Americans for Immigrant Justice (AI Justice) is Seeking Interns Interested in Immigration, Civil Rights and Criminal Legal Issues

Americans for Immigrant Justice (AI Justice) is seeking motivated interns interested in immigration, civil rights, and criminal legal issues. Interns will assist on a project that works with a large immigration detainee population in Southern Florida. The focus of the project is to help provide legal representation to immigration detainees at underserved facilities. In addition, the project seeks to provide advocacy for and assistance to, detainees who have suffered constitutional rights violations.

Florida expanded its immigration enforcement partnership with the federal government through programs relying on state and local law enforcement to identify deportable immigrants. While the stated mission is to target dangerous criminals, government statistics show that the vast majority of immigrants deported through the programs had minor or no criminal convictions.

Thus, the programs raise serious civil rights issues. Many immigrants identified through such programs are detained at the Broward Transitional Center (BTC), Florida’s largest immigration detention facility and the only one used exclusively for immigrants with little or no criminal history. AI Justice is one of the few organization providing pro bono services there, and currently has limited capacity to do so. Interns will allow us to provide legal representation to a large, underserved population and to systematically identify and address civil rights violations in immigration enforcement.

This project is headed by an Equal Justice Works Fellow at AI Justice. Interns will work under the supervision of the Fellow. AI Justice is an independent, non-profit legal services provider located in Miami, Florida, which helps advocate for immigrants’ rights nationwide.

Specific Responsibilities include the following: 

  • Interns will interview immigration detainees
  • Research legal issues and draft memos of law
  • Assist detainees apply for immigration benefits
  • Investigate cases and draft summaries to volunteer attorneys and organizations in order to recruit pro bono legal      services for detainees in need of such services
  • Assist with the creation and revision of the Know Your Rights curriculum and materials
  • Assist during Know Your Rights presentations at the detention centers
  • Help train project volunteers
  • Interns may have an opportunity to take on their own cases. Interested interns will approach. Fellow with potential cases for review and evaluation. (Habeas Petitions, BIA Appeals, 11th Circuit Appeals, Motions to Reopen or Reconsider, Motions to Suppress, Padilla Related Issues and Cases, Bond detainer issues, Specific interests of the intern)

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Attributes: 

  • Open to 1Ls, 2Ls and 3Ls looking for an opportunity to fulfill a pressing legal need while getting a first-rate, hands-on learning experience at the intersection of immigration, constitutional and criminal law
  • Ability to work with and communicate with a variety of different multi-ethnic populations
  • Strong Spanish language skills preferred (written, speaking, and reading)
  • Other languages that are important to our ability to serve certain populations at the facility are: Creole, Portuguese and Chinese
  • Knowledge or experience in any combination of the following areas: Immigration Law, Constitutional Law, Civil Rights Litigation, Criminal Law and Procedure
  • Clinical experience preferred
  • Journal or moot court experience a plus
  • Strong organizational skills and work ethic

Openings: 

Semester in Practice – Willing and able to host a law student wishing to spend a Fall or Spring semester working on this project as an externship for school credit.

Semester Internships – Looking for interns or volunteers to work from during the Fall or Spring semesters for either pro bono volunteer credit or for the practical experience.

Summer Internships – Looking for interns to work with us during the summer months. 

Financial Information: 

  • The position is unpaid
  • AI Justice is willing to work with schools so that interns can receive course credit for externships
  • AI Justice is willing to advocate for interns in their efforts to secure funding for their internship

Closing Date: Applications will be considered until positions are filled. 

Application Submission:

Send a cover letter and resume ONLY to Franco Torres.

Details are available on the website.

 

 

American Civil Liberties Union Foundation National Security Project, NY – Fall 2013 Nadine Strossen Fellowship

The National Security Project of the ACLU National office in New York City invites applications for the Nadine Strossen Fellowship, which will last for a two-year period beginning in September 2013.

The National Security Project is part of the ACLU’s Center for Democracy, which works to strengthen democratic institutions and values, and advocates for government transparency and accountability, and to reinforce the United States’ commitment to human rights and the rule of law. The Center for Democracy includes, in addition to the National Security Project, the Human Rights Program and the Project on Speech, Privacy, and Technology.

The National Security Project’s litigation and advocacy focuses on issues including: targeted killing, detention, torture, discrimination, government surveillance, censorship, and secrecy. The active and diverse docket includes: a lawsuit challenging the government’s “targeted killing” of three U.S. citizens in drone strikes far from any armed conflict zone; a suit on behalf of a number of U.S. citizens and residents who are prohibited from flying to or from the United States or over U.S. airspace because they are on the government’s “No Fly List”; a challenge to the indefinite detention without charge or trial of a prisoner held at Guantánamo Bay; a suit on behalf of a broad coalition of human rights, media, and legal organizations challenging the constitutionality of dragnet wiretapping conducted under the amended Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act; and numerous suits under the Freedom of Information Act for information about a variety of related issues including the legal and factual basis for the government’s “targeted killing” policy, the treatment of prisoners held by the United States in detention centers overseas, and federal law enforcement’s discriminatory surveillance of religious and racial minorities.

The Nadine Strossen National Security Fellowship was established in recognition of Nadine Strossen’s outstanding leadership as ACLU President for over 18 years. As the first woman to lead the ACLU, Nadine Strossen has been an important trailblazer for the ACLU and civil liberties. The Fellowship was established through special gifts from longtime civil liberties activist and ACLU National and Affiliate Board leader H. Stewart Dunn, Jr. and other donors.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Nadine Strossen Fellow functions as an integral part of the ACLU’s National Security Project.

Responsibilities will include but are not limited to the following:

  • Conduct legal research and analysis and develop theories to support new litigation projects.
  • Draft legal memoranda, pleadings, affidavits, motions, and briefs.
  • Interview witnesses and potential clients.
  • Participate in discovery and trial practice.
  • Draft and edit public education and non-litigation advocacy materials.
  • Provide support to ACLU affiliates.
  • Help manage summer legal internship program and supervise student interns.
  • Engage in public speaking and attend meetings and/or conferences as needed.

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS:

The Fellow is selected from third-year law students or recent graduates and will serve for a two-year period starting September 2013.

Applicants must possess:

  • J.D. degree or expected to receive one by the Spring of 2013.
  • A demonstrated commitment to public interest law.
  • Excellent research, writing, and verbal communication skills.
  • A demonstrated ability to conduct complex legal analysis and fact-finding.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and a proven ability to work independently as well as within a team.
  • The initiative to see projects through to completion and be self-starters.
  • Knowledge of and interest in civil liberties issues related to national security is preferred, but not required.

HOW TO APPLY:

Applicants should send a cover letter, resume, two letters of recommendation and at least one legal writing sample (preferably unedited) via email – reference [LGLF-61/LS] in subject line.

The application deadline is November 1, 2012. Please indicate in your cover letter where you learned of this opportunity.

The Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL) is looking for a Bilingual (Spanish/English) Attorney

APPLICATION DEADLINE: September 14th, 2012

ORGANIZATION FOCUS: International Human Rights Law inLatin America

SALARY: Mid-forties (Plus benefits)

STARTING DATE: November 1st, 2012

The Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL) seeks a bilingual (Spanish/English) Attorney to litigate human rights cases before the Inter-American System for the Protection of Human Rights. This position will be based inWashington, DC. Established in 1991 by a group of prominent Latin American human rights defenders, CEJIL is a regional organization that works to promote human rights throughout the Hemisphere through the effective use of the Inter-American System. For more information about the organization, please visit the website.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Support the litigation of cases primarily from the Andean Region and North Americabefore the Inter-American Commission and Court;
  • Maintain relationships with local NGOs, government representatives, and international organizations in Latin America;
  • Design and support training sessions, workshops, and materials about the Inter-American System or international human rights law;
  • Participate in and support activities designed to strengthen the Inter-American System, such as writing position papers, participating in advocacy initiatives, etc.;
  • Complete institutional responsibilities, such as writing Trip Reports and Work Plans, among others;
  • Assist with general administrative tasks;
  • Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Demonstrate an interest in international human rights law;
  • Law Degree (Masters preferred but not required);
  • Three years of work experience, preferably at the international level;
  • Strong analytical skills and the ability to develop convincing legal arguments;
  • Mastery of English language, with outstanding English writing skills;
  • Ability to write, edit, and communicate fluently in Spanish;
  • Ability to work on own initiative and work with others as part of a team;
  • Ability to work under pressure and on various projects at once;
  • Willingness to travel and work in a multicultural environment.

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Short-listed applicants will be interviewed inWashington, DC or by phone. Final candidates will eventually be asked to submit a writing sample in Spanish and write a legal brief on a topic relevant to the Inter-American System.

CEJIL offers an excellent benefits package that includes generous paid vacation, as well as employer-paid health, dental and life insurance. Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume no later than September 14th, 2012 by email only (subject: Attorney Search). Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

NO PHONE CALLS, PLEASE.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) Legal Honors Program is Accepting Applications for 2013-2014!

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) Legal Honors Program is accepting applications for its 2013-2014! HUD’s Office of General Counsel is responsible for providing legal services that support and facilitate HUD’s mission of creating strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable housing.

In order to apply, students must:

  • Be a third-year law student who will receive a J.D. on or before June 30, 2012 OR be a judicial law clerk; AND
  • Be able to assume the position on or before September 30, 2013; AND
  • Be able to communicate effectively; AND
  • Not be admitted to any State or territories of theU.S.; AND
  • Meet one of the following: Have at least a B average; or, be in the top 50% of the class; or, have relevant work experience; or, have special training; or, have engaged in significant extracurricular activities (law review, moot court, clinical program).

To apply for a Legal Honors position at HUD, an original and two copies of the following must be submitted:

  • The application form
  • A completed Resume
  • An official law school transcript The official transcript (e.g. certified and/or sealed) must be submitted with law school’s grading system explanation attached. Please do not have your law school forward your transcript separately.
  • A legal writing sample of five to ten pages max (double-spaced)
  • A list of at least three references (professional or academic)
  • Attach your resume, transcript (with explanation of grading), writing sample, and references behind the Legal Honors Program application, (no special binding or staples).

Brochures containing detailed information about HUD and its Legal Honors Program are available in the “Federal Agencies” bin in the CDO Resource Room.

The application deadline is September 28, 2012. To learn more about the Legal Honors Program and download an application, log onto HUD’s Office of General Counsel website.

 

The University of San Francisco School of Law Seeks An Assistant Director

The University of San Francisco School of Law has an immediate opening for an Assistant Director. The Assistant Director reports directly to the Senior Director and works closely with the staff of the Office of Career Planning (OCP) to provide career counseling services and coordinate programming for over 700 law students and 9,000 alumni.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Counsel current law students and alumni regarding career options, professional development, networking, job search strategies, and interviewing skills.  Develop and implement career-related presentations, workshops, and programs.  Develop, edit, and update career resources.  Represent OCP at conferences, meetings, and events associated with NALP, the Bay Area Legal Recruitment Association (BALRA), the Northern California Consortium of Law Career Services, and other legal, educational, and career-related organizations.

Assist in the development of marketing and promotional strategies to enhance the reputation of theSchool of Law and increase the recruitment of USF students.  Serve as the primary contact for the post-graduate judicial clerkship application process.  Provide support and leadership for public interest related programs.  Assist with the development and implementation of policies and short and long-range planning for OCP.

REQUIREMENTS:`

Extensive knowledge of career-related issues particular to the practice of law. Preference given to those candidates with previous career counseling experience and experience administering and interpreting self-assessment instruments including the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).Excellent grammar, writing and editing skills sufficient to effectively proof application materials and draft correspondence and resource materials. Excellent presentation and verbal skills sufficient to effectively articulate concepts in counseling sessions and presentations.  Experience with Microsoft Office and online databases like Symplicity and Banner. Candidates with established private and public sector contacts preferred.

To see the full job posting and apply, go to the website.

 

 

The City of Chicago Department of Law is Hiring Law Clerks and Attorneys

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT #1

DEPARTMENT OF LAW – Building & License Enforcement (BLE) Division

The City of Chicago’s Law Department is seeking an attorney for the position of Assistant Corporation Counsel in its Building & License Enforcement Division. Assistant Corporation Counsels in the Building and License Enforcement Division address issues of public safety by prosecuting cases at Circuit Court and the Department of Administrative Hearings involving buildings, owners and licensees that fail to comply with Municipal Code requirements. Assistant Corporation Counsels work in conjunction with various City Departments including Buildings, Fire, Health, Housing and Economic Development, and Police in an effort to identify and abate distressed and/or unsafe properties throughout the City ofChicago. The Assistant Corporation Counsel will be responsible for organizing and maintaining a large caseload, advising client departments, and interacting with community representatives.

Qualifications:

Graduation from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school with at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA; admission to the Illinois Bar (or eligible for admission on motion to the Illinois Bar pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court 705); and a minimum of four (4) months of experience as a licensed, practicing attorney handling cases at Cook County’s Circuit Court and/or the City of Chicago’s Department of Administrative Hearings. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

  • Superior organizational skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Exceptional research skills
  • Superior writing skills
  • Exceptional communication skills
  • The ability to work well with others
  • History of leadership and ability to take initiative
  • Ability to organize, prioritize, monitor and control workflow deadlines

Please note that the online application submission deadline is August 14, 2012 and the required hard copy materials submission deadline is August 20, 2012.

For application process, materials and additional information, please visit the website. 

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT #2

DEPARTMENT OF LAW – Appeals Division

The City of Chicago’s Law Department is seeking an attorney for the position of Assistant Corporation Counsel in its Appeals Division. The Appeals Division handles all appellate matters for the City and appears in the Illinois Appellate Court, Illinois Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and U.S. Supreme Court. Attorneys in this Division are responsible for briefing and, with rare exceptions, arguing their own cases. Typical staffing for a case on appeal is one Assistant Corporation Counsel, as well as the Deputy Corporation Counsel and Chief Assistant Corporation Counsel. Division attorneys also provide advice to the trial divisions on appellate issues and, at times, on legal issues on which the Division has considerable experience. Attorneys generally do not specialize in a particular subject matter but handle the full range of appellate issues, including labor and employment, torts, civil rights, tax and revenue, regulation, issues arising under ordinances and statutes, and other cases involving city government and programs.

Qualifications:

Graduation from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school on or before June 2009; admission to the Illinois Bar (or eligible for admission on motion to the Illinois Bar pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court 705); Law School class rank in the top 15% of the class or an equivalent distinction; involvement in one of the following activities in law school: moot court; law review; law journal; clinical experience; or judicial externship or internship; and experience following law school as either an appellate clerk for a minimum of 6 months or an appellate attorney who has handled at least one appellate matter. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

  • Exceptional research skills
  • An organized and clear writing style
  • Sophisticated analytical skills
  • Clear and persuasive oral communication
  • The ability to work well with others
  • Demonstrated history of taking the initiative
  • The ability to organize, prioritize, and meet deadlines
  • Attention to detail
  • Thoroughness

Please note that the online application submission deadline is August 15, 2012 and the required hard copy materials submission deadline is August 21, 2012. 

For application process, materials and additional information, please visit the website.

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT #3

DEPARTMENT OF LAW – Employment Litigation (ELIT) Division

The City of Chicago’s Law Department is seeking an attorney for the position of Assistant Corporation Counsel Supervisor/Senior in the Employment Litigation Division to represent the City and individual employees in employment litigation matters. The Employment Litigation Division represents the City of Chicagoand individual employees in employment related litigation filed in Federal and State Court. The Assistant Corporation Counsel Supervisor/Senior will work under the general supervision of the Deputy Corporation Counsel of the Employment Litigation Division, and will be given a high level of responsibility for handling complex employment litigation; maintaining his or her own case load; trying cases; training, supervising, and evaluating attorneys and staff within the Division; reviewing and evaluating cases; drafting pleadings; editing briefs; conducting discovery; negotiating settlements; assisting City departments with compliance issues and protocols; and otherwise advising and counseling City departments on employment and personnel matters.

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 705); and a minimum of seven (7) years of experience as a licensed, practicing attorney, including a minimum of four (4) years of legal experience handling employment litigation defense in Federal and/or State court.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

  • Superior research, writing, and editing skills
  • Firm knowledge of employment law and rules of civil procedure and evidence
  • Exceptional judgment, organizational, and time management skills
  • The ability to work and communicate well with supervisors and others
  • Demonstrated leadership and initiative on assigned tasks
  • Demonstrated ability to prioritize, monitor, and control workflow deadlines

Please note that the online application submission deadline is August 14, 2012 and the required hard copy materials submission deadline is August 20, 2012. 

For application process, materials and additional information, please visit the website.

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT #4

Department of Law – Various Divisions

Law Clerk – Part Time & Full Time; Minimum 25 hours per week

The City of Chicago’s Department of Law is seeking persons who are interested in working as a Law Clerk. This is the ideal position for an attorney licensed to practice law in Illinois or a law student who is eligible for a license under Supreme Court Rule 711 at the time of application who is looking for experience prosecuting violations of the Chicago Municipal Code in Circuit Court or at the Department of Administrative Hearings; prosecuting violations of the Illinois Vehicle Code in Circuit Court; handling debts due and owing the City; handling matters involving the acquisition of property through lien foreclosure; or determining property ownership and responsible parties in preparation for litigation involving real property. Duties may include: court calls; interview witnesses; try cases; conduct hearings; research and write motions, memoranda and briefs; argue motions; engage in settlement negotiations; work closely with client departments; review and analyze files in a variety of cases; and recommend appropriate courses of action. This is a great opportunity to improve your litigation, negotiation and writing skills.

Law Clerks may be cross-trained to work in one or more of the following Divisions:

Building & License Enforcement (BLE) – This Division handles fire, building, health and zoning code violations as well as licensing issues.

Legal Information, Investigations & Prosecutions (LIIP) – The Prosecutions unit within this Division handles cases that may include fatal and multiple-vehicle traffic accidents, routine traffic citations and misdemeanor offenses punishable by a jail time penalty.

For application process, qualifications, selection requirements, salary, materials and additional information, please visit the website.

 

Law Clerk – Part Time & Full Time – Department of Law – Collections, Ownership and Administrative Litigation (COAL) Division

The City of Chicago’s Department of Law is seeking law students for part-time and full-time law clerk positions in the Collections, Ownership and Administrative Litigation (COAL) Division. This Division is comprised of four sections: Collections, Ownership, Liens and Acquisitions, and Administrative Hearings. COAL seeks the enforcement of Municipal Code violations involving police issued citations, vehicle impoundment, gun registration, and animal care and control; debts due and owing to the City; matters involving the acquisition of property through lien foreclosure; violations involving real property by determining property owners and responsible parties in preparation for litigation; and other violations involving the health and safety of residents in the City of Chicago. Additionally, COAL works closely with other Divisions within the Law Department, various City Departments, and Aldermanic Offices.

Law clerks will be assigned to one of the four sections and crossed-trained in other sections. Their responsibilities will include working closely with client departments; reviewing and analyzing files; recommending appropriate courses of action against alleged debtors; providing monthly reports to upper management as to the progress of cases reviewed and/or filed; analyzing deeds and other property information to determine the ownership of the property in violation; investigating where to serve the defendant(s) with the legal complaint; as well as conducting legal research and drafting supporting memoranda. Under the supervision of a licensed attorney, clerks who are 711-licensed or eligible will also interview witnesses, negotiate settlements, argue motions, and conduct hearings at the Department of Administrative Hearings or in the Circuit Court of Cook County.

To be eligible, completion of at least one semester in an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school is required.

For additional information regarding salary, full qualifications and how to apply, visit the website.

The Federal Communications Commission Has An Attorney Honors Program

The Federal Communications Commission’s (“FCC”) Attorney Honors Program is a two-year employment and training program designed to introduce law school graduates to the field of communications law and policy. On July 23, 2012, the FCC will be accepting applications for the Fall 2013 class from law students in their final year of study and judicial clerks. Applications must be received by September 21, 2012.

Honors Program attorneys will participate in the many varied aspects of federal administrative practice as they relate to the FCC’s oversight of television, radio, cable, wireless, wireline, satellite, and other communications services and facilities. Participants also will benefit from a wide variety of learning experiences. Attorneys at the FCC draft decisions in adjudicatory and rulemaking matters, work with internal and external constituencies to resolve complex policy issues before the agency, participate in international negotiations, represent the FCC in dealings with other government agencies, Congress and the private sector, and defend FCC decisions in the federal courts.

All Honors Program participants will work at the FCC’s headquarters in Washington, DC and will be assigned to one of the agency’s bureaus. Specific placements within the agency will be based on the participant’s interests and experience and the needs of the FCC. Participants may have the opportunity to rotate to a new assignment within the agency at the end of their first year. During their two years in the Honors Program, attorneys also will be afforded professional and educational opportunities designed specifically for Program participants. At the end of the two-year program, Honors Program attorneys will be eligible for consideration for continued employment at the FCC.

Selection for the Honors Program is highly competitive. Before making a selection, the FCC reviews many facets of a candidate’s background, including academic achievement, writing skills, law review and/or moot court experience, clinic or extracurricular activities, and demonstrated interest in government service and/or the communications industry. Graduating students and judicial clerks with strong qualifications are encouraged to apply.

For additional information regarding eligibility, how to apply, FAQ’s and to see the brochure, please visit the website.

Roger Williams University School of Law Seeking Assistant Director of Admissions

Under the Direction of the Director of Admissions in the School of Law, the Assistant Director is responsible for overseeing recruitment, admissions events, and applicant visits while also participating in the online file review process.

Requirements: A Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline is required as is one to three years’ experience in higher education or a legal setting.  Advanced knowledge of computers including HTML & Microsoft Office Suite are necessary; strong knowledge of social networking programs is a must.  To be successful in the position, candidates must possess strong verbal & written communication skills, interpersonal skills, and time management skills. The chosen candidate will be able to work independently and under pressure but also function effectively in a team and service oriented environment.  A valid driver’s license is required.

Preferred qualifications include a Juris Doctor degree, prior experience working with databases including LSAC’s ACES2, and public interaction in an academic setting.

Application Instructions: Please apply online and attach a cover letter, resume, and list of three (3) professional references.

The Association for Corporate Counsel, South Florida Chapter, Invites You to Free Cinema Event for Law Students!

The Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), South Florida Chapter,  invites you to attend their FOOD TRUCK CINEMA EVENT this Friday. August 3rd, from 5:30pm-10:30pm. This is an event designed for the entire South Florida legal community to network and support the work of the Legal Aid Services organizations in the tri-county area.

The movie shown is “The Paper Chase” and starts at 8:15 p.m.

This is a free event, except for the food & drinks purchased from the 20+ food trucks that will be there.

FREE ADMISSION * FREE PARKING * FREE MOVIE * FREE POPCORN.

Location: JM Lexus at5350 W. Sample Road,Margate– 1 Mile West of the Turnpike. For further details e-mail the ACC.