Chicago-Kent advertises and/or participates in a number of job fairs each year to increase interview opportunities for its students. Job fairs also provide interview opportunities to special segments of the student population. Watch this space, the Record, and the CSO Bulletin Board on the 3rd Floor for more information, including updates about these job fairs. Should you have any questions, please contact kentcso via e-mail or call (312) 906-5200.
This list was compiled by the Career Services Office at Chicago-Kent College of Law and is not meant to be exhaustive. While we attempt to update the list regularly, dates and deadlines for fairs can change. Be sure to check the websites of each fair to confirm dates and deadlines, as well as whether you meet the requirements to participate. While some job fairs are designed to further particular goals of diversity within the legal profession, they cannot discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, handicap or disability, or sexual orientation. If a job fair charges a fee in order for individual students to attend, you are responsible for paying the fee and any expenses related to attending the job fair.
NYU's International Student Interview Program (ISIP)
NYU School of Law hosts this one-day consortium program bringing together over 1100 foreign-trained law students from 30 law schools with 130+ employers with positions in approximately 35 countries including the United States. Next year's annual Program will be held in New York City at NYU Law School in January 2016. The program is strictly for foreign lawyers enrolled as full-time LL.M. students at a sponsoring law school during the 2015-2016 academic year (Chicago-Kent is a program sponsor). Informational packets containing all necessary program instructions and registration materials may be picked up in the career services office, Room 360. Registration for the 2016 Program is TBA. In the past, students chosen for interviews by participating employers were notified about their interviews in December.
Midwest Public Interest Law Career Conference
The Midwest Public Interest Law Career Conference (MPILCC), sponsored by the Chicago Area Law School Consortium, is a job fair for students interested in employment and volunteer opportunities in the public sector. The Conference attracts over 50 employers for on-site interviews, table talk and resume collections. In 2012, more than 120 students from Chicago-Kent registered to attend this event. Next year's Conference will be held at Northwestern Law School in February 2016. Information about last year's fair is available online at http://mpilcc.uchicago.edu/. Registration for the 2016 conference will open in Fall 2015.
Bay Area Diversity Career Fair
The Bay Area Diversity Career Fair typically occurs on July 25, 2015 and is hosted by The Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF) and sponsored by Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. The Annual Bay Area Diversity Career Fair brings together prominent law firms and government legal departments in the San Francisco Bay Area and highly qualified diverse 2L law students from distinguished local law schools as well as other top schools from around the nation to participate in summer associate programs. For more information, click here.
National Black Prosecutor Association Job Fair
The National Black Prosecutors Association (NBPA) is committed to the recruitment, training, and career advancement of minority attorneys as prosecutors at all levels of government. The Annual Conference will occur July 19, 2015 in Washington, DC. In addition to a comprehensive legal training program for prosecutors, the conference will host the NBPA Job Fair during the conference on July 21st. The NBPA Job Fair provides a forum for law school students, recent law school graduates and experienced attorneys from across the nation to meet and interview for prospective employment in prosecutors' offices at the local, state and federal levels. For more information, click here. Registration is now open. The early registration fee for the Job Fair is $25.00 for law students and 2015 law school graduates, and $50.00 for experienced attorneys. Starting May 1st, the regular Job Fair registration fee is $50.00 for law students and 2015 law school graduates, and $75.00 for experienced attorneys. On June 20th, the Job Fair registration fee increases to $100 for law students and the class of 2015, and $150 for experienced attorneys. Registration closes on July 7th. In addition to the Job Fair reception, all Job Fair participants are invited to attend a free career seminar entitled "Strategies for a Successful Interview". The seminar will take place on Monday, July 20th from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm at the Fairmont Hotel, and will provide Job Fair participants with effective interviewing techniques.
Vault/MCCA Legal Diversity Career Fair
Though VAULT and the Minority Corporate Council Association (MCCA) offered a career fair in the past, they did not in 2014. If a 2015 fair is planned, we will update this page. In addition, per VAULT, "We plan to maintain a legal resume database, through which recruiters from law firms and government agencies who are firmly committed to increasing diversity in the legal profession will have access to candidates' resumes. If you would be interested in having your resume included in this database, please contact resumedatabase@vault.com and we will follow up with instructions on how to submit your resume."
Patent Law Interview Program
This year's annual program will be held July 30-July 31, 2015 in Chicago, IL. The Program is only open to law students who will be returning to school in Fall 2015. It is not for students beginning school in Fall 2015, students graduating spring or summer 2015, or alumni. Prospective positions are for 2016 summer associate and entry-level attorney positions. For more information, click here. Please note that a non-refundable $35 registration fee is due at the time of registration. Registration closes March 9, 2015.
IndyBar Diversity Job Fair
The IndyBar Diversity Job Fair will be held August 6-7, 2015 at the Hilton Indianapolis Hotel and Suites. Second-year full-time (graduating in May 2017) and part-time 2L and 3L (graduating in 2017/2018) law students are invited to participate in the annual IndyBar Diversity Job Fair. The fair draws candidates who represent all aspects of diversity and who are looking for a one-of-a kind legal community in a Midwestern city that has both cosmopolitan style and small-town charm. Student registration opens April 1, 2015. To register, click here.
Boston Lawyers Group Minority Job Fair
The annual BLG Minority Job Fair will be held on August 4, 2015 at the Sheraton Boston Hotel in Boston. Since its founding in 1986, the Boston Lawyers Groups has grown into a consortium of more than 45 members, including prominent law firms, corporate legal departments and government agencies in Boston. Over the years, members of the BLG have demonstrated a consistent pattern of significant increases in the number of jobs offered to and accepted by attorneys of color. Click here for more information.
IMPACT Career Fair for Law Students and Lawyers with Disabilities
The 6th Annual IMPACT Career Fair will be held in August 2015 in Arlington, VA. Last year, 30 law firms and government agencies interviewed students from across the US. Law students and lawyers with disabilities from the Classes of 2014 and earlier are invited to participate. The registration deadline is TBD. For more information about last year's fair and to obtain updated information about the 2014 fair as it becomes available, please click here.
Minnesota Minority Recruitment Conference
The Minnesota Minority Recruitment Conference is a program of the Twin Cities Committee on Minority Lawyers in Large Law Firms ("TCC"). The Conference is aimed at hiring law students of color from around the country for law firms, corporations, and government agencies located in Minnesota. On average, over 150 students and approximately 30 employers participate each year. Law students in their second or third year of law school are eligible to apply. The 2015 conference will be held on August 7, 2015. For additional information, please visit www.diversityinpractice.org.
St. Louis Diversity Job Fair
The St. Louis Diversity Job Fair will be held on August 8, 2015 in St. Louis, Missouri. The primary goal of the Fair is to attract a diverse group of 2L and 3L students to the metropolitan St. Louis legal community, encourage them to practice law in the area, and become and integral part of the St. Louis community. The classes of 2016 and 2017 (2L and 3L) are invited to participate. Please visit www.stldiversityjobfair.com/index.html for more information.
Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair
The Annual Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair will be held on August 21-22, 2015. 2L's, 3L's, and 2014 graduates interested in becoming part of Kansas City's dynamic legal community should strongly consider attending this event. The job fair is designed to introduce law students of diverse backgrounds to internships, summer associate positions and full-time employment to both the traditional and non-traditional legal employers. For more information visit www.heartlanddiversity.org.
CCBA Minority Law Student Job Fair
The 32nd Annual Cook County Bar Association Minority Law Student Job Fair will be held on August 14, 2015 in Chicago, IL. 2L's and 3L's (students in the classes of 2016 and 2017) are invited to participate. Student registration opened on March 16, 2015. This year's Job Fair will be held on Friday, August 14, 2015, from 8:30am - 5:00pm at the Embassy Suites Chicago - Downtown/Lakefront, located at 511 N. Columbus Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60611. Please note that the student registration process will be completed via a multi-step process. First, each student must register as a participating student by entering his or her profile information on the Symplicity website. IMPORTANT: Chicago-Kent's "Law School Job Fair Liaison" is Allison Smith. Please enter her name when you register; and be in touch with Allison or your career advisor with any questions. Second, each student must upload his or her resume by Friday, May 15, 2015 at 11:59 p.m. Central Standard Time (NO EXCEPTIONS).
Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA)
The Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) 2015 Job Fair will be held on September 4, 2014 in Bostonin conjunction with HNBA's Annual Convention. Job Fair participants will be able to interact with leading Hispanic lawyers throughout the United States and participate in enriching continuing legal education programs. For more information about last year's event and to receive information about the 2014 fair as it becomes available, please visit www.hnba.com/news-events/annual-convention.
Lavender Law Conference & Career Fair
The 2015 National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Bar Association Annual Conference and Career Fair (formerly known as Lavender Law Career Fair) will be held August 5-8, 2015 in Chicago. This annual Conference & Career Fair is designed to pair lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender attorneys and law students with opportunities at law firms and government agencies. The Career Fair has grown leaps and bounds over the past five years. Over six hundred attorney candidates and one hundred thirty employers representing private firms and public organizations from all over the country were present at last year's Career Fair in New York. Students are encouraged to join the National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Bar Association for $40. If a member of the LGBT Bar Association, the fee to register is $85. Non-member registration is $135. More information is available at www.lgbtbar.org/annual/register.
Northwest Minority Job Fair
The Northwest Minority Job Fair will be held on August 22, 2015 in Seattle, Washington. The mission of the fair is to foster access to employment opportunities for historically underrepresented persons in the practice of law and to provide a networking forum for legal employers and minority law students. Current students and 2015 graduates are welcome to participate. Based upon the original purpose of the Job Fair and limited resources, the focus of our mission is ethnic minorities. For more information, please visit www.nwmjf.org.
Virginia Bar Association Annual Diversity Job Fair
The VBA's Annual Diversity Job Fair will take place on TBD in Richmond, Virginia. Students must be rising 2Ls or 3Ls and interested in practicing in Virginia in order to participate. The Diversity Job Fair is open to all students of diverse backgrounds including: race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability or age. The deadline to register is TBA. Check www.vba.org for more details as they become available.
Delaware Minority Job Fair
The Job Fair was founded by a consortium of Delaware law firm, corporate, and public sector/interest legal employers interested in recruiting minority law students for the purpose of increasing diversity in the Delaware bar. The Job Fair, an invitation-only event, is limited to students interested in employment opportunities in Delaware who will be in their second or third year of law school during the 2015-16 academic year. While minority law students are the focus of this event, the Job Fair accepts applications from all interested students. The registration deadline is TBD.
Rocky Mountain Diversity Legal Career Fair
The Rocky Mountain Diversity Legal Career Fair will take place on July 31, 2015. The fair is open to students and recent graduates of any U.S. law school. Legal employers attending the RMDLCF seek to hire law students and 2014 graduates from culturally diverse backgrounds that have been traditionally under-represented in the practice of law in the Rocky Mountain region. These include law students and 2013 graduates who are ethnic or racial minorities and/or gay or lesbian. For more information and to obtain details about the 2014 fair as they become available, please visit www.rmdlcf.com.
Equal Justice Works Annual Career Fair and Conference
The annual Equal Justice Works Career Fair & Conference is the nation's largest public interest law career fair and conference, hosting more than 200 employers and 1,200 students and graduates from across the country. Equal Justice Works hosts this conference and career fair to broaden, support, and recognize the efforts and participation of public interest-minded law students, lawyers, and advocates. This year's Fair will take place on October 23-24, 2015 in Arlington, VA. All persons registered for the Career Fair may participate in the one-on-one employer interviews, table talk interviews, and educational sessions on how to advance a public interest career. Students who would like one-on-one interviews must submit resumes and cover letters to attending employers in September. For further information, including how to register, deadlines, and participating employers, visit www.equaljusticeworks.org/law-school/conference-and-careerfair. First-year students: In accordance with the National Association for Legal Professional guidelines, you are not permitted to participate in one-on-one interviews with employers. However, you may participate in the Table Talk and career development sessions.