HOUSTON BAR ASSOCIATION

Transcription

1 HOUSTON BAR ASSOCIATION Minority Opportunities in the Legal Profession Committee L MINORITY SUMMER CLERKSHIP AND MENTORING PROGRAM Prospective Employer Information

2 2016 HOUSTON BAR ASSOCIATION MINORITY OPPORTUNITIES IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION COMMITTEE 1L MINORITY SUMMER CLERKSHIP AND MENTORING PROGRAM Dear Prospective Employer: For over 25 years, Houston law firms, corporations, and courts have supported the HBA s Minority Opportunities in the Legal Profession Program ( MOILP or Program ) by employing 1L minority clerks during the summer following their 1L year. The mission of MOILP is twofold: (1) to serve the needs of the legal community through a vibrant and inclusive local bar; and (2) to foster the development of law students by providing practical experience to minority rising 2L students before they commence their on-campus interviews during their 2L year and before they embark on their legal careers. While most law firms and companies hire 2L law students, participation in MOILP gives firms and companies early access and exposure to some of the brightest minority law students that our three Houston-area law schools have to offer. Many MOILP clerks have gone on to accept permanent positions with employers they first met through the Program and have gone on to become partners in those firms. Your participation in the Program is not only a win for the 1L minority clerks, it is a win for your organization and demonstrates your commitment to diversity in the practice of law. With your participation, we hope to build on the recent successes of the Program. In 2015, MOILP placed 52 clerks with the firms, corporate legal departments, non-profits and judges listed on the next page. Please review the list of 2015 participating organizations. In order to participate in the MOILP Program, please complete the attached Employer Questionnaire. We have also included a list of frequently asked questions and answers for your review. Participation in the Program is the best way to show the Houston legal community that your organization supports MOILP and the HBA s mission. As President of the HBA, I personally invite and encourage your organization to participate in the MOILP Program by communicating your interest to Chevazz Brown, Co-Chair of the MOILP Committee (cbrown@jw.com), at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your commitment to a diverse legal profession in Houston. Sincerely, Laura Gibson President, Houston Bar Association 2

3 LIST OF PARTICIPATING EMPLOYERS ( ) Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto & Friend Andrews Kurth LLP Baker Botts L.L.P. Codilis & Stawiarski, P.C. The Ericksen Law Firm Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP Hewlett Packard Company Locke Lord LLP LyondellBasell Norton Rose Fulbright Shell Oil Company Willy, Nanayakkara, Rivera & Goins GOVERNMENTAL AND NON-PROFIT ENTITIES DHS, ICE, Office of Chief Counsel Harris County Attorney's Office Harris County District Attorney's Office JUDGES Hon. Sheri Dean, 309th Family District Court Hon. Vanessa D. Gilmore, United States District Court Hon. Michael Gomez, 129th Civil District Court Hon. Tad Halbach, 333rd Civil District Court Hon. Marvin Isgur, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Hon. Michael Landrum, 113th Civil District Court Hon. Debra I. Mayfield, Civil County Court at Law No. 1 Hon. Gray H. Miller, United States District Court Hon. Elaine Palmer, 215th Civil District Court Hon. R.K. Sandill, 127th Civil District Court 3

4 APPLICATION CALENDAR Friday, November 13, 2015 Prospective Employers Requested to Confirm Participation by this Date. Please complete the form included in this packet and return it to Bonnie Simmons at the HBA. On the form, employers may specify hiring criteria and any particular information they wish to receive. Monday, January 25, 2016, no later than 5:00 p.m. Student Application Submission Deadline All student applications must be submitted to the MOILP Committee by this date. The HBA MOILP Committee will review and forward the completed application(s) to the employers selected by the students. The employers will select the students they wish to interview. Employers will contact students directly to schedule interviews at their offices. The length of each clerkship, the work performed, and any salary are determined by each employer. The HBA MOILP Committee encourages employers to make such information available to candidates during the application and interview process. Friday, March 4, 2016 Deadline for Employers to Complete Interviews Friday, March 11, 2016 Deadline for Employers to Extend Offers Friday, March 25, 2016 Offer Acceptance Deadline By this date, students must inform the HBA and their law school career services office whether they have accepted an offer. A STUDENT MAY ONLY ACCEPT ONE (1) OFFER THROUGH THE MOILP PROGRAM Summer L Minority Clerkships Begin 4

5 HOUSTON BAR ASSOCIATION MINORITY OPPORTUNITIES IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION COMMITTEE 1L MINORITY SUMMER CLERKSHIP AND MENTORING PROGRAM Frequently Asked Questions Q. 1: HOW DO EMPLOYERS SELECT POTENTIAL 1L CLERKS? A: Employers should specify what documents they require, and any hiring criteria, on the form they provide to the HBA. Students may then choose to submit an application to up to 5 employers. They must provide each selected employer with a cover letter, a resume, a personal statement highlighting the applicant s aspirations, and unique qualifications to the practice of law, and any additional information requested by each potential employer. All applications must be submitted to the HBA by January 25, The HBA MOILP Committee will promptly review and process the applications and forward them to participating employers. Q. 2: ARE INTERVIEWS FOR THE PROGRAM LIKE TRADITIONAL OCI? A: No. Once an employer has selected the candidates it wishes to interview, the employer contacts the candidate directly to schedule an interview time. The HBA MOILP Committee only asks that interviews be completed by March 4, 2016, and that employers inform the HBA of all offers extended, and whether those offers are accepted. Q. 3: WHAT ARE EMPLOYERS EXPECTED TO PAY 1L CLERKS? A: The HBA MOILP Committee leaves the amount of compensation up to the employer, subject to the requirements of federal and state law. The Fair Labor Standards Act imposes limitations on unpaid internships with private law firms or legal departments. Generally the FLSA does not permit individuals to volunteer their services to for-profit business, and instead requires for-profit businesses to pay such individuals minimum wage and any overtime. Q. 4: ARE WE REQUIRED TO HIRE 1L S BACK AFTER THEIR 2L YEAR? A: No. The Program s objective is to provide candidates an opportunity to obtain meaningful work experience. Participating employers are under no obligation to invite candidates back for the following year or to extend offers of future employment. Nonetheless, we encourage candidates and employers to discuss what the employer s needs and criteria are for second-summer clerkships, if applicable, so that candidates know what would be expected of them should they wish to apply for future work opportunities. 5

6 EMPLOYER QUESTIONNAIRE HOUSTON BAR ASSOCIATION MINORITY OPPORTUNITIES IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION COMMITTEE 1L MINORITY SUMMER CLERKSHIP AND MENTORING PROGRAM Thank you for participating in the upcoming L Minority Summer Clerkship and Mentoring Program. In order to facilitate the placement of the best-suited candidate to meet your hiring criteria and needs, please complete this questionnaire and return it via regular mail, , or fax to: Houston Bar Association c/o Bonnie Simmons Chevazz Brown 1111 Bagby, FLB 200, Houston, Texas (713) / (713) fax Name of Employer: Contact: Phone: Fax: Title: Summer Clerkship(s) Positions Available Other Salary Paid Unpaid (Judiciary/Gov t/non-profit only) Length US Citizenship Yes No Criminal Background Check 4 weeks 6 weeks weeks To Be Determined *Specific Dates if Available Yes No Security Clearance Yes No Employer Specific Application Required Other Requirements: Yes No Please be reminded, a student applicant may only accept one offer through this program. 6