From the PSJD job posting:

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington seeks a full-time attorney for its Hogar Immigrant Services program. Hogar Immigrant Services offers a wide range of services at little or no cost to a vulnerable immigrant population, without regard to religious or ethnic identity. Our goal is for immigrants to achieve self-sufficiency and participate fully as productive members of American society.

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From the PSJD job posting:

Every year, the Office of the Solicitor General accepts applications for one-year Bristow fellowships.  Bristow Fellows assist OSG attorneys in drafting briefs in opposition to certiorari filed against the government in the Supreme Court of the United States, preparing petitions for certiorari and briefs on the merits in Supreme Court cases, preparing recommendations to the Solicitor General regarding authorization of government appeals in the lower courts, and assisting in the preparation of oral arguments in the Supreme Court.  OSG usually selects four Bristow fellows each year.

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by Ashley Matthews, PSJD Fellow

It’s no secret that looking for legal employment in today’s market is tough.

In fact, job-hunting is like a full-time job in itself. If you’re serious about landing a legal job, you are more than likely searching sites like PSJD and Idealist every day (maybe multiple times a day). You’re probably networking like crazy. If you’re still in law school, you may even be stalking your career services office and Symplicity’s job bank.

There are thousands of other law students and lawyers doing that exact same thing, but there are other ways to help yourself land the legal job of your dreams. American University Washington College of Law’s Walter A. Effross wrote a great National Law Journal article, “10 Tips for Landing J.D. Jobs for Law Students and Graduates,” focused on providing specific practices for maximizing your credentials, networks and career opportunities. Here are a few tips from the article that may be of particular relevance to public interest law students and lawyers:

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by Ashley Matthews, PSJD Fellow

New York recently became the first state to mandate pro bono hours for all new lawyers applying for admission to the state bar. The requirement, announced by New York Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman, is a part of an initiative to help close the justice gap for the growing number of low-income people who are unable to afford legal services.

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by Christina Jackson, NALP Director of Public Service Initiatives & Fellowships

Happy Friday!  Any big summer plans out there?  Are you refreshing and recharging?  I hope so.  If you’re a NALP member, one thing that could help is to join the Public Service Section (if you haven’t already) and consider serving on a work group.  It is a great way to both learn and contribute, and we have a lot of fun on the calls with our colleagues.  To see the Section and work groups, check out NALPconnect.

Spotlight on Outstanding Public Servants: If you know someone we should honor, drop me a line.

Here are the week’s headlines:

• Utah State Bar provides modest means lawyer referral;
• Rankings bombshell – ABA will stop collecting expenditure data;
• McGeorge law school to cut incoming class and staff;
• Federal defenders outlook bleak;
• Wayne State University Law School and ACLU Michigan open a civil rights clinic;
• Spotlight on Public Service Servants: Lonnie Lutz, Coles County (IL) Chief Public Defender, retires after 33 years!;
• Super Music Bonus featuring Ashley Matthews, PSJD Fellow!

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by Ashley Matthews, PSJD Fellow

Editor’s note: Our “Expert Opinion” series offers thoughts, insights, and career advice from public interest lawyers, law students, and others who work for the public good.  This edition’s Expert is Adriana Dinis, a staff attorney with Gulfcoast Legal Service’s CHILD program. Dinis was a featured speaker at the 2013 Annual NALP Conference, and her journey to advocating for the rights of immigrant children was incredibly inspiring. On to the interview…

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From the PSJD job posting:

With generous funding support from the John T. Gorman Foundation, Pine Tree announces the availability of a two-year attorney fellowship position, starting September 2013.   The position is intended for an attorney with less than 3 years of experience (including clerkships). The fellowship will be housed within Pine Tree’s KIDS LEGAL project and will focus on advocacy, training and outreach specific to the educational needs of low-income youth in public high schools, with the goal of helping them better prepare for successful adulthood.  The position can be housed in any one of the following Pine Tree offices: Lewiston, Augusta, Bangor, Machias or Presque Isle. (The Portland office does not have space to accommodate the position.)  Read the rest of this entry »

by Ashley Matthews, PSJD Fellow

If you’re interning or working in Washington, DC for the summer, and interested in affordable housing litigation, this one’s for you!

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by Ashley Matthews, PSJD Fellow

The Urban Justice Center’s Street Vendor Project focuses on protecting the rights of the largest group of small business owners in New York City: the 10,000+ retailers that struggle to make ends meet by selling everything from hot dogs to books on the streets of the Big Apple. Most street vendors are recent immigrants and people of color who are vulnerable to discrimination despite being hardworking entrepreneurs.

The Street Vendor Project is on the front lines to change the NYC system of oppression and provide access to legal services for street vendors. Want to join them? Read on to see their job description from PSJD.org:

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by Kristian Smith, PSJD Summer Projects and Publications Coordinator

This article is part one of a two part series about alternative public interest work. Check back next week for Part Two: Private Public Interest Firms.

When many law students and new lawyers are beginning to plan for their careers, they usually have to make a choice between working at a law firm or practicing public interest work. While law firms and public interest work are typically viewed as mutually exclusive, there are many ways for law students and new lawyers to do public interest work while still gaining training and experience at a law firm.

Many large, traditional law firms now have opportunities for attorneys to work on public interest projects while still receiving the training and resources that come along with large firms. With OCI and summer associate hiring fast-approaching, this is something for law students to keep in mind when looking for jobs.

Erica Knievel Songer, an associate at Hogan Lovells, has had a unique experience as a law-firm associate who has been able to spend much of her time at the firm working solely on pro bono projects. Songer said that Hogan’s pro bono practice has a rotation process for junior and senior attorneys to work solely on public interest work for a year at a time.  She said that she has been able to work on many different types of cases – from housing to voting rights – and that her firm encourages all attorneys to practice pro bono work. She said that doing public interest work at a law firm, as opposed to a non-profit or legal services agency, provides a wealth of resources that make it easier to make a difference in the lives of others.

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