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!

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 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 Policy and Advocacy Associate for Women’s Human Rights assists the Women’s Policy and Advocacy Director in furthering AIUSA’s work on women’s human rights with advocacy, strategy development and event planning.

Under direction of the Women’s Policy and Advocacy Director, the Associate will be responsible for advancing the women’s human rights priorities of AIUSA. This brief entails the development, planning, and execution of advocacy initiatives contributing to AIUSA’s women’s human rights goals.

These priorities include but are not limited to:

• Ending violence against women
• Ensuring U.S. action in support of Afghan women
• Supporting women’s human rights defenders
• Ending human rights violations based on gender
• Defending women’s sexual and reproductive rights, including working to end maternal mortality
• Ending gender discrimination

Interested? Check the listing at PSLawNet!

The Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia (PDS) provides and promotes quality legal representation to indigent adults and children facing a loss of liberty in the District of Columbia and thereby protects society’s interest in the fair administration of justice. PDS is regarded as one of the best public defender offices in the country—local or federal. It is the benchmark by which other public defender systems often measure themselves.

The Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia (PDS) seeks a talented law student to serve as a legislative/policy clerk for the summer of 2012.

The clerk will report to both the Special Counsel to the Director (Legislation) as well as to the General Counsel, and will conduct complex legal research and writing on both legal, policy and legislative issues.

To learn more, see the listing at PSLawNet!

by Kristen Pavón

This morning, I listened to a pretty informative ABA Journal podcast on “How to Craft a Resume that Recruiters Will Love.” While the recruiters focused on resumes for private law firms positions, some of the speakers’ advice also applies to public interest resumes.

1. Objectives are out — if you’re a senior lawyer, try a summary instead.
2. Including your hobbies and interests is a personal choice. Depending on what you include, it may help build rapport or it could hurt you.
3. Don’t use pronouns.
4. High school is ancient history — leave it off.
5. If your GPA is 3.0 or above, put it on your resume. (*I’m undecided on this one…)

The podcast speakers — legal recruiters — emphasized that lawyers are snooty and snobby about education (her words, not mine) and because of that, if you leave your GPA off your resume, employers will assume that it’s below a 3.0. Is this true? Is this true in the public interest world?

You can listen to the 25-minute podcast or read the transcript here.

Thoughts?

From the National Law Journal:

Lawyers finish school prepared to think like lawyers, but are they prepared to develop business and survive in a competitive economy?

Well, no, not usually. To remedy this situation, Fordham University School of Law brought in Silvia Hodges, who earned the first doctorate degree on record in legal services marketing. Last spring, she launched a course on the topic. While a far cry from the usual torts or constitutional law curricula, her class is essential. It aids law students in developing their personal brands.

Hodges encourages students to improve their value by blogging (among other things like taking courses in the area you want to practice in, joining associations and interest groups, etc.).

“Blogging is a great tool to help law students accomplish this [building your brand],” Hodges said. “Great posts show that you are familiar with the topic. You become part of the discussion, become known among those interested in the topic. Having valuable contacts online is part of becoming a thought leader. You get your name out, it gives you visibility and helps you with search engine optimization. Your name and content will pop up when people look for your topic. Hopefully, this will help you get hired.”

I agree that blogging on legal topics you’re interested in can help you land a job. However, because blog writing is not the same as legal brief writing, I would suggest researching blogs and blog writing styles before starting your own.

Do you have a blog? Are you thinking about starting one?

The American Constitution Society for Law and Policy (ACS) is one of the nation’s leading progressive legal organizations. The American Constitution Society (ACS) believes that law should be a force to improve the lives of all people. ACS works for positive change by shaping debate on vitally important legal and constitutional issues through development and promotion of high-impact ideas to opinion leaders and the media; by building networks of lawyers, law students, judges and policymakers dedicated to those ideas; and by countering the activist conservative legal movement that has sought to erode our enduring constitutional values. By bringing together powerful, relevant ideas and passionate, talented people, ACS makes a difference in the constitutional, legal and public policy debates that shape our democracy.

ACS is looking for an experienced, creative, detail oriented, versatile and energetic Director of Programs based in Washington, D.C.  The Director of Programs will play a vital role in coordinating and facilitating ACS’s rapidly expanding output of innovative, highly relevant substantive legal and public policy work. This position will report to the Vice President of Policy Development and Programming.

Learn how to apply at PSLawNet!

by Kristen Pavón

We all know participating in clinics, volunteering, and getting involved with legal aid organizations in your community are great ways to show commitment to public interest and even get a foot in the door.

However, at the ABA Midyear Meeting earlier this month, co-executive director of Southeast Louisiana Legal Services Mark Moreau suggested something I had never heard before.

Moreau advised that if you’re interested in public interest law, you should have a strong tax law background. Yes, tax law.

“At a time where over half of legal services clients are working poor, a strong understanding in tax or welfare law is important,” he explained, noting that inadequate understanding of welfare and tax law is a major deficiency among legal aid providers.”

You can read more here.

Did you take tax law in law school? Will you take tax law?