LEGAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE

Transcription

1 LEGAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE I. OBJECTIVES The Legal Professional Development Institute (LPDI) is a co-curricular program that offers students the opportunity to receive professional skills training from attorneys, and earn a Certificate in Professionalism. LPDI has four main program objectives: Provide students professional skills training in the core competencies most often identified by legal employers as essential to successful lawyering; Encourage students to attend career development programming and engage in networking to develop the skills critical for a successful job search and on-going professional growth; Instill the values of professionalism and encourage pro bono service; Recognize students who have demonstrated a commitment to professionalism, and have received professional and career development skills training, by awarding Certificates of Professionalism, an honor that can be included on a resume, upon the completion of the program requirements. II. OVERVIEW OF PROGRAM FLEXIBILITY Participating students develop a personalized professional development curriculum by selecting the programming and activities best suited to their interests and goals from a menu of options. The Law Career Development Office (LCDO) will issue Certificates in Professionalism on a rolling basis. Thus, students can complete the program requirements at their own pace. The program is designed, however, so that first-year law students can complete the requirements in one year, and second-, third-, and fourth-year students can complete the requirements in one semester. III. PROFESSIONALISM CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS 1) Pro Bono Service Performing pro bono service is an ethical and professional duty of lawyers, and is an intrinsic part of professionalism. (Rule 6.1 of the Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct). Volunteering is also a rewarding way for law students to receive valuable training, and to develop skills, experience, and professional contacts. Pro Bono Certificate Requirements: Before applying for a Certificate in Professionalism, participating students must first earn and receive a Pro Bono Challenge Certificate at the Bronze level. For more information on the Pro Bono Challenge, go to 2) Professional Skills Curriculum Practicing attorneys and other professionals teach the LPDI professional skills courses. The LCDO designed the curriculum to (1) provide students with a diversity of perspectives on professionalism, (2) expose them to the practical realities of the legal profession and the expectations of legal employers, and (3) provide training in the key professional skills required to succeed as an attorney.

2 Day students must attend the sessions in person in order to satisfy the program requirements. Evening students may watch a video recording of the sessions in lieu of personal attendance. Professional Skills Certificate Requirements: Members of the classes of 2013 and 2014 must attend four (4) sessions. Members of the classes of 2015 and 2016 must attend eight (8) sessions Program Schedule: All programs are from 12-1pm. Locations will be announced. Video recordings will be available for viewing by evening students. Thursday, August 30 Business of Law David Daneman, Esq. Partner, Whiteford Taylor & Preston Thursday, September 13 Professional Identity & Career Satisfaction Ronald H. Weich, Esq. Dean, University of Baltimore School of Law Wednesday, October 3 Social Media for the Job Search & Beyond Gary H. Leibowitz, Esq. Member, Cole, Schotz, Meisel, Forman & Leonard Thursday, October 18 Professional Etiquette Rachel T. McGuckian, Esq. Principal, Miles & Stockbridge Thursday, November 29 Stress Management Dr. Gina L. Sager, M.D. Wednesday, February 13 Networking & Relationship Building Matthew P. Kraeuter, Associate, Saul Ewing James R. Walsh, Esq. Partner, Mandel, Liff & Walsh Wednesday, February 27 Essential Business Skills for Lawyers Francis J. Gorman, Esq. Partner, Gorman & Williams Wednesday, March 13 Leadership Skills for Lawyers Donald A. Rea, Esq. Partner, Saul Ewing Thursday, March 28 Developing Cultural Competency Yoanna X. Moisides, Esq. Assistant Director of Advocacy for Training and Pro Bono, Legal Aid Bureau, Inc. Wednesday, April 10 Excelling in the Legal Workplace Jason L. Groves, Esq. Executive Vice-President and General Counsel, Medifast, Inc. 3) Career Development Skills Training Throughout the year, the LCDO offers a wide-range of career exploration and professional development programming. Students can discover different career paths and practice areas, improve their job search skills, practice interviewing and networking abilities, and get expert advice on judicial clerkship applications. Additionally, student groups and the law school host career-related programs that offer attendees the opportunity to learn about practice areas and settings, and network with alumni. Page 2

3 Career Development Skills Certificate Requirements: Members of the classes of 2013 and 2014 must attend four (4) career-related programs or events at the law school, in addition to the required LPDI sessions. Members of the classes of 2015 and 2016 must attend ten (10) career-related programs or events at the law school, in addition to the required LPDI sessions. 4) Networking Although there are many events and programs at the law school that offer students the opportunity to meet alumni, it is important that students be involved in the larger legal community. Entry-level attorney positions are rarely advertised, and successful candidates usually know someone at the firm, or know someone who knows someone at the firm, who can speak positively about them. Moreover, most attorneys in private practice rely upon their networks to find clients and develop new business. Thus, networking and building a professional network is the crucial component, not only for finding an attorney position, but keeping it long-term. Certificate Requirements: Attendance at two (2) bar association, Inns of Court, or other legal professional association meetings or events off campus. 5) Mentoring Meetings Students can learn a great deal from talking with attorneys about their jobs and career paths. During these mentoring meetings, also known as informational interviews, students do not ask about specific job opportunities or job search advice. Instead, the objective of a mentoring meeting is to gain information about different practice areas and/or settings, the day-to-day responsibilities and activities of attorneys, maintaining internal and/or external client relationships, finding work/life balance, and other professionalism-related matters. Mentoring meetings are a powerful way to build a professional network, and often lead to job opportunities. Many alumni are happy to spend 30 minutes speaking with a law student about his or her work. The LCDO can help you find potential mini-mentors and help you prepare for your meeting. Certificate Requirements: Conduct two (2) thirty-minute, off campus mentoring meetings with alumni. Page 3

4 LEGAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE REGISTRATION FORM 1. Please submit this form, signed and dated, and a copy of your most recent resume, to Alyson Todd (atodd2@ubalt.edu) in the Law Career Development Office. 2. Submission of a registration form constitutes a commitment to participate in the program. You cannot indicate on your resume that you are participating in LPDI, unless you have submitted a registration form to the LCDO with the intention of earning a Certificate in Professionalism. 3. Please keep records of your activities. Upon completion of all the program requirements, submit the Professionalism Certificate Checklist and Application to Alyson Todd (atodd2@ubalt.edu). 4. A misrepresentation of LPDI participation on a resume, or a misrepresentation on the Professionalism Certificate Checklist and Application, is a violation of the Honor Code, and is subject to disciplinary action. Name: Telephone: Graduation Date: Page 4

5 PROFESSIONALISM CERTIFICATE CHECKLIST & APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS 1) Earned a Pro Bono Challenge Certificate at the Bronze Level or Higher. - 2) Attended (or viewed if an evening student) the following Legal Professional Development Institute programming: i. Business of Law - ii. Professional Identity & Career Satisfaction - iii. Social Media for the Job Search & Beyond - iv. Professional Etiquette - v. Stress Management - vi. Networking & Relationship Building - vii. Essential Business Skills for Lawyers - viii. Leadership Skills for Lawyers - ix. Developing Cultural Competency - x. Excelling in the Legal Workplace - Members of the classes of 2013 and 2014 must attend four (4) sessions. Members of the classes of 2015 and 2016 must attend eight (8) sessions. 3) Attended the following career development skills programming: (Please identify the event by name, host organization, and date attended.) i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. vii. viii. ix. x. Members of the classes of 2013 and 2014 must attend four (4) programs or events. Members of the classes of 2015 and 2016 must attend ten (10) programs or events. Page 5

6 PROFESSIONALISM CERTIFICATE CHECKLIST & APPLICATION, CONTINUED Requirements, continued 4) Attended the following off-campus networking event hosted by a bar association, Inns of Court, or other legal professional association: (Please identify the event by name, host organization, and date attended.) i. ii. All participants must attend two (2) off-campus networking events. 5) Met with the following attorneys for thirty-minute mentoring meetings: (Please identify by full name, employer, and contact information.) i. ii. All participants must have two (2) thirty-minute mentoring meetings with alumni. 1) Completed applications include this form, signed and dated, and a copy of your most recent resume, submitted to Alyson Todd, Associate Director, Law Career Development Office at atodd2@ubalt.edu. 2) A misrepresentation of program activities on the Professionalism Certificate Application is a violation of the Honor Code, and is subject to disciplinary action. 3) I,, completed all the requirements for the Professionalism Certificate established for my class year. The above checklist represents a true and accurate record of my activities. Name: Telephone: Graduation Date: Date: Page 6