Of course, you are welcome to count yourself among any or all of these groups.  We will ask you, however, to bring your positive self, because we most enjoy that part of you, the part that makes us glad we get to work with you and help you create your future.

 A long time ago I read an article that described the differences between people who are optimistic and people who are pessimistic, or cynical.  The thrust of the author’s premise was that pessimistic people and cynics choose this outlook in order to ensure that they beat the powerful universe to the punch.  In other words, they believe that their abiding awareness of the worst that could happen is smarter than the blissful optimism of their counterparts who hope for and anticipate the best outcomes.  The point is that the pessimists have a point. 

 But the optimists, and all of those who approach challenge with positive expectations that something good will happen, even if it isn’t the exact something they had in mind, have something that may be more useful on this planet, today.  And that is that they are more likely to get what they want, because they are likable, liked, and are attractive.  Meaning, their energy attracts others, and others bring opportunity.

 Here are Five Positively Compelling means to the kind of energy that makes others want to spend more time with you, a critical element in the art of making friends.

1. Affirm, affirm, affirm.  You can write affirmations simply by stating the reality you seek:  “I am a confident, organized, resourceful candidate for the associate job in the firm that will value what I bring.  I spend time each day on my career plans, so that I am prepared and current in my search.”
2. Think about what others see and hear.  I can’t count the number of times someone has said, “I’m only sharing this [insert negative fantasy here] with you; I’d never say it out loud.”  Well you just did, and if you say it out loud or write it down, it is more real than the stuff [like Hope, for example] floating around in your head that didn’t just fly out of your mouth.
3. No matter what happens, find the good in it, Pollyanna.  It really feels better to say the happy truth, “Well, that interview could have gone better, but I learned a lot.  I’ll be more prepared and ready for those questions next time.”  Better for you, too, than “Why did I ever even think this was something I could do?  I am such a conversation klutz.”  That is what we call Negative Self Talk and it can be nearly fatal to a perfectly good career.
4. Think about the experience the other person in the conversation or the room is having with you.  Are you making their day brighter or better?  Are you building a relationship?  Are you supportive of what your conversation partner is trying to accomplish?  Are you smiling and friendly?  Are you open to opportunity and possibility?  Are you being nice? 
5. Be calmer and easier to talk with.  Optimism is not as dramatic nor as attention-getting as pessimism.  But it works better in the quest for attention.  Fewer people want to hear from Debbie Downer than you think, because they don’t know what to say to her.  In fact, Debbie Downer is hard to endorse.  (“Gee, thanks for sending me that Albatross, I’ll do you a similar favor as soon as I can think of a good one. . . .”)  Think about your reasons for making that cynical remark—is it really going to accomplish what you want?

If you are struggling to achieve positivity, come up and visit with us.  We supply the cookies and the positive feedback every day.

If you are a student at Stetson Law reading this, and you got all the way to this sentence, please send me an email at cmartin@law.Stetson.edu.  The first email sender (date and time stamped) will receive ten dollars.

1.  When you click the search jobs link you can conduct a simple search or an advanced search.  With the advanced search you can do the following:

• Pay grade or salary range
• Location
• Agency search
• Occupational Series
• Applicant Eligibility
• Type of Work
• Work Schedule

2.  When you click the My Account link you can create a login with usajobs.gov which allows you to:

• Create a profile
• Upload your resume
• Save searches, save documents, and save jobs

3.  When you click the Resource Center it will show you:

• Using usajobs.gov
• Tips on applying
• Frequently Asked Questions

One thing to keep in mind with the usajobs.gov website – positions that they post sometimes are posted for only a 24 hour period or as long as a few months.  The point is you want to be active on this website and continue to check it on a frequent basis.

If you have questions and would like more information please come by and see us anytime!

It is impossible for me to remember work before Excel. Okay, there for about a minute there was Lotus 123, but it was never like Excel. A day does not go by that I don’t plug in data, numbers, a formula or two, a list to be alphabetized or sorted by zip code. Excel is such a rational partner, and so sensible, so truthful, informative, and so easy to work with. Excel makes things fast and accurate, and if you make a mistake, it tells you right away. If you do one thing in the interest of your career this week, begin to learn how to navigate an Excel spreadsheet.

Here are ten things Excel can do for your career and actually, for your life, assuming you learn to use it properly, enthusiastically, and often:

1. It will help you address and understand your financial reality. No more back-of-your-notebook amounts and number of the check you just wrote to Old Navy, or ATM receipts stuffed in your wallet with the cash. Your budget, expenditures, deposits, and the list of what you spent on whatever you spent it on is all yours. Excel helps you figure out where all your cash is going.

2. It will help you manage your contacts and your network connections. Throughout your life and career, you will meet a lot of people; many will become your friends, some your good friends. The most successful among us manage those friendships and connections by organizing information and staying in touch with new and old friends. Birthdays? Addresses? Mailing list? Who lives in Atlanta and might know someone at Coca Cola or Emory University? As the list grows, so does the need to organize it all. Start now, before the list shrinks from neglect.

3. It will help you with your math. Your algebra. Your accounting. Your statistics. You can create a formula and try out different scenarios with different numbers. How much money will that fundraiser raise? Well that depends on how many people buy tickets, what the tickets cost, and how much you spend on food and drink.

4. It will help you impress and do cool stuff for your coworkers, clients, management, and study group. Look. Numbers. Fast. It will help you get picked for project teams, initiatives and other fun and important things because you are the one who can: Do. Numbers. Fast.

5. It will help you make decisions. There is nothing like a pivot table for analyzing data; this software can help estimate probability, cause and effect, and the rate of error or accuracy. You can drop whole columns of numbers into a spreadsheet and find the ones that wouldn’t stand out to the human eye.

6. It will help you appreciate how much of life and career involves quantifying opportunity before leaping on what looks like a good one. If you have ever bought a house to fix up and flip, ever took a job that looked great but involved a “slight” pay cut, or decided to make jewelry for sale in your Etsy store, you know exactly what I mean.

7. It will help you hold up your end of the conversation about the family budget, with confidence, because you will know what you spent on groceries, rent, shoes, iTunes, and drinks after work. And you will know what everyone else spent, too.

8. It will lead you to new conversations about results, not just about ideas that could lead to them. It will help you plan for better results, more realistic time frames in which things might be achieved. It will lead you to understand and help support the members of your organization who manage the money and the numbers as their profession.

9. It will help you make your ideas and plans real enough to touch. And real enough to touch the hearts and wallets of those who invest in quantifiable business plans.

10. It will help you save enough money to do what you want to do in this life. The magic is in the little things and the little things are what get lost when you are only thinking in big wide swaths of ideas. Money and things that roll around in your head come in two dimensions only: Too Much and Not Enough. Once they are on a spreadsheet you can easily see how today’s wish can become tomorrow’s reality one cell, one formula, one worksheet, or one accounting period at a time.

There is an eleventh thing Excel can help you with: Communication. Cells, labels, numbers, and data turned into informational charts and graphs are much easier for many people to grasp and understand, Not everyone listens or converts numbers to actions, but a decent pie chart can charm the daylights out of someone with a visualizer or a visual learner, which is what many many people on the planet relate to best.

As with most things, you get out of this tool what you put into it. Take the time to focus, learn, and practice. Once you get the gist, and once you get the tutorial and workbooks, you still have to spend time using and expanding your use of the software. There will come a day when you will be asked in an interview with a prospective employer if you have spreadsheet skills or if you have mastered Excel. If you haven’t, this is not one of those things you can wing.

The answer should be, “Of course.”

What is it, you ask?  It happens to be three things: 1. A book by Gerald Lopez on progressive law practice, 2. An outlook on lawyering that stresses public service and social change, and 3. A conference at Yale, held yearly, with guest speaker Gerald Lopez and a lot of programming focused on public interest law. 

The Career Development Office recently attended the 2012 conference at Yale, and we came away with a lot of good information about public interest careers.  We did a recap of the conference at a Lunch and Learn recently, but in case you missed it, here are some important thoughts about getting that public interest job you want:

•  Sometimes it takes time, so give it time.
• If you give up, it won’t happen. It won’t be handed to you. Be relentless in what you want to do, starting from the time you enter law school.
• Commit early on in law school to public interest, because, since so many people want the jobs, the employers want to and can pick someone who exhibits absolute commitment.
• Getting your foot in the door is #1; Becoming indispensable is #2.
  • Be willing to work for free for a few months to get your foot in the door.
  • How do you become indispensable?
    •  do something no one else is doing,
    • know a language,
    • get a fellowship,
    • develop a specialty,
    • be a fantastic worker,
    • be reliable,
    • prepare in law school,
    • be ready to hit the ground running,
    • clinical experience is key.
• Advocate for funding while in law school to create opportunities down the line for yourself and for others in order to help the most people.
  • Advocate for funding for legal aid and indigent defense.
  • Research how the provision of legal help helps people in other ways and how it saves money down the line, present these reports to the legislature or other decision-making bodies.
  • Advocate for attorneys’ fees statutes.
• Any desire to start a not for profit? Start your own.  Create your own opportunity through that route.
• One way to make change is to become a legislator; don’t forget public office when thinking public service.
• Work on educating pro se individuals.
• Volunteer your language skills.
  • Consider trying to become a court certified translator – there is a HUGE need!
• Consider learning a second language: your clients will probably need it, and your future employer will absolutely value it.
• Don’t forget when you are an attorney to give back to your law school community: an important piece of Pro Bono is giving back to students.
• And don’t be afraid to ask if you are the one who needs mentoring.

Do you want more information on finding and funding a public interest career?  Make an appointment to talk to us in the CDO; we would love to help you.

• Do a clinic. The panel overwhelmingly recommended participating in a clinical experience during law school. They shared that the practical experience and relationships that you obtain via the clinics is priceless.  (Note: in order to participate in a clinic, you need to have proper clearance from The Florida Bar. Visit the Office of Clinics and Internships for more information. Do not delay, this process can be lengthy.).
• Go above and beyond. Don’t just do the bare bones. Really immerse yourself in the clinic as it can provide a valuable experience and really shape your personal goals and ideals.
• Volunteer. If you cannot participate in a clinic or want to stay involved with the office after your clinic, volunteer or look into additional internships at each office. Stay connected to the people you meet each office and take initiative in getting involved. Be willing to go to the office and work (maybe for free) until there is an opening.
• Prepare financially. While our panelists each enjoy their current careers, each of them reminded students to get a financial plan now. By reducing or eliminating privately-borrowed loans, you can greatly reduce the financial strains of what are traditionally lower salaries. Visit our Office of Financial Aid to learn more about federal loan forgiveness programs and how to create a budget.
• Pay attention in Evidence class.
• Figure out your passion. Each of our panelists demonstrated a clear passion for their role in the criminal justice system making their career much more rewarding and satisfying.
• Be nice to your classmates. Always. They very well could be your opposing counsel one day.

It was an honor to have such wonderful representatives speaking to us. Please keep an eye out on our announcements for additional programming on a variety of career paths.

Tip 1: When you go to the home page you will see at the top a search box.  Click the advanced search link underneath that box.  It is more detailed and easier.  Once there you can search for people or law firms & organizations. With the search you can find attorneys that practice various practice areas and in several locations including in and out of the United States.

Tip 2:  I find it easier to search for people and then research the employer than using the law firm & organizations tab.

Tip 3:  Click on the link titled “choose from a list” in the box titled practice areas.  This way you can select a main area and a related area.  It gives you a more detailed search.

Tip 4: Once you find someone that you are interested in, read what they have to say on this site and then use it as a spring board for further information.

Tip 5: To search for Stetson graduates it is best to put Stetson in the Law School/University Attended instead of the whole University name.  You will yield more results this way.

As always, please come by the office or email us if you have any questions or need any help!  We look forward to hearing from you soon.

I am comfortable saying that at some point when they were crafting their sound and writing their music, it occurred to them that no one out there on the scene was doing what they themselves were doing.  No one was making music like they were making.  This could have easily seemed like a deterrent or caused them to want to change their vision of the type of music they played.

Nonetheless, they stuck to it, and now, what they are known for is that very same unique sound.  Mumford and Sons was nominated for a couple Grammy Awards last year.  What they had to put out into the world was something the world was, apparently, missing.

Just because no one had made music like them before doesn’t mean that no one could or that it wouldn’t be valued and important.

Similarly, do you have a unique career dream but don’t know if it could work, because no one has done it before that you are aware of?  That doesn’t mean that you can’t be the first.

We are here to help you if you would like to talk about it.

 Who will be affected by my choices, and how can I best meet their needs?

Manners are cultural norms, and they represent us even when we are not consciously thinking about our behavior.  Manners aren’t always convenient, efficient, or intuitive, but they aren’t supposed to be.  We rely on them to help us build good relationships, smooth the paths around us, allow others to manage their own expectations, and to enhance the experience others have when they are with us. 

Here are some examples of fundamental conduct choices that affect others, which might be relevant to your life on campus.  Practicing professional manners now will help you in your career after law school.

• Respond to invitations in a timely fashion, and if you accept an invitation, show up for the event.  Hosts order food, favors, materials, and entertainment based on the expectations you provide.  Your role in the event is to participate in its success; as a guest you may distinguish yourself as a contributor.  As a no-show, you distinguish yourself, but not in a good way. 
• Accept invitations only if you are interested in the event, and only if you are prepared to help make it a success.  Events are not intended to be free food and drink for walk-ins; they have been planned for a reason.  If you aren’t prepared to join in the activities, your being there detracts from the enjoyment of others.
• Greet others and respond to others when greeted.  We are fellow travelers on your journey; we like knowing you are here with us.
• At seated events, use your best company manners.  Wait until the entire table is served or seated before beginning your meal.  Pass table condiments and dishes.  Use utensils correctly, and keep elbows and other personal belongings off the table.  Please enjoy your food, but at a reasonable pace and in moderate volume; most social meals are not about the feeding process, but about the program or celebration.  Your host will set the tone and the role of the guest is to be genial to the other guests and supportive of the host’s agenda.  Not so much to eat as much as possible as fast as possible.
• Thank others, a lot.  You cannot go wrong with many thanks, freely offered.  When you ask, and asking is always better than demanding, say please.  Really.
• Show up on time, wherever you go.  Late arrivals turn attention away from the business at hand, disrupt concentration of others, and make it hard to manage schedules.
• When speaking for conversational purposes (not orating, in other words) speak in your indoor voice, and with the intention of listening when your turn to speak is over.  Listen well, and answer with a smile.

 In general, think about the experience you are providing to the others around you.  If you engage in inconsiderate habits now, how will you practice better habits in your professional future?  You would not want to be someone who has two sets of manners—one for people and situations that “matter,” and one for those that don’t.  Career professionals spend most of their time thinking about service and how to serve better, more often, or more distinctively.  Practicing good manners now will help you as you think about the needs of your clients and professional relationships in the future.

• If you came to law school knowing that this was the career path you were destined for, get involved now.  Do not wait.  By starting early and building your reputation as someone who is dedicated and passionate, you will encounter similarly-minded people who will remember you.  You want people to know your face and your reputation.

• Volunteer. Volunteer. Volunteer.  Because many public service agencies, such as legal aid organizations, are under tight funding issues, finding paid jobs while in law school can be challenging.  However, many are in need of hard-working passionate and positive volunteers who can handle the work.  Once you prove yourself as a dedicated volunteer, you put yourself in a better position for a job, when it becomes available.

• Find a niche.  Build a reputation of excellence and become the person who knows a lot about a certain area of the law.  If you are interested in tax, learn how that impacts people who are on government assistance.  This can be a huge asset to an organization that frequently encounters these issues.   

• Start living conservatively.  If you begin the habit of budgeting yourself while you are in law school, the lower pay typically associated with careers in public service is manageable.   If you need assistance with budgeting, be sure to visit our Financial Aid Office, as they can work with you on these issues and advise you about loan assistance programs.

• Look into Fellowships.  Equal Justice Works (EJW) is a great resource to learn more about these opportunities.  http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/post-grad/equal-justice-works-fellowships 

• Do a clinic.  Stetson offers so many wonderful clinical opportunities and this is a superb way to meet attorneys who practice in that area and if you show yourself to be a hard working member of the team, these clinics are often pipelines into jobs once you are a sworn attorney.  Be sure that you fulfill all of the prerequisites for these positions and that you fill out your Florida Bar Application so that you can get your character and fitness cleared. 

• Learn another language.  Being bilingual is often a huge asset to public service organizations.  If you don’t know another language, now is a good time to start.  

• Make connections.  This is true with any career path but is critically important in public service, as well.  Learn how people got their jobs, ask questions, and get to know them.

If you have any questions about these exciting and rewarding career paths or would like to discuss your future with one of our career coaches, let us know!

• RebLaw, New Haven, CT, February 17th-18th, 2012

            RebLaw (Rebellious Lawyering) is a conference run by and at Yale University’s Law School every year, with a focus on bringing together practitioners, law students, and community advocates from around the country to discuss innovative, progressive approaches to law and social change.

• Institute of Justice Law Student Conference, Washington, DC, June 22nd – 24th, 2012

           The IJ “engages in cutting-edge litigation and advocacy both in the court of law and in the court of public opinion on behalf of individuals whose most basic rights are denied by the government-like the right to earn and honest living, private property rights, the right to free speech and educational choice.”  The deadline for this conference is March 1st, and it is open to 1L and 2L students.

• LavLaw, Washington, DC, August 23rd – 25th, 2012

            LavLaw (Lavendar Law) is the annual conference hosted by the LGBT Bar Association.  LavLaw always features a job fair along with various interesting panels and network-building opportunities.  Alternating sides of the country, it is on the east coast this year, and registration is now open.

• Ms.JD Annual Conference on Women in the Law, Washington, D.C., October 5th  – 6th, 2012

           Ms.JD is a fantastic blog and online resource, and, now it is also a conference in its 5th year!  This year’s conference will be focusing on developing leadership for women in the law. 

• SNT Conference, St. Pete Beach, FL, October, 2012

       The Special Needs and Trusts Conference is one of Stetson’s very own!  Discussing the creation, administration, and monitoring of special needs trusts while providing a great platform for network-building and meeting professionals from around the country, this conference is just in our backyard and a great opportunity.

• EJW Conference and Career Fair, Arlington, VA, October 2th-28th, 2012

           Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair is the largest public career fair in the country.  EJW focuses on helping lawyers help their community.  This year’s conference will be in Arlington, VA.

Don’t see a conference in this list that interests you?  Get out there and do some searches.  There are a large number of legal conferences out there, including each state’s annual bar meetings and the ABA’s conferences (and section meetings).  There is probably one out there that would be a perfect opportunity for you to both learn more about an area of law that interests you and meet your new peers!