Administrative Announcements March 28 - April 4, 2016
Bar+Plus
March 30 - MBE Workshops sponsored by Bar+Plus and Kaplan Bar Review. The MBE or multiple choice questions accounts for 35% of your score. During this workshop, you will learn techniques and approaches for the subjects covered.March 23 will focus on contracts MBE questions and March 30 will be the recently added civil procedure MBE questions. Both workshops will be held at3:30-5:30 in KH101 and repeated at 6:30-8:30in KH 100. All students are welcome, no sign-up required.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
Clinics
Fall 2016 Clinics Applications are due Monday, April 11, 2015 by 5:00pm. Visit the Clinics Office at KN - 211 for more details.
-Criminal Juvenile Justice and Racial Justice Clinic information session for Fall 2016 is on Monday, April 4th from 12:00-1:00pm and 5:30-6:30pm in KN - Room 340.
-Internet & IP, Investor Justice and Mediation Clinic information session for Fall 2016 is on Thursday, March 31st from 12:00-1:00pm & 5:00–6:00pm in KN - Room 240.
The Law School In House Clinics are accepting applications for the Fall 2016 semester, which are available at Room 211. Please contact the Clinics Administrator at 415-422-6752 or lawclinic@usfca.edu
CRIMINAL & JUVENILE JUSTICE CLINIC: Second and third-year certified law students represent indigent defendants in all phases of criminal proceedings from arraignment through trial and appeal. Clinic activities include interviewing clients, investigations, writing and responding to motions, case management, and court appearances.
INTERNET AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY JUSTICE CLINIC: Students will be certified to practice before the USPTO to handle all aspects of national trademark registration. Students will also work with Bay Area startup companies on intellectual property needs of these companies.
INVESTOR JUSTICE CLINIC: Students work with Bay Area start-up companies. Students will advise on entity choice and governance, operating agreements, employment issues and equity arrangements. Students will also participate in business plan advice and intellectual property needs of new companies. The Clinic also handles securities arbitration in FINRA cases representing investors, generally seniors and disabled, against brokers and brokerages.
MEDIATION CLINIC: Students, after training, will be courtroom mediators for the San Francisco Small Claims Court. Clinic students also work on divorce mediations for Marin residents and may handle founder mediations and criminal mediations.
RACIAL JUSTICE CLINIC: Students will learn about the history and importance of bail motions, study bail motions written by various attorneys, and research, write, and argue bail motions in the four preliminary hearing courtrooms at the Hall of Justice.
Faculty Services
SUMMER RESEARCH ASSISTANT POSITION FOR UNIT CREDIT
Professor Chong is looking for a couple research assistants to help her with two articles this summer. The articles are listed below.
1) The first article focuses on the inefficiencies of the executive pardon and its violation of Marsy’s law, which is a law passed in California to protect victims and their families.
2) The second article focuses on Professor Chong’s legislative proposal and how regulating the casting and screenwriting employment process in Hollywood does not violate the First Amendment.
These positions are for unit credit. The start and end dates are flexible, but ideally, the position begins the last week of May and ends the last week of July. The approximate weekly time commitment is 10-12 hours for 2 units and 6-8 hours for 1 unit.
If you are interested in the position, please email your resume and transcript to Professor Chong at cschong@usfca.edu. In your email, include whether you are interested in article #1, #2, or both. If you want to do two semesters and the partnership works out, then Professor Chong is happy to consider the option. Please direct any questions to Professor Chong via email.
Financial Aid Office
Spring 2016 Financial Aid
If you are interested in receiving financial aid for the Spring 2016 semester, you must complete a 2015-16 FAFSA by April 1, 2016 (new loan borrowers only) at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
If you have already been awarded financial aid for the 2015-16 academic year but you are interested in utilizing any remaining unused Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan or Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan, please contact Rosanna Woods, the Assistant Director for Law Financial Aid, via email at rlwoods@usfca.edu and submit a request for your additional aid funds by April 1, 2016.
If you are interested in requesting a Cost of Attendance budget increase request for Spring 2016, please be sure to submit the Budget Increase Request form along with supporting documents by April 1, 2016.
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 late March/ early April 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.
Bar Loans for Graduating Law Students
Graduating students needing financial assistance for living expense during the bar preparation period this summer may be eligible to apply for a credit-based private loan. These private loans are based on credit-worthiness and are subject to lender discretion. Information on bar loans and lenders who have been used by previous law school graduates is available on our financial aid web site at: https://www.usfca.edu/law/admissions/tuition-aid/jd/types-of-aid/loan-programs
Please note that all bar loans require the Law School Financial Aid Office to certify your loan. Be sure to contact Rosanna Woods, the Assistant Director of Law Financial Aid, at rlwoods@usfca.edu, once you have applied online and have been approved for a bar loan. In addition, bar loan funds are disbursed directly to the student and not to the University.
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
Abe and Esther Hagiwara Student Aid Award/JACL National Scholarship Committee
The Abe and Esther Hagiwara Student Aid Award was founded to provide financial assistance to a student who otherwise would have to delay or terminate his or her education due to a lack of financing. Only applicants that exhibit severe financial need will be considered for this award. Every applicant must be a National JACL member.
Award Amount: Varies
Deadline: 4/1/2016
The Allen E. Broussard Scholarship Foundation
The Allen E. Broussard Scholarship Foundation (AEBSF) is offering three $5,000 scholarships to minority law students attending San Francisco Bay Area law schools. AEBSF was established in November 1996 shortly after the death of California Supreme Court Associate Justice Allen E. Broussard. The goal of AEBSF is to provide substantial scholarships to minority law students based on academic performances, community service, and financial need. Visit the Law Financial Aid Office for a copy of the application.
Award Amount: $5,000
Deadline: April 29, 2016
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) Scholarship
AFB administers a scholarship program for deserving students. Each year individuals who are legally blind or visually impaired can apply for financial awards to support their post-secondary/graduate education.
Award Amount: $1000- $2500
Deadline: 4/1/2016
https://www.afb.org/section.aspx?Documentid=2962
Beveridge & Diamond Constitutional Environmental Law Writing Competition
Any relevant article, case comment, note, or essay may be submitted, including writing submitted for academic credit. Jointly authored pieces are eligible only if all authors are students and consent to submit. Previously published pieces, or pieces that are already slated for publication, are ineligible. The author of the article deemed best by a panel of judges will receive $2000 cash, an offer of publication in the Environmental Law Reporter, and a one-year individual membership to ELI.
Award Amount: $2,000
Deadline: 04/01/2016
Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. Law School Diversity Scholarship and Application
The Diversity Scholarship is $2,000 and will be awarded to a student who is currently attending an accredited law school, who is either a member of an ethical or racial minority or demonstrates commitment to issues of diversity within their academic career.
Award Amount: $2,000
Deadline: 4/01/2016
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
Dan Bradley Summer Fellowship
Each year, LAAC offers the Dan Bradley Fellowship to fund law students who want to spend their summer working at a LAAC member legal aid organization. The Fellowship is awarded to outstanding students who want to pursue a career in public interest law and who want to spend their summer working in a rural area or on a rural issue. The Dan Bradley Fellowship not only gives law students the opportunity to explore a career in legal services, it offers legal services programs a new source of dedicated and energetic summer staff. The Fellowships are named in honor of former LSC President Dan Bradley, who died in 1988.
Award Amount: See Website for Details
Deadline: April 1, 2016
http://laaconline.org/awards/dan-bradley-fellowship/
Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund
Applicant must display active participation in struggles for civil rights, economic justice, international solidarity or other progressive issues. Financial need evaluated.
Award Amount: Up to $10,000
Deadline: April 1 Annually
http://www.davisputter.org/apply/apply-for-scholarships/
DRI Law Student Diversity Scholarship
The DRI Law Student Diversity Scholarship program open to rising second- and third-year African American, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, LGBT and Multi-Racial students. All rising second- and third-year female law students are also eligible, regardless of race or ethnicity. Any other rising second- and third-year law students who come from backgrounds that would add to the cause of diversity, regardless of race or gender, are eligible to apply. Students who are members of the American Association for Justice (AAJ), law school or law student members of AAJ, or students otherwise affiliated with or employed by AAJ are not eligible for DRI Law Student Diversity Scholarships. To qualify for this scholarship, a candidate must be a full-time student. Evening students also qualify for consideration if they have completed one-third or more of the total credit hours required for a degree by the applicant’s law school. The goal of these scholarships is to provide financial assistance to two worthy law students from ABA-accredited law schools to promote, in a tangible way, the DRI Diversity Statement of Principle.
Award Amount: $10,000
Deadline: 3/30/2016
The Edward C. Tang Scholarship
Mr. Edward C. Tang established this award in 2007 to provide financial assistance to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Asian and Pacific Islanders (API) for post-secondary Education. This scholarship is to help LGBT youth proudly achieve educational pursuits and dreams without shame. This scholarship awards up to two outstanding students annually, a combined scholarships totaling up to $15,000. These scholarships e renewable for a maximum of three or more years (a total of four years) provided each student annually meets the renewal requirements.
Award Amount: varies
Deadline: 4/30/2016
https://sites.google.com/site/tangscholarship/
Fredrikson & Byron Minority Scholarship Program
The Fredrikson & Byron Foundation Minority Scholarship Program sponsors educational opportunities for currently enrolled, first-year law students of diverse backgrounds.
Award Amount: $15,000
Deadline: 3/31/2016
http://www.fredlaw.com/our_firm/diversity/minority_scholarship/
The George A. Strait Minority Scholarship
The George A. Strait Minority Scholarships are awarded annually to college graduates with meaningful law library experience who are members of a minority group as defined by current U.S. government guidelines, are degree candidates in an accredited library or law school, and intend to have a career in law librarianship. Applicants must show evidence of financial need.
Award Amount: $3,500
Deadline: April 1 of each year
http://www.aallnet.org/main-menu/Member-Resources/scholarships/Scholarship-Applications
Howard Fox Memorial Law Scholarship Fund
The scholarship supports graduates of Berks County, Pennsylvania, high schools who are entering their second year at an accredited law school. The Howard Fox Memorial Law Scholarship Award is presented annually at the Berks County Bar Association Law Day Event.
Award Amount: $3,000
Deadline: 4/1/2016
JACL (Japanese American Citizens League) Scholarships
Every applicant must be an active National JACL member. JACL Membership is open to everyone of any ethnic background. All who meet eligibility criteria are welcomed and encouraged to apply.
Award Amount: Varies; Multiple Scholarships
Deadline: 4/1/2016
https://jacl.org/jacl-national-scholarship-program/
Kathern F. Gruber Scholarship Program/Blinded Veterans Association
The Blinded Veterans Association has established the Kathern F. Gruber Scholarship Program for the purpose of assisting the educational goals of dependent children and spouses of blinded veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Award Amount: See Website
Deadline: 4/15/2016
The Lemberg Scholarship Loan Fund, Inc.
Established in the late 1940's, the Samuel Lemberg Scholarship Loan Fund provides interest-free loans to aid Jewish undergraduate and graduate college students who exhibit exceptional academic achievement and face financial difficulties pursuing a higher education. These loans must be repaid within ten years of graduation or termination of studies.
Award Amount: Up to $5,000
Deadline: 4/15/2016
http://samuellembergscholarshiploanfund.weebly.com
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
M. Katherine Baird Darmer Equity Scholarship
The Fund, which is sponsored by the Orange County Lavender Bar Association (OCLBA) and the Orange County Equality Coalition (OCEC), will award one or more scholarships each year to academically qualified law students who have demonstrated commitment to advancing equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community in Orange County. Please visit the Law Financial Aid Office for application materials.
Award Amount: Up to $5,000
Deadline: 5/1/2016
Margaret A. Gannon Legal Education [Bar Exam] Stipend
Women Lawyers of Alameda County (WLAC) established the Margaret A. Gannon legal education stipend fund to provide financial assistance to help offset some of the costs of a bar review course (or related study materials) for law students and graduates who are preparing to take the July 2016 California Bar Exam.
Eligibility. Individuals eligible to receive a WLAC Margaret A. Gannon legal education stipend must:
(1) join WLAC before or at the time of submitting a stipend application (membership link: http://www.wlaconline.org/membership_application/);
(2) have already applied to take the July 2016 California Bar Exam;
(3) not currently be a member of any state bar; and (4) intend to pursue a legal career.
Application available at the Law Financial Aid Office.
Award Amount: $500
Deadline: 3/29/2016
Ms. JD Fellowship
In 2010, Ms. JD partnered with the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession to found the Ms. JD Fellowship. The Fellowship is Ms. JD's program to promote mentoring and professional development. Each spring, Ms. JD selects a group of outstanding second year law students as Fellowship recipients. In addition to receiving financial support and invitations to ABA and Ms. JD events, each Fellowship recipient is paired with a mentor chosen from among the Brent Award honorees, Spirit of Excellence Award recipients, and ABA Commission on Women in the Profession Commissioners. Beyond the mentorship, each year, the Fellows tell us that one of the best parts of the Fellowship is meeting the other incredible rising 3Ls. Many Fellows remain friends long after their fellowship year is over.
Award Amount: See Website
Deadline: April 1, 2016
http://ms-jd.org/programs/fellowship/
Warner Norcross & Judd Minority Scholarship
Students of color accepted to or presently attending an accredited law school within the U.S. with a permanent residence in Michigan or attending a Michigan Law School. - See more at:http://www.grfoundation.org/scholarshipslist#sthash.eeERrxPk.dpuf
Award Amount: $5,000
Deadline: 4/1/2016
http://www.wnj.com/Careers/Diversity/Minority-Scholarships-and-Applications
Women Lawyers of Alameda County
This is an opportunity for law students connected to Alameda County who anticipate taking the Bar exam this summer. The Margaret A. Gannon legal education stipend is designed to provide financial assistance to help offset some of the costs of a bar review course (or related study materials) for law students and graduates who are preparing to take the July 2016 California Bar Exam.
Award Amount: Three awards of $500 each
Deadline: March 29, 2016
http://www.wlaconline.org/membership_application/
http://www.wlaconline.org/membership_application/
The Zelle LLP Diversity in Law Scholarship
Applicants must either be first-year law students enrolled full-time at an ABA-accredited law school or be part-time (four-year program) or joint-degree students in their second year of law school at an ABA-accredited law school. Applicants also must either (1) be a member of a population or group whose background and perspectives are historically underrepresented in the private practice of law; or (2) demonstrate a long-standing commitment to diversity that will be furthered by award of the scholarship. Selection considerations will include but not be limited to: academic performance, writing skills, demonstrated leadership skills, an interest in litigation (including antitrust and insurance litigation), financial need, and a desire to practice in one of the cities where Zelle Hofmann maintains an office.
Award Amount: $30,000
Deadline: 04/01/2016
http://www.zelle.com/news-press-336.html
International Summer Externships
Summer Externship Opportunities in China, Mexico, the Czech Republic and Vietnam!
A few important externship opportunities are still available in the China, Mexico, Czech Republic and Vietnam programs!
Beijing, China: Unitalen, a large Chinese firm specializing in IP and corporate law
Brno, Czech Republic:
Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic
Mexico City:
U.S. based corporate law firm, Greenberg Traurig
Human rights focus:
Centro Nacional de Derechos Humanos
La Comisión Mexicana de Defensa y Promoción de los Derechos Humanos, A.C. (CMDPDH)
Hanoi, Vietnam: UN Office on Drugs and Crime
The international summer externship application and additional information about the programs are available online at MyUSF under International Programs (https://myusf.usfca.edu/law/registration.)
Please contact Esther Sprague in KN342 or lawsummerabroad@usfca.edu or 415.422.4546 if you have questions.
Intensive Advocacy Program
Applications due April 6, 2016Now 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. See Andrea Crawford in Kendrick 300 with questions, call 415-422-2673 or email USFLawIAP@usfca.edu.Office of Student Affairs
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.
Law Student Support Group Every Tuesday at 12:30 in Room 212, Starting March 15
USF Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) will be holding a Law Student Support Group every Tuesday from 12:30-1:30 in Kendrick Room 212, starting March 15 and for the rest of the semester. The support group is a safe environment for law students to talk about the issues and concerns that come up in your every day lives. No rsvp necessary; just come ready to talk and to listen.
Hilary Anand, Ph.D, is a trained mental health counselor and will lead the support group. If you have questions, you can reach out to her at hanand@usfca.edu or 415-422-6352. You can also contact Grace Hum, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, at ghum@usfca.edu.
Pro Bono Awards
If you have been engaging in pro bono work over the course of the academic year, please review the Pro Bono Award information and application to determine if you're eligible to receive an award. We hope you are! Applications are due at noon on April 8, 2016.
Graduation Speaker and Vocalist
Auditions for graduation speaker and vocalist will be held on April 6, 2016 at 5:30 pm in the Moot Court Room. Information and Guidelines can be found here.
Wellness Week 2016
Monday, March 28
ABA Mental Health and Wellness Day
First Floor Rotunda
8:30 am—10:00 am
12:00 pm— 1:30 pm
5:30 pm—6:30 pm
Join us in the First Floor Rotunda outside the classrooms for smoothies and receive the most up to date Mental Health Awareness Brochure and Resource Guide.
Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Grace Hum and Counseling and Psychological Services Representative Hilary Anand will be there to answer your questions!
Tuesday, March 29
Mindfulness Exercises with Professor Magee
10:00 am—10:10 am
Kendrick 340
School of Law Weekly Support Group
Kendrick 212
12:30 pm—1:30 pm
Join the School of Law Weekly support group led by CAPS Professional Hilary Anand. This support group is a safe environment for law students to talk about the issues and concerns that come up in your every day lives. No RSVP required!
Contact Hilary at hanand@usfca.edu or 415-422-6352 for more information.
Wednesday, March 30
Color Me Relaxed
Student Boulevard & Lounge
12:00 pm—1:30 pm
Coloring generates wellness, quietness and also stimulates brain areas related to
motor skills, the senses and creativity.
Sit, relax and enjoy a make your own yoghurt parfait bar while you color!
Thursday, March 31
Nutrition and Eating Well - On a Student's Budget!
Kendrick 103
12:30 pm—1:30 pm
Join Health Promotion Services for this informative workshop on cooking quickly, eating well, and keeping a budget!
Conact Megan Watt at mwatt@usfca.edu for more information about any of the Wellness Week activities.