Time to say goodbye to the NAPABA 2011 Convention.

It's our final night here in Atlanta at the 23rd Annual NAPABA Convention. It has been a great three days of chatting with other law students, attorneys and judges. We have learned so much about the progress and successes of the APA community that we want to share this with all our members back in snowy MN (yes, I know we missed the first snow of the season).

So check in regularly to catch our review of the Convention. I will be uploading pictures and including testimonials of the panels and events we attended, bios of the different speakers present and the types of opportunities out there for law students. Though only two WM students could attend this year's Convention, we hope that our experience will entice you to attend next year's.

In fact, I want you all to save the date! The NAPABA 2012 Convention will be held in Washington D.C. at the JW Marriott from November 15th to the 18th.

For more information about this year's Convention, head on over to the Office of Multicultural Affairs and check the news stand. I will be leaving copies of the Convention materials (I apologize for my scribbles!) in the office. Again, check the blog in the next few days for posts on NAPABA Atlanta 2011.

A final good night to Atlanta, to NAPABA and to all the awesome folks we've had the pleasure of meeting!

Multicultural Shabbat Dinner this Friday!

The Jewish Law Student Association (JLSA) invites you to join us for our annual Shabbat Dinner, on November 11th at 5:00 pm in the auditorium.

This year, the event is generously co-sponsored by LLSA, APALSA, Out!Law, NALSA, STAND and the Multicultural Affairs Office. We’ll be providing a family-style dinner, that will be kosher and have vegetarian options, as well as wine and challah.

Diversity PLP credit available.

Families, significant others, and alumni are welcome. Please sign up in the Multicultural Affairs Office and indicate how many guests you plan to bring.

Space is limited, so sign up as soon as possible!

Hope to see you there!
-JLSA

The ABA 2011 Judicial Clerkship Program

Message from William Mitchell's Office of Multicultural Affairs. 

ABA Council for Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Educational Pipeline

ABA Judicial Division

The ABA 2011 Judicial Clerkship Program

February 2 – 4, 2012

New Orleans, Louisiana

Students from disadvantage and underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to participate in this worthwhile opportunity to network with judges and former law clerks from all over the country. The Judicial Clerkship Program simulates the clerkship experience that is aimed at addressing several important issues regarding clerkships, including what judicial clerks do on a daily basis, career options, how to apply for a judicial clerkship, and the benefits of clerking.

You have an opportunity to attend the ABA Clerkship program by submitting the following:

• A Resume

• An essay in 500 words or less on “Does the Death Penalty Deliver Justice?”

• A brief statement on why this opportunity would be beneficial to your law school experience.

Please submit the information to the Multicultural Affairs Office by November 7, 2011 on or before 5:00 p.m.

TEN Tickets to the NAPABA-MN Gala on Mitchell

William Mitchell has purchased ten tickets for students to attend the Annual NAPABA-MN Gala on October 6th. If you will like to be one of the ten lucky students attending the event for free, sign-up up at the Office of Multicultural Affairs.

The 2011 Welcome Reception for New & Returning Multicultural Students

Remember that Reception I mentioned two posts back? Well, here's the link with highlights and photos from the event. Do check out the photos! They were taken by our Assistant Dean and Director of Multicultural Affairs, Lawrencina Mason Oramalu.

And of course, special thanks to Sharon Van Leer and Beryl Rourke for coordinating this event!

Networking Tip #1

Last night, the Office of Multicultural Affairs had its Welcome Reception for New & Returning Students. And it was a great! Returning students chatted with 1Ls and offered advice on classes and professors. Professors and deans were also there to welcome the new students. It makes me happy to see how William Mitchell continues to be diverse and culturally inclusive. Many of our multicultural alumni attended last night, and they also offered this advice (or warning!) to the 1Ls:

Today is the day you start looking for a job!

Events like these are great for networking. In fact, it's the primary purpose. Law students forget that other than reading for classes, briefing and outlining that we need to think about life after law school. The economy still isn't doing too well, and so it's difficult to land a job after graduation. This means putting yourself out there!

One useful tool to aid you in networking is a business card. It contains your contact information in a sleek little hard-copy format. How do you go about getting business cards? Go to Career Services and ask them about it. When I had my cards made last year, the school used the company below.

Rapid Printing, Inc.
2520 W. Larpenteur Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55113
(651) 644-9766
debbie@rapit.com

I hope this has been helpful. APALSA wants its students to be successful and competitive, so keep checking the website for more useful tips! If you want us to cover something specific, email us!