Volunteer students will have an the opportunity to work in a busy law office and work with real clients. Students interested in a career in law can obtain knowledge and experience in law office procedures, preparing legal correspondence, and assisting clients.
1. WORK ON PLAINTIFF PERSONAL INJURY & LITIGATION MATTERS
-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION AND WITNESS CONTACTS
CONTACT DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS TO OBTAIN MEDICAL RECORDS
-MEDICAL & EVIDENCE REVIEW
-CONTACT DEFENSE ATTORNEYS TO REQUEST DISCOVERY
-PREPARATION OF COMPLAINT, SERVICE ON DEFENDANTS
- ANSWERING & SERVING INTERROGATORIES AND OTHER DISCOVERY REQUESTS
- INTERVIEW CLIENTS PRIOR TO COURT AND DEPOSITION
-SPEAK WITH POTENTIAL CLIENTS
-PREPARE ARBITRATION STATEMENT
-ATTEND TRIAL OR HEARINGS
2. WORK ON CRIMINAL, MUNICIPAL COURT AND DWI CASES
- CONTACT MUNICIPAL PROSECUTOR TO OBTAIN DISCOVERY
-CONTACTS WITH COURT AND COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
-PREPARE DISCOVERY DEMANDS
-EVIDENCE REVIEW AND ORGANIZATION
-PREPARATION FOR TRIAL AND ATTEND HEARINGS
3. WILLS & PROBATE PRACTICE
- ACT AS FORMAL WITNESS TO WILLS, POWER OF ATTORNEY AND OTHER LEGAL DOCUMENTS
-PUBLICIZE WILL SEMINARS AND ATTEND PROGRAMS FREE OF CHARGE
4 - WORK ON MARKETING AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS, including submitting articles to search engines
Fall interns must work between 10-21 hours per week between Monday and Friday, time and days to be selected by the student. Student must stick to days and hours selected and make up missed days. The legal interns must work a minimum of 12 weeks. Longer hours or weeks permitted.
Law Clerk Internship- Christmas/ winter break
For the Winter/ Christmas program selected interns must work 30 hours per week for 3 weeks minimum. Interested students must mail or fax a cover letter and resume.
Summer program is for law students or college grads only. Minimum of 18 hours per week for 12 weeks.
This is an excellent opportunity to gain valuable experience as a volunteer intern and learn New Jersey Practice and Procedure. Build your resume and obtain marketable skills. You will handle a client's file and learn details on running a successful law practice. This will not be a brief-writing and photocopying clerkship. For additional information on the Law Office, please visit the website at www.njlaws.com
Mail or fax cover letter and resume. Do not email.
The office is located at 2053 Woodbridge Avenue, Edison, NJ 08817 off Route 1/ Wick Plaza, near the Nixon Post Office and Middlesex County College
NEW PHONE 732-572-0500
New (Fax) 732-572-0030
KENNETH VERCAMMEN & ASSOCIATES, PC
ATTORNEY AT LAW
2053 Woodbridge Ave.
Edison, NJ 08817
(Phone) 732-572-0500
(Fax) 732-572-0030
website: www.njlaws.com
LAW CLERK INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
At the request of several placement offices, we have established the Law Clerk Internship Program at my private law office.
When I was in law school, I didn't have a lawyer or mentor from whom I could get "off the record" advice. Law schools and pre-law programs don't teach students how to practice law or serve clients. We try to "give a chance" to deserving law students and paralegals. I promise you will learn New Jersey Law and Procedures. On your first day, we will provide you with training materials and computer assistance. We provide detailed instruction manuals on office procedures, how to use the Macintosh computer and how to work on litigation files, especially criminal and personal injury cases. When I was in law school, we were only taught how to memorize substantive law and to repeat the law on tests. Very little was taught on how to practice law, work in an office or handle responsibility. Most young lawyers have difficulty adapting in their first law firm job. We now provide law practice management skills such as using computers in litigation, completing time sheets and interview/investigation techniques.
All participants spend their first day sitting with me in my office watching me handle phone calls, draft letters in response to correspondence and discuss how files are set up. You will use the Macintosh to type, spell check and print form letters to clients informing them of trials, depositions or arbitrations.
The law clerks are sometimes assigned one or two personal injury files. They read the files and are permitted to handle phone calls out to obtain information needed, such as speaking with hospitals and doctors to determine the amount of unpaid medical bills.
Once participants become familiar with the file, they often create a personal injury fact sheet on the computer and insert data on injuries, doctors and type of accident. The Personal Injury Fact Sheet consists of all areas which later will be used in plaintiff's answers to interrogatories.
The law clerks, while organizing the personal injury fact sheet on the computer, also use a merge program to create a draft Complaint, prepare the Case Information Statement and file the Complaint with the Superior Court. All law clerks are permitted to keep copies of Complaints and other work they prepare, provided confidential client names and information are crossed out.
Law clerks sometimes prepare Summons and arrange for the Complaint to be served by the Process Server. Law clerks also handle correspondence to doctors requesting needed bills and expert reports, to insurance companies to demand bills be paid and important letters to clients to keep them informed of the progress of their cases.
They also handle day-to-day telephone follow up tasks and chase adversaries and government departments who failed to respond to our Requests for Documents or did not comply with subpoenas.
There are many responsibilities which each law clerk must assume. They must work as regular employees, appear in professional office attire and complete assigned work tasks rather than shoot-the-breeze. My own internship experience was not a useful experience because the office I clerked for had no assigned tasks, no specific days to appear and no requirements. By learning through a real work environment, my mentor/internship program prepares students for working with a busy litigation law office.
Our office is now successfully equipped to handle 5 part time law clerks since they work different days and different times on over 6 computers. We select students who are willing to dedicate the time and energy needed. It has been a successful program for my office and we hope to continue this unique program for years to come to benefit the students who need an opportunity to learn and prove themselves. We believe you will be satisfied with our program.
I serve as a mentor and reference on behalf of students who finish the program. We show students how to communicate with clients, set up personal injury files, read police reports, and the importance of marketing. We remain available after their 12 week internship for references and questions. I have a feeling of satisfaction helping the "non- law review, middle and bottom of the class" unemployed students. Someday, when these students become the Chief Justice, they will remember the lawyer who helped them out in the beginning. This personal mentor/internship program has given me friendship and a feeling of accomplishment. We also bridge the gap between school placement offices and the real world by providing career advice and suggestions.
If any students are also interested, please have them send us a cover letter and resume immediately.
It is helpful if applicants have some familiarity with HTML programming, web page design and maintenance and Internet technology. We sponsor a state wide website with information on litigation, personal injury, criminal and probate matters. If you can update a website, please indicate so in the first paragraph of your cover letter. This office is committed to excellence and service to clients and the community. Applicants must have attention to detail.
VOLUNTEER LEGAL INTERNS NEEDED
PUBLIC DEFENDER OF METUCHEN Please post!
Wednesday 4pm PM [approx.]- 8:30 PM & Friday 9-2
VOLUNTEER INTERNSHIP DESCRIPTION:
-INTERVIEW CLIENTS FACING CHARGES IN MUNICIPAL COURT INCLUDING DRUG
POSSESSION, DRUNK DRIVING, ASSAULT, THEFT, DRIVING WHILE SUSPENDED AND OTHER DISORDERLY AND TRAFFIC OFFENSES
-MAKE DEMANDS FOR DISCOVERY AND REVIEW POLICE REPORTS
-ATTEND TRIALS AND LEARN FROM EXPERIENCED TRIAL ATTORNEYS,
-PREPARE MOTIONS TO SUPPRESS AND MOTIONS TO DISMISS
-CONDUCT APPROPRIATE LEGAL RESEARCH
- ACQUIRE SKILLS IN CRIMINAL LAW AND PROCEDURE BY ACTIVE PARTICIPATION
- PARTICIPATE IN MARKETING PROJECTS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS ACTIVITIES
- Update Lists of Prosecutors, Judges and Attorneys for publication of NJ
Municipal Court Law Review
Volunteer to help indigent people charged with criminal and motor vehicle
offenses of magnitude. In additional to time in court, you will be given
research assignments. You can work more hours if you want. Help people less
fortunate than you who are down on their luck. Minimum time commitment
approx. 7 hours per weekduring school year. If available, also Fridaymorning for
special court sessions.
Minimum time commitment in summer 18 hours per week during school year. Send cover letter and resume. After sending resume,
call to schedule interview 732-572-0500
Mail or fax cover letter and resume to Kenneth Vercammen, Esq.
732-572-0030 fax
Public Defender for the Borough of Metuchen
c/o 2053 Woodbridge Avenue, Edison, NJ 08817
_____________________
EDITOR- VOLUNTEER INTERN WANTED - TO SERVE AS
ASSISTANT EDITOR OF THE
NJ Municipal Court Law Review and learn marketing and public relations
Duties
- Review and Revise Legal and Consumer Law Articles for Grammar and
Punctuation
- Provide copies of published newsletters to Judges, Prosecutors and other
New Jersey attorneys
- Work on updating articles on website and submitting legal articles to
search engines
- Type Rough Draft Articles
- Gain some legal and publication experience
- Work on Marketing and Client relations projects
- Help organize seminars for AARP members and other senior groups and
publicize the seminars
- Prepare Correspondence to Law Journals and New Jersey Media and Revise
Articles
Part-time volunteer, 10 hours per week required in school year, 18 hours during summer
Editor Kenneth Vercammen, Esq.
Author of 125 Legal Articles
Mail or fax cover letter and resume. Do not email.
Kenneth Vercammen & Associates moved from Metuchen to a larger office
in Edison.
The new office is located at 2053 Woodbridge Avenue, Edison, NJ 08817 off
Route 1/ Wick Plaza, near the Nixon Post Office and Middlesex County College
NEW PHONE 732-572-0500
New (Fax) 732-572-0030
Read about the office at www.njlaws.com
______________________
Summer 2003 Law Clerks
Dan Megaro - Quinnipiac Law School
David Moore - New York Law
Ray Law - New York Law
Mike Katzen - University of Delaware
Alecia Daniel - Western New England Law
Michael Kontos - Pace Law
Angela Siew - Brown University
Antony Farag - Rutgers, New Brunswick
