Law firm recruiting across the country for summer associates or externs has traditionally been structured through resume collections, on-campus interviews, consortia job fairs, and/or interviews arranged by the firms. While recruiting varies from school to school and firm to firm the on-campus interview and recruiting process has changed in the last few years. To understand these changes, join Symplicity on October 31 at 2 PM ET with CSM Law clients on their best practices and what works for them!
Panelists:
Helena Quinn, Director of Technology, Reporting & Employer Relations
St. John’s University
A double alumna of St. John’s University, Helena holds a Master’s Degree in Student Development and Practice in Higher Education. She joined the Career Development Office in 2000 as Recruitment Coordinator, eventually becoming the office’s first employer relations team member. In her current role as Director of Technology, Reporting & Employer Relations, Helena serves as a liaison between students, St. John’s Law and employers. In addition to actively engaging in employer outreach and job development, she manages the collection, processing and reporting of employment data, oversees all technologies utilized and sourced for Office use, coordinates job fair participation, and administers various initiatives throughout the year. 
Alisa Benedict O’Brien, Assistant Dean of Career Services, Strategic Initiatives and External Affairs
University of Akron
Alisa Benedict O’Brien is in her twelfth year in Career Servies, utilizing her experience to counsel students and alumni on a wide variety of topics including: career paths, interviewing skills, the impact of legal writing on resumes and cover letters, judicial clerkships, public interest careers, careers with law firms, alternate careers for JDs, and overall professionalism. She also works to support alumni and employers. Dean Benedict O’Brien organizes and presents numerous workshops throughout the academic year concerning these topics. She is also the Co-Coordinator of Akron Law’s Pro Bono Program and oversees the Externship Program. Dean Benedict O’Brien serves as a Director for the National Association for Law Placement (NALP), is an active member of the Akron Bar Association, and a member of the Women’s Endowment Fund for Summit County. She is a graduate of Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, magna cum laude, in 2007. She has practiced in the areas of estate planning, probate administration, and corporate law at a boutique firm in Cleveland and clerked for a municipal court judge during law school.
Alecia Bencze, Director of Career Services and Strategic Initiatives
University of Akron
Alecia Bencze currently serves as the Director of Career Services and Strategic Initiatives at the University of Akron School of Law. In her sixth year in Career Services, she utilizes her experience to counsel first-year law students and students in the accelerated 2-Year JD program on a wide variety of topics including: career paths in all areas of law, interviewing skills, the impact of legal writing on resumes and cover letters, alternate careers for JDs, and overall professionalism. In her role, she cultivates and maintains relationships with not only law students but also alumni, employers, and other members of the legal community. In addition to the career services focus of her role, she is also responsible for creating, planning, and coordinating all law school social media content and campaigns. Director Bencze serves as the Vice Co-Chair of Annual Education Conference/Bulletin+ Article and Webinar Planning for the JD Career Advisors Section of the National Association for Law Placement (NALP). She is a graduate of the University of Akron School of Law in 2015. Her experience in practice includes working in the civil division of a local prosecutor's office representing local elected officials in a variety of areas of law. 
Suzanne Hard, Director of Career Services University of Connecticut
Suzanne is the Director of the Center for Career Development at the University of Connecticut Law School. Previously she spent five years with the Connecticut Bar Association, where she produced education programming and content for attorneys at every career stage and practice setting. Her prior experience includes time in private practice in both large and small firms, along with roles in public interest law and higher education. She earned her undergraduate degree from Cornell University and her JD from the University of Michigan.
Moderator:
Caty Frehe, Symplicity CSM Law Client Manager