The City of Chicago Department of Law invites law students to apply for its 2013 Summer Law Clerk Program. Usually, the program begins June 1st and is for a minimum of 10 weeks; however, the start date and duration of a law clerk’s summer will be determined by the law clerk and his/her direct supervisor. The Summer Program is designed to provide current law students with a challenging unpaid clerkship that reflects the demands and rewards of public service, as well as a realistic picture of what it is like to practice law for the City of Chicago. Participants in the Summer Program are not compensated. Work with Natalie Taylor of our Field Placement Program (3rd floor Student Services Suite) to see if you can arrange to work for the City Department of Law as an extern and receive academic credit.
During the Summer Program, the law clerks will be assigned to work in one of the practice divisions in the law department and participate in a wide variety of activities including:• assisting in trial preparation;
• attending depositions;
• observing real estate closings;
• attending client meetings and court proceedings;
• researching legal issues; and
• drafting memoranda, briefs and contracts. Also, law clerks that have finished their second year of law school and qualify for an Illinois Supreme Court Rule 711 license may represent the City in: • mandatory tort arbitrations in the Circuit Court of Cook County;
• disciplinary hearings for the police and labor boards; and
• labor arbitration. They may also depose or examine witnesses in trials in state and federal court. During the summer, the Law Department will host a lecture series that feature speakers addressing legal issues that affect the City in areas such as environmental and First Amendment law and provides the law clerks with opportunities to meet with City Law Department officials and members of state and federal judiciary.The Law Department seeks talented, promising individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds. Many City Law Department attorneys are active in civic and professional activities and organizations. The Law Department is committed to increasing opportunities for minorities in the legal profession, and it is proud that its staff reflects the racial, cultural and ethnic diversity of Chicago. The Law Department is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To learn more about the various Divisions within the Department of Law and the work that they handle, potential candidates should check out the Litigation, Prosecution and Transactional Division links found under “What We Do” at www.cityofchicago.org/dol. ; Also look at the City of Chicago Law Department Viewbook in Symplicity's Resources tab.To apply for the 2013 Summer Law Clerk Program, interested students should submit all application materials as outlined at http://www.cityofchicago.org/content/city/en/depts/dol/supp_info/dol_voluntee.... The deadline to apply is January 31, 2013.
If you missed last week's program by the City of Chicago Department of Law, please check it out in "2012 programs" on the "Law Career Services Channel" in iTunes U (the video will take a few minutes to download). Hear about the City's Externship Program, Summer Volunteer Program, Law Clerk Program (paid and volunteer), and Entry-level Attorney Program.
