ABI Law Student Writing Competition Deadline is in Two Weeks!

The deadline for ABI’s 4th Annual Law Student Writing Competition is fast approaching! Papers must be submitted to the ABI by no later than March 1, 2012. First, Second and Third Places prizes will be awarded – $4,000 total prize money and publication in the prestigious ABI Journal.

Winners of the Competition will be announced in April, 2012. Winners will be presented with certificates from the ABI recognizing their achievement and law schools will be notified so that this achievement can be noted in students’ records. Note that prize money has been doubled from previous years.

1. FIRST PLACE WINNER, sponsored by Invotex Group, will receive a prize of $2,000 cash, plus publication of his or her paper in the prestigious ABI Journal, and a one (1) year membership to the ABI.
2. SECOND PLACE WINNER, sponsored by Jenner & Block LLP, will receive a cash prize of $1250, plus publication of his or her paper in an ABI committee newsletter, and a one (1) year membership to the ABI.
3. THIRD PLACE WINNER, sponsored by McGuireWoods LLP, will receive a cash prize of $750, plus publication of his or her paper in an ABI committee newsletter, and a one (1) year membership to the ABI.

ABI invites papers on current issues regarding bankruptcy jurisdiction, bankruptcy litigation, or evidence in bankruptcy cases or proceedings. The paper may address business or consumer cases and may include matters such as bankruptcy sales, plan confirmation and other topics that involve jurisdiction, litigation or evidence in the bankruptcy courts.

Papers must be 10-12 double-spaced pages (including footnotes) on 8.5 x 11″ paper with 1″ margins. Papers must be written in 12 point, Times New Roman font. Papers must otherwise comply with the Guidelines for submissions to the ABI Journal provided, however, that the papers must have numbered pages. Papers will be submitted by students uploading the papers in PDF format to the ABI’s website at the following URL on or before March 1, 2012.

  • Papers submitted must be in PDF form with a ‘.pdf’ extension
  • Maximum size allowed is 2MB
  • Maximum number of pages allowed is 12
  • Papers must have been written after March 1, 2011
  • Only one paper may be submitted per student. If a mistake was made, please create a new account to submit the paper
  • Contest winners will be contacted by email
  • Winners must agree to have their papers edited by ABI staff and leaders prior to publication
  • Submitted papers may not have been published previously
  • Full details, including past participating law schools, can be found here.

 

Free Law Student Passes for Upcoming Seminar on Family Law

Sterling Education Services, Inc. is a non-profit continuing education company that conducts seminars across the nation. Please visit them online for information regarding the company. Sterling is offering 5 law students free scholarship-passes to an upcoming seminar as an introduction to the company.

Sterlingis holding a/an Family Law Update seminar in Tampa, Florida on March 27, 2012 and they would like to offer 5 law students free scholarship-passes to this seminar. The students get a day-long overview of a particular aspect of the law, a seminar manual, and an opportunity to network with practicing attorneys.

Students who wish to register can call 715-855-0495 or register through the website.

Only current law students may take advantage of these passes and MUST provide their student id number or other proof of enrollment in order to register. All students must be pre-registered; no walk-ins will be allowed.

HOPE Public Interest News for Week of February 20, 2012

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

Events on Campus:

Monday, February 20th, Housing Class: The Elephant in the Room, 6 pm, Glasgow Lecture Hall: The Office of Civic and Community Engagement invites you to the next event in its Focus on Affordable Housing Initiative. Dr Wilkins, the director of the Detroit Community Design Center at the University of Michigan College of Architecture and Urban Planning, will speak on the topic of equity in architecture. This event is free and open to the public. If you have any questions, please click here for contact information.

Wednesday, February 22nd, Public Interest & Experiential Learning Coffee Talk, 8:30 – 10 am, Bricks: Stop by the Bricks and speak with representatives from HOPE, CEPS, and the Clinic about all the opportunities for legal advocacy available to you.

Monday, February 27th, Public Interest Lecture Series featuring Judge Marcia Caballero, 12:30 – 1:30 pm, A110: RSVP online to reserve your spot.

SAVE THE DATE:

Thursday, March 1st, Breaking the Cycle, Breaking the Chain, 12:30 pm, F109. 

Friday, March 2nd, National Security & Armed Conflict Law Review Symposium, 10 am, Storer Auditorium.

Events in the Community:

Thursday, February 23rd, Small Claims Clinic, 5 – 8 pm, Legal Services of Greater Miami: Law students have the opportunity to conduct client intake and sit side-by-side with attorneys assisting low-income individuals, who cannot afford an attorney, with initiating their own small claims case. Spanish and Creole interpreters are needed. Email Daniela Gordon if interested.

Friday, February 24th, Chapman Partnership Volunteer Opportunity, 3 pm, Chapman Center, 1550 N. Miami Ave: Law students are invited to join the members of the Public Interest Leadership Board and volunteer with elementary aged children to create artwork that will be displayed. Email Meghan Paraschak to get involved. This event is eligible for HOPE Community Service Hours.

Friday, February 24th, Animal Rights Speaker Panel, 6 pm, Florida International University Law School: Panelists include the Honorable Lilliana Torreh-Bayouth, U.S. Immigration Court Judge, Member of the Florida Bar Animal Law Committee, and Volunteer Attorney for ALDF and ARFF; Debi Day, Founder/President of No Kill Nation, Dahlia Canes, Founder/President of Miami Coalition Against Breed Specific Legislation; Don Anthony, Communications Director of Animal Rights Foundation of Florida; and Gary Serignese, Executive Director of South Florida Smash HLS. Email UM SALDF President Karen Chrisman if you are interested in attending.

Announcements:

Florida Legal Services is in need of foreign language speakers for Unemployment Compensation Foreign Language Test Calls! Email Daniela Gordon for more information.

Empowered Youth is looking for a grant writer! If you have experience grant writing and would like to help out, please email UMHOPE. 

Legal Service of Greater Miami is seeking a law clerk for its Military Legal Advocacy Project helping low income veterans and their families retain stable housing and avoid becoming homeless by resolving civil legal problems that are a barrier to obtaining and maintaining permanent housing. Email UMHOPE if interested.

Summer Resources:

Free webinar: Wednesday, February 22nd, 2 pm EST, Summer Corps Program Overview and Successful Application Tips (The 2012 Summer Corps application will be open from March 1 to March 23).

Miami Law Summer Opportunities:

Clinics (applications will be accepted on a rolling basis). Visit the website for more information and the application.

HOPE African Probate and Policy Initiative in Tanzania (Deadline March 1st). Visit the website for more information and the application.

 

 

This Week at the CDO (Week of February 20, 2012)

Wednesday, February 22:

From Law School to In House – 12:30 p.m.-1:50 p.m., Room E-352

Thursday, February 23: 

Distinguishing Yourself Through International Law Opportunities – Speaker:  Professor Matthew Wilson, 12:30 p.m., Room  E-352

 

So You Want to Be a Diplomat: A “How To” and Stories from the Field on February 20th!

Lara O’Neill (UM Law Grad ’05) is a U.S. Diplomat current serving at the U.S. Embassy in Nassau, The Bahamas. Just prior to joining the State Department, she was the Miami Law Director of International Public Interest Programs and took students to Namibia for human rights coursework.

Ms. O’Neill will meet with students to discuss the process of becoming a Foreign Service Officer for the U.S. State Department as well as share stories from her experience in the Bahamas.

So, come and learn more about the Foreign Service and how you can use your legal skills to help forge U.S. foreign policy.

Date: February 20, 2012

Time: 9:30am – 11:00 a.m.

Location: Law School Faculty Lounge – 4th Floor Law Library

Pastries & Coffee will be served.

The first 50 students to RSVP by Sunday, February 19 at midnight will be able to attend.

RSVP for this event .

 

 

 

Law Clerk to Judges of the Court (Associate Legal Officer) (2 positions): International Court of Justice, The Hague, Netherlands

Background:

The International Court of Justice wishes to appoint 2 Law Clerks each of whom will provide research and other legal assistance to one of the judges of the Court. For administrative purposes, the Law Clerks are attached to the Department of Legal Matters.

Functions:

Under the supervision of the judge to whom he or she will be specifically assigned, the Law Clerk will provide such judge with legal research and related assistance with regard to cases pending before the Court. The Law Clerk may also be required to provide legal assistance and support to a judge ad hoc participating in a particular case. In coordination with his or her judge, the Law Clerk may also from time to time be called upon to perform some specific legal tasks for the Registry.

Qualifications and Skills:

  • an advanced university degree in law, with significant academic background in public international law or professional experience in the field. A first level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree. Post-graduate studies in public international law would be an asset;
  • two years’ experience in the settlement of international legal disputes with an international organization, government, law firm or other private sector entity would be desirable.

Languages:

French and English are the official and working languages of the Court. Perfect understanding and command of either French or English, and very good drafting and oral communication skills in the other language required; command of other official languages of the United Nations would be an asset.

Remuneration:

Depending on professional background, experience and family situation, a competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. The Court’s salaries are calculated in US dollars but paid in euros. They consist of a basic salary and a post adjustment which reflects the cost of living in theNetherlandsand the euro/dollar exchange rate. In addition, the Court offers an attractive benefits package including 30 days of annual leave, home travel every two years, an education grant for dependent children, a pension plan and medical insurance.

How to apply:

Applicants are required to complete a United Nations Personal History Form (P.11), and to submit a cover letter. Applicants are specifically requested to indicate the level of attainment achieved (e.g. class of degree, GPA, mark awarded, or position in overall ranking) in respect of any university or professional qualification obtained. If the relevant university or authority does not make such information available, that fact should be stated. All applicants are strongly encouraged to send their application by e mail, addressed to the Registrar of the Court, clearly indicating the vacancy announcement number.

Only applications from candidates under serious consideration will be acknowledged. Applications that are found by the Court to meet the above criteria may be added to a reserve list in case a similar vacancy arises in the future.

PLEASE NOTE THAT APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED!

For additional information, please visit the website.

 

 

 

 

 

Rule of Law Informational Series

World Bank & IFC: Doing Business
Date: February 29, 2012
Time: 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM EST

**Dial-In information will be sent out one day prior to the teleconference.**

The American Bar Association’s Section of International Law (ABA International) continues its 2011-2012 series of Rule of Law Informational Sessions. These sessions explore the notion of rule of law, which organizations are involved in fostering the rule of law, and how to get involved. The sessions are free of cost and presented in-person as well as interactive teleconferences (advanced registration is required). Each teleconference will be recorded and accessible on the ABA International Rule of Law Committee website. Please join the ABA for its sixth session of this informational series to discuss the World Bank and IFC’s Doing Business project.

ABA International has been invited by the Doing Business project at the World Bank and IFC to contribute to the 2013 edition of the global Doing Business report. This invitation follows recent successful participation in the World Bank’s Women, Business and the Law report. Doing Business researches business laws and regulations in over 183 countries. The results of the research are presented in the annual Doing Business report, which is one of the most high-profile publications produced by the World Bank Group. The report offers measurable benchmarks for reform, and results in countries enacting more efficient regulation. Doing Business also serves as a knowledge resource for academics, journalists, private sector and others interested in the business climate of each country.

Panelists will discuss the following:

  • Origins of the Doing Business reports
  • What the reports measure
  • Doing Business indicators
  • What is new in the latest report
  • Which regions have the most business-friendly environment
  • Which economies are showing the most improvement
  • How and why to get involved as a Contributor

To read some interesting facts and updated news on Doing Business, please visit their Facebook page.

Upcoming Sessions:

 

The O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law is Seeking Fellows

The O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law is seeking exceptionally qualified candidates to serve as O’Neill Institute Fellows. Housed at Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., the O’Neill Institute is a leading research institute for health law. For more details about the Institute and its ongoing work, please visit the website.

Fellows are based at the Law Center and report to the O’Neill Institute Director and to the Faculty Director. Law fellows work on academic legal research and scholarship projects. Duties include working closely with faculty to produce scholarly works for publication, in some cases leading to joint publication. Allocation of time is mainly determined by O’Neill Institute Faculty needs and taking into account fellow preferences; additionally, some time may be allocated to O’Neill projects. Fellowships are for one year with possible extension for two years, and will begin in July 2012. Fellows will receive an annual salary of $66,747 with great benefits.

Candidates should have a J.D. degree (or the equivalent), exceptional academic credentials, including publications, and health law-related research interests in areas like public health law, global health law, domestic health care law, empirical studies, regulatory impacts of health, health and human rights, etc. Successful candidates will have knowledge and/or experience in aspects of national and or global health law and ethics. A post-graduate degree (MPH, LL.M.), health degree, or significant work experience may be preferred.

Applications should be submitted electronically on the website and must include: CV, cover letter, writing sample, professional references, official law school transcript, and other graduate school transcripts (if applicable).

The application deadline is Friday, February 29, 2012.

Any questions about the position should be directed here.

 

German Chancellor Fellowship Program – An International Leadership Opportunity – Open to all Professions and Disciplines

The German Chancellor Fellowship provides for a stay of one year in Germany for professional development, study, or research. It sponsors individuals who demonstrate leadership and the potential to strengthen ties between Germany and their own country through their profession or studies.

Germany’s Alexander von Humboldt Foundation awards ten German Chancellor Fellowships (per country) annually to young professionals of the United States, the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China.

Eligibility: Applicants must have received their bachelor’s degree within the past twelve years. This prestigious program is open to candidates from all professions and disciplines. Prior knowledge of German is not a prerequisite.

Application Deadline: October 15 (annually) – for U.S. applicants. Applications and FAQsAlumni Website. Email Questions Here.

Vacancy: Head, Human Rights and Rule of Law, OSCE Mission to Serbia

PAE Government Services, under contract for the U.S. Department of State, is seeking applications from well-qualified U.S. citizens for the following position within the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE):

Head, Human Rights and Rule of Law
Middle Management, Rule of Law
Vacancy number: VNSRMS00326
Duty station: Belgrade

Application Deadline is February 17, 2012.

The full requirements and job description can be found online.

In order to receive full consideration, interested parties should create an online application and enter the relevant vacancy number here by February 17. Only finalists will be contacted. PAE-REACT will interview short-listed candidates before the OSCE deadline.