Founded in 1969, Junta for Progressive Action, Inc. (JUNTA) is the oldest Latino, community based non-profit organization in New Haven, Connecticut. Its mission is to provide services, programs and advocacy that improve the social, political and economic conditions of the Latino community in Greater New Haven, while nurturing and promoting its cultural traditions as it builds bridges with other communities.

Junta for Progressive Action, Inc. of New Haven, CT seeks to hire a full-time staff person to direct its Advocacy and Community Organizing Program. The Director will report to the Executive Director and work collaboratively with program staff to develop and carry out Junta’s immigrant rights initiatives. These include: 1) coordinating community responses to current immigration enforcement practices, including the Secure Communities Program; 2) overseeing the Worker’s Center; and 3) designing and carrying out campaigns for community education, organizing, and advocacy about legislative and policy matters that affect immigrants at the local, state, and national level.

To learn more about Junta and this opportunity, check out the listing at PSLawNet!

From the Daily Progress:

Students at the University of Virginia School of Law volunteered a record number of hours of pro bono work over winter recess. More than 200 students donated their time and legal services, logging about 10,000 hours in less than a month.

“We are absolutely thrilled. This was a record number of participants,” said Kimberly Emery, assistant dean for pro bono and public interest. The previous record was set over the 2010-11 winter break when 177 students logged more than 8,000 pro bono hours. . . .

For students, legal volunteer work is a way to put what they have learned in the classroom into practice. . . .

Emery said that pro bono work is especially beneficial for students just beginning law school.

“For the first-years it’s an opportunity for them to try out for two weeks a type of legal practice before they commit to a whole summer of it,” she said.

Reser agreed, adding that her pro bono provided “extra reassurance” that she made the right decision enrolling in law school.

“I’m definitely more looking forward to actually getting out and starting work,” Reser said. She has plans to work with a law firm this summer. . . .

“Everybody in the community benefits when legal issues can be addressed properly through the court system,” she said. “Especially in today’s economic climate, there are many individuals who can’t access the courts without the aid of a pro bono attorney.”

by Kristen Pavón

A couple of weeks ago, a Twitter follower asked us if we had resources for law grads who want to start their own nonprofits.With more and more law grads getting creative about their job searches and career paths, it’s easy to understand why founding a nonprofit is one of the many alternatives to traditional law jobs. Well, I did my research and compiled 6 general tips on getting the wheels turning to start a nonprofit.

1. Assess yourself. 

Figure out what issues you’re passionate about. It may be that the practice areas you were interested in are transferable for purposes of your nonprofit. Or, not. Either way, brainstorm.

Then, when you’ve written down everything you possibly can about your passions, do the same for your skills. What skills do you have that will be helpful in running your nonprofit? Maybe you were a fundraiser in a past life or a public relations guru — write it down.

2. Assess your community.

Take a look at nonprofits serving your community. What kinds of organizations are there a lot of? Are there organizations that could be doing more? Are there issues that are not being addressed at all? Talk to nonprofit leaders in your community and see what they’re saying.

3. Match up!

After you’ve done your research, it’s time to narrow your nonprofit organization’s focus. Match any needs you found in your community to your passions, interests, or skills.

4. Refine & Plan.

Work on refining what you want to accomplish, who you want to serve, and how you plan on delivering your services. You’re almost there when you can describe your organization’s goal, mission and services in one sentence.

5. Get that money, honey.

Fundraising and finding supporters will be the most important and toughest part of starting your nonprofit. You have to relentlessly reach out to people who may have an interest in supporting your organization’s work and develop relationships with community leaders that can lend credibility to your organization. Also, apply for grants!

6. Incorporate.

Here’s where your lawyering skills come in handy! Go here to find your state’s incorporation forms and information. Nonprofit board members are very important because they will be the champions for your organization. Choose wisely.

Other helpful links:

Society for Nonprofit Organizations

Free Management Library

7 Essentials Tips for Starting a Nonprofit

Nonprofit Incorporation

National Council of Nonprofits

Simple Nonprofit

Ladies Who Launch

I hope this was helpful! Do you have any other tips on starting your own nonprofit?

The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) is a nonpartisan organization devoted to defending human rights globally, with an expertise in the Americas. Grounding our work in a deep commitment to individual liberty, we aim to raise awareness about both the nature of freedom and the vulnerability of freedom around the world.

This position is a 6-month legal associate position starting June 1st, 2012 for JD/LLM recent graduates.

Responsibilities:

• Research and writing on international human rights law and comparative constitutional law.
• Copyediting and translating legal reports and press releases.
• Managing administrative tasks for the legal department.
• Clerical tasks.

To learn more, see the listing at PSLawNet!

By: Steve Grumm

Happy Friday, dear readers.  Here in DC, presidential politics is all the buzz.  Earlier this week erstwhile Pennsylvania senator and sweater-vest supermodel Rick Santorum achieved impressive primary wins in Alabama and Mississippi.   Years ago a political guru famously quipped that Pennsylvania is Philly and Pittsburgh with a whole lot of Alabama in the middle.  Maybe this explains Mr. Santorum’s ability to connect with Southern voters.  Meanwhile Mitt Romney racks up delegates and the show goes on.

What else have we got?  Here’s an interesting piece of Pew research about how Millennials could be impacted by growing up “wired,” with near-instant access to all kinds of information.  I’m a Gen Xer, so while I’m vaguely inclined to write something about Millennials being impatient, I’m just too apathetic to get into it this morning.  I’d rather listen to some Liz Phair and be sullen.

Here is the week’s news:

• LSC has a new chief lobbyist;
• PBI says low bono ain’t pro bono;
• NYC’s plan for changes in indigent defense case assignment gets a court’s okay, but still controversial w/in the bar;
• An AmeriCorps VISTA writes about his work on Statesidelegal.org, an online resource for vets with legal needs;
• the Maine governor’s budget proposal includes a boost for legal services funding;
• Washington State’s high court will weigh in on indigent defense caseload woes;
• a new chief defender nominated in the Ocean State;
• the growing docket of the “Amvets” legal clinic run out of Chapman Law School;
• federal courts are busier, but also prepping for less funding;
• legal services layoffs in Kentucky;
• also on Cape Cod;
• where does one go for a pair of jeans, lingerie, and a foreclosure defense?;
• the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland is staring at a $1.4million budget cut;
• show me a rise in pro se litigation;
• NY State sweetens the CLE pot for pro bono attorneys.

The summaries:

• 3.15.12 – from an LSC press release: “The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) announced today the appointment of Carol A. Bergman as Director of Government Relations and Public Affairs.  Beginning on March 19, Ms. Bergman will oversee LSC’s relationships with Congress, the Government Accountability Office and other government agencies.”  During her career Ms. Bergman has logged time on the Hill, in the White House, and in the nonprofit lobbying arena.  I suspect she will call upon all of that experience when the thorny business of FY13 budget wrangling gets underway.

• 3.15.12 – Pro Bono Institute prez Esther Lardent on why so-called “low bono” – or reduced-fee – legal services should not count as pro bono.  Lardent, while lauding the value of low bono as a way to deliver services to those who otherwise could not afford representation, writes: “Although [low bono services] are tools that help broaden access [to the justice system], they are primarily designed to broaden the market for legal services.”

• 3.15.12 – From Thomson Reuters: “New York City’s plan to shift tens of thousands of cases involving indigent defendants from private lawyers to the Legal Aid Society and other legal aid groups can go forward, a divided appeals court ruled Thursday. The disputed plan, which had been stayed pending the appeal, would only affect cases in which the initial legal aid group assigned to a case cannot provide representation due to a conflict. Five city bar associations had argued that the city’s proposal required their consent under the statute that governs the assignment of indigent defense cases, Article 18-B of the County Law. But in a 3-2 decision, the Appellate Division, First Department, said the plan was valid under 18-B and did not “improperly usurp the role of the County Bars.”

• 3.15.12 – writing in the Bangor Daily News, AmeriCorps VISTA member Peter MacArthur explains his work on a legal services project for vets: “I have worked as an AmeriCorps VISTA at Pine Tree Legal Assistance on its veteran and service member specific website www.statesidelegal.org since November…. With the vital help of many other individuals and organizations, Pine Tree Legal developed the Stateside Legal website as a clearinghouse of information on various legal needs, especially for low-income members of the military, veterans and their families. The website includes both original content on legal problems (such as foreclosure, divorce and service member Civil Relief Act issues) and links to quality legal content on other sites.”

• 3.14.12 – speaking of our country’s ruggedly beautiful northeastern corner, a budget proposal from Maine governor Paul LePage would boost state funding of legal services by $400K.  (Story from the Morning Sentinel.)

• 3.13.12 – in Washington State, the high court will weigh in on whether justice demands the imposition of public defender caseload limits.  Here’s the story from KEPR.

• 3.13.12 – Rhode Island looks to be getting a new chief public defender.  From the Providence Journal: “Governor Chafee on Wednesday named Mary S. McElroy as the state’s new public defender…. McElroy comes to the office from the federal public defender’s office…. McElroy will oversee an office of 93 staff, about 40 of whom are lawyers, that provides legal representation free of cost for Rhode Islanders who cannot afford a lawyer. McElroy’s appointment will need state senate approval.  If confirmed, the governor’s office said, McElroy would be the first woman to hold the position since it was established in 1941.”

• 3.13.12 – the growing docket of the “Amvets” legal clinic run out of Chapman Law School.  The clinic, which began helping vets with problems around housing, benefits, and other economic security needs, is now involved in a case about the employment termination of over 100 Air Force officers in what the clinic argues was a budget-cutting move that will strip the officers of their retirement benefits.  Here’s a press release with more information.  

• 3.13.12 – the federal courts are sorting out how to deal with increased caseloads in a time of budget austerity.  From the National Law Journal:  “The policy-making arm of the federal judiciary on March 13 discussed steps to reduce costs as workload increases and congressional budget cuts loom. The federal judiciary’s budget this year was funded at the same level as last fiscal year even as case filings increased, the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts said.”

• 3.12.12 – “Legal Aid of the Bluegrass has eliminated nine positions to make up for an unexpected cut in federal funding…. By year’s end, Kentucky’s four independent legal aid societies estimate they will have reduced their combined staffs by 40 positions, or 18.6 percent, since 2010…. Before the most recent cuts, Legal Aid of the Bluegrass was already turning away 7,062 people who requested help and were eligible in terms of income.”  (Story from Cincinnati.com.)

• 3.12.12 – “The same recession that caused many low-income and elderly persons to seek free legal help with their worsening problems is undermining the very agency that is supposed to be there to help them. South Coastal Counties Legal Services Inc., or SCCLS, which once had offices throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod, has been forced to lay off 10 attorneys, secretaries and paralegals and close three offices, including the one in New Bedford, Executive Director Richard McMahon told The Standard-Times.”  (Here’s the full Standard-Times story.)

• 3.12.12 – much has been made of the paucity of affordable legal services for those of moderate means.  In response, and in the wake of an unprecedented foreclosure crisis, one Florida attorney provides low- and reduced-fee services from a booth in a shopping mall.  From Huffington Post: “In November, [Melva] Rozier founded a new type of law firm — or rather, a law store — inside the Boynton Beach Mall near West Palm Beach, Fla. The Law Booth counsels walk-in clients on divorce, foreclosure and other legal topics at discounted rates from a kiosk planted between American Eagle Outfitters and Victoria’s Secret shops.”

• 3.11.12 – the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland has fought hard in the recession’s wake to serve increasing numbers of clients, but the inevitable has caught up.  From the Cleveland Plain Dealer: “The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, which until now has weathered the economic downturn by tapping reserves, must cut $1.4 million from its budget in the coming year — at a time when poor clients are in greatest need of legal assistance.”
  • More recently this week a Plain Dealer editorial called on the local community to support the Legal Aid Society: “It falls upon the private sector to step up. Leaders in the local corporate community should consider giving preference to firms whose lawyers volunteer their time and effort to Legal Aid. Voters should contact their congressional representatives to demand restoration of funding for the Legal Services Corp…. The local United Way, which helps to support several Legal Aid programs, also ought to consider increasing its contribution.”

• 3.11.12 – a piece in the Missourian looks at the trend of increased pro se litigation – which has seen litigants initiating their own lawsuits in addition to representing themselves in defensive postures – and the legal industry’s response to it.  The piece highlights the challenges faced by pro se litigants and court systems as they adjust to litigation driven by non-attorneys.

• 3.9.12 – New York State is sweetening the CLE pot for lawyers who do pro bono work.  From the New York Law Journal: “Experienced lawyers now can earn more than 40 percent of the continuing legal education credits they must complete every two years by providing pro bono services to low-income New Yorkers. The four presiding justices of the Appellate Division departments recently voted to increase to 10 from six the credits for uncompensated work in family and other civil courts that lawyers with more than two years of experience can apply to their 24-hour CLE requirement.”

by Kristen Pavón

My résumé is ever-changing. I have about five or six different versions focusing on different types of jobs with varying templates. However, the one section that I can never seem to improve is my “skills” section.

I never know what is appropriate to include — what do employers expect to see in this section? I have the usual “proficient in XYS legal research engine” and my language skills… but what else goes in there? Should computer skills go on there at all? Should I only have a “language” section?

On Linkedin, you can add skills to your profile. I’ll admit, I went a bit skill-crazy. I’ve added things like strategic development, issue advocacy, counseling, nonprofit management, etc. That got me thinking —  what about on your résumé? Are these the types of skills you should add or should you just stick to computer and language skills?

According to Guerrilla Tactics For Getting the Legal Job of Your Dreams, your skills section is for languages, computer skills and other licenses. However, Harvard Law School’s Office of Public Interest Advising suggests omitting computer skills altogether. I tend to agree.

What do you think? What do you include in your “skills” section?

The Prisoners’ Rights Office (PRO) of the Vermont Defender General litigates a wide variety of civil, criminal and administrative cases, working to protect the constitutional rights of prisoners in such areas as unlawful convictions, medical care, and parole violations. The PRO internship offers experience in developing research and writing skills, drafting complaints and motions, making courtroom/parole board presentations, investigating cases, performing client outreach at the prisons, and assisting with legislative advocacy.

Interested? See the full listing at PSLawNet!

By: Steve Grumm

Lists are all the rage among journalists, bloggers, and publishers these days.  Everybody loves a list.  They are 1) simply organized and 2) easy to read.  Some people – and these are typically college literature majors – get a bit snooty and talk of the death of longer-form writing.  Pish-posh.  Law school re-trained my brain to think in outline form, so lists are fine by me.  I still know when to go to the treatises if necessary. 

At the Huffington Post, Heartland Alliance president Sid Mohn (cool name!) lists eight mind-blowing facts about poverty in the U.S, including (and the below parentheticals are my own editorializing):

1. Our kids are poor. (This one I already knew but the latest census data are still astonishing.)
2. Too many of our workers are poor. (This is related to one of the worst mistruths that gained currency during the mid-1990s welfare reform efforts.  Some AFDC reform was needed, but there was a mischaracterization of welfare recipients as being (largely) lazy system-manipulators content to live on the dole.  In fact welfare recipients were (largely) the working poor who cycled on and off of benefits as work came and went.)
3. Our building blocks out of poverty are weak.

By: Steve Grumm

From the National Law Journal:

The policy-making arm of the federal judiciary on March 13 discussed steps to reduce costs as workload increases and congressional budget cuts loom.

The federal judiciary’s budget this year was funded at the same level as last fiscal year even as case filings increased, the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts said.

The administrative office reported today that total civil and criminal filings in federal district courts rose 2 percent to more than 367,600. The office reported an 11 percent increase in intellectual property cases and a 15 percent increase in consumer credit filings.

…

The only full-time provider of legal services headquartered on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles, Inner City Law Center combats slum housing and develops strategies to end homelessness. ICLC is recognized for its expertise in housing issues, homelessness prevention, and veterans’ benefits. Our staff of 40 provides quality legal representation for people who have nowhere else to turn.  We fight for justice for low-income individuals, working poor families, immigrants, people who are homeless or disabled, and veterans.

The Homeless Veterans Project represent military veterans with disabilities before the Department of Veterans Affairs to help them obtain income support, health care, and other benefits that are rightfully due to them.  In 2009, ICLC recognized a tremendous unmet demand for legal services for the increasing number of female veterans.  To meet this growing need, ICLC launched a female veterans legal program. The program is one of the first of its kind in the country and has been featured on National Public Radio. The Project also specializes in psychological trauma claims, especially Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) arising from combat, or sexual assault.

Clerks within the Project will help conduct intake, manage cases and clients, research applicable laws and regulations, attend hearings and community meetings, and draft persuasive documents to file with the Department of Veterans Affairs.  Each clerk is also expected to write for publication about some aspect of the process or his or her experience.

Interested? Check out the listing at PSLawNet!