CAIR isAmerica’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. TheFloridachapter of CAIR (CAIR-Florida) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. CAIR-Florida is accepting applications for the position of Civil Rights Fellow at CAIR-Florida’s Tampa Office. Civil Rights Fellows will get hands-on experience working in the areas of employment discrimination, constitutional law, and immigration law. Accepted Fellows are then encouraged to apply for the Skadden Fellowship, which will cover the Fellow’s salary and benefits while they work for CAIR-Florida.
The Skadden Fellowship Foundation, described as “a Legal Peace Corps” by The Los Angeles Times, was established in 1988 to commemorate the firm’s 40th anniversary, in recognition of the dire need for greater funding for graduating law students who wish to devote their professional lives to providing legal services to the poor (including the working poor), the elderly, the homeless and the disabled, as well as those deprived of their civil or human rights. The aim of the foundation is to give Fellows the freedom to pursue public interest work; thus, the Fellows create their own projects at public interest organizations with at least two lawyers on staff before they apply.
CAIR-FLORIDA CIVIL RIGHTS SKADDEN FELLOWSHIP: Those seeking to be CAIR-Florida Civil Rights Skadden Fellows, must secure a potential position with CAIR-Florida before applying for the Skadden Fellowship. Fellowships are awarded for two years. Skadden provides each Fellow with a salary and pays all fringe benefits to which an employee of the sponsoring organization (CAIR-Florida) would be entitled. For those Fellows not covered by a law school low income protection plan, the firm will pay the Fellow’s law school debt service for the tuition part of the loan for the duration of the Fellowship.
Application Requirements:
Applicant must currently be in the 3rd year of law school, completing a law clerkship, or obtaining an LL.M. Applicant must be committed to work for CAIR-Florida in theTampaoffice for two years after law school.
Application Process:
Apply to be a Civil Rights Fellow with CAIR-Florida. Please email resume, unofficial transcript, cover letter, 2 references and writing sample (no more than 5 pages) by Saturday, September 24, 2011 11pm to Hassan Shibly, CAIR-Florida Tampa executive director. Call 813-514-1414 for questions.
Accepted Civil Rights Fellows will be notified by September 28th. Accepted Fellows should then apply for the Skadden Fellowship. The Skadden Deadline is October 3rd, 2011.
Fellowship Information:
CAIR-Florida is looking for a motivated individual. Fellow should have experience and/or education in at least two of the following areas: Civil Rights, Employment Discrimination, Constitutional Law, and Immigration law [in particular naturalization and citizenship delays]. Fellow should have strong research and writing skills.
Length of employment: It is essential that Fellow be willing to work for CAIR-Tampa for two years.
Skill Level: Special consideration will be given to individuals who have interned in a legal clinic, non-profit organization, or government. Fellow must have strong writing skills and an interest in advocacy work. Strong interpersonal skills and articulation are needed. Individual must possess strong diplomacy skills and be willing to work with a wide range of individuals including public officers, businesses, and community organizations.
