CBA Member Appreciation Week & Special Events

The Chicago Bar Association is celebrating Member Appreciation Week the week of May 9th with a slew of extra events which means more opportunities for career development, CLE, and networking. Additional special events for May are also included below.   Check out the various activities and programs today!

LinkedIn Tips

LinkedIn Tips: Whenever you update your resume, don't forget to update all of your online profiles, including LinkedIn.  Take the time to check any links in those profiles to make sure they aren't broken or otherwise dead (for example, including a link to your locked/private twitter account should not be on your LinkedIn profile). Need more guidance? Check out the LinkedIn Professionalism programs on April 7th or 13th. After a quick half hour, you'll also be eligible to be invited to join the College of Law Alumni group on LinkedIn. RSVP in Symplicity today!  Also in the Symplicity Document Library are a series of checklists on setting up a profile, online networking etiquette, researching employers, and more.  Use 'LinkedIn' as your keyword in the Document Library search.

**NEW FROM THE LINKEDIN BLOG: 4 Easy Ways to Spring Clean Your LinkedIn Presence

Job Board Tips

In addition to Symplicity, there is a wealth of job boards out there --Chicago Bar Association, American Bar Association, PSLawNet, Illinois Legal Advocate (this is just a sampling; check out the Orientation Guide and other Job Search Guides in the Symplicity Document Library for more suggestions).  However, how do you make job boards work for you? Here's some tips:

CBA Meetings for Next Week

Meetings for Week of February 28, 2011

This schedule was generated on February 24. View most recent list. 

The following is a list of committees that have notified the CBA of their speaker / topic. Meetings are held at 12:15 p.m. for one hour at the CBA unless otherwise noted. Bring your CBA card to obtain MCLE credit for meeting attendance. Lunch is available in our servery for $9.50. There is no need to RSVP for committee meetings. Member may attend any meeting they choose. 

CBA Meetings for Next Week

Meetings for Week of February 21, 2011

This schedule was generated on February 17. View most recent list.

The following is a list of committees that have notified the CBA of their speaker / topic. Meetings are held at 12:15 p.m. for one hour at the CBA unless otherwise noted. Bring your CBA card to obtain MCLE credit for meeting attendance. Lunch is available in our servery for $9.50. There is no need to RSVP for committee meetings

CBA Meetings for Next Week

The following is a list of committees that have notified the CBA of their speaker / topic. Meetings are held at 12:15 p.m. for one hour at the CBA unless otherwise noted. Bring your CBA card to obtain MCLE credit for meeting attendance. Lunch is available in our servery for $9.50. There is no need to RSVP for committee meetings. Members may attend any meeting they choose. Meetings for Week of February 14, 2011.This schedule was generated on February 11. View most recent list.

CBA YLS Events

Young Lawyers Section Career Month Events:

February is your chance to explore career opportunities in a variety of areas of law and practice settings. All events and meetings take place at the CBA Building (321 S. Plymouth Ct.). Registration is required for some events. More events are included after the jump!

YLS Lunch with a Judge - February 3
You’re invited to have lunch with the Hon. William D. Maddux Presiding Judge, Law Division, Circuit Court of Cook County, on Thursday, February 3, 2011, at 12:15 p.m., at the CBA. The Judge will discuss courtroom decorum and how young lawyers can practice successfully in Court. Event includes free pizza lunch. You must be a CBA member or law student member to attend and you must register in advance of the lunch. Limit 100 persons. Register now. 

RESCHEDULED: 2Ls & 3Ls, Don't Miss this Career Workshop

Strategies for 2Ls and 3Ls to Master the Market and Find the Best Job Opportunities

When? Thursday, March 3rd, 4:30pm to 5:45pm
Where? Lewis 904

This program will cover:

• Improving your law school record
• Developing a powerful method for networking
• Identifying lawyers whose interests and backgrounds match your own
• Considering multiple options

Google Docs

Did you know that you can use Google Docs to store your documents without a thumb drive? Check out this post to learn more about the latest update which provides improved collaboration tools, more fonts, and additional spreadsheet functionality.

RSVPs -- A Professional Habit

As you progress through law school, people expect you to keep your word. This simple habit is most often manifested in two areas: doing and showing up for what you said you would. The flip side of the latter is taking the time to RSVP for events. Events must be canceled due to lack of RSVPs, so developing the habit of making the time to attend events because they are of personal or professional interest to you or your colleagues is important -- whether to bolster your own interest in the topics or support others in your networking group. So don't forget to RSVP for not only Law Career Service programs, but those of the Centers & Institutes, bar associations, and the organizations you support.

Networking Takes a Plan

One of our connections through DePaul's ASK Program recently shared this networking article from the Wall Street Journal. This article addresses the question of an incoming student concerned about finding time to network while enrolled full-time. One other thing that networking shows though is that you are prepared to enter a demanding profession. When you are able to show an employer that you handled the competing demands of several classes, an externship/pro bono/job commitment, community involvement, networking, and (active!) bar association membership. Yes, it is a lot, but building these habits early in law school makes you a stronger candidate as well as makes the transition into the legal profession after law school.

Effective Business Development Made Simple

Julie A. Fleming J.D., A.C.C., the author of The Reluctant Rainmaker: A Guide for Lawyers Who Hate Selling and a frequent nationwide speaker for bar associations, law schools, and law firms is presenting an all-day workshop in Chicago on Thursday, June 17 titled Effective Business Development Made Simple. (Please visit this page to see her full CV and this page to see information about her speaking engagements.) There are about 25 seats still open and she's invited DePaul University College of Law alumni and students to attend the workshop as her guests, at no charge. Those who would like to attend should send an email to Vicky Likens, operations manager for Life at the Bar LLC, at with their name, telephone number, and email address no later than Wednesday, June 16, at 12 PM CT.

Networking Online Overview

This video highlights how to use social media sites for online networking in your jobs search. Though only a surface look, it does provide the overview of what you need to consider. Please attend LCS' next LinkedIn Professionalism training on Wednesday, March 17th at 5:00 p.m. in 901 Lewis. After attending, all students will be invited to join the Law Alumni LinkedIn group. RSVP in Symplicity today!

Patent Bar/Practicing Law Institute Announcements

Are you interested in sitting for the patent bar exam? The Practicing Law Institute has just announced its Patent Bar review dates for this coming summer. More details available at this site.

5 Steps to Building Your Story to Get the Job You Want

This blog posting from Gotta Mentor echoes of the themes you will hear from career advisors: part of your job search is about building transferrable skills to get the experience you need as you develop the network that can help you get there. Building your story, and thus your windy career path, takes time and will not happen overnight. You need a plan, and these five steps can help you make sure you've done your homework and are developing the credentials, skills, and demonstrate your interests to get you to that dream job -- even if it is two to three jobs from the next one.

What All the Cool Kids Are Using. . .

The ABA Journal recently wrote up an article called 70 Sizzling Apps, which showcases phone and web applications that attorneys are finding useful in the personal and professional lives. Most are low cost or free, and the various suggestions come with insights from all sorts of attorneys across the county. Check it -- you never know what might make your life a little easier, or just a little livelier.

PICs Picks: Bar Association Memberships, Part Deux

In the on-going series, the Law Career Services Public Interest Coordinators share their greatest hits of advice and resources. A great resource for finding professional bar associations globally, can be found here.

Joining organizations can further your career search in at least two meaningful ways. First, membership in general bar associations such as the Chicago Bar Association can expose you to many practice areas and specialties of which you may not have been aware. Beyond the informational and organizational meetings conducted by these groups, there are often opportunities to be exposed to tangible applications involving the particular area of law of the specialty committee or section, including various pro bono, community service and Continuing Legal Education (CLE) seminars. These opportunities highlight the second major benefit of organization membership, which is networking and socializing that is a significant portion of most meetings and events. The chance to meet attorneys, judge, and fellow law students will allow you to begin to make inroads and contacts in your area of interest well in advance of graduation, a necessary and valuable advantage in the increasingly competitive legal market.

Becoming the Leader

Do you want to be the future of the bar? This requires you to become involved, which you can do through what was termed Intentional Relationship Building last week. Whether you want to be managing partner, executive director, a judge, elected or appointed government official, or just well-versed, you have to be known to be tapped for or accepted in leadership positions. The Idealist Career Corner addresses the dearth of ready leadership for the public sector in the coming months and years, but this applies to parts of the private sector, and especially our professional organizations as well.

5 Tips for a Successful Transition to Practice

Authentic Strategies, in partnership with William & Mitchell College of Law, presents a webcast series on important career and professional development topics. The latest, 5 Tips for a Successful Transition to Practice, focuses on things that you can do to ensure success in your early career.

E-Discovery Podcasts

ESI Bytes is a podcast series designed to highlight electronic discovery experts and their continually evolving expertise, practices, and theories. Experts include judges, lawyers, technologists, forensic and records management experts. The podcasts are sponsored by JurInnov. To stay ahead of the curve and be able to offer greater value to employers, check out these podcasts today.