Clinical psychologist Dr. Lauren Kois knows exactly what it’s like to be a student at the Annual Meeting of AP-LS. After receiving her master’s in psychology at New York University, she served as the Chair of the AP-LS Student Committee as a first-year doctoral student. Several years of conference attendance later, Dr. Kois received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology (with a forensic focus) from John Jay College at the City University of New York. In 2017, she accepted a position as an Assistant Professor of Psychology and core faculty of Clinical Psychology (Law Track) at the University of Alabama. Read on to discover what this early career professional has learned about the unique experience of being a student at AP-LS and how students can make the most of their time there.
 
Why should students interested in forensic psychology attend AP-LS?
There are great psychology-law organizations out there, such as the International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services (IAFMHS). Each organization has its own style. AP-LS has a good balance of "experimental" and "clinical" topics, focuses on empirical work, and is the premier forensic psychology organization in the field. It also cares a great deal about students and puts a tremendous amount of resources into student support. 
 
What can students do to get the most of out the conference?
Everyone has a different approach to conferences. This may not be a popular opinion, but here's mine: As a student, you should go to everything. This is what I encourage my students to do. Fill your days with talks, go to the events, and meet people. If your lab studies a topic, you should go to talks in that area. If you don't, you might unintentionally give the impression that you are disinterested or lack curiosity. You will be exhausted, but the experience will help you be a stronger scholar and get socialized to the field, and that's why you're there. 
 
If you have your eye on a specific program or lab, AP-LS is where you can find out some of the research they will be producing over the next few years. The publication process takes a while, so conceptualization and data collection for articles published one month likely took place a year or even years before. If you are interested in a topic or a lab, go to those talks to get a picture of "hot off the press" research. 
 
What events should students make sure to go to?
Talks and events are important of course, but I strongly encourage students to attend the business meeting, which is usually on Thursday evening before the welcome reception. Leadership (e.g., President, Committee Chairs) provides an update about the status of the Division. They explain what they voted on in their executive meeting, talk about our financial status, and where AP-LS is going moving forward. Sounds kind of intimidating, but I promise it is not—all are welcome, it is very casual, and people are friendly. It's a great way to get socialized to AP-LS and realize that you (yes, you!) really do have the opportunity to get involved in AP-LS leadership. 
 
How can networking at the conference help students in reaching their academic and career goals?
I think AP-LS has a lot to do with where I am today. Networking, getting inspired by talks, and the Student Committee were huge for me. I cannot plug it enough – get involved in AP-LS leadership! Run for student committee or a committee liaison (e.g., Professional Development of Women Committee). Committee service is fun but also a great way to network. Several of my close friends are those I met from serving on the Student Committee and we even got a peer-reviewed publication about AP-LS student leadership out of it (Kois, King, LaDuke, & Cook, 2016). 
 
How exactly should students go about networking and introducing themselves to influential professionals? What are some common mistakes that students make in doing this?
This can be tough. For many AP-LSers, the conference is a chance to be with friends (e.g., grad school classmates) they only see once per year – at AP-LS. So, while professionals are usually very student friendly, it's important to remember that they are likely there for a number of reasons. It's nice when students ask questions during paper Q&As, or approach after a paper session or during a poster session. For me, though, I want to spend most of the welcome reception and social hours catching up with friends and past students and advisers. 
 
What would you say to students who feel awkward or socially anxious about networking?
My first AP-LS was 2011. I was the only student from my program who attended AP-LS that year, with one faculty member. I looked around and saw that many of the professionals seemed to be friends, and I knew that couldn't be because they all attended grad school together. So, I thought, "Well, if we're going to be friends in 15 years, why don't we just do it now?" The Student Committee breakfast will help you link up with other new people right off the bat, and poster sessions are a great place to start conversations. Given that it's typical to ask questions about posters, it's unlikely that someone will think you are intrusive or pushy if you strike up a conversation at that time. 
 
What is conference attendance like as an early career professional compared to when you were a student?
Much better! The primary difference is that I have more friends I look forward to seeing, but that's simply from having more AP-LSs under my belt and meeting new people each time (see, it really works). Another difference is that I get to see my students present and their professional development grow, which is incredibly rewarding. 
 
Anything else?
Please do not forget that there are about 1,000 conference attendees in the same city as you, in your hotel, on your flight. Students sometimes forget this. Have fun, be nice, and keep your professional game face on.

As a student member of the American Psychology-Law Society, you can take advantage of several benefits that we have to offer. Throughout the year, we will be highlighting different resources available to you and how to make the most of them beyond the Annual Conference. This first edition of the series introduces you to one of our many resources offered via our website: webinars and blogs. 

Several times per year, the Student Committee hosts webinars that cover topics on professional development and disseminating timely and relevant research. In the past, webinars have covered mentorship, the role of psychologists in asylum evaluations, and the academic job search. We understand that our members are located across the world and busy working, so each webinar is recorded, published, and available for you to view in our Webinar Archive. Scroll down to view a list of previous webinars. We're constantly working to update how we deliver this content to you, so be sure to check back! 

The Student Committee also hosts The Intersection: A Blog, where we discuss programming and highlight what we are doing at the intersection of law and psychology. To find the blog, simply go to the home page, choose “more” and then “The Intersection: A Blog” or click here. There’s something there for everyone and is an excellent place to learn about what your fellow student members are up to. In our Getting to Know Your Officers series, you can learn more about the Student Committee members. We’ve also published our guide for undergraduates on surviving the Annual Conference. 

Previous webinars include:

• Clinical Forensic Postdoctoral Fellowships
• Mentorship in Academia
• Applied Cultural Competency in CST Evaluations: Two Case Studies of the Jinni
• The Role of Psychology in Asylum Evaluations
• Academic Job Search How to Communicate Experimental Psychological Research to Legal Professionals
• Mentorship: Helping Minority Students Reach Their Fullest Potential
• Training and Managing Research Assistants: Their Success is Your Success
• Conducting Group Therapy with Civil and Forensic Populations
• Getting More Involved in the AP-LS Student Committee: A Pre-Elections Webinar
• The AP-LS Time Machine
• Now Tweet This: Harnessing Social Media to Translate Social Science into Action
• “You Should be Impatient for Your Research to Change the World:” Developing Your Policy Niche as a Graduate Student
• After Your Degree: A Panel Discussion on the Elusive Research Post-Doc
• Forensic Neuropsychology: Essential Information to Know Before Embarking on a Path Less (But Increasingly) Traveled
• Balancing Law and Psychology: Insights from a Psycholegal Academic
• Ten Conference Presentations Do’s and Don’ts
• How Science and Advocacy Reformed 21st Century Juvenile Justice
• Nailing the Interview: Answering Your Most Feared Questions and Getting the Position of Your Dreams
• Childhood Trauma and the Ethics of Juvenile Justice
• How Not to Become Your Worst Nightmare: Self Care, Goal Setting, and the Importance of Continued Professional Development
• Brain Science and the Criminal Law: Application of the Rules of Evidence
• Grant Writing in Psychology & the Law: Funding Your Graduate Research
• Personal Values Impacting Clinical Work with Diverse Populations
• The Future of Forensic Psychology 

Haley Potts is the 2018-2019 Clinical Liaison for the AP-LS Student Committee! Haley has been working hard this semester to update the Clinical Post-Doc database for you and moderated an amazing webinar on the benefits of clinical forensic post-docs and the application process. Haley took some time to answer some questions about herself for us.

If you were not in graduate school what would you do?
 I've always wants to work in a florist shop. Flowers make me irrationally happy. 

What is one professional goal you have?
To achieve Board Certification in Forensic Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP).

Why did you join the AP-LS Student Committee?
My mentor (Dr. Lauren Kois) was the Chair of the Student Committee when she was in graduate school, and she encouraged me to apply for a position. I have always considered AP-LS to be my niche organization, so it didn't take much encouragement. 

What advise would you give undergraduate students thinking about graduate school?
Don't be afraid to aim high but be realistic and have one or more backup plans. Also, network as much as possible with anyone who has a connection to the programs you're interested in. Networking sounds daunting but really it just means talking to people about why their work interests you, and most people love to talk about themselves.

Who is one professional and one personal role model?
​Dr. Patricia Zapf is a professional role model of mine. She spoke over video feed in one of my classes, and I was amazed by all of the professional projects that she has going on at once. One personal role model is Leslie Knope from the show Parks and Recreation. She has so much energy and drive, and she is always willing to admit to admit her mistakes.

Ariel Breaux is the 2018-2019 Campus Representative Coordinator for the AP-LS Student Committee! Ariel keeps are the Campus Representatives up to date on the APLS happens to share with the rest of the students in their program. She worked hard this summer to update our list of campus representatives and get more information from them about their needs. Ariel took some time to answer some questions so we could all learn more about her. Thanks, Ariel!

If you could only have 3 non-psychology books on your bookshelf, what would they be?
Enders Game by Orson Scott Card, Harry Potter (any one of them honestly) by J.K. Rowling and Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Why psychology and the law?  
Over the years before going into graduate school I noticed the discrepancy in the availability of mental health services for individuals involved in the legal system, specifically little to no mental health services until mandated by court or while incarcerated.  I realized that forensic populations are often filled with individuals that need these services the most, which motivated me to direct my energy into clinical work in correctional and other forensic settings.

What is one professional goal you have?
My one professional goal is actually a new goal I’ve set for myself.  I want to work towards getting more involved with mental health policy and eventually having a position that allows me to be more involved in working to change or fix some of the systemic problems seen in the criminal justice system.

What is your favorite city and why?
My favorite city has to be New Orleans, LA.  I went to college there and seeing the melting pot that is the city of New Orleans, LA, both good, bad, and ugly, helped me to become more culturally competent and inspired me to learn more about other’s cultures, as well as being open to learning from those I interact with.

If you were not in graduate school what would you do?
For the most part my aspirations have always involved graduate school in some shape or fashion, but if I graduate school was not an option, I would likely be involved in musical theatre in some shape or fashion.  I’ve always had an affinity for theatre and regret not being more involved after college.

Sarah Moody is the 2018-2019 Communications Officer for the AP-LS Student Committee! She is a second year Ph.D. student at the University of Nevada-Reno. The student membership interacts most with Sarah, as she has been keeping the Facebook and Twitter accounts up to date! Sarah took some time to answer some questions about herself and her professional development. Thanks, Sarah! 

If you were not in graduate school what would you do?
As an undergraduate, I double-majored in psychology and Spanish. For a while, I was considering pursuing psycholinguistics. I think the development of language in the individual person and the evolution of language at large are fascinating. If I hadn’t pursued psychology in graduate school, I might be working in linguistics (which, honestly, probably still would have landed me in graduate school).

What is your favorite city and why?
My favorite city is Seville, Spain. I studied abroad in Spain during undergrad and completely fell for southern Spain and Seville, in particular. It’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever been—which is likely why it’s been a setting for Star Wars and Game of Thrones scenes! The people are kind, the weather is great, and the food is to die for.
 
My favorite American city is Boston. As such a (relatively) young country, the U.S. has few places as rich with history as Boston. I road tripped down the east coast two years ago and Boston was far and away my favorite. It’s quaint, historical, and has great coffee shops, neighborhoods, and recreation areas to explore!

Why did you join the AP-LS Student Committee?
I first considered joining because I have friends and colleagues who have served in the past (and currently serve!) who rave about the experience. I’m passionate about APLS as an organization and wanted to dive in deeper than my annual participation in the conference. Especially after volunteering with the high school outreach program at last year’s conference, I knew I wanted to volunteer within the organization to a greater extent. I ran for my position as the Communications Officer because I have experience with organizational social media and wanted to help promote my favorite group online.

What advice would you give undergraduate students thinking about graduate school?
Get involved in research! I’m sure it has been said before—I heard it a lot!—but it really is critical to have research experience before entering graduate school. My time in a lab as an undergraduate not only boosted my graduate school application, but it taught me so much about the research process, the field, and what grad school is like. It also helped me create relationships with grad students and professors, both at my institution and others. I honestly don’t think I would be where I am now if I hadn’t blown up professors’ emails asking for an RA position going into my sophomore year.

Why psychology and the law?
As a psych major, I was required to take a 1-credit “careers in psychology” course. As much as I dreaded it, the course offered a plethora of valuable information. It was the first time I heard about something called “forensic psychology” and decided to pursue it further. I looked up some professors at my institution who did research in the area, joined a lab, and fell in love! I believe psychology can be practically applied to so many areas of life for the better, and the criminal justice system is certainly one area that needs improvement and can benefit from psychological research.

Sarah, on the right, pictured with a poster at the Western Psychological Association Conference.