By Lauren Forbes

Each year, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) selects a small number of graduating law students or judicial law clerks to serve in the OGC Honor Law Graduate Program (HLGP).  Established in 1972, the HLGP is the primary mechanism for hiring entry-level attorneys at the NRC.

As an Honor Law Graduate, you will serve in a two-year program consisting of rotational assignments through different OGC divisions in order to gain broad exposure to the diverse legal practice at the NRC.

The program allows you to collaborate with seasoned attorneys and work independently on a variety of assignments, such as the following:

• participating in administrative litigation involving nuclear power plants
• reviewing environmental impact statements with technical staff
• drafting proposed regulations for new or revised safety standards
• assisting in the review and litigation of personnel actions, equal employment opportunity cases, and Government contract matters
• working with the Solicitor in researching and preparing briefs for submission to the Federal courts of appeals

In order to qualify for the Honor Law Graduate Program, you must meet the following criteria:

• Be a U.S. citizen.
• Be ONE of the following:
  • a third-year law student (3L) who will earn a J.D. degree no later than June of the academic year of application;
  • a graduate law student who will earn an LL.M. degree no later than June of the academic year of application with no significant post-J.D. employment preceding graduate study; or
  • >a judicial law clerk with no other significant employment preceding graduate study who will be prepared for duty no later than the end of September of the year following application.
• Be in the upper third (33%) of your law school class.  (This criterion may be waived if you have unusual compensating qualifications, such as other academic degrees or pertinent work experience.)
• Have an interest in administrative law, legislative law, statutory interpretation, environmental law, energy law, public interest law, and/or trial advocacy.
• Have excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Have a demonstrated interest in public service.

To view the full job listing, go to PSLawNet (login required).

Take it from those who know!  The folks at the Department of Justice share some insights with the PSLawNet Blog about opportunities at DOJ.

1.            What are the traditional points of entry for attorneys into the Department of Justice?

The good news is there are multiple points of entry into legal positions at the Department of Justice.  Many law students (more than 1800 annually) enter the Department as volunteer legal interns and many of those same interns rejoin the Department at some point in their career.  The same holds true for the 100 to 120 law students who participate in the compensated Summer Law Intern Program.  The Attorney General’s Honors Program, which is the only way you can enter the Department as a graduating law student, is the entry point for anywhere from 150 to 200 law students every year, and another 600 – 700 experienced attorneys join the Department annually.  In other words, wherever you are in your legal career, there is an opportunity to join the Department.

2.            How about for attorneys who no longer wish to practice? Are there employment opportunities for them? If so, could you talk about how attorneys apply for them?

Law school and legal work experience gives you valuable skills that are transferable to a wide range of professions, not just practicing law.  There are more than 120,000 individuals working for the Department and only 10,000 works as attorneys.  Based on these numbers, we have many opportunities for attorneys who no longer wish to practice. The types of positions vary widely, and include jobs such as investigator, administrator, program analyst, paralegal, program manager, and human resources specialist.  Most of these positions are available through the competitive service and all of them are advertised on USAJOBS.

3.            Steering back to hiring, we’re keeping ourselves abreast of the efforts that Office of Personnel Management’s application reform process.  To what extent are these reforms affecting DOJ attorney hiring?

The purpose of the hiring reforms is to streamline the hiring process, and make it simpler for job applicants who wish to serve their country through federal sector employment.  Through a more efficient and user friendly hiring process, the DOJ will be better able to hire quality, mission-critical personnel such as those who carry out the Department’s important law enforcement mission.  Attorneys and non-attorneys alike serve to benefit from the enhanced transparency and efficiency brought about by OPM’s hiring reforms.

4.            We also know that the federal government has imposed a hiring freeze at all agencies.  How has the freeze impacted hiring at DOJ?

In light of budget reductions, all Federal Agencies, including DOJ, have taken additional steps to ensure there continued ability to comply with critical mission requirements.  Proposed expenditures, not just hiring, are being carefully reviewed with these requirements in mind.  All future experienced career attorney positions as well as entry level attorney opportunities through the Attorney General’s Honors Program will continue to be posted on DOJ’s attorney vacancy web site (www.justice.gov/oarm) in normal course.

5.            Turning now to those who are selected for an interview, what are three pieces of advice you’d give a candidate?

The Department of Justice is a mission driven organization.  We are interested in talented candidates who demonstrate that they want to contribute to the overall mission of the Department, as well as the specific mission of the individual office.  Our three interview tips:

1. Do your homework. Have a clear understanding of the mission and work of the office. Consult the web, career services, alumni, and other contacts.
2. Have a clear and persuasive answer to the question: “Why are you interested in working with us?” Be able to draw a clear connection between your skills and experience and the work of the office.
3. Know who you are and what you bring to the table. DOJ values authenticity, integrity, enthusiasm, and confidence.

6.            Programs like the Presidential Management Fellowship have recently become an increasingly attractive route for law graduates not wanting to practice.  Has DOJ made any PMF or similar program placements recently?

The Office of Attorney Recruitment and Management does not manage the Department’s Presidential Management Fellowship program.  However, PMFs with law degrees are welcome to apply for the Attorney General’s Honors Program provided they meet other eligibility requirements.  In addition, PMFs qualify for many non legal positions in the Department.

By Lauren Forbes

D.C.’s Office of Disability Rights seeks a Special Projects Coordinator.  The incumbent conducts surveys, audits and reviews of all agencies throughout the District of Columbia to assure agency compliance with disability civil rights laws. Provides technical assistance to agencies regarding the interpretation and implementation of disability civil rights legislation. Conducts research on best practices, policy issues, and resources to guide the development and implementation of major projects. Conducts research and fact-finding investigations. Prepares comprehensive reports on the analyses, and recommend options based on these analyses. Establishes priorities and follows through on major projects to ensure that sufficient staff preparation is completed before matters are referred to the Director and implements control to assure that deadlines are met. Independently, plans and conducts in-depth studies.

Identifies problems concerning legal issues, and provides reliable solutions, after evaluating the impact of the alternatives. Develops enforcement strategies, model investigative, review plans, or significant investigative procedure; implements new laws or regulations; and/ or addresses areas where existing guidelines have been ineffective. Develops authoritative interpretation of regulations and program policies when accepted methods or provisions are questioned, challenged, or inadequate, and important issues must be resolved. Analyzes and audit operational problems identified through reports, quality reviews, assessments, and various complaints from groups or individuals to determine causes, and develops solutions. Participates in the development of procedures for evaluating work products and services rendered by the agency. Reviews internal control systems for compliance with established procedures and standards. Participates in the development of the goals and objectives to implement agency strategies.

Analyzes pertinent legislative proposals and enactments, and makes appropriate reporting recommendations to the Director. Develops and implements rules, policies, guidelines and procedures to ensure consistent and timely compliance reviews. Investigates complaints, plans, develops, and conducts program analyses of substantial scale and impact concerning legal aspects of the District’s Disability Civil Rights Compliance Program for actual or potential effectiveness in achieving planned goals and objectives.

To view the full job listing, go to PSLawNet (login required).

By: Steve Grumm

The WSJ Law Blog noted that a Mississippi state court judge will be formally reprimanded for tossing in the clink an attorney who did not recite the Pleadge in the judge’s courtroom.  This proves that courtrooms and Catholic school classrooms are very different places.  Had I refused to stand, hand over heart, and recite the Pledge in grade school, I’d have faced the wrath of a very angry nun…exponentially more frightening than anything this judge could have done.

(Original reporting by the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal.)

By: Steve Grumm

The Boston Globe has a nice exit interview of sorts with Bob Sable, the executive director of Greater Boston Legal Services, who’s retiring after decades of service, helping those on society’s margins find meaningful access to justice.  Some notable, and candid, quotes:

Q. What inspired you to go into legal aid?

A. This was the time of the War on Poverty, and what inspired me was the notion that lawyers could do for the poor what they had always done for the well-to-do. The guiding light of my career has been to use the law and legal tools to help people get out of poverty.

Q. What progress have you seen over 20 years, or has there been regression?

A. That’s a very tough question. The notion that government could deal arbitrarily with poor people was in retreat, but now we’ve seen a lot of setbacks. If you look at the ultimate question — Is the poverty rate lower now than it was? — the changes have been very marginal.

…

Q. You obviously don’t get rich at a job like this.

A. Our starting salaries are in the mid-40s, and associates in big law firms are earning $160,000. So there’s a huge gap. And on top of that the student loan burden is so great. I have a lot of admiration for young lawyers who are sticking with it.

By Lauren Forbes

US ARMY AVIATION AND MISSILE COMMAND LEGAL OFFICE, GENERAL LAW DIVISION REDSTONE ARSENAL 35898

Civilian employees serve a vital role in supporting the Army mission. They provide the skills that are not readily available in the military, but crucial to support military operations. The Army integrates the talents and skills of its military and civilian members to form a Total Army.

The AMCOM Legal Office provides comprehensive legal advice and support to assure the accomplishment of the Army’s aviation and missile systems’ acquisition mission and to the Redstone Arsenal Garrison.

This announcement requires completion of a questionnaire which will be sent to you after your application package is received. As the questionnaire is part of a complete application package, failure to complete it may result in non-consideration for this position.

Duties:

By: Steve Grumm

Happy Friday, dear readers!  To begin with shameless self-promotion: if you’re inclined to use the Twitters, please follow us at @PSLawNet.  We tweet all of our blog posts along with pieces of timely public interest career and funding news.  And we don’t tweet immodest photos of ourselves.

Also, I apologize for publishing the Bulletin a few minutes late this morning.  The Philadelphia Phillies kept me up until 12:30am last night, only to fall apart on defense, surrendering to the lowly Cubs of Chicago in extra innings.  And now I’ll have to hear about it from the Chicago Bar Foundation folks, which is even worse.

This week we present a Bulletin rich with funding news, although certainly not all of this news speaks to the riches of public interest funding: good news for Lone Star State legal services and indigent defense advocates; but in the Bay State, elected officials may still need some prodding; Have Justice Will Travel urgently needs money to keep moving; in Jacksonville, FL, the city council may boost legal services funding in the wake of state gov’t. stinginess; Legal Services of New Jersey sure could use a funding boost, too; the DOJ’s AtJ program has a new chief; and speaking of DOJ, some advice on becoming an AUSA.

• 6.9.11 – some terrific news out of Texas.  After a legislative roller coaster ride, the state house and senate are in agreement on funding both civil legal services and indigent defense.   From the Tex Parte blog: “Representatives approved an amendment on a general appropriations bill that would add $17.6 million over the biennium for indigent civil legal aid, as well as $7.6 million for indigent criminal defense.”  There had been some back-and-forth on the senate side, too, but that chamber ultimately came through with funding.  “[Now], the House and Senate versions include the same language about indigent legal aid funding. If the bill moves to conference committee, lawmakers would only focus on smoothing out differences.”

• 6.7.11 – in the Patriot Ledger of Quincy, Massachusetts, corporate counsel heavy-hitter and Greater Boston Legal Services board member Thomas Gunning pens an op-ed highlighting the importance of adequately funding civil legal services.   After noting some of GBLS’s most important, recent work in helping low-income clients, Gunning looks at the precarious state of funding:  “The need for services is way up in our tough economy and funding is way down.  While private lawyers give millions in support each year, a large portion of budgets come from state funding and interest earned on money held in short-term escrow accounts… For fiscal year 2010, the state cut the legal aid budget by $1.5 million from $11 million to $9.5 million.  At the same time, [IOLTA funding is down].  So with need at record levels, legal aid organizations have been forced to lay off lawyers and staff. They must turn away many more eligible clients than they can represent resulting in denied justice and avoidable social service costs…. After the painful 2010 cuts, the governor and Legislature ‘level funded’ legal aid in 2011 at the reduced amount. The governor’s fiscal year 2012 submitted budget also proposes level funding and the Legislature has shown signs of doing the same. We should certainly hope the final 2012 state budget level funds legal aid so that those in need have access to justice, and we can protect our social service spending from avoidable additional costs.”

• 6.7.11 – a piece in Vermont’s Bennington Banner looks at the work, and financial woes, of Have Justice Will Travel, a thinly staffed organization that provides legal services to domestic violence victims.  Times are very tough indeed on the finance front.  A reduction in a DOJ grant forced the closure of an office, and this summer most of HJWT’s staff are being asked to take a (hopefully) temporary layoff.  The organization is presently scrambling to cobble together more grant funding.

• 6.7.11 – the Daily Record reports that some of the funding cuts that Jacksonville Area Legal Aid will suffer as a result of the Florida governor’s civil legal services funding veto may be offset by Jacksonville City Council: “City Council member Kevin Hyde introduced bill 2010-766 to establish a $40 court fee on felonies, misdemeanors and criminal traffic infractions to provide assistance for foreclosure programs for the disadvantaged through JALA.  An amendment to the original ordinance requested the fee be increased to $50 because of recent budget cuts for JALA at the state level.”

• 6.7.11 – a piece on MyCentralJersey.com looks closely at the dire funding situation of Legal Services of New Jersey: “[LSNJ President Melville D. Miller, Jr.] said that during the past three years, Legal Services of New Jersey has lost a third of its staff and a third of its funding — going from $72 million to $46 million in operating revenue as its staff fell from 720 to 490 attorneys with another 75 advocate set to be lost this year.  Meanwhile, Miller said, poverty in New Jersey has spiked by 8.4 percent over the last year.”  The article also looks at the efforts of Assemblyman Peter J. Barnes, III and other to restore some state funding, and to shore it up in both the shorter and longer term.

• 6.2.11 – there’s a new sheriff in town at the DOJ’s access to justice office.  Main Justice reports: “About six months after the departure of Laurence Tribe as Senior Counselor of the Justice Department Access to Justice Initiative, his successor is in place.  Mark Childress on Thursday was sworn in as the leader of the program that focuses on access to legal services for the poor.  He most recently was the acting General Counsel at the Department of Health and Human Services.”  Childress has a fairly varied resume, including a stint as a partner at Foley Hoag, some high-level staff work in the White House and on the Hill, and even some work with an aboriginal business development entity in Australia.

• June, 2011 – a former Assistant U.S. Attorney contributes a piece to this month’s edition of the ABA’s Young Lawyer, explaining how one may land one of these coveted, federal positions: “Assistant U.S. Attorneys…are experienced trial attorneys who come from a variety of backgrounds, including both the public and private sectors, as well as the military. Generally, the attorneys have five to seven years of litigation experience before joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office. While many aspects of a particular applicant are considered, trial experience is the most significant requirement. A strong working knowledge of the Federal Rules of Evidence and Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure is important.”

Staff Attorney for Gulf Coast Fair Housing Center.  Law degree from accredited school of law, admission to Mississippi State Bar or eligible for admission. Experience in housing and/or civil rights. Salary commensurate with experience.  Log on to www.makeitfair.com for more info.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Perform and/or manage functions related to the provision of client services: intake; investigation; counseling; conciliation; referral to attorney or enforcement agency; follow-up after referral;
• Maintains full and accurate case files for legal proceedings and help maintain database for grant reporting;
• Develop and implement the Fair Housing Center of the Gulf Coast’s intake and testing goals and plans;
• Represent Fair Housing Center of the Gulf Coast at fair housing meetings;
• Track and support relevant legislation and laws;
• Analyze and evaluate complaints in reference to state and federal statutes and case law;
• Keep staff abreast of changes to fair housing laws;
• Provide training to staff to ensure maximum efficiency and accuracy of work; Cross-training opportunities within the department or agency are exercised to promote teamwork and provide necessary back-up for each position;
• Develop and maintain networking relationships within the community;
• Safeguard clients’ security and confidentiality;
• Work as a team and support the mission and goals of the agency and programs;
• Provide accurate and complete information for grant reporting and management;
• Coordinate substantive fair housing audits and studies;
• Recruit and mange the cooperating attorney panel; and
• Other duties as assigned.

To view the full job listing, go to PSLawNet (login required).

By Lauren Forbes

Happy Thursday! It is time for the weekly roundup of some of our favorite posts from the public interest blogosphere. With no further ado…

• 6.9.11 SCOTUS to Rule on Right to Counsel in Collateral Proceedings. Marquette University Law School Faculty Blog includes a piece on the Supreme Court agreeing to hear a case that will test how firm the distinction between  a right to counsel at the first level of direct appeal and the right to counsel at collateral post-conviction proceedings.
  
• 6.8.11 The Povery Law Blog discusses Yonatan Ben-Shalom, Robert A. Moffitt, and John Karl Scholz’s NBER Working Paper, An Assessment of the Effectiveness of Anti-Poverty Programs in the United States.  In  which direction does the  U.S. benefit system tilt?
  
• 6.6.11 DC budget and safety net programs cut, but not eliminated. Some of the hardest-hit social safety net programs, TANF,  homeless services, and Interim Disability Assistance (IDA) were restored or preserved.
• 6.6.11 Heather Jarvis tells us five ways IBR beats ICR.  Important bottom line: monthly payments are typically higher under income-contingent repayment than under income-based repayment.
• 6.6.11 Technola’s timely post about igniting your community referenced  last week’s Legal Services NTAP (National Technology Assistance Project) post.  Ideas include TED, CommonCraft, and others.
• 6.3.11 Partnering to aid our nation’s veterans, a piece in the Equal Justice Works Blog. Public Counsel has partnered with the Southern California Salvation Army to help provide legal services to hundreds of homeless veterans and their families in the Los Angeles area. The blog also highlight’s The Salvation Army‘s piece on how legal help is often the missing piece in a veteran’s recovery.

By: Steve Grumm

On the libertarian-leaning Reason website, Bruce Western, a professor of sociology and director of the Program in Inequality and Social Policy at Harvard University, looks at some of the longer-term, negative effects of imprisonment:

Do prisons make us safer? By taking would-be offenders off the streets, prisons clearly have reduced crime in the short run. In the long run, though, imprisonment erodes the bonds of work, family, and community that help preserve public safety.

[Tip of cap to Andrew Sullivan’s The Dish blog.]