A Better Balance is a national legal advocacy organization with offices in Nashville, TN and New York, NY dedicated to promoting fairness in the workplace and helping workers care for their families without sacrificing their economic security. Through nationwide policy advocacy, legal services and strategic litigation, and enforcement and education, ABB is fighting back and improving workers’ lives at the local, state and federal levels. The organization has fought for and won victories in improved paid leave, equal pay, pregnancy and caregiver protection, breastfeeding accommodations, LGBTQ rights protections, and other economic justice issues throughout the country.
Position
Based in Nashville, TN, the Staff Attorney would advance the goals of A Better Balance by promoting fairness for working families in the South and raising awareness nationally of local issues affecting Southern low-wage workers, especially marginalized communities. The Staff Attorney would work in the following areas: combating discrimination and unfair practices against women and caregivers, such as pregnancy & breastfeeding discrimination and Family and Medical Leave Act violations, staffing our free legal helpline to assist low-wage workers, being part of a team working on impact litigation cases, drafting and disseminating public education materials, and conducting legal research.
The Institute for Justice is the National Law Firm for Liberty. IJ litigates to limit the size and scope of government power and to ensure that all Americans have the right to control their own destinies as free and responsible members of society.
The Institute for Justice combines cutting-edge litigation, sophisticated media relations, strategic research, boots-on-the-ground advocacy and much more to fight on behalf of those individuals who are denied their constitutional rights. Despite the challenge of taking on powerful government officials and entrenched precedents, IJ is successful in winning 70 percent of its cases in the court of law, in the court of public opinion or through legislative reforms.
Position
The Institute for Justice’s Dave Kennedy Summer Fellowship program provides an unparalleled opportunity for select law students to substantively contribute to IJ’s cutting-edge civil-rights litigation. Fellows conduct legal research; help develop litigation strategies for active and potential cases; and draft discovery requests, motions, and briefs filed in both state and federal court.
IJ’s Dave Kennedy Summer Fellowship positions are highly competitive. The fellowship is a paid opportunity, $7000 for the 10 week program, and generally runs from the last week of May through early-August. Fellowship opportunities are available at all six of IJ’s offices:
Arlington, VA (Headquarters) Austin, TX Seattle, WA Miami, FL Minneapolis, MN Tempe, AZ
Sam Halpert, NALP Director of Public Service Initiatives
Photo: Harris and Ewing Collection, Library of Congress
Hello there, interested public! I won’t dodge. Things have been busy here at NALP, both with the PSJD Mini-Conference that happened at the end of October and with a number of projects in the office that I’m hoping to share with you all later this year. But also, it’s been hard to face the news the last few weeks and find a face to wear for all of you.
But the world continues to turn and the digest is back. Major news this week includes the likely demise of a successful and critical legal aid program in Ontario, ominous questions concerning the legitimacy of cy pres from the Supreme Court, a new, free, online caselaw library from the Harvard Law Library Innovation Lab, and a number of high-profile district attorney elections that went to candidates promising substantial progressive reforms.
A new report, “Government Jobs of the Future,” examines how changes in technology might affect the types of roles humans play in the administration of government.
DNA People’s Legal Services, Inc. (“DNA”) is the largest and one of the oldest Indian legal services programs in the United States. It was established on the Navajo Indian Reservation in 1967 under the name Dinebeiina Nahiilna Be Agaditahe, a Navajo phrase which means “contributing to the revitalization of the People through the legal process”.
DNA’s primary source of funding is the Legal Services Corporation, which was created by federal statute to provide civil legal services to indigent persons. In addition, DNA seeks funding from other sources, such as private foundations, to support particular community legal education endeavors, major case litigation and other special projects.
Position
DNA People’s Legal Services is hiring 8 attorneys in their various offices across Arizona and New Mexico. They are also accepting applications from 2L’s for their summer law internship program.
October was a big month for us here at PSJD. Our annual mini-conference went off without a hitch- many thanks to all the employers and career services professionals who attended! PSJD was also an exhibitor at the Equal Justice Conference and Career Fair and witnessing the next generation of social-justice-minded lawyers was exhilarating. These past few weeks are just a continuation of PSJD’s successful year, which is highlighted by our ever-expanding job database (our 2017-2018 overall jobs present exceeded the three-year average).
As our database continues to grow, we want to ensure that all geographic regions in our subscribing schools’ network are being represented in proportion to the size of the public interest legal market in each individual state. Therefore, we have developed a method for calculating each state’s job market for entry-level legal positions and comparing this information to the state’s presence on PSJD’s job database.
This automated method allows us to identify any imbalances between the number of recent law graduates entering the public interest legal market in a state versus the number of entry-level positions on PSJD for that state. With this information in hand, the next step is developing a framework for reducing such gaps.
Interested public, PSJD subscribers and friends, be on the lookout for exciting developments with this new project in the coming months. As always, shoot us an email at psjd@nalp.org if you have any opportunities you’d like to forward our way.
Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We take on the biggest, most precedent-setting cases across the country. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health; to preserve magnificent places and wildlife; to advance clean energy; and to combat climate change. We partner with thousands of groups and supporters to engage the critical environmental issues of our time, and bring about positive change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.
The Position
Summer law interns work with attorneys on case development and litigation. Under the supervision of an attorney, a law clerk’s primary responsibilities are to perform legal and factual research, and to develop case strategy and legal theories. Law clerks may also have the opportunity to assist attorneys with preparing briefs and motions, to meet with clients and experts, to participate in moots of oral arguments, and to attend court proceedings and conferences with opposing counsel. In addition to involvement in ongoing litigation, the summer program includes seminars with attorneys from across the organization on current environmental issues.
The Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project (MAIP) was founded in 2000 by a group of D.C. area attorneys that identified the need for a group that could focus on the wrongful convictions in the tri-state area. This project addresses cases with both DNA evidence as well as other forms of evidence that could prove exculpatory. Since its formation, our Project has received over 1,800 requests for aid.
The Project also supports legislative reforms to prevent and reverse wrongful convictions.
The Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project is affiliated with the Innocence Network, a web of similar grassroots efforts across the nation. It is housed at The George Washington University Law School.
The Position
MAIP has two in-house lawyers with heavy caseloads, resulting in a backlog of cases that need some level of investigation. The Fellow will work to address this backlog, representing clients in investigations and ultimately litigating (under the supervision of our Legal Director and Counsel) compelling innocence claims that arise from those investigations.
The mission of the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCCADV) is to lead the state’s movement to end domestic violence and to enhance work with survivors through collaborations, innovative trainings, prevention, technical assistance, state policy development, and legal advocacy. We believe that patriarchy, gender inequality, and all oppressions play a central role at the individual, institutional, and cultural levels in creating and maintaining an environment that accepts domestic violence. We believe it is vital to understand and advocate for the elimination of all forms of oppression, including, but not limited to: sexism, racism, and homophobia. We believe it is critical to serve all domestic violence survivors, regardless of race, age, class and ethnic group, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental and physical abilities, religious and spiritual beliefs, and immigration status. We know oppression comes in all forms and leads to additional issues for survivors; we strive to serve all survivors of domestic violence and their respective needs.
The Position
NCCADV is seeking a Staff Attorney to join their Legal Team. Under the supervision of the Legal & Policy Director, the Staff Attorney provides domestic violence, family law, and legal services as part of a grant to help address the unmet legal needs of domestic violence survivors.
Protect Democracy is a nonpartisan
nonprofit with an urgent mission: to prevent our democracy from declining into
a more authoritarian form of government. We do this by holding the President
and the Executive Branch accountable to the laws and longstanding practices
that have protected our democracy through both Democratic and Republican
administrations. We have seen an unprecedented tide of authoritarian-style
politics sweep the country that is fundamentally at odds with the Bill of
Rights, the constitutional limitations on the role of the President, and the
laws and unwritten norms that prevent overreach and abuse of power. The only
limits to prevent a slide away from our democratic traditions will be those
that are imposed by the Courts, Congress, and the American people.
The Position
Protect Democracy is seeking two highly motivated current law students for internships in summer 2019. The internship provides a living stipend, and we encourage law students from all socioeconomic backgrounds to apply. The internship is full time (40 hours/week), and requires a 10 week commitment. In limited circumstances, Protect Democracy is open to accepting candidates who wish to split their summer with a firm; in such cases, Protect Democracy will require 6 weeks during the second half of the summer.
Interns will be responsible for:
Researching and drafting memoranda on a wide array of federal and state legal and policy issues, related to Protect Democracy’s core issue areas;
Drafting and editing pleadings, policy documents, and reports;
Assisting in reviewing discovery; and
Fully participating in the life of the organization.
The Governance Studies program at Brookings aims to be the leading, independent voice in the domestic policymaking sphere though analyzing policy issues, political institutions and processes, and contemporary governance challenges. Lawfare, founded as a small blog in 2010, has grown to become one of the nation’s most trusted sources of information and analysis on issues of national security law, covering a broad range of issues from cybersecurity and terrorism investigations to war powers and government surveillance.
The Position
This two-year fellowship is dedicated to covering congressional activity on national security issues in the Lawfare space. The Fellow will have the opportunity to join the Lawfare editorial team and contribute toLawfare’s unparalleled analysis of complex challenges in the US national security arena, specifically as it intersects with Congress and legislative politics. This includes: writing thoughtful summaries and analyses of passed and proposed legislation for publication on the site, translating complex, technical documents for wider audience consumption, participating in relevant events, and discussing topics on the Lawfare podcast. As a part of the editorial team, the Fellow will collaborate with multiple stakeholders to edit works for publication and generate ideas for site content in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. She/he will also have the opportunity to do independent research within the Governance Studies program at Brookings.
A minimum of Master’s degree is required. Demonstrated expertise in national security policy, and a basic knowledge of and strong interest in congressional and legislative politics. The successful candidate will have a rare combination of superlative writing and editing skills, familiarity with Congress and congressional procedure, and experience reading and analyzing legislation. Candidates should have 1-3 years post-graduate experience in legislative affairs, national security, and/ or legal procedure. He/she should also be able to work well as a part of a team, thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, and react quickly to changes in the news cycle.
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