By Jamie Bence and Lauren Forbes

Our last post focused on free things you can do in the District. These activities aren’t free, per se, but they can accommodate the summer public interest intern budget. At the bottom, you can find our list of the best Happy Hours, as well as suggestions from The Washington Post.

Sunday at Eastern Market:  By far, one of the best places to eat great food, people-watch and sample local arts and crafts in DC on a Sunday. The market first opened in 1873 and is on Capitol Hill. Plan to spend the whole morning as there is plenty to enjoy.

Take in a show at the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company:  Keep your wallet full with Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company’s “Pay-What-You-Can” tickets for the first two performances (usually Monday and Tuesday) of every main stage subscription series production. Tickets are sold at the theatre 90 minutes prior to showtime. Two per person, cash or check only. Check the individual show calendars for specific dates, times and locations.

Farmer’s Markets:  The DC area has several excellent options for locally grown, fresh produce. The White House Farmer’s Market is located at 810 Vermont Avenue, NW (between H St, NW and I St, NW), Thursdays from 3 to 7pm. Another large and popular market is located in Dupont Circle on 20^th Street, Sundays from 8:30am to 1pm. If you’re looking the get out of the city, the nation’s oldest farmer’s market (and the one where George Washington’s vegetables were sold) takes place at 301 King Street, Alexandria, on Saturdays from 5:30 to 11am.

Kennedy Center: If you’re going to take in a show, you might as well go all out and see it where presidents do. Even if Wicked is outside your price range, the Kennedy Center has plenty of free events, and discounted young adult tickets. The theater is a beautiful monument in itself- with a rooftop view that can’t be beat!

Happy Hour Roundup:

Farragut North/Dupont

Café Citron, 1343 Connecticut Ave., NW:Check out this Dupont Circle hotspot for a tropical-flavored happy hour. The fried plantains and mini crab cakes are delicious. Fruity drinks like mojitos ($4) and tropical rum lemonade ($4), and bottled beers like Corona ($3) and Portuguese Sagres ($3) are discounted. Happy hours: Monday through Friday, 5 to 7 PM.

Capitol Hill

Capitol Lounge 229 Pennsylvania Ave., SE: After a fire ripped through this popular Hill bar in August 2005, it reopened with a fresher look, the same quirky political posters, and the same good happy-hour deals. Suit- and khaki-clad Hill staffers talk politics and sip on $2.50 beers and $3.50 rail drinks.

Georgetown

Rhino Bar & Pumphouse 3295 M Street, NW: A great sports bar with specials every night of the week!

Check out The Washington Post‘s Guide to Intern Happy Hours for additional suggestions!

By Lauren Forbes

Public Law Center seeks an Equal Justice Works Americorps Legal Fellow for its consumer law issues.

• Provide direct legal services to low income clients on a variety of consumer law matters, including housing foreclosure and bankruptcy
• Organize and coordinate community legal clinics where client intake interviews will be conducted
• Assist in staffing courthouse based bankruptcy clinic to assist unrepresented Chapter 7 debtors
• Oversee case referrals to pro bono attorneys and provide support to those volunteers as needed
• Work with Pro Bono Director to facilitate and expand law student involvement in pro bono
• Conduct community education presentations to clients and service providers
• Represent PLC at legal networking and community outreach events

Qualifications

• Admission to California Bar or awaiting Bar exam results
• Excellent computer and oral/written communication skills
• Interest in problems of low-income communities
• Commitment to working with volunteer lawyers and law students
• Ability to manage multiple tasks
• Relevant Law School course work in subjects relevant to consumer law and/or clinical work or pro bono work on consumer or bankruptcy cases a strong plus
• Bilingual English/Spanish or English/Vietnamese a strong plus
• Must have own transportation, valid California Driver’s license, and good driving record
• Occasional evening and weekend work required

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

By Jamie Bence

I think the thing I remember most about the summer before law school is the anticipation- waiting to find out who my professors would be, what my schedule would look like, whether I’d like my classmates. I’m not a fan of the unknown, so it was a weirdly stressful time for me. Looking back, I wish I’d worried less and listened more. Here are 5 things I wish I’d known about law school before I walked through the doors on my first day.

1. The work is never “finished,” per se. In theory, law school could literally take up all of your time. With an endless array of study aids, practice exams and then of course your actual assignments, it can seem like you should be working 24/7. However, letting law school take over isn’t exactly healthy, or even helpful, so it’s important to find balance. For me, this meant treating school like a job. I got there early, worked between classes, and left around the time most of my friends were commuting home from their office jobs. This way, I could still enjoy my evenings, even if I occasionally had assignments to finish up. On weekends, I got up early and worked while most of my friends slept in. It wasn’t exactly what you would call fun, but being able to have time with important people in my life was important enough to me that I stuck to it.

2.  Not everyone is as excited about this as you are. If you have a supportive group of family and friends, they will probably want to know about your experiences in law school, and what your day-to-day life is like, and what classes you’re taking. However, around week 3, you will be into material very few people outside of the legal industry really know (or want to know) anything about. Thus, while it’s fun to share anecdotes and keep your friends and family in the proverbial loop, it’s also important to keep perspective especially if you are living with a partner or parent, for there will only be so much they want to hear about your new adventure. Which brings me to my next point.

3. Find Hermione and Ron. Law school can be incredibly competitive, and sometimes it might seem counter-intuitive to talk to your classmates about what you’re going through. For the first month, I heard all sorts of crazy stories, and thought maybe I was better off just sticking with the friends I had before this whole thing started. However, I soon realized I wasn’t going to get too far without a group of people I could trust and talk to, and that having a 3L mentor was incredibly helpful. There will be times when you feel overwhelmed and lost, and you will need to commiserate. There will also be the occasional flat tire, the job interview during class, and you will need people who will give you accurate and complete notes. It’s never a bad idea to lean more toward Hermione than Ron under such circumstances.

4.   Study guides are your friends, if you choose wisely.  When I was first told that almost everyone uses study aids in law school, I thought, “Are you kidding me? I’ve never touched CliffNotes in my life!” However, in law school, rather than serving as a way around the hard work, study aids make the hard work doable. When selecting study guides, think about how you learn best. For example, I really like audio lectures a lot, even though they are not widely popular (I run and I take the train, so I have a lot of time to listen to them).  There’s no shame in that- just because something doesn’t work for everyone (or because it does) doesn’t mean you will have the same result. So think about how you learn (and consider the materials carefully) before you buy.

5.  Study smart not (necessarily) hard. There is a lot of “conventional” advice on how to approach 1L year. Everyone told me that I would be lost in class if I didn’t brief cases. I did this for exactly one week before I realized how it didn’t really help me understand the cases or rules. I also realized there were people on law review who never made an outline, who never wrote briefs. They learn differently and they have succeeded because they have unlocked what has worked for them, probably through trial and error. So I stopped briefing, because it was boring and I wasn’t paying attention when I was doing it anyway. It’s all a matter of figuring out what works for you. My advice would be to consider all the advice you’re given (maybe even this post…) then let it all go, and just be you.

If you will be starting your 1L year in August, good luck, and until then, have a relaxing summer!

By Lauren Forbes

Amnesty International–International Secretariat seeks a Policy Adviser for its London office.

As Policy Adviser you will work closely with country and thematic researchers, advocates and campaigners in the International Secretariat and sections and structures on the application and development of AI’s human rights policies with regard to research projects, advocacy initiatives, and campaigns. You will be expected to develop specific areas of expertise within the programme. You will also work with senior legal and policy advisers and assistant advisers to ensure effective, coherent and timely approvals and consultations.

JOB PURPOSE: To provide advice regarding AI’s policy position on a specified area of Human Rights, and to draft policy documents recommending a position for the organization on new or emerging human rights issues – supporting the Senior Policy Advisers in translating legal analysis into actions for the Movement

Duties:

• To support Senior Policy Advisers in the development of proposed policy positions, and the application of AI’s legal analysis to human rights situations, drafting policy proposals that will translate analysis into action that will develop and implement AI’s strategic goals and global campaigns, drawing on international law, AI precedent, and best practice of other agencies.
• Provide advice on the application of AI’s policy to country and thematic specialists and others at the IS and the wider Movement, in order to contribute to the consistent, accurate, timely and impartial documentation and presentation of Amnesty International’s concerns.
• Approve and write materials for external and internal publication related to existing and emerging human rights issues and other themes related to AI’s concerns (including external documents, briefing and discussion papers, AI policy guidelines) and assisting in the preparation/writing of country/thematic reports as required to contribute to ensure policy is consistently applied and published – referring to Senior Policy Advisers for more detailed expertise where appropriate.
• Contribute to the maintenance and availability of comprehensive reference materials relating to the development and application of AI’s policies in order to facilitate its consistent and innovative application.
• Represent AI for a related to areas of expertise (as requested) to raise public awareness of AI and its concerns, and position AI at the forefront of the human rights movement.
• Manage small project teams on specific areas, and participate in crisis response and other project teams as appropriate.
• Support the management of the Law and Policy Programme within agreed areas of responsibility and contribute to the overall smooth running of the programme.

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

By Jamie Bence and Lauren Forbes

Welcome to DC, summer interns! Make the most of your summer in the District by seeing all that the nation’s capital has to offer and attending events geared towards you. You won’t have to break the bank either, as some of the most fun and interesting things to do are free! Here are a few of our favorite things, followed by a list of resources to help you find additional activities.

The National Zoo: The Zoo currently has a record number of lion cubs, a pregnant panda and baby apes. Admission is free, and if you go early, you can avoid the crowds.

Jazz in the Sculpture Garden: In the summer, the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden is a great place to spend a couple of hours. In the summer you can enjoy Jazz in the Park on Friday afternoons after 5 PM.

Monuments in the Dark: When the sun is out in Washington, so are the tourists — especially at the monuments. That is why it is best to see them at night.  Not only will you avoid the crowds, you will also get to enjoy the beautiful lighting.

Outdoor movies for free:  One of the more well-know is Screen on the Green.  Every Monday night starting in mid-July, there are free movies on the National Mall (an outside area of land in the middle of the district). Bring a blanket, some snacks and a friend to enjoy an outdoor movie… for free!

Walk Up the Exorcist Stairs: If you haven’t seen The Exorcist, firstly, go see it. Georgetown alumnus William Peter Blatty wrote the 1973 thriller and he included the dark stairs in one of the most chilling scenes of his movies. On the brighter side, Georgetown athletes use the stairs to train.

More Resources

• Washington Post’s Intern Guide covers everything from Happy Hour to theater tickets on the cheap.
• NPR provides another great list of things to do, geared toward interns.
• For information about happenings on the Hill, sign up for The People’s List by sending a message to geoffrey.browning@gmail.com.

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.