Illinois State Bar Association’s Post

As the only general statewide bar association in Illinois, the ISBA has been working to address the shortage of attorneys in rural areas of Illinois. The ISBA is excited to announce the opening of applications for the 2025-26 Rural Practice Fellowship Program, which is designed to connect rural and small town law firms looking to hire law clerks and associates with law students and attorneys interested in practicing law in rural communities of Illinois. Program Benefits for Rural Firms: 🔹 Assistance in identifying and hiring quality, pre-screened summer clerks and associates. 🔹 Access to high-quality training and support to help integrate a fellow into your business. 🔹 MCLE credit in connection with the program. 🔹 Opportunity to share your expertise with a fellows. Program Benefits for Attorneys Considering Rural Practice: 🔹 Assistance identifying quality job placements in rural communities. 🔹 Stipend to augment your salary, as follows: 🔹 Stipend of $10,000 for associates, to be paid $5,000 at the beginning of the fellowship and $5,000 after completion of the one-year program 🔹 Connections to the rural community. 🔹 Continuing support throughout the program. Attorneys admitted to practice will receive MCLE credit. Application deadline: Feb. 7 Learn more and apply today: isba.org/ruralpractice

"This article examines the specific challenges first-gen students face in their externship placements, and what law schools, externship supervisors, and students themselves can do to overcome them." (TaxProf Blog) https://lnkd.in/e9N2ukYZ #legalnews #younglawyers #legalcareer #firstgenlawyers

A random thought as law students across the country prepare for the July bar … Perhaps in addition to preparing law students for the bar exam through courses or offering support for internships …law schools can place equal value on roles that do not require a license to practice. While it was always my dream to be an attorney, my goals were on roles that did not require a license. As a non-traditional student and parent, I was confident in the path I chose. But I could only imagine had I been a younger student (especially as a first gen, BIPOC), the pressure to be an associate or a clerk would have been a lot for me. All the posts you see from law schools are ones where you see their graduates becoming an associate, a law clerk, and the list goes on - all the typical roles we commonly associate with being a law school graduate. Many roles exist that place value on having a JD (passing the bar is a bonus but not a necessity), and yet I rarely see law schools lauding their graduates that are in those roles or even place value on those roles during academic year programming. Passing the bar is such an amazing feeling - it often comes at a financial, emotional, mental, or even physical (hello carpal tunnel) cost. But the value of graduating law school is often overlooked so quickly when all the post-grad roles that are publicly recognized require passing the bar. Don’t get me wrong, there’s true value placed on passing the bar - working at a firm, becoming a prosecutor or public defender, becoming a clerk, or even financial or professional advancement …which all are truly wonderful achievements. But so too are so many other roles that don’t necessitate a license to practice as an attorney. All this to say - law schools please show students the many paths they can take and recognize graduates that are not in those typical roles… the value of a legal education is not only rooted in whether one passes the bar. Law school graduates - whether passing the bar is a goal now or later - be proud of the huge achievement of earning your JD. Three or more years of your hard work is not lost for a two-day exam. If you feel pressure because the only options you’re aware of require a license, expand your search. Whatever happens, happens and the bar exam and the roles that require it are not a measure of your worth. #lawschools #legaleducation #firstgen #latina #bipoc #barexam

Yay! The holidays are here, and finals are almost over! 📚 If you're still in undergrad, I know how much effort you’ve put into finishing the semester. And if you’re applying to law school on top of that—you’ve truly been working hard! 👏🎄✨ Winter break is the perfect opportunity to recharge while making progress on your law school applications. Click the link below to read the five key tasks to focus on during winter break: #LawSchoolApplications #WinterBreakGoals #FutureLawyer #PersonalStatementTips #LawSchoolJourney #CollegeToLawSchool #PreLawPrep

Temple Law's 2023 graduates set a new highwater mark for job placement with exceptionally strong performance in law firm placement, public interest, and government jobs. Read more about how Temple launches students into career success. https://bit.ly/4aHfY9L

This is a great resource for prospective legal fellows. I would add to the chart the Independence Foundation Public Interest Law Fellowships (no focus area, serving Philadelphia, application due in October) and the Fried Frank Civil Rights Fellowship (a partnership between Fried Frank, NAACP LDF, and MALDEF). Several law schools and organizations also have their public interest fellowship programs. I want to echo Rachel's encouragement to reach out to former fellows. When I was developing fellowship proposals, every single former Skadden Foundation, Equal Justice Works, and Independence Foundation fellow to whom I reached out took the time to talk with me, shared application materials, and directed me toward other former fellows. As a former Skadden, I now do the same. Some advice I always give prospective fellows: First, start the process early. The more time you have to build relationships--with your host organization and prospective clients and partners--the stronger your application will be. Second, be able to answer these questions: What is the legal gap you are looking to fill? What strategies and tactics will you employ? Who do you envision as your clients? To whom will you be accountable? Work with your host organization and prospective clients and partners to inform these answers. And get creative. Then find a way to explain your project--in no more than two sentences--to your mom, your non-lawyer best friend, or the person you meet on the subway. Trust me; it will come in handy. Third, know why *you* are the person to do this work. The fellowship foundations invest in your project. They also invest in you as a public interest lawyer and a member of the public interest community. Fourth, reach out to the fellowship foundations. The leadership and staff are enormously generous with their time and want to set you up for success. Fifth, for my future environmental, climate, and energy justice colleagues, many of the major fellowship foundations now fund EJ/CJ projects. Look for past projects that resonate with you and reach out to former fellows.

If you’ve ever dreamed of becoming a lawyer, whether inspired by courtroom dramas, reading legal thrillers, or admiring real-life attorneys, you’re not alone! Starting early can make a big difference, and there are a few smart moves you can make right now to keep your options open for a future in law. 📖 Building Essential Skills: High school is the perfect time to start strengthening those core skills. No matter what kind of attorney you aspire to be, strong research and writing skills are essential. Advanced classes or even dual enrollment college courses can help boost your application. 🔎 Exploring Interests: Law schools appreciate students with diverse backgrounds. Whether you’re into science, art, or business, a variety of interests can make your application stand out. High school is an ideal time to explore diverse subjects and find your academic strengths. 🤝 Joining Extra-curricular Activities: Leadership roles and volunteering show valuable skills that law schools love. Hands-on experience in law—such as internships at law firms or government offices—can significantly enhance your law school application and provide relevant work experience. 🎓 Staying Focused: While it’s great to have a long-term goal, avoid letting it distract you. Maintain balance between your studies, responsibilities, social activities, and healthy habits to keep your path toward law school on track. Your immediate focus should be on high school success and preparing for college! Dig deeper and find out what you need to prepare as a high schooler considering law school in the article from U.S News: #JuvenisMaxime #LawMonth #LawCareer #FutureLawyer #HighSchoolTips #LawCareer

If your firm is hosting law clerks this summer, please share with them this free, virtual opportunity to hear some tips and tricks from the FBA's younger lawyers on a successful clerk summer!

Attention law students! Don't miss out on our upcoming Meet ME webinar series, running across May and June. Join us as our junior lawyers and early careers team share valuable insights and tips to help you excel in the upcoming clerkship recruitment season. Register for the sessions now to learn from the best and put your best foot forward: https://lnkd.in/g4AU2A6f  #LawStudents #CareerTips #lawstudent

Congratulations to all University of Akron School of Law students (and law students everywhere) for finishing final exams and the fall semester! Here are five things to do over winter break to stay engaged and prepare for spring and summer: 1. Update/refine your resume. Add any new activities, honors, work, and volunteer experience. Update your GPA once grades are posted (Tip: Career Services is here to help!). 2. Network! Now is a great time to connect or reconnect with mentors, professors, prior employers, and prospective employers. Send thoughtful and intentional emails or LinkedIn messages. Whenever possible, attend law firm receptions and bar association events. 3. Select and refine your writing sample for job applications. Review your written work product from the fall semester and identify your strongest writing sample to date. Make any necessary edits or improvements and consult professors, supervisors, or Career Services for feedback. 4. Update your calendar with spring events and deadlines. Career Services, Student Affairs, and bar associations have already started scheduling programs and events while noting important deadlines. Take time now to populate your calendar with these, including bar exam deadlines and on-campus interview/resume collection dates. This will help ensure you don’t miss anything important as the semester gets busy. 5. Rest and recharge. Spend time with family and friends doing what you enjoy. Laugh, relax, and celebrate your hard work—you’ve earned it!