LAW CLERK DO’S AND DON’T’S

1. LAW CLERK DO’S AND DON’T’S

2. Do keep regular, predictable hours. Both your supervising attorney and the attorney supervising the law clerks program should have a copy of your planned schedule. 2. Do complete time sheets when they are due – both for Land of Lincoln and for the law school, if necessary. Land of Lincoln time sheets are due immediately following the 15th and the last day of each month, and are generated in Legal Server.

3. Do tell your supervising attorney and the administrative secretary if you are going to be late or absent. You must call no later than ten minutes after you were expected in the office.4. DON’T give out anyone’s extension.

4. Do take care of your paperwork and responsibilities for getting externship credit from the law school, if applicable. Once the law school has approved your externship, it is our understanding that you are locked in to your selection. So, if you signed up for 2 credits, you must do 120 hours; 3 credits, 180 hours; and 4 credits, 240 hours. It is our understanding that you cannot change your mind in mid-summer and opt for 2 credits if you have signed up for more credits. Our understanding is to only do 120 hours when you have signed up for 3 or 4 credits will result in a failure of the externship.6. Don’t make the law school call me months from now to find out how many hours you worked this summer.

5. Do maintain confidentiality. You may discuss cases with your fellow clerks within the office. You should talk about your cases with your supervising attorney. You are also free to discuss your cases with other staff in the office. Do not talk about your cases with your friends, other than to share general information.8. Don’t promise clients anything. Leave that to your supervisor to decide.

6. Do keep a conflicts log, especially if you plan on working some day at a big law firm.10. Do keep case file notes in Legal Server – keep them every time you work on a case, at the time you are working on it. You should keep track of phone calls, including numbers you used to reach the client or whomever you called, even if the phone number is disconnected, you had to leave a message, or you were unable to reach anyone. You should keep track of letters or pleadings you drafted, memos you wrote, and anything you do in a case.

7. DON’T take files out of the office. If you need some information to work on something from home, and your supervisor is in agreement, you may make copies of materials in the file.12. Don’t leave files scattered around. Return them to your supervisor, or keep them in the law clerk file cabinet in the receptionist area.

8. Do save your work (pleadings, memos, letters, etc.) on your supervisor’s directory (e.g., S:/Champaign/szielke/ clients/”client’s name”/client letter – apply for food stamps). To log in remotely to RDS, go to https://rds.lollaf.org/rdweb. Your user name will generally be your first initial last name (i.e., szielke), and your password will be Fall2011.14. DON’T accidentally save changes to our basic computer forms (letterheads, pleadings, etc.) If the computer instructs you that a form you are opening is a read-only form, open it as read only. Then, once you begin working on the form, save it in the proper directory.

9. 15. Don’t hang around someone who is on the phone or talking to someone else. You can come back later. If your supervisor tells you to wait, then feel free to wait.16. Do ask questions. The staff does not bite.17. Do feel free to use the refrigerator, freezer, and microwave if you want to bring your lunch/snacks. Coffee and hot water is available to you, too.18. Do wash your own dishes and clean up your own messes.

10. Don’t worry about being perfect. This is a learning experience for you.20. Don’t hide your mistakes. If you realize you have misunderstood, made a mistake, misstated information, etc., own up to it. It is our license to practice law that is on the line.21. Do enjoy yourself.