Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach seeks a Staff Attorney in San Francisco, CA.

Duties and Responsibilities: 1. Provide legal representation primarily in the areas of civil legal services of behalf of the disabled but may include work in other priority areas such as public benefits, elder law, immigration, domestic violence, sexual assault, and housing. This work will include representation of clients in state court and before administrative bodies. 2. Conduct community education and outreach. 3. Staff clinics at sites accessible to the low-income, disabled, and senior consumers. 4. Provide technical assistance and training to community and public agencies. 5. Represent the organization at community, legal, funding, and other meetings and functions. 6. Assist with administrative and fundraising work of the organization.
Minimum Qualifications: 1. At least two (2) year’s experience in representing low-income and non-English speaking, disabled clients in progressively more complex civil law matters. 2. Demonstrated commitment to social justice and the advancement of communities of color. 3. Bilingual and bicultural skills particularly relevant to underserved communities. 4. Strong advocacy and courtroom skills. 5. Must be a member in good standing of the California Bar. 6. Ability to work well in a team-oriented, multi-cultural work environment. Preferred Qualifications: 1. At least two years of civil litigation experience in representing low-income, disabled clients. 2. Successful experience in serving API’s target populations and working in disadvantaged communities of color. 3. Working knowledge of Time Matters/Abacus, Essential Forms, and Immigrant Pro or similar programs.

Click into the listing on PSLawNet for application instructions  (login required).

By Lauren Forbes

The AmeriCorps Legal Fellows will serve in the Joplin office of Legal Aid providing direct legal services to low-income and elderly people affected by the devastating tornado that struck Joplin on May 22, 2011.  Casework will include representing:  tenants in eviction proceedings, buyers on contract for deed disputes, homeowners in foreclosure and other mortgage-related problems, victims of domestic violence in family law matters, consumers in contract and debt cases, and individuals in guardianship actions, beneficiary deeds, and other legal matters as they arise.  In addition, the AmeriCorps Legal Fellows will increase student awareness of volunteer opportunities by recruiting at law schools and Missouri Southern State University’s paralegal program.  The Fellows will collaborate with Legal Aid’s Volunteer Attorney Project (VAP) director to recruit and use new pro bono attorneys to represent eligible clients impacted by the storm.  The AmeriCorps Legal Fellows report to the Managing Attorney in Joplin.  Some local and overnight travel is required, including attendance at national conferences and training opportunities.

The Legal Aid AmeriCorps Legal Fellows in Joplin will:

• Provide legal representation to eligible clients who have been impacted by the May 22 tornado and its after-effects.
• Conduct outreach to increase service to hard-to-find client communities, such as immigrants and others unlikely to ask for help.
• Conduct “know your rights” outreach on prevalent legal problems.
• Recruit law students and paralegal students for volunteer opportunities.
• Recruit volunteer attorneys in conjunction with VAP to represent eligible clients to increase our impact in disaster relief legal services.
• Arrange practical training for students and attorneys, including collaborating with other community based organizations; and
• Act as a community resource for other organizations who wish to collaborate on solving the vast array of legal problems clients are facing in Joplin.

Click into the listing on PSLawNet for application instructions  (login required).

By Lauren Forbes

And you thought the DC Beltway had too many acronyms…

Roger Williams University invites applications for the position of Assistant General Counsel for Labor & Employment (AGCL&E) in its Office of General Counsel(OGC). Reporting to the University Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel, the AGCL&E provides the full array of legal practice endemic to a labor organized, private institution of higher education with a distinct emphasis on labor and employment law services. By way of illustration, this shall include employment and labor relations liaison, advisement and advocacy, litigation and alternative dispute resolution, legal research and writing, and legal advice on all matters as assigned concerning the entity. The AGC is expected to contribute to the University community as attorney, policy advocate, administrator, colleague, and ambassador.

This is an outstanding opportunity for an individual driven by challenge and rewarded by opportunity to make a difference. The position will be split time between OGC’s Providence office and the Bristol campus.

The successful candidate will possess a Juris Doctorate degree and an accompanying license to practice law as well as a minimum of 5+ years of distinguished, labor and employment experience as an attorney working within or representing a labor organized corporate entity. Rhode Island Bar admission is required within one year of employment at the University.

Click into the listing on PSLawNet for application instructions  (login required).

By Lauren Forbes

Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida (CCLA), a LSC grantee serving low-income residents of Broward County, Florida, is seeking candidates for an Equal Justice Works or other sponsored fellowship to begin as early as 2012 for a two-year period. CCLA is open to hosting candidates for other legal fellowship programs.

The fellow will be assigned to the Public Benefits Unit, which assists people with issues related to Cash Assistance, Medicaid and Medicaid Reform, Medicare, Food Stamps, Social Security Disability and SSI, and Unemployment Compensation Benefits. The Public Benefits Unit will be adding services for Veterans and their families.

The fellow will be supervised through CCLA’s main office and may have an opportunity to service clients at the office(s) of a community partner that provides services to veterans. The fellow will work directly with our experienced staff attorneys, paralegals, and other support staff.

The fellow’s specific tasks will include providing direct legal services to veterans in the following areas:

• VA Disability Compensation, VA Pension Benefits, VA Health Care Benefits, Military Upgrades and Discharge Issues, all areas of Public Benefits, Family Law and Domestic Violence Issues, Foreclosure and Predatory Lending
• Duties will also include extensive outreach and educational efforts by hosting self -help clinics for veterans, military personnel and military families.
• The position will offer an interested fellow the opportunity to develop skills in legal advocacy, case management, and the opportunity to work intensively with State and Federal administrative agencies.

Click into the listing on PSLawNet for application instructions  (login required).

The “Finding and Funding International Public Service Opportunities” guide on PSLawNet, available on the international careers page.

Special thanks to Robert Kaplan and Rebecca Knowles of William & Mary School of Law, Beth Shackleford of the University of Georgia School of Law, and Paula Nailon of the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, who authored the guide.

Please share with all who have interest in international careers! It is a great resource.

By Lauren Forbes

The University of Kansas School of Law is looking for an Assistant Dean for Career Services.

The mission of the Office of Career Services is to assist students and alumni in their professional development by acquainting them with the range of career paths open to them, providing information on specific job opportunities, and working with students and graduates to enhance their job search skills.  The Assistant Dean is responsible for the implementation of this mission through the day-to-day administration and management of the office and through long-term strategic planning.  This includes monitoring and anticipating employment trends, assessing needs of students and alumni, setting goals for the office and devising innovative programming to maximize success of students. This is a full time, unclassified position.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

1. Juris Doctor degree
2. At least 4 years of legal career services, legal recruiting, or law practice experience
3. Demonstrated effective written communication skills as evidenced by application materials

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Demonstrated organizational skills and demonstrated ability to handle multiple projects and juggle priorities.
2. Familiarity with local and regional legal markets and legal hiring procedures.
3. Prior administrative or management experience, particularly in a University setting.
4. Excellent computer skills and demonstrated interest in the use of the Internet, databases, on-line research and new technologies.
5. Demonstrated experience in career counseling, legal recruiting or other related field

Click into the listing on PSLawNet for application instructions  (login required).

By: Steve Grumm

On the public interest job hunt?  Law student registration for interviews at the Equal Justice Works Conference & Career Fair opens today!  Learn more over at EJW’s career fair web page.   

Here’s are some important dates from their website:

August 16 – September 12:		Student and law school professional registration open
September 14 – October 6:		Student registration only for those not seeking an interview (can attend conference workshops and Table Talk)
September 14 – September 28:		Employers view applications and choose interviewees
September 30 – October 6:		Students accept or decline interviews
October 6, 5 p.m. EDT:		Last day to cancel student registration with full refund
October 21 – 22:		Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair

Good livin’ in the Silver State!

The Nevada Supreme Court is accepting applications for a staff attorney on its editing team. Under the direction of the court and the clerk of the court, staff attorneys on the editing team edit court decisions in all subject matters for substantive and technical accuracy and for proper English grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

Staff attorneys must possess superior legal research, writing, and oral presentation skills, must be flexible, and must be capable of working independently. Applicants must have graduated from an ABA-accredited law school and need not be licensed to practice law in Nevada, but should be willing and able to take the Nevada bar examination at the next available opportunity. No prior legal experience is necessary; however, 1 to 3 years of trial or appellate experience or experience of a similar length with a court is desirable.

Click into the listing on PSLawNet for application instructions  (login required).

An updated version of NYU’s Public Defender Handbook is now available on PSLawNet, http://www.pslawnet.org/uploads/Public_Defender_Handbook–_PUBLIC_VERSION_CURRENT.pdf.

NYU’s PD Handbook provides advice to students on how to prepare for careers and internships in public defense.  It also features a section that lists select PD offices that hire entry level lawyers, with hiring information for permanent and summer jobs.

An invaluable resource.  Check it out today!

By Lauren Forbes

The Public Justice Center seeks two staff attorneys – one with 2-7 years of experience and one with 7+ years of experience with a strong litigation background — to work in its Baltimore, Maryland office.

The Public Justice Center (“PJC”): The PJC is a nonprofit legal advocacy organization that seeks to protect and expand the rights of people who are denied justice because of their economic status or discrimination. The PJC selects and designs its cases and projects to effect systemic legal and social changes, using diverse strategies including individual, class action, and appellate litigation; legislative and regulatory advocacy; and education. Most projects work in coalition with other advocates. Current projects focus on tenants, prisoners, workers, health care, education rights for homeless children, and establishing a right to counsel in civil cases. For more information, visit: www.publicjustice.org .

Position Description

Staff attorneys are assigned to work in one or more of the PJC’s projects.  As a member of the work team on that project, the attorney will be working with other attorneys and staff within the PJC, and collaborating with allies and partners outside the PJC.  The PJC is currently seeking attorneys for two positions:

(1)  An attorney with 7 or more years of legal experience, including a strong litigation background and a desire to be lead attorney, co-counsel, and/or mentor of other attorneys in litigation. Desirable traits include background in public interest law, supervision/training experience, and/or subject matter expertise in one or more of PJC’s focus areas.

(2)  An attorney with 2-7 years of legal experience.