Different Paths in Public Service

April 11, 2012

Career opportunities in public service are varied and growing and there are many paths you can take to get the public service job of your dreams.

Are you passionate about a problem facing society today and do you have the desire to help find a solution?  Are you interested in global climate change?  Providing health care to children living in poverty?  Economic re-development?  If you are committed to a cause such as these, then a non-governmental organization (NGO) might be a great place to start your public service career.  NGOs bring together people with similar interests and concerns to work to address a variety of issues.  NGOs include nonprofit (tax exempt and other) and voluntary organizations on the local, state, national and international levels. There are many resources to help you search for opportunities with NGOs, and this worldwide directory of NGOs from The World Association of NGOs is a good place to start. If you have something specific in mind already, try this custom search engine.   While you’re still in school, try to get as much practical learning experience as possible by getting involved.   Volunteer to get your foot in the door, take internships that deal with issues that interest you, and look for summer opportunities. University of Michigan has the Public Service Intern Program, and you can also keep an eye out for non-profit and NGO openings at Idealist.org: a great resource for volunteer, internship, summer program, and job opportunities.  And if you are considering a public service legal career, make sure you explore the clinical programs, pro bono requirements and externships at the law schools you are interested in attending.  The Equal Justice Works Guide to Law School can help you quickly compare law school offerings.

Working for local, state, federal or tribal government is another public service option that offers tremendous variety.  From providing vital daily services to the public, to disaster response, financial management and policy analysis, government employees have the opportunity to assist in an industry that was designed to improve and protect the lives of people locally as well as throughout the country and world. You can find jobs in the federal government by searching USAjobs.gov, and find local and state government jobs on your state’s website. The federal government offers many development programs, such as the Presidential Management Fellows program and the Pathways Program, to get you started in your government career.

Academia is another important and influential public service career option.  Whether your passion is working with youth or lecturing at the collegiate level education is an area where qualified individuals are always needed in many areas of the country and the world.  And while a position in academia is often thought of as teaching, a public service career in education does not always mean standing in front of a classroom.  Other options are administrative positions in school districts, such as being a Principal or Superintendent, or staff positions in universities and colleges, such as recruitment and financial aid offices, career services or student group centers, and individual college offices. Gain experience in academia by volunteering as a tutor in your community, or seeing if you can work part time in one of your school’s administrative offices. Test the water to see if academia is right for you by applying to programs like Teach for America or local teaching fellowships.

One more note:  Public service careers are often lower paying than those in the public sector.  If you have educational loans and are concerned that you will be unable to “afford” a public interest career, there are programs that can help. Repayment plans like Income-Based Repayment (IBR) can help lower your monthly payment amounts, Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAPs) can help you make those payments and with Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) you can earn forgiveness after making payments for 10 years. Don’t let the high cost of education stop you from pursuing a career in public service. Visit Equal Justice Works’ online resource center to learn more about IBR, PSLF and LRAPs, how they work and how to qualify, and the steps you can take to ease the burden of student debt.  Again, if you are interested in public interest law,  The Equal Justice Works Guide to Law Schools has information that can help you explore different schools’ LRAPs, scholarships and grant programs to help you determine affordability BEFORE you go to law school..

Having an interest in a public service career is a great goal, and luckily you have a variety of options to achieve it.  There are many online resources that advertise positions in the fields noted above and more.  Some of these resources include Public Service Careers, PSLawNet, Higher Ed Jobs, The Center for Independent Consulting, as well as local and state government and news websites.  Best of luck in your job search and we commend you for following you passion into public service.

Nita Mazumder is a program manager of law school relations at Equal Justice Works.  She is responsible for cultivating and maintaining relationships with law school professionals and student groups as well as serving as the main point of contact for the organization’s National Advisory Committee. Nita previously worked for Georgetown University Law Center and has practiced in both the private and public sectors.

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Posted by Scott Tsuchiyama

Career Center Connector Staff Picks: Week of April 2nd

April 2, 2012

Career Center Connector (C3) is the best way to stay informed on what you need to know as a job or internship seeker while you’re a student here at UM. Besides housing a resume builder, C3 is also a great way to find opportunities specifically for Michigan students. Each week, we plan to highlight a few positions that we come across that we find particularly interesting. Learn more, including application information, by checking out each pick on Career Center Connector. While you’re there, see what other interesting opportunities you find!

Luis Salvador, Career Advisor
Luis’ Pick: Arcadia Offshore – Social Networking Consultant
Job ID: 23067

Recently I have met with several students that would like to find a job or internship in Ann Arbor for the summer. Ann Arbor provides an exciting environment not only for students to develop academically but also professionally. To find this internship I used the location search option for internships within 10 miles of Ann Arbor. Today, many companies are looking to expand their web presence to keep up with changes in how marketing, branding, and advertising are done. As a social networking consultant for Arcadia you will have the opportunity to bring a new perspective to how this company presents itself online and learn the value of social networking in today’s business world. Make sure to check this out!

Betsy Krupar, Peer Advisor
Betsy’s pick: Legal Assistant – Sherman Immigration Lawyers, P.C.
Job ID: 23697

This is a one year internship at a law firm that would be a great opportunity for someone taking a gap year before law school. It would also be great for someone interested in working in the legal field while exploring if law school is right fit for them. I found this position by typing law into the keyword search and setting the position type as internship.

Paula Wishart, Integrative Learning Coordinator
Paula’s pick: Program Coordinator – iMentor
Job ID: 22357

  • Looking for the next generation of professionals to lead innovative solutions to to close the achievement gap in the US.
  • Responsible for facilitating high impact relationships between 100 mentee/mentor pairs
  • PCs will be exposed to the current theory and best practices in youth development and education, civic engagement and volunteerism, nonprofit leadership, and social entrepreneurship
  • Elected for inclusion in the first ever federal Social Innovation Fund
  • Recognized as one of the 50 Best Nonprofits to Work For by The Nonprofit Times
  • Gain firsthand experience in the New York City public schools

These are the elements that drew me to the Program coordinator posting for iMentor. If this sounds like you, take a look. And don’t be put off by the 1-3 years experience requirement. If you have been active in related programs here at Michigan, The Career Center can help you tailor your story to this position. Go ahead and apply, and change a corner of the world.

Job/internship postings are included within Career Center Connector due to their potential interest to UM, Ann Arbor students. Inclusion of a posting does not imply Career Center endorsement of the particular program, opportunity or employer described.

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Posted by Scott Tsuchiyama

Is Getting a J.D. Degree a Good Investment?

March 27, 2012

Today, Wendy Perdue, Dean and Professor of Law at University of Richmond School of Law weighs in on the soundness of investing in a legal education.

Is getting a J.D. degree a good investment? The answer to this question, like the answer to all questions about investments, depends first and foremost on what the investor’s objectives are. If the primary reason for “investing” in a J.D. degree is to become wealthy, a J.D. may not be the best investment. Instead, you may want to pursue a career in finance. Likewise, if you are looking for a degree program from which you can graduate and then step effortlessly onto a career escalator without having to do much work, the J.D. degree might not be the ticket for you.

Being a lawyer is an intellectually engaging and challenging career. It is for many people a wonderful way to spend one’s life. A legal education is also tremendously versatile – the legal and analytic training that one gets in law school is a terrific foundation for a career in business, politics, public policy, non-profit organizations, law enforcement, and a host of other careers.

Nonetheless, law school is an expensive proposition, both in terms of time and money. It is not right for everyone and ought not be undertaken lightly. It is also true that along with the recession, there has been a downturn in the job market for lawyers. Law graduates do not have the luxury of graduating into the protective arms of guaranteed employment.

So, in the face of these new economic realities, why choose law school? To begin, the value of legal training cannot be measured in cost alone. Unlike many other graduate level disciplines where the education focuses on an ever-narrowing subject, a legal education focuses on the broader subjects of logical thinking and clear expression. The utility of these benefits – which is difficult to quantify – is not limited to the confines of employment. In everyday living, our society confronts us with the ubiquitous presence of laws, rules, and regulations. How to problem-solve, how to express oneself orally and in writing, and how to navigate our system of laws is the quintessential product of a legal education. And, of course, these invaluable skills are not easily factored into the routine cost-benefit analyses that rely solely on raw employment statistics.

One concern for anyone considering law school is how to finance it. Most law students borrow the cost of their legal education and the average loan debt for a law graduate today is about $100,000. That is a big number and causes an understandable worry about whether you will be able to pay that off. “What if my starting salary out of law school isn’t large enough to service my debt?” Fortunately, it is possible for most law graduates to service their debt regardless of the size of their salary. Most law students’ education loans are financed by the federal government which offers all borrowers the option of repaying their loans based on a percentage of their income (known as “income-based repayment” or “IBR”), thereby allowing graduates at all income levels to be in a position to repay their loans. The current IBR cap is 15% of “discretionary income.” This means that no matter what your salary and no matter the size of your loan, your monthly repayments can be capped at a manageable amount. Anyone considering law school should be completely familiar with this loan repayment program. You can find more information about it at studentaid.ed.gov/ibr.

So is getting a law degree a good investment? Right now, new graduates may have to hustle a bit more – and be more creative – in their job search, and allow more room for flexibility in terms of job type and location. But getting law degree is a sound investment if you have a passion for justice, if you want to serve clients, if you want to be a part of a wonderful profession; if, in short, you want to be a lawyer.

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Posted by Scott Tsuchiyama

Myths and Realities of Careers in Public Service Law

March 20, 2012

At Equal Justice Works, we know that there are misperceptions that can deter students from pursuing a career in public service. We hope to dispel some of these myths and relay the realities, both positive and negative, about entering public service.

The myths:

1)    Because of your student loans, you cannot afford to work in public service.

As these jobs are typically lower paying, public interest employers are often sensitive to the difficulties their employees have repaying educational loans, both for undergraduate and graduate school.  Many government agencies and nonprofit institutions offer loan repayment assistance programs (LRAPs) that help employees make monthly loan payments.  Because the availability and exact provisions of these programs vary, when speaking with a potential employer, ask if they offer an LRAP as well as what are the requirements for their program.  It is important to make sure that an employer’s LRAP does not conflict with any other loan repayment assistance options you might be eligible for and to be aware that employer LRAPs almost always count as taxable income. Not all public interest employers have the resources to provide LRAPs, but they may provide information on other assistance programs for which their employees qualify. For example, employers of poverty lawyers in D.C. can petition to be eligible for the D.C. Bar Foundation’s LRAP.

The Federal Government also offers additional assistance to those entering into public service.  Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and Income-Based repayment (IBR) are two options available for borrowers with eligible federal direct loans. To learn more about educational debt relief visit Equal Justice Works’ website or send an email to debtrelief@equaljusticeworks.org.

2)    People working in public interest could not land any other job.

Public interest jobs are often incorrectly perceived as employment options for those unable to land a financially lucrative position. But as the economy continues to struggle and the job market remains stagnant, many students are looking to enter into public service.  According to a New York Times article, 16 percent more young college graduates worked for the Federal Government in 2009 than the previous year and 11 percent more for nonprofit groups.  Federally funded public service programs have also seen a drastic increase as applications for Teach for America jumped by 32 percent last year and applications for AmeriCorps positions tripled from 2008 to 2010. Competition for these positions continues as federal budgets are slashed, forcing programs to cut positions, resulting in the best qualified and most dedicated candidates being selected.

3)    You cannot get a public service job right out of school.

Although not all positions may be paid, there are many ways to gain valuable experience and become familiar with nonprofit organizations or government agencies that may ultimately lead to a paying position. During school try to get as much practical learning experience by getting involved at public service organizations.  Volunteer to get your foot in the door, take internships that deal with issues that interest you and look for summer opportunities. With recent budget cuts, many organizations are looking for additional help – look at idealist.org for open positions or organizations looking for assistance.  Inquire about volunteering for local pro bono legal providers (legal aid societies or other nonprofits that offer direct legal services) as well as public defender offices.  Working or volunteering in these settings is essential for those considering law school after graduation as these experiences can help you decide what sector of public interest law you want to pursue as well as help build relationships that can assist you in the future.

4)    Highly paid individuals are happier.

Even though those working in the private sector may be earning high salaries relative to their experience, there can be tremendous job dissatisfaction.  In the legal profession, public interest attorneys are often not paid as well as large firm lawyers; however, there is an overwhelming job satisfaction among public interest attorneys because of the direct impact they are having in their clients’ lives.  When working to make the world a better place, or on issues that are important to you, the size of the paycheck often doesn’t matter as much because of the passion you have for your work

Now the realities about entering a public service career:

1)    Public interest jobs are typically lower paying than private ones. 

Those who are in public interest will never earn as much as their peers at large corporations or law firms, but the trade off is increased job satisfaction as well as the personal satisfaction of working toward a common good.

 2)    The threat of budget cuts is ever present.

The potential of further funding cuts to public service organizations continues to be a threat as federal budget debates rage on and private donors cut back during the recession. Organizations may hire laterally and may hire volunteers instead of entry-level staff.  However, lack of funding and volatility are of equal concerns in the private sector as the job market continues to flounder.

3)    It can be harder to obtain public service jobs than private sector jobs.

Unlike large firms, public interest employers generally do not have a set hiring schedule where they bring on new staff each year.  Instead, they tend to hire when they have openings. They may not have staff solely dedicated to recruitment, as most corporations do, and often the person responsible for hiring also has a full workload and other responsibilities. Securing a job in public interest takes a concerted effort and perseverance. Students interested in public service need to be patient, as they may not obtain a job until much later than those working in the private sector, but continue to network and explore different options public service has to offer, including volunteering and fellowship opportunities. 

For those hoping to enroll in graduate, medical or law school immediately after graduation, it is important to consider where you might like to work after receiving your advanced degree.  Look at which programs and schools have a dedicated public interest programs or public service requirement as part of your degree. The Equal Justice Works Guide to Law Schools, provides pre-law students the opportunity to compare law schools based on a number of factors, including the public interest experiences and courses available. In addition to selecting the correct school, be sure to utilize your summers to gain experience working with the populations you ultimately want to serve.  The Equal Justice Works Summer Corps program allows for law students to gain hands on experience working with clients and assisting practicing attorneys focused on issues from assisting at-risk veterans to helping victims of domestic violence, to working on civil rights issues.  No matter what your passion, there are a number of fellowships and funding options available for students to work in public service for a summer.

The benefits to pursuing a career in public service are numerous and fulfilling.  Not only will you gain tremendous hands on experience that can lead to professional success, but also make a visible and lasting difference in the communities you serve, which is the ultimate reward.

Nita Mazumder is a program manager of law school relations at Equal Justice Works.  She is responsible for cultivating and maintaining relationships with law school professionals and student groups as well as serving as the main point of contact for the organization’s National Advisory Committee. Nita previously worked for Georgetown University Law Center and has practiced in both the private and public sectors. 

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Posted by Scott Tsuchiyama

Defining Public Interest Law

February 23, 2012

Today’s guest post was written by Nita Mazumder. Nita is a program manager of law school relations at Equal Justice Works.  She is responsible for cultivating and maintaining relationships with law school professionals and student groups as well as serving as the main point of contact for the organization’s National Advisory Committee. Nita previously worked for Georgetown University Law Center and has practiced in both the private and public sectors.

Public interest law is defined as anything affecting the well-being, the rights, health, or finances of the public at large, most commonly advocating for those living in poverty or marginalized populations. While it can be tireless work, and the financial rewards are not great, on campuses across the country, the desire to “give back” is growing.

According to the National Association for Law Placement (NALP), the percentage of new lawyers entering public interest careers is growing; in 2010, nearly seven percent of new attorneys entered public service, up from just two percent in 1990.

There are many reasons to pursue a career in public interest law: dedication to a cause; the ability to make a difference; or the desire to take on significant responsibility early on in your career. Public interest careers encompass a wide array of practice areas, ranging from litigation and class action work, to policy, legislation and community organizing.  You could work at a direct legal service provider such as Legal Aid helping indigent individuals or focus on impact litigation that affects a large number of people.  You could work for a non-profit organization, an international non-governmental organization (NGO or a public interest law firm.  Other options include working for the federal, state or local government, as well as in public defender or prosecutor offices. Public interest attorneys work in many areas of law that, according to a recent report by NALP, will continue to grow in the near future, including issue areas such as immigration, healthcare, education, elder law, energy, veterans’ rights, and housing law.

Regardless of the category of work, public interest positions are coveted opportunities that require dedication and skill.  Because public interest organizations often do not have the resources to train new attorneys, employers in this field value critical practical experience and students should gain as much professional skills training while in school.   If you are interested in pursuing public interest in law school, try interning for a summer at a legal aid office or public interest law firm – working with low-income clients can give you a better sense of what their needs are and how a legal degree can better help you advocate on their behalf.  Take classes focused on social justice and history to gain a better understanding of the injustices and inequalities that have plagued our country in the past.  Other undergraduate classes that may be helpful include criminal justice, political science or classes that focus on enhancing logic and writing skills.  It is also useful for any career path to consider taking public speaking or debate so you can more effectively articulate and advocate for your cause or client.   It is also beneficial to learn a foreign language.  Being proficient in a foreign language is appealing to most public interest employers who deal with non-English speaking populations. . Leadership positions in organizations, student or otherwise, involvement in community activism, and volunteer activities are often also appealing to potential employers.

During law school focus on getting practical experiences such as filing and writing motions, courtroom experience and client interaction.  This can be accomplished through clinic work, a summer internship, an externship during the semester, volunteering at a public interest organization, or a fellowship for law students such as Equal Justice Works’ Summer Corps program.  While in law school, try to take coursework in trial advocacy and public interest related classes as well as participate in advocacy competitions and become a member of a relevant student public interest organization. Law school affords the perfect opportunity to explore different practice settings and issue areas that may interest you.

At Equal Justice Works, we believe that the poorest and most vulnerable among us deserve the same access to justice and quality legal representation as the more fortunate.  Our programs provide training and opportunities that enable law students and attorneys to provide effective and needed services in underserved communities across the country.  Programs like AmeriCorps, Teach for America, and the Peace Corps are examples of service programs that help underserved communities and offer opportunities to work in the public service sector and discover what you may be passionate about prior going to graduate school.

We are committed to expanding public interest law opportunities for students and lawyers, and accomplish this by helping law schools establish and strengthen their public interest law programming and curricula; informing pre-law students about a law school’s public interest program through our Equal Justice Works Guide to Law Schools; and providing public service work experience, professional development and training (through webinars, workshops, conference and career fairs) for students and lawyers.  Through outreach and advocacy, we also work to reduce the educational debt barriers to public service careers.

To learn more about public interest law and the programs and services Equal Justice Works provides, visit www.equaljusticeworks.org.


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Posted by Scott Tsuchiyama

Navigating your way to the right law school

January 31, 2012

By Radhika Singh-Miller, Equal Justice Works

Choosing the right law school can be a daunting task, especially since there is no “one-size fits all” approach to determining which law school will meet your needs. Anyone deciding where to enroll in law school must weigh the costs and benefits of earning a J.D. and determine what will make your law school experience fulfilling. This is particularly true for those interested in pursuing practical skills training in specialized areas as part of their law school experience. To make the most of your law school experience, examine three important areas when making your final selection: experience and training opportunities; professional guidance and support; financial assistance, tuition and fees.

Evaluate specialty, experience and training opportunities
Specialized courses, clinics and professional skills training opportunities tailored to your interests can provide valuable knowledge and lay the foundation for your legal career. Learn about which schools provide valuable hands-on experience, allowing you to work with clients and practicing attorneys. Remember when choosing a law school that it is important to develop additional techniques and skills not taught in the classroom but essential for jumpstarting a successful career. Pro bono programs and requirements often provide opportunities for students to learn outside of the lecture hall.

Look at the specific courses, clinics and internship opportunities available at law schools and use this information to make a more informed decision. These training opportunities, especially in the field in which you hope to work, are ideal for discovering your passion, honing your skills, and making connections with future employers. Think about where and in what field you will want to practice after graduation and allow that to impact your decision on which law school to attend.

Professional guidance and support
If you are the type of person who prefers a lot of career guidance, look at schools’ specialized departments. For example, if you are interested in pursuing public interest law, many schools have a public interest law department; some even dedicate a public interest advisor to counsel students on courses and career opportunities. Smaller schools may not have the same resources, but they can still offer tremendous support. Look at a school’s available resources that you will be able to utilize throughout your experience, including the number and type of student groups as well as career services such as career fairs and alumni networks.

When thinking about future employment, be sure to look at the school’s employment statistics for graduates to see what type of work they tend to pursue as well as the number and type of employers that participate in any campus career fairs.

Remember to consider everything in context. A small school may not have the resources for a full-time dedicated counselor but if it has strong ties to the community in your chosen geographic area; has a valuable network of graduates in the sector of law you hope to pursue; or a curriculum focused on areas that interest you, you will still get the support you need.

Evaluate financial assistance options side-by-side with tuition and fees
When evaluating law school, cost should be a top priority. Law school is not cheap and often requires you to take out large amounts in student loans. Be realistic! Assess your financial situation and determine the availability of aid as well as repayment options after graduation.

Look for information on tuition and financial assistance programs that will allow you to determine which law school is affordable for you. Not only examine the costs of attending a school, such as tuition and fees, but also look at a school’s financial aid offerings, available grants and scholarships as well as loan repayment assistance programs (LRAPs) that will help you repay loans after graduation. In addition to academic scholarships, many schools offer public interest grants, scholarships and opportunities for funding that can help with living costs and costs of attendance.

Finding the perfect law school can be a long and tedious journey, but there are tools available to help you make more informed choices. In addition to examining an individual school’s website and traditional ranking systems, utilize other tools when making your decision. You can start with the Equal Justice Works Guide to Law Schools, which allows you to examine a school’s available curricula, financial aid options, and staff and faculty engagement. While designed especially for students interested in public interest law, learn how this interactive, free online tool provides extensive data on the availability of specialized courses, clinics and externships; financial aid and loan repayment assistance programs; the allocation of faculty and administrative resources; and other information valuable to helping students determine which schools best fit their interests, financial parameters, and future career goals. The Guide allows students to search schools by geography, tuition, and more, and create side-by-side comparisons of schools to learn more. I wish you luck on your journey and hope you’ll utilize the information provided in The Guide to navigate to the perfect school for you.

Radhika Singh Miller serves as program manager of educational debt relief and outreach at Equal Justice Works. In 2008, she served on the student loans team in the negotiated rulemaking for the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA) and has extensive knowledge of this landmark legislation. She conducts educational webinars and presentations, advises schools and organizations, and advocates for legislation and policy. Prior to joining Equal Justice Works, Miller was a staff attorney at the Partnership for Civil Justice in Washington. She received her J.D. from Loyola Law School Los Angeles.

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Posted by Scott Tsuchiyama

Revisiting the Wolverine Scholars Program

June 1, 2011

Update: The Wolverine Scholars Program was discontinued in July of 2011.

Today, Assistant Dean and Director of UM Law School Admissions Sarah Zearfoss revisits the Wolverine Scholars program.  If you would like to read other Dean Z’s reflections, check out her blog, A2Z.

Back in fall 2008, the UM Law School announced the creation of the Wolverine Scholars Program, and much hubbub promptly ensued. Several commentators (e.g., MoneyLaw, TaxProf, and Legal Profession Blog) essentially accused us—a bit churlishly, in my view, since none of them troubled to talk to us about it—of engaging in a craven and transparent attempt to “game” the rankings, with the result that for many weeks, I spent a lot of time countering those claims (The short version: the Wolverine Scholar cohort is way too small to move the LSAT median; no gaming). With an almost three-year hiatus behind me now, my PTSD has abated, and in response to the cajoling of the always-charming Mariella Mecozzi, I’m game to tackle the topic in-depth once more.

First, a brief explanation for those who weren’t reading law blogs back in 2008: what is the Wolverine Scholars Program, and who is eligible?  The program invites applications from University of Michigan undergraduates who are, roughly speaking, rising and graduating seniors (so, for this year, people who will graduate sometime between summer 2010 and spring term 2012), and who have attained cumulative GPAs of 3.80 or higher over at least six semesters at Michigan. If you meet these criteria, and haven’t yet taken the LSAT, you can apply. There, that’s the big part, the part that got everyone all agitated: you do not need an LSAT to apply under this program. Why not? Because we did a whole lot of data-crunching from the quite large pool of Michigan undergrads who have historically matriculated at the Law School and concluded that people who had earned GPAs at the stated level did well at the Law School, regardless of their LSAT score. In other words, we concluded, a high-enough undergraduate GPA from Michigan did as much predicting of law school GPA outcome as we needed; the LSAT just wasn’t adding helpful additional information.

Still, you might ask—why mix things up? Why not just keep requiring the LSAT even if it doesn’t help?  It doesn’t hurt, right? Well, it kinda does.  We know, generally speaking, that although the LSAT is a very good tool, it is not a perfect one, and a weak LSAT will underpredict performance for some people, making them appear to be worse law school prospects than they truly are.  And we also know that every year, people whom we might like to admit don’t apply because they see their LSAT and conclude they don’t have a shot (Often, people would apply as transfers and tell us just that:”Michigan was my dream school but I didn’t apply because my LSAT was [insert sub-median LSAT here], and I knew you wouldn’t admit me.”). We thought that instituting a small, experimental, non-LSAT admissions program might get us a chance at a few of these applicants who we were otherwise missing. We also thought this program would be a great opportunity to strengthen our intra-institutional ties with the undergrad community, which is our single biggest feeder and at which, nonetheless, there is a persistent, unshakeable rumor that Michigan Law “does not like” Michigan undergrads. How much more of a love letter can you send to a group of law school applicants than saying, “you don’t have to take the LSAT”?

One question I frequently field about the way we’ve structured the program is why we don’t take applications from people who have already taken the LSAT; not requiring it is one thing, but why go so far as to bar Wolverine Scholar applicants from having taken it? For this, there are two reasons. One is simply my humanity. I may endeavor not to put any weight on an LSAT, but if it’s there…well, it’s hard not to look, and that’s just going to mess up the whole experiment. The second reason is frankly self-interested. I haven’t yet mentioned that the review process for Wolverine Scholars takes place in a very compressed time frame in the summer before the usual admissions season begins; so this July, we will make offers to Wolverine Scholar applicants to matriculate in Fall 2012—whereas for everyone else, the 2012 admissions offers won’t begin getting made until early November. It is our selfish hope that a talented Michigan undergrad who learns he or she is admitted in July might just forego the great joy of taking the LSAT and choose to enroll at Michigan.  If we allow applicants who have already taken the LSAT, though, that big incentive evaporates.

But we know it’s not all about us, so we actually went to great lengths to design the Wolverine Scholar application process in a way that would not disadvantage anyone—we are, after all, one big happy Wolverine family. In my view, the one potential downside to the program is not being able to sit for the summer LSAT, which most prelaw advisors will tell you is the optimal sitting (because you get it out of the way without the distraction of your regular classes, and in the event you get a lower score than you were expecting, you still have plenty of time to take it again in the fall and apply relatively early in the process). Despite this conventional wisdom (which is, to be sure, good advice), most people take the fall LSAT (for example, in the last two years, a total of about 115,000 people took the LSAT in the fall, and fewer than 66,000, or a little more than half that number, took it in the summer)—so foregoing the summer LSAT, while a cost, is by no means a fatally unfavorable circumstance.

That’s about it, though, in terms of disadvantages. We waive the initial application fee, and in the event you aren’t admitted and wish to reapply for early or regular decision, we’ll waive it again. We make the decisions in plenty of time for you to register for the fall LSAT and be assured of getting your first-choice testing location.  We never “hold it against you” that you applied and weren’t admitted (either through Wolverine Scholars, or through the regular process, for that matter); if you apply again, you have a clean slate. If you get admitted as Wolverine Scholar but want to apply to other law schools, you absolutely can—the program is non-binding, and no deposit is required until the end of April almost a year after you were admitted. Finally, if you get admitted and want to enroll but think, “I don’t actually want to go straight to law school after graduating, and would prefer to work for a little while,” we’re incredibly free with deferrals (even though we’re often kind of stinting with deferrals as a general proposition). Basically, worst-case scenario, the Wolverine Scholar gives you a dry run at the law school application process.

Apart from the lack of an LSAT, there are two big differences in the way we review Wolverine Scholar applications and the way we review regular applications: we give heightened scrutiny (to borrow a phrase from the constitutional law realm) to the undergraduate curriculum and to the recommendation letters. Both factors, of course, are important as a general proposition in admissions, but our familiarity with the curriculum and the recommenders here give them added weight. And without the LSAT as a factor, and with the leveling influence of a 3.80-GPA floor, the quality of the curriculum and the strength of recommendations are the elements that really illustrate academic strength.  Finally, because the pool of applicants is so much smaller than the general pool, we simply have the freedom and ability to spend a lot of time going over details with a fine-tooth comb.

That’s a point that leads very nicely into a topic that I’ve had lots of people raise: how hard is it to get in, anyway? The obvious data point—percentage of people admitted—doesn’t really tell you what you want to know. For our regular decision pool, we typically admit about 20% from a pool of 5500; for Wolverine Scholars, we admitted 27% in 2009 and 30% in 2010, with pools of about 50. That is certainly encouraging; it looks like it’s a lot easier to get in as a Wolverine Scholar. But the numbers mask something important: the Wolverine Scholar pool has been consistently AMAZING. It is extremely difficult to make the choice to deny anyone.  In contrast, while our regular admissions pool is full of hard decisions, there are probably always 20 or 25% that virtually everyone who reads the file would think should be a denial. In other words, our pool of Wolverine Scholar denials contains a much higher percentage of top-notch, hard-to-deny candidates than does the regular admissions pool. That reality is reflected in another statistic: of the 66 people who have been denied as Wolverine Scholars in the last two seasons, 14 were subsequently admitted in the regular admissions pool.

Overall, we’ve been very happy with our Wolverine Scholar “experiment.” I am very optimistic that at the end of our five-year trial run, we will choose to make it a permanent fixture in our admissions toolkit.

1 Comment | Pre-Law | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by Scott Tsuchiyama

Law School Decisions: The Emotional Cost-Benefit Analysis

November 18, 2010

Today’s guest post is all about decisions.  Drawing from her experience in admissions at three different law schools (Northwestern, Catholic and, more recently, at Northern Illinois University’s College of Law) Chicago-Kent Law alumna Sarah Scarpelli shares her perspectives about the emotional cost-benefit analysis associated with deciding to attend law school.  She takes a look from both the perspective of someone selecting a law school, and someone deciding whether to attend right now at all.

For Those Currently Applying to Law School

Are you in the midst of navigating the law school application process? You may have completed the LSAT, drafted several versions of your personal statement, and secured your letters of recommendation.  You fully intend to matriculate to law school next August.  As the weeks click by, you will begin hearing from law schools that admit you, wait list you, or, sigh, deny you.  From the schools that offer you a seat within their incoming class, you may be faced with a difficult cost-benefit analysis.  You may have secured admission at your dream school, yet that institution has not awarded you a scholarship to offset your financial need.  Thus, you are seriously considering your “Plan B” school, which may not be in your preferred geographic area.  Additionally, the “Plan B” school does not appear to offer specialized coursework in an area you are passionate about studying.

I encourage you to become as introspective as possible.  What will make you happy?  Success in law school is arguably correlated to one’s passion.  Throughout my career in law school admissions, I have urged students to invest in a visit to the law schools that have admitted them.   I also share what I believe is a powerful analogy–Would you purchase a house and commit to significant debt without stepping foot in it? The same consideration should be applied to selecting your “home” for the next 3 years of your life.  Please consider attending open houses and admitted student weekends.  Speak with current students who will unquestionably provide the most candid commentary possible on the landscape of that institution today.  Sit in on a class and witness the dialogue in the classroom.  Make an appointment with the law school’s director of career services to learn about the typical career paths for that institution’s graduates.  Perhaps most importantly, allow the intangibles, or your “gut feeling” to guide you.  Can you fathom spending three years of your life with the prospective classmates you have met?  Are you inspired by what you see and hear in Professor X’s class?  If so, there is a safe bet that you will be happy at that law school and you will long value the significant investment you will be making in a law school education.

For Those Who Are ‘On the Fence’ About Attending Law School

So, you have dreamed of becoming a lawyer.  The legal profession is, at its core, a noble endeavor.  Attorneys hone skills that enable them to assist society, particularly those persons who cannot afford legal services. You may be an idealist and you may aspire to shape policy.  You may hope to litigate complex cases or play a leadership role in high-profile corporate transactions.  Simply put, you believe that a law degree will equip you to have a louder voice within the marketplace of ideas.

Realistically, though, this is a scary time to pursue a law degree.  The economy is still struggling to gain momentum and you may have heard that all legal employers, from global law firms to legal service agencies, have initiated hiring freezes.  Concurrently, law schools throughout the United States have increased their tuition and fees.  The average indebtedness for graduating law students creeps higher and higher towards six figures with each year’s graduating class.

Upon my graduation from law school in the late 1990s, I had accumulated over six figures of student loan debt. I am on a 30-year repayment plan for my law school loans. But for me, I would do it all over again.  My J.D. is a multi-faceted ‘tool belt’ that I carry with me to work every day.  I also consider it the best investment I will ever make in my life.

Perhaps you are contemplating working for a few years prior to pursuing your law degree.  If that is the case, please remember that law school will always be an option in your ongoing career development.  Additionally, a few years in the marketplace may help you to confirm your decision to pursue a law degree.  You will also bring additional perspective and clarity to your law school application with the addition of a few years of professional experience.

Regardless of your timeline, your personal circumstances, or your career goals, I want to congratulate you for working through this necessary analysis.  It is complex, it may be emotional and it is very important.  If you would be interested in continuing this conversation with me, please feel free to e-mail me at sscarpelli@niu.edu.  I look forward to hearing from you.

2 Comments | Pre-Law | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by Scott Tsuchiyama

Reasons Not To Go To Law School

November 8, 2010

Measure the support and opposition to attending law school

Jill Russell is a 2008 graduate of the University of Michigan Law School and a 2001 graduate of the College of Literature, Science, & The Arts.  She is an associate in the labor & employment department at McGuireWoods LLP in Chicago, IL.  Today, Ms. Russell shares with us her top three reasons not to go to law school.

 

For the money

While there is no doubt that some lawyers rake in the bucks, that percentage is small, and appears to be getting smaller.  According to the National Association for Law Placement, for the Class of 2008, the median salary was $72,000, with 42 percent of new lawyers reporting salaries of $40,000-65,000.  Only 23 percent made the coveted $160,000 salary paid by large law firms. Keep in mind that this data is for the last class to graduate law school before the economic downturn.  Since then, large law firms have cut back significantly on their hiring, with some cancelling their new classes all together.  Even students from the exclusive top 14 law schools, who once were practically guaranteed a six-figure job at a major law firm are now struggling to find employment.  And while the market may rebound, that’s no guarantee that the market for attorneys in those high-paying corporate law firms will follow.  The recession has made clients more skeptical of high law firm billable rates for young lawyers–and if partners can’t pass on the costs of your time to the client, they aren’t going to continue to pay that salary out of their own pockets.

Also, keep in mind that law school often comes with a mountain of debt, and loan repayment assistance are limited.  A median salary of $72,000 sounds pretty good until you realize that $24,000 a year of that is already spoken for during the next ten years to pay off your loans.  While some schools have loan repayment assistance and the government has recently implemented the income-based repayment programs, these programs are limited in scope and availability and have potential pitfalls.  Be sure to do your research before signing that promissory note!

Because you have an English/political science/psychology/history degree and you aren’t sure what else to do with it

Law school is a haven for the risk-averse liberal arts graduate—it’s the path of least resistance for those of us whose degrees don’t have automatic career paths attached.  Taking the LSAT and putting off the real world for three more years while you continue your school is certainly much easier in the short-term than finding out what you really want to do with your life—but those are an expensive three years that can trap you in a job that you might love… or you might hate.  Do your research first.  Lawyers do a lot of different things, but are any of those of interest to you?  Working on closing a multi-million dollar deal sounds sexy, but when you’re drafting contract documents and conference calling until 2:00am over the holidays, does it still sound worth it?  And while trying a huge class action case might be your dream, are endless hours of document review and writing deposition outlines your worst nightmare?  Being a lawyer can be interesting, intellectually challenging, and invigorating—but often times the tasks can be tedious and downright dull. Even the things that I love about being a lawyer—researching and finding a solution to a problem for a client or brainstorming arguments to use in a motion to dismiss—might sound like punishment to some people.

All of this is not to say that you won’t love being a lawyer—lots of people do (myself included).  But you should know what being a lawyer might actually entail so that you are able to make an informed decision.  There’s nothing worse than having six-figures in law school debt and no desire to actually be a lawyer.

Because you want a steady nine-to-five job.

Lawyers rarely, if ever, are blessed with a nine-to-five schedule.  The nature of the work doesn’t permit that.  Lawyers are never truly in control of their schedules—they must be available at the beck and call of the client. So if your client gets a temporary restraining order forbidding them to distribute their product at 6:00pm on a Friday, and you have weekend plans, bid those plans goodbye and say hello to writing a brief to quash that temporary restraining order to be filed Monday morning.  For clients, their livelihood is at stake, and they aren’t likely to put that on hold for your social obligations.  This has become worse with the advent of the Blackberry.  Clients expect you to be available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and if you’re not, they’ll take their business elsewhere.

I’m not saying that lawyers work every weekend—we don’t.  And as you progress in the profession, you may gain some level of control over your time.   However, it often takes awhile to get to that point.  If you can’t handle an unpredictable schedule, being a lawyer is probably not for you.

This column is meant not to discourage you from going to law school if that’s what you want to do; rather, I want to encourage you to think about what’s at the end of the tunnel before you enter it.  You have lots of resources at your disposal, from The Career Center to Michigan alums who are willing to talk with students about what their own career or law school experience is like and everything in between.  Just be sure to research law as a career as much (if not more) than the law school admissions process before making the decision to attend.

Photo credit: srqpix / CC BY 2.0

Comments Off | General Advising, Pre-Law | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by Scott Tsuchiyama

International Students and the Law School Admissions Process

October 26, 2010

Today’s guest post is full of invaluable information for international students planning to apply to law school.  It comes to us from UM alumna and guest poster Nicole Vilches, assistant dean for admissions at Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology.

As an international student applying for admission to a U.S. law school, you likely have a number of questions about the admissions process. The good news is that much of the process is the same for both domestic and international students. You will be required to submit an application form, personal statement, one or more letters of recommendation or evaluations, and transcripts from your undergraduate and graduate work. However, there are a few important differences in the admissions process for international students that you should be aware of, and it is also important that you begin to plan now for the visa application process. The answers to the following questions will help you to prepare for the admissions process and the start of your law school career.

Should I apply for a J.D. or LL.M. program?

The most important step to take at the start of the application process is to figure out which law degree program will best meet your needs. The J.D. is the first degree in law in the United States and typically takes three years of full-time study or four years of part-time study to complete. With a J.D. from an American Bar Association (ABA)-approved law school, you will be eligible to sit for the bar exam in any state in the U.S.

The LL.M. is a Masters of Law degree and provides advanced legal study for students who already hold a first degree in law. Many law schools offer an LL.M. program specifically for graduates of foreign law schools, which provides an overview of the U.S. legal system. LL.M. programs for foreign law graduates typically take one year of full-time study to complete.

One of the most important considerations is whether or not you wish to practice in the U.S. after graduation. Graduates of foreign law schools may be eligible to take the bar exam in some states or may become eligible if they earn an LL.M. from a U.S. law school. However, there are also many states that require a J.D. from an ABA-approved law school. For an overview of the bar exam requirements for each state, see the Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admissions Requirements published by the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

You should also consider the investment in both time and money between the two degrees. Do you need to complete a three-year J.D. program or would a one-year overview of the U.S. legal system suffice? If you hold a first degree in law from your home country, you should also check with the schools that you are considering to determine if they offer any advanced standing credits in the J.D. program for your foreign law degree. Under the ABA standards, law schools may award up to one-third of the credits required for the J.D. based on an applicant’s foreign legal study. The availability and extent of advanced standing are determined by each school’s policies and the requirements specified in the ABA standards.

When should I submit my application?

Most law schools use a rolling admissions process, which means that the school reviews applications and makes admissions decisions on an on-going basis throughout the admissions cycle. Applicants whose files complete early in the cycle will be reviewed when very few decisions have been made, while those whose files complete later in the cycle will be reviewed when most of the seats in the class have already been filled. The competition for the remaining seats in the class becomes more intense as the cycle progresses and more admissions offers have been made. As a result, it is to your advantage to apply as early as possible in the cycle. Most law schools begin accepting applications in September or October for the following year’s entering class. For best consideration, you should plan to submit your application no later than January 1st. An early application may also enhance your chance of receiving a scholarship award since the scholarship budget may be exhausted later in the process. If you will be studying on an F1 student visa, it is of particular importance to submit your applications as early as possible so that you will have time to consider your admissions offers, select a school, and leave sufficient time for the visa application process.

How should I submit my transcripts to the law schools to which I am applying?

Students (both domestic and international) who received their undergraduate degrees from a U.S. institution are required to register for the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) and submit copies of their undergraduate and graduate transcripts to LSAC for inclusion in the CAS report that will be sent to each law school to which they apply.

If you received your undergraduate degree from an institution outside of the U.S. or completed more than one year of study at a foreign institution, you may or may not be required to use CAS depending on each law school’s preference. If you submit your foreign transcripts to CAS, LSAC will forward them to the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) for authentication and evaluation. The AACRAO report will be included with the CAS report sent to the law schools where you apply. Many law schools either require CAS for international applicants or will accept CAS reports.

For those schools where CAS is either optional or not required, you may be asked to submit your transcripts to an alternate evaluation service, such as one of the members of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. You should review the application instructions and/or contact each law school where you plan to apply to determine their specific polices for foreign transcripts. You can visit LSAC’s website for a detailed description of CAS and the evaluation process for internationally educated applicants.

Am I required to take the TOEFL and how will the school evaluate my English language proficiency?

If English is not your first language and you did not complete your education at a school where English was the language of instruction, some law schools may require you to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Not all law schools require international students to take this exam, so you will want to check each school’s requirements. You may also want to find out if the school has a minimum TOEFL score requirement.

It is also important to be aware that law schools will carefully review your entire application package to gauge your English proficiency. This includes your LSAT writing sample, personal statement, and any other supplemental statements that you submit. You should make sure that all documents that you submit are well-written and grammatically correct. It is also important to make sure that all correspondence with the school – including emails – is polished and professional. You may also want to ask your recommenders to comment on your language proficiency in their letters, particularly if the letter is from a professor who has graded your written work.

How will I fund my education?

Legal education in the United States can be expensive and federal loan programs are available only to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and other non citizens, such as, refugees and persons that are granted asylum. In addition, there are few private loan options through U.S. lenders for international students. Therefore, it is important for you to prepare your funding sources for your three years of law school as soon as possible. As part of the visa application process, you will be required to show proof of funding for your first year of study, and the work restrictions on F1 visa holders will limit your ability to work while in school to fund your education. It is also important to be aware that most law school scholarships will cover only partial tuition and the competition for these awards is intense. Even the most generous law school scholarships will typically still require you to pay your housing, books, and other expenses on your own.

How do I apply for an F1 student visa and what should I expect?

Once you have decided which law school you will attend, you will need to obtain an F1 student visa if you are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. The school will require you to submit a Financial Affidavit of Support that shows that you have sufficient funding to cover the cost of tuition, fees, books and living expenses during your first year of law school. Once the school receives that document, they will issue you a form I-20 and you may schedule a visa interview with the U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country. If you are already in the U.S. studying at another institution, you generally will not be required to complete another visa interview since you already completed one prior to your initial entry to the U.S. However, you should be aware that the law school you plan to attend will not be able to issue you an I-20 until your current school indicates that you have graduated and electronically releases your Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) record to the law school. It is a good idea to contact either the admissions office or the international student center at the law school you plan to attend as soon as possible to discuss the visa application process and any special requirements. Do not wait for the school to contact you. It is better to be proactive and get the process started as quickly as possible. For additional information about student visas, see the U.S. Department of State website.

In preparation for your visa interview, you should make certain to gather all relevant documents as well as evidence to demonstrate ties to your home country. You should be very familiar with the law program that you are about to enter and be sure that you are able to clearly indicate how a U.S. law degree will benefit you in your home country. NAFSA: Association of International Educators has a useful list of ten tips to help you prepare for your visa interview.

How will the F1 visa work restrictions impact my ability to gain law-related work experience?

As a student on an F1 visa, you may work up to 20 hours per week in on-campus jobs from the start of your studies. During the summer, you are permitted to work full-time in on-campus positions or in off-campus positions if you have received authorization from immigration or from the international office on your campus. After one academic year, you may apply through immigration for permission to obtain off-campus employment.

After graduation, you will be eligible to apply through immigration for twelve months of Optional Practical Training (OPT). If authorized for OPT, you will be able to seek employment in a position related to your field of study during the twelve month OPT period. As a law school graduate, your employment must be in an appropriate level position in a law-related field or other position that requires a J.D. You should also be aware that you may face challenges finding an employer who will be willing to hire you for only a one-year period. Once the OPT period ends, you will have a 60 day grace period during which you may remain in the U.S., but are not permitted to work. OPT may not be extended, so you will be required to leave the U.S. once the 60 day grace period ends unless you continue your education in another U.S. degree program or your employer chooses to sponsor you for a work visa such as the H-1B.

Additional Recommendations

As you prepare for the admissions process, there are a number of ways to learn more about the programs and opportunities available to you. When you register to take the LSAT, you will have the option to sign up for the Candidate Referral Service which allows law schools to obtain your information from LSAC in order to send you information about their programs. This is a great way to learn about schools that you might not have previously considered.

You should also sign up for the mailing lists of law schools that you are considering as well as any schools in your local area. Many schools host programs for prospective students to allow you to learn more about their schools and the admissions process. At Chicago-Kent, for example, we host four programs for prospective students each year including a “Getting Into Law School” seminar that provides an in-depth discussion of the admissions process. These types of programs are a great way to meet students, faculty and staff, and learn more about the admissions process and the law school experience.

Finally, if you have any questions about the admissions process or the specific requirements at a school where you are applying, you should contact the admissions office for clarification. Schools are happy to answer your questions either by phone or email. Because each school has different policies, it is important to make sure that you understand the requirements at each school. In addition, remember that admissions offices are dealing with thousands of applicants, so you need to take responsibility for making sure that your application file is complete and that you have submitted all of the required application documents in a timely manner. Remember to apply as early as possible, and hopefully you will have a nice selection of admissions offers from which to choose come springtime.

1 Comment | Pre-Law | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Scott Tsuchiyama

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