Writing Contests
Section of Dispute Resolution. First place: $1,000 and publication in The Journal of American Arbitration or The World Arbitration and Mediation Report. Deadline: June 15. www.abanet.org/dispute/essaycomp.html >
Section of Family Law. Winners receive free membership in the Section and possible publication of their essay in Family Law Quarterly. Deadline: May 15. www.abanet.org/family/lawstudents/schwab.shtml
Section of Labor and Employment Law. First place: $500 and publication in The Labor Lawyer journal. Deadline: August 31. www.abanet.org/labor/proopp.html#laborlawyer
Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law. First place: $300 to $1,000. Deadline: June 1. www.law.mercer.edu/academics/legal_writing/writingcomp.cfm
Section of Public Utility, Communications and Transportation Law. First place: $2,500, free Section membership, airfare, and hotel accommodations to attend the Fall Council Meeting. Deadline: June 1. www.abanet.org/pubutil
Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law. First place: $2,000, one-year free Section membership, and an expense-paid trip to
attend the Section’s Fall Council Meeting. Deadline: June 16.
E-mail: rpte@staff.abanet.org.
Internships
Section of Individual Rights & Responsibilities. Legal interns will work directly with the Section’s lawyers and other staff members on policy and project development and implementation. The Section’s focus is on civil rights, civil liberties, human rights, and other individual rights issues. Internships are available year-round and applications are accepted until positions are filled. Details are at www.abanet.org/irr/interns.html. Contact Patrice McFarlane at 202-662-1030 or irr@abanet.org.
Section of International Law. The Section maintains an International Internship Program website, which is a portal connecting potential interns to international law firms who have offered to host internships during summer 2008. www.abanet.org/intlaw/intlinternship.html
Miscellaneous
Forum on Communications Law mentoring. Students can post questions about career development and related issues to mentors via an e-mail discussion list of experienced media law lawyers. Send an e-mail with COMMLAW-MENTOR in the subject line to tucok@staff. abanet.org with your name, address, law school, and year of law school graduation.
Law students with disabilities mentoring. The Commission on Mental & Physical Disability Law coordinates a mentor program for law students with disabilities. Mentors can provide academic and career advice and information about bar associations and civic opportunities. Mentors practice in a variety of legal settings, including large and small law firms and the federal government. Contact 202-662-1570 or cmpdl@staff.abanet.org.
Mental health counseling. If you, another law student, a lawyer, or a judge you know is suffering from stress, depression, or any other mental health problem, call the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs hotline at 866-LAW-LAPS (866-529-5277). The commission staff can give you the phone number of the lawyer assistance program in your area from which you can obtain confidential assistance.
Substance abuse. The Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs has a closed and confidential online discussion forum for law students who are in recovery from alcoholism or drug dependence. To join, e-mail spilisd@staff.abanet.org.