Natasha Paulmeno – Law Street

Facebook at Work: Facebook Creating LinkedIn Competitor

Natasha Paulmeno — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 15:45:16 +0000

My dear friend LinkedIn has some competition coming its way–that’s right, Facebook is developing a new platform designed to let people use the social networking site at work.

The new Facebook–dubbed FB@Work (Zuckerberg couldn’t think of something more clever?)–will allow co-workers to chat, network with other professionals in their field, and work together on documents.

Many professionals already use Facebook at work, but now the company is actually testing the professional platform with companies, according to Reuters. FB@Work would be a completely separate site from the social networking site. Its main competitors include LinkedIn, Google, Microsoft, Box, and Salesforce.com

Zuckerberg’s move to create a professional networking platform gives Facebook a new edge. The tech industry is in a high-speed capability race and this new platform gives Facebook a one-up.

FB@Work’s chat tool can compete with Salesforce.com’s Chatter, Google’s Gchat, and Microsoft’s Yammer. Networking with professionals on FB@Work compares to the entire platform of LinkedIn. Lastly, providing co-workers with a space to collaborate on documents challenges Google Docs, Box, and Dropbox.

All of these features will not only be more attractive for users, but also for advertisers. The Financial Times reports the professional website will provide users with accounts separate from the social Facebook, so marketers have more space to place ads. The separate accounts would function to keep certain information private from certain audiences.

Some features will look similar; the News Feed will still be a staple of the site. The terms of confidentiality are still in question.

With FB@Work, you may portray your Facebooking habits in a more positive light at work. However, the new platform is designed to foster a more-efficient Facebook that will overall increase productivity and connectivity in the workplace.

Would you use FB@Work? Personally, I wouldn’t want to have an additional distraction. Google and LinkedIn already provide all the services I need–chat, room to collaborate on documents, discussion boards, and networking space. Creating another account means worrying about another password to remember and another networking site to keep up with. Honestly, I think Facebook is just trying to remain relevant with this new platform.

In the past, Facebook has tried to compete with other sites and networking platforms. Do you remember the Beacon fiasco? Beacon was part of Facebook’s Ads platform, but users were infuriated when the truth about Beacon’s tracking mechanisms came out. Beacon tracked users’ online activity on third-party sites–even when they were logged out or opted not to broadcast their activity to their networks.

This controversy, which occurred in 2007, was not a lone incident in Facebook’s spotty history with privacy leaks. In 2011, a similar privacy breach occurred when three applications were reported to provide users’ personal information to third-party sites. Maybe that’s part of the reason I’m hesitant to join the movement for FB@Work. Though the site is still in its development phase, I don’t trust that the social account and the professional account of Facebook will be kept completely separate nor will it be entirely secure. Until this site is fully developed and used by many early adopters, you can find me on LinkedIn.

Natasha Paulmeno

Natasha Paulmeno is an aspiring PR professional studying at the University of Maryland. She is learning to speak Spanish fluently through travel, music, and school. In her spare time she enjoys Bachata music, playing with her dog, and exploring social media trends. Contact Natasha at staff@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Facebook at Work: Facebook Creating LinkedIn Competitor appeared first on Law Street.

The Capitalista’s Tips for Young Entrepreneurs

Natasha Paulmeno — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 16:44:44 +0000

Image courtesy of [Gvahim via Flickr]

Standing out as a young entrepreneur can be difficult. There are many small steps budding business men and women can take to bring themselves closer to being successful in the field. Some strategies are as small as keeping up on current events, but others take more time and effort. From the small tips to the more significant tips, here’s a list of the Capitalista’s pointers for being a successful young entrepreneur.

Know Every Aspect of Your Industry and Then Some

Know more about your industry than just the two biggest names in that field. Maybe the little guys will be more helpful in your search. All entrepreneurs should brush up on their knowledge of the tech field. Pretty much every company today has some tech-related component. Observing and understanding your target audience’s technology habits will help you reach them better. Lastly, make sure the business you build is right for you. Does your company mesh with your personal life? Does your business have its own niche? These are all things entrepreneurs should consider before delving into the market.

Be prepared to dress for success

Sometimes the key to success starts with the way one presents him or herself to others. Entrepreneurs should always be prepared to look the part of a strong, successful businessperson, even if a suit isn’t part of their daily wardrobe. Stay prepared by keeping some vital items in your closet. For women, that could include a pair of flat shoes, a pair of dress pants and a simple button-up. For men, a clean suit, shirt, and tie will usually do. These items may be useful when you least expect it, and on a moment’s notice.

Keep Up with Current Events

What better way to connect with others than to discuss the trends? Knowing what’s going on in the world — whether it be news, pop culture, or business — is a great way to start conversations with fellow entrepreneurs. Networking is imperative for entrepreneurs, as it helps create and maintain relationships with potential partners, vendors, or even customers. Attend local trade association events, reach out to other local business people and community leaders, and participate in online discussions. Use your knowledge of current events and trends to foster these relationships.

Learn to Accept Criticism

A young entrepreneur who can accept constructive criticism exhibits his or her strength as a businessperson. Though women are more likely to receive criticism in the workplace, they should never allow these critiques to hinder their entrepreneurial spirit. Furthermore, entrepreneurs should learn to become their own harshest critics. Kelsey Ramsden, a $50 million entrepreneur and founder of four companies, says wise entrepreneurs are capable of judging themselves without bias. This means successful entrepreneurs are honest with themselves about their capabilities and maintain realistic goals.

Starting and growing a business is not an easy feat to accomplish. Oftentimes, finding funding is one of the hardest parts. In order to get a leg up on your competitors and learn about how to grow your idea, read “How Does the JOBS Act Help Millennial Entrepreneurs?”

Just remember, that in order to succeed as an entrepreneur, young entrepreneurs should keep these tips in mind to strengthen their businesses and their careers.

Natasha Paulmeno

The post The Capitalista’s Tips for Young Entrepreneurs appeared first on Law Street.

How Does the JOBS Act Help Millennial Entrepreneurs?

Natasha Paulmeno — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 16:07:00 +0000

The Obama administration passed the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act into legislation in 2012. Two years later, the JOBS Act has been amended several times and the market for IPOs has seen some stark changes in the right direction as a result.

Accessible Capital Ventures

The JOBS Act in its initial form legalized equity crowdfunding in an effort to create more jobs. The legislation allows individuals to invest in start-up companies in exchange for equity. This act was designed to foster growth of start-up companies and create more jobs for young professionals. Furthermore, entrepreneurs were given new outlets to fundraise for their budding enterprises.

Last summer, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) added an amendment to the JOBS Act. Title II removed an eight-decade-old ban on general solicitation or advertising for private enterprises that were not formally registered with the SEC.

By requiring the SEC to remove this general solicitation restriction, Congress sought to make it easier for a company to find investors and thereby raise capital.

The success of many companies depends on the timing of their first public sales. When the JOBS Act made it possible for companies to conduct their initial paperwork behind closed doors and control the time of their public announcement, many new companies jumped on the bandwagon.

In 2013, the number of initial public offerings (IPOs) increased by 70 percent. The biotech industry has seen an incredible boom thanks to the JOBS Act. Biotech investors and CEOs of emerging companies are pushing for further legislation to make access to capital easier so they can focus on breakthrough developments and treatments for HIV/AIDS, cancer, and diabetes.

Jumpstarting Young Professionals

What does all this mean for young professionals eager to launch their own business ventures? With more control over IPOs and easier access to investors, Millennials are more likely to land investors. Rather than depending on one main investor, emerging companies can acquire several smaller investments from various investors.

For Millennials, perfecting the art of investor relations will be a key component of their start-ups’ success. Young business proteges interested in the tech or biotech industries have lots of room to grow and should start creating connections with investors.

Title III of the JOBS Act opened up the opportunity for companies to crowd investing. Individuals who invest online into private companies do not have to be accredited, though there are certain limitations set for these individuals. For example, a potential investor with an income below $100,000 can invest at most 5 percent of his or her income or net worth.

For Millennials who are interested in launching a company in an emerging market and seeking private investors, websites like RealCrowd exist. RealCrowd is an investment website dedicated to the real estate market.

Lastly, it’s imperative for start-up companies to get to know their investors. The JOBS Act allows for emerging growth companies to learn their investors’ motives and style. Because IPOs are now private, companies can back out of deals without public backlash.

The market is ripe for start-up companies – not only do they stimulate the economy, but they also create job opportunities. The JOBS Act benefits job seekers, entrepreneurs, and investors and makes it easier for start-up companies to become successful.

Natasha Paulmeno

The post How Does the JOBS Act Help Millennial Entrepreneurs? appeared first on Law Street.

How to Use Social Media to Land a Job

Natasha Paulmeno — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 15:51:34 +0000

Image copyright of Law Street Media.

Millennials are often accused of losing their interpersonal skills because they depend on technology for too much. Regardless of what critics may say, technology and social networking play an important role in our futures in many ways. Millennials should take to their social networking sites not only to create larger networks, but also to showcase their skills for prospective employers.

Some websites are more directly associated with professional development. The most prominent website for such uses is LinkedIn, however Millennials should take advantage of Facebook, Twitter and blogging sites to market themselves as well.

Create a social resume.

In 2012, 92 percent of employers reported using social media for recruiting, according to OnlineColleges.com. Websites like LinkedIn make it easier than ever for users to showcase their industry-related experiences, projects and connections. However, there are a plethora of other websites that allow users to create different types of curricula vitae. More creative individuals may use ResumeSocial.com or VisualCV.com while more traditional individuals could turn their blogs into CVs using WordPress, Tumblr, or Typepad. Here are some examples.

Engage in professional conversations.

Whether it leads to taking part in Twitter chats or participating in conversations in LinkedIn groups, these activities will increase users’ visibility in their respective networks. Though Facebook is often used for social interactions, becoming involved in professional conversations on the site could also yield visibility to hiring employers. LinkedIn offers groups specifically for individuals seeking jobs in certain industries–join and participate in a group that pertains to your profession.

Participate in industry-related activities.

Actively seek job listings, conferences and chats using hashtags on Twitter and Facebook. Remember that each post you publish represents who you are through your online presence. Share thoughtful comments related to your field of interest and offer valuable input to conversations as such. The more active users are in specific topics, the more likely they are to create networks who can share employment opportunities.

Create a professional blog.

Sometimes Twitter’s 140 characters merely aren’t enough to express your ideas and opinions on specific industry-related topics. Your blog can double as an e-portfolio or social resume. This platform allows individuals to present their communication skills and work experience. Blogs are jobseekers’ way of creating relevant, interesting and unique information about themselves. Check out these great examples:

Engage with influencers.

Use LinkedIn influencer profiles to monitor industry-specific updates and innovations. Tweet at big name professionals in your field. Follow blogs of leading individuals in your industry. These different channels of social media will not only provide you with the most recent news in your specific area of interest, but also prepare you with valuable talking points at your next interview or networking event. Lastly, creating connections with influencers in your field could help you down the road.

The Internet provides endless opportunities for Millennials to showcase their valuable experiences, skills, and passion relevant to their careers. With so many resources literally available at their fingertips, Millennials should begin to think creatively about marketing their assets online. While doing so, Millennials should be careful not to plagiarize, badmouth former employers, or repeatedly post about controversial topics.

Use the Internet to your advantage to contact future employers in new, creative ways. Create video or photo resumes, design your own logo and showcase your passion through personalized posts. The age of online recruiting is on the rise and Millennials can beat the curve by creatively showcasing themselves through various platforms.

Natasha Paulmeno

The post How to Use Social Media to Land a Job appeared first on Law Street.

How to Stand Out in Your Job Search

Natasha Paulmeno — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 16:50:57 +0000

Remember that saying, “no matter how good you are, there will always be someone out there better than you are?” This phrase is a bit of a downer, but it’s also a harsh reality Millennials may face in their hunt for internships and post-grad work. Competition is tough, and standing out from the pack is a real challenge.

If the first step is acknowledgement, the second step is action. How can Millennials undermine this reality? There’s no set formula for achieving success right out of college. What Millennials can do is put themselves out there and take strides outside of their comfort zones to stand out in the job market.

Nishant Bhajaria, a career coach and product manager at Nike, landed his first internship at a career fair in his junior year of college. He knew he wasn’t the most qualified for the position, but unlike his peers, he made the effort to talk to the recruiters. He ended up with the internship because he was the best fit for the position.

What can we learn from Bhajaria’s experiences? He stresses several strategies applicants can use to get hired.

Never lose hope.

If finding a job were easier right out of college, the statistics for collegiate debt in this country would be much less depressing. Unfortunately, Millennials often face rejection when applying for their first jobs after graduation. The first few applications create a sense of excitement for applicants–who wouldn’t look forward to finally starting their career? Don’t lose this enthusiasm, even if you’re rejected. Instead, use it to continue motivating you through your application process. Give each application and interview your all–prepared applicants are more successful. The right position for you may be in a place you least expect it to be.

Know how to read job titles and descriptions.

Job titles and descriptions can often be misleading. Bhajaria changed the title for the first position he received and encourages applicants to look past the labels of job descriptions. While job titles may be inaccurate, applicants must also know how to read job descriptions. Follow a sort of inverted pyramid analysis when reading job descriptions–the most pertinent skills for the position will be listed near the top. Know that not every skill listed is required for the position, but applicants should have a thirst for expanding their knowledge in the areas listed toward the bottom.

“You don’t always have to be the best to win.”

As Bharajia stresses, the underdog can come out on top. Applicants do not know who their competition is, so they should not hesitate to apply. Do you want to be an associate account manager at a large firm? APPLY! Who’s to say you won’t end up being the most qualified applicant, or have a particular skill that the job requires? Rejection may be embarrassing and a bit painful, but Millennials should not let it discourage them from applying for interesting positions.

Always continue learning.

Employees who are eager to learn more in their fields are more likely to be successful. Each organization, each cause, each project you work with will allow you to expand your skills and knowledge. The more diversity your experience and skill-base extend, the more valuable you are as an applicant. Millennials just entering the workforce should make conscious efforts to market their willingness and potential to expand and pick up skills in different areas.

Use your network.

Every person you meet in your quest for employment has the potential to resurface in your life. Treat each moment as an opportunity to network and treat all individuals in professional settings with respect. Use these tips on professional etiquette to further your career aspirations. Reach out to the connections you’ve made, no matter how weak they may seem to you. If you make a conscious effort to stay in touch, you will be more likely to succeed. Bharajia says successful networkers are active listeners, show genuine concern for their connections’ welfare and build relationships with their audiences before asking for their help.

Next time you’re applying for a job or internship, but you don’t think you’ll meet the qualifications, just give it a shot. As you don’t know who your competition is, you’ll never know unless you try. The only way to succeed in today’s job industry is to put yourself out there.

Natasha Paulmeno

The post How to Stand Out in Your Job Search appeared first on Law Street.

The Capitalista’s Tips for Writing Kick-Ass Emails

Natasha Paulmeno — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 14:43:18 +0000

How often do you forget to respond to emails? The subject is usually not interesting enough or there are many other, more important emails you have to respond to. So, who’s to say your emails aren’t receiving the same response, or lack thereof?

Whether you’re working to reach sources before a deadline, applying for a position, or merely trying to network, making your emails stand out is a top priority. Here are some tips on how to ensure your emails are not lost in the shuffle.

Start your email with a catchy phrase. These phrases may include something along the lines of “Good news!” or “I’ve completed this research for you.” If you start the email off with an attention grabber, your audience will be more likely to care about the remaining content of your email and more inclined to respond. Are you applying for a job and trying to stand out in the sea of applicants? The more personalized your email is, the more likely you are to grab your readers’ attention.
Summarize the message content in the subject line. Be as specific and concise as possible in your subject lines. Vague subjects are uninteresting and less likely to be opened. Subjects are especially important for chain emails–reduce the confusion by clarifying the new topic of each response. When applying for a specific position be straightforward in your subject line, e.g. “Mary Smith’s Application Materials for Associate Account Executive.”
Avoid trigger words. Mailchimp suggests avoiding these three words: “Help,” “Percent off” and “Reminder.” Though these words won’t necessarily trigger spam filters, they increase the probability that readers will ignore your emails because they are usually found in emails that are spam-related.
Write with your audience in mind. Start off your message by engaging your audience. You can do this by beginning with something like “You asked me to complete this task…” You should also complete the message with a “you” in mind. Engaging your reader by emphasizing the completion of their wishes will increase the likelihood of your audience taking your message into account.
Avoid repeating subject lines. According to Mailchimp, recipients are less likely to open subject lines that are repetitive of previously received emails. Whether you are sending out a listserv, event reminder or weekly update, try to be creative. This will get your emails noticed and help build a consistent reading audience.
Keep messages simple. Each message should have one main topic. If you are planning an event or coordinating a lunch, that should be the sole subject of the email. When too many topics are involved in a message, the reader becomes overwhelmed and may not take the time to deal with responding to various topics. This strategy is especially important for chain emails. When applying to jobs or internships, keep your message (in some cases this may be your cover letter) as straightforward as possible. Explain who you are, which position you’re applying for and how your experiences and skills can overall benefit the organization.

From promotional emails, to newsletters to logistical emails to job applications, email has become a part of young professional life that cannot be avoided. Wading through thousands of emails each day is a tedious task Millennials are all too familiar with. Standing out in the wave of all those unread messages can prove to be a difficult task, but by using these tips your emails will not be ignored.

—

Natasha Paulmeno (@NatashaPaulmeno) is an aspiring PR professional studying at the University of Maryland. She is learning to speak Spanish fluently through travel, music, and school. In her spare time she enjoys Bachata music, playing with her dog, and exploring social media trends.

Natasha Paulmeno

The post The Capitalista’s Tips for Writing Kick-Ass Emails appeared first on Law Street.

Millennials: Be Confident, Not Arrogant

Natasha Paulmeno — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 20:15:06 +0000

Image courtesy of [Tech Cocktail via Flickr]

How do you draw the line between confidence and arrogance? We struggle all the time to discuss our aspirations and accomplishments without sounding like self-promotional salespeople. While we want to sell ourselves, we fear driving our audiences away by sounding arrogant.

However, confident doesn’t always mean arrogant. Once millennials learn to use their confidence appropriately, they will stand out from their peers in professional settings and job applications.

Here are some tips for presenting yourself confidently, without the arrogance.

Believe in yourself.

Confidence starts from within. Though some degree of being confident actually depends on genetics, you must believe in yourself to show others your confidence. Know your strengths and your weaknesses and you won’t be brought down.

In interviews, know how to discuss your accomplishments without sounding egotistical. Talk about the results of your work–did you increase sales by a certain percentage? Were you able to sign any big clients? Or, were you able to manage a crisis for your company? Turn your achievements into talking points that can foster deeper conversation.

Make eye contact.

Making eye contact with someone shows that you care about what that person has to say. Maintaining eye contact exudes confidence and fosters better communication. Avoid looking past the person you’re talking to, this may suggest that you’re disinterested or arrogant.

The smaller the setting, the more important making eye contact is. If you’re having a one-on-one conversation with someone, be sure to lock eyes. If you’re at an informational session or some sort of larger networking event, try to make the most of your interactions. Whenever possible, try to be personable.

Support your own opinion.

Know about current issues in the world and form your own opinion of them. If you are knowledgeable about the issue and you can discuss in groups, voice your stance. If your view is not the most popular, don’t back down from the discussion–this is your chance to build confidence.

Midterm elections are coming up, #STOPTheGOP is trending and foreign affairs are a mess today. Every person is entitled to an opinion. Though politics is a touchy subject and should generally be avoided at networking events, if it does come up you should stand your ground. Are you particularly interested in border control or conflicts in the Middle East? Do you have a strong stance on an issue that you are knowledgable about? Make your voice heard! Not only will you impress (and maybe piss off) your audience, but most importantly, your firmness will prove your confidence.

Present yourself well.

As much as I hate to say it, appearance does matter. Dress the part for professional events. You don’t have to do anything over the top, but if you feel good about yourself, you will present yourself more confidently. Be careful not to overdress–you might come off as arrogant. Find balance.

I already covered the dos and don’ts for presenting yourself professionally, here, but it’s important to remember that different occasions call for different looks. The most important thing is to always appear well-put-together. That means avoiding wrinkly clothing, inappropriate logos, and overwhelming perfume or cologne. For more tips on how to present yourself professionally, click here.

Explore new ventures.

Not only will you have more talking points, but also you will improve your confidence. Try new things, explore life outside of your comfort zone. Once you explore new facets and force yourself out of your comfort zone, you’ll be more confident when presented in new situations. Join a local sports team or club; it’s also a great way to make new connections!

Next time you’re at a convention, a work dinner or an office party you’ll have more to bring to the table. Conversation is much more interesting when one has the real-world experience of a story and your new interests may fascinate your audience. What better way to boost your confidence than to be the life of the party?

Though the line between confidence and arrogance may be fine, it’s an important one to know. When applying for jobs or networking, confidence matters. Believe in yourself, expand your circles and you’ll be much better off.

Natasha Paulmeno

The post Millennials: Be Confident, Not Arrogant appeared first on Law Street.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Professional Presentation for Millennial Women

Natasha Paulmeno — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 14:02:44 +0000

As Millennial women, we often have to take advantage of any possible networking opportunities to make a great first impression. But there’s a lot of variation in women’s clothing, and sometimes its difficult to figure out how to maximize your self-presentation. So, how should you dress for a professional event? Should you go with traditional black bottoms and a white blouse? Or can you spice it up with some bold colors and patterns?

In some cases it’s perfectly acceptable to stray from the traditional professional look, but there’s a fine line between jazzing up business casual and dressing for a party. Presenting oneself professionally can be challenging, but it’s imperative Millennial women learn to do so. Appearance and self-presentation go far beyond attire, and Millennials sometimes overlook minor details when preparing for professional events.

I witnessed many young women who failed and many who succeeded in presenting themselves professionally at the National Conference for the Public Relations Student Society of America this weekend. With more than 1,200 college students from across the country in attendance, I began to see a trend in my peers: some individuals truly understand how to present themselves professionally, but many Millennial women do not pay as much attention to detail in their appearances as they should.

While some style choices are obviously acceptable, other self-presentation decisions may negate professionalism. Below is a list of dos and don’ts for building a professional presence for interviews, conventions, conferences, and other professional events.

DO

Wear modest clothes that cover your cleavage, lower back, midriff, and thighs.
Wear light, natural-looking makeup, if you wear makeup at all. There’s no need to go for a full-on smoky eye look at the office.
Bring professional accessories. Bring purses that can fit padfolios or other organizers and devices.
Hand out your business cards! What better way is there to quickly promote your personal brand?
Eradicate the use of filler words, for example, “like,” “uh,” or “um.” It’s extremely distracting when listening to someone ask a question in which every other words is “like.” This is easier said than done, no doubt; click here for some tips on how to stop saying “like.”

DON’T

Wear too much perfume. Walking past someone whose scent is too strong can deter other individuals from approaching that person to talk.
Wear short, tight skirts/dresses. Professional events are not the time to show off the results of all those squats you did. Skirts and dresses should at least lineup with your fingertips when your hands are at your sides.
Wear heavy, gaudy or intense makeup. The makeup you wear in professional settings should enhance your natural beauty.
Wear clothes that are too casual. Avoid wearing sneakers, T-shirts, sweat clothes, and clothes with company logos.
Let your nail polish chip. Chipped nail polish can send messages that your are lazy. It’s harder to notice chips on lighter, softer colors than it is with dark or bright colors.

At professional events, your appearance is your brand. The way you look is the first information you convey to others about your personality. Thus, paying attention to details and adhering to some typical professional attire standards can help you appear more professional. You can be trendy and professional at the same time–your style may even help get you noticed.

—

Featured image courtesy of [Vladimir Yaitskiy via Flickr]

Natasha Paulmeno

The post The Do’s and Don’ts of Professional Presentation for Millennial Women appeared first on Law Street.

Resume Booster: Maximize Your Temporary Work Experience

Natasha Paulmeno — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 20:30:34 +0000

A history of consistent temporary work may be comparable with full time experience in the eyes of senior hiring managers. So why aren’t more millennials taking advantage of their temporary work history as resume boosters and learning experiences?

Temp jobs teach young professionals a wide variety of skills they wouldn’t have otherwise acquired. These temporary work opportunities expose young business pros to many new industries and work environments. The flexibility temp workers develop under these conditions offers desirable traits to prospective employers.

Temporary work experience ranges from part-time employment to covering for full-time employees during their absences. This type of experience is unique in that it allows employees to participate in new work environments and develop skills unique to specific industries.

In order to make the most of their temporary work experience, millennials should consider the following tips to turn their temp jobs into full-time careers.

Ask for more work. Be eager to help out in the workplace. If you’ve finished the task you’ve been assigned, ask for more. You can be assigned jobs you normally wouldn’t be and develop valuable skills. Don’t waste your time waiting to be given a job, seize the opportunity by the horns!
Seek new experiences. When asking for more work, try to seek projects or tasks in new fields. The variety of skills you will develop can help you market yourself better to prospective employers in the future.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. It’s better to ask for help than to complete a task incorrectly. Save your employer and yourself time by asking for specific instructions. Your employer will understand that you have plenty to learn and your dedication to the task will reflect in your work.
Get to know your coworkers. Temporary work, just like every other professional experience, is an opportunity to network. The people you meet at these jobs can vouch for your professionalism in future references. Exchange contact information with your coworkers, send thank you emails to anyone who’s helped you along the way and stay in touch even after you’ve left the position.
Take each assignment seriously. Temporary work should not be taken any less seriously than full-time work. Temp jobs allow professionals to develop various skill sets and each assignment should be treated the way it would be at a full-time job. Some temporary jobs may eventually become full-time positions, so leave good impressions with these companies.

Even without any full-time experience, young professionals can build their resumes with their experiences from temporary jobs. In order to maximize the value of temporary work experiences, millennials should relate the relevant skills to each job application. Include specific assignments, skills developed and awards earned during temporary jobs. With luck, millennials’ temporary positions can become full-time careers.

Aside from bolstering resumes, temporary work experiences offer individuals an edge other applicants might not have. The nature of temporary work allows employees to explore industries and earn money while developing valuable professional skills. Each temporary role functions as a stepping stone for millennials to establish a full-time career.

Natasha Paulmeno

The post Resume Booster: Maximize Your Temporary Work Experience appeared first on Law Street.

This Will Get You Further Professionally Than Money, Looks, or Connections

Natasha Paulmeno — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 15:36:16 +0000

Richie Frieman had some truly terrible experiences with his first boss out of undergrad. Lucky for you readers, he’s turned that professional trauma into actionable advice for the rest of us.

Frieman, the “Modern Manners Guy” and a University of Maryland alum, talked to his alma mater yesterday about business etiquette for young professionals. He paid particular attention to the terrifying metamorphosis from college student to working professional that all undergraduates fear. Aside from imparting practical tips about how to act and what to say at networking events, Frieman imparted some really important lessons for Millennials, and I want to share the best ones with you.

“How you treat people will get you farther than money, looks, or connections.” Every individual you meet will remember you for how you treated him or her. Frieman stressed the importance of being mannerly for the sake of leaving a good impression. Let’s say you meet someone at a professional function and only spend a few minutes — seconds even — conversing with them. What are the chances you’ll meet this person again? It’s impossible to say. But a few months later, you run into this person again. You could end up making a deal with him. That’s when you’ll be happy you were polite at that first encounter. “How you treat people will get you farther than money, looks, or connections,” Frieman said.
Maturity helps individuals stand out from the rest of the crowd. All young professionals are encouraged to attend as many networking events, career and internship fairs, and alumni gatherings as are available to them. Everyone attends these events for the same reason: to meet people. Depending on which stage you’re at in life, people will expect certain things from you. If you’re in college, they may have set expectations for you. Frieman said one way to impress these individuals is by talking the talk and walking the walk. If you’re at a networking event, don’t be shy. Introduce yourself, shake hands, talk to people, and connect. If you come across like you’re actually “part of the game” you will be recognized.
Observe each of these easy-to-follow tips when you’re actually at these events.

Hold your food or drink in your left hand so you can shake with a dry right hand. No one wants a sloppy handshake. If you have sweaty hands, hold a napkin with your drink so you can quickly wipe your hand before the handshake. For guys, try to sneak your hand into your pants pocket and get a quick dry inside.
Ditch your phone. If you sit in the corner Instagramming your latest selfie, you will appear to others as if you are not interested in the event. You will receive no benefits from staying on your phone and you won’t meet anyone that way.
Be conversational! I’ve already given you some tips on small talk, and Frieman also stressed the importance. Prepare some talking points before the event, learn about companies, learn who works where and target them at events.
Excessive eating and drinking is strictly prohibited. Light refreshments are served as snacks. Drinks are served for appearance. Nothing is a greater turnoff in a professional setting than the guy who got tipsy.
If someone asks you if you know about his company and you don’t, be honest and be inquisitive People love talking about their businesses and this could fuel a great conversation.
When you are handed a business card, use it as an invitation for a followup. If you do not follow up after being handed a business card, it gives the impression that you merely threw it in the trash. Make connections, you never know when they might help!

While implementing each of these tips, there is one overarching aspect every young professional should remember: “You have every right in the world to be in that room with every other single person, regardless of your age,” Frieman said. Do not become discouraged by your age or your experience. At networking events and professional conventions, everyone is there for a purpose. They want to meet new people, make connections, create new business ventures. Whatever your purpose is, know that you are not alone. At the end of the day this is your experience, do your best and make it whatever you want it to be.

—

Natasha Paulmeno

The post This Will Get You Further Professionally Than Money, Looks, or Connections appeared first on Law Street.

Small Talk Doesn’t Have to Be Scary

Natasha Paulmeno — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 14:11:51 +0000

Networking is a powerful tool for millennials. For example, the other day I left class and I was heading to my next activity. I usually ignore the people who stand by the door trying to sell stuff, but this week they had freebies. Obviously I couldn’t pass the opportunity for some free goodies, so I started talking to the people at the table. Next thing I know, I’m planning to attend an information session for a possible internship next summer.

Had I not stopped at this table and began talking to the recruiters, I never would have found out about the internship possibility. Making small talk with the recruiters was easy–they had their purpose and I had mine. Sometimes, small talk is not that easy. You may feel awkward and pressured to say something intelligent, which might make you clam up.

There’s no need to fear small talk. Networking is a part of every millennial’s professional development and with these tips, you’ll be sure to succeed.

Firstly, shake off the layer of anxiety you carry with you. In a professional environment, there is no need to stress about small talk. Before you attend the conference or meeting in which you will have to chat to succeed, mentally prepare yourself. If breathing exercises calm you down, breathe deep my friends. Prepare some solid talking points that you are willing to discuss–what have you read lately, where have you traveled, and what plans do you have for the next weekend or holiday?

You can practice small talking with your classmates, professors and even distant friends. The more you create casual (and appropriate) conversation, the more you will hone your ability to make natural small talk.

When you’re chatting with a prospective employer at a networking event, you should prepare a few topics beforehand. Whether this be a topic that is specific to your field of work or a general trend in the news, this will make you less nervous when the time comes to small talk. It’s always better to come prepared than freeze up on the spot.

A good way to start off a chat is to start off with a declaration. This helps to avoid an awkward situation if you are unprepared for an unsatisfactory answer. If you start off with a declaration, it stimulates conversation and can help connect you with the person you are speaking with. You can declare something as simple as, “the National Gallery of Art opened up a new exhibit today. I’ve heard it’s supposed to be amazing.” As long as the topic you choose is relatable to the people you will be conversing with, this declaration will function as a conversation stimulant.

Asking conversational questions can help lead you to others for networking purposes. The Week suggests asking the three golden questions at the end of any professional meeting or encounter:

How can I help you?
What ideas do you have for me?
Who else do you know that I should talk to?

Showing your audience you are an active listener is important. If you are talking to a possible future employer, you should show them you are listening and thinking about what they have to say. This will show that you value what he or she has to say and can be a powerful characteristic to showcase.

Next time you’re at a work convention, professional conference, or networking event, use some of these tips to prepare yourself better for small talk. Making small talk efficient and creating a connection with your audience is at the core of networking. These days, networking is the lifeblood of many professionals’ careers, and a valuable skill for any millennial.

Natasha Paulmeno

The post Small Talk Doesn’t Have to Be Scary appeared first on Law Street.

Most Useful Career Sites for Millennial Women

Natasha Paulmeno — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 14:50:21 +0000

Millennial women have made a name for themselves in this century. We are strong-willed, motivated, and persistent. We are self-sufficient and independent. We have access to tools and knowledge our predecessors did not. Yet some Millennials are not taking advantage of these tools because they are simply unaware of their existence.

Let’s take the internet for example. We have access to the World Wide Web and all it has to offer through countless devices — computers, smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, etc. Plenty of websites cater to Millennial women for professional networking tips. These sites are essential for motivated young women who are entering the workforce. At any moment, I can ask Siri what to wear to my interview tomorrow, visit countless websites for coding tips, or search for internship opportunities. Each of these options is literally at the tips of my fingers. Here are some great websites for Millennial women to check out:

Let’s Learn

Girls Who Code’s mission is to provide one million young women with exposure to computer science education. According to FORBES, Girls Who Code hosts events, clubs, and other activities for girls, sometimes even for those still in high school.

Lynda.com provides online video tutorials to help learn “software, creative, and business skills.” Joining is free and provides members with unlimited access to nearly three thousand courses and mobile access.

General Assembly offers courses in a variety of areas from web development to digital marketing. Members are able to attend events with the GA community or simply live-stream from home. GA helps Millennials across the world improve their businesses through various workshops, classes, and events.

Professional Development and Networking

ED2010 helps aspiring editors reach their desired status faster. The site functions as a networking hub, educational resource, and advice column for all aspiring publications professionals.

Intern Sushi is designed for college students to find internships that would be most valuable to them. Intern Sushi is focused on more creative professions, thus encouraging its users to ditch the traditional resume application and replace it with more creative styles like video and graphic visualizations.

Her Agenda is a goldmine for young professional women seeking advancement on their career paths. The site provides information and encouragement through posting events, scholarships, conferences, and internship and job opportunities.

Generation Meh targets young professionals who dislike the idea of a conventional 9 to 5. The site publishes personal and professional tips, tricks, and life hacks. This site is manned by Forbes Woman contributor J. Maureen Henderson.

Advice Columns and Discussion Boards

20-Nothings has collected “anecdotes, advice, and musings on everything from dating to body image.” The site functions as a motivational entertainment source for young women in their 20s and 30s.

HerCampus is most useful for female college students. The site features sections such as style, beauty, campus, career, health, and more. HerCampus has representatives on more than 200 campuses across the country.

The Everygirl is perfect for Millennial women looking for advice on their next vacation destination, beauty tips, and career. This site also takes on a serious tone discussing culture, politics, and finance. It’s basically a powerhouse of knowledge for all young women.

Fashionista Fun

Rookie Mag supplies fashion tips on the go. This site was started by a 17-year-old fashion blogger in 2011. Celebrities make contributions to the publication focused on modern teenage life.

The Classy Cubicle provides all professional fashionistas with the latest trends. Not sure what to wear to an interview at a creative office? They’ve got your back. The Classy Cubicle covers different “categories” of office types and suggests appropriate attire for each one.

Despite the abundance of negative comments and startling information the internet supplies, there is a huge community of support, especially for young women. Aspiring young professionals have countless resources to further their educations, careers, and personal development on the internet. These websites not only share useful professional advice but also support and humor for women of all ages. I encourage all young professionals, working women, and Capitalistas to check out some of these sites, they could change your career path.

Make sure to follow The Capitalista on Twitter at @CapitalistaBlog and on Tumblr at thecapitalista.tumblr.com for more tips, tricks, and suggestions to find your dream internships and jobs!

—

Natasha Paulmeno

The post Most Useful Career Sites for Millennial Women appeared first on Law Street.

If You’re Using Exclamation Points in Work Emails Then You’re Doing it Wrong

Natasha Paulmeno — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 14:10:05 +0000

Everyday professionals spend at least a quarter of their time at work sending and receiving emails. It’s our primary form of communication — it’s fast and easy. And yet in spite of the amount of time we dedicate to emailing, many users still make mistakes that undermine their professionalism. Trove provided a list of some of the most important tips for good email etiquette; below are some of the most vital tips you need to know when sending professional emails.

Ditch your AIM email from sixth grade: Whether you work for yourself or a large organization, your email should reflect your name in some way. No professional is going to take seriously an email from sexychick99@aol.com; it’s time to trash the the old email and get a new one. Use some combination of your name so that the recipient can easily tell who is sending the message.

Go easy on the exclamation points: Exclamation points should only be used to convey excitement, according to career coach Barbara Pachter. Overuse of exclamation points can come off as immature or emotional. Try to avoid using them completely, unless something is actually exciting.

Use subject lines to convey your message: People open emails based on the subject. If you use a brief, descriptive phrase to correctly convey what your message is about, the recipient is more likely to open your email. Something like, “Tomorrow’s lunch meeting rescheduled” or ”Reservations confirmed” works just fine. Stick with something short and sweet.

Don’t use informal greetings: We use email so much it’s easy to forget that “hey” and “yo” are not acceptable in a professional setting. These salutations are totally inappropriate for the workplace and should be avoided in emails. Stick with “hello” or “good afternoon” to stay professional. “Sincerely” is always appropriate for professional emails.

Avoid typos at all costs: Avoiding typos is absolutely imperative. It’s so easy to misspell a word when you’re typing a quick email, but you will be judged if you do. Reread your emails before you hit send to ensure you avoid typos. Autocorrect don’t always do the trick, so don’t rely solely on the automatic spell checker.

Make sure you’re emailing the correct person: Just like a typo, entering the incorrect email is extremely easy to do. But try to make sure you don’t accidentally email the wrong person! One way to avoid doing so is by entering the email address last. This way no one is embarrassed and the information is relayed to the right person.

Be considerate of the recipient’s culture: If you are emailing someone who does not speak the same native language as you, be considerate of varying cultural norms. This can help avoid miscommunication. If you tailor your message to your audience, by using simple words for example, the exchange will run smoother.

Next time you go to press send on a work email think about these tips. Did you start off saying “hey” or miss a comma? Paying closer attention to these seemingly minor details can increase your professionalism and bolster the way you’re perceived by others in the workplace. As you continue to use email as a central method for communication in your career, implementing good habits can only benefit your reputation.

—

Natasha Paulmeno

The post If You’re Using Exclamation Points in Work Emails Then You’re Doing it Wrong appeared first on Law Street.

Millennials: Don’t Let Job Descriptions Discourage You

Natasha Paulmeno — Mon, 01 Sep 2014 14:20:56 +0000

Have you ever found yourself reading a job description and asking who in the world is capable of honing so many skills? With the rise of technology and demand for well-rounded employees, Millennials often feel discouraged just by reading job descriptions. According to the Harvard Business Review, nearly 50 percent of men and women choose not to apply to certain jobs because they feel they do not fulfill all the qualifications.

Entry-level applicants face the worst of these unrealistic qualifications. Many job postings listed as “entry-level” require applicants to have a couple years of experience in addition to their college degrees. Doesn’t that defeat the whole purpose of the label?

Quartz debunks the usual perception of job postings. Companies often list many skills that would earn applicants brownie points in interviews. In addition to listing the things they need, hiring managers list skills they could use in the future or assets they are considering implementing. But once hiring managers start listing those bonuses, they often get carried away and the list grows longer and longer. When applicants see a long list of skills labeled “required,” they often feel discouraged and move on to the next application.

Fear not applicants! Hiring managers are looking for humans, not robots. If you have the core skills for your profession and you are capable of presenting those skills properly, you’re golden. Companies would rather hire people who have several relevant skills, confidence, and a good attitude. So unless you’re a robot who can learn HTML code in 24 hours or become fluent in a language overnight, don’t sweat the small stuff.

When reading job descriptions, it can be truly difficult to pick apart what is required and what is fluff. Scott Purcell, a technology recruiter, gave Quartz a few tips for deciphering job descriptions.

…a good rule of thumb is that the further you get from the core of the job’s actual function, the further down a list of skills something is, and the newer the technology or the skills term is, the more likely it’s what he calls a “nice to have” rather than a true requirement.

Keep in mind, companies still like to check off as many boxes as possible when it comes to applicants’ skill sets. When Jimmy and Johnny are competing for the same position and Jimmy racks up more checks, he’s got the position over Johnny.

Yes, job descriptions can be intimidating. Rejection can be scary, even embarrassing, but what’s the harm in trying? So, when you are considering a job description but you’re not sure if you’re really the right fit because you don’t meet every single qualification, chill. If you can, reach out to someone who works in the industry or at the company and ask how realistic the description is. Find out more information and if it’s a position you’re really interested in then it just might be worth the time and effort to apply. Don’t let job descriptions intimidate or discourage you. Take the chance and you might be pleasantly surprised.

Natasha Paulmeno

The post Millennials: Don’t Let Job Descriptions Discourage You appeared first on Law Street.

Resume Lies Really Are the Worst Decision Ever

Natasha Paulmeno — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 10:30:24 +0000

No one likes a liar. So why do people put their careers and professional reputations in jeopardy just to enhance their resumes? According to Forbes, about 60 percent of hiring managers catch lies on resumes, and the number of applicants who lie on their applications increased since the recession. But why do applicants still lie if they get caught? Aside from looking bad, his or her reputation is tarnished and any future work opportunities with the company are shot.

Moral of the story is don’t do it, but we can take a look at some of the most ridiculous resume lies.

Do your research. According to Forbes, one guy wrote on his resume that he was the assistant to the prime minister. The catch? The country he claimed to work for doesn’t even have one. Oops.
What we learned: When you are truthfully associating yourself with any organization or group, you should do your background research on it. Know who you want to work for. This way you know who and what you represent and ensure you hold the same ideals.
Don’t act a fool. One 32-year-old applicant claimed to have 25 years of work experience. She must have matured rapidly as a seven year old.
What we learned: Putting ridiculous claims on your resume doesn’t fool anyone, it actually makes you look like a fool. Be as truthful as possible and learn the difference between embellishing your resume to make it shine and lying to get ahead.
Be truthful about your history. When applying to the same position at a company on two separate occasions, one applicant provided different work history for each application. That did wonders for the applicant’s reputation.
What we learned: Employers can and will find out about your history, so be honest. It’s better to be up front than have to confess to a lie you previously told in an interview.
List references who will benefit your reputation. An applicant who listed three jobs in several years was definitely disappointed when he didn’t receive a call back. When the interviewer contacted the employers, she found out the applicant held one job for two days, another job for one day, and never worked at the third job. Yikes.
What we learned: Use references to your advantage. They should make you look and sound great and vouch for your professional skills. Also, listing references who will uncover lies you told on a resume or application will definitely make you look bad.
Don’t burn bridges. After an applicant was fired from a company, he promptly applied to a different position at the same company. The company was listed under previous employment on his resume, but according to the applicant, he quit his previous job. The company’s records revealed the truth.
What we learned: In every industry, people have connections all over the country, even the world. With our highly interconnected society, word of mouth spreads like wildfire. It would be wise to make graceful exits and maintain positive relationships in your professional career.

Though these are just a few examples of ridiculous lies applicants have told, many more have been caught. Embellishing resumes is a common problem – applicants who exaggerate their capabilities with coding and design skills, for example, are often embarrassed when tasked with those duties but they’re unable to perform.

Resume fluff just isn’t worth it. Be truthful, be honest and use colorful verbs to enhance your actual experience.

—

Natasha Paulmeno

The post Resume Lies Really Are the Worst Decision Ever appeared first on Law Street.

The Gun-Rental Loophole: Dangerous and Deadly

Natasha Paulmeno — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 16:23:32 +0000

Mark Sobie, 43, was a convicted felon. In 2010, he turned himself in after robbing a bank in Michigan; he had used a fake gun for this operation. He served 30 months in a federal prison and this charge prevented him from buying or possessing a firearm. However, when it came to renting a gun, Sobie was never subjected to a background check. So, when he visited Silver Bullet Firearms in 2012, he was able to rent a gun, no problem. Sobie then took his own life at the shooting range in Michigan, with a blow to the face from the rental gun.

This was not a unique phenomenon. This was actually the second suicide at that particular range. There’s an interesting loophole in acquiring firearms; no thorough background check is completed for customers who rent guns. Over 12 years, more than 64 people have committed suicide at gun ranges in just three California counties. Reports of other similar incidents occurred in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Virginia, Utah, Texas, and Oklahoma. If this is something plaguing our nation, why isn’t anyone talking about it? And why is there no federal legislation in place that requires background checks for gun rentals?

Initiating Action

The numbers are admittedly small. But every life is valued, and the family members of those who have taken their lives are speaking up. Sobie’s sister said his life could have been saved if the shooting range had conducted a background check.

There’s also a case where a woman killed her son, then committed suicide in front of other customers. Her name was Marie Moore, she had a history of mental illness, and according to police reports she had already attempted to commit suicide. A background check would have prevented her from access to a rental gun. But for lack of legislation, she was unstoppable and she murdered her son before taking her own life. Some gun ranges are responding to these violent outbursts by no longer renting firearms to their customers. Purchasing a firearm is a much more extensive process than simply walking into a shooting range, flashing an I.D. and signing a sheet of paper.

According to the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, “training and testing requirements in licensing laws are designed to ensure that gun owners understand relevant firearms laws, and know how to safely store and handle firearms.” Anyone who wants to buy a firearm must undergo a background check. Some states also require purchasers to receive a permit for owning a firearm. So why aren’t these same standards upheld for someone who wishes to rent a gun? It doesn’t matter where you are, if you have a gun in your hand, you should have to undergo some sort of screening to gain access to a lethal weapon.

Possible Solutions

This is no attack on the NRA or supporters of gun rights. It’s merely a call to action for some preventative action. The New Hampshire Firearms Safety Coalition has already started making some changes by focusing on suicide prevention rather than limiting gun rights. The first step NHFSC took was to unite people of all different interests including “gun store owners, shooting instructors, gun rights advocates and suicide prevention advocates to develop strategies to keep guns out of the hands of people who might use them to hurt themselves.”

They’ve used an informal and more personal process to take action. The NHFSC mailed suicide prevention posters to gun stores across New Hampshire. According to Politico Magazine, 48 percent of gun shops left the posters up for four to six months after they were mailed out. Some prevention groups in Las Vegas and Maryland have also adopted the practice of posting suicide prevention materials. So, could this informal process gain solid ground?

I have hope that it could. Gun control is a sore subject and many gun rights activists are hesitant to put further limitations on gun access. However, in this case, gun owners wouldn’t have to undergo further screening. People who are not knowledgable about gun control or familiar with responsible gun handling have easy access to guns through the gun rental loophole. Mandating a background check could take a step forward in suicide prevention and it wouldn’t encroach on gun owners’ rights. If more states adopted similar legislation, we could neutralize a bit of the debate surrounding guns.

—

Natasha Paulmeno (@natashapaulmeno)

Featured image courtesy of [Kevin Buelher via Flickr]

Natasha Paulmeno

The post The Gun-Rental Loophole: Dangerous and Deadly appeared first on Law Street.

Unsupervised Children: Independent or Against the Law?

Natasha Paulmeno — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 10:30:02 +0000

Our nation has adopted a new habit of charging parents with felonies for teaching their children independence. From Florida to South Carolina to Ohio to Tennessee, parents of elementary age children are being carted off to jail for allowing their children to play in parks by themselves. There is no federal legislation that designates what age is too young to leave children unsupervised. Most states merely adhere to the guideline that leaving a child unattended in imminent danger is a criminal offense. But it’s absolutely ludicrous to charge parents, who sometimes have no other options, with child abuse or maltreatment for merely allowing their children to experience the world on their own.

If this were the trend 10 years ago, both my parents would have landed themselves a nice cozy cot in our local jailhouse. And 50 years ago, their parents would have been sentenced to life. We all played by ourselves in local parks and pools, rode our bikes through the streets freely, and walked around town with our friends. No one thought this was strange or dangerous, it was simply the norm. But now parents must question when it is and is not appropriate to let their children play and roam independently, for fear of felony charges. Let’s look at a few of the recent cases.

In Florida, Nicole Gainey was arrested for allowing her 7-year-old son to walk to the park–cellphone in hand–to play by himself. She was charged with a felony for child neglect and arrested on a $3,750 bond. In South Carolina, Debra Harrell was charged with unlawful conduct toward a child because she let her 9-year-old daughter play at a park while she worked. The felony Harrell was charged with is punishable by up to 10 years in jail, and she lost her job at McDonalds after this incident. In Ohio, Jefferey Williamson was arrested for child endangerment after his 8-year-old son skipped church to take a solo walk to the dollar store half a mile away from his home. In Tennessee, April Lawson spent the night in jail for letting her 5-year-old and 8-year-old play at an elementary park a block and a half away from her home. Lawson now faces felony charges for child abuse and neglect.

Child Self-Care Trends

It’s important to understand the different situations that parents face. Some parents have to make the decision between putting food on the table for their children and letting them play in the park alone. Not everyone seems to understand the difficulties many low-income, single parents face in providing care for their children. Child care arrangements depend on each family’s unique circumstance. US News broke down a 2011 Census report on child care arrangement statistics:

In general, the percentage of school-age children in self-care has ticked down during the last 10 or so years, but when those numbers are broken down by a family’s marital status, employment and parental presence, that decline is less consistent.

There’s a misconception that children face more danger today than they did in the past. However, Mark O’Mara, a family law attorney, wrote that today’s crime rates are much lower than they were during his childhood in the ‘60s. Additionally, people’s reactions are much different today than they were back then. Instead of delivering the child safely home, bystanders are calling police and child services to have the parents arrested. This often has a more harmful effect on children than safely returning them to their families.

Impact of Parental Arrests on Children

Some families are probably better off letting their children play alone. Unless these children are in the heart of a dangerous city where it’s plausible that they will be abducted or harmed, busybodies should mind their own business. If they are not actually in harm’s way, why cause them pain and grief? Many people don’t realize the effect experiencing a parent’s arrest can have on a child. According to Family to Family California, parental arrest and separation from a parent are traumatic events for children.

Furthermore, separation can cause children to feel angry, rejected, or depressed. After separation from their parents, children may perform worse in school, experience developmental delays, and lack adequate social skills. The report goes on to explain the detrimental effects trauma has on children, including their increased likeliness to become substance abusers or end up in prison.

Time for Helicopter Parents to Fly Away

In all of the above cases, the children were not in any serious danger. They were only victims to busybody helicopter parents who lacked better things to do. In the case of Harrell, one by-standing mother made the following comments about Harrell’s situation:

I understand the mom may have been in a difficult situation, not having someone to watch the child, but at the same time, you’ve got to find somebody.

It’s not always that simple. O’Mara pointed out that many parents in these situations cannot afford childcare, therefore we as a society are “criminalizing poverty.” The media isn’t helping the situation either. Cases from low-income neighborhoods that are thought to be less safe are emphasized in the media. This only furthers the public’s distrust of their fellow Americans, making parents hover.

I’m not saying parents should start letting their 5-year-olds roam the streets of New York City alone, but I think those helicopter parents need to relax a bit. Loosen up the reins. Helicopter parenting is not beneficial to anyone–the children often lack independence and have a harder time adjusting to life on their own and parents miss their individuality and freedom. Furthermore, when helicopter parents take this madness as far as imposing these ideals on other families, they only hurt those families. Parents get thrown in jail, children lose their homes and families become burdened with legal bills they probably can’t afford.

My parents’ generation roamed freely and played without 24/7 parental supervision, and they were able to survive and succeed. Helicopter parents, get the message: you’re not helping anyone, except for possibly your own ego.

—

Natasha Paulmeno (@natashapaulmeno)

Featured image courtesy of [Guian Bolisay via Flickr]

Natasha Paulmeno

The post Unsupervised Children: Independent or Against the Law? appeared first on Law Street.

The Blue Angels: Harassment Investigation Sparks Changes

Natasha Paulmeno — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 21:06:36 +0000

The Blue Angels are regarded as some of the most highly talented and well-respected pilots in the Navy and the Marines. As someone who has seen the Blue Angels fly overhead several times I can vouch for their skill–they literally take your breath away with their gracefully executed swoops and dives. But recently, their image has been tarnished as some former Angels are under investigation for sexual harassment, a hard blow to both the daredevils’ mission and public image.

The mission of the United States Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron is to showcase the pride and professionalism of the United States Navy and Marine Corps by inspiring a culture of excellence and service to country through flight demonstrations and community outreach.

Who are the Blue Angels?

The Blue Angels squadron is a team comprised of 16 volunteering officers, with six pilots who fly jets of varying capabilities. Blue Angels officers serve either two or three years (depending on their positions) with the squadron before returning to their fleets. The Blue Angels team is a unique military demonstration team and is highly respected in the military community.

The structure of the Blue Angels is what sets this unit apart. Unlike other military units, the commanding officer (CO) of the Blue Angels “is both the final authority and a wingman whose flying is critiqued by junior officers.” The Blue Angels lack an executive officer (XO), which is a typical chain-of-command arrangement. One former Angel explained that the unusual command structure in the Angels makes it difficult for the CO to act with authority while maintaining his peers as his equals. The atypical leadership structure paired with an inappropriate CO led to a toxic work environment in former CO Capt. Gregory McWherter’s second term.

The Controversy

McWherter served as the CO for the Blue Angels from 2008 to 2010 and then again from May 2011 to November 2012. According to the Daily Mail, there were no reports of misconduct during his first term. But a service member has now filed an official complaint with the Navy about the inappropriate work environment.

The Department of the Navy made the investigation report public, and the contents were quite shocking. The most bizarre incident the report included was an unusual act of vandalism. Someone took it upon himself to draw a huge blue and gold penis “on the roof of the center point trailer at the Blue Angels’ winter training facilities in El Centro.” This inappropriate artwork was visible from space and even showed up on Google Maps for a while.

Other offenses that occurred under McWherter’s authority included members passing along pornographic images, pornographically carved pumpkins in the office, joking about their girlfriends’ nude photos, and making offensive jokes after Don’t Ask Don’t Tell was repealed. The report specifically accuses McWherter of making sexist jokes about women.

McWherter lost his job as an XO of Naval Base Coronado in California due to the allegations of sexual harassment. He also resigned as the president of The Tailhook Association amid the scandal’s publicity. But McWherter’s removal is not the only change happening in the Navy.

A New Chain-of-Command

According to the Navy Times, the squadron will now be assigned an XO; this is the first time the Blue Angels organization will be overseen in such a way. The XO will be a designated aviator who oversees the squadron, but he will not fly along with the Blue Angels. The Navy Times explained, this change in command will serve as an attempt to restore the unit from the “hostile working environment rife with pornography, lewd behavior and other sexual harassment” fostered by McWherter.

To further uphold the prestigious reputation of the Blue Angels, the head of Naval Air Forces, Vice Admiral David Buss, incorporated additional changes in the selection process. He told The Navy Times the selection criteria was rewritten so as to provide opportunities for anyone to be considered regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or race. Those who are considered will be reviewed by several new authorities and while Buss expects critics, he said these changes are necessary to improve the Blue Angels’ environment. These new checks and balances to be put in place after the 2015 selection round will help prevent future abuses of authority. Buss expressed his faith that restructuring the chain-of-command in the Blue Angels will only return the squadron to its esteemed origin.

Not a First-Time Offense

The Navy has dealt with similar scandals in the past–but the matter boils down to something much simpler than a scandal. What part of being a good pilot or fighter constitutes the need for lewd behavior and pornographic pinups in the office? These conditions are unprofessional and take away from the honor associated with the military. As silly as it may sound, the blue and gold penis scandal brings attention to the issue of sexual discrimination in the military.

An environment in which women are discussed as objects for aesthetic and sexual appeal is not professionally acceptable. Though the Blue Angels do not discriminate against female pilots on paper, no female pilot has ever been initiated into the squadron. That seems a bit strange, considering the Blue Angels have been around since the 1940s. Regardless, this scandal is a blessing in disguise for the Blue Angels. Though the public knowledge of the lewd work environment behind the dazzling air-show does not bode well in means of publicity, it made way for an improved future for the Angels.

With a more stringent selection process and restructured chain-of-command, the Blue Angels are sure to perform at their finest in the upcoming years. Applicants will be considered solely based on merit, career significance, and professionalism. The new chain-of-command will give way to a whole new professionalism to the Blue Angels, which is evidently much needed.

—

Natasha Paulmeno (@natashapaulmeno)

Featured image courtesy of [Official U.S. Navy Page via Flickr]

Natasha Paulmeno

The post The Blue Angels: Harassment Investigation Sparks Changes appeared first on Law Street.

Law School Disruptor of the Week: The New UNT Dallas School of Law

Natasha Paulmeno — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 17:50:15 +0000

Despite declining law school enrollment statistics nationwide, one school is going against the grain and defying the norm. The University of Northern Texas, Dallas School of Law’s inaugural class is shockingly large for a brand new law school–there are roughly 80 full-time and 40 part-time students enrolled so far. UNT Dallas Law’s success in recruiting students is due to a great tactic: offering low tuition rates. The new law school’s accomplishment reflects its mission to provide a legal education at a low cost.

A core goal of the UNT Dallas College of Law is keeping tuition and student debt low for all students to the extent consistent with meeting its educational goals. The organized bar and legal educators agree that the cost of legal education poses concerns for the profession and for legal education. High costs and debt loads reduce access to legal education, are often spread unevenly in relation to financial need, and shrink the horizon of opportunity. The UNT Dallas College of Law has a unique opportunity to respond to these challenges. We will not do this by reducing quality or taking short cuts. Rather, we will keep tuition low by focusing on excellence in our educational mission and by not incurring costs that are not critical to that mission.

The law school boasts the lowest tuition costs in the state of Texas–$12,540 for in-state tuition, and $24,000 for out-of-state. See how these prices compare to other Texas law schools:

Law Street Media | Texas Law Schools by Tuition

UNT Dallas Law is taking a whole new approach to the law school industry. Not only does UNT Dallas Law offer shockingly low tuition rates and grant need-based scholarships, but they also target a unique audience. Unlike most other law schools, UNT Dallas School of Law focuses on attracting the “nontraditional” law student–older students, often with families of their own, who are returning to get that legal degree they couldn’t afford right after college.

UNT Dallas Law aims to make every moment in law school a valuable learning experience. Students must complete extensive legal writing and research courses and practice foundation courses. Students are encouraged to select specialties in their upper-level curriculum such as family law, business association, and evidence. As part of the upper-level curriculum, students are encouraged to engage in practicums, externships, and clinics.

According to Dallas News, UNT Dallas Law seeks to train lawyers who will work in the public sector “to represent the middle class, small companies and other groups.” Last week I wrote about the need for legal public service in our country. UNT Dallas School of Law is doing an excellent job by pinpointing the lack of public service in the legal industry and encouraging its students to pursue careers in that field.

By working around the norms for tuition and focus in law school, UNT Dallas Law could actually make a mark on legal education practices. Other schools are also working to lower tuition, but their rates pale in comparison to those of UNT Dallas Law’s. Despite what Above the Law has to say about building yet another law school in our nation, we should give UNT Dallas Law a chance. By providing students with an affordable education in a field that is seriously lacking legal professionals, UNT Dallas Law is already ahead of the curve. Its location also puts it at a great advantage–cities with dense populations usually have a greater need for legal aid.

The institution may not yet be ABA accredited but that’s completely normal for new law schools. According to the ABA’s Law School Accreditation Process, institutions cannot apply until they have been operating for at least one full year; UNT Dallas Law is in the process of welcoming its first class ever. So, I say give UNT Dallas Law a chance–an affordable, practical legal education that targets the inadequate legal aid for those who can’t afford Ivy-leaguers may be just the remedy our nation needs.

—

Natasha Paulmeno (@natashapaulmeno)

Featured image courtesy of [tylerhoff via Flickr]

Natasha Paulmeno

The post Law School Disruptor of the Week: The New UNT Dallas School of Law appeared first on Law Street.

UT Law’s Children’s Rights Clinic: Public Service Excellence

Natasha Paulmeno — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 17:40:06 +0000

There’s two sides to every case. But when the case is about child welfare and the side in need of protection consists of children who cannot defend themselves, the case becomes sensitive. These children need public servants, people who can defend them when they cannot defend themselves. That’s why what Leslie Strauch at the University of Texas School of Law is doing is so important. Strauch is the supervising attorney and clinical professor for UT Law’s Children’s Rights Clinic. Strauch is an excellent example of the type of lawyers our nation needs–she has extensive experience dealing with children and the law. Currently, she helps law students to see the positive impact child welfare law has on society by providing them with the opportunity to aid abused and neglected children.

Law students enrolled in UT Law’s Children’s Rights Clinic participate in trials from start to finish at the Travis County District Court. They receive firsthand experience in researching and preparing the cases as primary attorneys. The Children’s Rights Clinic does not try jury cases every year so kudos are in special order to this year’s participants for their recent victories. This clinical experience is unique to UT Law because Texas is one of the few states that allows family law cases to be heard before a jury.

Strauch spearheaded this year’s first victory with Rebeca Ojeda, an advanced clinic and third-year law student at UT Law. In this case, Ojeda conducted direct and cross examinations of several witnesses, including an expert witness. Strauch and Ojeda were advocating for terminating parental rights, and won the case with a definitive 10-2 verdict. Ojeda expressed feelings of pride for advocating for justice as she watched her clients “nestle into the arms of their future adoptive parents.”

Another student, 3L Brooke Ginsburg, assisted Strauch in this year’s second case. This trial was similar to the first–Child Protective Services aimed to terminate parental rights. Ginsburg received valuable experience by preparing the trial notebook and conducting witness examinations. Strauch and Ginsburg successfully advocated for the child to be adopted by family members. Ginsburg’s firsthand involvement in the case provided her with a fresh perspective. She told The Magazine of the University of Texas School of Law about this new mindset:

The trial put into perspective the importance of each action an attorney takes throughout the life of a case. It was a tremendous learning experience to be part of a jury trial from start to finish. I learned a lot about making arguments and procedural law, but I was most excited to see that with hard work, strategic thinking and preparation an attorney can positively impact a child’s life.

The impacts Ginsburg and Ojeda were able to make on these children through their work exemplifies the importance of child welfare law practice. If more lawyers joined the movement to work as public servants this could benefit both lawyers and at-risk children. It’s not news that many law school grads are having trouble securing work–this is a point that has been drilled into our heads. Yet, we forget to look at the other side and think about the people who are deprived of legal services. In May 2013 The Huffington Post wrote:

A recent report by the non-profit Legal Services Corporation cites estimates that at least 50 percent of Americans who qualify for free legal assistance because of their income or needs don’t get the help they need because legal aid organizations don’t have the funding or capacity to meet their needs. That’s a large number when you consider that 61.4 million Americans qualify for legal assistance from non-profit and government-funded programs — a number that has increased by more than 10 million since 2007.

With more programs like UT Law’s Children’s Rights Clinic, we can begin to close that justice gap. By training more law students for the purpose of public service, they could have a leg up while looking for work, and they could benefit society. After all, how many 5-year-olds do you know who can hire an attorney for themselves? Children make up an alarming number of the millions of people who are deprived of legal aid. The effects the movement toward public service could have on our nation’s legal industry would be hugely beneficial. That being said, this is no easy fix. Resources would have to be redistributed to meet the salary needs of public attorneys and student loan programs would have to be redefined. However, this could be a huge game-changer for the legal field. I think more people should give it a try, and I applaud UT Law and Leslie Strauch for their efforts.

—

Natasha Paulmeno (@natashapaulmeno)

Featured image courtesy of [Takashi Toyooka via Flickr]

Natasha Paulmeno

The post UT Law’s Children’s Rights Clinic: Public Service Excellence appeared first on Law Street.

Get the Most Out of LinkedIn With These 5 Useful Features

Natasha Paulmeno — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 16:37:56 +0000

It’s no secret that I’m mildly obsessed with LinkedIn. Anyone who knows me even remotely will knows this. But much to my dismay, many of my colleagues and peers disregard this social network, disparaging it as the Facebook for old people and arguing that it serves no purpose, it’s lame, etc. I disagree.

LinkedIn has so many features that most people are unaware of that they are truly missing out. Are you in college? Grad school? Law or med school? Or maybe you just graduated and you’ve joined the rat race that we call job hunting. I won’t say LinkedIn can solve your problems just like that — by no means are you guaranteed a position by way of LinkedIn. But I bet if you use the site the way you should and get the most out of LinkedIn, you can highly increase your chances of landing a decent job or connecting with someone who could change your life.

Here’s a list of five useful LinkedIn features that fly under most users’ radars:

Update your professional gallery. LinkedIn is the ultimate e-portfolio. It’s like a resume without a one-page limit. You can digitally share all kinds of projects you’ve worked on — articles, designs, videos, pictures, etc. This is probably the best way to showcase the experience you’ve gained at each internship or job.
Join and participate in relevant groups and discussions. One of the best ways to get noticed on LinkedIn is to join groups and discussions that interest you. For example, if you are in the finance industry or seeking fluency in a language, they have groups for that! Once you join groups and discussions, you not only have access to loads of useful advice, but you are connected to people you may have never encountered before.
Share updates, including useful articles you’ve read or wrote yourself. Get out there. This is where people confuse Facebook and LinkedIn. Yes, you can share updates, but no one cares that you just brushed your teeth and walked your dog. Share a new piece you just finished or an interesting article you read. This will call attention to your profile and the more viewers, the better for you!
Utilize your alumni network. Newsflash, alumni love their alma maters. Their pride is often accompanied with a sense of nostalgia in the vein of, “I remember when I was your age, getting ready for life in the real world.” This is usually followed up with some type of advice and swapping of contact information. Take advantage of this opportunity to build your network! LinkedIn has a variety of features specially designed for alumni to connect with each other. Almost every college and university has an alumni network; if you’re connected instantly, why not reach out?
Request introductions to people of interest through your network. This is probably based on the Six Degrees of Separation theory. Basically, any person on this planet is only six introductions away from any other person. So, I’m only like six introductions away from Angelina Jolie. Sweet. You can use this tool to make connections with the judge at the court where you want to clerk or meet an partner at your dream firm.

Just like every other form of social networking, LinkedIn is constantly adding features to allow users to show their personalities by adding experience outside of work. Employers like well-rounded employees with varying interests. Some career influencers tell us to let our personalities shine through our brands, it’s the name of the game. LinkedIn now allows you to showcase your volunteer experience, certifications, even patents. So take the extra few minutes to surf the site that could change your professional career profoundly.

—

Natasha Paulmeno (@natashapaulmeno)

Natasha Paulmeno

The post Get the Most Out of LinkedIn With These 5 Useful Features appeared first on Law Street.

Thanks to Governor Christie the Gun Debate Just Reached a New Low

Natasha Paulmeno — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 10:32:27 +0000

Tucson. Aurora. Newtown. What did these shootings have in common? The weapon and the ammunition. Or the types at least. Semi-automatic firearms allow the shooter to fire as fast as his finger can pull the trigger. Pair one of those with oversized ammunition magazines and he is capable of causing unthinkable damage in a matter of minutes. Rachel Maddow highlighted the correlation between the capacity of the ammunition magazine with the duration of the shooting spree and how many people are shot. But New Jersey Governor Chris Christie doesn’t seem to understand this correlation in the gun debate — that’s why he vetoed a bill that would limit the size of magazines.

For that, I am furious. Personally, I choose not to remember the names of the monsters who committed these acts because they should not be granted notoriety for their crimes — that would only make their twisted dreams come to fruition. We must pay attention to and deal with the issue at hand: mental illness and access to weaponry. I am no cheerleader for the NRA but I do believe in the right to bear arms. For self protection and even *shudder* hunting, we cannot deny our fellow countrymen (the sane ones) these rights.

Can we compromise?

Both sides are extreme, but I think we could come to an agreeable compromise. But not Gov. Christie, he’s definitely not on board with that. In his eyes we either abolish the Second Amendment entirely, or we continue allowing 15-round magazines to be produced and accessible to the armed public. Last week Christie vetoed a bill that would limit the size of gun magazines to ten rounds. This bill was petitioned by two families who lost children at the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting. Christie avoided them, even when they personally delivered the petition to the governor’s office. He denied them, point blank, period. And this was his weak defense:

So are we saying then that the ten children on the clip that they advocate for, that their lives are less valuable? If you take the logical conclusion of their argument, you go to zero. Because every life is valuable. And so why ten? Why not six, why not two, why not zero? Why not just ban guns completely?

This is a joke…right? I mean, if we can’t save five people in the next shooting, we should just let all 15 victims get shot because everyone’s life is equally valuable. Yeah, that totally makes sense. What’s the big deal about five bullets?

Size matters

The heroine of the Tucson story is a woman who bravely tackled the shooter in the moments when he ceased fire. He was equipped with a magazine that held more than double the standard amount of rounds (15). When the shooter paused to refill his Glock with another 33-round magazine, Patricia Maisch, then 61, wrestled the ammo from him while a few men threw the shooter to the ground. The number of victims from that shooting could have been fewer if he had had to reload sooner.

The same goes for the 2012 Aurora movie theater shooting. That shooter had a drum magazine capable of carrying 100 rounds attached to his AR-15 rifle. Could you imagine how the number of victims from that massacre could have been reduced if he were forced to reload about six times? Christie obviously cannot because that would be favoritism, or something.

Most importantly, I’d like to point out the difference this would have made at the Newtown shooting. The shooter in this case was armed with three different weapons and unfathomable amounts of ammunition, which he carried on his body. This guy came from a family with a long history of love for guns. He grew up with that whole culture and was granted access to guns, despite his Aspergers. The Daily Beast described the frightening amount of weaponry the shooter was armed with that day:

At the school, he emptied three magazines completely, leaving his 26 victims with as many as 11 gunshot wounds. Either because his weapon jammed or because he was overexcited, he ejected three more magazines when they still had 10, 11, and 13 rounds, respectively.

All told, he expended 154 rounds, killing 20 small children and 6 adults. The Bushmaster had one round in the chamber and 14 rounds in the magazine when he took his own life with one of two handguns he carried. A shotgun with two magazines containing 70 rounds was found in the black Honda he parked in the fire lane at the school entrance.

All that gore occurred in about five minutes. He could not have caused that many deaths in so little time with smaller magazines. How can Christie try to defend his veto with such illogical banter, to the parents of the victims of this shooting? Christie says it’s just a fundamental disagreement, though how his argument could be valid in any reality I do not understand. If the decision were up to you and you could choose between the hypothetical death of 15 children or 10 children, what would you do?

—

Natasha Paulmeno (@natashapaulmeno)

Featured image courtesy of [Eugene Smith via Flickr]

Natasha Paulmeno

The post Thanks to Governor Christie the Gun Debate Just Reached a New Low appeared first on Law Street.

Is There Any Mortar in These BRICS?

Natasha Paulmeno — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 16:25:14 +0000

Brazil is hosting a major international party today and the United States is not invited. While Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — also known as the BRICS countries — socialize and chat each other up about world affairs, the U.S. is sitting on the sidelines. But don’t worry — America doesn’t feel left out.

BRICS is the acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, countries with prominent global influence and rapidly growing economies. South Africa most recently joined the group in 2010, whereas representatives from the other five began meeting in 2006. Economic experts agree on the importance of these nations’ expanding economies and the roles they will play in the future of global trade and finance.

The BRICS agenda is fascinating, but the issues that will be discussed, according to a panel of experts on the subject hosted by the Brookings Institute last week, are more pertinent to quickly growing global economies, not the already well-established U.S., which is exactly why the country isn’t feeling left out. At least not yet.

Under the glow of fluorescent lights and amid the aroma of free coffee (it always smells better this way, doesn’t it?), the five panelists discussed the upcoming conference in front of an audience ranging from eager youths to seasoned foreign policy experts.

Kenneth G. Lieberthal, an expert on China and author of an impressive 24 books, kicked off the discussion. He, along with the other panelists, explained that the major goal of the nations attending the summit will likely be to establish an alternative to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In simpler terms, these countries no longer wish to depend solely on the United States and its allies to take care of global financial dealings and monetary crises. The panelists speculated that China’s steady growth as a world power may provoke the other countries in BRICS to downgrade its status as a member of the group because it no longer has the same concerns about which the foundation of the group was based. This parallels the group’s concerns regarding the United States’ domination of world affairs. For now, however, China is still included in the upcoming Brazil summit.

Ken Lieberthal: the BRICS aim to democratize options for emerging markets thru own bank #BRICS2014. Will they succeed? Can they find it?

— Ashley Miller (@MillerAS) July 11, 2014

Each expert panelist represented a country’s specific agenda. Fiona Hill, a frequent commentator on Russian and Eurasian affairs, emphasized the importance of the BRICS summit for Vladimir Putin. After Russia’s recent annexation of Crimea in Ukraine, an action that sparked great disapproval from a number of nations, the country was banished from the G8 summit. Hill thinks that Putin will take advantage of his invitation to the BRICS summit to reestablish Russia’s role as a world power. Hill suggested that nothing concrete will likely come of Russia attending BRICS — the summit is simply a means of “political theater” for Putin.

Tanvi Madan, the expert representative on India, touched on how the country does not agree with the United States’ idea of democracy and identifies more closely with the other countries attending BRICS. More specifically, India holds a long-standing pragmatic relationship with Russia. Madan said the BRICS summit will not affect India’s relationship with the United States. For India, the BRICS summit symbolizes India’s new voice. The summit enables India to express that it wants reform in a variety of institutions including issues, sanctionsm and sovereignty. The BRICS summit offers a way for India to form closer ties with the other countries attending.

Harold Trinkunas, an expert in Latin American politics currently studying Brazil’s emergence as a major power, spoke of Brazil as a key player in the upcoming BRICS summit. Now that the World Cup ended, Brazil passed the torch to Russia for the 2018 Cup and moved on to host the BRICS Summit, which starts today.

Sadly, South Africa was left out of the conversation. As the newest member to the group, it hasn’t yet established its own agenda for the summit. We expect to hear few details about South Africa in comparison to the other member countries.

So, why isn’t the United States concerned about BRICS’ desire to decrease their dependence on Western countries? The panelists agreed that BRICS’ wishes to create an alternative to the International Monetary Fund is not necessarily negative. As noted by Kenneth Lieberthal, the expert on Chinese affairs, the BRICS countries want to create a bank focusing on infrastructure loans. Creating an alternative to the World Bank would increase the capacity for big emerging markets to be less reliant on the United States and Europe. Theoretically, this would allow for greater financial democracy and a more efficient way for countries to solve individual financial crises.

As these alliances grow stronger, we will see if there’s any mortar in the BRICS. The United States isn’t too concerned about any of the potential outcomes from this agenda — but only time will tell.

—

Natasha Paulmeno (@natashapaulmeno) & Marisa Motosek (@marisaj44)

Featured image courtesy of [Natasha Paulmeno]

Natasha Paulmeno

The post Is There Any Mortar in These BRICS? appeared first on Law Street.

Georgia’s State Prisons: Breeding Grounds for Violence

Natasha Paulmeno — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 19:48:37 +0000

Prison officials are struggling to stop the violence that plagues Georgia’s state prisons, and the deplorable conditions that Georgian prisoners are experiencing have begun to creep beyond the cell walls. The numbers alone are shocking. Since 2010, 33 prisoners and one officer have been killed by prisoners in Georgia, according to a report released by the Southern Center for Human Rights (SCHR). The number of homicides committed by prisoners in Georgia’s state prisons has tripled since 2004. Georgia has seen more homicides in its state prisons in one year than other states such as Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Kentucky have each had in the last 10 years. Who’s to say that kind of behavior will cease when these perpetrators are released?

Victims of these often-fatal attacks are considered lucky if they survive. CNN recently reported that Georgia’s prisoners regularly face being stabbed, burned, raped, and dismembered. When a prisoner under attack shouts for help, the victim’s pleas usually fall on deaf ears. For the most part, sympathy is lacking for those prisoners subject to violence while serving time, so advocacy for change is hard to muster. But what the public needs to understand is the lasting effects this violence has on society once the prisoners are released. The report highlights this point:

Prisons are supposed to provide rehabilitation. But violent prisons teach and breed violence. Further, since about one third of people in the GDC [Georgia Department of Corrections] are incarcerated for nonviolent crimes, the dangerous conditions in Georgia prisons threaten those who have committed violent crimes and those with no history of violence alike.

The report lists the legal standards against violence in prisons and tries to pinpoint the root causes:

Supervision of prisoners is dangerously inadequate.
Prisoners have access to lethal weapons that are either smuggled in, or fabricated using items found at the prison.
Some cell door locks have been left broken for years.
Gangs have filled a security vacuum and control many prison resources.
Prisoners have access to a steady supply of cell phones and smart phones.
Protective custody procedures are inadequate, and prison officials ignore threats to prisoners’ safety.

According to the SCHR report, prison officials are in violation of laws protecting prisoners if they knowingly disregard violence and make no attempts at halting imminent danger. Furthermore, some prison officials are directly involved in the smuggling of contraband inside prison walls. My colleague Alexandra Stembaugh wrote about similar problems in the war on drugs behind bars. It’s clear that we need tougher consequences for culprits to curb this kind of corruption.

Some of the most violent prisons in Georgia include Baldwin State Prison, Smith State Prison, and Hays State Prison. At Baldwin, countless attacks were carried out uninterrupted. One man was beaten, tied up, had scalding water poured on his groin, and a broom handle shoved up his rectum. No officer came to his rescue until he stumbled to the exit with both eyes swollen shut and his face covered in blood. This incident was neither a freak accident nor a rare occurrence. According to the SCHR report:

In case after case, attacks on men at Baldwin start and finish without anyone on the prison staff knowing they are happening. GDC reports have repeatedly documented incidents in which officers find out about an assault only after prisoner-witnesses report it, after the victim manages to escape, or when officers find a man injured on the ground.

Still lacking sympathy? Take into account the 33 percent of prisoners who were incarcerated for nonviolent crimes. Then take a look at your tax dollars, which are supposedly used for “maintaining” those prisons. The GDC Annual Report for 2013 showed the total funds spent in the fiscal year exceeded $1 billion, 97 percent of which came from state funding. Such a large amount of money is spent on this small percentage of the population, so why are violence and rape so prominent in Georgia’s jails?

Maybe it’s the serious lack of supervision in these prisons, which allowed locks to remain broken for several years. Maybe it’s the amount of influence gangs have–in some prisons the gang affiliates are able to choose the living assignments. Maybe prison officials fear their lives because so many prisoners have access to lethal weapons, drugs, and outside connections. But something must be done to stop this epidemic. The Pew Research Center reported that in Georgia prisons “the average offender released in 2009 served 3.2 years in custody, 75 percent more than the average offender released in 1990.” That means criminals serving longer sentences in deplorable conditions have more time to adopt violent tendencies.

Despite all the GDC’s efforts to rehabilitate their inmates, the constant violence plaguing Georgia prisons trumps their progress. I’m on board with the SCHR–the Supreme Court needs to investigate the GDC and get an inside look at Georgia prisons. Put an end to the senseless, brutal violence. Stop the torture. Do something to put those tax dollars to use. I’m not defending criminals–they landed themselves on a metal cot in an 8 by 10 cell. But I also don’t think they deserve having every last human right stripped from them. And the last thing Georgia’s citizens need is to fear their releases. Better regulations in prisons paired with successful rehabilitation programs could help break this horrible cycle.

—

Natasha Paulmeno (@natashapaulmeno)

Featured image courtesy of [Christian Senger via Flickr]

Natasha Paulmeno

The post Georgia’s State Prisons: Breeding Grounds for Violence appeared first on Law Street.

Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Hot Water

Natasha Paulmeno — Tue, 08 Jul 2014 16:00:12 +0000

It’s been a rough week for Thomas M. Cooley Law School. I really don’t know which was a harder hit, canceling enrollment for an entire incoming class of first year law students, or losing a $17 million defamation appeal.

A group of legal professionals founded the independent graduate school in 1972 in memory of Justice Thomas McIntyre Cooley. Cooley Law is home to the nation’s largest J.D. program, with four campuses located in Michigan (Ann Arbor, Auburn Hills, Grand Rapids and Lansing) and one campus in Florida (Tampa Bay.) The school released a statement on July 1 outlining its new “aggressive financial management plan.” Due to low enrollment and increasing costs, the institution could no longer maintain its imbalanced budget, and was forced to close admission to its Ann Arbor campus.

The downward trend in law school enrollment is not unique to Cooley Law–this is a nationwide phenomenon. According to The National Law Journal, 132 of the 199 schools accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) saw declines in their 1L classes in the last 12 months. The ABA published enrollment data shows that Cooley Law’s first year enrollment dropped by 35 percent last year–from 897 students in 2012 to 582 students in 2013. This drastic change caused Cooley Law to make budget cuts by closing off its Ann Arbor campus to new students, and they still haven’t disclosed what will happen to those who were planning to enroll at that campus. They’re also planning faculty and staff layoffs, though no specifics were given about which campuses would see losses.

This news was confirmed the same day as Cooley Law was alerted of its loss in a defamation suit in which they had claimed $17 million in losses. Cooley Law filed to sue a New York law firm for falsely accusing the school of inflating its post-grad employment statistics. It’s a pretty tangled web of lawsuits–but essentially the firm and Cooley Law had brought dueling suits accusing each other of making false statements. The New York judge dismissed the case on July 2, 2014–the same day the school announced its closure of the Ann Arbor Campus to new enrollees.

This isn’t the first time Cooley Law’s employment statistics came into question. Back in 2012, a group of 12 graduates from Cooley Law tried to sue the school for misrepresenting its post-graduation employment statistics. The grads said they wouldn’t have attended the school had they known the real numbers and sued for reimbursement of their purchase. Though the case was dismissed, a few ugly truths were made public during the ruling:

US News & World Report ranked Cooley Law with the lowest admission standards of any accredited or provisionally accredited law school in the country.
In 2010, Cooley Law accepted 83% of all applicants.
In 2010, Cooley Law’s average admissions score was 146 – a national low.
In 2010, Cooley Law’s average GPA was 2.99 – also a national low.
In 2008, about 32% of the 1,500 first year students at Cooley Law did not return.

All of these revelations about the recent history of the nation’s largest law school does not bode well for its future But we should use this as a learning experience. First of all, I encourage all current and prospective law students to do their homework. Know your school, and know what you’re paying for! Take into account all aspects of your law school experience. Where is your school located? Is there an easily accessible alumni network? Does your school offer judicial clerkships, externships, clinics, pro bono practice opportunities, and study abroad programs? How much is your tuition, and how does that compare with your anticipated salary? These are all things you should take into consideration before signing up for something that can put you into some serious debt.

Don’t want to end up like the debt-riddled, unemployed Cooley Law grads who couldn’t win a lawsuit against their notorious alma mater? Look past the numbers and the statistics and look into the experience. The judge who ruled against the graduates, Gordon Quist, wrote in his decision that the grads made poor decisions, stating, “with red flags [waving] and cautionary bells ringing an ordinary prudent person would not have relied on the statistics to decide to spend $100,000 or more.”

The closing of Cooley Law’s Ann Arbor campus to new enrollment could indicate a future trend in law school actions nationwide. The decline in law school enrollment is no surprise, and law grads are struggling to find work. But would the industry improve by reducing the number of law schools? I think it would be best for students to be extra diligent in their enrollment decisions. Then by natural selection the weakest law schools that produce the most unsuccessful attorneys would be knocked off the map. It’s not a perfect formula, but there’s definitely a need for some big changes.

—

Natasha Paulmeno (@natashapaulmeno)

Image courtesy of [Matthew DeWaal via Flickr]

Natasha Paulmeno

The post Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Hot Water appeared first on Law Street.

Operation Cross Country: A New Way to Fight Child Sex Trafficking

Natasha Paulmeno — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 19:46:47 +0000

The FBI completed Operation Cross Country VIII last week, and it was definitely a success. Agents and officers rescued 168 children from sex trafficking, and arrested 281 pimps across the country. The operation spanned 106 cities and was part of the FBI’s Innocence Lost National Initiative. The FBI worked in conjunction with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. This year’s mission was the most widespread yet; since 2003 Operation Cross Country has identified and recovered about 3,600 children from sexual exploitation.

In addition to the operation, the FBI and its partners are trying to increase awareness about child sex trafficking within our borders. John Ryan, president and CEO of NCMEC, called for better laws that would require child welfare services to report children missing. He said there is no federal legislation for agencies to report children missing from their care and only two states have such regulations. It’s clear that the children rescued in this year’s operation would not have been found without the valiant efforts of the FBI and NCMEC, because the laws just aren’t in place to protect them.

At the Operation Cross Country press conference, FBI Director James B. Comey stated,

The lesson of Operation Cross Country is that our children are not for sale; that we will respond and crush these pimps who would crush these children. […] We will do this by seeking jail terms of many, many years, to send two messages. One, you will never do this again. Two, to others who might be tempted to crush the souls of children—you do that, and you’re risking your freedom and your life.

The Need for Legislation

NCMEC is pushing for state welfare agencies to create mandatory reports of all children missing from foster care. Without regulations requiring welfare agencies to report missing children, no one is looking for them–no one even knows they’re gone. And with no one aware of their whereabouts, no one can track their activities. So, more and more children are sucked into the sex trafficking industry. Here’s a breakdown by NCMEC:

The Children Who Need Our Help

In comparison to our nation’s total population, 3,600 children rescued may not seem like a lot, until you put a name or a face to the numbers. For me, that happened when Operation Cross Country took action nearby. This year’s operation rescued two girls from Montgomery County, Maryland–one of them was only 16 years old. But what really hit home were the arrests of four pimps in Prince George’s County, home to my college. To think the children I tutored last year, or the teenagers on the University of Maryland’s campus for summer sports camps could be coerced by pimps is horrific.

It’s a frightening reality. Take Nicole‘s story, for example. She was 17 years old when she met her pimp. He took her shopping, bought her nice things, and treated her to a life of luxury. He told her how she could make good money, quick; after her first day “on the job” she came home with $750. Then she got raped by a john and when she told her pimp he beat her and forced her to take an ice shower for three hours. She needed surgery to repair her broken ribs, wrist, nose, and head injuries. She had no family or friends. All of her assets were tied up in the pimp. She was trapped in the life of sex trafficking.

Then she met Dani Geissinger-Rodarte, an FBI Victim Specialist. With the help of Rodarte, Nicole was able to leave her pimp and build a case against him. Now, that pimp, Juan Alexander Vianez must serve 20 years in prison and pay $1.3 million in restitution for sex trafficking and interstate transportation of a minor in furtherance of prostitution, among other charges.

Nicole got justice, and thanks to Operation Cross Country, more than 3,000 other victims of human sex trafficking have as well. But the number of children who are coerced into the trade at young ages needs to be reduced, and our government should do more to protect them. Why are Florida and Illinois the only states that require social services and foster care providers to report missing children in their care to NCMEC? In just one year more than 4,000 children were reported missing to NCMEC from those two states. Adding the cases from the additional 48 states would up that number by a terrifying amount.

If legislation was passed mandating child care services across the nation report children missing from their care, Operation Cross Country could significantly increase the number of victims rescued. Kathryn Turman, Director of the FBI’s Office for Victim Assistance said more than six million children in the U.S. are involved in over three million reports of abuse each year. Turman said the victimization of these children severely affects healthy development and compromises their futures, which collectively comprises our nation’s future. She said the cost of not doing enough to protect and aid child victims of sex trafficking is colossal, stating:

“Doing all we can to bring these children with their often invisible wounds out of the shadows is our mission and our privilege. A hundred years ago a wise man stated, ‘If the children are safe, then everyone is safe.'”

The work that those involved in Operation Cross Country are doing to keep the children safe is incredibly admirable. They deserve the highest of praise.

—

Natasha Paulmeno (@natashapaulmeno)

Featured image courtesy of [Milliped via WikiMedia Commons]

Natasha Paulmeno

The post Operation Cross Country: A New Way to Fight Child Sex Trafficking appeared first on Law Street.

UVA Law Clinic Takes on Controversial Anthony Elonis Case

Natasha Paulmeno — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 15:41:09 +0000

The UVA Law Supreme Court Litigation Clinic is headed to the Supreme Court next term to defend Anthony D. Elonis, the New York man who posted rap lyrics to Facebook describing how he would kill his estranged wife. (If you’re not familiar with the case, click here to read my take on it.)

The main question in Elonis v. United States centers on First Amendment rights–when do threats made online become true threats, which aren’t protected by the First Amendment? Specifically in Elonis’s case, the court will be examining Facebook statuses in which he posted threatening “rap lyrics.” Select UVA Law students will take a stab at presenting Elonis’s defense.

The UVA Law Supreme Court Litigation Clinic is a one year program offered to third-year law students. Admitted students earn eight credits through participation, but even more valuable is the experience they gain. Once accepted to the clinic, students actively participate in live cases and must meet high expectations.

Working in teams, students handle actual cases from the seeking of Supreme Court review to briefing on the merits. Classes meet every week to discuss drafts of briefs and other papers students have prepared for submission to the court. Students will be expected to identify candidates for Supreme Court review; draft petitions for certiorari, amicus merits briefs and party merits briefs; and attend mootings and Supreme Court arguments.

In addition to providing invaluable experience to our nation’s future legal force, the UVA Law clinic grants students the opportunity to work on a pivotal case. The Supreme Court will debate whether Elonis’s Facebook posts can actually fall under the category of true threats–meaning that he intended to carry out the actions he wrote about. But Elonis’s lawyers artfully defended his case by stating he was rapping, therefore claiming First Amendment protection.

One of the clinic’s instructors, John P. Elwood, described the case as highly relevant because of our increased reliance on electronic communication. Furthermore, he made the point that electronically communicating with strangers may lead to miscommunication more often. Elwood says the ambiguity surrounding true threats has been a mess since the 2003 Virginia v. Black case, in which the Supreme Court attempted to create more specific guidelines for defining them.

I maintain my opinion, this guy is scary–if I were the ex-wife he had threatened I’d want a sense of security and protection too. There may be UVA students who also sympathize with her, but are defending Elonis with the clinic. Unfortunately for them, as a lawyer you don’t always get to choose who you defend. A lawyer’s duty is to defend her client to the fullest extent of the law, regardless of her personal beliefs. It will be valuable for those students to learn that lesson early, because sometimes it’s a hard pill to swallow. For example, when Hillary Clinton was a court-appointed attorney in 1975, she defended a 41-year-old man who was accused of raping 12-year-old girl. It must have been tough, and her political foes are now using it to attack her, but the important thing is that she did her job as a lawyer. The UVA students may have the opportunity to practice that kind of ethical dilemma when they argue on behalf of Elonis.

Elonis v. United States is the eleventh case the UVA clinic will defend in the Supreme Court since its establishment in 2006. And while the academic and legal experience is highly valuable, one other aspect should not be forgotten–legal ethics. That’s exactly what sets the Supreme Court Litigation Clinic apart from the rest–practicing legal ethics in a pivotal case. These twenty-somethings are in for quite a ride; their participation in our highest court could make history!

The University of Virginia School of Law staff did not comment as of press time.

—

Natasha Paulmeno (@natashapaulmeno)

Featured image courtesy of [Mmw3v via English Wikipedia]

Natasha Paulmeno

The post UVA Law Clinic Takes on Controversial Anthony Elonis Case appeared first on Law Street.

A Good but Stinky Step for Parenting Equality

Natasha Paulmeno — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 20:53:32 +0000

Parents don’t have the luxury of choosing where they are when their babies drop the bomb. When nature calls, mothers and fathers alike run to restrooms to change dirty diapers, soothing both their babies and the ears of the public. But fathers across the nation have long been frustrated by the lack of changing tables in men’s restrooms. Lawmakers across the country are finally starting to right this wrong.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 90 percent of fathers who live with children under the age of five change diapers. When a father goes to change his baby’s diaper at the pizza place in town, he’s forced to either struggle on a dirty bathroom floor or balance the baby on his lap. He has a right to be frustrated, because if he was a she, it probably wouldn’t be such a struggle.

Currently there is no federal or state legislation mandating gender-based accessibility to changing tables. But as equality in parenting increases, we may need to make some changes. California State Senators Lois Wolk and Ricardo Lara support legislation to require adequate baby diaper changing stations in public restrooms, regardless of gender. Bills 1350 and 1358 recently passed out of the California Senate Transportation and Housing Committee with bipartisan support.

Bill Breakdown

If they pass the California Assembly, the bills would go into effect on January 1, 2015. Senate Bill 1350, backed by Lara, mandates that public accommodations that undertake substantial renovations (exceeding $10,000) or install new restrooms assure open access to baby changing stations regardless of restroom gender assignment.

Senator Wolk supports the more stringent bill, 1358. Under this legislation, all public accommodations would require “…mandatory building standards for the installation of baby diaper changing accommodations in restroom facilities…” This bill would create a ripple effect by making more baby changing stations available to modern families.

This isn’t the first time a region has tried to create equality for men on diaper-duty. Pittsburgh City Councilor Natalia Rudiak proposed a bill in July 2013 that would require all city-owned buildings and facilities to offer baby changing stations for both men and women. In response to those opposed to the bill, Rudiak said the stations were fairly low-cost and would not require extensive construction.

Likewise, in July 2013, Miami-Dade County, Florida passed the Baby-Diaper Changing Accommodations Ordinance, which requires all businesses to provide baby changing stations in men’s, women’s, and unisex restrooms. Businesses in violation of the ordinance must pay a Civil Penalty of $500. The efforts of these Pittsburgh and Miami-Dade legislators are just some of the first in an effort to make parenting easier for both moms and dads.

Diaper Dads

Fathers across the nation are pleased by these new efforts. Several daddy bloggers track restrooms with diaper changing stations in restaurants, movie theaters, businesses, and other public buildings. One blogger who calls himself “daddydoinwork,” called on his fellow fathers to publicize the lack of changing tables in men’s restrooms in order to create change.

The Pew Research Center conducted a study in 2013 and discovered that there are more than 2.6 million single fathers in the United States. The number of fathers who act as primary caregivers is increasing–especially as our modern society becomes more accepting of single parenting and homosexual parenting. Furthermore, the trend of stay-at-home-dads is rising–they comprise a total 3.5 percent of married couples with children in which one parent works full-time.

Our ever-changing society requires complimentary progress in our public facilities. This is no grand task–baby changing tables are easily installed and low-cost. If fathers were given more opportunities to easily change their babies’ diapers, establishments would better fulfill their responsibilities to serve the public’s needs. Businesses should also follow the lead–help out our diaper duty dads, and maybe they’ll leave a nice tip.

—

Natasha Paulmeno (@natashapaulmeno)

Featured image courtesy of [Tex Batmart via Flickr]

Natasha Paulmeno

The post A Good but Stinky Step for Parenting Equality appeared first on Law Street.

Want to Make Sure You Get a Job After Law School? Apply for a Clerkship Now

Natasha Paulmeno — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 10:31:35 +0000

Looking to attend a law school that can hook you up with a judicial clerkship? Well here’s some information that might help you decide — Robert Morse of US News and World Report just ranked law schools by 2012 J.D. graduates who hold the most judicial clerkships.

What are Judicial Clerkships?

Clerkships are like beefed-up, paid internships that are specifically designed for law students. They are interactive opportunities that allow aspiring attorneys to assist judges in federal, state, or local courts. Clerks work jointly with judges on their caseloads and get a peek inside the courtroom environment.

Clerkships provide students with practical experience, require them to conduct legal research, and practice legal writing. Law school graduates, as well as second- and third-year students usually apply for the prestigious positions. Clerks work from one year to three years and receive salaries based on “legal work experience subsequent to graduation from law school, bar membership, and applicable locality pay adjustments,” according to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

Why are Clerkships Valuable?

Law students are encouraged to pursue judicial clerkships because of the experience, wealth of knowledge, and networking opportunities they provide to participants. According to the University of Memphis Clerkship Manual, students should seek judicial clerkships because:

A judicial clerkship is one of the most prestigious, interesting, and professionally rewarding jobs in the legal profession. Judicial clerkships provide credentials, skills, and connections that will benefit you for your entire legal career. A judicial clerk obtains behind‐the‐scenes experience with the workings of the judicial system, has the opportunity to develop and refine research, writing, and legal analysis skills, and learns the intricacies of trial or appellate procedure. Because such positions are limited and viewed as highly prestigious, a judicial clerkship can further career goals and provide a competitive edge in seeking both private and public sector legal employment.

Morse Code: Judicial Clerkship Rankings

Morse broke down the rankings for graduates employed in federal courts separately from those working at state and local courts. He calculated his proportions by examining the percentage of employed graduates with respect to the type of courts they work in.

While the rankings indicate which schools may give grads a better chance of landing clerkships in federal, state, or local courts, it’s important to note that a high percentage does not guarantee a position. Likewise, those schools with lower rankings do not necessarily indicate failure to obtain positions.

Yale University (36.3%)
Stanford University (29.1%)
Harvard University (18.5%)
University of Chicago (15%)
Duke University (14.3%)

The top five schools with the highest percentages of 2012 J.D. graduates working in state and local judicial clerkships were ranked as follows:

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey – Camden (42%)
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey – Newark (33.2%)
Seton Hall University (33.1%)
University of Hawaii – Manoa (Richardson) (28%)
University of South Dakota (20.6%)

Typically, federal clerkships are harder to obtain, but state and local clerkships provide valuable experience as well. Morse cited U.S. Supreme Court clerkships as the ultimate achievement for law school graduates, though they are the hardest to land. Perhaps that’s why the proportion of J.D. graduates with federal clerkships graduated from schools which consistently rank higher nationally. There’s also a cyclical aspect — alumni of Ivy League universities who ascend to clerkships can help their young peers connect with those positions down the road. Furthermore, it seems schools that rank lower overall send more students to state and local courts, possibly because those positions are less competitive. Regardless, law schools encourage their students to apply for clerkships at any level in order to advance their careers and dip their toes into the legal profession.

Though the legal field may be suffering setbacks right now, the number of students securing long-term employment after graduating law school is slowly increasing. According to the American Bar Association, the number of J.D. graduates who were employed increased 0.7 percent since 2012, but the number of grads who are unemployed or seeking work also increased 0.6 percent. Thus, law students should take advantage of opportunities like clerkships to advance their chances of finding stable work after graduation.

Indiana University’s Robert H. McKinney School of Law considers legal clerkships “attractive to future legal employers who hire former judicial clerks for their significant legal knowledge, insider view of the court system, and ability to view cases from the court’s perspective.” The behind-the-scenes experience earned through judicial clerkships serves as a bridge between graduating law school and practicing law. It also provides recent graduates with the opportunity to figure out where they might want to spend their legal careers — inside or outside a courtroom. So, if you’re considering law school, you may want to check out your prospective educator’s clerkship rankings. It could make all the difference for your future.

—

Natasha Paulmeno (@natashapaulmeno)

Featured image courtesy of [Frank Kehren via Flickr]

Natasha Paulmeno

The post Want to Make Sure You Get a Job After Law School? Apply for a Clerkship Now appeared first on Law Street.

Service Dog Scam Artists Coming to a Restaurant Near You

Natasha Paulmeno — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 10:31:42 +0000

The first time I encountered a service dog I was working at a toy store in my hometown. She was an adorable English bulldog sporting a pink service dog vest. But to this day I still wonder if she was actually certified or not.

I wonder because many dog owners have taken it upon themselves to cheat the system by pretending their furry friends are service dogs, dressing them in service dog vests. The vests allow owners to bring their dogs almost anywhere, including restaurants, hotels, and airplanes. Take a look at this quick video testing the limits of service dog scamming:

video platform video management video solutions video player

The investigation, conducted by Local News 10 in Miami, shows how easy it is for dog owners to gain admission to restaurants by simply uttering the words “service dog.” The video features two citizens who use seeing-eye dogs; they are horrified by the scheming dog owners. But with fake certificates and vests obtained online, business owners can’t tell the difference and may face lawsuits if they ask more than the two questions outlined by the Americans with Disabilities Act:

Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

Because of these sneaky pet owners, people with disabilities who actually need the assistance of service dogs are facing the consequences. For example, seven-year-old Zachary Sorrells, who suffers from cerebral palsy and epilepsy, was not allowed to bring his service dog to school with him. The boy has been on seizure medication since he was 12 months old, but his service dog, Majesty, can detect seizures before he has them. With Majesty’s help, Zachary’s parents were able to wean him off the medication.

The Sorrells moved to Arkansas for a special children’s hospital for their son. When he began attending school in August, the Cabot School District told the family that Zachary could not bring Majesty to school with him. Later officials told the Sorrells that Majesty could accompany him with a handler present at all times. The handler would be an expensive burden on the family — $500 each month — so the Sorrells filed a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights.

An 8-year-old girl from Illinois is fighting a similar battle. Kellsey McGuire was diagnosed with epilepsy at 18 months old. Shortly after she began attending Sherrard Grade Day School in January 2014, Kellsey was forbidden to bring her service dog Jasper to school with her. In an interview with KWDC, Kellsey’s mother, Brandi, said her daughter has had up to 90 seizures in a day and Jasper helps them know when she is experiencing one. The family is currently seeking legal aid on the matter; their attorney says the school district violated the ADA.

Another large group of people who use service dogs are Veterans with PTSD and other disabilities. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, service dogs and emotional support dogs may be helpful to those who have PTSD. The VA is currently conducting research “to determine if there are things a dog can do for a Veteran with PTSD that would qualify the animal as a Service Dog for PTSD.” Additionally, veterans who suffer physical injuries benefit from the assistance of trained service dogs in their day-to-day lives. Below is an image of Jeffrey Adams and his service dog Sharif, who responds to 40 different commands and carries out crucial tasks when he removes his prosthetic.

Would you continue cheating the system if you knew you were hurting the people who actually need their dogs for assistance in public places? I think it’s time for pet owners who selfishly dress their dogs in service vests to consider those who actually need service dogs. The ADA requires reform–the loophole is so large that anyone could label her dog a service dog. The government should crack down on the websites that provide fake certificates and vests for dogs.

Real service dogs take years to train; they respond to commands and help their owners with tasks from picking objects up to guiding their owners down the street. For some, their lives depend on their service dogs, and for others they rely on the dogs to complete tasks they could not otherwise complete. For the rest of the dog owners out there, keep your dogs where they belong and dress them how you like, so long as you stop mislabeling your pet as a service dog.

Featured image courtesy of [Found Animals Foundation via Flickr]

Natasha Paulmeno

The post Service Dog Scam Artists Coming to a Restaurant Near You appeared first on Law Street.

Supreme Court to Determine How Free Speech Applies to Social Media

Natasha Paulmeno — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 19:08:13 +0000

The Supreme Court is finally ruling on free speech relating to social media platforms. Now, before we jump the gun and say putting limitations on free speech is a violation of the First Amendment, let me explain. This conversation was sparked by a recent case — United States of America v. Anthony Douglas Elonis. I originally thought the outcome of this case was absurd — the defendant is serving more than three years in prison for a few eccentric Facebook posts. Really? Then I dug deeper and what I found was quite disturbing.

After losing his wife, his kids, and his job, Anthony Elonis was depressed and angry. He turned to Facebook to rant. And the “raps” he posted threatened his former place of work, his wife, innocent children, and an FBI agent. Below are some excerpts from his “rap lyrics”:

I also found out that it’s incredibly illegal,
extremely illegal, to go on Facebook and say
something like the best place to fire a mortar
launcher at her house would be from the
cornfield behind it because of easy access to a
getaway road and you’d have a clear line of
sight through the sun room.
Insanely illegal.
Ridiculously, wrecklessly, insanely illegal.
Yet even more illegal to show an illustrated
diagram.
===[ __ ] =====house
: : : : : : : ^ : : : : : : : : : : : :cornfield
: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :
######################getaway road
Insanely illegal.
Ridiculously, horribly felonious.
Cause they will come to my house in the middle
of the night and they will lock me up.
Extremely against the law.

In another post he “rapped” about shooting up a kindergarten classroom:

That’s it, I’ve had about enough
I’m checking out and making a name for myself
Enough elementary schools in a ten mile radius
to initiate the most heinous school shooting ever
imagined
And hell hath no fury like a crazy man in a
kindergarten class
The only question is . . . which one?

Do you feel uncomfortable yet? You can also check out the hearing transcript for more of Elonis’ disconcerting posts. By now, you’re probably pretty creeped out by this weird Eminem wannabe. Well, he served his time: a 44-month sentence. What makes me see red is why he was convicted.

Elonis landed in the slammer for “transmit[ting] in interstate or foreign commerce any
communication containing any threat to kidnap any person or any threat to injure the person of another…” Anyone else think it’s problematic that despite his threats, which blatantly targeted his wife, he was sentenced on a technicality?

Cyber threats are common; Elonis’ wife is not alone. Now the media is examining when rap crosses the line from being “gangsta” to being threatening? This issue is at the crux of the case the Supreme Court will hear in the upcoming term.

True Threats

While true threats are not protected by the First Amendment, the Supreme Court is struggling with ambiguities like cyber threats. The last time the court had a case involving threats was the 2003 case Virginia v. Black et al. The court defined true threats as “statements where the speaker means to communicate a serious expression of an intent to commit an act of unlawful violence to a particular individual or group of individuals.”

Elonis defended his posts as art, saying he therefore lacked intent to actually carry out those threats. But his threats were specific, well thought-out, and frightening. So were his posts true threats or merely artistic expression? That’s exactly the question SCOTUS will have to answer.

When Does Rap go too Far?

Elonis is one of many who have been put on trial for violent content in rap lyrics. Now who doesn’t love some good ol’ fashioned hate-the-world, go burn in hell, Eminem-style rap? I actually love Eminem – my iTunes holds precisely 54 of his songs. Yes, his raps are graphic, violent, angry, and sometimes downright grotesque. But, aside from his mother, whom he actually bought a mansion, he does not outline specific plans for a single person’s demise. He’s just angry at the world, that’s all.

So, this is where Eminem’s content differs from Elonis’, among others. The debate is tangled — scholars and legal professionals need to consider artistic expression, intent, and how that plays out in the cyber world.

A group of legal scholars are defending Elonis and his “artistic expression” posts on Facebook. Clay Calvert, Erik Nielson, and Charis E. Kubrin argue that the context in which artistic expression is interpreted depends on its vessel of dissemination, in this case, social media. So, higher courts have difficulty determining the context and the intent, which both affect the verdict of threat cases involving social media posts.

The subject is highly complex, but my opinion on this is simple. If you post poorly written yet fear-inducing threats to Facebook, you deserve to be put away. Elonis is clearly not stable, as you can see from the nostalgic posts about his ex-wife, whom he threatened to behead.

Rap is considered an art form, so it’s protected by the First Amendment. But throw social media into the mix and our Constitution becomes difficult to apply. So, yes, I’m relieved the Supreme Court will rule on this convoluted case because it will have long-reaching ramifications. I would certainly feel more secure if social media threats were considered more seriously, especially considering the shooting in Santa Barbara last month.

When it comes to threats, there is a fine line between protecting our First Amendment rights and protecting our citizens. My hope is that the Supreme Court will find a solution by defining when threats should be taken literally and when they are artistic ploys.

Featured image courtesy of [dcwriterdawn via Flickr]

Natasha Paulmeno

The post Supreme Court to Determine How Free Speech Applies to Social Media appeared first on Law Street.

Law School Disruptor of the Week: Seattle Satellite Campus

Natasha Paulmeno — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 09:59:17 +0000

Prior to this week Alaska remained the only state without its own law school, but thanks to the Seattle University School of Law that is no longer true. After six months of planning and negotiating, it’s official: Anchorage will be home to a satellite campus of the Washington state law school. This is potentially a positive symbiotic relationship. The goal of this move is to improve the legal industry in both states, and if the intended outcome becomes reality, there may be hope for our nation’s legal industry. Let’s look at how.

Alaska’s Benefits

Of all 736,399 Alaskan residents, approximately 4,000 are lawyers, but very few of those lawyers are Alaskan natives. According to the American Bar Association, the total number of active lawyers in 2013 who are U.S. residents was 1,268,011. That means that only .003 percent of American lawyers reside in Alaska. The reason for such a small legal industry in the state is accessibility. Alaskans are deterred from moving to other states to go to law school because of high expenses and complicated logistics. This deal with Seattle University will help change that trend.

It’s important to note that Alaskans will finally be granted an easily accessible legal education. Why this hasn’t happened sooner I cannot understand. But I think the partnership with Seattle is a great step forward for the legal education industry and I hope Alaskan students dive right in.

Seattle’s Benefits

In an attempt to fight the rapidly decreasing law school enrollment rates, SU Law is implementing several creative methods. In addition to offering a two-year law program and in-state tuition to top out-of-state students, SU Law is planning this satellite campus in Alaska.

According to the Seattle Times, law school enrollment has declined by about 23 percent over the last three years; in Washington, it’s dropped by a third. Simultaneously, the need for representation is at an all-time high, so what solution could be better than making law school more accessible across the nation?

Beginning of a Trend?

I’ve done some scouring and it seems SU Law is not alone in the implementation of a satellite campus. But the other institutions merely implement satellite centers or the satellite campus is in a different city, not a different state. For example, the main campus of Stetson Law is located in St. Petersburg, Florida, but the school hosts a satellite center in Tampa Bay. The Tampa Law Center is located in an upcoming hub for legal activity and shares its law library and courtroom with Florida’s Second District Court of Appeals. Similarly, the University of Oregon School of Law is located in Eugene but has a satellite in Portland. Like the Seattle-Alaska program, students will be able to complete their third years at the satellite campus.

Could satellite campuses that reduce tuition be the best way to increase law school enrollment?

The United States is home to more than 200 law schools. Seems a bit excessive, but I guess it fits with our unofficial national motto of “Go big or go home.” If more states begin implementing methods similar to those of Seattle, more students would be inclined to enroll.

Even better, schools with specialized areas of study could offer program-specific courses at satellite campuses. The need for more accessible law schools paired with a new approach to provide highly specialized studies could fix the downturn in law school enrollment. Alaska lacks lawyers who practice in specific disciplines, including same-sex issues, civil rights, and drug crimes.

Offering specialized programs like business, civil rights, healthcare, and intellectual property law allows students to graduate with a fuller knowledge of those fields. Plus they get to focus on what interests them most, in an environment that is even more accessible than ever before for remote areas like Alaska.

I commend Seattle University for making a noble attempt to create real change in the legal industry.

—

Natasha Paulmeno (@natashapaulmeno)

Featured image courtesy of [Christian Meichtry via Flickr]

Natasha Paulmeno

The post Law School Disruptor of the Week: Seattle Satellite Campus appeared first on Law Street.

Tracy Morgan Accident Prompts Look at Commercial Driving Laws

Natasha Paulmeno — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 16:02:17 +0000

“There was a terrible accident. The car’s flipped, it’s on its side. It’s two vehicles and a Walmart truck,” reported one passerby in the wee morning hours of Saturday, June 7. The accident received heavy media coverage — the three-car pile up killed one and injured four. Among the injured was celeb Tracy Morgan, who needed surgery on his broken leg; he also suffered several broken ribs and a broken nose. The comedian, best known for his NBC gigs with “Saturday Night Live” and “30 Rock,” also lost his mentor and fellow funnyman James “Jimmy Mack” McNair. McNair was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the Walmart truck, Kevin Roper, has been charged with vehicular homicide. He was said to be “driving recklessly” because he had not slept in 24 hours. As a result of this accident, debates over regulations for commercial truck drivers have sprung up across the country.

Hours-of-Service Regulations

July 1, 2013 marked the initiation of new hours-of-service regulations for truck drivers. The goal of the new regulations was to “improve safety for the motoring public by reducing truck driver fatigue,” according to a news release by The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

The new rules reduced the maximum average workweek for truck drivers from 82 hours to 70 hours. Drivers are required to rest for 34 consecutive hours, including two full nights’ sleep, before they can begin a new workweek. Lastly, drivers must take a 30-minute break within the first eight hours of their shifts. The DOT estimated that these changes would save 19 lives, prevent 560 injuries, and thwart 1,400 crashes each year. In crafting these changes, the DOT worked to prevent death, injury, and damage to the “motoring public.” While the shift was indeed positive, there could be more changes made to worker regulations. In this case, I do not blame Walmart nor the DOT for taking inadequate precautions.

Blame Roper

You’d think it would be common sense to take a nap and recharge before driving an 80-thousand-pound truck cross-country in the middle of the night. I don’t know Roper’s situation — he could have been depending on his paycheck for medical bills or rent or a variety of other inescapable obligations. But his ill-planned actions resulted in the loss of a life and myriad suffering.

Roper pleaded not guilty for the accident, and police are having a difficult time proving his lack of sleep. He claims that had he not hit a celebrity and killed a member of Morgan’s entourage, the consequences would have been far less severe. He even ranted on Twitter about the situation.

Driving while deprived of sleep is classified as reckless driving in the state of New Jersey, where the accident occurred. If hard evidence was found proving he had not slept in more than 24 hours, Roper could be sentenced up to ten years. It seems the only chance of obtaining this evidence would be a confession from Roper. And we all know that’s not going to happen.

I do not believe Roper is a hardened criminal, but someone who made a poor decision. We all make mistakes. When we’re young, we’re taught to think before we act, but that lesson doesn’t always stick. The real issue is that Roper’s lack of cognizance resulted in the loss of life.

The accident left McNair’s family in shambles. His 18-year-old daughter passed out at his funeral, where hundreds showed up to lend the family support. Roper took away a father’s opportunity to see his children grow up. Roper should take responsibility for cutting McNair’s life short and stop complaining about the amount of media coverage the case receives.

The federal government has done its part by enacting limitations on drivers’ workweeks. Maybe this change is not enough and should be further amended, but I’m not a truck driver so I really don’t know. Maybe some consultation with those in the industry could lead to even more appropriate guidelines. I do think Roper deserves to serve time for his actions and should retract his Twitter tirade.

If it were one of my family members in the crash, I would want to know that justice was served. I would want to know that changes would be made to protect my family, friends, and the rest of the motoring public. I would make an example of Roper to teach other truck drivers to think before they sit behind the wheel for overnight cross-country drives. Because au contraire to Roper’s opinion that this accident wouldn’t blow up if a star weren’t involved, a man was killed because of his actions, and his life was just as important as anyone else’s.

—

Natasha Paulmeno (@natashapaulmeno)

Featured image courtesy of [Sam Lehman via Flickr]

Natasha Paulmeno

The post Tracy Morgan Accident Prompts Look at Commercial Driving Laws appeared first on Law Street.

New Business Partnership Gives Columbia Law an Edge Over the Competition

Natasha Paulmeno — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 19:18:52 +0000

Columbia Law is taking big steps toward strengthening its Program in the Law and Economics of Capital Markets, and it’s doing so with the help of a very good friend. On June 4, the school received a three-year grant from the NASDAQ OMX Educational Foundation, which will fund the advancement of the program by supporting the production of a seminal treatise on capital markets regulation and the development a more comprehensive website.

So what’s the big deal? The average tuition for one year of law school is $41,985, according to lawschooltransparency.com. This inflated tuition has contributed to a downward trend in law school enrollment nationwide. But if innovative cross-disciplinary programs like Columbia’s capital markets regulation course are introduced, students might be compelled to pay more now to earn more in the future.

My colleague Matt DeWilde wrote about the University of Arizona’s tuition decrease and how the cut incentivizes students to attend three-year programs at cheaper tuition rates; however, three years with a smaller price tag still costs more than two. But there’s more that law schools could do than just slash prices. If law schools across the nation were to lower tuition and continue offering versatile courses like Columbia Law is doing, we could end up with better educated lawyers. The most valuable aspect of programs like this one is a student body that actually cares about the subject. Legal grads could become more proficient legal advocates with the help of partnerships like Columbia Business and Law and NASDAQ.

The Program in the Law and Economics of Capital Markets is jointly based in the Columbia Law School and the Columbia Business School. The first of its kind, it focuses on three main goals:

To further develop the Capital Markets Regulation course and its materials in order to allow other institutions to take advantage of them.
To draft a seminal treatise on capital markets regulation.
To unite professionals through the Fellow Workshops to promote discussion of legal regulation of capital markets and economic forces that drive regulation.

The grant allows Columbia Law to continue providing courses in the up-and-coming field where business and law collide, without augmenting tuition. The program is directed by three seasoned scholars, Professors Merritt B. Fox, Lawrence R. Glosten, and Edward F. Greene. In my interview with Professor Fox, he said that anywhere from 50 to 80 students enroll in the main course. By 2016 he and Professor Glosten hope to complete the seminal treatise, which will be the first text on capital markets to be used as a professional reference and teaching material for legal practitioners, market participants, and scholars.

Publishing the seminal treatise means facilitating the course at other institutions, which is just what this nation needs. Fox said the University of South Carolina School of Law will implement a capital markets regulation course in the upcoming school year, and that readily available materials of a hard text would stimulate other universities to adopt courses in the subject.

Another resource the grant will support is the NASDAQ OMX Fellow Workshops program. The workshops connect students with “experts from the legal and business academy, government, industry and legal practice for high-level discussions to the legal regulation of capital markets and the economic forces that shape markets and the regulatory environment.”

Most of the workshops are recorded and published on the program’s website. Students can use the workshops to network with the professionals in the field. “If someone became interested we would be able to connect them with one of the speakers in the program,” Fox said. Networking is a key aspect for aspiring lawyers in a time when the legal job market is rocky.

Due to low employment rates for legal post-grads, Columbia Law’s capital markets program will give participating students a new edge. And who doesn’t love being a little ahead? The combination of easily accessible materials and networking opportunities provide students with the upper hand in the post-graduation job hunt. With the support from NASDAQ, the program is sure to continue breaking ground in the blossoming field.

Congratulations, Columbia Law! Your capital markets program is sure to kick butt in a new era of legal studies.

—

Natasha Paulmeno (@natashapaulmeno)

Featured image courtesy of [Luis Villa del Campo via Flickr]

Natasha Paulmeno

The post New Business Partnership Gives Columbia Law an Edge Over the Competition appeared first on Law Street.

Racism Is Still Alive, Folks

Natasha Paulmeno — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 16:30:50 +0000

This week I’m beginning to lose faith in my fellow Americans. Between New York mother Janelle Ambrosia verbally harassing a black man and the release of not one but two videos of Justin Bieber making n***** jokes, I literally can’t even.

Why are these instances related? Because both Ambrosia and Bieber are setting examples for young, moldable minds. Even worse, when given the opportunity to apologize, Ambrosia refused and tried to use bipolar disorder as a scapegoat. On the other hand, Bieber said he had to take responsibility for his actions, and seemed to show remorse for his four- and five-year old mistakes.

* [This video contains vulgar language, definitely NSFW]

Though Buzzfeed recently classified Justin Bieber as my “arch nemesis,” I must say I was glad to see a remorseful reaction out of the celeb. Bieber and his manager, Scooter Braun, both posted images to Instagram conveying messages of forgiveness for grave mistakes. In an interview with The Hollywood Report, Bieber made an important point:

“I just hope that the next kid that age who doesn’t understand the power of these words does not make the same mistake I once made years ago.”

By no means are Bieber’s words forgivable or justifiable. But he makes a point that Ambrosia could stand to learn from. While the mother of two relentlessly screamed at the man, self-identified as Narvel, she set the example for her children that calling a black person the n-word is acceptable. Ambrosia received a wide array of backlash on Twitter:

@JaneAmby You say you’re apologizing now, but we all know you’re going to do it again. Great way to set an example for your kids. -_-

— Bradley James (@bradleysgfx) June 4, 2014

The mother of the year award goes to..*drum roll* @JaneAmby

— Matt (@akaMattikins) June 6, 2014

No room for hate

This is the 21st century people! How is it possible that someone can so blatantly charge at someone, hurling insults and threats, solely based on the color of his skin? Here at Law Street, we do not let this behavior slide; we called out One Direction’s media gaffe as well. But I digress. In my opinion, Ambrosia committed three terrible blunders:

Using filthy, racist language in front of her children.
Refusing to apologize for her unwarranted verbal attack.
Blaming the situation on mental health.

I could go on about racism, but the bottom line is that in this day and age, racism is simply unacceptable. I will never acknowledge stereotypes as accurate or valid descriptions of certain people. Each person is individually characterized by his or her upbringing and personal experiences, nothing else. The worst part of Ambrosia’s and Bieber’s public displays of racism are the children who look up to them, who will think n***** is an acceptable word to use, and who may keep racism alive.

I could not stop thinking about Ambrosia’s attack on Narvel after watching the video for the first time. Needless to say, I watched the video at least ten more times and each time my blood boiled. Then she had the nerve to blame this entire situation on bipolar disorder. With mental health being such a hot topic right now, I think Ambrosia just dug herself a deeper hole. Mental illness is not to be taken lightly, nor does it make her any less guilty.

I hope Ambrosia takes a page out of Bieber’s book. Whether he was sincere or not, we will never know. As for Ambrosia’s children, when they are older and can understand the backlash their mother received, let it be a lesson: racism is not to be taken lightly. There is a difference between self-protection and blatant hatefulness. And honestly, it takes more energy to hate someone than it does to keep walking.

So let us be reminded:

“If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

—

Natasha Paulmeno (@natashapaulmeno)

Image courtesy of [Daniel Ogren via Flickr]

Natasha Paulmeno

The post Racism Is Still Alive, Folks appeared first on Law Street.

Jessica’s Law Should be Law of the Land

Natasha Paulmeno — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 16:05:13 +0000

Every two minutes, another American is sexually assaulted. Forty-four percent of those victims are under the age of 18, and 15 percent are under the age of 12. These percentages are quite frightening when applied to the United States’ population of almost 320 million.

That’s why something called Jessica’s Law was passed in 46 states. That’s why Gov. Chris Christie publicly signed the law in New Jersey, which lengthens the sentences for sex offenders who assaulted children, with Jessica’s father present. But who is Jessica? And why are four states lagging behind?

Jessica’s Law

The Jessica Lunsford Act is named after a 9-year-old girl who was kidnapped, raped and buried alive by a twice-convicted sex offender, John Evander Couey, in February 2005 in Homosassa, Florida. A neighbor of the Lunsfords, Couey was known for his long history of drug violations. Police found Jessica three weeks after her abduction, buried in the backyard of Couey’s half-sister’s trailer. Jessica was wrapped in two garbage bags, clutching her favorite stuffed animal; she had just managed to poke two fingers through the bags. Her brutal death led her father, Mark Lunsford, to begin his crusade for further legislation for child protection against convicted sex offenders.

Jessica’s Law focuses on increasing the monitoring of sex offenders and lengthening their sentences. The original bill was passed in May 2005, in Tallahassee, Florida. Nine years later, New Jersey governor, Chris Christie, signed the The Jessica Lunsford Act. He held a ceremonial signing June 2 to raise awareness for the cause after officially signing the bill May 15.

Similar to the Florida bill, the New Jersey law increased the minimum sentencing for aggravated sexual assault against children under the age of 13. Previously, the minimum was 10 to 20 years in prison; now those convicted must serve at least 25 years without parole. The New Jersey law allows a plea deal to lower the minimum sentence to 15 years under certain circumstances outlined by the state Office of the Attorney General.

But some states still lag behind.

Each state’s version of the law varies its specific regulations for sentencing and monitoring. But four states have yet to sign even a partial version of The Jessica Lunsford Act. Mark Lunsford said Colorado will enact its own version of the law later this week, according to the Asbury Park Press. This is not enough.

Lunsford has waged war in the name of his daughter, but he cannot rest, we as a nation cannot rest, until all 50 states sign the bill. He remains a fierce advocate for full passage throughout the nation, as do I.

I deem sexual assault an unforgivable crime; the emotional damage such a crime causes could be enough to destroy its victim’s life. Rape victims are prone to suffer depression and trauma, and are more likely to attempt suicide. For that, perpetrators of sexual assault on children deserve to serve the time for their crimes and to be monitored upon release.

Perhaps the budget is an issue preventing those last four states from hopping on board, but the future generations of our nation should be granted peace of mind. My father and his siblings roamed the streets of the Bronx, NY, without fear in the 1950s; nowadays helicopter moms fear turning their backs on their children for just a moment in public.

Justice for tomorrow’s Jessicas

The nationwide recognition of this bill would signify further protection for our nation’s children by declaring sexual assault on a child a first degree crime. The necessity to ensure children’s security from sexual predators can be seen from the startling sexual assault statistics in this land of the free.

So, I stand with Mr. Lunsford. We must make it known from the Pacific to the Atlantic, that sexual assault is unacceptable. The installation of this bill in all fifty states means a higher possibility of lowering the percentage of children who are sexually assaulted.

—

Natasha Paulmeno (@natashapaulmeno)

Featured image courtesy of [theodoritis via Flickr]

Natasha Paulmeno

The post Jessica’s Law Should be Law of the Land appeared first on Law Street.