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Fall 2008 Office Hours

Monday 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Tuesday 9:00 am - 1:30 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Friday 9:00 am - 2:30 pm

Regular office hours will begin Monday, September 15th. Please email, call or stop by to make an appointment.

During the fall semester, priority is given to students currently applying to law school for admission in Fall 2009.

New/Old Pre-Law Advisor for Fall 2008

On September 2nd, the UMass Pre-Law Advising Office will re-open with a new Director of Pre-Law Advising, Diane Curtis. My name might be familiar to some of you, since I was previously the Pre-Law Advisor from 2004 to 2006.

I'm looking forward to working with you this fall. In the meantime, please check out the official website for answers to all the most common questions.

Contact person for Robert Half Legal

If you are interested in legal assistant work, you may wish to call U Mass alumna Amy Soto at Robert Half Legal in Boston at (617) 204-9100; e-mail amy.soto@roberthalflegal.com

two random tips for the application process

Students have raised a few issues about the application process recently that I think are worth sharing with everyone.

1. Remember that the applications process is a major time commitment. When planning your applications, try to reduce other major time commitments during application season. For example, if you are going to be applying during the fall of your senior year, that semester would NOT be a good time to take extra courses, or especially difficult courses, or undertake other major commitments such as jobs or extra-curriculars with long hours. This advice especially applies if you are going to be studying for the LSAT at the beginning of the semester (i.e., if you are taking the late September/early October LSAT).

2. If you are about to graduate and are planning to apply to law school later, how can you obtain faculty recommendations in advance? There are two options.
A. Join LSDAS immediately, get the recommendations now, send them to LSDAS, and pay their annual fees every year until you are ready. Note, though, that this costs money (the annual fee). Also, you should NOT use recommendation letters that are more than two years old. B. The other option: ask your favorite professors to send their letters to the U Mass dossier service, located in the Career Services Office. The letters can be held on file as long as you need them. When it comes time to apply to law schools, send the letters back to your professors, together with the LSDAS form, and request the recommenders to send the letters directly to LSDAS. If you wish, you can also ask your recommenders to touch up or modify their letters from the dossier service, especially if you have accumulated more experience or accomplishments that you would like to be mentioned in your letters.

services during exam period and summer

Walk-in office hours for spring semester 2007 will end next Tuesday, May 13. Thereafter, and through the end of exam period, I will be available for student meetings by pre-arranged appointment only.

At the end of exam period, the pre-law office will close for the summer, although I will be available for limited consultations by e-mail.

RESOURCES FOR THOSE MAKING LAW SCHOOL DECISIONS

For those of you who are now trying to decide between more than one law school, here are some resources you might be interested in using:

1. Top Law Schools. This is a useful site with rankings and (even better) discussion boards where you can compare notes with those who are applying to major law schools. http://www.top-law-schools.com/
2. Brian Leiter’s Law School Reports. Leiter is a law professor at Texas (now moving to the University of Chicago), and his website is well known as a major source of information on law schools. Also: links to other useful websites. http://leiterlawschool.typepad.com/leiter/. Leiter’s site is of particular interest for incoming law students contemplating a career as law professors. He has produced a ranking of major law schools that are oriented toward teaching careers. http://www.leiterrankings.com/jobs/2008job_teaching.shtml
3. For those of you lucky enough to be considering an admission offer from Harvard, you should be aware of one amazing piece of news about HLS financial aid policies: the law school is introducing a new policy that will waive tuition (around $40K) for all third-year students who have demonstrated a wish to pursue careers in public service and are willing to commit of five years of public-service work following law school. This is an incredible deal that everyone considering attending Harvard (even without a specific financial aid offer) should be aware of. The link to the announcement is here: http://www.law.harvard.edu/news/2008/03/18_publicserviceinitiative.php

legal assistant jobs for U Mass students and alumni

Located in major markets across the United States and in Canada, Robert Half Legal is the premier provider of experienced project and full-time professionals for law firms and corporate legal departments. We place highly skilled candidates in a wide range of specialized positions and project teams within the legal field, including attorney, paralegal and legal support professional. Our Account Executives have extensive legal industry experience and are skilled in identifying and matching client and candidate needs.Many legal professionals seek opportunities to work on temporary assignments because they can earn income while sharpening their job skills. It also allows them to "try out" work in different firms and office cultures during their search for full-time employment. In fact, many times a temporary assignment may become a full-time job. Finally, you can enjoy a flexible work schedule along with the diversity of working in different offices and practice areas.Robert Half Legal specializes exclusively in providing skilled legal professionals for law firms and corporate legal departments, and understands the intricacies of working in the legal field. Our Account Executives are experienced professionals who previously worked in positions including attorney and legal administrator. They're uniquely qualified to match your skills, interests and career goals with the ideal temporary or full-time position.We will take the time to learn about you and your specific skills and expertise. You will be considered for every project for which you are qualified; your experience will be matched with the best and most challenging positions; and your compensation will always be competitive.There is no charge to any candidate who works with Robert Half Legal. Our services are free to you. Fees are paid to us by the law firms and corporate legal departments whom we work with to provide qualified legal professionals.You may complete an online application <http://www.roberthalflegal.com/Register> , www. roberthalflegal.com, which will automatically register you with us as a candidate. For more information, you may also contact <http://www.roberthalflegal.com/OfficeLocations> your local office or call our toll-free number, 1.800.870.8367, to reach a Robert Half Legal office nearest you.

You may also call U Mass alumna Amy Soto at the Robert Half Boston office at (617) 204-9100.

Law School Admissions Workshop

Applying to Law School: The Nuts and Bolts of the Process

A workshop with Pre-law Advisor Matthew Light

Among the topics that will be covered:
· LSAC, the LSAT, and the LSDAS
· Application procedures and deadlines
· Required forms and documents
· Mistakes to avoid

Rising seniors are especially encouraged to attend!

Thursday, May 1, 2008, 3:00 to 5:00 pm
Campus Center 803
Refreshments will be served
Free and open to all U Mass and Five Colleges students and alumni
Sponsored by the U Mass Pre-law Advising Office
With questions, please write to prelaw@acad.umass.edu.

Reminder: alumni event next week

Meredith Feltus (in Commonwealth College) and Jackie Brousseau-Pereira are organizing a "Meet the Law"event that will bring to campus attorneys who are U Mass alumni and who come from a diversity of law practice backgrounds to network with interested students. The event is happening on Thursday, April 17, 2008 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm in Memorial Hall. Pizza will be served.

The guests will include the following:

Gary Marchese ('78 BDIC), sole practictioner in Waltham
Frederick Augenstern ('75 English), Assistant Attorney General in the Mass Attorney's Environmental Protection Division
Dwight Merriam ('68, Sociology), partner at Robinson&Cole (real estate law, zoning issues, development law)
David Sullivan ('81, Management), Register of Probate, Hampshire Probate and Family Court
Elizabeth Silver ('75, Psychology), Supervising Attorney at Neighborhood Legal Services, Lynn and Lawrence
Charles DiMare ('74, Political Science, '83 MPA) Director of Student Legal Services, UMass Amherst

Multiple law school deposits?

If you have been accepted to more than one law school and are considering placing multiple deposits in order to secure your admission, you may want to read the following note from another pre-law advisor. Sorry about the formatting.

> > > This is the first year that the law schools can actually see the names> > > of those who are holding more than one spots. Before this year they> > > could only see that there were students who had put down deposits on> > > more than one school. I was talking to an admissions director over the> > > weekend who seemed to indicate that now she would know exactly who was> > > doing it, and her tone implied that she was not thrilled with the idea.> > > She did say that in general she did not like it when people put down> > > more than one deposit because they were making a promise that they would> > > come to her school, and if they decided not to that they should let her> > > know so that she could offer that spot to another student.> > >> > >> > >> > > I do not recommend that they put down a deposit on more than one school> > > just to hold their spots. It does not help them or the other students> > > who would like to have a spot at the law school. Eventually they will> > > need to make up their mind.> > >> > >> > >> > > Having said that, the student that this is likely to affect is the> > > student that is waitlisted on one school (or are still waiting to hear> > > from one school) but needs to put down a deposit by next week to secure> > > a spot at another school so at least they have a spot somewhere. This> > > happens and I think students need to make sure that they have a spot,> > > but I normally recommend that they are honest with both schools. They> > > should submit a letter of continued interest in the school they have not> > > heard from or are waitlisted at (I have a few who applied early decision> > > and are on second review at Cornell and U of Penn right now).> > >> > >> > >> > > I am not really sure how they law schools will weigh this but the> > > students should know that the law school will know.

LSAC law school forums

It's time to begin thinking about the LSAC Law School Forums. I am writing to give you some information about these events being held in nine major cities-Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC.

The forums are a series of free law school recruitment fairs, each ofwhich attracts an average of 140 law schools from across the nation,representing public and private, large and small, rural and urban lawschools. The Law School Forums give students an opportunity to talkinformally with law school representatives and get firsthand informationabout admission requirements, course offerings, campus life, andfinancial aid. Admission is free and registration is easy. Participants may registeronline at www.LSAC.org <http://www.lsac.org/> or on-site at any timeduring forum hours and can stay as long as they like. When registered,participants receive a tracking number that they can give to schools inwhich they have an interest. The tracking number will allow law schoolsto contact potential applicants after the forum. Click here<http://www.lsacnet.org/EventsandDates/LS-forum/9cityflier2008.pdf> toview and print a PDF flier indicating the dates and exact locations ofthe 2008 Law School Forums brought to you by LSAC and participating lawschools. For a breakdown of who should attend the Law School Forums,click here<http://www.lsacnet.org/EventsandDates/ls-forum/attend2008.pdf> .

Two upcoming events on campus

There are two events coming up soon at U Mass on issues of concern to pre-law students.

1. "Diversity in the law? An informational forum on minorities in the legalprofession"
With guest speakers
· Karen DeMeola, Assistant Dean, U Conn Law School
· Vanessa Roberts, attorney, McCarter & English, Hartford
· Bernadette Stark, attorney, Student Legal Services, U Mass Amherst

Thursday, April 10, 2008, 5:00 to 6:30 pm.
New Africa House (in U Mass Central Residential Area, near Health Services),2nd floor, Shirley Graham DuBois Library
Open to all U Mass and Five College students and alumni
Drinks and light refreshments will be provided
Sponsored by the U Mass Pre-Law Advising Office and Office of Programsand Services for ALANA Students (OPSAS)

2. Meredith Feltus (in Commonwealth College) and Jackie Brousseau-Pereira are organizing a "Meet the Law"event that will bring together attorneys who are alumni and who come from a diversity of law practice backgrounds to network with interested students. The event is happening on Thursday, April 17, 2008 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm in Memorial Hall. Pizza will be served.

Reminder, certifications!

Reminder: many law schools (including Suffolk) have "dean's certification" deadlines in the coming days and weeks. This would be an excellent time to check on the status of your certification!

Wisdom from the financial aid panel

Summary of panelists’ presentations from the recent workshop on law school financial aid issues:

What kinds of financial aid are available?

Need-based aid (mainly Stafford loans, up to a Congressionally specified sum, currently around $20K), private loans, and merit-based aid.

What forms do I fill out to apply for need-based aid? :

Basic form is the FAFSA. Some law schools have their own specific forms too, so be sure to check. Deadlines as early as January/February—there is an advantage to completing all financial aid forms early.

Be sure to answer questions about parental contributions candidly. Financial aid officers can spot discrepancies in your financial records. It is important to explain all details of your parents’ financial obligations, e.g., tuition payments for other siblings, debt, house ownership.

What do I need to bear in mind while the financial aid process is underway?

Plan, schedule, keep up with deadlines and follow up. There are many different deadlines in this process, and it is important to take note of them in advance. Make sure that your application is complete by making follow-up phone calls and e-mails. Remember that documents can be lost in the mail.

What is merit-based aid determined by?Mainly LSAT score and GPA, plus other factors that make a candidate more desirable or show his/her merit. This is why it is important to include full biographical details in your application.

How do I get private loans?

Go to a bank or to one of the many websites offering private loans. Compare interest rates and other terms.

All this debt is pretty scary. How do I manage it?

First, plan your debt. Private loans are commercial transactions, and the terms are influenced by your credit rating. If you already have a lot of debt after college, it may be to your advantage to work for a few years to reduce your debts and improve your credit ratings. Also, post-collegiate experience is considered a plus by most admissions officers.

Second, be prudent. Live modestly while you are in law school, and avoid unnecessary debt.

Third, plan your post-graduation career with your debts in mind. See below.

Supposing I get multiple merit-based financial aid offers from different schools, can I negotiate with them for an even better deal?

Within reason. Be prepared to explain why you are asking for more aid. Be courteous and professional. Also, negotiations are possible only with respect to merit-based aid, not need-based.

What kind of resources are available for people planning to go into public-interest or public sector work in order to help them reduce their debt load?

There are more resources available now than even a few years ago. There is a federal program called IBR (income-based repayment), in which your Stafford loans are rebated based on income and employment in public-interest law. Some law schools also have their own LRAP (Loan Repayment Assistance Program), which is similar. Some law schools are especially known for this kind of program, including CUNY and NYU in New York City.

Some law schools also have specialized scholarship funds for their own students who plan to engage in public-interest work. These are usually advertised on the admissions/financial aid website.

Nonetheless, when you enter law school, you should be mindful of the possibility that your choice of your first post-graduation job may be partially determined by the need to pay off law school debts.

What are some representative costs and financial aid breakdowns of law schools?

Among the schools represented at our workshop, BC’s tuition is currently at $36K, while its “total cost of attendance” is estimated at $57K per year. However, 89% of students receive some kind of financial aid, and 49% receive merit scholarships. The average grant is $15K.

Likewise, 85% of students at Suffolk receive some form of financial aid.

In contrast, the University of Maine, a public law school, has a tuition of only $26K.

What other factors go into the cost of a law school education?

Consider issues such as the cost of housing. If you can live at home with your parents, you can save thousands a year on housing. Also, consider the cost of living in the city where your prospective school is located. The cost of living is lower in Maine than in New York. Consider specific programs, such as LRAPs or university scholarships (see above). And consider hidden costs, such as the cost of airfare to visit family and friends if you go to study far from home.

Upcoming pre-law events

We've got two great pre-law events coming up. If you have any interest in law school, you won't want to miss either of them.

1. Meeting with U Mass alumnus and current law student Seamus Brennan. Seamus, a recent U Mass graduate, is now a law student at Rutgers University. He will meet with current U Mass students and answer questions about law school applications and life as a law student on Wednesday, March 12, from 4:30 to 6:00 in Campus Center 80509. The format is informal. Just bring your questions, and stay and chat as long as you like.

2. "Paying for Law School: Your Financial Aid Questions Answered. A panel of experts from BC, Suffolk, and the University of Maine law schools will answer your questions on law school financial aid and all other matters relating to paying for your legal education. Refreshments will be served. March 27, 2:30-4, Campus Center 917.

Spring office hours

Our office hours have changed. Effective January 2008, spring semester office hours are as follows:

M 2:30-4:00
Tu 10-1
W 2:30-4:00
Th 2-5
F 2-5

Minority Law Day, financial aid

The 3rd Annual Minority Law DayWorkshop is this Saturday. The event is hosted by New England School of Law, University ofConnecticut School of Law, Boston University School of Law, and WesternNew England College School of Law.
When: Saturday, March 1, 2008 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Where: Boston University School of Law (Boston, MA)
RSVP: by February 28 to Boston University School of Law Admissions Office 617-353-7751 bulawadm@bu.edu

Also, if you are currently applying for law schools, don't forget to fill outand send all required financial aid forms, including both the FAFSA and anysupplementary forms required by particular law schools. The deadlines can beconfusing, so be sure to check your paperwork, and send in all required documents on time.

Pre-law services during winter break

The pre-law office will be closed from Thursday, December 22, until the beginning of spring semester.

However, I will still answer pre-law inquiries at the usual e-mail address, prelaw@acad.umass.edu.

Many pre-law hand-outs are available from the staff of the Global Education Office in E-20 Machmer (where pre-law is also located).

In my absence from the office, all dean's certification requests will continue to be processed. Lori in Global Ed will be preparing the certifications, which will then be signed by Assistant Dean Richard Wikander. You should still address e-mail inquiries to me, and all certification requests and supporting documents should still be left in my mailbox, or else given in person to Lori in Global Ed.

Please note that Lori will be away for the last 10 days of December, so certification requests or supporting materials submitted during this period will be handled when she returns to work in the first week of January.

Fellowship Opportunity for Minority Students

ABA Minority Law Student Scholarship: The American Bar Association (ABA) has established a scholarship fund for minority students planning to begin law school in 2008. Successful candidates will receive a grant of upto $15,000 for use in financing their legal education. Information and application packets can be picked up at the Global Education Office, E-20 Machmer. With questions, please contact Matthew Light, pre-law advisor, at prelaw@acad.umass.edu.