A core strength of Rutgers Law School is its impressive alumni network of 20,000 attorneys practicing law in this region and across the nation. That network will become more personal as alumni return to campus as part of the Alumni Mentor in Residence Program, which begins this week.

Sponsored by the Center for Career Development and the Pro Bono and Public Interest Program, the alumni mentor initiative will bring alumni to the law school to offer individualized career counseling from select Rutgers lawyers on their areas of expertise to current students. 

During the individualized sessions, Rutgers Law students will have the opportunity to discuss job search strategies and professional opportunities, get feedback on resumes, cover letters and writing samples, learn how to approach an interview in a particular practice area, and make connections with other attorneys in the field.  The 30 minute sessions will be held in the Center for Career Development Suite, located on the lower level of the West Building on Thursdays or Fridays.

In recognition of the strong tradition of public service at Rutgers Law School, the first alumnus in residence is Erik Soliván, Senior Vice President of the Philadelphia Housing Authority, where he oversees the Department of Policy and Planning.  Soliván will be on campus on from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2.

Erik Soliván

Soliván has oversight of all housing and social service policy matters, for public, private, city agency partnerships, grant-funding development and for the authority’s execution of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development - Choice Neighborhood Initiatives for both the Norris Apartments Implementation Grant and the Blumberg Apartments Planning Grant.

The 2011 Rutgers Law alumnus also serves as president of a wholly owned subsidiary of the authority – PhillySEEDs Incorporated – which is a quasi-independent 501(c)3 organization charged with expanding opportunities for residents to achieve self-sufficiency through homeownership assistance, academic scholarships and other initiatives. In addition, Soliván is president of Elderly and Disabled Services LLC, a quasi-independent subsidiary of the authority that is charged with operating three adult day care health facilities for seniors.

He is a former recipient of the Dean’s Pro Bono Publico Award for his service to the community of Camden, New Jersey and was a Henry J. Raimõndo Fellow at the Rutgers University Eagleton Institute of Politics. A graduate of Haverford College and The Episcopal Academy, Soliván has been admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

This event is for current students only. To sign up for a session with Mr. Solivan, students should login to Symplicity, go to the Events tab, and choose Workshops then Alumni in Residence Program.  Once you have signed up, you will receive a confirmation email directing you to send your resume to the Center for Career Development prior to your session.  Future Alumni in Residence sessions will be announced via email and in the weekly announcements.

First semester 1Ls: To sign-up for a session, please send an email to careerplanning@camlaw.rutgers.edu.