judges, choosing a writing sample, interview and acceptance protocol, etc.
April 17, 2009
This meeting is for students who are summer starters who will be graduating in December 2009 who plan to apply for post-graduate judicial clerkship, regarding their applications.
April 20, 2009
Listen* (WMA file: Kerberos authentication required) to Melainie Mansfield, '95, a partner with Millbank Tweed in L.A., provide interviewing tips to help students have a successful recruiting season this Fall.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009, at 12:20pm in 218 Hutchins Hall
Hear* (WMA file: Kerberos authentication required) a panel of experts, including former judicial law clerks and professors who have clerked, discuss the "dos and don'ts" of judicial clerkships and internships. Panelists will share tips on how to have a successful clerkship, what pitfalls to avoid, and how to make the most of this unique and prestigious experience. Who should attend? 3Ls with clerkships, 2Ls applying for clerkships, and 1Ls who want to learn about clerkships, or who have summer internships with judges.
April 21, 2009
A panel of upper-class students who will work in Texas this summer and post-grad discuss why other students should also explore opportunities in the great state of Texas.
*This program has been digitally recorded. Students using a PC will need Windows Media Player (many students already have it), which is available for download on the Web at: Windows Media Player for PC. Students using a Macintosh computer will need Windows Media Player for Macintosh: Windows Media Player for Macintosh.