Administrative Announcements February 29 - March 7, 2016

Administrative Announcements February 29 - March 7, 2016

Diversity Week 2016 - February 29 -March 4

Monday, Multi-Cultural Food Fair

Kendrick Student Lounge
12:00 pm - 1:20 pm

Join the School of Law student organizations for this celebration of our student body's cultural diversity! 

Tuesday, Microaggressions 101

Kendrick 103
12:30 pm - 1:20 pm

What are microaggressions? Join Professor Magee and Professor Rosenberg for this important discussion. 

Wednesday, LGBT in the Legal Profession

Zief Terrace Room
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Board of Governors Member, John T. Hendricks, speaks on the LGBT Experience in the Legal Profession. Hendricks, Class of 2004, recently co-edited Out and About: The LGBT Experience in the Legal Profession, a compilation of more than 50 stories about the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender attorneys, academics, and jurists in the legal profession. 

This event is part of the USF School of Law's Diversity Week programming. Following the talk, please plan to stay for a networking reception sponsored by the student Pride Law organization and the Student Bar Association. RSVP today »  

Questions? Contact the USF School of Law Office of Development and Alumni Relations at (415) 422-5457 or lawevents@usfca.edu.

Thursday, The Mask You Live In

Kendrick 103
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Associate Dean Josh Davis facilitates a viewing and discussion of The Mask You Live In.

Pressured by the media, their peer group, and even the adults in their lives, our protagonists confront messages encouraging them to disconnect from their emotions, devalue authentic friendships, objectify and degrade women, and resolve conflicts through violence. These gender stereotypes interconnect with race, class, and circumstance, creating a maze of identity issues boys and young men must navigate to become “real” men.

Experts in neuroscience, psychology, sociology, sports, education, and media also weigh in, offering empirical evidence of the “boy crisis” and tactics to combat it.

The Mask You Live In ultimately illustrates how we, as a society, can raise a healthier generation of boys and young men.

For questions about Diversity Week, contact Megan Watt at mwatt@usfca.edu. 

Externship Programs 

Summer 2016 Externship Applications are due by Tuesday, April 19, 2016. Updated Summer 2016 Externship Applications are available online and in the Externship Programs Office (KN 235). Questions, please call 415-422-4467 or email akgreen@usfca.edu.

Financial Aid Office

  • Fall 2016-17 Financial Aid
  • Summer 2016 Financial Aid and Intent to Enroll Form
  • Upcoming Scholarship Deadlines

Fall 2016-17 Financial Aid

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA, for the Fall 2016 & Spring 2017 academic year is now available online.  All students who wish to receive financial aid for the 2016-17 academic year are required to complete the new FAFSA.  The FAFSA should be completed as soon as possible but no later than March 1, 2016 in order to receive the maximum financial aid consideration for 2016-17 (this date is especially important for those continuing students who wish to be considered for the Federal Work Study award). You can access the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.  Our Title IV code is 001325 and must be included in your FAFSA application.

Financial aid awards for the 2016-17 academic year will be made be made available to continuing law students by early April 2016 as long as the 2016-17 FAFSA is completed and USF receives your FAFSA information by mid-March 2016.  You will be sent an email notification at that time by the University One Stop Financial Aid Office at that time indicating that you can review your financial aid award online via your myUSF online student portal.

The University Financial Aid Office will begin downloading 2016-17 FAFSA information for all USF students in early March.  If you recently completed a 2016-17 FAFSA, we will not be able to verify receipt of your 2016-17 FAFSA until that time.

Please note that all students including those who are currently receiving financial aid must complete an updated FAFSA every year in order to be considered for financial aid.  In addition, those students who wish to be considered for the Graduate PLUS loan program for the Fall 2016 & Spring 2017 academic year, must also complete a new PLUS loan application for each academic year.  Graduate PLUS loan applications for the 2016-17 academic year are available online at www.studentloans.gov.  Students can begin applying for a PLUS Loan only AFTER you have completed a FAFSA and have been offered the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan and have “accepted” the Unsubsidized Loan online via your myUSF student portal.

Summer 2016 Financial Aid and Intent to Enroll Form

If you are interested in receiving financial aid for any USF School of Law Summer 2016 program (IAP, Regular Summer Session, Summer Externships for unit credit including local and International Summer Externships Abroad), you must complete and submit a Summer 2016 Intent to Enroll (ITE) form to the Law Financial Aid Office.  You must be registered in a minimum of 3 Summer units in order to be eligible for any federal Summer financial aid.

Information on Summer financial aid as well as a Summer 2016 ITE form can be obtained online at: 

https://www.usfca.edu/law/admissions/tuition-aid/jd/types-of-aid/summer

In addition to submitting the Summer 2016 ITE Form, once you are registered for summer, you will need to complete a Federal Direct Graduate PLUS application online at www.studentloans.gov.

The priority deadline to submit the Summer 2016 ITE form is April 1, 2016.

IMPORTANT: Summer 2016 ITE forms and online Summer Graduate PLUS Loan applications submitted AFTER the April 1 priority application deadline will be processed on a first-come, first-serve basis.  If forms are received after the priority deadline, we cannot guarantee that summer loan processing will be complete by the May 1 summer tuition payment deadline.  Therefore, it is imperative that you submit your Summer 2016 ITE form and Graduate PLUS loan application by the priority deadline noted above.

Processing of any Summer 2016 ITE form/financial aid will not begin until AFTER you have registered for Summer classes. Summer registration is tentatively scheduled to begin at the end of March.  More detailed summer registration information will be available on the Law Registrar web site at: http://myusf.usfca.edu/law/registration

Upcoming Scholarship Deadlines

Agnes Jones Jackson Scholarship

Applicants for the Jones Johnson Scholarship must be a member of the NAACP and under 25 years of age. Awards are based on GPA and academic achievement.

Award Amount: Up to $2,000
Deadline: March 2016

http://www.poisefoundation.org/programs/scholarships.html

California Bar Diversity Scholarship

The California Bar Foundation's Diversity Scholarship financially supports first-year California law students with the goal of furthering diversity in the legal profession.  Diversity includes a broad array of backgrounds and life experiences, including students from groups or with skills or attributes that are underrepresented in the legal profession, and specifically including students from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Award Amount: $7,500
Deadline: Apps Available March  20, 2016

http://www.calbarfoundation.org/1l-diversity-scholarship.html

Chicana / Latina Foundation Scholarship Program

Each year the Chicana Latina Foundation awards merit-based scholarships to Latina college students, valued at $1,500 dollars each. This year we are delighted to offer 31 scholarships.

Award Amount: $1,500
Deadline: March 31, 2016

http://www.chicanalatina.org/scholarship.html

Farella Braun + Martel 1L Diversity Scholarship

 Applicants must be current first-year, full or part-time (attending first-year classes) law students who are students of color, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community, disabled, or whose background or experience would otherwise contribute to the diversity of the legal profession.

Award Amount: $10,000
Deadline: March 7, 2016

http://www.fbm.com/Diversity_Scholarship_Program/

La Raza Lawyers Association-Central Valley Chapter/Hon. Mario Olmos Memorial Scholarship

Applicants must be presently enrolled in the first, second, third or fourth year of legal study. Application materials can be picked up in the Law Financial Aid Office. 

Award Amount: $1,000 to $3,000
Deadline: March 4, 2016

http://larazalaw.com/events/banquet.html

LULAC National Scholarship Fund

The LULAC National Scholarship Fund was established to provide scholarships to qualified Hispanic students attending accredited colleges, universities, and graduate schools in the United States.

Award Amount: $250 to $2,000
Deadline: March 31 of each year

http://www.lnesc.org/site/338/Scholarships/LULAC-National-Scholarship-Fund 

If you have any questions related to financial aid, please feel free to contact the Law Financial Aid Office at 415.422.6210 or email lawfinaid@usfca.edu

Intensive Advocacy Program

Informational Meeting for the Intensive Advocacy Program, Wednesday March 2, 5:30 pm in Kendrick 103.Now accepting applications for the Intensive Advocacy Program ("IAP") for May 23-June 5. Applications and information available in Kendrick 300 or online at https://www.usfca.edu/law/professional-skills/intensive-advocacy-program. Applications due April 6. See Andrea Crawford in Kendrick 300 with questions, call 415-422-2673 or email USFLawIAP@usfca.edu.

International Externships

Summer Opportunities in Mexico and China - Deadline Extended!

In Mexico City, externships are available at the U.S. based corporate law firm,Greenberg Traurig, and with a government agency and NGO seeking to advance human rights, Centro Nacional de Derechos Humanos, and La Comisión Mexicana de Defensa y Promoción de los Derechos Humanos, A.C. (CMDPDH).

In Hanoi, Vietnam, an externship is available at the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.

The international summer externship application and additional information about the programs are available online under International Programs (https://myusf.usfca.edu/law/registration.)

Please contact Esther Sprague in KN342 or at  lawsummerabroad@usfca.edu or415.422.4546 if you have questions.

Office of the Registrar

Last Day to Submit Petition to Reschedule Exam

The last day to submit a Petition to Reschedule Exam is Friday, March 4th.  You can find the petition online at https://myusf.usfca.edu/law/registration/registrar-forms or pick up a hard copy in the Registrar’s Office.  You may only submit a petition for consideration if you meet one of the following criteria:

  1. Two examinations are scheduled for the same time and date.
  2. There are 4 or fewer hours between the scheduled end of one exam and the scheduled commencement of the next exam.
  3. Three examinations scheduled on two consecutive calendar days.                                                                    
  4. Medical emergency/other extenuating circumstances (original documentation must be provided with this form)          

More information about exam rescheduling can be found in the exam policies here https://myusf.usfca.edu/law/registration/exam-information#policies.

Office of Student Affairs

Pro Bono Opportunities of the Month!

Volunteer with OneJustice - Spanish Interpreters Needed for Immigration Clinic in Half Moon Bay

OneJustice is currently seeking Spanish language interpreters for an immigration clinic in Half Moon Bay. No experience necessary and transportation may be available.

When: March 17, 2016

Where: Main Street Apartments 1101 Main Street Half Moon Bay, CA Time: 4 PM to 7 PM

Community Partners: Coastside Hope and Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto

Duties: You will assist with form filling and interpreting

For sign up instructions please email sandrahernandez@one-justice.org with your :

1. Law School

2. Graduation Year

PILF 2016 Summer Grant Application

The Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF) is a student-run organization that supports USF law students working in unpaid summer internships in the public interest/public sector and provides support to help them pursue careers in the public interest/public sector upon graduation. 

PILF is made up of USF law students, alumni, faculty, and friends devoted to public interest advocacy. PILF promotes its goals by sponsoring public interest and community service events to educate students about the rewarding career possibilities in public interest law. PILF’s annual fundraising efforts directly support summer grants for law students with a demonstrated commitment to public interest who work in unpaid, full-time summer positions at local, national, and international public interest/public sector agencies, organizations, and firms.

The 2016 USF PILF Summer Grant Application is available online or in the Deans' Office, the Office of Career Planning, and the PILF Student Office. 

Contact Megan Watt at mwatt@usfca.edu fwith any questions. 

2016 Commencement Awards - Nominations Due March 1st!

Nominate a graduating student for a 2016 Commencement Award! Applications are available in the Deans' Office. Any current School of Law student, faculty member or staff member can nominate. 

Contact Megan Watt at mwatt@usfca.edu for more information. 

LLM in Tax

Deloitte Info Sessions

Meet USF alum Brian Keegan and hear about what it's like to work as an attorney at one of the biggest accounting firms in the world! Learn about job opportunities for students and new graduates and how to position yourself for a career at Deloitte.

March 21 at 5:30 pm in KN 240
March 22 at 12:30 pm in KN 240

Food will be served! RSVP to esstrauss@usfca.edu.