THE LONG DISTANCE JOB SEARCH MANUAL

Transcription

1 THE LONG DISTANCE JOB SEARCH MANUAL The content includes general tools and tips for conducting a long distance job search, as well as specific local area information for states across the United States. The George Washington University Law School Career Development Office th Street, NW, Suite 310 Washington, DC (202) , Fax: (202) , cdo@law.gwu.edu

2 Table of Contents Introduction 3 Tips for Conducting the Long Distance Job Search 3 Reciprocity Information 4-5 Specific Job Search Information (organized by states, including bar information, newspapers, and local and specialty bar association information) 5 A to C 5-10 D to G H to K L to M N to P R to S T to Z This manual contains a sampling of available information and resources. GW Law School does not endorse any particular source of information over others. 2

3 Introduction All job searches, including long distance searches, are challenging. This manual will provide you with tips for conducting your search outside of the DC Metro area and with resources specific to various geographic regions. Should you have any questions throughout your job search, let the CDO staff know. We will be happy to assist you! Remember, the CDO Resource Library contains useful resources for areas outside of Washington, DC. Go home for the summer! Tips to Conducting a Long Distance Job Search The DC area is an attractive area in which to attend law school and practice law, and many of you will have successful legal careers here. That being said, you may have more meaningful legal experiences (specifically during your first-year summer or first year out of law school) in your hometown or city. Legal employers are often happy to welcome back students who have connections to the geographic area and are receiving their legal education in the nation s capital. Articulate your interest in, connection to, or commitment to the location clearly and concisely in your cover letter. Your ability to articulate your interest in a locale is crucial to getting your resume to someone who can make a decision about granting you an interview. Legal employers look for certainty that their investment in you won t disappear. Don t invent friends, family, or fiancés. Contact alumni. GW Law graduates and graduates of your undergraduate school are often willing to help students coming to their community. Talking to alumni allows you to gain a perspective on the state of the legal community, the respected organizations in the area, and the overall customs of that community. Check with a counselor in the CDO to obtain names of GW alums through our Alumni Career Advisor Network. You can also search for law school graduates through Martindale-Hubbell on Lexis and at Participate in Regional Interview Programs. The GW Law School sponsors and participates in several Fall Regional Interview Programs outside of the DC area. Additionally, the Law School advertises job fairs and conferences (sponsored by bar associations and other groups) that take place outside of the DC area. Apply for post-j.d. judicial clerkships. Judicial clerkships are a great way to enter a new legal market and make connections. See The Vermont Law School Guide to State Court Judicial Clerkship Procedures in the CDO Resource Library; this resource is also available on-line ( Contact the CDO for a password. Other resources are The BNA Directory of Federal and State Courts (contains a chart of each state s court system) and the GW Law Judge Database ( The database helps you identify judges to apply to, and helps the Clerkship Office coordinate the preparation of letters of recommendation from GW faculty as requested by students seeking post-graduation clerkships. Finally, the CDO Clerkship Coordinator and the clerk s 3

4 office of the courts that interest you should be able to answer any questions you may have about applying for judicial clerkships. Remember While the CDO has directories of public interest employers, there are many websites to check ( etc.) Also, you should cross-check directories and other sources. For example, conduct local newspaper searches for discussions of the issues that are of interest to you and to identify all the agencies, groups, and individuals who are doing this type of work. Carroll s Federal and State Directories and the Federal and State Yellow Books are good sources to look at to ensure that you haven t missed the federal, state, and local offices that might do the work you care about. You can search the Yellow Books on-line through the GW Portal. On the left hand side of the Portal, click on the Leadership Directories icon. Search the National Trade and Professional Association Directory for groups that do the work in which you are interested. Join city and state bar associations. You will get newsletters and directories which will help you identify prominent or interesting attorneys for whom you might like to work. In addition, you will have made a connection to the place which will appear on your resume. Join specialty bar associations. If you are interested in a particular kind of job or practice area, or if you are a member of a specific group, join the related bar association. Whether it is a group of patent lawyers, Native American lawyers, tax lawyers, or women lawyers, joining the association gives you access to a group which can be enormously helpful to you. You will get bulletins, directories, newsletters, and invitations to events. Go meet people, network, network, network, and then follow up! Use Leadership Directories. Leadership Directories is accessible through the GW Law web Portal. It allows you to search all of the Yellow Books on-line and obtain information on judges, state, local and federal government information in every state. It also provides information on corporations and non profits throughout the country and is updated daily. To access it log into the portal and look on the left hand side under Career Development and click on the link that says Leadership Directories. Request Reciprocity. Reciprocity allows you to use some of the career resources (typically job postings) in law schools outside the DC Metro area. The CDO can often, but not always, arrange reciprocal career services for you at another law school. Reciprocity is limited and access is only granted during certain times of the year. You must contact our CDO Resource Librarian in order to apply for reciprocity. Walk-ins are not allowed. Reciprocity Policies: NALP member law schools support a policy of providing job search assistance to students and graduates of other schools through reciprocity. This allows law schools to provide reasonable access to their career resources for law students and graduates from other law schools that agree to provide similar services. Please note: Most law schools have a time during which no 4

5 reciprocity requests are granted. This usually occurs from August 1 to December 15 when law schools are preparing for and conducting their on-campus recruitment programs. See the CDO Student Manual for a complete description of GW s reciprocity policy and for other law schools reciprocity policies. Job Search Resources Organized By State *Each state listing below contains the Board of Bar Examiners /Commissioners /etc. website, from which you may obtain information about and requirements of the bar exam, when it is offered, and how long in advance you must apply to take the exam. **Each state listing below contains general, local, and specialty bar associations. Those listed under Local Bar Associations may have statewide membership, but the association is physically located in a certain city or region of the state. Please note that not all bar associations (typically only the first one) listed under the general state heading are mandatory for members of that state s bar. Non-mandatory bar associations are listed under the general state heading because they have offices and members located throughout that state. ALABAMA Alabama State Bar Alabama Defense Lawyers Association Alabama Trial Lawyers Association (This website also lists Legal Positions Available under Birmingham Job Resources Birmingham News Birmingham Times Birmingham Bar Association Montgomery Job Resources Montgomery Advertiser Montgomery Independent Montgomery Bar Association

6 ALASKA Alaska Bar Association Anchorage Job Resources Anchorage Daily News Anchorage Press Anchorage Bar Association Juneau Job Resources Capital City Weekly Juneau Bar Association Hanna Sebold, President 123 4th Street, Dimond Courthouse P.O. Box Juneau, AK (907) ARIZONA State Bar of Arizona Arizona Trial Lawyers Association Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education National Elder Law Foundations Phoenix Job Resources Arizona Business Gazette Arizona Capitol Times The Arizona Republic Phoenix New Times Arizona Women Lawyers Association Maricopa County Bar Association

7 Maricopa County Hispanic Bar Association Tucson Job Resources Arizona Daily Star Tucson Citizen Tucson Weekly Pima County Bar Association ARKANSAS Arkansas Bar Association Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association (Click on Legal Career Center to search job listings.) Little Rock Job Resources Arkansas Business Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Arkansas Times The North Little Rock Times Pulaski County Bar Association www2.arkansasonline.com/ CALIFORNIA State Bar of California California Lawyers for the Arts (Click on Bar Exam.) Los Angeles Job Resources Los Angeles Daily News Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Weekly

8 Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles County Beverly Hills Bar Association Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, Inc. Lawyers Club of Los Angeles County Los Angeles County Bar Association Orange County Bar Association San Bernardino County Bar Association San Fernando Valley Bar Association Ventura County Bar Association Interview Program: Every Fall, GW Law, with a consortium of law schools, participates in a Regional Interview Program in the Los Angeles area. The bidding process for this program is done in conjunction with GW Law s Fall Recruitment Program. Oakland Job Resources East Bay Express Oakland News The Oakland Tribune Alameda County Bar Association Hellenic Law Society of Northern California Sacramento Job Resources The Sacramento Bee California Public Defenders Association Consumer Attorneys of California Sacramento County Bar Association Women Lawyers of Sacramento San Diego Job Resources San Diego Union Tribune American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Lawyers Club of San Diego La Jolla Bar Association San Diego County Bar Association Tom Homann Law Association

9 San Francisco Job Resources San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Examiner Bay Area Legal Aid Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom Bar Association of San Francisco Contra Costa County Bar Association San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association Interview Program: Every Fall, GW Law, with a consortium of law schools, participates in a Regional Interview Program in the San Francisco area. The bidding process for this program is done in conjunction with GW Law s Fall Recruitment Program. COLORADO Colorado Bar Association Colorado Criminal Defense Bar Colorado Hispanic Bar Association Boulder Job Resources Colorado Daily Boulder County Business Report Boulder County Bar Association Boulder Criminal Defense Bar Colorado Springs Job Resources Colorado Springs Independent The Gazette El Paso County Bar Association

10 Denver Job Resources Rocky Mountain News Denver Business Journal Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Colorado Colorado Defense Lawyers Association Colorado Trial Lawyers Association Colorado Women's Bar Association Denver Bar Association CONNECTICUT Connecticut Bar Association Connecticut Asian Pacific American Bar Association Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association Connecticut Hispanic Bar Association Connecticut Italian-American Bar Association Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association Lawyers Collaborative for Diversity, Inc Hartford Job Resources Connecticut Post Hartford Advocate Hartford Courant Hartford County Bar Association New Haven Job Resources CT Central New Haven Register Yale Daily News New Haven County Bar Association 10

11 DELAWARE Delaware State Bar Association Wilmington Job Resources The Business Ledger Spark The News Journal Delaware Trial Lawyers Association FLORIDA (Florida is a state that encourages early application to the Bar.) The Florida Bar The Florida Justice Association Association of Pretrial Professionals of Florida Attorneys Bar Association of Florida, Inc. Florida Association for Women Lawyers Florida Defense Lawyers Association www Fort Lauderdale Job Resources Daily Business Review Sun-Sentinel Broward County Bar Association Interview Program: Every Fall, GW Law, with a consortium of law schools, participates in a Regional Interview Program in the Miami area and some Fort Lauderdale firms are represented. The bidding process for this program is done in conjunction with GW Law s Fall Recruitment Program. 11

12 Miami Job Resources Miami Daily Miami Herald Miami Today Dade County Bar Association www Interview Program: Every Fall, GW Law, with a consortium of law schools, participates in a Regional Interview Program in the Miami area. The bidding process for this program is done in conjunction with GW Law s Fall Recruitment Program Tampa Job Resources St. Petersburg Times The Tampa Tribune Tampa Bay Business Journal Tampa Bay Trial Lawyers Association Hillsborough County Bar Association The Carrollwood Bar Association Clearwater Bar Association St. Petersburg Bar Association GEORGIA State Bar of Georgia Georgia Association of Women Lawyers Atlanta Job Resources The Atlanta Journal-Constitution The Fulton County Daily Report Atlanta Bar Association Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation Cobb County Bar Association The Gate City Bar Association Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys

13 The Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Georgia Trial Lawyers Association Interview Program: Every Fall, GW Law, with a consortium of law schools, participates in a Regional Interview Program in the Atlanta area. The bidding process for this program is done in conjunction with GW Law s Fall Recruitment Program. HAWAII (Click on Bar Application and Instructions.) Hawaii State Bar Association Honolulu Job Resources Hawaii News The Honolulu Advertiser Honolulu Star-Bulletin Consumer Lawyers of Hawaii IDAHO www2.state.id.us/isb/adm/exam_info.htm Idaho State Bar Association Idaho Association of Defense Counsel Idaho Trial Lawyers Association www2.state.id.us/isb Boise Job Resources The Idaho Statesman ILLINOIS Illinois State Bar Association

14 Chicago Job Resources Chicago Tribune Chicago Sun-Times Chicago Daily Law Bulletin The Chicago Bar Association Chicago Council of Lawyers Decatur Bar Association DuPage County Bar Association Illinois Defense Counsel Illinois Trial Lawyers Associations Justinian Society of Lawyers Kane County Bar Association Black Women Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago, Inc. National Employment Lawyers Association/Illinois Will County Bar Association Interview Program: Every Fall, GW Law, with a consortium of law schools, participates in a Regional Interview Program in the Chicago area. The bidding process for this program is done in conjunction with GW Law s Fall Recruitment Program. INDIANA Indiana State Bar Association Indiana Trial Lawyers Association Indianapolis Job Resources Indianapolis Recorder Indianapolis Star Indianapolis Bar Association South Bend Job Resources South Bend Tribune St. Joseph County Bar Association 14

15 IOWA (Click on Professional Regulation, Bar Admission & Practice Rules.) The Iowa State Bar Association Des Moines Job Resources Des Moines Register KANSAS The Kansas Bar Association Kansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Kansas Trial Lawyers Association Kansas City Job Resources The Kansas City Kansan The Kansas City Star Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association Wichita Job Resources The Wichita Eagle The Wichita Bar Association KENTUCKY Bar Association: Kentucky Bar Association Kentucky State Government Bar Association

16 Lexington Job Resources Lexington Herald-Leader Fayette County Bar Association Lexington County Bar Association Northern Kentucky Bar Association Louisville Job Resources The Courier-Journal Louisville Bar Association LOUISIANA Louisiana State Bar Association Louisiana Association for Justice Baton Rouge Job Resources Advocate The Greater Baton Rouge Business Report Baton Rouge Bar Association Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel New Orleans Job Resources The Times-Picayune Federal Bar Association New Orleans Chapter New Orleans Bar Association

17 MAINE Maine State Bar Association Maine Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Maine Trial Lawyers Association Portland Job Resources The Phoenix Portland Press Herald MARYLAND The Maryland State Bar Association, Inc. Links to Maryland s Local and Specialty Bar Associations Annapolis Job Resources The Capital Baltimore Job Resources Baltimore Sun Baltimore Times The Daily Record Baltimore County Bar Association Interview Program: Many large Baltimore law firms participate in GW Law School s Fall Recruitment Program. MASSACHUSETTS 17

18 Massachusetts Bar Association Massachusetts District Attorneys Association Hellenic Bar Association Massachusetts Lesbian and Gay Bar Association The Women s Bar of Massachusetts Boston Job Resources The Boston Globe Boston Herald Massachusetts Lawyer s Weekly Boston Bar Association Boston Bar Foundation Boston Patent Law Association Worcester Job Resources Telegram and Gazette Worcester County Bar Association MICHIGAN State Bar of Michigan Michigan Defense Trial Counsel, Inc. Michigan Intellectual Property Law Association Michigan Trial Lawyers Association Women Lawyers Association of Michigan Foundation Detroit Job Resources Crain s Detroit Business Detroit Free Press Detroit News Marketplace Detroit (Detroit Free Press and Detroit News Classifieds) Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association 18

19 Grand Rapids Job Resources Grand Rapids Business Journal The Grand Rapids Press Grand Rapids Bar Association MINNESOTA Minnesota State Bar Association (Click on Related Org s for links to local and specialty bar associations.) Minneapolis Job Resources Finance and Commerce Star Tribune Minnesota Lawyer Hennepin County Bar Association St. Paul Job Resources St. Paul Pioneer Press Ramsey County Bar Association MISSISSIPPI Mississippi State Bar Association Legal Organizations Information Local Bar Associations Information Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association

20 Jackson Job Resources The Clarion-Ledger Jackson Advocate Jackson Free Press MISSOURI Bar Association: The Missouri Bar Missouri Association of Trial Lawyers Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers Kansas City Job Resources The Kansas City Business Journal The Kansas City Star Missouri Lawyers Weekly Eastern Jackson County Bar Association Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association St. Louis Job Resources St. Louis Riverfront Times The St. Louis American Newspaper St. Louis Post-Dispatch Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis MONTANA State Bar of Montana Local Bar Association Information Montana Defense Trial Lawyers Association Montana Trial Lawyers Association

21 Billings Job Resources Billings Gazette The Billings Outpost Yellowstone Area Bar Association Helena Job Resources Helena Independent Record Queen City News NEBRASKA (Click on Admissions.) Bar Association: Nebraska State Bar Association Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys Nebraska State Bar Foundation Lincoln Job Resources Daily Nebraskan Lincoln Journal Star Lincoln Bar Association Omaha World-Herald The Reader Omaha Bar Association LBarHome.html Omaha Job Resources NEVADA 21

22 State Bar of Nevada Nevada Trial Lawyers Association Northern Nevada Women Lawyers Association Las Vegas Job Resources Las Vegas Newspapers Classifieds Las Vegas Review Journal Las Vegas Sun Clark County Bar Association Reno Job Resources Reno Gazette-Journal Washoe County Bar Association NEW HAMPSHIRE New Hampshire Bar Association The New Hampshire Bar Foundation New Hampshire Trial Lawyers Association New Hampshire Women s Bar Association (Click on Publications, then Classifieds for job listings.) Concord Job Resources Concord Monitor Portsmouth Job Resources New Hampshire Gazette Portsmouth Herald Interview Program: Every Fall, GW Law, with a consortium of law schools, participates in a Regional Interview Program in New Hampshire. The bidding process for this program is done in conjunction with GW Law s Fall Recruitment Program. 22

23 NEW JERSEY New Jersey State Bar Association New Jersey State Bar Foundation The Association of Trial Lawyers of America New Jersey (Click on Useful Links for links to local bar associations.) Jersey City Job Resources New Jersey Lawyer, Inc. New Jersey Online Newark Job Resources The Star-Ledger Trenton Job Resources The Times The Trentonian Interview Program: Every Fall, GW Law, with a consortium of law schools, participates in a Regional Interview Program in the New York City Metro area and many New Jersey firms attend. The bidding process for this program is done in conjunction with GW Law s Fall Recruitment Program. NEW MEXICO State Bar of New Mexico (Click on Other Bars/Legal Groups for links to specialty bar associations.) Albuquerque Job Resources Albuquerque Journal The Albuquerque Tribune

24 Albuquerque Bar Association Las Cruces Job Resources The Las Cruces Bulletin Las Cruces Sun-News NEW YORK New York State Bar Association New York Criminal and Civil Courts Bar Association Specialty and Local Bar Associations Albany Job Resources The Times-Union Albany County Bar Association Buffalo/Rochester Job Resources The Buffalo News Business First Democrat and Chronicle Rochester Business Journal Bar Association of Erie County Monroe County Bar Association New York City Metro Area Job Resources The New York Times New York Post New York Daily News The National Law Journal Newsday The Wall Street Journal

25 Nassau County Bar Association The Association of the Bar of the City of New York (This organization hosts receptions for law students every year.) Interview Program: Every Fall, GW Law sponsors a Regional Interview Program in the New York City area. The bidding process for this program is done in conjunction with GW Law s Fall Recruitment Program. NORTH CAROLINA The North Carolina State Bar North Carolina Bar Association North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys North Carolina Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Charlotte Job Resources Newspapers/Websites: Charlotte Business Journal Charlotte Employment Guide The Charlotte Observer The Charlotte Weekly Raleigh/Durham Job Resources Triangle Business Journal The Herald Sun The News & Observer Raleigh Employment Guide The Durham Bar Association NORTH DAKOTA Bar Association: 25