By Lauren Forbes

The Support Center for Child Advocates (Child Advocates) is seeking a full-time Coordinator of the Outcomes in Behavioral Health Project. Work for a premier child advocacy program with outstanding staff collegiality and commitment to quality service. Organize and administer this Project in all aspects of the grant-funded program.

Agency: The Support Center for Child Advocates is Philadelphia’s volunteer lawyer program for abused and neglected children, providing legal and social service advocacy, through the service of volunteer attorneys, paralegal and legal assistants, who work in conjunction with staff social workers, attorneys and other staff. Child Advocates seeks to protect children by securing social services, finding alternative homes and helping them testify in court. For all of the children committed to our care, we work to ensure safety, health, education, family permanency and access to justice. Systemically, we promote collaborative, multi-disciplinary casework and solutions to recurrent problems. For the community, we provide educational programs to increase awareness about the problems of and ways to prevent child abuse. Whenever possible, Child Advocates seeks to maintain children and families in their own homes. Respected for diligent and effective advocacy throughout its more than 34 years of service, Child Advocates attorneys and social workers move public systems to deliver entitled services and private systems to open their doors to needy children and their families.

Position Summary: In continuing the work of the Pew-funded Outcomes in Behavioral Health Project, Child Advocates will improve access to work on the twin tracks of internal agency strategy and wider, multi-county engagement and system reform. Focus on: support and improve case management functions with cross-system access to information and commitment to trauma-focused care; engagement of system leadership to improve timeliness and appropriate service delivery, quality of behavioral health assessments, and other identified systemic barriers; and training professionals and other caregivers responsible for the well-being of children involved in the child welfare system. Utilize tools of client engagement, direct representation and advocacy, and specially-designed training sessions in a multi-faceted, multi-disciplinary approach, to advance and reach goal of improving access to and participation in behavioral health services for this needy and chronically underserved population.

By Lauren Forbes

We are looking for people who want to contribute their skills and talents to help preserve our Nation’s freedoms and secure our homeland. The mission of the US Dept of Homeland Security is carried out every day by the dedicated men and women who answer the noble calling of public service with courage and enthusiasm. With a diverse and critical mission, we lead the unified effort to secure America.  DHS fosters a culture that values and promotes diversity, teamwork, flexibility and innovation.

In Headquarters, we coordinate, plan, and guide the Department’s work across all DHS components. You could enjoy a career that includes research, administration and management, legal work, budget and finance, cyber security, infrastructure protection and intelligence analysis. Our services touch every U.S. citizen, and our goal is to secure our country across land and sea. Come join the team that is “Proud to Protect.”

This position is for an Attorney Advisor for  the General Law Division located in the Office of the General Counsel.

The Attorney-Advisor (Acquisition and Procurement) serves as the primary day-to-day legal advisor to the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer. Specifically, the incumbent provides procurement legal advice and drafting assistance to policy analysts in the creation of rules for the agency’s Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) supplement, acquisition manual, acquisition alerts and regulatory advisories, as well as topically relevant agency directives and delegations. The incumbent offers legal advice with respect to the agency’s position on FAR cases and pending acquisition and procurement legislation and Executive Branch policies. The incumbent provides legal and strategic advice to the Chief Procurement Officer and staff on legal developments of a precedent-setting character that have agency-wide or Government-wide implications. The incumbent may be requested to serve on interagency or intra-agency panels addressing these matters.

• Research and analyze applicable laws, regulations and policies and provide interpretations and analyses to the DHS General Counsel and other DHS officials.
• Provide legal and strategic advice of small business, acquisition workforce, and acquisition information management system issues.
• Provide legal review, advice and counsel on interagency agreements, contracts and other transactions to the Chief Procurement Officer and staff.
• Provides advice on strategic sourcing matters for the Department.

By Lauren Forbes

Sad news that 2,700 post offices are closing their doors, but…

The United States Postal Service has the following excellent and challenging employment opportunity for highly motivated and innovative individuals. The selected attorney will provide advice and legal analysis of high-profile initiatives related to service change, pricing and classification, annual reporting, rulemaking and international postal policy. The selected attorney will defend the Postal Service in federal district court and provide representation in interagency meetings, U.S. delegations to international organizations and before the Postal Regulatory Commission.

Qualifications
The successful candidate must demonstrate through a combination of education, training, and experience the following requirements: A minimum of 3 years of experience primarily practicing complex federal administrative litigation, including either: (1) litigation before administrative agencies or federal courts of highly complex or large-scale matters; or (2) advising senior officials, legislative staff and regulators on matters related to international policies and treaties, interagency agreements, products and service requirements, customs and security.

Our good buddy Heather Jarvis is hosting a webinar this Thursday, 7/28, at noon Eastern.  “Public Service Loan Forgiveness in Five Easy Steps,” will offer a step-by-step review of how public interest and government lawyers can take advantage of the College Cost Reduction & Access Act’s Public Service Loan Forgivenes provisions.

Short version: Work in public interest for 10 years, get your loans forgiven.  Yay!

Go to Heather’s webinar page for registration info.

By Lauren Forbes

The Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati and its affiliate Legal Aid Society of Southwest Ohio, LLC  (“Legal Aid Society”), seek candidates for a fellowship from September 2011 through August 2012.  Legal Aid serves Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton, Highland, and Warren Counties in southwest Ohio.  Our staff totals approximately 95, including 43 attorneys and 15 paralegals.  Legal Aid has worked successfully with public interest fellows over the years. Recently we had several public interest fellows including Skadden, Equal Justice Works, and the Brooks Consumer Law Fellowship.  Our intention is to continue the work started in each fellowship and to have fellows remain with the program after the fellowship period. Legal Aid has a long and successful commitment to furthering the professional development of its staff.

Qualifications

Successful candidates will have a strong interest and experience in civil legal services or public interest law, strong academic records, excellent organization and communication skills, and the demonstrated ability to handle a demanding workload.  Successful candidates will have taken the Ohio Bar Exam in the summer of 2011 (or earlier).  Applicants who are admitted to practice law in Ohio, or who are licensed in another state and eligible for temporary admission before taking the Ohio Bar Exam, will also be considered.

To view full listing, visit PSLawNet (login required).

Our friends at Equal Justice Works are putting on a student debt webinar next month.  “Plan Before You Borrow: What You Should Know About Educational Loans BEFORE You Go to Graduate School” will be webcast on August 10th and 24th.  For more detail, including registration info, visit this Equal Justice Works webpage.

Interested in government or public interest work after graduating? This webinar will help you plan ahead and make sure you can take full advantage of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, the most significant law affecting public service in a generation.

 The webinar will focus in detail on:

• The importance of taking out the right kind of loans
• How to consolidate or reconsolidate your previous student loans
• How the College Cost Reduction and Access Act can free you to pursue a public interest career

By Lauren Forbes

The weather isn’t the only thing that is hot. Check out this opportunity with the Army Corps of Engineers in Albuquerque, NM.  Serve as Trial Attorney representing the Government before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals. This representation includes areas such as interview/prepare witness, prepare pleadings, respond to discovery requests, prepare motions and briefs, conduct depositions and participate in hearings and trials. Represent the Contract Officer while in conference with appellant and/or appellant’s council. Prepare litigation reports concerning difficult legal and/or factual issues, large sums of money and with capable opposing legal talent. Review civil works projects feasibility reports, design memoranda, cost-sharing agreements, project partnership agreements and other project documents. Support to the Albuquerque District Regulatory Program and handling environmental law matters arising from Civil Works projects. Render legal advice to the Commander and/or Deputy Commander regarding program and project management.

Qualifications
Specialized experience: Applicant must have three or more years of professional legal experience, acquired after being admitted to the bar, commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. Graduation from an ABA-Accredited Law School in the top 25% of the class or an advanced law degree such as an LLM may substitute one year of the required professional legal experience. To be creditable this experience must include experience in formation and litigation of Government Contracts and experience with Environmental law. (Experience must be documented in your resume.)

An applicant must have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and have the first professional law degree (LLB or JD).  Only degrees from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education are acceptable to meet positive education requirements or to substitute education for experience.

To view full listing, visit PSLawNet (login required).

By Lauren Forbes

The Environmental Law Institute (ELI) announces its annual fellowship for an outstanding recent law school graduate.

The Institute: ELI envisions a healthy environment, prosperous economies, and vibrant communities founded on just law and policy. To this end, we develop creative and practical law and policy solutions to enable leaders across borders and sectors to achieve environmental, social, and economic progress. ELI builds the skills and capacity of tomorrow’s leaders and institutions; researches and analyzes complex, pressing environmental challenges; promotes and disseminates the best thinking through dialogue and print and electronic media; and convenes people with diverse perspectives to enhance understanding through debate. ELI works with partners across the United States and around the world. We are independent and non-partisan.

The Position: The law fellowship program is a longstanding component of ELI’s Research and Policy Division. The law fellow works closely with ELI attorneys and other professionals, including ELI’s international partners, to advance environmental protection by analyzing existing legal tools, developing new ones, and crafting innovative approaches to implementation. This may require considering how environmental protection is affected by other laws and policies that are related to environmental laws—e.g., those governing energy, taxation, and land use. Assignments include legal research and writing tasks across all ELI project areas, and the law fellow may be asked to make public presentations and assist in facilitating training activities. The law fellow is expected to assume significant responsibility.

To view full listing, visit PSLawNet (login required).

By Lauren Forbes

The Southern Poverty Law Center is seeking a managing attorney for its Miami office to litigate cases related to education and juvenile justice reform throughout the state.  The Southern Poverty Law Center works to reduce the imprisonment of children by advocating for juvenile justice and educational reforms.  SPLC works to end school disciplinary practices that exclude students from public schools and to reduce the over-incarceration of children.  The Miami office has a leadership team which includes the Managing Attorney, Director of Advocacy, and the Policy Director.

Responsibilities of the position include:

• Directing and developing litigation from the Miami office to achieve systemic reform of Florida’s juvenile justice and education systems;
• Along with the Director of Advocacy, managing the day-to-day operations of an office of approximately 10 people;
• Coordinating litigation with advocacy campaigns developed jointly with the Directors of Advocacy and Policy;
• Providing supervision and mentorship to staff attorneys and advocates;
• Communicating regularly with SPLC staff across the southern region about the litigation docket;
• Representing SPLC in various forums, including before community groups, legislators and state agencies.

To view full listing, visit PSLawNet (login required).

By Lauren Forbes

Oregon Consensus (OC) is seeking an experienced professional to fill a full-time Project Manager position. The position is in Oregon, but the region is flexible depending on the successful applicant. Starting date for the position is August 2, 2011.

Oregon Consensus (OC) is a national leader in collaborative governance and is Oregon’s official program for public policy collaboration. OC provides conflict assessment, consensus building, facilitation, mediation and other alternative dispute resolution services to public entities and their stakeholders throughout Oregon. OC is a program of the National Policy Consensus Center in Portland State University’s Hatfield School of Government. For additional information about OC, visit www.orconsensus.pdx.edu

This position is responsible for the following:

• Provide neutral assessment and mediation/facilitation of public policy collaboration projects
• Manage assigned projects and budgets, including supervision of multiple staff and contractors
• As needed, work on projects for other programs in the National Policy Consensus Center
• Incorporate student interns into assigned projects and mentor these interns
• Provide technical assistance and consultation to public bodies and their constituents in regard to the potential for collaboration
• Engage in entrepreneurial activities aimed at attracting potential projects
• Actively participate in staff meetings with the aim of contributing to a collaborative and supportive work environment
• Conduct (as part of a team) public policy collaboration training programs
• Develop agreements with funding sources for projects
• Support the ongoing development of project evaluation, data gathering and research
• Participate in academic scholarship related to the field of public policy collaboration

To view full listing, visit PSLawNet (login required).