Month: April 2014

OACTA 2014 Law Student Diversity Scholarships Available – Deadline is 4/18

OACTA’s annual Law Student Diversity Scholarship program is open to incoming second and third-year African American, Hispanic, Asian, Pan Asian and Native American students enrolled at Ohio law schools. Incoming second and third-year female law students enrolled at Ohio law schools are also eligible regardless of race or ethnicity.  Other criteria for the scholarship include:

• Academic achievement in law school;

• Professional interest in civil defense practice; and

• Service to community and to the cause of diversity;

Up to two (2) scholarships in the amount of $1,250 each will be awarded to successful applicants.  Applicants are required to submit an application, law school transcript and a cover letter addressing the following:  academic, personal and professional accomplishments, and why they should be selected as a recipient of the scholarship.  Applicants may submit up to three letters of recommendation.

The completed application and all other requested material must be received by April 18, 2014.  Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Winners will be announced in June 2014.  Scholarship recipients will be recognized at the OACTA Annual Meeting in November.

Download Scholarship Application

Can students use Westlaw, Lexis and Bloomberg Law after graduation?

Graduating law students: Your access to these legal research databases continues even after graduation.  Some of the vendors require you to fill out an online form.  See special instructions below.

Bloomberg Law– Students have access for 6 months after they graduate. No extension of the password is needed.

Lexis – Students have two options for access after graduation.

  1. Access to Lexis will continue for graduating law students until Dec. 31, 2014 but students must fill out an application form.
  2. ASPIRE Program- graduates working for a non-profit or charitable organization can apply for a special ASPIRE ID for access to Lexis through Sept. 1, 2015.  To apply, fill out the Graduate ID Program application form at www.lexisnexis.com/grad-access.  You will need to provide verifying documentation.  More information.

Westlaw  – there are three levels of access after graduation.

  1. Research Access: Students have access for 6 months after they graduate if they extend their password. Use the Westlaw password Extension Form for graduating law students.
  2. Job Searching Access on WestlawNext: Students have access for one year after they graduate to use the job related databases, like the Directory.
  3. Study Aid Subscription: Students have access to www.lawschool.westlaw.com, TWEN, and Study Aid Subscription for 18 months after graduation.

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Questions: Contact Lynn Lenart, llenart@uakron.edu , 330-972-6357.

Summer use of Westlaw, Lexis and Bloomberg Law

Law students: if you are taking classes this summer you can continue to use Lexis, Westlaw and Bloomberg Law to conduct class related research.  Lexis and Bloomberg Law also permit you to use your law school passwords to conduct research for your employers!   Westlaw has restrictions against using your law school Westlaw password.  See specific information below.

Lexis Advance – Unlimited Access this Summer
Use Lexis Advance for any purpose this summer, including work you perform at a law firm, corporation, government agency or law school.  For summer 2014, students’ access to Lexis Advance is automatic.  You do not have to do a special summer registration.  More information.

Bloomberg Law – Unlimited Access this Summer
Access throughout law school, including during summer employment.  Your Bloomberg password stays active throughout the year.

Westlaw – Summer Restrictions Apply
1. You can use Westlaw during the summer for summer classes or another academic use.  You cannot use Westlaw to conduct research for a law firm, corporation or other entity that is paying you.  List of what is considered academic use.

2. You must extend your Westlaw password to continue your access this summer by filling out this Summer Extension form.  If you do not fill out this online form, your access to Westlaw will automatically be reduced to just two hours per month (June-July).

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For questions concerning proper use of your legal research passwords, please contact Lynn Lenart, llenart@uakron.edu , 330-972-6357.

Akron Bar Summer Minority Clerkship Program – deadline extended!!! Applications due Wednesday, April 9th!

Summer 2014 Minority Clerkship Program: A joint project of the Akron Bar Association Diversity Committee and The University of Akron School of Law

The Career Planning Office announces the 2014 Summer Minority Clerkship Program (the “Program”). All full-time first year (who have completed up to 29 credit hours) and part-time second-year (who have completed 23-44 credit hours) minority law students are eligible to apply to participate in the Program.

Initiated in 1990 by the Akron Bar Association, the Program has been very successful over the years. Now co-sponsored by the University of Akron School of Law, the Program is designed to provide real-world work experience for minority students in area law firms, corporations, government agencies, and courts. The ultimate goal is increased minority involvement in all aspects of the practice of law in the greater Akron community.

All full-time first year and part-time second year minority students in good academic standing are eligible to apply to participate in the Program. For your information, the Program timetable is below.

We encourage all eligible students to apply for participation in the Program. The Program will not only give you the opportunity to gain valuable legal experience, it will also afford you the ability to make informed decisions about your future by providing an insider’s view of what it is like to practice law.

Interested students can pick up an application in the Career Planning Office.

2014 MINORITY CLERKSHIP PROGRAM TIMETABLE

Wednesday, April 9 – Completed Program applications due to CPPO by 5:00 PM.

A Saturday in early April TBD- Program Interviews and Writing assignment – All students must participate in an interview with the Diversity Committee and must participate in a closed universe writing assignment (both on the same day).

End of April- Offers extended to those students accepted in to the Program and Diversity Committee to inform employers of their placement.

Applications are available in the CPPO or can be emailed to you. Email lawcareerplanning@uakron.edu to receive application materials.

Advanced Legal Applications for Fall 2014

The Fall Advanced Legal Applications course is offered first to students graduating in December 2014 that are required to take the course.  These students will receive an email once they have been identified.  Registration will take place after the July 1st Law School graduation application deadline to insure that all students intending to graduate in December 2014 have applied for graduation.  Once all required students are registered for the course then any remaining seats will be filled from a waitlist for December 2014 graduates only.  If you would like to be placed on the waitlist for the Fall offering, please email Misty D. Franklin at misty@uakron.edu.