Pitt Law Works: Volume 4 Issue 4 - September 19, 2008
FEATURED ALUM: Lauren (Alder) Reid ('04)
Current job: U.S Sentencing Commission; formerly a Presidential Management Fellow with the DOJ.
How did you break into government? I told the law school I was interested in the program and a CSO counselor nominated me for consideration. A few months later, the Office of Personnel Management informed me that I had been selected as a semi-finalist and that I was to report for an assessment day. Next, I received notice that I had been selected as a finalist. The PMF Job Fair was in April and I traveled to Washington, DC to interview with many different agencies. I then had to sort through offers and determine the course of action that would best set the path to reaching my goals. The choice was pretty obvious for me and I accepted a position with the Department of Justice.
Biggest work challenge: The learning curve was steep in the beginning. The Federal government is full of proverbial red tape and understanding protocol is vital to success.
Away from work I: I am a Junior League member and participate in volunteer work through that organization. I also enjoy taking my dog, Litty to the dog park, reading, writing, and going out with friends.
If I won the lottery: I am a lawyer, so I have to say..."It depends." It very much depends on how much I won. My father and I always said if we won a certain amount, which I will not disclose, we would give half away to charity before spending anything. I would stick to that, first and foremost. Second, I would invest half of what was left in an aggressive money market account. After that, I would pay my law school loans, buy my parents their dream house, buy my fiancée a new car, go on a fantastic vacation, and buy a new wardrobe.
What's the biggest mistake new graduates make while job hunting? I think new graduates tend to be far too focused on big firms. They are a great choice for some and have a lot to offer, but there are many other options that might suit some people better than "big firm life." That being said, I think it is important not to focus on any one career path unless you are certain it is your true passion. Take every interview you are offered - each interview is practice and may end up leading you to your passion. One last note - don't turn your back on public interest/government work. It is incredibly rewarding!
What's something law schools should teach, but currently do not? Law schools should teach students more about the actual practice of law. Pitt Law is definitely leading the way through implementation and expansion of the Civil Litigation Certificate Program and I am proud of my alma mater for that! It is important to know more than what a complaint or a contract does. Students need to learn how to create documents that will stand in court. I also think law school exams should include some multiple choice questions similar to the Multistate Bar Exam to help prepare students for that hurdle.
If you could do anything over again, what would you do differently? I do not believe in regrets. Every experience I have had and every choice I have made have led me to where I am today; I am completely happy.
How do you like working in the Washington, D.C. area? I love it here! It is amazing to live in our Nation's Capital - I can go to the Supreme Court and hear cases almost any day they are in session and to Congress to watch floor debates. In addition, I am still in awe when I drive by our national monuments. This city is just young, determined and alive!
IN BRIEF: BEYOND OCI
This is the time of the year when many students doubt themselves: some students did not get the number of OCI interviews, call backs or offers they expected; others watch their peers head off to OCI interviews and feel left out. Regardless of whether you really wanted to work for a large firm, or had no desire to do so, now is the time to be proactive; focus/refocus your job search and develop an action plan. First, conduct research to uncover whether a particular sector/practice area is the right fit. Below is a model "to do" list to help you get started.
1. Small and Mid-Size Law Firms. For the majority of small to mid-sized firms, there is no "set" hiring period. These firms hire when the need arises. This means that you may need to make contact in the fall, winter and spring.
- Do your homework and know the firm's practice before you conduct outreach. The small/mid-size law firm directory (http://www.law.pitt.edu/career/directory/directory.php), Martindale Hubbell and print resources in the CSO are great places to start.
- Conduct informational interviews with attorneys practicing in areas of interest. While this may seem awkward at first, it gets easier with every attempt. Contact law school and undergrad alums to start the process. Although the firms you contact may not be hiring now, if their needs change in the future you will have a better chance of obtaining employment with them since you already have an inside contact.
- If your schedule permits, consider working part-time for firms during the year. This is a great way to gain experience and can often lead to summer and post-graduate employment.
- Seek out and follow-up with employers of interest - even those that don't post in the JOB.
2. Government Positions. Most government offices (particularly outside of larger agencies) also do not follow a "standard" timetable for hiring; instead, there are agency-specific hiring processes and deadlines with which you should familiarize yourself.
- The CSO "Government" web page at http://www.law.pitt.edu/career/government, is a good starting point. You should also use the Government Honors & Internship Handbook (available on-line at www.law.arizona.edu/career/honorshandbook.cfm -- check with the CSO for the username and password).
- Government employers also participate in the Equal Justice Works Career Fair (October 11-12) in D.C.; check out http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/events/ccf/student for a list of employers and to register for the event.
- Pittsburgh Federal Career Day will be held at Pitt's William Pitt Union on October 29.
- Consider state, county and city government opportunities.
- Seek out an externship with a government agency during the school year to gain experience and contacts.
3. Public Interest Organizations. Most organizations do not begin hiring until late fall or early spring, but when they begin hiring, they are looking for students who share a passion for and demonstrate a commitment to particular causes. Use your time to cultivate contacts and follow through on your passion for public service:
http://www.law.pitt.edu/career/publicinterest.php lists a variety of public interest-related resources.
- PSLawNet, http://www.pslawnet.org/, allows you to search for opportunities/organizations. PSLawNet requires all new users to register and create a username/password.
- Register for and attend the Equal Justice Career Fair in Washington D.C. on October 11-12th http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/careerfair/dsp_start.php
- Consider taking on an externship or volunteering for a public interest organization during the school year.
While job searching can be a challenging process, it is a critical part of your professional development in law school and beyond. Here are some more quick tips:
- Schedule an appointment with the CSO to help you come up with an action plan. Talk to faculty, alumni and fellow students who share your interests.
- Keep informed of opportunities (via Symplicity), programs, emails, our website and Pitt Law Works.
- Most important, don't fall into the trap of "comparing" yourself to others and "following the crowd."
This is your job search and eventually your career. Be an independent thinker and take initiative -- there is no substitute for taking control of your own job search.
WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
2008-2009 Federal Legal Employment Opportunities Guide
http://www.pslawnet.org/assets/397_0708fedlegalempguide.pdf
Government job seekers will find not only descriptions of many federal departments and agencies, but also information that will help them explore the federal government as a potential employer. The resource includes profiles of several government attorneys and numerous links to individual agencies to allow job seekers to investigate more fully the agencies in which they have an interest.
More specifically, this resource provides
Ten Tips for Landing a Federal Government Job
Table: Where the Government Jobs Are
Spotlight on Six Attorneys in Federal Government
Applying for a Federal Government Job
Definitions and Terms in the Application Process
Links to Forms for the Application Process
Alternative Points of Entry
Federal Government Salary Information
Federal Government Benefits Information
Additional Resources
Appendix: Federal Departments and Agencies
BAR EVENTS
ACBA SPONSORED CLEs
- "ABA Diversity in the Law." 8:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Cost: $95. When: Sept. 24, 2008.*
- "Examining the Digital Footprints Left by Departing Employees: Preserve and Search that Hard Drive." 8:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Cost: $30. When: Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008.*
- "The Importance of Due Diligence in the Insurance Renewal Process: A Guide for Municipal Solicitors." 8:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Cost: $25. When: Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008. *
*Where: ACBA Conference Center Auditorium, 9th floor, City-County Building, 414 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15219. To register, please visit http://www.acba.org/.
PBI SPONSORED CLEs
To register for the following PBI CLE classes, please contact PBI customer service at 1-800-932-4637 or visit the PBI website.
- "Local, State & Federal Taxes Affecting Real Estate Transactions" 8:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., September 25**
- "The Right to Bear Arms" 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m., September 25**
**PBI Professional Development Conference Center, Heinz 57 Center, 339 Sixth Ave., 7th Fl.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
The Pittsburgh Legal Journal is in need of volunteers to write headnotes for the opinions that appear in the PLJ Opinion Insert. For more information or to volunteer, contact Lynn MacBeth, Opinion Editor, at 412-391-7659 or lynnmacbeth@yahoo.com.
CSO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
DEAN'S ROUNDTABLE LUNCHEON WITH KEVIN DIGREGORY (LAW '79)
Partner, Litigation, Criminal Defense & Investigations Manatt, Phelps and Phillips, LLC
Friday, September 26th at NOON
RSVP Required, Professional Business Attire
Pittsburgh Athletic Association, President Room, Second Floor, 4215 Fifth Avenue (Oakland)
Are you interested in a career in Criminal Law? Dean Mary Crossley invites you to attend a roundtable luncheon discussion with Kevin DiGregory (LAW '79), Partner, Litigation, Criminal Defense & Investigations Manatt, Phelps and Phillips, LLC at the Pittsburgh Athletic Association. Mr. DiGregory's practice focuses on sensitive criminal, regulatory and investigative matters. As a federal prosecutor, he handled disputes in various areas of the law, including national security matters, fraud, public corruption, perjury, extortion, internet gambling, tribal gaming, and intellectual property. An experienced and successful trial lawyer, Mr. DiGregory has conducted and supervised grand jury investigations and tried over 75 cases to a jury verdict. Prior to joining Manatt, Mr. DiGregory served as the Deputy Criminal Chief in the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
To attend please RSVP to Jennifer Poller at poller@pitt.edu. Please note that space is limited to the first 15 students to RSVP.
JOB SEARCHING BEYOND OCI: FOCUSED COUNSELING SESSIONS
Thursday September 25th-Friday, October 3rd (By appointment)
Perhaps you weren't interested in the types of employers participating in Fall OCI or maybe it didn't work out as you had planned. It is easy to feel left out of the Fall job searching hustle and bustle. And it is all too easy to feel disappointed about Fall OCI and give up on your job search. Now is a great time to meet with a CSO counselor to help you focus/refocus your energies on your job search. 2L and 3L students can stop by Room 235 to schedule an appointment or email dschoch@pitt.edu. If your schedule does not permit a meeting during this time period, students are welcome to schedule an appointment on another date.
SELECTED DEADLINES
September 26, 3008
Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair Registration http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/events/ccf/general
We cover registrations costs; in order for us to be able to do this, students who registered but who are not going to the fair in DC in October must cancel by 9/26 and/or get in touch with Mary Thinium.
September 26, 2008
Peggy Browning Fund National Law Students Workers' Rights Conference Application (all students)
http://www.peggybrowningfund.org/ Please submit this form, a copy of your resume and a paragraph stating your interest in attending the conference to Mary Thinium at Thinium@pitt.edu
October 1, 2008
EPA Office of General Counsel Honors Program Fellowship (3L) www.epa.gov/ogc/fellowship.htm
October 3, 2008
David A. Winston Health Policy Fellow http://www.aupha.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3356 (3L)
Applications due to Professor Alan Meisel at pischke@pitt.edu:
October 3, 2008
K&L Gates Split Summer Public Interest Fellowship (2L): applications available outside the CSO
October 1-October 15:
Presidential Management Fellowship applications accepted (3L) http://www.pmf.opm.gov/
