May 11, 2017 at 2:30 pm
· Filed under Career Resources, Job Hunting, Public Interest Jobs
Photo: Brenda Gottesman – CC License
Staff Attorney
The Organization
The ACLU of Maine has an active annual legal docket of approximately 10-15 cases addressing a variety of issues. Our legal strategies are part of a multi-disciplinary approach to advocacy that integrates legal, policy, and communications tools and is built on the belief that fighting for civil liberties and rights means not just persuading judges but also gaining the support of policy makers, government officials and the general public.
The Position
The Staff Attorney will be responsible for developing civil liberties and civil rights impact litigation. The attorney will litigate individual and class action cases raising constitutional and statutory claims in Maine and federal courts, at trial and appellate levels, through direct representation and the filing of amicus briefs. The attorney should anticipate working in a range of civil liberties and civil rights areas. The Staff Attorney, in conjunction with the Legal Director, works closely with cooperating attorneys from private firms and with other public interest attorneys, including attorneys with the National ACLU and other ACLU affiliate offices.
Is this position your MAINE attraction? Find the full-post on PSJD.
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May 9, 2017 at 2:30 pm
· Filed under Career Resources, Job Hunting, Public Interest Jobs
The PSJD Resource Center has valuable information for law students, career counselors and lawyers about public service law jobs.
Image courtesy of The Diamond Gallery
The PSJD Employer Profile Directory, though technically not in the PSJD Resource Center, is a great resource for law students and JD holders to do a targeted search on employers in the legal area that they are interested in. Employer profiles are also a great way to find employers in a particular geographic area. On the advanced search page, check employer profiles and then enter the rest of the search parameters. You will receive a list of all the employers that meet those parameters that are active on PSJD. Green asterisks mean that the employer has an open position currently posted on the site.
*Career Counselor’s Corner*
Amanda Furst, JD, Director of Public Interest Programs at University of Minnesota Law School says “PSJD’s Employer DIrectory is a great resource for students exploring national public interest markets! Students can research practice areas, location, employer size, and more to learn more about opportunities in their preferred locations. As I counsel students on public interest career paths, I use the Employer Directory to provide specific suggestions targeted to my students’ needs.” Do you know of public interest employers in your area not in the database? Send them to us in an email and we’ll get them on PSJD.
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April 11, 2017 at 2:30 pm
· Filed under Career Resources, Job Hunting, Public Interest Jobs
Image courtesy of The Diamond Gallery
The PSJD Resource Center has valuable information for law students, career counselors and lawyers about public service law jobs.
The PSJD Fellowship Deadline Calendar includes all Fellowships that have been posted on PSJD, organized by deadline. Fellowships on the PSJD database do not expire and prior fellowships are included for historical and educational purposes. 2Ls or rising 3Ls can use the deadline calendar to perform research on existing fellowships and get a head start on creating a fellowship proposal.
The calendar is searchable by date range, fellowship type, deadline type and key word. Users can also change the way they view the calendar, the default view is by grid, but you can also view it in the traditional calendar view.
*Career Counselor’s Corner*
Samantha Zappia Kasmarek, Esq., Associate Director of Career Services at Syracuse University College of Law says “We all know that the lack of a uniform hiring timeline for public interest jobs is frustrating. But, for students seeking post-graduate opportunities, the fellowship calendar on PSJD can make things so much easier. From keeping track of deadlines to visually seeing the number of opportunities that are out there – it helps both counselors and students stay on top of available positions. It’s also a resource students should know about early on to help them develop a career strategy. They can get a sense of the knowledge and experience that they should obtain during law school in order to be competitive for a fellowship position.” Do you know of fellowship opportunities not listed on the calendar? Send them to us in an email and we’ll get them in the database, and on the calendar.
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March 16, 2017 at 2:30 pm
· Filed under Career Resources, Job Hunting, Public Interest Jobs
Photo: Brenda Gottesman – CC License
Civil-Criminal Litigation Clinic
The Organization
The Civil-Criminal Litigation Clinic is the University of Michigan Law School’s oldest and biggest general litigation clinic of U-M’s 18 clinics. On the civil side, CCLC students represent clients in many areas of the law, including landlord-tenant & housing, debt collection, consumer fraud, contract disputes, prisoners’ civil rights, discrimination, employment issues, sexual harassment, political asylum and refugee, and some public benefits claims. On the criminal side, students represent clients charged with misdemeanors from arraignment through trial. Students also handle some post-judgment issues in serious felony cases. The clinic’s docket frequently includes class actions, issues of first impression, and other impact litigation. The CCLC handles all of its own appeals and has litigated cases at every level of the state and federal court systems.
The Position
For 2017 we are seeking two students (1L, 2L, or post-graduate students) for a summer internship in the U-M’s Civil-Criminal Litigation Clinic. We generate a significant case load during the academic year, and then need to represent those clients over the summer while our law students are gone.
Is this you chance to litigate? Find the full-post on PSJD.
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March 15, 2017 at 4:18 pm
· Filed under Career Resources, Events and Announcements, Legal Education
The NALP Newer Professionals’ Forum (NPF), is a two and a half-day conference focused on the development of newer legal recruitment and career services professionals. It is a mega networking and education event. I had the opportunity to attend the 2017 NPF in Houston, TX. I had a wonderful time, learned a lot, and had the opportunity to meet new colleagues and fill my networking spreadsheet. By the way, if you aren’t using the Networking Contacts Spreadsheet available on PSJD, you’re really missing out.
NPF took place March 2-5 in Houston.
The first night attendees got a brief introduction to NALP and a conference overview. The plenary was followed by a networking reception, where I had the opportunity to speak with members from across the country, who were both legal recruiting professionals and law school career advisers. Somehow, I managed to run into almost all of the attending mid-westerners during the networking event. Since I am a Chicago native, we had a lot to chat about. After networking, we split up and went to dinner in separate locations where I had the opportunity to connect with several recruiting professionals from law firms with offices in the Washington, D.C. area.
The second day was all about learning. For breakfast there were faculty leaders at separate tables facilitating open discussions around various legal topics. Afterward, I attended sessions around management foundations, how career counselors can build relationships with employers and finally a plenary session on recruiting ethics. By the end of the day Saturday, I only had three of my business cards left. I’m an introvert, so I was very impressed with myself.
On Sunday, there was a session on the recruiting numbers, which was extremely eye opening. There have been several calls and initiatives to improve diversity in the legal profession, but the numbers do not show many changes, especially at the partnership and senior associate level. Even looking around the room at the NPF attendees, they were overwhelmingly women. Work-life balance was one of the top advantages cited in the Emerging Legal Careers session for why people pursue JD advantage positions.
Attending NPF was a great experience, and I strongly recommend it for all career counselors, law firm recruiters, and subsequent PSJD Fellows.
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March 14, 2017 at 2:30 pm
· Filed under Career Resources, Funding, Job Hunting, PSJD User Guides
Image courtesy of The Diamond Gallery
The PSJD Resource Center has valuable information for law students, career counselors and lawyers about public service law jobs.
The PSJD Firms Allowing Split Public Interest Summer Options includes a few law firms that have programs that enable law students to work for part of the summer with the firm, and part of the summer with a public interest organization. Some of the firms will pay all or part of the students’ salaries for the entire summer. These programs provide an opportunity for a diverse summer experience and demonstrate a firm’s strong commitment to pro bono work. There are a few variations of the split public interest summer.
The Summer Funding Sources Paid Internship Programs resource lists programs that are either sources of unrestricted funding for summer internships previously secured or programs that will fund students at program host sites for summer work. Some programs have specific issue areas (indicated) and/or geographic restrictions. The table is sorted by typical deadline, with the fall deadlines first followed by the spring deadlines.
*Career Counselor’s Corner*
Ashley Matthews, JD, Program Manager for Law School Engagement and Advocacy for Equal Justice works says “The PSJD Summer Funding Guide and Split Summer Firm Guide are both essential lists of stipends, awards, and paid internship programs for public interest law students. We share it in all of our Summer Funding webinars!”
Do you know of a great summer funding opportunity? Send it to us in an
email and we’ll do our best to get it up on the website.
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March 9, 2017 at 2:30 pm
· Filed under Career Resources, Job Hunting, Public Interest Jobs
Photo: Brenda Gottesman – CC License
District General Counsel
The Organization
To inspire and prepare all students with the confidence, courage, and competence to achieve their dreams; contribute to community; and engage in a lifetime of learning by serving as a member of the collaborative executive leadership team which plans, directs, and coordinates action to achieve the organizational mission and strategic goals. Contribute to strategic and tactical organizational leadership by providing legal services and advice to the Superintendent, School Board and School District administrators; managing all legal matters and services; representing the school system in litigation and administrative proceedings; coordinating litigation efforts with outside legal counsel; leading policy development and revision; conducting legal research; and providing guidance on legal issues regarding state and federal regulations and laws.
The Position
Contribute to strategic and tactical organizational leadership:
- Participate on the superintendent’s cabinet to coordinate action to achieve the district’s mission and strategic goals
- Provide leadership and coordination of school system committees and/or task force initiatives as assigned; participate in long-range and strategic planning initiatives
- Serve as general legal counsel to the superintendent and School Board
- Consult with the director of labor relations in the negotiation and drafting/review of collective bargaining agreements Interpret the Minnesota Public Employee Labor Relations Act (PELRA) and collective bargaining agreements; recommend proposed modifications to existing collective bargaining agreements
- Attend all school board meetings, including policy committee meetings, school board work sessions, negotiations strategy sessions, special meetings, and regular school board meetings
- Coordinate defenses and responses to legal and administrative complaints
- Plan and execute continuous improvement processes for area of responsibility; invite input and feedback
- Demonstrate commitment to professional growth
- Represent the school district in a positive manner at various district and community functions, at state and local organizations, and as a liaison to various partners
- Monitor trends in education law, regulations and legislative issues, and recommend operational, procedural and policy improvements
Are you ready to head to school? See the full-post on PSJD.
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March 2, 2017 at 2:00 pm
· Filed under Career Resources, Job Hunting, Public Interest Jobs
Photo: Brenda Gottesman – CC License
Assistant Public Defender
The Organization
The Maryland Office of the Public Defender (OPD) seeks a dynamic, dedicated, and client-centered litigator to serve as an Assistant Public Defender in Cecil County. OPD provides superior representation to indigent defendants throughout the State of Maryland. The Agency’s vision is for Justice, Fairness, and Dignity for All. Employees are committed to the core values of a culture of excellence, client-centered representation, tenacious advocacy, and are united as a team in achieving the Agency’s mission.
The Position
An Assistant Public Defender combines his/her demonstrated dedication to the representation of indigent clients with his/her strong and zealous litigation skills to provide exceptional representation on behalf of all his/her clients. The attorney in this position is expected to work independently in managing an active caseload while simultaneously working in a team-oriented environment focused on a client-centered approach to representation. This position will commence in late spring, 2017 and will be located in the Office of the Public Defender, Elkton District Court/Multi-Service Center in Elkton, Maryland (170 E. Main Street, Elkton, Maryland 21921).
Ready to assist? Find the full-post on PSJD.
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February 23, 2017 at 3:00 pm
· Filed under Career Resources, Job Hunting, Public Interest Jobs
Photo: Brenda Gottesman – CC License
Advancing Justice Fellowship
The Organization
Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta is the first legal and policy advocacy center dedicated to defending democracy for Asian Americans, immigrants and refugees in Georgia and the Southeast. Founded in 2010, Advancing Justice – Atlanta serves thousands of vulnerable and underserved people through its four core program areas of civic engagement, direct legal services, policy advocacy, and leadership development. Advancing Justice – Atlanta is one of five independent civil rights organizations that make up the national Asian Americans Advancing Justice affiliation.
The Position
The fellow, hosted by Advancing Justice – Atlanta, will work with Advancing Justice – Atlanta and the broader Advancing Justice affiliation to provide direct services to the community and look for impact litigation opportunities.
Applicants are expected to design a new project focusing on the needs of Georgia’s Asian American community, in the context of immigration, voting rights, and/or employment law.
Ready to advance your career? See the full-post on PSJD.
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February 16, 2017 at 3:00 pm
· Filed under Career Resources, Job Hunting
Photo: Brenda Gottesman – CC License
Publications Coordinator
The Organization
NALP houses and administers PSJD, an online public interest job database and “virtual” career services center for law students and attorney on public service career paths. PSJD contains listings of several hundred post-graduate public interest fellowships which are offered in the U.S. and abroad. Every year, this information is culled from the website and published as The PSJD Comprehensive Fellowship Guide.
The Position
The Publications Coordinator plays the lead role in fellowship guide’s annual update. NALP also publishes its Federal Legal Employment Guide annually. The Publications Coordinator is also responsible for updating the information and assisting in its production.
The Publications Coordinator’s specific responsibilities are to:
Produce the 2017 Fellowship Guide
- Research and update all PSJD online fellowship listings for use in the print fellowship guide. This is accomplished through concerted telephone/email outreach to several hundred organizations;
- Research and verify new fellowships to be added to the guide;
- Compile other resources for the guide, following previous editions;
- Edit content and layout for online publication.
Produce NALP’s Federal Legal Employment Guide
Other duties as assigned
Does this position coordinate with your career goals? Find the full-post on PSJD.
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