Carrying on Our Founders Mission

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2 Carrying on Our Founders Mission American University Washington College of Law has a unique history. Two pioneering women Ellen Spencer Mussey and Emma Gillett founded the school more than 100 years ago, at a time when women were generally excluded from the legal profession. The founders fostered a tradition of providing opportunities for women, and their extraordinary foresight and perseverance form the foundation of this law school. To carry on our founders mission and as a testament to their ideals and tenacity, Washington College of Law has developed a specialized program for lawyers who have temporarily put their careers on hold and now want to re-enter the legal profession. This program may particularly interest women lawyers one-half of law school graduates whose participation in the legal profession is vital. The program provides a gateway for women and men alike to reclaim their legal careers and contribute to the profession. Claudio Grossman Dean The Lawyer Re-entry Program gave me the social connections to support me through the job search process. I really enjoyed meeting the participants and staff and appreciated the community with whom I could share my journey and then celebrate the success! --Kathleen Weber, Associate, Folks & O Connor, PLLC, Phoenix, Arizona WCL s Lawyer Re-entry Program and its great staff helped me refresh my legal research and writing skills, clarify my goals, update and revise my resume, and develop vital job search strategies. Equally important, the program fostered a warm atmosphere of connection, support, and possibility. No one can successfully re-enter without help both staff and my fellow participants have been invaluable sources of knowledge, advice, and encouragement. --Debo West, Re-entering Attorney

3 Lawyer Re-Entry Program T he decision to re-enter the legal profession after an absence may feel daunting but it needn t be so. The Washington College of Law Lawyer Re-Entry Program makes this transition a rewarding, exciting, and energizing experience. This six-day program, with a follow-up one-on-one coaching session, will prepare you to renew your legal career in a way that works for you, your life, and your family. The faculty and career professionals who designed the program appreciate the work/life challenges many lawyers face. In the program, you will explore career options, update your knowledge, and refresh your job search skills. You will also work individually with a professional coach to help motivate and sustain your re-entry efforts. Washington College of Law s exceptional faculty, together with experts in the field of career and professional development, lead and facilitate this program, which is co-sponsored by the Women s Bar Association of DC, the National Association of Women Lawyers, and the DC Volunteer Lawyers Project. What you can expect: s )NSTRUCTION BY 7ASHINGTON #OLLEGE OF,AW FACULTY s & ACILITATION BY LEADERS IN THE leld OF CAREER AND PROFESSIONAL development s )NTERACTIVE AND PRACTICAL SESSIONS s /NE ON ONE PROFESSIONAL COACHING s #REATION OF AN INDIVIDUAL ACTION PLAN FOR RE ENTRY s / PPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH PEERS WHO SHARE SIMILAR backgrounds and work/life challenges Program Faculty Washington College of Law has brought together an extraordinary group of faculty members, practicing attorneys, career and professional development experts, and coaches to ensure your experience is a success. The program is led by Executive Director Linda Mercurio, founder of Transformative Impact, a leadership coaching and consulting practice. Program faculty will help you develop a career vision, identify strengths and further training needs, develop a successful job search strategy, update basic legal research, and gain exposure to new technology and technology-based research. In addition, the program features inspiring keynote and panel speakers. Please check our web site for updates or to view previous featured speakers.

4 Schedule and Curriculum The Program is held over six days - Fridays and Saturdays - from 9 a.m. 5 p.m. Please check our website, wcl.american.edu/reentry, for updated dates. The four part curriculum utilizes classroom workshops, discussions, team interactions, hands-on research, technology and writing instruction, and individual counseling. Part I: Self Assessment, Career Visioning, Goal Setting and Negotiation s 2EGAINING A SENSE OF SELF AS A LAWYER AND PROFESSIONAL s #REATING A CAREER VISION s 3ETTING REALISTIC AND ATTAINABLE GOALS CONGRUENT WITH YOUR VALUES s )DENTIFYING STRENGTHS TRANSFERRABLE SKILLS AND ADDITIONAL TRAINING NEEDS s!ppreciating NON LINEAR CAREERS AND WAYS OF LAUNCHING OR RE LAUNCHING s.urturing AND SUSTAINING AMBITION s.egotiating WITH A FOCUS ON HOW TO ASK FOR AND GET WHAT YOU WANT Part II: Effective Tools for Securing a Job that Enhances Professional and Personal Development s 2ESUME AND COVER LETTER WRITING INCLUDING HOW TO ACCOUNT FOR TIME AWAY FROM THE PROFESSION s )NTERVIEWING HOW TO ADDRESS QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR TIME AWAY s.etworking HOW TO ENGAGE EFFECTIVELY WITHIN YOUR CURRENT NETWORK AND HOW TO RE BUILD A professional network s 0OSITIONING YOURSELF AS AN ATTRACTIVE RE ENTRY CANDIDATE s 7HAT TO EXPECT ONCE YOU RE ENTER THE PROFESSION NAVIGATING WORKPLACE hculture SHOCKv Part III: Legal Research, Writing and Technology s,egal RESEARCH AND WRITING REFRESHER OPTIONAL 7ESTLAW AND,EXIS.EXUS TRAINING s,egal TECHNOLOGY UPDATE INCLUDING hcool TOOLSv PRACTICE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE AND ELECTRONIC discovery Part IV: One-on-One Professional Coaching s /NE TWO HOUR INDIVIDUAL COACHING SESSION TO HELP ALIGN GOALS AND ACTIONS ELIMINATE HURDLES TO success, inspire performance, and provide support during the job search wcl.american.edu/reentry

5 Program Application To apply, please the following items to s A BRIEF STATEMENT OF INTEREST NO LONGER THAN TYPED PAGES including your career goals, assessment of current technology skills, and financial need s A CURRENT RESUME IF AVAILABLE s A N UNOFlCIAL LAW SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT AND OR OTHER EVIDENCE OF BAR admission/degree earned Or mail to: Linda Mercurio Lawyer Re-entry Program, Office of the Dean American University Washington College of Law -ASSACHUSETTS!VENUE.7 3UITE 7ASHINGTON $# There is no application fee. Program Fee: $2, Reduced fee and/or sponsorship support may be available. &OR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WCL AMERICAN EDU REENTRY OR CALL My stated goal was to be one of the program s success stories. Nine months later, I am pleased to report re-entry to a full-time associate position in downtown Washington, DC. I couldn t have done it without the program s practical pointers, skills-building, and confidence boost. -Amy Beckett, Associate, Passman & Kaplan, PC

6 Lawyer Re-Entry Program Office of the Dean American University Washington College of Law 4801 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 122 Washington, DC Phone: (202) EO/AA University and Employer Non-Profit U.S. Postage PAID Permit No Washington, D.C.