Pitt Law eDocket: Volume 5, Issue 12 - November 9, 2009

CLASS CHANGES, CANCELLATIONS & ASSIGNMENTS

Criminal Law § B, Professor Burkoff: On Wednesday, November 11, there will be a make-up class during the hour right after our regular class meeting that afternoon.

CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL LEGAL EDUCATION

U.S. Peace Corps Opportunities

Gina Huggins, Program Administrator

Thursday, November 10, 1:00-2:00 p.m., Room G12

CILE will host an informational meeting for JD Students interested in opportunities with the United States Peace Corps. University of Pittsburgh Peace Corps Recruiter Annie Nagy will be present to speak with students about the programs that exist for JD students in the Peace Corps following graduation from law school. Second- and third-year students are especially encouraged to attend.

CAREER SERVICES

Pamela Day, Assistant Dean for Career Services

"The Career Counselor Is in" the Student Lounge--Q & A Pressing Job Search Questions

Monday, November 9, 12:30-1:30 p.m., Student Lounge

Pam, Jen and Mary will be in the Student Lounge to answer your "quick" questions (for more involved questions we will schedule an appointment with you for a later date). So, bring your pressing questions, a hard copy of your resume and your laptop and we'll provide some support and direction in your job search efforts. (And snacks--we'll provide the snacks.)

1L Resume Writing Workshop

RSVP Required--Thursday, November 10, Room 107, 1:00-2:00 p.m.

Objective: to develop a well-tailored resume for use in securing legal employment or an internship

Education: University of Pittsburgh School of Law

Experience: Externships, internships, retail sales, food services

On Tuesday, November 10, from 1:00-2:00 p.m., the CSO will host a resume writing workshop for first-year students. This resume workshop will help you identify what to include on your resume, and how to write it and format it effectively. Following the steps in the workshop will result in a well designed and effective resume. If you have already started or have a resume, the workshop will not only make your resume a better document, but help prepare you for upcoming interviews. If you would like to attend, please RSVP to Mary Thinium (thinium@pitt.edu). We also encourage you to bring your laptops to this program.

Alumni Career Chat--The Honorable Alan D. Hertzberg

RSVP Required--Sign-ups are limited to 2L/3L students

Thursday, November 12, 12:15-2:00 p.m., Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, 816 City-County Building

Judge Alan Hertzberg, Civil Division, Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas invites students to meet with him in his chambers on Thursday, November 12. This "Alumni Career Chat" is part of the partnership between the Career Services Office and the Pitt Law Alumni Association Board: Alumni invite students to visit their workplaces to see the law in practice. Judge Hertzberg is a 1983 graduate of Pitt Law. Lunch will be provided and formal business dress is required. Space is limited to the first seven 2L/3L students to sign up by e-mailing Pam Day at pday@pitt.edu. Please note that by signing up you are making a commitment to attend the event. A member of the CSO staff will also be attending this event so students can elect to travel downtown as a group from the Law School or go directly to the Judge's chambers. When you RSVP, please let us know if you plan to travel with the group or if you will meet us there.

2L/3L Job Search Workshop: Creating Your Action Plan

Focus: Small and Midsize Firms Outside of the Pittsburgh Area

RSVP Required--Tuesday, November 17, 1:00-1:45 p.m., Room 113

If you are feeling frustrated and your job search needs some energy and direction, then this workshop is for you. This hands-on workshop will take you through the process of developing a Job Search Action Plan. This session is designed for 2L and 3L students who are searching for summer or post-graduate employment with small and mid-size firms outside of the Pittsburgh region. Please note that the CSO will be holding additional job search workshops focusing on different practice sectors/regions throughout the year. If you would like to attend this workshop, please RSVP to Pam Day (pday@pitt.edu) ASAP but no later than Thursday, November 12 with your name, class year, and any cities/practice areas you are focusing on. Because this is a hands-on workshop, students should bring their laptops to the program.

REGISTRAR'S OFFICE

Beth Liberatore, Registrar

May 2010 Graduation

Students who are scheduled to graduate in May 2010 must submit graduation applications to the Registrar's Office. The deadline for submitting applications without penalty is Wednesday, December 9.

All May graduates (JD, LLM, and MSL) must complete an Application for Graduation. This form is required by the University for any student to graduate. If you are a certificate student, you must write which Certificate Program you are in at the top of the Application for Graduation Form in order to graduate with the certificate. Joint degree students must indicate their joint degree at the top of the form. Joint Degree students must also apply for graduation at the other school where they are pursuing their joint degree in order to be awarded the degree from that school in addition to the JD degree. If you do not apply at both schools, you will not graduate.

All JD students are also required to download the Graduation Requirements Checklist from the Registrar's web page, complete it and submit it with your Application for Graduation. Graduation Requirements and the Graduation Requirements Checklist are on the Registrar's web page. There is also a link on our Registrar's page that will take you to the University's website. That is where you will find the Graduation Application (in the menu under Forms located on the left side of the screen) which you will also need to download, complete and submit to the Registrar's Office: http://www.law.pitt.edu/registrar/graduation/requirements.

You should use the information in PeopleSoft to help you complete the graduation requirements checklist. You will notice that a lot of detail is on the system for both the JD requirements as well as the certificate programs. However, we are still in the process of developing and testing Graduate Advisement in PeopleSoft and that is not yet completed. You may find things that you have questions about that may appear to be a discrepancy. In order to develop and test this functionality, we had to do it in the PeopleSoft production environment. The information on the Law School website for graduation is what you should use to determine that you have met the requirements. If you have any questions, please contact the Law School Registrar's Office. If you are enrolled in a certificate program, you can also use the requirements information that is now in PeopleSoft to assist you in determining if your certificate program requirements have been met.

There is no charge to apply for graduation. However, if you do not submit the necessary paperwork by the deadline, the University will assess escalating fees to apply for graduation after the deadline has passed.

First-Year Undergraduate Transcripts

In order to comply with ABA regulations, the Law School Registrar's Office must have on file a final, official transcript with your degree posted. The copy included in your LSDAS report is not official, and does not fulfill this ABA requirement. If have not already done so, please request your official transcript with your degree posted as soon as possible be sent to:

The University of Pittsburgh
School of Law
Registrar's Office
3900 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15260

Students whose transcript the Registrar's Office has not yet received have been notified. Any student who does not have a final official transcript on file will not get registered for the spring term until your transcript is received. Registrations for the spring term will be processed and entered in PeopleSoft during the month of November. The final date for continuing students to register for the spring term without being charged a late fee by the University is Friday, December 11.

STUDENT NOTICES

Careers in Tax Law Panel

Professor Infanti

Thursday, November 12, 12:00-2:00 p.m., Alcoa Room

You are invited to attend a "Careers in Tax Law" Panel on Thursday, November 12, from 12:00-2:00 p.m. in the Alcoa Room. Panelists: Christine B. Bowers, Deloitte Tax LLP; Seth I. Corbin, Fox Rothschild LLP; Nancy W. Puleo, Alcoa, Inc.; and Edward F. Peduzzi, Jr., Internal Revenue Service. The speakers will describe the nature of their practices in these different settings and will leave time at the end of their presentations for discussion and questions. The panelists generally speak on how they pursued their careers, pitfalls they may have encountered, and any advice they may have for the law students interested in pursuing a career in tax law. Lunch will be served. Please contact Yolanda Lee, Membership and Marketing Manager, to RSVP or if you have questions or need further information, at leey@staff.abanet.org or 202-662-8680.

Important Payroll Holiday Break Deadlines--Time Sheets for November AND December

Kimberly A. Carson, Administrative Coordinator

The time sheet deadline for the month of November is no later than noon on Monday, November 9. You may turn in your time sheets to the front desk receptionist in Room 202. Paychecks will be ready for pick up after 12:00 p.m. on Monday, November 30 in Room 202.

The time sheet deadline for the month of December (hours accumulated between Monday, November 9-Friday, November 20) is no later than noon on Monday, November 23. You may turn in your time sheets to the front desk receptionist in Room 202. Paychecks will be ready for pick up after 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 16 in Room 202.

As a reminder, time sheets MUST have your supervisor's signature and be turned in by the designated due date. Hours turned in after the designated due date will be paid the following month.

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

Pitt Family Law Society

Amanda Croteau, President

Wednesday, November 11, 5:30 p.m., Room 111

On Wednesday, November 11 at 5:30 p.m. in Room 111, the Pitt Family Law Society will be hosting our first ever Career Panel. The panel includes respected attorneys who practice in a wide breadth of family law.

The 2009 participants are: Julie Yarzebinski (Family Legal Center, LLC--2005 Pitt Law Graduate); Dana Levine (Pollock, Begg, Komar, Glasser, LLC--2004 Pitt Law Graduate); Carol Sikov Gross, Esquire (Certified Elder Law Attorney--Sikov and Love, P.A.); Ann Begler (Mediator at Superior Court of Pennsylvania, Principal at Begler Group); Margaret Gold (Three Rivers American Indian Council, Allegheny County Juvenile Court Project Parent Advocate Network).

This is a great opportunity for networking and to learn more about the opportunities available to students interested in family law. There will be light refreshments. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me (amv38@pitt.edu) or Wendy Doernberg (wed13@pitt.edu). See you then!

CONTESTS, COMPETITIONS & SPECIAL PROGRAMS

See Angela Scolieri in Room 202 for more detailed information:

• The Court of Federal Claims Bar Association announces the creation of its Law Student Writing Competition. All law students are eligible to participate. The winning entries will receive cash prizes and an opportunity to be published via the Association's website. Entries may address any topic that lies within the procedure, substance, or scope of the jurisdiction of the United States Court of Federal Claims. The rules of the contest are posted on the Association's website at: www.cfcbar.org/index.php/news. Entry deadline is December 31.