GOVERNMENT INFORMATION AND OPPORTUNITIES

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Legal Honors Program - 2010-2011

The Office of General Counsel ("OGC") plays a vital role in helping the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD") accomplish its mission of assuring decent and affordable housing, enabling all Americans to achieve homeownership, providing resources for communities to build strong neighborhoods, preventing homelessness, and enforcing fair housing laws. OGC attorneys provide legal opinions, advice and services with respect to all departmental programs and activities.

HUD primarily recruits its attorneys through the Legal Honors Intern program. If you are interested in applying for the OGC's Legal Honors Intern Program, please visit http://www.hud.gov/offices/ogc/. This is an excellent opportunity  for students who are interested in public service. 

Upcoming 2L Government Honors Deadlines

Details of these programs are provided in the 2009-10 Government Honors & Internship Handbook, located at http://www.law.arizona.edu/Career/GovHonors09-10/subscriberscontents.cfm. 

• Dept. of State, Office of Legal Adviser (Civil) – Summer Intern Program (Paid, Apply NOW though final deadline is 9/30/09)
• Dept. of Homeland Security – ICE, Office of the Principal Legal Advisor San Francisco Legal Intern Program for Spring (Paid, Not Yet Established, Previously Sept.)
• Office of the District Attorney Denver, CO – Legal Internship Program for Spring (Unpaid, Due 09/06/09)
• Dept. of Justice – Summer Law Intern Program (SLIP) (Paid, Due 09/08/09)
• Attorney General of Washington – Summer Law Clerk Program (Paid, Not Yet Established, Previously 09/05/08)

There are 39 federal and 15 state and local programs that will be filled as soon as ideal candidates are identified.  Get your applications in early for these employers!  For a list of these programs, visit the Government Honors and Internship Handbook online at the CDO website under "Quick Links."

The EPA Region 9 Honors Attorney Fellowship

Recent Graduates - Honors Attorney Fellowship

The Office of Regional Counsel seeks applications from third-year law students for the Region 9 Honors Attorney Fellowship. This is a two-year Fellowship working in the San Francisco, California office, and the Fellow is expected to commit to the full term. The deadline to apply for the 2010 Fellowship is October 1, 2009.

The EPA Region 9 Honors Attorney Fellowship is designed for a recent law school graduate with excellent academic credentials and a strong interest in an environmental law career and the public sector. It provides an opportunity for entry-level attorneys to practice law in a leading governmental environmental organization, and to receive extensive training in and exposure to environmental law and policy work in the public sector. The Region offers new attorneys significant responsibility, the opportunity to handle a complex caseload that includes enforcement and counseling work, and extensive training and mentoring from dedicated colleagues with recognized expertise. The Region offers a diverse and supportive work environment.

Eligibility

The Honors Attorney Fellowship is available to recent law school graduates. Only applicants who graduate no later than Summer 2010 from an ABA accredited law school are eligible. Fellows must be bar members, or have membership pending or awaiting bar exam results.

The Fellowship will begin in the Fall of 2010.

Pay

Prior to admission to the bar, the salary will be at the GS-9 level (currently starting at $55,015). After admission to a bar of any State, U.S. territory, Puerto Rico or the District of Columbia, the salary will be at the GS-11 level (currently starting at $66,652 per year). Relocation expenses are not authorized.

Application Process

Please submit the following no later than October 1, 2009:

                               Resume, including significant accomplishments, work experience, class rank, contact telephone numbers and e-mail address.

                               Official transcript of law school grades.

                               Cover letter explaining the applicant's interest in the Fellowship.

                               Name, address and telephone numbers of 3 references, including a current or former employer and a law school professor or advisor.

Selected applicants will be invited for interviews in San Francisco (at the candidate's expense) in November 2009, or telephone interviews may be conducted when appropriate. A writing sample will be required of each selected candidate prior to the interview. Offers will be made by late November or early December 2009.

Applications for the Region 9 Honors Attorney Fellowship should be sent or e-mailed to:

John Lyons
Fellowship Coordinator (ORC-3)
Office of Regional Counsel
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, California 94105

John Lyons (lyons.john@epa.gov)

Note: e-mail submissions should include "2010 Fellowship Application" in the subject line of the message. Documents may be attached in Word, WordPerfect or PDF formats.

For questions, contact John Lyons, Assistant Regional Counsel at (415) 972-3889.

The Attorney General Honors Program  (Washington, DC)

The Honors Program offers graduating law school students, graduating LL.M. students and judicial law clerks a unique opportunity to join the 7th largest attorney general's office in the United States. The Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia (“OAG”) performs the legal functions of a local district attorney’s office, as well as those of a state attorney general’s office. OAG’s nearly 400 attorneys work as criminal prosecutors, civil litigators or lawyers in one of the general counsel offices located in each of the 28 agencies under the Mayor’s authority.  

Applications are accepted beginning October 1st of each year. The application period closes on February 1st of each year. Interviews begin December 1st, and selections are made on a rolling basis after December 1st. Final decisions are announced by March 15th. 

For more information, visit http://occ.dc.gov/occ/cwp/view,a,1224,q,615849.asp.

The Department of Justice Honors Program

The highly competitive Honors Program is the only way that the Department of Justice ("DOJ") hires entry-level attorneys. Selection for employment is based on many elements of a candidate's background including academic achievement, law review or moot court experience, legal aid and clinical experience, and summer or part-time legal employment. The DOJ also considers specialized academic studies (including undergraduate and post-graduate degrees), work experience and extracurricular activities that directly relate to the work of the Department.  The DOJ offers extensive legal internship programs to law students with challenging opportunities in Washington, DC, and in cities across America for positions during the summer and throughout the academic year. 

For the 2009-2010 Honors Program, apply online between July 25th and September 8th, 2009. For more information, visit www.usdoj.gov.

U.S. Department of Labor Honors Program 

The Honors Program of the Office of the Solicitor is designed for attorneys with exemplary records who are completing law school or judicial clerkships and are interested in handling a broad range of labor and employment matters in one of the preeminent legal offices in government.    

To apply, please submit a resume, a writing sample and a law school transcript. Please note that there are a limited number of positions available for the program. Early application is encouraged. 

It is strongly recommended that applications be submitted by October 2, 2009, since it is anticipated that offers for these positions will be made during the Fall of 2009 with the successful candidates starting in October 2010. Applications received after October 2, 2009 will be considered only if positions remain open.  

 

For more information, visit: http://www.dol.gov/sol/honorsprogram.htm.

 

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's Honors Attorney Program

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's ("FDIC") Honors Attorney Program provides valuable and challenging professional opportunities for outstanding law school graduates. The goal is to provide Honors Attorneys with a better understanding of the FDIC's role in the federal financial system, while providing new attorneys with an opportunity for public service. Honors Attorneys are assigned to a wide variety of projects throughout the Legal Division that provide extensive legal experience, as well as a substantial amount of individual responsibility. To that end, during the first year of the program all Honors Attorneys participate in three-month rotations through various Legal Division sections in our Headquarters office, as well as one rotation to one of the organization field locations (Boston, New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Kansas City, Dallas or San Francisco). During their second year, Honors Attorneys devote their time to longer term assignments with one or more of our sections.    

Applications to the program will be accepted from June 1, 2009, through September 30, 2009. 

For more information, visit: http://www.fdic.gov/about/legalhonors/index.html.

Public Interest INFORMATION AND OPPORTUNITIES

The Brennan Center for Justice's Counsel, Liberty and National Security Project

Brennan Center for Justice

Counsel, Liberty and National Security Project

Position: The Brennan Center seeks an attorney for its Liberty and National Security Project. The Project works to advance national security policies that respect the rule of law, human rights, and the constitutional separation of powers, with a focus on policies in the areas of government secrecy and accountability; privacy and ethnic/religious profiling; and detention policy.  The attorney’s responsibilities will include engaging in policy analysis, writing reports and other public education materials, conducting media outreach, engaging in legislative drafting and advocacy, advising officials and activists, and litigating at the trial and appellate levels.  The position is based in the Brennan Center’s Washington, D.C. office and requires occasional travel to New York City.    

Qualifications:  At least three years’ relevant experience (more preferred); excellent research, analytical, and writing skills; comfort with public speaking; ability to work with media; ability to work in coalition with other organizations and with diverse constituencies; and excellent organizational skills.  The ideal candidate would have a strong background in one or more of the following areas: civil liberties and/or national security law; legislative advocacy (or other legislative experience); and litigation. 

Compensation:  The Brennan Center offers a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package. 

The Center:  The Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law is a non-partisan public policy and law institute that focuses on fundamental issues of democracy and justice. Our work ranges from voting rights to redistricting reform, from access to the courts to presidential power in the fight against terrorism. A singular institution – part think tank, part public interest law firm, part advocacy group – the Brennan Center combines scholarship, legislative and legal advocacy, and communications to win meaningful, measurable change in the public sector. The Center has approximately 50 staff, including attorneys, researchers, and public affairs professionals.  The Center operates offices in New York and in Washington, D.C.  For more information, visit: http://www.brennancenter.org.  

Applications:  Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, with a preference for those submitted by September 30, 2009.  Applications must include: cover letter, resume, two writing samples, and the names and telephone numbers of three references.  Please e-mail applications to: brennancenterjobs@nyu.edu, with “LNS Project Counsel” in the subject line.

The 2009 Conference of the National Latino/a Law Student Association

The 2009 Conference of the National Latino/a Law Student Association ("NLLSA"), hosted by DePaul University College of Law, which will be held September 24-26, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. 

The conference will feature professional development workshops, as well as panels that address current legal issues affecting the Latino community. Conference attendees will also benefit from our Employment and LL.M. Fair, as well networking events and opportunities to enjoy the city’s cultural sights. In addition, a community service event will give attendees a chance to make a positive contribution to a Chicago-based social service organization.
 
The NLLSA 2009 Registration Brochure can be accessed via the Student Portal under “Public Interest & Fellowships.” To obtain more information about the conference and to register, please visit www.law.depaul.edu/nllsa.  If you have any questions, you may NLLSA at (312) 362-5145 or e-mail at nllsachicago@gmail.com. 

Equal Justice Works Career Fair

The Equal Justice Works Americorps Fellowship

Position Summary:

Through funding provided by Equal Justice Works and the Law Offices of Public Defender Carlos J. Martinez (PD-11), and in partnership with the University of Miami School of Law HOPE Public Interest Resource Center, PD-11 announces an opening for a one-year attorney position as an Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Fellow coordinating the pro bono project Ensuring Equal Justice Initiative and supervising Hope Fellows beginning September 30, 2009.

Background:

Over the last two years, PD-11's budget has been cut 14 percent, while caseloads have not. To help the Public Defender and his attorneys comply with Florida Bar, ABA and NLADA rules of professional conduct, guidelines and standards, Public Defender Carlos J. Martinez created the pro bono project, Ensuring Equal Justice Initiative in December 2008. Through this initiative, PD-11 provides pro bono opportunities for private attorneys. PD-11 has partnered with the University of Miami School of Law HOPE Public Interest Resource Center to recruit students interested in public interest law to serve as Hope Fellows in indigent defense. The goal is to create an awareness of, and commitment to, indigent defense and protecting the sixth amendment rights of all citizens, among civil firms and law students.

Responsibilities:

• Administration and coordination of PD-11's pro bono project;

• Recruitment of attorneys interested in trial litigation or appeals;

• Coordination of recruitment, screening and review of pro bono counsel applications;

• Coordination and tracking of case assignments; training and technical assistance;

• Direct representation of indigent clients in misdemeanor cases;

• Representation of PD-11's Ensuring Equal Justice Initiative on the Miami Pro Bono Roundtable and University of Miami   School of Law HOPE Public Interest Resource Center and at other community forums;

• Supervision of University of Miami School of Law HOPE Public Interest Fellows.

Qualifications:

• Florida Bar member;

• excellent advocacy skills;

• a demonstrated interest in public interest law;

• project management skills;

• the ability to work cooperatively in a team environment;

• the ability to collaborate effectively with community groups and public officials;

• skill in conducting outreach and recruitment;

• public speaking and presentation experience;

• Spanish speaking skills a plus.

Compensation: Compensation for this position is set at $42,000 which includes:

• $22,800 AmeriCorps living allowance;

• $19,200 Supplemental benefits to reimburse the Fellow for certain expenses [housing, education loans, etc.];

The Fellow will also receive:

• Health insurance;

• $4,725 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion of service;

• Eligibility for student loan forbearance and interest accrual payment upon successful completion of service.

To Apply:

Interested parties should submit a resume, writing sample, cover letter and names of two references before September 18, 2009 to Robert Coppel, Esq., Director of Training and Professionalism, at the address above or by email to rcoppel@pdmiami.com. Please list "AmeriCorps Fellowship" in the subject line.

The 11th Annual National Law Students Workers' Rights Conference

What:       11th Annual NATIONAL LAW STUDENTS WORKERS’ RIGHTS CONFERENCE.  Includes a networking reception, small group discussions and interactive workshops for students who are interested in public interest labor law.

When:       October 16 & 17, 2009

Where:      National Labor College, Silver Spring, MD

Deadline: August 27th if you ask The Peggy Browning Fund to pay for airfare; October 2nd for all others. Register early to ensure admission!

Brochure: Conference brochures are available in the CDO Resource Library.

More Info: Visit the Peggy Browning Fund website at http://www.peggybrowningfund.org/ or speak to your CDO advisor.

Prestigious Awards and Fellowships

The Office of Academic Enhancement for the University of Miami addresses the unique demands of the academic careers of highly talented undergraduate students, particularly in relation to their applications for national fellowship programs and graduate or professional degrees. Self-exploration and personal discovery are important aspects of the application and mentoring process for prestigious awards.

The office provides undergraduate students with a range of services to maximize their candidacy for prestigious awards, fellowships, and scholarships. The office is actively promoting awareness of scholarship and fellowship opportunities and provides individual mentoring to help students prepare their applications. Their Prestigious Awards and Fellowships advisors meet with each potential applicant to review the application packet, personal statement, and other materials to ensure that each student is submitting the strongest, most complete impression of his or her candidacy.  

There is now a brochure titled “Prestigious Awards and Fellowships” produced by the Office of Academic Enhancement. The brochure contains valuable information regarding fellowships and awards, many of which are open to graduate and law students. You may access the brochure at:

http://www6.miami.edu/honors-program/PAF_Booklet_Links.pdf

Requirements for each award are noted in this booklet, as well as on the Honors Program and Office of Academic Enhancement Web sites— www.miami.edu/honorsprogram and www.miami.edu/oae.

Public Interest Perspectives:

An Introductory Training for Private Attorneys in Public Interest Placements

Public Interest Perspectives--An Introductory Training for Private Attorneys in Public Interest Placements

Save the Date:  September 9, 2009 at 1:00pm Eastern Time 

The Association of Pro Bono Counsel and NALP are pleased to announce a free national training for attorneys beginning volunteer public interest placements.    

What:  A free national web-based training for attorneys who are beginning extended public service placements with legal aid and other nonprofit legal organizations. The training will provide an overview of the differences in law firm and nonprofit practice settings, insight on working with low-income clients, and background on the economic challenges presently being confronted by the public interest community.  

Who: The training is designed for all attorneys taking temporary, extended public interest placements. While the training focuses particularly on practice in civil legal services organizations, the information is relevant to most public interest settings. A coalition of public interest leaders from the legal aid community and the private bar designed and will present this training.   

Why: As a result of the current economy, many attorneys, especially newer attorneys, who expected to be in private practice are beginning extended placements in legal aid and other public interest organizations. This training aims to provide a bridge program for associates transitioning into a practice setting with which they may be unfamiliar.  By providing this preliminary training, we hope to best prepare these attorneys to engage in this unique opportunity to contribute to and learn about the public interest legal community.   

When:  This 2 hour program will be offered on September 9, 1:00pm Eastern Time.    

Where:  This training can be accessed from any computer and phone line. In many cities, organizers are planning a central location (bar association, law firm, etc.) so attorneys may participate in the training together. Following these sessions, a discussion on issues relevant to fellowships will follow the long-distance training. Details will follow from local organizations. 

Register:  If you are able to participate in this training, please register now: http://tinyurl.com/meggy8.   

Questions:  If you have any questions or for more information, please contact Kelly Tautges at ktautges@chicagobar.org or 312-554-8356. 

Program Faculty:

• Margaret C. Benson, Executive Director, Chicago Volunteer Legal Services
• Tiela Chalmers, Executive Director, Volunteer Legal Services Program of the San Francisco Bar Association
• Steven Grumm, Director of Public Service Initiatives, National Association for Law Placement (NALP)
• Bruce Iwasaki, Senior Partner, Lim Ruger & Kim, LLP; and former Executive Director, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
• Harlene Katzman, Pro Bono Counsel, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, LLP
• David Lash – Managing Counsel of Public Interest and Pro Bono Services, O’Melveny & Myers, LLP; and former Executive Director, Bet Tzedek
• Steven H. Schulman, Pro Bono Partner, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP
• Jonathan Smith – Executive Director, Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia
• John Tull – former Executive Director, Southern Arizona Legal Aid; and former Vice President for Programs, Legal Services Corporation
• Angela Vigil – North American Director, Pro Bono & Community Service, Baker & McKenzie; and former Director, Children's Law Pro Bono Program, Northwestern University School of Law

Business and Professional People for the Public Interest - Polikoff Gautreaux Fellowship

Business and Professional People for the Public Interest ("BPI") offers the Polikoff-Gautreaux Fellowship, an exceptional fellowship opportunity for a recent law or public policy graduate.  One of the country’s foremost public interest law and policy centers, BPI seeks out and addresses compelling issues of social justice and quality of life in the Chicago region.  Currently, BPI works to transform segregated public housing, revitalize economically disadvantaged communities, improve Chicago’s public schools, and increase the availability of affordable housing throughout the metropolitan region. 

 

Fellows receive an attractive salary and benefits (including school loan repayment assistance, based on need).

 

The flyer and fact sheet describing the Fellowship can be accessed via the Student Portal.  Applications for the 2010 Fellowship are due October 16, 2009.  Interested applicants may also consult the website, www.bpichicago.org, for more information on BPI’s programs.   

 

Please feel free to contact Kate Pomper at (312) 641-5570, or via email at kpomper@bpichicago.org with any questions about the fellowship, BPI or the application process.

The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty Seeks a Domestic Violence Staff Attorney for Washington DC Office

The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty ("NLCHP") in Washington, DC is seeking a Domestic Violence Staff Attorney. The candidate should have a Juris Doctor degree with 2-3 years of legal practice with experience in class action litigation, domestic violence and policy preferred. Research, writing, strong oral communication skills and interest in public speaking are also required. The candidate should be a self-starter and be able to work independently with a demonstrated commitment to work on behalf of survivors of domestic violence.

 

To apply, please email a resume, cover letter and writing sample to Vibha Bhatia at vbhatia@nlchp.org. No phone calls please.

 

The 2010 Equal Justice Works Fellowship (Washington, DC)

 

 The Equal Justice Works ("EJW") Fellowship Program creates partnerships among public interest lawyers, nonprofit organizations, law firm/corporate sponsors and other donors in order to afford underrepresented populations effective access to the justice system. EJW is committed to recruiting attorneys who represent a variety of experiences and backgrounds and to providing them with a strong foundation on which to build a public interest career. EJW Fellowships seek to develop the public interest law leaders of the future, whether they continue to work in the nonprofit arena, or become pro bono advocates in the private bar.

All EJW Fellowships require a two-year commitment from the Fellow, the host organization and the sponsor(s) to complete the Fellowship term, which runs from September 2010 to August 2012. The salary is commensurate to what an attorney with similar experience and/or responsibility would receive at that organization. EJW will provide up to $39K toward that salary level. Salary must be agreed upon prior to submitting an application. It is that agreed upon salary amount that should appear on the Certification Form of the application. In addition, each Fellow is eligible to apply for the generous EJW loan repayment assistance program (“LRAP”). 

The candidate should be a third-year law student, recent law graduate or experienced attorney with a demonstrated commitment to public interest law.

To be considered, applications must be submitted online through the EJW website no later than 5PM EDT on September 17, 2009. The Certification Form and up to two letters of recommendation are also due in hard copy by that date. Please note that letters arriving after September 17^th are considered late, and will be disregarded even if they are postmarked by that date. 

Please see website for a copy of the 2010 Certification Form application. http://info.equaljusticeworks.org/fellowships/classof2010/application/certform.html.

If you have any questions, you may email the HOPE office at umhope@law.miami.edu.