WRITING COVER LETTERS AND RESUMES FOR PUBLIC DEFENDER JOBS
Date: Sunday, August 18, 2024
Time: 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Location: Zoom
The registration deadline for interviewing with public defender offices at the Equal Justice Works Career Fair this year is September 12th. Join us virtually to talk about how to craft your resume and cover letter when applying for public defender jobs. Typically, a resume and cover letter are the only materials that you will initially send when you apply, so you have to find ways to stand out in the pile and convey your enthusiasm for the work that defenders do. After this event, you will have the opportunity to submit your cover letters and resume for alumni review and feedback.
2LS & 3LS SUBMIT COVER LETTERS AND RESUMES FOR REVIEW
Deadline: Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Interested students who submit their application materials to MDefenders Jobs Chair, Oliver Farnum (owf@umich.edu), by Wednesday, August 21st will get feedback on their materials from alumni in defender offices around the country with enough time to incorporate feedback before the EJW deadline in September.
HOW TO HANDLE THE PUBLIC DEFENDER INTERVIEW - PART 1
Date: Thursday, August 29, 2024
Time: 11:55 a.m. - 12:55 p.m.
Location: Jeffries Hall Room 1025
Interviews for public defender jobs are different from most of the interviews you've had to date. They tend to involve more probing questions that stray beyond your resume. Employers want to know how committed you are to public defense, whether you care about and will relate well to your clients, whether you have the ability to stand up and fight in a system that is stacked against you, and whether you will last in the job. They also want to test your intelligence, public-speaking skills, and figure out whether you will fit with the culture of their office. In short, the questions will often be deeper than the typical get-to-know-you interview. In the first part of this two-part event, we will discuss what factors interviewers are considering and how to craft your answer to the inevitable question - why do you want to be a public defender? So grab a lunch and join us to learn how to tackle these interview questions.
PUBLIC DEFENDER TRAINING INSTITUTE RETREAT
Date: August 31 - September 2, 2024
Location: Jeffries Hall Rooms 1020 & 1025
The Public Defender Training Institute begins with a three-day, intensive Retreat over Labor Day weekend. Participants will discuss the role of the public defender, ethics and professional responsibility, client interviewing, storytelling, and more. We will engage in in-depth conversations on secondary trauma and sustaining well-being in public defense, as well as the problems of white saviorism and how to be an anti-racist defender both inside and outside the courtroom. Simulations and mock hearings allow students to practice advocacy skills and receive feedback in real time. If you would like to audit part or all of the retreat, please email Professor Primus (ebrensik@umich.edu).
HOW TO HANDLE THE PUBLIC DEFENDER INTERVIEW - PART 2 - SIMULATIONS & HYPOTHETICALS
Date: Thursday, September 5, 2024
Time: 11:55 am – 12:55 pm
Location: Jeffries Hall Room 1025
In the second part of this two-part event, we will address simulations and hypotheticals. Many public defense employers will pose ethical hypotheticals during the initial interview or they will put you in simulated trial or client-counseling sessions to see how you react. Hypotheticals and simulations can be scary if you are not prepared for them. So grab a lunch and come learn how to handle these kinds of questions and exercises so you can put your best foot forward during public defender interviews.
MDEFENDERS SEPTEMBER MONTHLY MEETING
Date: Friday, September 6, 2024
Time: 11:55 a.m. - 12:55 p.m.
Location: Hutchins Hall Room 120
Each month the MDefenders group comes together to talk and learn about subjects particular to public defenders. Our September meeting is entitled “The Things that Happened in Your Summer Internships in Public Defender Offices: What Surprised You, Terrified You, and Inspired You?" 2L and 3L members will share experiences from their summer internships, and we will process them together. (You do not need to have spent time in a public defender office to attend this meeting. We encourage 1Ls who are public-defender curious to come and learn a bit more about what it is like to work in a public defense office.) Lunch from Jerusalem Garden will be served!
MENTORSHIP PROGRAM: APPLICATIONS OPEN TO MENTORS
Date: Friday, September 6, 2024
Time: 9:00AM
Applications open today for MDefenders 2Ls, 3Ls, and LLMs to be mentors to 1L MDefenders members as part of our mentorship program. The Mentorship Chairs will distribute an online form via email which interested students can complete. Applications close on Friday, September 13. Pairings will be announced on Monday, September 23.
KICK-OFF EVENT: COME LEARN ABOUT PUBLIC DEFENSE AND THE MDEFENDERS ORGANIZATION
Date: Thursday, September 12, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Location: Hutchins Hall Room 250
Join MLaw students interested in criminal justice reform and public defense for a discussion with current public defenders about why they love the work that they do. Practicing attorneys from the Neighborhood Defender Service in Detroit (Cait De Mott Grady, Glen Oh, Jackie Pilcowitz, and Jonathan Roberts) and Professor Eve Primus will talk about indigent defense work as well as the MDefenders organization here at MLaw. After the panel, students will have time to enjoy food from Pilar’s Tamales while getting to know each other and the panelists socially.
DEADLINE FOR 2L & 3L MEMBERS TO SUBMIT THEIR COVER LETTER AND RESUME TO THE EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS CAREER FAIR – DO NOT MISS THIS DEADLINE!!!
Date: Thursday, September 12, 2024
The Equal Justice Works Career Fair is the largest national public interest legal career fair where over 200 public interest employers come together to interview law students for summer and full-time post-graduate positions. A number of public defense agencies from around the country recruit at this fair. (For a full list of the employers participating in 2024, click here.) If you are a 2L or 3L student interested in working for any of these employers, you don't want to miss this deadline to submit your materials.
MENTORSHIP PROGRAM: APPLICATIONS OPEN TO MENTEES
Date: Friday, September 13, 2024
Time: 9:00AM
Applications open today for 1L MDefenders members who are interested in being paired with an MDefenders mentor. The Mentorship Chairs will distribute an online form via email which interested students can complete. Applications close on Friday, September 20th. Pairings will be announced on Monday, September 23rd.
SEPTEMBER COFFEE CHAT
Date: Wednesday, September 18th
Time: 12:00-2:00PM
Location: K&E Café
Every month, MDefenders hosts informal coffee chats in the K&E Café. Stop by for a drink (on us!), to solicit advice, or simply to enjoy time with other members of the MDefenders community.
SOCIAL EVENT: WELCOME BACK HAPPY HOUR
Date: Thursday, September 19th
Time: 5:00PM
Location: Dominick’s, 812 Monroe Street
Happy hour at Dominick’s (individually funded). Come catch up with old friends or take this opportunity to make new ones. 1Ls definitely welcome to come and learn more about MDefenders!
MENTORSHIP PROGRAM: PAIRINGS ANNOUNCED
Date: Monday, September 23, 2024
Time: 12:00PM
After reviewing mentor and mentee applications, the Mentorship Chairs will release information to each mentor about the mentee they are paired with, as well as instructions to reach out and introduce themselves! Keep an eye out for our Mentorship Kickoff event on Friday, October 4.
PUBLIC DEFENDER INTERVIEWING WEEK
Date: Monday, September 23, 2024 – Friday, September 27, 2024
Because we have such a robust aspiring public defender community here at Michigan Law and because many public defense employers want to hire our students and graduates, we are hosting our own Public Defender Interview Week. Public Defender offices from near and far will come to Michigan Law this week both in person and virtually to interview 2L and 3L students for summer and permanent jobs. You will need to bid on interviews with these offices one week before each office comes in order to be considered. If you are a 2L or 3L student interested in working for any of these employers, you don't want to miss the deadline to submit your materials. Look for MDefenders emails with further details about how to register.
DIALOGUE WITH DEFENDERS (PART ONE)
Date: Tuesday, September 24, 2024
Time: 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Location: Hutchins Hall Courtyard (Rain location is HH 138)
Stop by to meet and chat with public defenders from the Michigan State Appellate Defender Office, the Federal Community Defender Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, the Ingham County Office of the Public Defender in Michigan, the Alaska Public Defender Agency, the Contra Costa Office of the Public Defender in California (as well as others who may join) who are here for Public Defender Interviewing Week. This a great opportunity for MDefenders students to get to know individuals on public defender hiring committees at these offices and also have a chance to learn more about their offices and their work.
1L REPRESENTATIVE APPLICATION OPENS
Date: Tuesday, September 24, 2024
Time: 9:00AM
1Ls interested in being involved with the MDefenders Board can apply to be a 1L Representative! Applications will be accepted until October 2nd.
PUBLIC DEFENDER CURIOUS? A PANEL DISCUSSION OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF DEFENSE WORK
Date: Thursday, September 26, 2024
Time: 11:55 a.m. - 12:55 p.m.
Location: Jeffries Hall Room 1020
The day-to-day work of a public defender can look very different depending on the type of defense service provided. Join MDefenders and a panel of guests as they discuss the differences between state and federal practice; trial, appellate, and post-conviction work; juvenile and adult work; and criminal and family defense. Pizza will be served.
DIALOGUE WITH DEFENDERS (PART TWO)
Date: Thursday, September 26, 2024
Time: 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Location: Hutchins Hall Courtyard (Rain location is HH 218)
Stop by to meet and chat with public defenders from the San Bernadino County and Los Angeles County Public Defender Offices in California, the King County Department of Public Defense in Seattle, the Bronx Defenders, the Public Defender Service in Washington, D.C. (as well as others who may join) who are here for Public Defender Interviewing Week. This a great opportunity for MDefenders students to get to know individuals on public defender hiring committees at these offices and also have a chance to learn more about their offices and their work.
1L REPRESENTATIVE APPLICATION CLOSES
Date: Tuesday, October 1, 2024
Applications for 1L Representative will close today! Decisions will be released on October 7th.
MENTORSHIP KICKOFF EVENT: MEET YOUR MENTOR/MENTEE!
Date: Friday, October 4, 2024
Time: 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Location: Center Courtyard (entrance across from HH138)
One of the key parts of the MDefenders experience is building a relationship with a mentor or mentee. Our 2Ls and 3Ls are so excited to bond with our 1L members who are exploring the world of public defense. Join us to meet your mentor or mentee in person for the first time! Delicious baked goods will be served, including dairy free and vegan options.
1L REPRESENTATIVE(S) ANNOUNCED
Date: Monday, October 7, 2024
The MDefenders Board will announce the 1L Representatives selected for the 2024-25 year!
EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS CAREER FAIR
Dates: October 9, 2024 – October 11, 2024
The Equal Justice Works Career Fair is the largest public interest legal career fair in the country, bringing together hundreds of law students, recent graduates, public interest employers, law school faculty and staff, and public interest practitioners from across the United States and its territories for prescheduled interviews, informal “table talk" discussions, and networking opportunities. This year the Career Fair will be held virtually. For more information, visit the Equal Justice Works website.
SOCIAL EVENT: BONFIRE
Date: Wednesday, October 16th, 2024
Time: 6:30PM
Location: Meghan’s house (check emails for address information)
Join your fellow MDefenders members for a bonfire and s’mores at the home of our Social Events Chair (check weekly MDefenders emails for address information).
MDEFENDERS OCTOBER MONTHLY MEETING
Date: Thursday, October 17, 2024
Time: 11:55 a.m. - 12:55 p.m.
Location: Jeffries Hall Room 1020
Each month the MDefenders group comes together to talk and learn about subjects particular to public defenders. Please join us for our October meeting where we will talk about bail and bail reform. Jerusalem Garden will be served.
OCTOBER COFFEE CHAT
Date: Monday, October 21st
Time: 11:00AM-1:00PM
Location: K&E Café
Every month, MDefenders hosts informal coffee chats in the K&E Café. Stop by for a drink (on us!), to solicit advice, or simply to enjoy time with other members of the MDefenders community.
COURSE SELECTION ADVICE FOR STUDENTS INTERESTED IN PUBLIC DEFENSE
Date: Thursday, October 24, 2024
Time: 11:55 a.m. - 12:55 p.m.
Location: Jeffries Hall Room 1020
Bring a lunch and come learn more about the different course offerings -- what classes and clinics you should take if you want to do indigent defense. 2L & 3L MDefenders will talk to you about different classes (and the different professors who teach them) so this is your chance to ask all of those questions. They will also spend some time discussing the available 1L electives for second semester.
HOW TO GET YOUR FIRST SUMMER JOB IN A PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICE
Date: Thursday, November 7, 2024
Time: 11:55 a.m. - 12:55 p.m.
Location: Jeffries Hall Room 1020
How do you figure out where to apply if you want to work in a public defender office for the summer? How many offices should you apply to? How are they different? When do you apply? And what do you submit as part of the application process? 2L & 3L MDefenders will talk to you about what different public defender summer experiences are like and explain the application process to you. So grab a lunch and come meet us to talk about getting that first public defender job.
NOVEMBER COFFEE CHAT
Date: Wednesday, November 13th
Time: 12:00-2:00PM
Location: K&E Café
Every month, MDefenders hosts informal coffee chats in the K&E Café. Stop by for a drink (on us!), to solicit advice, or simply to enjoy time with other members of the MDefenders community.