What I Did This Summer: Michael J. Martucci ’14, Law Clerk, Law Office of Susan T. Aguiar

Michael Martucci is a second-year day student at New England Law | Boston. This past summer he worked as a law clerk at the Law Office of Susan, T. Aguiar, a busy solo practice in Boston, MA. As part of our new blog series highlighting student work Michael writes about his summer experience and explains how he found his internship.

My summer job search began around the middle of March. Having absolutely no legal connections in the area, the NEL|B CSO Symplicity site was my only resource for finding a summer internship—and it proved to be a valuable one. It was really important for me to be in Boston for the summer, so I dedicated about 8-10 hours each week looking through the site for new job postings and preparing cover letters. I kept a detailed record of dates and places that I applied, and made sure to follow up on every application and email. By the end of April the persistent effort paid off when I received an offer for a summer law clerk position at a busy solo practice. It was exactly what I was looking for: small firm atmosphere, located in the city, and to top it all off, it was a full-time, paid position.

I was very fortunate in that the attorney I worked for truly enjoyed teaching law students the practical “ins” and “outs” of the profession.  I expected to spend my summer filing papers and answering phones, so I was quite surprised on the first day when the attorney handed me a stack of files and asked me to begin research for a summary judgment motion. In fact, she allowed me to participate in almost every aspect of her personal injury law practice. My responsibilities included legal research, drafting memoranda and legal documents, filing documents at the courthouse, meeting with clients, and communicating with opposing counsel over the phone. It was a great hands-on experience of what it was like to work as an attorney.

My favorite part of the internship was gaining practical legal experience—it really helped to boost my confidence in school. I have no doubt that I am a better student this semester because of the work I did over the summer. The practical knowledge has helped me frame my classwork in a way that allows me to comprehend the material quicker and more thoroughly than before. This has been especially helpful given the heavy workload that accompanies the second-year of law school. The hardest part of the position was constantly juggling several different projects at the same time, especially since I had no prior legal experience. The biggest challenge was time management. However, successfully completing all the projects was by far the most rewarding part of my summer, and the constant juggling actually became enjoyable.

Throughout my whole experience, I found the skills I developed in my first-year Legal Research and Writing (LRW) course to be most useful as I spent the majority of my summer researching cases and drafting arguments. Not only did I get to bolster my research and writing skills, but I also drafted a wide array of court documents, which ended up being very helpful for my LRW class this fall.

Overall, the biggest take-away from my summer internship was the confirmation that I made the right choice to go to law school. I find the work challenging and engaging, and I can honestly say that I want to make a career out of it. Furthermore, it ended up being one of the best summers I can remember. For my next internship, I would like to challenge myself by working in a larger firm as the contrasting atmospheres would be helpful in pinpointing a direction for my future. However, regardless of what I do next, I know that the knowledge and experience I gained working this past summer will put me in a great position to succeed.

  - Michael J. Martucci, Class of 2014

Students have access to internship and postgraduate job postings and can participate in on- and off-campus recruitment programs through our Symplicity site. To access, you will need your Student ID# and a password (sent to you in November of your first year.) If you don't have a password, please email the Career Services Office (CSO) at cso@nesl.edu.  To identify your own career goals and create a personalized job search strategy, call the CSO at 617-422-7229 to schedule an appointment with a career counselor.

New Pro Bono Mandate for the New York Bar

A recent New York Law Journal article provided details on the new 50-hour pro bono requirement for applicants to the New York bar. Beginning January 1, 2015 every applicant to the New York state bar will be required to fulfill this mandate. If you are a current first- or second-year law student planning to take the New York bar upon graduation, you have up to 34 months to complete qualifying pro bono work. Current third-year students are exempt. 

What is qualifying pro bono work? Law-related work for persons of limited means, non-profit organizations, and public service in the judiciary and state and local government would meet the New York bar pro bono rule. The work must be supervised by an attorney in good standing, judge, or law school faculty member. Participation in a law school clinic or work performed for recognition in the school's Public Service Transcript Notation Program would also qualify. The work may be completed anywhere in the country or abroad.

Upon completion of the pro bono work, applicants will need to complete the Form Affidavit of Compliance available on the New York State Court's website. All pro bono work must be completed before submitting an application for bar admission. 

More complete information, including answers to frequently asked questions, is available on the New York State Court's website. Applicants with further questions on the new requirement should contact ProBonoRule@nycourts.gov or call 1-855-227-5482.

For more information on pro bono opportunities available at New England Law | Boston, read our Pro Bono and Volunteer Opportunities Guide which provides information on pro bono opportunities at the school and includes a directory of public interest organizations in Massachusetts. Additional directories for public interest organizations in the New England area as well as in California, New Jersey, and New York are available in the handouts section of Symplicity. 

2012 Summer Employment Survey Results

This year 192 New England Law students completed our 2012 Summer Employment Survey giving us valuable information about where students worked and how they found their jobs. Of the students who completed the survey 52% were from the class of 2014 and 48% were from the class of 2013.

Types of Employment

The majority of students who responded worked in a legal job. 

• 84% worked in a summer or permanent legal job
• 12% worked in a non-legal summer  or permanent job
• 3% participated in a study abroad program 
• 1% did not work

Of those who worked in either a summer or permanent legal position, 42% of the class of 2014 were in paid positions and 55% of the class of 2013 were paid.

How Students Found Employment

It is important to remember to use a variety of methods when searching for employment. While many respondents found their summer employment through a job posting on the CSO's JobNet many others found their job through someone they knew, a networking connection, or by contacting the employer directly. 

• 28% found their job through a referral from someone they knew
• 26% found employment by responding to a job posted on the CSO JobNet on Symplicity
• 14% found their job through networking or contacting the employer directly
• 12% found employment through a law school program (such as a clinic or the Honors Judicial Internship Program), an outside organization, or other means not specified
• 11% returned to or continued with a pre-law school employer
• 7 % found their job through an on-campus interview or job fair
• 2% responded to a job posting on a commercial job website

Where Students Worked

• 78% remained in Massachusetts
• 18% worked out of state
• 4% worked internationally or participated in a study abroad program

While the majority of New England Law students worked locally, a number of students gained experience in Florida, New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Washington, DC. Students also participated in study abroad programs in Malta, Galway, London, and Prague. 

Below are just a few of the law firms and organizations who hired New England Law Students this summer: 

Boston Municipal Court Department 

Cetrulo & Capone LLP

Committee for Public Counsel Services 

Community Legal Services And Counseling Center 

Conway, Homer & Chin-Caplan, P.C. 

Devine Millimet & Branch 

Doherty, Cella, Keane & Associates, LLP 

EMC Corporation 

Essex County District Attorney's Office 

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation - Legal Division 

Greater Boston Legal Services 

Harvard Prison Legal Assistance Project

Healing Abuse Working for Change

Inter-University Center for Terrorism Studies/International Law Institute 

Lubin & Meyer, P.C. 

MA Attorney General's Office 

MA Department of Transportation 

MA Securities Division
MA  Supreme Judicial Court

New Jersey Attorney General's Office

New York State Division of Human Rights
Rosencranz & Associates

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Shapiro & Associate
Suffolk County District Attorney's Office 

Rhode Island Department of the Attorney General 

U. S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts 

U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Solicitor 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission 

Where did you work last summer? If you have not already completed your 2012 Summer Employment Survey, log on to Symplicity to tell us about your experience!

Looking for a job for next summer? The Career Services Office is here to help you. Call 617-422-7229 to schedule an appointment today. 

Preparing for the 2012 Fall Recruitment Program

On July 2nd, the Fall Recruitment Instructional Packet was emailed to all rising 2LD/3LE and 3LD/4LE students. The first Fall Recruitment application deadline is July 11th. Each year our office receives many questions from students about this program. Please find our answers to the most frequently asked questions below.

Q:  What is the Fall Recruitment Program?
A:  The Fall Recruitment Program (FRP) includes a variety of public interest, government, law firm, and judicial employers seeking 2013 summer and post-graduate associates and clerks.  FRP begins in July and will continue throughout the Fall semester.  

Q:  How do I apply for the Fall Recruitment Programs?
A:  If you are applying for an on-campus interview, or resume collection, apply through the CSO’s Symplicity site.  If you are applying for the National Recruitment Program, or the Government and Public Interest Interview Program, apply through the Massachusetts Law School Consortium’s (MLSC) site.  For detailed, step-by-step instructions, please refer to the Fall Recruitment Instructional Packet, which was emailed to your New England Law account on July 2nd, and can also be found under the “Job Search Handouts” tab on the CSO’s Symplicity site.

Q:  When I’m in Symplicity, and I click on the “OCI” tab, it says something about a summer survey and I can’t find the participating employers.  Where do I go from here?
A:  Every Fall, all 2LD/3LEs and 3LD/4LEs are required to complete summer surveys and update their profiles including the Transcript Waiver and Interview Policy Acknowledgement before they are able to view the OCI section.  When prompted to complete the summer survey, click “Add New” and fill in the required survey fields.  After you submit your survey, you should automatically be taken to the OCI section.  

Q:  My grades aren't great.  Should I even bother applying to big firms?
A:  You should be realistic when applying to large firms.  They typically are very strict about their grade requirements and most likely will not interview students who do not meet the standards which they have set. That said, occasionally there are exceptions to that general rule when a student exhibits better than average grades with special skills or highly relevant experience. However, there are plenty of other legal job opportunities that are not heavily grade driven.  Review the Job Search Timelines section in Part I of the Fall Recruitment Instructional Packet for more information on law firm, government, public interest and judicial clerkship employers.

Have more questions about preparing your application? Read our blog entries on resumes, cover letters, and writing samples:  
What are Memorandums? Frequent Resume Mistakes and Questions
Frequent Resume Mistakes and Questions: Part II 
Tips for Writing the Perfect Cover Letter
Frequently Asked Questions About Writing Samples

Be Prepared for Your Summer Job

Is your summer job or internship starting soon?  Read our blog post, Tips for a Successful Summer, for advice on how to put your best foot forward. Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter this Monday for tweets on summer job tips under the hash tag #summerlawjob. And finally, there are two upcoming free programs for students featuring advice on how to have a rewarding and successful summer job experience. 

Summer Success: Getting the Most from Your Summer Public Interest Experience
May 23, 2012,  3:00pm

Have an internship with a public interest organization this summer? This free webinar will give students practical tips on how to develop professionally and personally while interning at public interest offices this summer. Deb Ellis and Sherizaan Minwalla from the Tahirih Justice Center will be leading the webinar. Register here.

How to Succeed as a Summer Associate
Tuesday, June 5, 2012, 5:00pm to 7:00pm
Boston Bar Association - 16 Beacon Street, Boston, MA
Sponsored by the BBA, this program will feature a panel of speakers from Ropes and Gray, the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office and Boston University. Panelists will advise law students on how to maximize their summer experience by applying the legal skills they have gained in law school to their summer employment, and how to gain new practical skills on the job. The panel will focus on all types of legal employment, including large firms, small firms, government, non-profit, etc., and focus on the best way to maximize their experience this summer and contribute meaningfully to their employer. Register here.

We hope you have a great experience this summer and return to school feeling accomplished and confident in the skills you acquired during your internship! 

Upcoming Public Interest Webinars

NALP and Equal Justice Works have a number of informative webinars scheduled for law students and graduates who are pursuing a career in public interest law. All of the webinars listed below are free.

Law Student Series: How to Create a Successful Application for the Equal Justice Works Fellowships
May 16, 2012,  2:00 pm - 3:15 pm 
The Equal Justice Works Fellowship program is very competitive, receiving hundreds of applications each year for approximately 50 fellowship slots. To be considered, you must be a qualified and passionate lawyer who has developed a new and innovative legal project that can impact lives and serve communities in desperate need of legal assistance. This webinar will cover how to prepare and complete a successful application.  Register here.

Drowning in Debt? Learn How Government and Nonprofit Workers Can Earn Public Service Loan Forgiveness
May 17, 2012,  2:00 pm - 3:00 pm 
A must attend for anyone with educational debt planning to work or currently working for the government or a nonprofit, this webinar explains how you can benefit from the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, the most significant law affecting public service in a generation. Useful for public interest workers, prospective and current undergraduate, graduate and professional students, school advisors and administrators and public interest employers, the webinar will review:

• Understanding your federal loans 
• How the Income-Based Repayment plan works 
• How to qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness 

Register for this free webinar here.

Summer Success: Getting the Most from Your Summer Public Interest Experience

May 23, 2012, 3:00pm 
Have an internship with a public interest organization this summer? This free webinar will give students practical tips on how to develop professionally and personally while interning at public interest offices this summer. Deb Ellis and Sherizaan Minwalla from the Tahirih Justice Center will be leading the webinar. Register here.

 Law Student Series: How to Become a Member of the Public Defender Corps

June 18, 2012 2:00 pm - 3:15 pm
Public Defender Corps (PDC) is a three-year fellowship program developed by Equal Justice Works and the Southern Public Defender Training Center. The program provides intensive training and mentoring to new attorneys with the goal of supporting the public defender community and raising the standard of representation across the country. The application process is extremely competitive, with hundreds of students applying each year for a few coveted placements. In this webinar you will learn what makes a good PDC application and applicant, as well as what you can expect during the application process. This presentation is intended for law students and recent graduates, especially those with a strong interest in indigent defense. Register here.

Looking for a Summer Job? Check the JobNet!

If you are in the process of looking for a job this summer, be sure to check the Career Services Office's on-line job postings. April has always been a busy time for summer job postings on the JobNet. Last year, 60 summer job positions were posted between April 1st and May 15th!  Currently, there are 40 summer jobs posted on the CSO JobNet. Of those posted, 26 are for first year-day and second year-evening students. Thirteen of the 40 positions are located outside of Massachusetts.

If you want to learn more about how students find summer work, read our blog on the 2011 Summer Employment Survey Results.

Have questions about your job search? Make an appointment with a Career Services Counselor. Please call 617-422-7229 to schedule an appointment.