Public Works

PILA Raises $50K

2009-11-28T15:15:48-05:00

Virginia Law's student-run Public Interest Law Association has raised $50,000 this month. The vast majority of the funds were raised at the annual PILA auction, held this year on November 14, 2009, and hosted by Professors Karen Moran and George Geis. Additional information on the auction is available on the Law School's web page here.

PILA donates all benefit proceeds to support first and second year students who take public service positions during the summer. PILA's fundraising efforts are matched dollar for dollar by the Law School Foundation. Congratulations to the PILA Board for a job well done.

November 30, 2009: Strategies for Landing a Federal Government Job in the Current Economy

2009-11-27T12:30:00-05:00

All civilian positions in the federal government that are not specifically excepted from civil service laws are filled through a competitive process. Some agencies are permitted to hire personnel outside the traditional competitive process either because there is a specialized need to fill a position or because the background and qualifications required for the jobs are not easily measured through competitive service criteria. As a result, entry-level and lateral attorneys are often hired through excepted service positions as are certain post-graduate fellows and interns (see, e.g., Presidential Management Fellows Program - PMF; Federal Career Intern Program - FCIP). (A list of excepted service agencies is available in our guide here).

The staff of the Public Service Center regularly mines federal government positions which we post on Symplicity, our internal job databank. During the course of our research, we have found many positions that may be attractive to law students and alumni that do not require a JD - e.g., policy analyst, asylum officer, compliance officer, contract specialist, policy analyst, investigator, labor relations specialist, estate tax examiner, hearings and appeals specialists, and many others. These positions are often occupied by attorneys. To apply for these positions, applicants are required to submit federal resumes and complete Knowledge, Skills, and Ability (KSA) responses. We have also found that many agencies are increasingly requiring attorney applicants to submit KSAs.

To help 3Ls identify and successfully apply for these positions, on Monday, November 30, 2009, 11:30 AM - 1:00PM, in WB152, Kate Neville, Esq., founder and principal of Neville Career Consulting, LLC, will give a presentation at the Law School. Neville Consulting provides guidance to attorneys considering a job change or career transition, within the practice of law or to another field. Ms. Neville is a 1992 graduate of Harvard Law School and practiced at a large firm and in government before shifting her career to work in consulting. She has given presentations at other law schools, including Georgetown, American, George Washington, and Harvard.

The event is open to ALL interested students.

Financing your Public Interest Summer Internship

2009-11-24T00:59:36-05:00

The primary source of funding for students who accept low-paying or unpaid public service internships during the summer are PILA grants. The fellowships are funded by voluntary contributions to PILA and matched by a grant from the Law School Foundation. PILA funds as many applicants as possible each year; however, the percentage of applicants receiving grants changes each year due to fluctuations in funds and number of applicants. Any first- or second-year student who will work in volunteer or low-paying public interest positions this summer AND who has satisfied the public service requirement is eligible to apply. Second-year and transfer students may apply during the fall or spring application periods; first-year students can only apply during the spring semester.

Other sources of funding that first and second year students have commonly secured for summer work with a public service employer include:

(1) Claire Corcoran Award ($1500 or $750): presented to one or two 2Ls who demonstrate extraordinary commitment to public interest work (through faculty nominations);

(2) Equal Justice Works Summer Corps ($1000 vouchers to pay educational expenses or qualified student loans): an AmeriCorps-funded program that has historically provided more than 300 law students who work at a nonprofit public interest organization of their choosing. The summer 2010 application will be available online in mid-March. Last year's deadline was April 2. Additional information on the application process is available here. Also see information on the Summer Corps program below (No.14), under Funding Available in Various Geographic Locations.

(3) Equal Justice America (up to $4000): provided to students who work fulltime for organizations that provide direct civil legal assistance for the poor. The summer 2010 application deadline is not yet published, but last year's deadline was March 23, 2009. Application information available here. Also see No.13 below, under Funding Available in Various Geographic Locations.

(4) Doris Buffett Fellowships ($3500): offered to students who will be involved in applied work related to children and families in need. Deadline: April 1, 2010. Additional information on the fellowship is available on the Center for Children, Families, and the Law's website; application procedures, here.

(5) Public Service Law Network (PSLawNet) has identified the following sources of funding for law student summer internships on its Summer Funding Resources page. Below are summaries of the sources listed on PSLawNet's site. Please check PSLawNet's posting for further details.

The first group is a list of summer grants that are available in various geographic work locations; the second, grants available in specific locations.

Funding Available In Various Geographic Locations

(6) ABA Commission on Homelessness and Poverty / John J. Curtin, Jr. Legal Internship
Contact: Amy Horton Newell | Washington, DC 20005 | 202-662- 1694 | E-mail: homeless@abanet.org

Pay: $2,500 stipend for no less than 8 weeks of continuous work between May 1 and October 1.
The 2010 deadline has not yet been published, but last year's deadline was March 23, 2009. Student must work for an organization run by a bar organization or legal services organization anywhere in the country that serves homeless clients or those at risk of becoming homeless. The ABA provides a list of organizations the student may consider, however this list is not exclusive. The student may work at any approved homeless advocacy project run by a bar association or legal services program. Application form available at http://www.abanet.org/homeless/curtin.shtml

(7) AFL-CIO Law Student Union Summer
Contact: Nancy Schiffer | 202-637-5336 | E-mail: nschiffe@aflcio.org
Pay: Weekly stipend of $600. Transportation and housing costs are also covered. 2010 Deadline: October 20, 2009 for 2Ls; January 26, 2010 for 1Ls. 10 week internship program for law students that combines front-line legal work with grassroots organizing in real, on-going campaigns by AFL-CIO unions in various regions of the country.

(8) Arthur C. Helton Fellowship Program
The American Society of International Law
Contact: Veronica Onorevole | 202-939-6000 | E-mail: fellowship@asil.org. Pay: $1,000 micro-grants. 2010 Deadline: Must be received by February 12, 2010. Students can begin submitting applications October 12, 2009 and only the first 50 applications will be considered. Fellows will undertake their fieldwork between April 2009 and August 2009 in association with an established educational institution, international organization, or non-governmental organization working in areas related to international law, human rights, and humanitarian affairs. Funded by contributions from ASIL members, this one-time award will provide financial assistance, "micro-grants" of up to $1000, for law students and young lawyers to pursue human rights work and research. Fellows will undertake their projects in affiliation with an established NGO or human rights organization.

(9) Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area (AABA) / AABA Law Foundation
The AABA offers funding to qualified summer law clerks to work on legal projects that provide free legal services to the Asian American community. Students must work a minimum of 10 weeks. Applications for the 2009 grant will become available on the AABA's website one to two months prior to the deadline, which is usually in March.

(10) Bergstrom Fellowship - University of Michigan Law School The Michigan Child Welfare Law Program Contact: Alicia Lixey, Training Coordinator| 734-763-5000 | E-mail: lixey@umich.edu

Pay: A limited number of stipends are available, and up to $500 in travel expenses for training may be provided. 2010 Deadline: February 15, 2010. The University of Michigan Law School is offering places in the Bergstrom Child Welfare Law Summer Fellowship Class of 2010. Applicants should have completed their first year of law school but not yet graduated. Fellows work in various offices around the country specializing in representation of children, parents and social service agencies. Placement in child welfare office can be found after acceptance into fellowship. Fellows must attend a three-day training from May 24-26, 2010. Interns must work a minimum of 10 weeks. Students can obtain information and applications from the website.

(11) Blakemore Foundation - Blakemore Freeman Fellowships for Advanced Asian Language Study
1201 Third Avenue, Suite 4800 | Seattle, WA 98101-3266 | Phone: 206-359- 8778 | Email: blakemore@perkinscoie.com. 2010 Deadline: December 30, 2009. Eligibility: applicants should be pursuing an academic, professional, or business career that involves the regular use of a modern Asian language; have an undergraduate degree; be at or near an advanced level in the language as defined by the Grant Guidelines; be able to devote themselves exclusively to the language study during the term of the grant; be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident Selection criteria: applicants should have a focused, well-defined career objective involving Asia in which use of the language is an important aspect; the potential to make a significant contribution to a field of study or area of professional or business activity in an Asian country; good academic, professional, or business background, appropriate to the career program

(12) Environmental Careers Organization (ECO) / CEIP Fund, Inc.
179 South Street | Boston, MA 02111 | Phone: 617-426- 4375 | Email: info@eco.org
2010 Deadline: There is no application deadline, but early applications generally receive the best responses. ECO offers a wide variety of paid internships in the fields of environmental protection, public policy and community development, and resource management. Applications and information can be obtained from ECO directly. Specific information about ECO's various placements can be located on the website.

(13) Equal Justice America Legal Service Fellowships
804- 744-4200 | E-mail: dan@equaljusticeamerica.org
Pay: $4,000 stipend. 2009 Deadline: All applications must be postmarked no later than March 23, 2009. Awards will be announced by email no later than April 24, 2009. Students may work anywhere in the United States, provided that the hiring organization is a non-profit organization providing direct civil legal services to the poor. Equal Justice America generally funds over 175 students per summer. Students must work full-time (35-40 hours per week) for at least 10 weeks. To apply, applicants must send a cover letter describing their commitment and interest in providing legal services to the poor, a resume, two letters of recommendation, and an employment confirmation letter from the hiring organization to Equal Justice America at the above address. All application materials must be sent together. Students should indicate on the cover letter whether or not they have work-study funding. Students may apply prior to securing a placement, but an employment confirmation letter is required before a fellowship will be awarded.

(14) Equal Justice Works Summer Corps Program
Contact: Jessica Heaven, Americorps Program Assistant | 202-466-3686 | summercorps@equaljusticeworks.org
Pay: $1,000 education award voucher. 2010 Deadline: Application materials will be available online beginning in mid-March 2010. Summer Corps is an AmeriCorps-funded program that provides 315 law students with the opportunity to earn a $1,000 education award voucher for spending the summer in a qualifying internship at a non-profit, public interest organization. Students must complete 300 service hours to receive the education award voucher, which can be used to pay current educational expenses or qualified student loans.

(15) Federal Communications Bar Association Foundation
202-293- 4000 | E-mail: heidi@fcba.org
Pay: Stipend is $5,000. 2009 Deadline: Last year's applications were due on March 6, 2009. The FCBA will award at least four summer stipends to law students employed as unpaid summer interns in positions with the FCC and other government agencies or entities with jurisdiction over the communications industry (i.e., broadcasting, cable television, telephony, satellite and information technology). Applicants will be considered based on their demonstrated interest in the communications field; having secured or having pending, an unpaid summer position for at least eight (8) weeks with a government agency; their involvement in community activities; and, their dependence on financial assistance in order to accept an unpaid internship.

(16) Haywood Burns Memorial Fellowship for Social and Economic Justice
National Lawyers Guild, National Office | 212-679-5100 | membership@nlg.org
Pay: The stipend is $2,000 and is paid in two installments by the project. The stipend may be supplemented with work-study grants and student fellowships. Duration: Fellows are required to work full-time for ten weeks. Starting and ending dates are negotiated between the fellow and the project.
Last year's deadline was January 16, 2009. The Summer Projects Committee has expanded to place hundreds of students with public interest organizations that are working to protect and further the civil and criminal rights of oppressed people in the United States. Students apply for either an internship with a sponsoring organization or may submit a proposal for a student-initiated project.

(17) Peggy Browning Fund Summer Internship
Contact: Mary Anne Moffa | 215-665- 6815 | mmoffa@peggybrowningfund.org
Pay: minimum $4,000 stipend for 10 weeks. 2010 Deadline: January 15, 2010. Peggy Browning Fund announce how many funded Summer Fellowships in labor-related organizations throughout the United States will be supported in November 2008. Participating labor organizations and application materials are available here. Only students from certain law schools are eligible to participate. See website or visit your career services/public interest office to determine if you are attending an eligible law school. A cover letter, resume and completed application form must be sent to each eligible work site to which you wish to apply. A copy of each complete application must also be sent to the Peggy Browning Fund. Both the Fund and the specific sites to which students are applying must have received your applications by the deadline. Students can apply for up to 3 positions. All recipients of summer funding are required to attend a one day (expenses paid) early Fall 2009 wrap-up program/evaluation session.

(18) Political Economy Research Center for Graduate Fellowship Program
406-587-9591 | E-mail: perc@perc.org
Pay: Fellows receive a monthly stipend of $1,600 in addition to reimbursement for reasonable domestic round trip travel expenses to Montana. Duration: Three months. 2010 Deadline: 2010 Applications are due by February 15th for early decision and March 15th for regular decision. PERC'S fellowships for graduate students and law students offer the ideal opportunity for those who are interested in researching issues related to natural resources and the environment. Graduate fellows spend three months at PERC in Bozeman, Montana, researching and writing a paper under the supervision of a PERC senior fellow. While there, fellows are required to present two to three seminars to outline, report on, and summarize their research findings. A paper of publishable quality is the expected result.

(19) Pride Law Fund Fellowship
Phone: 415-788- 0900 | info@PrideLawFund.org. 2010 Deadline: April 1, 2010.
The Roberta Achtenberg, Steven Block, Mary Morgan, and Richter Fellowship Programs are open to law students working under the supervision of an attorney at a 501(c)(3) organization anywhere in the country. Applicants may apply for more than one fellowship by submitting a written proposal for a Summer project on which they seek to work, together with a letter of sponsorship by an attorney from a 501 (c)(3) organization, setting forth the attorney's commitment to supervise the applicant on the project.
The Achtenberg Fellowship supports the work of concern to the lesbian and gay community in the public sector, regarding public policy or of a public service nature. The Block Fellowship supports work in the area of lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered civil rights and education. The Morgan Fellowship supports legal work on issues of concern to lesbians and bisexual women. The Richter Fellowship supports work in the area of HIV/AIDS, including legal services to people with HIV and/or AIDS.

(20) QLaw Summer Public Interest Grant Program
Spencer Anderson & Buhr, PLLC | 1700 Seventh Avenue, Suite 2100 | Seattle, Washington 98101
Contact: Cynthia Buhr | Phone: 206-328-8048| E-mail: cynthia@spenceranderson.com
Pay: Up to $500 per week for 10 weeks. 2009 Deadline was March 20, 2009. The GLBT Bar Association of Washington (“QLaw”) will sponsor law student summer internships beginning in the summer of 2007. Law students seeking low or unpaid summer internships serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (“LGBT”) community or people with HIV/AIDS are encouraged to apply. The Public Interest Summer Grant Program is designed to encourage innovative new projects while developing the critical skills necessary for law students developing careers in the public interest. Students will design legal projects to be sponsored by a non-profit, government, or tribal organization. The sponsoring organizations will provide the student with legal supervision and administrative support over the course of the ten (10) week internship.

(21) Robert Masur Fellowship in Civil Liberties, The Nation Institute
Phone: 212-822-0252 | E-mail: info@nationinstitute.org
Pay: $1,000 honorarium. 2010 Deadline: May 1, 2010. The Masur Fellowship enables a first year law student to pursue significant summer activities in the practice areas of civil rights or civil liberties.
Proposed activities may include a writing or research project, work with a public interest organization, work on a case under the supervision of a law faculty member or lawyer, or any other work in the areas of civil rights or civil liberties. Applicants should send a one-to-two page proposal to the Institute describing their intended summer project, along with a resume and the name of their faculty or organization sponsor.

B. Summer Funding Sources Available in Specific Regions

(22) ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources Fellowships in Environmental Law
Contact: Dana Jonusaitis, Section Director | Phone: 312-988-5602 | E-mail: jonusaid@staff.abanet.org
Each successful recipient will receive a $5,000 stipend ($6,000 for New York fellows) in exchange for participation in the Fellowship program. 2010 Deadlines: January 18, 2010 for California and Florida fellowships; January 31, 2010 for D.C.; November 20, 2009 for New York. Please check website for other states' deadlines. The ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources is pleased to announce the sponsorship of several Fellowships for eligible minority law students during the summer of 2007. The program is designed to encourage minority law students to study and pursue careers in environmental law. There is an 8-10 week minimum commitment wherein the Fellow will work on legal matters for a government agency or public interest organization in the fields of environmental, energy, or resources law, with emphasis on air pollution.

(23) Asian American Law Fund of New York
c/o Sylvia Fung Chin, Esq. | White & Case LLP |1155 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036 | Contact: Sylvia Fung Chin | E-mail: schin@ny.whitecase.com
Pay: $3,500 stipend. Last year's deadline was March 20, 2009. AALF of NY will fund two stipends of $3,500 each. Recipients must work a minimum of eight weeks (minimum of 35 hours per week). Projects must be with non-profit organizations and must serve New York's Asian American community. Proposed projects for the summer of 2007 are included with the application. Applicants may propose their own projects. A proposed project should involve legal work and have a supervising attorney. Contact AALF for an application.

(24) Asian Pacific American Bar Association Educational Fund (AEF) - Washington, DC
P.O. Box 23124 | Washington, DC 20026-3124 | Phone: 202-347-5634
E-mail: aefboard@yahoo.com. Pay: Stipends are generally $2,500 for 10 weeks or 400 total hours.
2010 Deadline: Applications are due April 30, 2010. AEF awards summer fellowships to law students to work with public interest organizations (government agencies or non-profits) that benefit either the Asian Pacific American community or the metropolitan Washington, D.C. community-at-large. Public interest organizations must be in metropolitan Washington, D.C. Students must secure sponsorship, then apply to AEF for funding.

(25) Charles H. Revson Law Students Public Interest Fellowship Program (LSPIN)- New York City Metropolitan Area. Public Interest Law Center | New York University School of Law, 245 Sullivan Street, Room 430 New York, NY 10012, Phone: 212-998-6686, E-mail: pilc.info@nyu.edu or lspin@juris.law.nyu.edu. Pay: $4,500 stipend. 2010 deadline: applications must be received by the applicant’s school by November 12, 2009 by 3pm. Students must work full time (35 hours per week) for ten weeks.

(26) Florida Bar Foundation Legal Services Summer Fellowship Program
P.O. Box 1553 |Orlando, FL 32802-1553 | Contact: Margaret Hepworth | Phone: 407-843- 0045 or 800-541- 2195, Contact: Margaret Hepworth, mhepworth@flabarfndn.org

Pay: $5,500 stipend for first year students, $7,000 stipend for second year students. 2010 Deadline: January 21, 2010. Application information will be located on the Foundation's website by November 17, 2009. Students must work full time for eleven weeks at a legal services organization in the state of Florida. Approximately 40 positions are available. The fellowship commences with a two-day mandatory training and orientation seminar - to be held May 20 and 21, 2010 in Orlando, Florida - prior to the fellows arriving for work at the programs. Housing, meals, and reaosnable travel expenses for the two-day training will be provided. Fellows are scheduled to report to work at their programs on May 24, 2010 with the fellowship ending on August 6, 2010.

(27) Goldmark Equal Access to Justice Summer Internship
Legal Foundation of Washington, 1325 Fourth Ave, Suite 1335, Seattle, WA 98101-2509
Phone: 206-624-2536 | Email: dtheories@legalfoundation.org
Pay: $8,000 stipend. 2010 Deadline: The program has been suspended for 2010 due to economic difficulties. A ten-week internship to be scheduled between May and August at the convenience of the intern and the program.

(28) Hispanic Bar Association of the District of Columbia - Washington, DC
P.O. Box 1011 | Washington, DC 20013-1011 | Phone: 202-388-4990 | E-mail: info@hbadc.org
Pay: Stipend is $3,500. Last year's deadline was April 3, 2009. Funds two fellowships for first and second year law students to work in a non-profit legal services agency in Washington, D.C. Students must secure sponsorship on their own, then apply to the HBA-DC for funding.

(29) Janet Steiger Fellowship
ABA Section of Antitrust Law, 321 North Clark, Chicago, IL 60610-4714
Phone: 312-988-5606 | Email: Deborah Douglas - douglasd@staff.abanet.org
Pay: $5,000 stipend. Please note that the Project in its discretion is able to provide Steiger Fellows with limited funds (up to $2000) for both travel and housing where a clear need is demonstrated. 2010 Deadline: January 30, 2010. Full-time, eight week minimum, summer fellowship program open to all first and second year law students. Through a working partnership with the National Association of Attorneys General, students will work in the consumer protection departments of the offices of state attorneys general. The following states were selected to receive a Steiger Fellow during the summer of 2008: Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Applicants must submit an application form; resume; writing sample; and, statement of interest.

(30) Legal Aid Association of California, Dan Bradley Summer Fellowship Program
47 Kearny Street, Suite 705, San Francisco, CA 94108 | Phone: 415-834 -0100 | Email: jwolitzer@pic.org
Pay: $3,500 Stipend. Last year's deadline was April 10, 2009. Check website for exact date. Fellows must work a minimum of ten weeks at one of the LAAC member organizations and will receive a stipend of $3,500. Applicants must have a strong interest in working to defend and expand the legal rights of the poor and disadvantaged. People of color and students from low-income or working class backgrounds are particularly encouraged to apply.

(31) Massachusetts Bar Foundation - Legal Intern Fellowship Program
Grants Administrator | Massachusetts Bar Foundation
20 West Street, Boston, MA 02111 | Phone: 617-338-0534 | E-mail: foundation@massbar.org
Pay: Stipends have a maximum amount of $6,000. Students may receive funding from other sources to finance the internship. 2010 Deadline: March 12, 2010. Offers approximately 6 stipends to law students who intern during the summer months at nonprofit organizations providing civil legal services to low-income clients in Massachusetts. Students must work 10 weeks. To apply, students must submit a resume, an official law school transcript, one letter of reference, applicant information form, essay (details on applicant information form), and an organization supporting statement form. Applications may be obtained on-line.

(32) New Jersey Summer Public Interest Legal Intern Program
PO Box 1357, Edison, NJ 08810-1357 | Phone: 732-572-9100 | E-mail: pkoncius@lsnj.org
Pay: 2008 Interns were paid at a rate of $550 per week for rising 2nd year students and $750 per week for rising 3rd year students. 2010 Deadline: All applications will be considered in the order in which they are received. Hiring decisions will be made on a rolling basis, beginning Fall 2009. The program places law students in public interest legal organizations in New Jersey. Students must apply directly to Legal Services of New Jersey, which will refer prospective candidates to participating employers for final selection. Every year, over 20 public interest and government organizations in New Jersey participate in the program. Program requires 10 weeks of work.

(33) New York State Bar Association - Minority Fellowships in Environmental Law
New York State Bar Association, Environmental Law Section, One Elk Street, Albany, NY 12207
Contact: Lisa Batille | Phone: 518-463-3200
Pay: Recipient will receive a $6,000 stipend for a minimum of ten weeks of summer employment.
2010 Deadline: November 20, 2009. Law students are eligible for consideration if they are enrolled in a law school in New York State or are permanent New York State residents enrolled in a law school in another state. The winner of the fellowship must find his/her own placement.

(34) Pennsylvania Legal Aid, Inc. - Martin Luther King Internship and Fellowship Program
118 Locust Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101- 1414, Contact: Cynthia Newcomer | Phone: 800-322-7572
E-mail: cnewcomer@palegalaid.net
2009 Deadline: January 31, 2010. Martin Luther King (MLK) Interns are assigned to local legal service programs across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Interns are selected and assigned by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Hiring and Training Committee. The Hiring Committee will assign selected interns to local legal service agencies. Salary and benefits are determined by the host program. Minority law students from any law school are invited to apply.

(35) Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) of Chicago Summer Internship Program - Chicago
c/o Foley and Lardner, 321 North Clark Street, 28th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60610-4764, Contact: Susan Curry, Executive Director | Phone: 312-832- 5127 | E-mail: scurry@pili-law.org
Pay: $5,000 stipend for ten weeks of full-time employment. 2010 Deadline: Beginning in December, 2009, the application period for summer of 2010 will open. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through March 2010. PILI recruits law students from across the nation for summer internships with public interest law agencies in the Chicago metropolitan area. For more information about participating public interest law agencies in the Chicago area, and for application materials, please see here. http://www.pili-law.org/PILIStudentInternships.htm Applicants should be first or second year law students.

(36) Robert M. Takasugi Summer Fellowship Program (California)
c/o Edwin Prather, Clarence & Dyer LLP, 899 Ellis Street, San Francisco, CA 94109, Phone: 415-788-9000 E-mail: ekprather@takasugifellowship.com
Pay: The Fellowship funds summer law fellows in amounts up to $5,000. Last year's deadline was March 27, 2009. The Robert M. Takasugi Public Interest Fellowship was established to honor the Honorable Robert M. Takasugi (C.D. Cal.) for his service on the federal bench and a lifetime of community activism and leadership. The Fellowship encourages future generations of attorneys to embrace the qualities of selfless struggle, courage, intellect, and compassion that Judge Takasugi has exemplified through his many years as a state and federal judge, and as a member of the bar.

(37) South Asian Bar Association of New York Public Interest Fellowship
Contact: Nadia Seeratan, Email: rmantri@gmail.com.Last year's deadline was in March 27, 2009 SABANY annually awards two to three fellowships to outstanding law students who have demonstrated a commitment to public service so that they may spend their summer working unpaid in the New York area public interest sector. Fellowships are awarded to first- and second-year law students either of South Asian descent working in an unpaid legal internship or those spending at least six weeks of the summer in an unpaid legal internship focusing on the needs of the South Asian community. Applications are available on the SABANY website.

(38) South Asian Bar Association of Washington D.C. Public Interest Fellowship
c/o Mr. Padma Shah, The H.T. Law Group, Waterfront Center, 1010 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Suite 560
Washington, DC 20007. The 2009 deadline was May 8, 2009. SABA-DC provides financial assistance in the form of summer fellowships to law students working at public interest organizations in the metropolitan D.C. area. The primary purpose of the fellowship is to help fund a student’s internship with a public interest organization for the benefit of the South Asian community and the metropolitan D.C. area. The number of Fellowships awarded, as well as the amount of each grant, will be determined by the SABA-DC Fellowship Committee and is based on SABA-DC’s fundraising efforts and the number of quality applicants it receives. SABA-DC will be sponsoring at least one fellowship grant of at least $1500 this year. Applications are available on the SABA-DC website.

(39) Southern District of Texas Fellowship Grants
Federal Bar Foundation, Southern District of Texas, c/o Mary Richardson, P.O. Box 17145
Sugar Land, TX 77496-7145

Pay: Grants of up to $3,000 are made available for a limited number of law students who serve as interns for a minimum of six weeks during the summer. The 2009 deadline was April 3, 2009. Interns must work in the offices of any Southern District of Texas courts or agencies located within the Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Laredo, McAllen, or Victoria Divisions: U.S. District Court; U.S. Bankruptcy Court; U.S. Magistrate Judges; U.S. Trustee; FBI; Federal Public Defender; U.S. Attorney; EEOC; U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service; U.S. Customs Service. Eligibility requirements: full-time student at any accredited U.S. law school; U.S. citizen; completion of at least 30 hours of course work; GPA which ranks in the top half of law school class (measured at time of application); have secured or will secure an internship with one of the courts or agencies listed above. To apply, send resume and a cover letter describing your interest in federal public service and any special circumstances you would like considered. The applicant must provide a letter to the Federal Bar Association from one of the participating agencies or courts stating that the recipient has been accepted for a summer internship.

(40) Virginia Law Foundation Fund for Justice and Education Public Service Internships
Virginia Law Foundation, 700 East Main Street, Suite 1501, Richmond, VA 23219, Phone: 804-648-0112
Email: valawfdn@infionline.net

The program has been suspended for the 2010 year and anticipates re-opening in 2011. Funds are provided to each of Virginia’s eight American Bar Association (ABA)-accredited law schools, which include Appalachian School of Law, College of William and Mary, George Mason University, Liberty University School of Law, Regent University, University of Richmond, University of Virginia, and Washington and Lee University. Applicants for the internships must be students at one of the above listed Virginia law schools and must apply to the law school (through career services office) for internship consideration. All internships must be served within the Commonwealth of Virginia.

(41) WLALA Fran Kandel Public Interest Grant, Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles

c/o Bet Tzedek, 145 South Fairfax Ave, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90036, Contact: Michelle Williams Court (mcourt@bettzedek.org) | Phone: 323-549-5840 | E-mail: info@wlala.org
Pay: The maximum stipend/grant amount is $5,000. Last year's deadline was March 13, 2009. The Foundation will make grants to law students for projects that make governmental and social services agencies more accessible and responsive to individuals or groups whose needs are not adequately met. The Foundation is interested only in proposals that will produce some tangible program, such as information booklets, brochures, educational curriculum and videotapes. Projects must benefit residents of Southern California.

International Criminal Tribunal Opportunities for Virginia Law Students

2009-11-19T13:04:07-05:00

Students with a strong interest in human rights and international humanitarian law are invited to apply for summer internship positions with the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). The Human Rights Program will facilitate Virginia Law student applications to both programs.

By way of brief background to the events that led to the creation of the international tribunals, between April and July of 1994, over 750,000 Rwandan Tutsi and Hutu political moderates were systematically killed by Hutu militias associated with two political parties - the Interahamwe and Impuzamugambi. In November 1994, the United Nations Security Council established the ICTR to determine those responsible for the genocide.

The ICTY was established in 1993 by the United Nations in response to mass atrocities then taking place in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The key objective of the ICTY is to try those individuals most responsible for appalling acts such as murder, torture, rape, enslavement, destruction of property and other crimes listed in the Tribunal's Statute.

Application forms are included in our e-mail. Please note the internal deadline for Virginia Law students: Wednesday, December 9, at noon.

Images courtesy 1 | 2

U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division: November 16, 2009

2009-11-15T17:41:06-05:00

The Criminal Division (CRM) enforces federal criminal laws except those specifically assigned to other divisions. The division and the 93 United States Attorneys oversee criminal matters under more than 900 statutes. There are numerous sections, offices, and units in the division.

On November 16, 2009, at 11:15AM, in WB152, Jonathan Rusch ('80), Deputy Chief for Strategy and Policy (Fraud Section) and Julie Zebrak, Acting Deputy Executive Officer (CRM - Human Resources) will give a presentation to 1Ls and 2Ls on summer internship opportunities with the division.

At 1:30, in WB 152, Mr. Rusch and Ms. Zebrak will discuss non-Honors points of entry into the Department of Justice. Interested 3Ls are encouraged to attend.

U.S. Department of Justice Civil Division: November 13

2009-11-11T09:32:59-05:00

The United States Department of Justice will offer two presentations on the agency's volunteer legal inter n recruitment. On Friday, November 13, at noon, in WB152, Jennifer Rivera '88, Director of Federal Programs, will discuss hiring in the Civil Division. Next week, November 16, at 2:00pm, in WB152, Criminal Division's Jonathan Rusch ('80), Deputy Chief for Strategy and Policy, Fraud Section, and Julie Zebrack, Acting Deputy Executive Office of Human Resources, will discuss the division's work and expected hiring for next summer.

Free Speech or Disruption: Balancing the Rights to Speak and to Hear

2009-11-10T23:47:27-05:00

During the July 4, 2008 naturalization ceremony at Monticello, protesters disrupted President George W. Bush’s address to the crowd of brand new U.S. citizens, guests, and visitors. During President Obama’s September 9, 2009 address to a joint session of Congress, U.S. Representative Joe Wilson yelled “You lie” in response to one of the President’s comments. In late summer 2009, town hall meetings across the country organized by elected representatives to discuss health care reform reportedly became shouting matches between those holding different views.
Do these incidents represent a new tone in political discourse or are they simply recent examples of a national tradition? Is this how the marketplace of ideas is supposed to function? Should one person’s right to speak be limited by another's right to hear?

These and other issues will be the focus of a discussion led by an outstanding panel of experts on Sunday, November 15, 2009, 3:00pm-5:00pm, at Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) in the Dickinson Auditorium.

The event is free and open to members of the public.For more information, please see the attached flier: Free Speech or Disruption Flier. The event is presented byThe Thoma s Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression, PVCC, and The Virginia Foundation for the Humanities.

Image Courtesy

Raven Fellowships

2009-11-06T22:59:18-05:00

The Raven Society funds several fellowship awards of up to $2500 each every year for undergraduate and graduate research projects at the University of Virginia. Last year, the Raven Society funded a diverse set of projects that studied Native American sovereignty in Montana, monastic rituals in India, Rajasthani painting in India, children's perspectives in design in Denmark, and genocide and ethnic cleansing in Bosnia.

The Raven Society will be hosting a symposium open to the university community on November 11, at 5 p.m. in Jefferson Hall, Hotel C, West Range for last year's winners to present their results and to allow interested students to see what a winning project looks like and to ask questions about the process.

The fellowships are open to undergraduate and graduate students. Membership in the Raven Society is not a requirement to apply. Applications are due February 19, 2010. For more information, please contact the Raven Society.

JAG Corps Presentation

2009-10-30T17:02:34-04:00

The Public Service Center and Virginia Law Veterans will be hosting an information session on Judge Advocate General's JAG Corps' on Monday, November 9, at 11:45am in WB128. Representatives from the U.S. Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy will speak about careers as military lawyers and the application processes for summer internships and permanent positions with the various JAG Corps. All classes are welcome. As a reminder, we have also included a list of application deadlines for the various Corps: JAG Corps Deadlines.

Federal government hiring projections

2009-10-26T21:54:28-04:00

Partnership for Public Service recently posted a list of occupational areas and positions for attorneys and projected federal government hiring on its site here. Information for individual agency hiring is listed here.

The Washington Post reported in September 2009 that the federal government needs to hire more than 270,000 workers for "mission critical" jobs by the fall of 2012 and almost 600,000 for all positions in the next three years. Of these, 23, 596 are legal jobs.

Jail

2009-10-15T17:15:47-04:00

On Monday, October 19 at 7:00 pm, the Legal Aid Justice Center will show a screening of Jail, an installment of Morgan Spurlock's documentary series, 30 Days, and a panel discussion about prison reform. The event will be hosted by author John Grisham and other special guests including David Fathi, Director of Human Rights Watch (U.S. program) and Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) (invited).

The event will take place at the Paramount Theater on the Downtown Mall. Tickets are $15 for students ($25 for non-students) and are available at the Paramount Box Office or on-line at www.theparamount.net. Proceeds will benefit the Legal Aid Justice Center.

Albemarle County Attorney's Office: Internship Opportunity

2009-10-14T14:41:00-04:00

The Albemarle County Attorney's Office is seeking a part-time law clerk for the 2009-2010 school year. The law clerk will research complex and timely issues in education and local government law and may have an opportunity to gain experience in other areas based upon the law clerk's interest and availability. The application deadline is October 30, 2009.

Interested students should submit a cover letter, resume, transcript, and writing sample by email to Annie Kim at akim@albemarle.org. For a full description of the law clerk's responsibilities, please see the job posting on Symplicity. This is a unique and exciting opportunity for a student to gain experience working in local government.

Presidential Management Fellows Program Open Today

2009-10-01T12:51:00-04:00

The PMF program is open today. Please review our earlier posting for a summary of the application and nomination process.

2010 Hunton & Williams Richmond Pro Bono Fellowship

2009-09-23T15:29:00-04:00

The Richmond Pro Bono Fellowship is a two-year program during which Fellows represent clients at the firm's own Church Hill neighborhood pro bono offices as well as at the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society (CVLAS) in Richmond. Approximately 25-30% of the Fellow's time will be devoted to Church Hill clients and 70-75% devoted to CVLAS clients.

Fellows will receive all the opportunities for legal training, associate development, and social participation available to Hunton & Williams associates. Fellows are assigned to the Litigation, Intellectual Property & Antitrust Team, and report to a Litigation Team partner, with periodic evaluations submitted by the CVLAS Executive Director.

Recent graduates and current 3Ls with a motivation to pursue public interest law and who expect to be licensed by the Virginia State Bar at the time of employment (October 2010) are eligible to apply. To apply, please visit the firm's site here. The application deadline is December 7, 2009.

CIA Office of General Counsel

2009-09-18T14:23:00-04:00

Please join us for a brownbag presentation with attorneys from the CIA Office of General Counsel on Monday, September 21, 2009, at 12:00, in WB105. The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) handles legal issues relating to foreign intelligence and counterintelligence activities, international terrorism, international narcotics trafficking, nonproliferation, personnel and security matters, contracting, finance and budget matters, legislation, and both civil and criminal litigation. The OGC attorneys will discuss the work of the office, its legal honors program (for 3Ls and judicial law clerks) and summer law clerk program (2Ls). All classes are welcome.

Equal Justice Works Conference & Career Fair for 1Ls

2009-09-17T23:01:00-04:00

Dear Members of the Class of 2012:

Equal Justice Works (EJW) is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization that focuses on public interest careers for lawyers. Every year, in October, the organization hosts a conference and career fair in Washington that brings together the largest gathering of public interest and government employers to recruit second- and third-year law students (and recent graduates) for internship and permanent positions. The conference also features conference programing sessions that offer, among other things, advice on opportunities outside the classroom that students can pursue to prepare for a career in public interest law. This year's event will take place on October 24 and 25 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel.

Conference and "Table Talk"

Conference: The 2009 Conference will feature twelve sessions divided into three tracks: (1) timely topics and activism (sessions address timely substantive areas in public interest lawyering); (2) leadership skills (skills training in leadership areas necessary for student leaders and new lawyers); and (3) roadmap to a public interest career (sessions feature students, organizations, and legal professionals). 1Ls may participate in all conference sessions.

Table Talk: As you you know, under NALP's Principles and Guidelines, first-year law students are not eligible to interview with employers until after December 1. However, 1Ls will be able to attend the conference and informally talk to employers during "Table Talk." Table Talk is essentially an open period where employers avail themselves to meet with students on a first-come, first-served basis. 1Ls may approach the employers during this time, inform them of their 1L status, and ask about their work, and whether they accept applications from 1Ls after December 1. (Check the list of registered employers first -see information on how to sign up below). EJW offers the following advice with regards to Table Talk protocol:

You are encouraged to pick out to whom you would like to speak before Table Talk begins. Keep in mind that several employers may have long lines of students waiting to speak to them. Plan ahead and strategize to maximize your time with all employers . . . Do not use this time to conduct an extensive interview. You should have a quick, 30 second introduction and "selling point" about yourself. Most employers want to meet as many students as possible during this time, so be courteous to your fellow students and keep your face time as short as possible. See full text here.

In light of this limited opportunity to interact with employers, 1Ls should carefully weigh the benefits of attending this event. If you are interested in attending, please know that your registration fee is pre-paid as part of the Law School's membership in EJW. The last date to register is October 7. Here's how you do so:

Create an EJW Symplicty account here. (This will be distinct from the UVA Symplicity account you will receive later this fall.)
Confirm your e-mail address by clicking on the link that is e-mailed to you.
Update your profile information under "Profile".
When you are requested to upload a resume - upload a BLANK document.
Register to attend the Career Fair under "Events." You must register to be admitted into the Conference and Career Fair. A Symplicity account does not constitute as registering.

1Ls with questions are encouraged to visit the EJW forum to post questions, find answers, and connect with other students and professionals attending the Conference and Career Fair.

Education Pioneers (Summer) Fellowship Information Session: September 29

2009-09-16T22:14:00-04:00

Education Pioneers is a national nonprofit that tackles the most critical public education challenges by recruiting business, law, education and policy professionals and matching them with partner organizations. These partners include, among others, charter schools, research organizations, college preparatory programs, and legal services and advocacy programs.

The Fellowship Program is a full-time, 10-week summer internship program where Fellows work as project consultants on a critical education issue under the guidance of an education leader. Fellows work with 100 partner organizations in Boston, Chicago, DC Metro Area, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City and the San Francisco Bay Area. The Program includes training on complex urban education issues as well as access to and collaboration with local education industry experts and professionals from a variety of backgrounds.

On September 29, at noon, in WB105, Education Pioneers staff will present information about the program and the application process. Food will be provided. For additional information about the Fellowship Program, please visit Pioneer' page here.

Education Pioneers Publicity Flyer for UVA LAW

New York County District Attorney's Office

2009-09-15T10:32:00-04:00

Please join the Mortimer Caplin Public Service Center for a brownbag presentation with Tom Wornom ('83) from the N ew York Co unty District Attorney's Office on Friday, September 25, 2009, at noon, in SL294.

The New York County District Attorney's Office is one of the premier prosecutors' offices in the United States. The unparalleled opportunities for challenging and sophisticated work have consistently drawn top law students and attorneys to the office over the years. The office has a well-established Summer Intern Program, which affords first and second year law students the opportunity to see first-hand the responsibilities of an Assistant District Attorney.

The Office is organized in different divisions, including the Trial Division, the Investigation Division, and the Apeals Bureau. Because of the Manhattan location and the large number of appeals, Bureau members play a prominent role in precedent-setting litigation that shapes the body of criminal law in New York.

Tom Wornom is Chief of Special Prosecutions and will discuss the day-to-day work of Manhattan district attorneys, and how students should prepare for a career in prosecution . All classes are welcome.

Upcoming Student Debt Relief Webinars

2009-09-14T09:38:00-04:00

Gary Banks

Fried Frank Fellowship Program (3Ls/outgoing law clerks)

2009-09-09T16:46:49-04:00

The Fried Frank Fellowship Program is a collaboration between the law firm Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jaconson and the public interest organizations Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) and NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund (LDF). The Fellowship is a four-year program where fellows spend their first two years as an associate in Fried Frank's litigation department and the following two years as staff attorneys at MALDEF or LDF.

Fellows working with MALDEF assist the organization's mission to protect and promote the civil rights of Latinos in the United States through litigation, policy advocacy, leadership development, and community education. Practice areas include education, immigration, political access, employment and public resource equity. In the past, some Fellows have remained at MALDEF or LDF after completion of the fellowship, and fellows are also encouraged to interview to return to Fried Frank.

Graduating law students and recent graduates, including judicial clerks, are eligible to apply. Fried Frank looks for those who have an interest in both corporate and civil rights litigation, and Spanish skills are a plus for the MALDEF Fellowship. Application requires a resume, two letters of recommendation, a writing sample, a law school transcript and a 500 word essay. The essay consists of selecting two civil rights issues that are important to you and explaining how you believe the Fellowship could assist you in effecting change in those areas. The application deadline is November 1, 2009.

For details and application instructions, visit Fried Frank's fellowship page here.

Echoing Green: Deadline December 2

2009-09-09T11:56:00-04:00

Do you have a bold idea to solve a major problem in the world? If so, consider applying for an Echoing Green Fellowship to receive up to $90,000 in seed funding, leadership training, and organizational technical assistance. Apply by December 2, 2009 to make a difference.

White House Internship Program

2009-09-07T17:23:02-04:00

The White House Internship Program accepts students and recent graduates (two years or less since graduation) to work in one of many presidential departments during the fall, spring or summer. Interns serve the White House in such functions as researching, managing incoming inquiries, attending meetings, and writing memos. Projects vary among the departments but all interns participate in a long term community service project and attend a weekly speaker series presented by senior staff members. In addition, interns take field trips around the Washington D.C. area.

Examples of departments that take White House Interns are the Office of Cabinet Affairs, the Office of Scheduling and Advance, the Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs, the Office of Legislative Affairs, the Office of Management and Administration, the Office of the White House Counsel, the Office of Political Affairs, the Office of Energy and Climate Change, the National Economic Council, the Office of Presidential Correspondence, the Office of Presidential Personnel, the Communications Department, the Domestic Policy Council, the Office of the First Lady, and the Office of the Vice President. Each applicant ranks their top ten preferred departments.

The program is highly competitive and the White House looks for those with a commitment to public service, demonstrated leadership in the community, and commitment to the mission of the Obama Administration. The application deadline has been extended to October 4, 2009 for the Spring 2010 internship and February 7, 2010 for the Summer 2010 internship. To apply for the Spring internship, use the application found here. The Summer 2010 application will be available on December 14.

For more information about the program, visit the White House, here.

Public Interest Perspectives: An Introductory Training for Private Attorneys in Public Interest Placements

2009-09-06T17:40:00-04:00

On September 9, 2009 at 1:00 pm, The Association of Pro Bono Counsel and NALP will offer a two-hour online training session designed for attorneys beginning volunteer public interest placements. The training session will contain an overview of the differences in law firm and nonprofit practice settings, insight on working with low-income clients, and background on the economic challenges presently being confronted by the public interest community. Presentations will be made by public interest leaders from the legal aid community and the private bar. Immediately following the training session, a discussion on issues relevant to fellowships will take place.

This training is especially suggested for attorneys who expected to be in private practice after graduation but, as a result of the economy, are currently preparting to begin placement at a public interest organization during their law firm deferral.

Access is available from any computer by registering here; questions can be directed to Kelly Tautges at ktautges@chicagobar.org or 312-554-8356.

LexisNexis Associates Serving Public Interests Research (ASPIRE) Program

2009-09-04T11:59:25-04:00

Through the ASPIRE program, 2009 graduates who are currently working in the public interest can receive free LexisNexis access for the coming year. Among those eligible are deferred associates pursuing public interest work during their deferrals. Some important rules include: (1) while work for a nonprofit or charitable organization is eligible, government work is not; (2) access ends September 2010 or when your public service employment ends; (3) you must submit documentation from your employer confirming your eligibility.

Eligible applicants who are currently working will receive free access to federal and state cases, codes, regulations, and law reviews within two days of submitting documentation. To apply, please visit Lexis's attorney deferral page here.

The Fair Trial Initiative's Osborne Fellowship (3Ls) - October 31, 2009

2009-09-03T22:41:00-04:00

The Osborne Fellowship is a two-year commitment during which fellows represent indigent defendants facing the death penalty. The fellowship is granted by Fair Trial Initiative, a Durham, North Carolina organization that seeks to fill the resource gap in competent counsel for capital cases and to encourage talented lawyers to join this area of practice, one that is often overlooked.

Ideal candidates are those with an interest in capital and criminal defense work and a desire to continue a career in North Carolina after the fellowship. Current 3Ls are considered, though new lawyers with clerkship or other experience are also encouraged to apply. The fellowship is offered to at least two students each year, and work begins in September. The position is full-time and pays $33,000 per year, plus benefits. Significant travel time can be expected. Applicants should plan to take the North Carolina bar exam in summer 2010.

To apply, send a cover sheet indicating your interest in the fellowship, completed application (available here), writing sample (no more than ten pages), and list of references. The references must include (a) one supervisor from every legal job you have had since starting law school (including clinics and externship programs), with the name of the employing agency or program as well as that of the supervisor and (b) one law school professor who is familiar with your academic performance. Applications can be e-mailed to mark@fairtrial.org, faxed to (919) 688-7973 or mailed to: Fair Trial Initiative, Osborne Fellowship Program, 201 W. Main St, Suite 300,Durham, NC 27701.

The deadline for application is October 31, 2009. Fair Trial Initiative will also recruit fellows at the Equal Justice Works Career Fair in Washington, D.C. on October 24 and 25. Applicants are encouraged to schedule interviews during the fair or inquire about the availability of interviews in DC outside fair hours.

Questions should be directed to Mark Kleinschmidt, Executive Director at mark@fairtrial.org, or by phone at (919) 680-2986. Additional information on the fellowship and application process is available here.

2010 Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program: Apply between October 1-15, 2009

2009-09-02T22:26:00-04:00

The PMF Program is a prestigious federal government fellowship sponsored by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for graduate students from various academic disciplines who expect to graduate during in the 2009-2010 academic year and who seek a two-year paid fellowship with one or more federal government agencies. The application period will open on October 1 and ends on October 15, 2009. See program and application overview here.

More than 80 federal agencies currently partner with the PMF Program to hire fellows who have an interest in, and commitment to, excellence in the leadership and management of public policies and programs.

Agencies that have hired PMFs have included the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Justice, Labor, State, Transportation, and the Treasury, the FBI, the Library of Congress, NASA, and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Following the conclusion of the two-year fellowship, PMFs usually have the opportunity to convert their fellowship into a full-time permanent position.

In 2009, four Virginia Law students secured this fellowship and are now employed in various federal agencies. The application process is fairly straightforward; however, students should expect a selection process that extends until late February/early March of 2010.

How to Apply to the Program

The selection process consists of four parts: (1) application; (2) nomination (by the Law School); (3) assessment and finalist selection; and (4) agency placement.

Application begins with an online application using PMF's application page or via USAJobs once activated. Applicants should also simultaneously e-mail the Mortimer Caplin Public Service Center to request to be nominated by the Law School. Below is a summary of the application and selection process:

October 1 -15 - application period;
Applicants submit a nomination form to the Mortimer Caplin Public Service Center to request to be nominated immediately after applying to the program but no later than October 16;
October 19-23, the Public Service Center conducts interviews to assess candidates' qualifications;
Late November 2009 - applicants officially notified of eligibility and nomination status; also notified of assessment date/time/location;
January/February 2010 - assessments conducted nationwide;
Late February/early March 2010 - nominees notified of finalist status;
Late March/early April 2010 - PMF job fair in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

The above is a summary to attempt to provide you a quick overview of the process. Applicants should read important details about the program and application process on the PMF site. Students who encounter a problem or have questions specifically about the PMF application process are encouraged to read the FAQ page before e-mailing OPM at PMFApplication@opm.gov. Include your name, school, phone number, e-mail address, and a detailed description of your question or problem you encountered.

Information for Veterans: to be entitled to preference, a veteran must meet certain eligibility requirements. Please review the PMF application page carefully.

Good luck with your application. We look forward to receiving your nomination forms.

2010 Powell Fellowship Applications: Due October 16, 2009

2009-09-01T12:07:00-04:00

The Powell Fellowship in Legal Services honors former Supreme Court Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr., and awards $35,000 to a graduating student of the University of Virginia School of Law (or to a judicial clerk). Open only to third-year law students at Virginia Law or recent Virginia graduates who will complete a judicial clerkship by fall 2010, the fellowship enables applicants to work in public interest law and to enhance the delivery of legal services to no- or low income persons under the sponsorship of a public interest organization.

The award is made for one year, with the expectation that it will be renewed for a second year. In addition to the salary, fellows receive health and other benefits that an employee of his or her sponsoring organization would ordinarily receive.

The project must involve the provision of civil legal services to the indigent.

How to Apply

The fellowship is awarded on the strength of the project proposal and the sponsoring organization, as well as the personal qualities of the applicant, including academic achievement and demonstrated commitment to public service.

To apply, send a resume; law school transcript; two letters of recommendation from law professors or attorneys who are familiar with the applicant's work; two essays (each not longer than one page, single spaced) -- one describing the project and the other discussing the applicant's commitment to public service; along with a letter from the sponsoring organization indicating their willingness to serve as the host organization, to:

    Yared Getachew, Esq.
    Director of Public Service
    University of Virginia School of Law
    580 Massie Road
    Charlottesville, VA, 22903

The application deadline is October 16, 2009. Finalist interviews will be conducted at the Law School and the fellowship will be awarded in November.

Please e-mail publicservicelaw@virginia.edu with any questions.

2009 Equal Justice Works Registration Open Today

2009-08-31T17:40:59-04:00

Registration for the 2009 Conference and Career Fair is now open. (See here for a previous posting on this important event). Students and recent graduates interested in attending may sign up for a Symplicity account and submit their cover letter and resume beginning today, Monday, August 31.

Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the registration instructions and tips. Signing up for a Symplicity account is free. Here's how:

Create a Symplicty account here. (This will be a different account from your UVA Law account).
Confirm your email address by clicking on the link that is e-mailed to you.
Update your profile information under "Profile".
Upload a cover letter, resume and transcript, if applicable. Please note that you may not upload writing samples into the system. Bring these to the interview with you.
Register to attend the Career Fair under "Events." You must register to be admitted into the Conference and Career Fair. A Symplicity account does not constitute as registering.
Submit applications to employers through Symplicity.

Important Dates:

August 31 - Student sign-ups begin
September 11 - Student sign-ups end
September 30 Student Accept/Decline begins
October 7 - Student Accept/Decline ends
October 24 & 25 - The EJW Conference and Career Fair

For more information and tips on how to succeed at the fair, please visit Equal Justice Works.

Public Service Summer Surveys

2009-08-28T16:39:08-04:00

The Public Service Center requests that all second- and third-year students who worked for public service and public interest organizations (including state and federal government agencies) complete a Public Service Summer Survey. The surveys are critical for students looking for summer and permanent positions in the public interest. We ask all students who interned for a Public Service employer last summer fill out a survey, even if it was only for part of the summer.

To access the Public Service Summer Surveys, log in to LawWeb and select the link "Public Service Summer Survey" found in the Public Service Center section. You will be taken to the main database for the surveys. Here, you will be able to sort the available surveys by various criteria, such as Employer Name, Location, Year of Internship, etc. Please note that there is also a function that will allow you to search for specific numbers, words and phrases.

Most important, on this page, you will find a button at the top left corner that states "Submit a New Survey." If you click on this, you will be taken to the Public Service Summer Survey form that will allow you to submit a survey detailing your experience working with a public service organization.

When filling out the form, please be as complete and accurate as possible. The survey must be completed in one sitting, but should only take about ten minutes to fill out. The form will allow you to choose whether or not your name and contact information will be displayed along with the evaluation you provide. If you prefer not to have your name and contact information displayed, this information will only be made visible to the Public Service Center staff.

Should you have any questions or concerns about the surveys, please contact us at publicservicelaw@virginia.edu. Thank you in advance for your attention to this important matter.

Law Jobs in the Federal Government

2009-08-26T22:46:11-04:00

Making the Difference

Managing a Legal Career Transition in Tough Times

2009-08-21T23:46:21-04:00

A 10-minute preview of a 75-minute video presented by NALP/ALI-ABA that offers advice on how to navigate your job search in today's economy. The full video is available here.

Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Homeland Security (DHS): Presentation on August 24

2009-08-20T22:29:59-04:00

Students interested in learning about career paths at the DOJ and DHS are highly encouraged to attend an upcoming presentation on August 24, at noon, in WB101. The DOJ's Director of Federal Programs, Civil Division, Jennifer Rivera ('88), and DHS Special Assistant Ron Rosenberg ('98), Special Assistant, Office of Refugee, Asylum & International Operations will discuss hiring programs for entry-level attorneys at their respective agencies.

Mr. Rosenberg will discuss the DHS's Office of General Counsel Honors Program (for 3Ls) and the Summer Intern Program (for 2Ls). The deadline to apply to both programs is September 21, 2009. However, Mr. Rosenberg's presentation will address other entry points into the department, including the Federal Career Intern Program (FCIP).

Ms. Rivera will also touch on the FCIP; however, her discussion will focus on the DOJ's Attorney General Honors Program (for 3Ls) and the Summer Law Internship Program (for 2Ls). The Attorney General's Honors Program is the only means by which the DOJ hires entry-level attorneys. Eligibility is limited to graduating law students and graduates who complete judicial clerkships, graduate law programs, or qualifying fellowships within nine months of law school graduation. The Summer Law Internship Program is the department's recruitment program for compensated summer internships (summer 2010). The deadline to apply to both programs is September 8, 2009.

A partial list of the participating components (Honors and SLIP) include:

So you want to be a public defender?

2009-08-19T23:09:00-04:00

Home to some of the grittiest public defenders in the country, the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia receives hundreds of applications for a handful of available attorney positions each year. To many, PDS has become the national standard-bearer and the benchmark by which other public defender systems measure themselves.

As advocates for indigent individuals, PDS attorneys handle criminal appeals, parole revocation hearings, Drug Court sanction hearings, and represent individuals facing involuntary commitment in the mental health system, children with special education needs facing delinquency charges, and clients in civil proceedings that were triggered by their criminal charges or their incarceration.

PDS provides one of the most comprehensive criminal defense training programs of its type, training staff, other defense attorneys, and investigators who represent those who cannot afford an attorney. PDS has also developed innovative approaches to representation, addressing the problems clients encounter when returning to the community following incarceration. Throughout the years, PDS attorneys have earned the admiration and respect of opponents, colleagues, judges, and clients alike.

On Tuesday, August 25, in SL258, at noon, James Whitehead ('04), staff attorney at the PDS will discuss his work and how students should prepare for a career in indigent defense. The Public Service Center will offer advice on the logistics of the application process.

Image courtesy

Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Fellowships

2009-08-11T13:45:46-04:00

The Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Program is an 11-month fellowship in which fellows work to increase the availability of pro bono legal services to low income persons. Fellows work nationwide in areas such as health care, public benefits, affordable housing, lost wages, protection orders, and education. AmeriCorps fellows gain experience in both pro bono management and provision of legal services.

During their terms, fellows recruit 100 or more volunteer law students and lawyers, increasing their impact. ILast year's 35 Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Fellows represented a total of 17,200 clients.

The process begins by selecting one of the available host organizations, which span many states and different areas of law. Each host organization seeks fellows to fulfill a certain function within the organization, including outreach, counseling, community education, negotiation and litigation. Fellows receive a $30,000 - $40,000 living allowance per term, in addition to a one-time Segal AmeriCorps Educational Award of $4,725 for loan repayment.

Law school graduates are eligible to apply for the 11-month term, with the option to renew once at the end of the first term. You must apply directly to the host sites, which list new positions and application instructions on the Equal Justice Works website in April.

You may apply to as many different positions and host sites as you wish. Fellows typically begin work in August, though there are currently several positions still open for the 2009-2010 year. For example, the Legal Aid and Defender Association in Detroit is now hiring fellows for its Civil Law Group (applications accepted until August 19), and the Legal Aid Society of DC is hiring fellows for its foreclosure prevention program (applications accepted until the position is filled or until September 30).

For more information and a list of host sites, please visit the program page here.

Department of Homeland Security: Opportunities with the Office of the General Counsel

2009-08-03T09:51:00-04:00

The General Counsel is the chief legal advisor to the Secretary and the chief legal officer for the Department of Homeland Security. Attorneys from the Office of the General Counsel and its major components play major roles in crafting, developing, and defending policies relating to many of the most important issues facing the nation today, including counterterrorism, immigration and border security, emergency response and recovery, and countless other matters.

3Ls & Current Law Clerks: 2010 Honors Program

The General Counsel’s Honors Program offers highly qualified third-year law students; graduate law students (applying in the fall of the last year of their graduate law study); and judicial law clerks the opportunity to start their legal career at the DHS. The Program is highly competitive and allows the Department to select candidates based on multiple factors including academic achievement, writing skills, law review or moot court experience, legal aid or clinical experience, and employment history. The Office of the General Counsel also considers specialized academic studies, post-graduate studies, as well as employment and extracurricular activities that directly relate to the work of the Department. The Office seeks candidates with a well-rounded background, demonstrated intellectual and analytical abilities, and excellent judgment.

How to Apply: Candidates interested in the 2010 Honors Program should submit a resume, cover letter, and a current law school transcript to OGCstaffing@dhs.gov by September 21, 2009. The DHS will notify applicants of the status of their applications in early November, 2009. Craig Raynsford, Legal Advisor in the Office of the General Counsel is available to respond to questions about the program at 202-447-3303 or Craig.Raysnford1@dhs.gov.

Summer Law Intern Program

The Summer Law Intern Program is a competitive recruitment program for compensated positions in the headquarters Office of the General Counsel at the Department of Homeland Security in Washington D.C. The Department selects candidates based on multiple factors including academic achievement, writing skills, law review or moot court experience, legal aid or clinical experience, and other employment history. It seeks candidates with a well-rounded background, demonstrated intellectual and analytical abilities, and excellent judgment.

How to Apply: Candidates interested in the 2010 Summer Law Intern Program should submit a resume, cover letter, and current law school transcript to OGCstaffing@dhs.gov by September 21, 2009. Please note that 1Ls may not apply to the volunteer program until after December 1 (see NALP standards). Craig Raynsford, Legal Advisor in the Office of the General Counsel is available to respond to questions about the program at 202-447-3303 or Craig.Raysnford1@dhs.gov.

Federal Career Intern Program (3Ls)

2009-07-30T17:33:23-04:00

What is the Federal Career Intern Program (FCIP)?

The FCIP allows individuals in various disciplines to obtain a two-year, full-time internship with a number of federal government agencies. It was created by executive order for the purpose of recruiting graduates with diverse professional and academic experiences and to create opportunities to develop their skills for a career in the federal government.

Unlike the Presidential Management Fellows Program which is centrally managed by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the FCIP order requires each participating agency to establish its own training and development program for a minimum of two years. Extended programs can last up to three years, but these are the minority. The FCIP is designed to hire interns at the GS-5 ($33,269 to $43,251), 7 ($41,210 to $53,574), or 9 ($48,108 to $65,531) levels and there is no limit to promotion level.

Because the intern programs are run individually by the participating agencies, application deadlines and hiring frequency vary. Many, but not all, agencies post FCIP positions on USAJobs as they become available (search keywords "FCIP" and "CIP;" you should also register with USAJobs to receive e-mail alerts). Frequently, agencies list positions on their websites, so it is necessary to research individual agencies in which you are interested (search for the agency name plus "FCIP"). The only centralized resource were were able to find online was on Making the Difference (download the Excel document).

Finally, please note that agencies change the availability of FCIP positions from year to year. For example, the Departments of Justice and Commerce, and Bureau of Land Management have all hired through the FCIP in the past, but it is unclear whether they will do so in the upcoming year.

Advantages of the FCIP

Beginning a career in federal government through the FCIP has several advantages. The FCIP is a less competitive alternative to government honors and fellowship programs and offers rare entry-level employment opportunities. Upon successful completion of the 2-year appointment, most agencies offer conversion to permanent employment and accelerated promotion opportunities.

Moreover, professional training and development is a required component of the program, so interns receive education and experience that makes them more attractive candidates to other federal government agencies. Many agencies provide training specific to the intern’s job as well as general training geared toward a career in the federal government.

Training methods frequently include mentoring, conference attendance, rotational assignments, and online courses. Some agencies offer other benefits; for example, the Department of Energy has, in the past, offered a signing bonus of up to $7,000 and up to $10,000 per year toward loan repayment. For many programs, completion of a law or master’s degree qualifies recent graduates for application with no additional GPA or experience requirements.

Some Agency-Specific Programs (currently available)

(1) Environmental Protection Agency: The EPA Environmental Careers Program prepares recent graduates for advancement within the agency. The career development component includes conferences, two-month rotational assignments to different locations, individual development plans, and site visits. The EPA hires 20-30 FCIP interns each year. Individual internships vary in subject matter and are posted on USAJobs when they become available. Internships for each year are posted in the fall. Please check the EPA's FCIP page here.

(2) Department of Energy: Although the program is not specifically legal in nature, the DOE takes recent graduates with legal backgrounds. It is currently hiring for FCIP positions in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and New Mexico. See, e.g., USAJobs announcement DOE-HQ-09-CIP (try this link - you may need to register). The deadline to apply is August 31, 2009. For additional information, please see the DOE's FCIP page.

(3) Federal Trade Commission: the Bureau of Economics hires research analysts from a variety of backgrounds. Research analysts assist in economic research in antitrust and consumer protection, and complete training and work assignments with economists, attorneys, and paralegals. The Bureau hires FCIP interns twice yearly - in the winter and spring.

(4) Department of Homeland Security: U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services hires FCIP interns each year and will post openings in USAJobs. We encourage you to check USAJobs frequently for openings. We also understand that the Homeland Security hires entry-level asylum and adjudication officers through the internship program. General information about the program is available here.

(5) Department of the Treasury: Treasury hires FCIP interns each year (see the department's FCIP page here). Separately, students interested auditing work may find FCIP opportunities through the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) which oversees the operations of all Treasury offices and department, with the exception of the IRS. Interns review financial financial and operating records, examine operating practices to determine compliance with government regulations, and provide the basis for the development of an opinon on the economy and efficiency of operations. The OIG is now hiring FCIP auditors in Washington, D.C. (See USAJobs announcement 09-TOIG-056P). The application deadline is August 13, 2009.

(6) Department of Defense: DOD hires entry-level personnel through various internship programs including the FCIP and the Defense Career Intern Program (DCIP). Information about these programs is available on this DOD site.

National Law Students Workers' Rights Conference

2009-07-28T18:05:56-04:00

The Peggy Browning Fund will host it's eleventh annual National Law Students Workers' Rights Conference on October 16 and 17, in Washington D.C.

The aim of the conference is to create greater understanding of, appreciation for, and interest in, the issues facing American workers and to provide law students with opportunities for networking with fellow law students, top labor lawyers, professors, nonprofit practitioners, and government officials.

For more information about the conference, please see the Fund's brochure.

The conference is available to all Virginia Law students but space is limited and applicants will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Also, due to limited funds, students are responsible for the conference fees listed in the brochure.

To register for the conference please complete the registration form and return it with payment for the associated conference fees to the Public Service Center no later than Friday, August 21, 2009.

Conference FAQ

Image courtesy

Attorney Honors Programs at Google.com/unclesam

2009-07-27T22:29:00-04:00

This posting is an addendum to our July 1, 2009 memorandum re: federal government honors programs.

Google has created a search engine for those seeking federal government jobs. The site is available at http://www.google.com/unclesam.

Once you get there, a keyword search by "Attorney Honors Programs" (without quotes) will reveal a significant number of entry-level honors programs for attorneys across a wide range of federal agencies. This is an invaluable resource that we hope you will take advantage of.

Third Year Practice Certificate

2009-07-23T17:59:00-04:00

Did you know that the third year practice certificate allows students to appear in court (and before administrative tribunals) in the Commonwealth of Virginia and in other jurisdictions? A practice certificate allows you to engage in substantial legal work while in law school and is highly recommended if you are interested in pursuing a career in litigation in both the public and private sectors.

To be eligible, in addition to being a 3L (you must have completed at least four semesters in law school and passed Civil Procedure and Criminal Law), you only need to have completed two electives: Evidence and Professional Responsibility.

Under the rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia:

(i) An eligible law student may, in the presence of a supervising lawyer, appear in any court or before any administrative tribunal in this Commonwealth in any civil, criminal or administrative matter on behalf of any person if the person on whose behalf he is appearing has indicated in writing his consent to that appearance. The eligible law student must obtain written approval from the court or administrative tribunal prior to any appearance before the court or administrative tribunal.

For more information about third year practice certificates, please contact the Student Record's Office.

Skadden Fellowship Program: October 5, 2009

2009-07-22T10:53:00-04:00

Described as "a legal Peace Corps" by the Los Angeles Times, the Skadden Fellowship Program was established by the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher Flom in 1988 in recognition of the need for greater funding for graduating law students who wish to devote their professional lives to providing legal services to the poor, the elderly, the homeless and the disabled, as well as those deprived of their civil or human rights. The aim of the foundation is to give Fellows the freedom to pursue public interest work; thus, the Fellows create their own projects at public interest organizations with at least two lawyers on staff.

Over the last 20 years, the program has funded more than 500 academically outstanding law school graduates and judicial clerks to work full-time for legal and advocacy organizations. Since the program’s inception, almost 90 percent of the Fellows have remained in public interest or public sector work after finishing their fellowships.

Skadden Fellowships are awarded for two years. Skadden provides each Fellow with a salary and pays all fringe benefits to which an employee of the sponsoring organization would be entitled. For those Fellows not covered by a law school low income protection plan, the firm will pay a Fellow's law school debt service for the tuition part of the loan for the duration of the fellowship.

The Skadden Fellowship Program is one of the most competitive and prestigious public interest fellowship programs in the country.

The deadline to apply for the program is October 5, 2009. Students who are considering to apply to this fellowship should contact the Public Service Center.

Pro Bono Opportunity with Victor M. Glasberg and Associates

2009-07-08T17:14:49-04:00

A civil rights attorney in Northern Virginia is seeking students to assist him with a case involving the alleged abuse of a female prisoner. The student volunteers would conduct interviews with inmates at the Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women and help with legal research.

Interested students must have access to a car.

The completion date for this project is Sept. 15, 2009

To Apply: Interested students should submit a resume to lawprobono@virginia.edu by Monday, July 13, 2009, by 5:00pm.

This project satisfies the 75-hour Pro Bono Challenge.

Legal Aid Wealth

2009-07-07T15:52:00-04:00

All the Lifestyle that Legal Aid Wages Can Buy
CARYN TAMBER
The Daily Record (MD), June 5, 2009

The Daily Record writes:

When Janine A. Scott started at the [LSC-funded] Legal Aid Bureau more than 10 years ago, her salary was $28,000 a year. She soon discovered that she loved the work, but the money was a sticking point. How could she have the kind of life she wanted on such a paltry salary? 'I wanted to stay, and so I became motivated to make the salary work within what my expenses are,' said Scott, 38, who is now the supervising attorney for the domestic law unit at Legal Aid. Scott, who briefly worked as an accountant before going to law school, sat down and made a list of all of her financial goals. There were a lot of them: She wanted to pay down her law school and credit card debt, buy a house and travel once a year . . . . She looked at her going-out spending habits and determined that she should create a 'fun account' and keep it at $250 at all times . . . . Scott said she has achieved her goals by meticulously charting every bit of money that comes in and goes out. She waits for sales on clothing and discount deals on travel, and she would not dream of buying snacks from a vending machine when she could get them in bulk from Target or Wal-Mart for so much less...

To learn more about Scott and her book, visit her website.

Effective as of July 1, 2009: The College Cost Reduction & Access Act

2009-07-07T12:54:39-04:00

On July 1, 2009, the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA) became fully effective making Income-Based Repayment available for borrowers. Graduates working full-time in government and nonprofit positions are eligible to earn Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Students interest in learning about public service loan forgiveness or income-based repayment are encouraged to check Equal Justice Works' Student Debt Relief page here. Additional information on the Act is also available on EJW's blog.

2010 Equal Justice Fellowships: Application period now open (Deadline - September 17, 2009)

2009-07-07T00:25:00-04:00

Gary Banks

July 4, 1776: The Declaration of Independence

2009-06-30T00:26:00-04:00

Happy Fourth of July.

The image.

2009 Parternship for Public Service Career & Internship Fair

2009-06-25T11:53:44-04:00

The Partnership for Public Service will host its annual Public Service Career and Internship Fair on July 16 from 3:00-7:00pm at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.

Last year's event connected 67 federal agencies with 3,000 students and young professionals. This year, agencies will be recruiting for a variety of positions including program analysts, Foreign Service Offices, federal investigators, and attorney, as well as for internships and fellowships.

For information about this important event please see the partnership's website here. The site contains a list of FAQs, tips and strategies for making the most of this event, and a list of participating agencies.

2009 Public Service Career & Internship Fair
July 16, 2009 | 3-7pm, National Building Museum, 401 F Street, NW, Washington DC 2001

Metro Stop: Judiciary Square

The 2009 Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair

2009-06-24T22:57:50-04:00

The Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair is the largest annual gathering of public interest and government employers in the nation and will be held this year on Saturday and Sunday October 24 and 25 in Washington, D.C., at the Omni Shoreham Hotel. Over 150 public service/interest employers will be available to conduct prescheduled interviews for hundreds of internship and permanent positions throughout the country.

The conference will provide a venue where participants can learn about various careers in the public interest. The Table Talk sessions provide an informal opportunity for law students to introduce themselves to participating employers and possibly to conduct impromptu interviews. For additional information about the conference and career fair, please see the 2008 program book, conference sessions, and a list of past employers here.

The registration fee for attendees is covered by the annual membership that the Mortimer Caplin Public Service Center maintains. However, students are responsible for travel and lodging costs.

Important dates:

August 31-September 9: Students submit applications to employers
September 11- 25: Employers select students for interviews
September 25: Preselected students notified if they receive interviews
October 24 and 25: Conference and Career Fair

Students will need to register for the Fair to research participating employers, upload resumes, and schedule interviews on Symplicity (you will need to create an Equal Justice Works Symplicity account separate from the Virginia Law Symplicity account).

Information on how to register for the career fair will be made available soon. Please check this blog or the EJW site thoughout the summer.

National Black Prosecutors Association 26th Annual Conference

2009-06-23T21:49:00-04:00

The National Black Prosecutors Association (NBPA) will hold its annual Job Fair on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at the Marriot Memphis Downtown in Memphis, Tennessee. The goal of the NBPA Job Fair is to promote diversity in prosecutor offices by providing a forum where law students, recent law graduates, and experienced attorneys from across the nation can meet and interview with prospective prosecutorial employers at the local, state, and federal levels.

For more information: NBPA Job Fair 2009 Prospective Participant Letter

Students who wish to register to attend should complete and submit the following registration form: NBPA Job Fair Applicant Registration Form 2009

List of employers who will be recruiting at the job fair: Job Fair Employer Criteria 2009

The NBPA job fair, organized to encourage diversity in prosecutor offices, is open to ALL students.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (College Cost Reduction & Access Act)

2009-06-22T09:42:00-04:00

We participated in one of EJW's webinars on the College Cost Reduction & Access Act's Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (effective July 2010). We found it extremely informative. The final presentation is on Wednesday, June 24 (at 3:15 - 4:45pm EDT; 2:15pm CDT; 12:15pm PDT). The presenter is Heather Jarvis, Esq., a national expert on educational debt and the financial barriers facing law graduates.

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program is one of the most significant breakthroughs for public interest lawyers in a generation. Briefly, the program offers loan forgiveness after 10-years of public service employment. To qualify for loan forgiveness, a borrower must make monthly loan payments for ten years (120 payments) while working full-time in qualifying public service employment. Qualifying public service employment is full-time paid work in the government; a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, an AmeriCorps position, the PeaceCorps, or a private "public service organization."

Additional information on the program and how to sign up for the webinar is available on Public Works here. The Equal Justice Works site has a link to FAQs which include video responses by Heather Jarvis. Please note that the June 24 Webinar will allow you to ask questions during the session.

Questions about the Virginia Loan Forgiveness Program (VLFP) may be directed to Cynthia Burns in the Financial Aid Office

Pro Bono Opportunity with ConSource

2009-06-16T15:07:00-04:00

The Constitutional Sources Project is seeking students to work on a pro bono project involving an online library of constitutional sources. ConSource is a nonprofit located in Washington, D.C., which was founded to facilitate research, increase understanding, and encourage discussion of the U.S. Constitution by creating and maintaining the first, free, full-indexed, comprehensive online library of constitutional sources.

Student volunteers will read online documents written by U.S. Founders and cross-reference

relevant text to predetermined clauses in the Constitution. Students will enjoy location and time flexibility, completing work on their own schedule and from their own internet connection.

The hours are flexible (anywhere from 5 to 50 hours depending on student availability), and the project is expected to be completed by August 15 2009.

To Apply: Interested students should submit a resume to lawprobono@virginia.edu by Monday, June 22, 2009, by 5:00pm.

This project satisfies the 75-hour Pro Bono Challenge.