Government Opportunities, Post-Graduate Opportunities, Public Interest Opportunities, Resources, Summer Opportunities Comments turned off

PSLawNet: Valuable Resource for Public Service and Public Interest Careers

By on December 12th, 2008

The Public Service Law Network Worldwide (www.PSLawNet.org) is a national network of over 2,000 organizations that offer students and graduates opportunities in legally-related public interest and public service work.

PSLawNet is a comprehensive site. In addition to containing job postings for both internships and postgraduate positions, PSLawNet offers resources for those interested in a public interest career. Among the many publications available on the site are those dedicated to federal government job searches (including the “Plum Book” of federal positions to be vacated with the change in administration), prosecutor and public defender careers, guides to searching for international internships and postgraduate fellowships and tips on working on Capitol hill.

For those interested in postgraduate fellowships, PSLawNet has a comprehensive section devoted to these opportunities including a “background information and resources page” and fellowships deadline calendar.

To use PSLawNet, you must register. Registration is free and easy to do. Visit PSLawNet and, under “New User” select “Job Seeker.” You will then be redirected to the registration page.

Post-Graduate Opportunities, Public Interest Opportunities, Summer Funding, Summer Opportunities Comments turned off

Institute for Educational Equity and Opportunity Fellowship and Summer Associate Programs

By on December 11th, 2008

The Institute for Educational Equity and Opportunity is a non-profit organization dedicated to the pursuit of educational equity and opportunity, particularly for disadvantaged United States’ public school children through legal means. The IFEEO is especially interested in fair and equitable public school finance laws.

Towards this interest, the IFEEO created the IFEEO Legal Fellowship Program and will provide funding for a 2009 law school graduate to work with attorneys or public interest organizations in the areas of school finance and educational equity. The one-year Fellowship ward will be in the amount of $60,000 for salary with additional fund for benefits..

In addition, the IFEEO established a Summer Associate Award in the amount of $1000 per week for 12 weeks. A second year law student will develop and submit a proposal for a full-time 12 week internship with a public interest organization or an attorney that is involved in litigation to enhance educational opportunities for disadvantaged students, particularly through legal means such as school finance/equity litigation.

To apply for either the Fellowship or Summer Associate Award, please submit a completed application to the address listed on the application form. Completed applications must be postmarked by January 31, 2009. Finalists for each will be notified mid-February, 2009. Interviews will be scheduled mid-February. Final selection will be by February 27, 2009.

Public Interest Opportunities, Summer Funding, Summer Opportunities Comments turned off

ABA John J. Curtin Jr. Justice Fund 2009 Summer Legal Internship Program

By on December 11th, 2008

The Curtin Justice Fund Legal Internship Program is seeking motivated law student interns to apply for stipends available for the Summer 2009 Program. These students should have a position offered, contingent on funding from a qualified organization.

Internship:

The Internship Program is managed jointly by the ABA Commission on Homelessness and Poverty and the Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defendants. The Program will pay a $2,500 stipend to three law students who spend the summer months working for a bar association or legal services program designed to prevent homelessness or assist homeless or indigent clients or their advocates.

Intern Requirements:

The ideal intern will have a demonstrated interest in public interest law and experience working with poor people or on issues affecting them. All law students are eligible and first year law students are encouraged to apply. The intern must commit no less than eight continuous weeks between May 1 and October 1 to the program of his or her choice.

Program requirements:

Qualified organizations include bar association programs, legal services programs and nonprofit organizations which have programs dedicated to meeting the legal needs and concerns of homeless and indigent people and their advocates. To be considered, programs must have been operational for at least one year and must have an attorney o staff or easily available to supervise the intern.

A lawyer in the program (either volunteer or paid) must supervise the intern and the program must assure the ABA that it will give the intern substantive law experiences with clients and with preparing legal documents.

Application Process:

Applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, application form and a prospective program’s supporting statement. Please be specific about the issues on which you plan to focus and what you hope to accomplish.

All application materials must be submitted to the Curtin Internship Program, American Bar Association Commission on Homelessness and Poverty, 740 15th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20005.

All applications must be received by Monday, March 23, 2009.

1L Info, Job Fairs, Summer Opportunities Comments turned off

Deadline Reminder: Delaware Minority Job Fair for First Year Law Students

By on December 3rd, 2008

As a reminder, the deadline to apply for the Delaware Minority Job Fair for First Year Law Students is December 10, 2008. For more information including how to apply, please see the previous blog posting about the job fair.

Public Interest Opportunities, Summer Opportunities Comments turned off

Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A. 2009 Summer Fellows Program

By on December 3rd, 2008

Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A. 2009 Summer Fellows Program

Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc. (LSGMI) is pleased to announce it is accepting applications for the 2009 Stearns Weaver Miller Summer Fellows Program. Stearns Weaver Miller is the generous founding sponsor of the Summer Fellows Program.

The Summer Fellows Program will afford three rising third year law students (one from each of the three Miami-Dade law schools) the opportunity to become immersed in public interest law. The criteria used by LSGMI to select the Fellows will include a demonstrated commitment to public interest work and a strong academic background.

During the 12 week program each Fellow will be exposed to an in-house rotation, working alongside experienced LSGMI attorneys. Examples of project assignments include:

(1) The Renters Education & Advocacy Legal Lines;
(2) The Affordable Housing Project; and
(3) The Ryan White HIV Project.

Assignments will include research, writing, client interviews and community education and outreach. Fellows will receive guidance and mentoring from LSGMI staff attorneys, as well as meet and interact with Stearns Weaver Miller attorneys. The funding provided by Stearns Weaver Miller to support the Summer Fellows Program will afford law students the opportunity to pursue an interest in public service without forgoing compensation, as is often the case with summer internships at non-profit organizations such as LSGMI.

The mission of the Summer Fellows Program is to foster a life-long commitment to public interest work, to encourage substantive knowledge in the assigned practice areas, and to provide the Fellows an opportunity to interface with the low income communities of Miami-Dade County.

Interested students must submit an application form along with a resume, cover letter and personal statement. To obtain the application form, please contact the CDO. The deadline to apply is January 16, 2009.

Monthly Calendar CDO Comments turned off

December Calendar

By on December 3rd, 2008

December 2008
Important Deadlines, Workshops and Events
Due to reading period, final exams and winter break, the CDO will not conduct programming during the month of December. Programming will begin again in January and here is a preview of some of the upcoming events you can look forward to.
Exclusively for 1Ls:
1L Career Development Sessions
Firm Night Networking Receptions

Preparing for Summer and Permanent Employment:
How to Succeed as a Summer Associate
How to Succeed in the Public Sector
How to Succeed as a First Year Attorney

Job Searching in a Tough Economy:
Understanding the Current Legal Market
Tailoring Your Job Search to Embrace the Changing Times

Identifying Opportunities for You:
2009 Career Fair

Why a Judicial Clerkship May be the Perfect Opportunity for You
Small Firm Practice
Flying Solo: Opening Your Own Practice
Bankruptcy Practice Panel
State and Local Government Practice Panel
Non Traditional Legal Careers Panel
Legal Opportunities in Central and Northern Florida
Fellowship Opportunities
Networking Opportunities Comments turned off

Florida Chapter of National Employment Lawyers’ Association Seminar

By on November 19th, 2008

Florida’s chapter of the National Employment Lawyers’ Association invites students to participate in its two annual seminars. The NELA is a plaintiffs’ employment organization that provides in depth training and assistance to plaintiff’s lawyers and law students in matters pertaining to Title VII of the Civil Rights Acts Florida Statutes 760 Civil Rights Act, ERISA, Family Medical Leave Act, American Disabilities Act, and the Federal and State Equal Employment Opportunity Administrative process.

Seminars are held in the winter and summer. The next conference will be held January 15-17 at the Plaza Resort and Spa in Daytona Beach. The fee for students to attend is usually half of the regular rate that will be between $200 – $300. (The final rate has not yet been set.).

Attending students can learn about cutting edge litigation on civil rights matters. Time between sessions can be used to network with plaintiff’s attorneys and seek summer employment part or full time work.

More information on the organization is available on the NELA’s Florida Chapter website. To learn more about attending the conference, please contact Keisha Siriboe at 850-769-7825.

1L Info, Government Opportunities, Public Interest Opportunities, Summer Funding, Summer Opportunities Comments turned off

ABA Fellowship in Environmental Law

By on November 19th, 2008

The Florida Bar’s Environmental and Land Use Law Section is partnering with the American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources to fund the Fellowships in Environmental Law Program in Florida. The program is designed to encourage students from underprivileged and disadvantaged backgrounds to study and pursue careers in environmental and/or land use law. The program is open to first and second year law students.

The program will fund two summer internships at a government agency or public interest organization in Florida with a stipend of $5,000.00 each. The Fellowship guidelines require an 8-10 week internship (40 hours per week) commitment wherein the recipient will work on legal matters for a government agency or a public interest organization in the fields of environment, energy, natural resources and/or land use law. In addition, each recipient will be expected to attend the Annual Update meeting of the ELULS and will be assigned a mentor from the Section to aid in the pursuit of a career in environmental and/or land use law.

More information on how to apply and a copy of the application are available here.

Completed applications and all related documents must be postmarked or emailed no later than January 30, 2009 to be considered.


INFORMATION ON FELLOWSHIPS OUTSIDE OF FLORIDA


Fellowships are available in other states as well. It is generally preferred that students select the state where they are attending law school or have permanent residency status. Exceptions can be made but preference will be giving to those attending school, those who have permanent residency or those who have a strong interest in the state they are applying to.

Fellowships are available in the following states. More information on these fellowships is available here.

California(Deadline: January 15, 2009)
District of Columbia (Deadline: January 31, 2009)
Georgia (Deadline: January 15, 2009)
Hawaii
Louisiana (Deadline: January 15, 2009)
New Mexico (Deadline: February 15, 2009)
New York (Deadline: November 17, 2008)
North Carolina (Deadline: February 16, 2009)
Oregon

1L Info, Job Fairs Comments turned off

Delaware Minority Job Fair for First Year Law Students

By on November 17th, 2008

As part of an effort to recruit talented students and increase diversity in the Delaware Bar, a number of employers will participate in the 13th annual Delaware Minority Job Fair for First Year Law Students on Saturday, January 17, 2009.

The Job Fair is by invitation only and is limited to first year students and interested in employment opportunities in Delaware.

To participate, students must apply for an invitation. The Job Fair differs from other job fairs in that students must be invited to attend rather than simply registering and attending. In return, invited students receive considerably more individual attention than possible in a very large job fair. By submitting an application for an invitation, students are submitting an application to all of the Delaware legal employers who participate in the program.

To become eligible for an invitation, students must complete an application form and return it via mail, fax or email, along with a resume and college and law school transcripts (if available) no later than Wednesday, December 10, 2008 to:

Amanda D. Horan
Job Fair Administrator
Morris James LLP
500 Delaware Avenue, Suite 1500
Wilmington, DE 19801
Fax: 302-571-1750
Email: ahoran@morrisjames.com

Applying students will be eligible for an invitation if selected by two or more employers to interview. The Job Fair will send out invitations with a proposed interview schedule after the new year which must be accepted or declined by Friday, January 9, 2009.

There are no application or registration fees. Invited students must arrange for transportation to Wilmington and the Job Fair hopes to reimburse all or at least a portion of those expenses. Historically, the Job Fair has reimbursed 100% of such expenses. Breakfast is provided to all invited students and leaders of the Bench and Bar will join students at breakfast to answer any questions about life and the practice of law in Delaware.

To obtain a copy of the application, please contact your CDO advisor.

Resources Comments turned off

Need to Find Summer Housing or Sublet Your Apartment?

By on November 14th, 2008

As you figure out your summer plans, you may find that you need housing in other parts of the United States and/or need to sublet your Miami apartment. The NALP Apartment Exchange is a site allowing students to search for summer housing and/or post available housing. Free registration is required. The NALP Apartment Exchange will be available starting in February.

In addition, students from other law schools contact UM law to advertise their housing needs. One current request:

A 2L at Indiana University School of Law would like to sublet a furnished studio or one bedroom apartment from May 25th to July 31st, preferably near downtown Miami. To obtain contact information for this student, please email the CDO.