Office of Professional Development Fall 2020 November Newsletter

NOVEMBER 2020 | VOLUME 5, ISSUE 7

AVE MARIA SCHOOL OF LAW Office of Professional Development Monthly Newsletter

LAST ISSUE OF THE YEAR

Wishing great success to all on fall final exams. Enjoy the holiday season with your loved ones!

IN

THIS

ISSUE

OPD Student Center Stage & Employer Spotlight - Page 2 Pro Bono Opportunities - Page 3 Upcoming Events - Page 4 As We Head Into Winter Break, Check Your Timeline! - Pages 5 to 7 Outcome of The Month - Page 8 Tips From The OPD - Page 9 Open Office Hours & Connect With Us - Page 10

PAGE 1

OPD

STUDENT

CENTER

STAGE

&

EMPLOYER

SPOTLIGHT

Employer: Hepworth Law - "promoting faith, family, and freedom" https://www.austinhepworthlaw.com/ Esther Derosena, Class of 2021

"Working with OPD, I was able to obtain an externship with Believe Inc. which is a non-profit organization providing legal assistance to individuals so that they may handle certain legal matters on their own. I worked to provide HIPAA guidelines for alternative health care providers and employers. I was so impressed by the work of the organizations founder Austin Hepworth, an Ave alumnus, that I continue to work with Believe and plan to continue to do so after graduation."

Timothy Noonan, Class of 2022

"The Office of Professional Development has certainly taken an individualized approach to help me meet my early career goals. The time and effort they put in reviewing my resume, editing my writing samples, and facilitating mock interviews was instrumental in securing my first legal externship. Furthermore, the Office has continued to offer all the same services virtually, allowing me to develop my career during the pandemic.

This summer, the Office connected me with Austin Hepworth, who served as my supervisor for the “Believe in Health” externship. As a “Believer,” I worked with a fantastic group of Ave Law students on projects related to Austin’s nonprofit organization. This position offered the opportunity not only to gain substantive knowledge and practical legal skills, but also to learn how to advance my legal career while working for the good of society. Thanks to this externship and the help of the Office, I feel more prepared to enter my future practice as a competent and ethical attorney."

Paula Hughes, Class of 2021

"This externship gave me an abundant amount of practical legal experience. There are so many gaps in law school and the externship site was able to fill in some of those gaps with anecdotal advice and real-life experience. Our Site Supervisor showed us how to use our law degree to assist those in need and how doing so can lead to a fulfilling and purposeful career. I am pleased with the level of communication and the accessibility with both Professor Ross and Dean Lucas-Ross. The externship classes provided practical guidance in legal careers and building character."

Natalie Rodriguez, Class of 2021

"Working for Believe in Health was an enriching law school experience. I feel like as law students, we are continually reading and learning about what to do and what laws apply when bad things happen. However, as an intern at Believe in Health, I got to see the other side of the law about preventing our clients from being in trouble and guiding them on pursuing their goals. It made me see all the good we can do as attorneys and how, with our knowledge, we can help small businesses flourish. A lot of what made this learning experience possible was the support of the office of professional development. They held classes where we could learn how to approach different workplace issues. An was always available for a quick phone call to answer any questions I had. I also feel like they pushed me to work in an area of law I hadn't considered before. I never thought that I would find FTC and FDA regulations to be so interesting. Finally, to my fellow students, I implore you to take advantage of the opportunities remote working has given us. I would never have worked for an organization in Utah if it wasn't because we had gone remote.

When one door closes, another door opens, and I am grateful for the opportunity to work for Believe in health."

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PRO BONO OPPORTUNITIES Get Involved ~ Make a Difference ~ Serve Your Community Current & Future Projects

Collier County Citizen’s Foster Care Review Board

Florida Rural Legal Services Migrant Farmer’s Advice Line

Law Office of Royce Hood Pro Bono Legal Research Project

Southern Legal Counsel Driver’s License Suspension Project

Teen Court Mentoring Program

Check your email & Log onto Symplicity for more details.

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UPCOMING UPCOMING OPD OPD EVENTS EVENTS

Nov. 2, 4, 5: Virtual Fall Mock Interviews @ 6:00 p.m.

Nov. 6: “Hot Coffee & Hot Topics”—Professional Development Virtual Coffee Breaks @ 12:30 p.m.: On Campus Recruitment

RSVP HERE

Nov. 18: Florida Bar Application Workshop; 1L Track @ 12:30 p.m.

Nov. 19: Ted Talks Viewing Session - How to Speak so that People Will Want to Listen @ 12:30 p.m.

Simply open your smart phone camera

and focus it on the QR code!

Then, RSVP for the events you plan to

attend.

PAGE 4

CHECK YOUR

3Ls

TIMELINE November: Planning to graduate this December? Remember to schedule your exit interview with OPD (Dean Lucas Ross or Amy Howarth).

February Florida Bar Exam takers must register by November 15th! Remember to convert your student application!

You should become a student member of one or more bar associations and start attending networking events. Joining bar associations provides you with access and opportunity to events, directories and newsletters that can lead to valuable potential employment contacts.

Prepare for job interviews by signing up for a mock interview on Symplicity and reviewing the OPD Interviewing Guide.

Review and respond to job postings on Symplicity, ICB Job Bank and Internships USA. Do not forget about local and personal connections to help you identify potential opportunities.

Have you confirmed a spring position for which you will be seeking academic credit or work study funds? Make an appointment with the OPD to register for an Externship or Work Study Internship.

December: Make sure to get cover letters and resumes out during Winter break and follow-up with a call to schedule an interview. See the Office of Professional Development Out of Town Job Search guide as well as the Job Search During Covid-19 guide.

Network with your friends, family, business associates or other personal contacts to learn more about your local legal job market.

Meet with out of area employers and legal contacts during Winter break.

Set up informational interviews with potential employers of interest.

Reach out to practitioner contacts/mentors made during law school.

PAGE 5

CHECK YOUR

2Ls

TIMELINE November: Prepare for job interviews by signing up for a mock interview on Symplicity and reviewing the OPD Interviewing Guide.

Review and respond to job postings on Symplicity, ICB Job Bank and Internships USA. Do not forget about local and personal connections to help you identify potential opportunities.

Have you confirmed a spring position for which you will be seeking academic credit or work study funds? Make an appointment with the OPD to register for an Externship or Work Study Internship.

Ask the Office of Professional Development about the Blackstone Legal Summer Fellowship.

Don't forget to investigate federal government internship opportunities. The deadlines are early!

December: Make sure to get cover letters and resumes out during Winter break and followup with a call to schedule an interview. See the Office of Professional Development Out of Town Job Search guide as well as the Job Search During Covid-19 guide.

Research summer internship opportunities with public interest or state government agencies in your preferred geographic area. IMPORTANT: If you are applying to large firms or federal government employers, many of their application deadlines are in December/January.

If you are interested in a post-graduate judicial clerkship, follow up with the Office of Professional Development to discuss application process and OSCAR database.

PAGE 6

CHECK YOUR

TIMELINE

1Ls

November: Attend initial 1L career advising meeting.

Attend mock interview to prepare for upcoming summer interviews.

Attend Florida Bar Application Workshop if registered for CLI Track.

Make contact with your 1L Mentor and don't forget to mark the date for the Mentor Reception in January!

Speak with the Office of Professional Development regarding the Blackstone Legal Summer Fellowship.

Go online to review a copy of the Government Honors and Internship Handbook to investigate federal government internship opportunities. The deadlines are early!

Learn more about Professional Development by attending the Friday afternoon “Hot Coffee & Hot Topics”—Professional Development Virtual Coffee Breaks.

December: Interested in learning some 'life-like' law firm tasks to better understand what private practice is like while also developing your employability? Log into the FREE White & Case Virtual Law Firm Experience Program.

Update your LinkedIn profile! For more information on how to use social media as a tool in your professional development, review the Social Media Guide.

Summer starters must file the Florida Board of Bar Examiners Student Registration application by December 15th if pursuing the CLI track.

Begin reviewing and responding to job postings on Symplicity, ICB Job Bank and Internships USA. In addition, use local and personal connections to identify potential opportunities.

Make sure to get cover letters and resumes out during Winter break and followup with a call to schedule an interview. See the Office of Professional Development Out of Town Job Search guide as well as the Job Search During Covid-19 guide.

Research summer internship opportunities with public interest or state government agencies in your preferred geographic area. IMPORTANT: If you are applying to large firms or federal government employers, many of their application deadlines are in December / January.

PAGE 7

P P R O F E S S O N A L D E V E L O P M E N T O U T C O M E PR RO OF FE ES SS SIIIO ON NA AL L D DE EV VE EL LO OP PM ME EN NT T O OU UT TC CO OM ME E

OF THE MONTH

Recognize the professional competencies required of first

year attorneys and develop a plan to reach acceptable

proficiency level in these competencies by graduation.

Consider pursuing the Dean’s Professionalism Award! This prestigious award recognizes students who exemplify the three pillars

of professionalism:

I. Law School Leadership

II. Professional Identity Formation

III. Public Service Commitment

Students who earn the Dean’s Award will receive the following:

- Public recognition during the annual end-of-year celebration

- A suitable-for-framing certificate

- The opportunity to indicate this designation on their resumes as a Law School Honor

- A graduation cord signifying your successful completion of the Dean’s Professionalism Program

Do not hesitate to contact the OPD with any questions regarding the Dean's Professionalism Award and be sure to check out the

modules on Canvas!

PAGE 8

TIPS & TAKEAWAYS FROM OPD HOT COFFEE & HOT TOPICS

PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION

Join us on Friday afternoons to learn more tips, engage with the OPD and other students, and share your thoughts/ideas!

Verbal: Use a strong, confident voice Intentionally listen (trust yourself and don't interrupt)

Nonverbal: Be

cognizant

of

your

facial

expressions,

body

language, and ques of others

INTERVIEWING ON ZOOM Written: Be clear and concise with your emails and business correspondence - always review your communication!

Familiarize yourself with the software program the interview will be held on (Zoom, MS Teams)

Visual: Be confident and comfortable in your appearance

Avoid white shirts/blouses - they tend to wash you out

Ensure you are presented neatly

Choose minimalist jewelry

Make eye contact with the camera, not your screen off to the right!

Keep notecards with rehearsed answers handy -

they might help jog your memory

Ask the interviewer for timelines, thank them for their time, and send follow-up

Question Answered:

notes after the interview

What is the best way to follow-up on an unanswered email?

First, be sure you have given adequate time to respond.

Then, follow up with a gentle/kind reminder that you are waiting for a response to the prior email and give a date of when you must hear back by. Setting a clear deadline will help you and the recipient keep track.

PAGE 9

Drop by to ask

questions, learn

about opportunities,

and make sure you

are on track!

Stay up to date on all OPD related events and opportunities!

@OPD_AveMariaLaw

@Ave-MariaOPD

@avemariaopd

Thank you to our student ambassador, Chelsea Lach, for creating this month's newsletter!

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