Month: March 2016

The School of Law is accepting applications for the David D. Dowd Sr. Memorial Award. Named in tribute to a distinguished attorney dedicated to public service and created by Judge David D. Dowd, Jr. upon the 25th anniversary of his service in the federal judiciary, the purpose of the Dowd Award is to promote a commitment to public service for all lawyers. Dowd Awards are directed to Akron Law students interested in seeking professional careers in public service following graduation.

To be eligible, you must:
1. Complete your second year by Spring of 2016
2. Show a commitment to public service
3. Be capable of working 20 hours per week during the summer of 2016 for minimum of ten weeks in a public service position
4. Be committed to working in a public setting upon graduation

Placements this summer – in order of preference:
1st Preference: The Summit County Prosecutor’s Office, The Stark County Prosecutor’s Office, The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office; law departments for Akron, Canton, Massillon; and Public Defender’s Offices in Summit and Stark counties.

2nd Preference: The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio or the Public Defender’s Office for the District

3rd Preference: Other prosecutors’ or law directors’ offices

4th Preference: Other not already listed public service agencies

The student will be expected to work 20 hours per week for not less than 10 weeks.

If you are interested in being considered for this award, please submit a cover letter and resume to Deb Casey in the Career Planning Office at dcasey1@uakron.edu or by hard copy by April 8, 2016. Students in the upper 30% of the class will be given preference. Students should list short and long term goals, and explain why the student wishes to work in a particular office, as noted above. A committee will review applications and a student will be selected before the spring term is over.

Overview: You apply while you’re a first or second year law student, using your LSAT score, your ACT or SAT score (or if you didn’t take either of those, we can set you up for the ASVAB); and you will also get a physical exam at a local MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station.)  After that, there are some paperwork requirements for the actual application. And then your application package sent to a board, which determines if you are eligible to attend OCS during the summer between your first and second year.

Once eligible to go to OCS, you attend the training—which is tough and selective—and if you make it through, you’re offered a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the USMC. We’re going to pay you to attend this training, which is held in Quantico, Virginia for 10 weeks. We’ll also pay your travel there and back. And it’s worth noting that until you actually accept a commission, you are under absolutely NO obligation! If you don’t make it, or if you decide this isn’t for you, you simply go back to your regular life without any further obligation to the military or the Marines.  No questions asked and no hard feelings. Not everyone is cut out for this training or this career.

But if you DO make it—you become one of the elite. You’re a Marine, and a JAG officer. And you will at that time incur a 4-year obligation to serve in the Marine Corps on active duty.

But first, you will come back home, and you’ll finish law school. After OCS, you will be eligible for tuition reimbursement for up to $5200 per year for your second and third years.  And, during the summer between year two and three,  (and again after you take the Bar) you can apply for our paid “internships” where you will be assigned to a law command to help work on cases—and you’ll get FULL military pay and benefits while you’re there! We’ll pay your travel to and from the duty.  You also get an opportunity to be promoted to FIRST lieutenant a full year ahead of your peers in the Marine Corps. That will mean extra pay once you’re on active duty.

Graduate from Law School in May, take the Bar in July—and apply for our Post-Bar internship.  Again, it’s paid duty—so you can begin to ease your financial burdens early on. Pass the Bar in October—and you’ll get orders to active duty—and your 4-year obligation will begin. You’ll first attend The Basic School—which is the first stop for all Marine Corps officers no matter what their specialty—and from there, it’s on to Naval Justice School in Providence, Rhode Island.  That makes your first year fairly simple—and once you leave Naval Justice School, it’s on to your first assignment as a JAG officer. From then on, you have a lot of choices—and you’ll be gaining a wealth of trial and litigation experience. You will not simply be litigating military cases—JAG officers work on all types of law cases from criminal to international to entertainment or corporate law–you could be doing nearly anything!

If interested in learning more about this opportunity, please email your resume to Director O’Brien: ab139@uakron.edu by this Friday, March 18^th at Noon.