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1) Legal Studies Commencement
2) Su24 Enrollment
3) Career Peer Advsrs
4) Summer Abroad
5) Depositions
6) Labor Summer
7) Discovery Database
8) SLC Tutor Jobs
9) FAFSA Opens 12/31
10) Rausser Wkstdy Job
11) Pre-Law Scholars Prog
12) Art of Writing Courses
13) Tons of Rsrch info
14) PhD Studentships
15) JusticeCorps
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1) Legal Studies Commencement
Legal Studies Commencement
Please look here for details.
SIGN UP TO WALK in the Legal Studies Commencement here.
The deadline to sign up is March 15.
Sign up by March 15th to get two free tickets.
Link to buy tickets will be sent out and posted on our website later on.
It's not set up yet, but you will be able to purchase as many tickets as you need online.
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2) Su24 Enrollment
Su24 Enrollment
Summer Sessions 2024 enrollment for UCB students begins February 1st.
The summer schedule is live now at classes.berkeley.edu
You can also find the Legal Studies classes on our website by looking at 'Course Offerings by Semester'.
Core classes being offered are: 103, 107, 138, 160, 177, 182.
Area courses being offered are: 123 and 157
138 and 157 are online.
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3) Career Peer Advsrs
Career Peer Advsrs
Spring 2024 Career Peer Advisor drop-ins
We’re ambassadors, advisors, and, most of all, we’re here to help you get oriented to all the services Berkeley Career Engagement has to offer! We are full-time undergraduate students trained by Career Educators on many aspects of the internship/job search and graduate/professional school application process. We offer one-of-a-kind advice because, as student leaders, we utilize the very services that we promote.
Spring 2024 Peer Advisor Drop-ins: Monday, January 22nd - Friday, April 26th
○ Monday through Thursday: 12-4 pm, In-person (2440 Bancroft Way)
○ Friday: 12-4 pm, Virtual
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4) Summer Abroad
Summer Abroad
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5) Depositions
Depositions
Participate in a Berkeley Law JD Skills Class with the OPTION of earning 1 unit of LS 199
Individual Research Credit
In Spring 2024, undergraduates will have a unique opportunity to play the role of witnesses in a Berkeley Law JD Professional Skills Class (Depositions: Law 246.3), taught by Professor Henry Hecht.
Professor Hecht seeks six (6) students to serve as role-playing witnesses. Students selected will be expected to prepare in advance by reading a witness statement and a very limited amount of background material. Witnesses will then be expected to participate during the semester in six (6) Tuesday afternoon classes from 3:35 p.m. to 6:15 p.m., on February 6, February 13, March 5, March 12, April 2, and April 9. (Note: It is possible that events during the semester will cause a change in dates, but you will be given notice in advance of any changes.)
Professor Hecht's Depositions course is a lawyering skills course, in which Berkeley Law students, working in small groups, simulate the process of preparing witnesses for their depositions and then taking as well as defending their depositions. Practicing Bay Area lawyers attend these sessions, observe the law students in action, and critique their performances.
Playing the role of a witness will allow you to gain insight into the US system of civil litigation and to see it in operation. In addition, it will provide you with a chance to meet and talk with Berkeley Law students and Bay Area attorneys. Finally, witnesses will earn a $50.00 Amazon gift card for their service.
To Apply:
Please apply by e-mail to Professor Hecht at hhecht@law.berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail), by no later than
Wednesday, January 24, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Please include the words “Application to be a Witness” and your last name in the subject line of your e-mail. In your cover message, please include a brief statement about why you are interested in taking part in this class; and attach your resume.
Students' applications will be reviewed by Professor Hecht, and he will notify students of his decisions by no later than Monday, January 29, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
OPTION: Earn 1 Unit of LS 199 Course Credit for Supervised Independent Research with
Professor Perry
2 students will be required to do some additional readings on the civil litigation process and on the participant observation method, which are described below. At the end of the semester, students selecting this option must submit a paper of at least ten pages in length, exclusive of notes and bibliography. The requirements for the LS 199 course credit, offered by Professor Perry, are described below.
Requirements for LS 199 credit:
i. Attend all six (6) class role playing sessions, and prepare for the role plays;
ii. Take notes on what you did and what you observed, preferably in a small note pad,
organized by the date of the session; and submit the raw, handwritten pages along
with your final paper;
iii. Read materials, posted on bCourses, on participant observation methods; and consider how those method(s) apply to your own experience;
iv. Read two chapters, posted on bCourses, from Robert Kagan’s Adversarial Legalism:
The American Way of Law, focusing especially on Chapter 6, which mentions
depositions; and
v. Papers will be graded on a P/NP basis by Professor Perry.
If you want to pursue this option, specify that in your cover message to Professor Hecht when you apply; and he will let Professor Perry know.
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6) Labor Summer
Labor Summer
Attention: particularly juniors and seniors who care about and have worked on social justice and labor issues, this is the program for you. Labor Summer is meant to provide students with first-hand campaign organizing experience and build up our local labor movement pipeline.
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7) Discovery Database
Discovery Database
The start of the semester is a great time for undergraduate students to find and apply for research opportunities, scholarships, and more! Please remind your undergrads that they can dive into the Discovery Database using these instructions and/or attend a live workshop to learn to use this campus-wide resource. As an incentive, students who log in between January 10 and 27 enter for a chance to win a $20 gift card to the Cal Student Store.
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8) SLC Tutor Jobs
SLC Tutor Jobs
We are hiring Writing Tutors for Spring 2024! If you know any students who are passionate about writing and connecting with peers, please encourage them to apply. BIPOC, multilingual, and multidisciplinary students are especially encouraged.
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9) FAFSA Opens 12/31
FAFSA Opens 12/31
New FAFSA Form for 2024–25 Opens December 31: The Department of Education has announced that the 2024–25 FAFSA form will be available online by December 31, 2023. Read FAQs about changes to the FAFSA from the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office. The UC system anticipates that the California Dream Act Application will also be available on or around December 31.
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10) Rausser Wkstdy Job
Rausser Wkstdy Job
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11) Pre-Law Scholars Prog
Pre-Law Scholars Prog
Barnes & Thornburg’s Prelaw Scholars program online application process is now open. This program is designed to help undergraduate students hurdle obstacles in the way of pursing a law degree. This is not a job posting, but a way for students to receive funds to help cover costs associated with prepping for and taking the LSAT.
Applications must be completed online and submitted by 11:59pm ET on January 31, 2024.
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12) Art of Writing Courses
Art of Writing Courses
NOTE: These courses do not fulfill requirements for the Legalst major.
History 100U
Tues, Thur 3:30-5 pm
Michael Nylan & Thomas Hahn
The Art of Writing Climate
Hist 31808
Academic Guide HIST 100U
Additional information is available on the Art of Writing website.
This course addresses many subjects, all of which revolve around climate change, always looking at the strengths and weaknesses of the major arguments made. On the subject of responsibilities owed to future generations, we dissect statements and promises being made by world leaders (including the United Nation’s Antonio Guterres, China’s Xi Jinping, UK’s Rishi Sunak, and climate leaders in the US), as well as the counter-arguments posed by leaders of civil society from a great variety of backgrounds.
Seminal works about climate are discussed in class, from Rachel Carson to Eugene Linden, from Rebecca Solnit to Kim Stanley Robinson.
Rhetoric 189
Tues, Thur 3:30-5 pm
Nathan Atkinson
Writing at the University
Rhetorical Theories and Practices of Composition
Rhetor 31264
Academic Guide Rhetor 189
Additional information is available on the Art of Writing website.
This course draws on theories of rhetoric and composition to explore the practices of academic writing. Students develop an understanding of what constitutes successful academic writing through readings from scholarship in rhetorical theory, and grow as writers through the systemic revision and development of an academic essay.
Haas Scholars Program
Every year, the Haas Scholars Program funds 20 students for up to $14,800 to carry out a capstone project in the summer preceding and during their final year on campus. Haas Scholars also receive guidance from their faculty mentors (who also receive a stipend) and from a full-time staff member, membership in a close-knit interdisciplinary community of scholars, and connections to an alumni network of more than 500 members. To be eligible, students must have: a 3.45+ UCB GPA, intend to graduate Fall ’24 or Spring ’25, and demonstrate financial need (Estimated Family Contribution of <$26,000). Interested students should attend an upcoming info session and contact the Program Manager for an appointment to discuss their eligibility and project proposal.SURF L&S
SURF L&S provides undergraduates in the College of Letters and Science with funding to undertake concentrated summer research in preparation for a senior thesis or similar major capstone project in their final semesters at Cal. Fellows receive a summer stipend of $5,000 for seven weeks of research. In addition to the funding, students benefit from regular meetings with their research cluster cohort and from numerous workshops. To qualify, students must have the support of a UC Berkeley affiliated faculty member and the application requires students to prepare a research proposal related to their project. The application deadline is March 1, 2024, and applicants are strongly encouraged to attend one of OURS's "How to Write a Research Proposal Workshops" in January and to participate a draft workshop with one of the SURF mentors in February.
The Judith Lee Stronach Baccalaureate Prize
The Stronach Baccalaureate Prize supports graduating seniors to undertake a public service, creative, or community-based research project in the year following graduation (Fall '23, Spring and Summer '24 graduates eligible for the 2024 award). Recipients are awarded up to $25,000 for projects that serve the public good and heighten awareness of social issues.Application Deadline: Friday, March 1, 2024. Interested students are highly encouraged to make an appointment with the program manager to discuss their project ideas. Email mwcrabb@berkeley.edu for more information or questions.
January Information Sessions & Workshops at OURS
For a full list of forthcoming events, please visit and register for sessions at the OURS events page. Registration is required so that we can communicate with registrants if there are any changes to any events.
- Stronach Prize Information Session, Wednesday, January 10, 2-3pm on ZOOM
- "How to Write a Research Proposal," Thursday January 11, 10-11am on ZOOM
- Haas Scholars Program Information Session, Thursday January 11th 12pm, ZOOM
- OURS Undergraduate Research Opportunities (Haas Scholars, SURF L&S, Rose Hills Summer Scholarships) Info Session, Tuesday January 16, 11am-12 noon, ZOOM
- Haas Scholars Program Information Session, Tuesday January 16th 12pm, HYBRID - 3401 Dwinelle & ZOOM
- Haas Scholars Program Information Session, Wednesday January 17th 10am, HYBRID - 3401 Dwinelle & ZOOM
- "How to Write a Research Proposal," Wednesday January 17, 12 noon, HYBRID - 3401 Dwinelle & ZOOM
- Haas Scholars Program Information Session, Friday January 19th 10am, HYBRID - 3401 Dwinelle & ZOOM
- OURS Undergraduate Research Opportunities (Haas Scholars, SURF L&S, Rose Hills Summer Scholarships) Info Session, Thursday January 18, 12 noon, Location: HYBRID - 3401 Dwinelle Hall & ZOOM
- Stronach Prize Information Session, Thursday, January 18, 1-2pm on ZOOM
- "How to Write a Research Proposal," Tuesday January 23rd 12pm, HYBRID - 3401 Dwinelle Hall & ZOOM
- Stronach Prize Information Session, Friday, January 26, 10-11am on ZOOM
- "How to Write a Research Proposal," Tuesday January 30th 3pm, HYBRID - 3401 Dwinelle Hall & ZOOM
- "How to Write a Research Proposal," Wednesday January 31, 11am-12 noon, HYBRID - 3401 Dwinelle Hall & ZOOM
- Stronach Prize Information Session, Thursday, February 1, 4-5pm in person in 3401 Dwinelle Hall
Are you interested in Law and Social Justice?
Applications for the 2024-2025 JusticeCorps Program as well as the 2024 Access to Justice Summer Internship are now available! Continuing students & Graduating seniors interested in Public Service, Law, Social Justice, and/or community service can find the JusticeCorps internship and fellowship applications on our website. JusticeCorps is an academic year program. If you are interested in a summer internship, click here to learn about the Access to Justice Summer internship.
JusticeCorps is an AmeriCorps program that will engage approximately 55 continuing university students from Bay Area Partner Universities and 8 graduate fellows in intensive volunteer service in the self-help centers of the Superior Courts of: San Mateo, Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, and San Francisco Counties for the 2024-2025 program year. The self-help centers assist litigants who cannot afford an attorney; to help themselves resolve their legal matters.
Legal Access Interns commit to serve for 300 hours, which is roughly equivalent to 2 4-hour shifts each week over the academic year. Fellows commit to 1700 hours of service over 11.5 months beginning in mid-August, 2024.
Benefits for all JusticeCorps members include:
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The opportunity to serve their community
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One-on-one interaction with litigants
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Practical law and social services-related experience
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Daily opportunities to work with lawyers
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Courtroom observation
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Shadow days with judicial officers
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Field project or internship credit
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Letters of recommendation for law school or graduate school
Legal Access Interns also earn an AmeriCorps education award. Currently $1,565.08 (This award can be used to pay back loans or for future education). Student members also receive transportation reimbursement.
Graduating seniors should apply for the full-time JusticeCorps Fellowship. In addition to the benefits above, Fellows receive:
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A $33,000 living allowance,
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Medical insurance
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Loan forbearance (for qualifying student loans)
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Education awards totaling $10,000 including an AmeriCorps Eli Segal Education award and the California For All Award. These awards can be used to pay back qualifying loans or saved for future education.
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Childcare benefits.
For more information, please visit ourwebsite.
Fellow Applications are due by 2/12/2024
Student member Applications are due by 2/25/24.