The Third Annual International Humanitarian Law Student Writing Competition.

American University Washington College of Law Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (Center) and the American Society of International Law’s Lieber Society on the Law of Armed Conflict (ASIL) are pleased to announce the Third Annual International Humanitarian Law Student Writing Competition.

The Competition seeks submissions of academic papers on the topic of international humanitarian law (IHL) from students currently enrolled in a law degree program in theUnited States or abroad. The purpose of the Competition is to enhance scholarship and deepen understanding among students in this important area of international law. The winning authors will be flown toWashington, DC to present their papers at a conference at American University Washington College of Law focused on emerging issues in IHL with a panel of expert professors and practitioners. In addition, winners will receive a complimentary registration to the ASIL 2013 Annual Meeting inWashington,DC on April 3-6, 2013, and a one-year ASIL student membership. Last year, the Competition received over 50 submissions from 13 different countries.

This Competition is part of a multi-pronged initiative to expand and support the teaching and study of IHL among both students and professors in which both the Center and ASIL have been deeply involved. In 2007, the Center published a study with the International Committee of the Red Cross on Teaching International Humanitarian Law in US Law Schools. The study identified a growing need for resources to support and expand the teaching of IHL among law faculty, but also a desire to support the interest of students in learning about IHL. The IHL Student Writing Competition promotes and supports student interest and deepening scholarship in IHL by providing students with a tangible way to become more directly involved in the global discourse around IHL.

For further details about the Competition, please visit the Center’s website for comprehensive rules, submission guidelines and award information. The deadline for submissions is January 31, 2013 at 12:00 pm (noon) EST.

 

The American College of Legal Medicine’s 2013 Loletta M. Orr Post-Doctoral Writing Competition

New this year, the American College of Legal Medicine (ACLM) will present an award for the outstanding original post-doctoral paper on legal medicine. All post-doctoral at­torneys or health professionals enrolled in full-time studies are encouraged to compete.

Orr Award Winner – $1,000

2nd Prize – $500

3rd Prize – $250

The first place paper will be named the Orr Award Winner. In addition, the ACLM will pay the Orr Award Winner’s costs of travel & lodging to present his or her paper at the ACLM 2013 Annual Meeting inLas Vegas, NV.

Legal medicine is the professional and academic discipline that concerns itself with legal aspects of medical science, medi­cal practice and other healthcare delivery. Practitioners of the specialty have sufficient training, knowledge and expertise to address the scope of the specialty from a scholarly, scientific and practical perspective. As the subject matter of legal medicine is broad, we are looking for quality papers that cover any aspect of legal medicine.

Applicant Criteria:

  • All authors must have previously achieved a doctoral degree (DDS, DMD, DO, DPM, DVM, EdD, JD, MD, PhD, PharmD, etc.) or the equivalent from an accredited institution and must be currently enrolled in an accredited law, medical, podiatric, nursing, dental, health science or healthcare advanced training program in theUnited States or Canada;
  • No paper that has been previously published in any form will be considered; however, papers written for scholarly classes will be allowed as long as they have not been published;
  • All papers submitted will receive consideration for publication in the Journal of Legal Medicine or other medical legal publications.

Format:

The format rules below must be followed exactly. PAPERS THAT DO NOT FOLLOW ALL OF THESE RULES WILL NOT BE GRADED.

  • The paper’s length must not exceed 5000 total words, and must not exceed 15 pages. The word count is ap­plicable to the total paper; the words on the title page, footnotes, figures and tables are to be included;
  • All papers are to be submitted in Word document format, using 12 point Times New Roman font for all text;
  • Papers must be typed double-spaced, with one-inch margins and all pages are to be numbered;
  • All citations are to be as footnotes, which should be in 10 point Times New Roman font, single-spaced, and with one-inch margins;
  • The first page must be the cover page, which must include the following information: the author’s name and contact information, including a telephone number, email address and the name of the author’s school;
  • The cover page must also contain the final word count obtained from Word;
  • At the top of page #2 the author must place the title of the paper all in capitals;
  • After the title, two lines must be skipped and the text of the paper should begin;
  • If tables or figures are included, they are to be placed after the text according to the following rules: On the first page after the end of the text, a list of all tables and figures will be provided;
  • Each table and figure will then be placed on a separate page.

If an author wishes to acknowledge an individual or institution this can only be done on the cover page. 

Content:

  • Papers must contain only uncollaborated original work
  • Papers may relate to research done by the author
  • Papers may deal with any aspect of legal medicine, including medical licensure and regulation of the profession, business aspects of medical practice, liability of physicians, hospitals, managed care organizations, and pharmaceuti­cal manufacturers, public health law, the physician-patient relationship, care of special patients, food and drug law, medical research, forensic science and the history of legal medicine
  • Although papers may have been submitted for a grade at the author’s school, the author may not have submitted the paper elsewhere for publication
  • It is assumed that the author has no financial interest (direct or indirect) with the material presented. If the author does have a conflict this should be disclosed on the last page of the document.

Judging:

  • All papers will be judged by the Student Awards Committee of the AmericanCollegeof Legal Medicine in a blinded review process. The decision of the judges is final.
  • All prizes may not be awarded each year if the ACLM and/or the Student Awards Committee determines that no entry meets the standards of a winning paper.

Papers will be judged in the following areas

  • Appropriateness of subject matter for the contest
  • Originality, thoughtfulness
  • Quality of legal and bioethical, medical, law, dentistry, podiatry, nursing, pharmacy, health science, healthcare administration or public health analysis
  • Quality of writing
  • Citation of authority/support for arguments

Deadline and Submission:

The papers must be submitted only via email to christine@wjweiser.com. Papers transmitted or sent in any other form will not be considered for the writing competition. Authors must submit their papers by the end of the business day, January 4, 2013. Under no circumstances will any paper be considered unless it is submitted by the deadline and in the required format.

Direct questions to

Post-Doctoral Student Writing Competition
American College of Legal Medicine
Two Woodfield Lake, 1100 E Woodfield Road, Suite 520
Schaumburg, IL 60173

For additional information, please visit the website.

Winners other than the Orr Award Winner will be announced at the ACLM 2013 Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, and may appear personally at their own expense if they wish to be recognized.

Human Rights Watch Seeks A Researcher on Western Europe

Application Deadline: October 15, 2012

Human Rights Watch (“HRW”) is seeking a Researcher to monitor human rights developments in Western European countries as part of a small team. This position reports to a Deputy Director in the Europe and Central Asia (“ECA”) Division.

Responsibilities:

  • Monitor and document human rights developments in Western European countries by collecting and analyzing information from a wide variety of sources including governments, the European Union, the Council of Europe, local media, NGOs, journalists, diplomats and others;
  • Assist in the development and implementation of local, regional, and international strategies to change abusive laws, policies and practices in collaboration with colleagues inside HRW and with international and national NGO partners;
  • Conduct research and interview victims of human rights abuses and other relevant parties;
  • Write and publicize reports, briefing papers, letters, news releases, op-eds and submissions to international bodies based on the findings;
  • Present human rights concerns to government officials, opinion leaders, inter-governmental agencies and the media;
  • Advocate effectively for human rights change with government officials, with European Union institutions and elsewhere;
  • Respond promptly to queries from the media, public and colleagues in the human rights community;
  • Work closely with colleague non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and local human rights organizations to ensure that HRW’s work complements and enhances their own work;
  • Liaise with HRW staff located in multiple locations throughout the world to ensure effective coordination and delivery of activities;
  • Deliver outputs in a timely manner and maintain consistency with the agreed strategy and priorities of the ECA Division;
  • Operate in compliance with organizational regulations and rules, including the policies of applicable employee agreements; and
  • Carry out any other duties as required.

Qualifications: 

Education: An advanced (graduate) degree in international relations, ECA regional studies, journalism, law or social sciences is required. 

Experience: Minimum 3-5 years of directly-related experience working on the countries of Western Europe, including significant time spent living and working in the region. Prior field research and documentation skills are essential. 

Related Skills and Knowledge:

  • Ability to identify, research, analyze, prioritize and effectively communicate important human rights developments in a timely and sophisticated fashion is required.
  • Knowledge of and experience working in international human rights and familiarity with international human rights law is required.
  • Knowledge of European Union institutions is highly desirable and knowledge of civil law systems is desirable.
  • Thematic expertise in one or more of the following areas is highly desirable: anti-discrimination; economic and social rights; minority rights; and migration policy.
  • Ability to identify and advise the ECA Division in developing and implementing advocacy strategies in order to seize advocacy opportunities is required.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are required; fluency in at least one of the following languages is also required: French, German, Greek, Italian or Spanish.
  • Strong initiative and follow-through, the capacity to think creatively and strategically, excellent writing and editing skills, and a dynamic public speaking ability are required.
  • Demonstrated ability to think strategically about international and local media environments and how to use the media (including electronic and social media) to further advocacy goals is required.
  • Strong interpersonal skills in order to work collaboratively within HRW, as well as with external partners, are required.
  • Ability to multi-task effectively including having good planning and organizational skills, and the ability to work under pressure are required.
  • Creativity, initiative, perseverance, and flexibility are required while maintaining HRW’s high methodological standards.
  • Ability to make sound decisions consistent with functions is required. 

Other:This position requires frequent travel within the region, both for short periods of time as well as longer research missions, sometimes at short notice. The Researcher will be based in HRW’s office inBrussels or at another HRW office in Europe (London, Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam or Geneva). The Researcher must be prepared to spend significant periods of time in HRW’s London, Berlin and/or New York offices, particularly in the first year of employment for purposes of orientation, integration into the organization, and training and thereafter for regular consultation. 

Salary and Benefits: HRW seeks exceptional applicants and offers competitive compensation and employer-paid benefits. HRW will pay reasonable relocation expenses and will assist employees in obtaining necessary work authorization, if required; citizens of all nationalities are encouraged to apply.

Contract Duration:Initial three year fixed term contract. Renewable depending on the availability of continued funding. 

Contact: Please submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, salary requirements, a brief writing sample (unedited by others), and contact information for three references via email. Please use “Western Europe Researcher Ref ECA-12-1054-A” as the subject of your email.

Only complete applications will be reviewed and only qualified candidates.

 

The Greater Miami Jewsih Federation Real Estate Division And Real Estate Network Invite You To Join Them For The 15th Annual “Sunset Over Miami”

Hosted by the Miami Design District, Sunset Over Miami is a large networking event that is open to the entire community.  There is no solicitation of funds.  The Real Estate Division of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation encourages the involvement of architects, brokers, builders, developers, contractors and professionals affiliated with these trades in supporting the philanthropic work of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation.  With the active participation of the Real Estate Division, Miami’s Jewish community works to raise financial resources to support a network of vital Jewish social services in Miami, in Israel and worldwide.

When:   Thursday, October 11, 2012, 6:30p.m.-9:00 p.m.

Where:  The Moore Building, 4040 N.E. 2nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33137

Drink reception and hors d’oeuvres. Dietary laws observed. Business Attire.

$55.00 until 10/4 and $65.00 until 10/11.

Valet parking available. For additional information, please email the Greater Jewish Federation.

To RSVP, click here. For directions, click here.

 

 

AFC Seeks Staff Attorney for its Immigrant Students’ Rights Project

Advocates for Children of New York, Inc. (AFC) is a not-for-profit organization that works in partnership with New York City’s most disadvantaged families to secure quality public education services. AFC works on behalf of children and youth who are at greatest risk of academic failure due to poverty, race, ethnicity, disability, homelessness, immigration status/limited English proficiency or involvement in the child welfare or juvenile justice systems. AFC uses uniquely integrated strategies to advance systemic reform, empower families and communities, and advocate for the educational rights of individual students. AFC seeks a bilingual Spanish-speaking staff attorney for its Immigrant Students’ Rights Project, which aims to assist underserved immigrant families to obtain high quality, appropriate educational services.

Responsibilities will include direct representation of families in special education administrative hearings and school discipline hearings, as well as case management responsibilities, including attendance at special education review meetings and school visits. The attorney will also be responsible for providing training and technical assistance to parents and a range of non-profits to build the capacity of these individuals and organizations to address educational issues. The attorney will also work on policy analysis, research and advocacy or litigation related to students and their families.

Specifically, the position will include: 1) providing case services and legal representation to clients; 2) performing outreach and providing workshops, which may occasionally occur on nights and weekends, to parents, youth and professionals about their rights to attend school and receive adequate educational services; 3) promoting inter-agency coordination to facilitate better delivery of educational services; and 4) supporting ongoing policy advocacy work on English Language Learner and immigrant student issues.

Qualifications:

  • Law degree and admission or pending admission to the NYS bar;
  • Demonstrated commitment to AFC’s mission;
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills;
  • Spanish language fluency;
  • Experience working with immigrant, low-income and special needs communities, especially an understanding of the cultural issues that often accompany language barriers;
  • Interest in and knowledge of educational issues and issues affecting children, low-income families, immigrant communities, etc.;
  • Experience working with children and families;
  • Ability to work well with others on collaborative projects;
  • Knowledge and experience of community based agencies and youth and human services providers;
  • Organizational skills, flexibility, initiative, maturity, cooperative attitude;
  • Microsoft Excel, Word, and Access skills strongly preferred or a willingness to learn;
  • Ability to keep a cool head in a busy atmosphere.

How to apply:

Send an email with “ISRP Attorney” in the subject line with a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references via email. Only candidates being scheduled for interviews will be contacted. The position is available in September of 2012, and resumes will be considered on a rolling basis. For more information on AFC, see the website 

Compensation: 

The salary depends on experience and includes generous benefits.

Applications for the Florida Supreme Court Internship Program for Spring 2013 Are Now Available!

Applications for the Spring 2013 Florida Supreme Court Internship Program for Distinguished Florida Law Students are now being accepted. Applications are available in the Career Development Office (CDO) in Room A-112.

The Program offers an amazing opportunity to work as a law clerk for the Florida Supreme Court. Interns have the opportunity to attend oral arguments, discuss cases with the Justices and staff attorneys, assist in the drafting of orders and opinions, and attend special lectures and training sessions.

For more information, please attend the CDO Information Session on Wednesday, September 26th at 12:30 p.m. in the CDO Conference Room (Room A-112). Lunch will be served. If you are unable to attend the info session, you may watch the video from a recent program information session.

The deadline to submit application materials to me (in Room A-112) is Monday, October 1st at 5 pm.

*Please note that a character & fitness clearance letter from the Florida Board of Bar Examiners is required in order to apply.

 

Legal Services of Greater Miami Seeks Interns for Fall 2012 Semester

LSGM still has several positions available this semester. The placement runs from September through approximately the first week in December. If you are interested, please complete an application. Please see below for more information on the available positions. See your CDO advisor for more detailed information.

Health and Income Maintenance

Homeless Legal Advocacy Project/Single Stop (SDLC)

Low Wage Worker Project

AIDS Legal Advocacy Project

Military Legal Advocacy Project

Homeless Legal Advocacy Project/Single Stop (SDLC)

Tenant’s Rights Project

 

City of Chicago Department of Law Seeks Counsel – Aviation, Environmental, Regulatory and Contracts (“AERC”) Division

The City of Chicago’s Law Department is seeking an attorney for the position of Assistant Corporation Counsel Supervisor/Senior in the AERC Division to represent the City in litigation and regulatory matters. The Assistant Corporation Counsel Supervisor/Senior will work under the general supervision of the Deputy Corporation Counsel and Chief Assistant Corporation Counsel of the AERC Division, and will handle and supervise litigation in federal and state court, and proceedings before administrative bodies, including the Department of Administrative Hearings, etc., including drafting pleadings and other court documents, taking and defending depositions and conducting other discovery, and handling oral arguments and evidentiary hearings, as well as supervising more junior attorneys on such tasks. The Assistant Corporation Counsel Supervisor/Senior will also handle and supervise pre-litigation, client counseling and other matters, including analyzing proposed client transactions for compliance with regulatory requirements, conducting legal research, advising City departments on legal/regulatory requirements, reviewing and commenting on proposed ordinances and legislation, and responding to subpoenas and Freedom of Information Act requests, as well as supervising more junior attorneys on such tasks. The substantive areas of law will include, among others, commercial and construction matters, fraud and false claims ordinance cases, intellectual property, and regulatory matters. This position requires creativity, flexibility, and a willingness and ability to handle a wide variety of substantive areas.

Qualifications:

Graduation from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school, admission to the Illinois Bar (or eligible for admission on motion to the Illinois Bar pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 705), and a minimum of eight (8) years of litigation experience as a licensed, practicing attorney.

Please note that the online application submission deadline is October 9, 2012 and the required hard copy materials submission deadline is October 16, 2012.

See posting online for further information and to apply.

 

City of Chicago Department of Law Seeks Counsel – Federal Civil Rights Litigation (“FRCL”) Division

The City of Chicago’s Law Department is seeking an attorney for the position of Assistant Corporation Counsel in the Federal Civil Rights Litigation Division. This Division defends City employees and the City of Chicago in federal civil rights lawsuits that allege police misconduct. These cases include, inter alia, allegations of false arrest, excessive force, illegal search and seizure, wrongful death and Monell. Division attorneys practice in federal court and have a sophisticated and complex practice, involving extensive motion practice, intensive fact and expert discovery, and trial practice. The Assistant Corporation Counsel will work under the general supervision of the Division Chiefs and Deputy and handle and litigate low exposure cases.

Qualifications:

Graduation from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school with a minimum 2.75 GPA on a 4.0 scale, admission to the Illinois Bar (or eligible for admission on motion to the Illinois Bar pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 705), and at least one (1) year of State or Federal Court experience in one or more of the following: jury or bench trial, taking or defending depositions, or arguing motions in court.

Please note that the online application submission deadline is September 25, 2012 and the required hard copy materials submission deadline is October 2, 2012.

See posting online for further information and to apply.

 

HOPE Public Interest News for the Week of September 17, 2012

Please read below for upcoming events on campus, opportunities in the community, and other announcements.

Featured: 

October 26th – 27th, Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair. Arlington, VA. Each year the Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair brings together more than 1,200 public interest law students from 200 law schools all under one roof. Eligibility for a $100 travel stipend through HOPE and a $25 registration fee reimbursement through the Career Development Office. Click here for more info and e-mail HOPE with questions. 

Events on Campus:

Thursday, September 20th, HOPE and LexisNexis Tabling on the Bricks, 12:30 pm, The Bricks. Join the HOPE Public Interest Resource Center and LexisNexis to discover how YOU can donate training points to help out Miami Law’s public interest efforts. See our Facebook page for more information.

Thursday, September 20th, Navy JAG Corps Career Information Session, 5 pm, F309. The information session will include the following, but not limited to: description of the Navy JAG Corps, what Navy JAG officers do, compensation, and how to apply.

Friday, September 21st, Launch of Miami Law’s Chapter of the National Lawyer’s Guild. 5:30 pm, Wood Tavern, Wynnwood Design District, 2531 NW   2nd Avenue. The National Lawyer’s Guild is a group of attorneys, law students and legal workers who have been on the front lines representing progressive political movements for the last 75 years. For more information, contact Leah Weston, Joshua Truppman, or Abe Schewel.

Thursday, September 27th, Hurricanes: Order In The Court, 5:30 pm, Storer Auditorium. Panel discussion featuring Judge Alex Ferrer, JD ’86 (Judge Alex Show) and Judge Marilyn Milan, AB ’81 (the People’s Court). All law students are invited to attend.

Events off Campus: 

Wednesday, September 19th, Dade County Bar Association Networking Mixer, 6 pm, Fado Irish Pub. Bring a colleague or two, make contacts, and trade cards. First Happy Hour well drink is complimentary. Space is limited, so please SSVP to Barbara Viniegra. 

Saturday, September 22nd, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Miami, 1:00 pm, 1854 NW 65 Street. Habitat invites the community to celebrate the dedication of 15 new homes.

Saturday, September 29th, Miami Beach Service Day, 9 am, North Shore Open Space Park, 8101 Collins Ave, Miami Beach. Give back to your community and learn how your community can give back to you! FREE food and drinks, prizes, and volunteers needed for community service hours. Contact Talmage to volunteer. 

October 16th -20th, ABA Section of International Law 2012 Fall Meeting. Miami Beach, FL. The Fall Meeting is one of the world’s most important gatherings of international lawyers that attracts over 1,500 attendees. The ABA offers free admission to the educational portion of the meeting to any person who serves in a volunteer capacity for 1 four-hour shift or for evening events if you volunteer for a two-hour shift at the beginning of the event. Students can pay to attend as well. Check out details here and e-mail Gretchen Bellamy to volunteer.

There are still a few open slots available for the ABA-SIL Fall Meeting, but they are filling quickly. Act now!! 

Announcements & Opportunities: 

American Gateways Internship. American Gateways is a Central Texas non-profit organization that provides immigration legal services and education to secure justice for new Americans and enrich Central Texas communities. Interns will work on individual cases in the various programs, travel to Pearsall, Texas DHS detention center, and provide representation in Immigration   Court. 2 interns will be selected for the fall semester, 2 for the spring, and 4 for the summer in the Austin, TX office. Fluency in Spanish is required for summer internships. Send a cover letter addressing the applicant’s interest in immigration advocacy, resume, writing sample (no longer than 5 pages), and 2-3 references to the attention of Edna Yang, General Counsel.

White House DOL Honors Program Spring 2013 Internship. Deadline for Application is September 23rd. Apply with 2 essays, 2 letters of recommendation, and a resume.

Florida Justice Institute. Staff Attorney Opening. The FJI, a small public interest nonprofit law firm, seeks a full-time staff attorney in Miami. Send resume and cover letter via email to Randall C. Berg, Jr., Esq. 

Books and Buddies is looking for volunteers! The Books and Buddies program is a fun and non-time consuming way to work with children and help out the community. Law students are paired with a fourth grade buddy with whom they will write a story throughout the semester. It takes no more than 20 minutes per week. Please e-mail Books & Buddies to get involved.