One Year Disability Rights Fellowship

Brown, Goldstein & Levy, LLP, is proud to introduce a one-year disability rights fellowship. The Fellowship offers a recent law-school graduate or judicial clerk (0 to 3 years out) with a disability the opportunity to participate in all phases of disability rights litigation at our firm in Baltimore, Maryland. Brown, Goldstein & Levy is a 16-lawyer, Baltimore-based law firm devoted principally to litigation. The firm has developed a national reputation for its high-profile, high-impact disability rights cases. The one-year fellowship will begin in September 2009.

The application deadline is April 15, 2009. Applications may be downloaded here.

2010-2012 ABA SECTION OF TAXATION PUBLIC SERVICE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

The American Bar Association Section of Taxation is pleased to announce that the application period for its Public Service Fellowship program for 2010-2012 is now open. Applications must be received by August 1,2009 to be considered. Applicants selected for interviews will be invited to attend the Section's meeting in Chicago on September 25-26, 2009, and asked to participate in interviews on September 26, 2009.

The Public Service Fellowship program, which began in 2008, reflects the Section's desire to advance public service efforts in tax law, and to foster a more fair and equitable tax system. Pro Bono service has been an integral part of the Section's activities for many years. The Section actively encourages member participation in various Pro Bono efforts, holds numerous training sessions to that end, and devotes many of its resources to providing legal services to those in need. The Section recognizes the need for funding and fostering recent law school graduates or judicial clerks who wish to dedicate some portion of their professional careers to public service in tax.

More information available here.

This Week at the CDO

Monday, March 2, 2009

DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR CEPS SUMMER FELLOWSHIP (1L students)
The deadline to apply for the Center for Ethics and Public Service (CEPS) Summer Public Interest Fellowship Program is Monday, March 2 at 12:30 p.m. Please submit completed applications to Suzanne Nelson in room G288, Law Library. A copy of the application is available on the CEPS website.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

11th ANNUAL INFORMATIONAL CAREER FAIR (all students)
The Informational Career Fair is an excellent opportunity to meet practicing attorneys from law firms, corporations, government agencies and public interest organizations and ask questions about their various practices. Don't miss this chance to network with practitioners. The Informational Career Fair will take place on Wednesday, March 4 from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Student Lounge. You need not dress up to attend.

DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR HOPE FELLOWSHIP (1L and 2L students) The HOPE Public Interest Resource Center provides stipends to law students who work in otherwise uncompensated public interest jobs in exchange for a year-commitment to actively serving on the Public Interest Leadership Board. HOPE’s success and growth over the past 10 years is due largely in part to the energy, dedication, and leadership of former and current HOPE Fellows.

HOPE Fellows work with domestic and international public interest agencies & non-governmental organizations to provide much-needed legal advocacy to underserved and marginalized populations. All 1Ls and 2Ls are encouraged to apply.

To learn more about eligibility and program requirements, please view a copy of the fellowship application. You may obtain a copy of the application at the HOPE website or on the CDO Student Portal.

Everglades Fellowship in Washington, D.C. Available

U.M.’s Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy is recruiting a 2009 U.M. graduate for a fellowship in Washington, D.C., for one year, beginning in August 2009. Funded by the Everglades Foundation, the recipient will be placed in a staff position on a congressional committee or federal agency with jurisdiction over issues affecting the Everglades. The fellowship carries a stipend of $45,000 for the year.

Applicants must be scheduled for award of a graduate degree from U.M. in May 2009. A solid academic record is required. The recipient must attend a two-day orientation at the Abess Center in April 2009 and will be required to submit monthly reports on his/her fellowship activities during the year.

Please send a written expression of interest and résumé by email to Andee Holzman at the Abess Center by March 15, 2009. Please be prepared to submit a copy of your transcripts and three references, on request.

This Week at the CDO

Monday, February 23, 2009

FLORIDA SUPREME COURT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM INFORMATION MEETING (1L and 2L students)
The Florida Supreme Court Internship Program Information Session takes place on Monday, February 23 at 12:30 p.m. in Room 110. Former interns will be on hand to answer questions about their experiences at the Supreme Court. The application and selection processes will also be discussed.

Applications for the summer 2009 Florida Supreme Court Internship Program for Distinguished Law Students are now available in the Career Development Office, Room A112. First and second year students are eligible to apply. The application deadline is Friday, February 27, 2009.

SPRING OCI AND RESUME REFERRAL BIDDING NOW OPEN (all students)
Bidding is now open for the March phase of the Spring On Campus Interview (OCI) Program and two sessions of the Resume Referral program. Please log onto Symplicity to submit your bids.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS FOR WOMEN LAWYERS: A PANEL DISCUSSION (all students)
Join the CDO and a panel of female attorneys as they discuss "Pathways to Success for Women Lawyers" at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 24 in Room 108. Free lunch provided. RSVP to Sarah Klein at sklein1@law.miami.edu.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

SPRING OCI (MARCH PHASE) BIDDING CONCLUDES (all students)
Bidding for employers participating in the March phase of the Spring On Campus Interview (OCI) program ends on Wednesday, February 25 at 11:00 p.m. EST.

PUBLIC INTEREST CAREER FAIR (all students)
Don’t miss your chance to speak with key attorneys from a variety of public sector agencies. This is a unique opportunity to make a memorable impression, learn more about the agency and chart your path to employment. This is the ideal opportunity to talk with practicing attorneys
from various public interest and government agencies, many of whom are Miami Law Alumni. Representatives from the following agencies will attend: the Department of Homeland Security, Legal Aid, Put Something Back, Miami Dade City Public Schools, HUD, Legal Services of Greater Miami, Office of the Miami Dade Public Defender, FIAC, Unified Family Court, IRS, North Miami Beach City Attorney’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms, and ACLU.
12:30 - 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 25 in the Student Lounge.


REAL PROPERTY, PROBATE AND TRUST SECTION PANEL PRESENTATION (all students)
The Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of The Florida Bar ("RPPTL") is pleased to host a lunchtime program for the University of Miami School of Law on Wednesday, February 25, 2009, from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. in Room F-108.Lunch will be provided. A panel of local attorneys will share their career paths, experiences and perspectives. Panelists: Al Gomez-Vidal – Chicago Title Insurance Company;Sol Genet – Meland Russin & Budwick, P.A.;Aniella Gonzalez – Krinzman, Huss & Lubetsky;Marjorie Wolasky – Law Offices of Marjorie E. Wolasky;Daniel Vega – Vezina Lawrence Piscitelli, P.A.

Friday, February 27, 2009

RESUME REFERRAL BIDDING CONCLUDES (all students)
Bidding for employers participating in Resume Referral session (February 27, 2009) ends at 11:00 p.m. EST on Friday, February 27.

DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR SUMMER 2009 FLORIDA SUPREME COURT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM (1L and 2L students)
Applications for the summer 2009 Florida Supreme Court Internship Program for Distinguished Law Students are due on Friday, February 27, 2009.

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Fellowship

Inter-american commission on human rights, organization of american states, Scholarship – Rapporteurship on the Rights of Women

The IACHR is seeking candidates for a one year fellowship in Washington, DC to run from May 1, 2009 – April 30, 2010. The objectives of this fellowship is to provide an opportunity for young lawyers from OAS Member States to understand and apply the mechanisms of protection of the Inter-American System of Human Rights in the sphere of women’s rights. The ideal candidate would support the work of the Rapporteurship on the Rights of Women of the Inter-American Commission, under the supervision of its specialists during the period of the fellowship and, at the end of the fellowship, present to the Executive Secretariat of the IACHR a detailed report on activities carried out by the fellow.

The ideal candidate will:

Be a citizen of an OAS Member State;

Be bilingual in Spanish and English (attach certificates testifying thereto), knowledge of French or Portuguese desirable;

Have graduated in law from an officially recognized university (attach copy of the degree and grades obtained);

Have a demonstrable professional interest in the legal field of human rights, especially in the area of women’s rights;

Have received a university degree in law after January 1, 2002;

Present a paper of up to 5 pages, not edited by another person, on one or more women’s rights issues of interest to the candidate;

OAS Scholarship Selection Criteria: In accordance with article 4.2. of the Manual of Procedures of the Scholarship and Training Programs of the OAS, OAS scholarships shall be granted based on the following criteria:

The objectives and priorities established in the Strategic Plan for Partnership for Development;

The training priorities of the member states;

The merits and overall credentials of the candidate, including his/her academic and professional background;

The financial need of the candidate; and

An extensive and equitable geographic distribution for the benefit of all member states and that takes into account the greater needs of the smaller and relatively less developed economies.

Benefits:

The OAS provides a total stipend of US$33,600.00 for the period covered by the fellowship, that is, US$2,800.00 per month for 12 months, and round-trip economy class air transportation from the participant’s country of residence to Washington, D.C., USA With said stipend, the fellow is responsible for securing health insurance coverage of his/her choice, for the entire period of the fellowship, providing proof of such coverage to the Executive Secretariat of the IACHR.

The Commission will award a participation certificate for the Fellowship program only after the successful completion of the fellowship’s total duration period.

Responsibilities of the Selected Candidates:

Once an applicant has been selected, he/she should confirm with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights his/her availability to complete the fellowship during the specified time period, and confirm his/her participation with the Department of Human Development so that the OAS may proceed with the necessary arrangements for purchase of round-trip economy class air transportation between the candidate’s home country and Washington, D.C.

In the event a candidate accepts a Fellowship but cannot complete it, for whatever reason, he/she must immediately inform the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the OAS Department of Human Development so they may decide which course of action to take.

The selected candidates must confirm their acceptance of the scholarship by signing and returning to DHD their completed “form of acceptance of the scholarship award”; only after this has been done will the OAS proceed with the necessary travel arrangements to purchase the air travel tickets, economy class, round-trip, between the scholarship recipient’s country of origin and the study location.

Selected scholarship recipients are responsible for obtaining the necessary visa(s) to enter the country of the fellowship and the corresponding transit(s). The OAS will not be responsible for any costs related to obtaining visas or transfer documentation. The OAS will provide the candidate a document certifying his/her selection as an official Fellow of the IACHR-OAS so that he/she may request the corresponding visa, which is the sole responsibility of the selected candidate.

Each scholarship recipient is responsible for arriving in time for the commencement of activities on the date established.

If the scholarship recipient fails to travel on the scheduled dates, or change routes, after the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (GS/OAS) has purchased his/her travel ticket, he/she will be responsible for paying the difference in ticket costs in order to arrive at the fellowship site in time. The scholarship recipient will furthermore have to reimburse the GS/OAS the total cost of the airfare for his/her travel from his/her country of residence to the site where the Professional Development fellowship will take place and back if, after the ticket has been purchased, he/she declines the fellowship without written authorization from the Department of Human Development.

The latter includes any additional costs, if any, incurred by the GS/OAS, such as extra costs for accommodation during the scholarship recipient’s travel to and from the country where the course will be held.

If the fellow declines, cancel or terminates the Scholarship after the course or program has started without giving enough proof to the OAS/GS, he or she must reimburse OAS/GS the total amount of incurred costs/expenses.

Presentation of Candidates:

Please Notice: If you were awarded an OAS Professional Development Scholarship in the past twelve (12) months or if you currently hold an OAS Scholarship for Academic Studies, you are not eligible to apply for another Professional Development Scholarship.

The online application form must be completed on-line and can be accessed at: http://www.educoas.org/portal/en/oasbecas/onsite.aspx?culture=en&navid=282 here you’ll find the announcements of all the onsite courses, click in the one you are interested in, go though the end of the page, and then you’ll find the Continue button which will direct you to the online application form.

All the additional forms must be completed electronically or in typewritten format.

Once the applicant has completed the online application form and submitted it, a copy will be sent automatically to his/her e-mail account. This completed form must be printed, signed and submitted with all the required documentation and additional forms found in the following link: http://www.educoas.org/portal/en/oasbecas/formspd.aspx?culture=en&navid=282

To the Department of Human Development at 1889 F Street NW Washington DC 20006, before the deadline to submit applications.

Funds for terminal and in-transit expenses are NOT provided

Deadline to apply: March 6, 2009

Post-Graduate Law Fellowship in the Florida Keys

Citizens Not Serfs is a grassroots community initiative geared at educating the residents of the Florida Keys about important issues, and providing them with resources to demand accountability from their public officials. The organization is currently seeking two recent law school graduates for two year staggered fellowships. The full-time position is available now and needs to be filled no later than July 2009.

The award includes a generous stipend of $50,000.00 and accommodations at the Summerland Key, Florida three-bedroom waterfront home.

Responsibilities:

The fellowship was established to provide the opportunity for a law student to be able to experience first-hand the confluence of federal, state and local public policy. The Fellow will collaborate with Citizens Not Serfs members, local and state public officials, FEMA representatives and local organizations. The responsibilities include research, consultation and community organizing.

Qualifications:

Applicants should be motivated, flexible and have demonstrated academic excellence and a commitment to public interest law. A comfort with public speaking and community organizing is preferred and good computer skills are expected. Applicants must be law school graduates in good academic standing.

How to Apply:

Applications should include a cover letter, resume and two letters of recommendations. Applications are due ASAP. Please send applications to:

Citizens Not Serfs

Attn: fellowship

1045 Flagship Drive

Summerland Key, FL 33042

For More Information:

You may learn more about this organization on its website and on PSLawNet.

Summer Public Interest Fellowship Opportunities for UM Law Students

Each year, the University of Miami School of Law provides two fellowship programs for students to work for public interest organizations during the summer:

HOPE Fellows (1L and 2L students)

The HOPE Public Interest Resource Center provides stipends to law students who work in otherwise uncompensated public interest jobs in exchange for a year-commitment to actively serving on the Public Interest Leadership Board. HOPE’s success and growth over the past 10 years is due largely in part to the energy, dedication, and leadership of former and current HOPE Fellows.

HOPE Fellows work with domestic and international public interest agencies & non-governmental organizations to provide much-needed legal advocacy to underserved and marginalized populations. All 1Ls and 2Ls are encouraged to apply.

To learn more about eligibility and program requirements, please view a copy of the fellowship application. You may obtain a copy of the application at the HOPE website or on the CDO Student Portal.

Center for Ethics and Public Service Public Interest Law Summer Fellowship Program (1L students)

The University of Miami School of Law is pleased to announce the 2009 Public Interest Law Summer Fellowship Program. This program is open only to current first-year law students. All 1L students who will begin second-year classes at UM in the Fall of 2009 are eligible to apply.

The Public Interest Law Summer Fellowship Program is specifically designed for students who have a sincere, demonstrated interest in public service work and in providing free legal assistance to the poor. The program is an intensive and serious commitment, involving full-time work at a public interest law office, classroom sessions, and a legal research & writing project.

The program will run for approximately nine weeks. The students selected must be available for the entire program, from orientation through the closing session. The students selected will each receive approximately $3,000-$3,500 as a fellowship stipend, in addition to three (3) academic credits, tuition-free. Approximately 17 public interest student fellows will be selected for the program, contingent on the funding received from the Florida Bar Foundation Interest on Trust accounts grant program and other grant sources.

The topic for the summer program is Public Interest Advocacy for indigent clients. The student fellows will experience firsthand how lawyers can make a significant difference in the lives of indigent clients by representing them in domestic violence, mental health, education, disability, immigration and other proceedings.

Students selected for the program will work 40 hours per week in placements arranged by the Program Directors. All legal work handled by the students will be supervised by attorneys at their respective placements. This summer’s placements are expected (but not guaranteed) to include the University of Miami Children & Youth Law Clinic, University of Miami Community Health Clinic, the Public Defender’s Office, the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center, Legal Services of Greater Miami, Legal Aid Services of Broward County, and the Legal Aid Society of the Dade County Bar Association. Student fellows will need to be distributed evenly among the placements. Students selected must agree to accept any placement that they are assigned
by the Program Directors.

To learn more, you should attend the information meeting on Thursday, February 19 at 12:30 p.m. in Room E265. You may obtain a copy of the application on the Center For Ethics and Public Service website or on the CDO Student Portal.

Reminder: Student-to-Student Public Interest Career Fair Today

The Career Development Office and HOPE Public Interest Resource Center proudly present the 3rd Annual Student-to-Student Public Interest Career Fair

TODAY, Thursday, February 12
12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
The Bricks

Casual Dress

Don't miss this exciting opportunity to talk informally with students who had interesting and meaningful experiences in the public sector.

Opportunity in Social Justice / Community Organizing

Representatives from the DART Center will be on the University of Miami campus on Tuesday, February 10 @ 6 PM in the Toppel Career Center Library to discuss careers in the field of community organizing. Anyone interested in pursuing a career working towards social and economic justice in low-moderate income communities is encouraged to attend.

Please RSVP if you are interested by contacting Key at key@thedartcenter.org or calling 785.841.2680 with your name, phone # and email address.

DART is now accepting applications for the 2009 DART Organizers Institute - the paid, four-month field school for people interested in launching a career in community organizing. Participants will undergo a combined classroom and field training covering such topics as:· Entering a community· Identifying and training local leaders· Strategic planning and issue cutting· Relationship and community building· Direct Action on community issues·

Fundraising The DART Center, has built coalitions throughout the country that have won important victories on a broad set of justice issues including:· Education reform in low-performing public schools· Job Training· Drugs and Violence· Criminal Recidivism· Living Wage· Neighborhood Revitalization, etc. The DART Organizers Institute combines a 7-day classroom orientation with 15 weeks of infield training at a DART host organization. This is a paid training program that includes: a $7,000 living stipend, transportation to the classroom orientation and host city, and mileage reimbursement during the infield training. Room, board, and tuition will also be paid by DART during the 7-day classroom training. After successful completion of the program, DART will work to place graduates into permanent full time salaried positions. Graduates from the four month DART Organizers Institute have gone onto Associate Community Organizing and Executive Director positions throughout the country. The 7-day classroom orientation and 15 week infield training starts mid summer 2009 and runs through early Fall 2009. Training locations will include placements in several states around the country. Although it may be helpful, no direct experience is necessary. Organizer Trainees (OTs) hired to participate in the DART Organizers Institute must demonstrate a desire to pursue community organizing as a long-term professional career. A master's degree or similar life experience is preferred though unnecessary. Candidates must have a college degree or be graduating prior to June 1, 2009. Also, candidates must display a workmanlike diligence, be driven to produce sustained results, have proven capacity to build relationships of trust, create and execute a plan, act professionally, feel comfortable working with religious institutions, be accountable and willing to hold others accountable, demonstrate disciplined thought and action, and work in a team setting. OTs must also have access to a car during their training and be flexible regarding relocation. Fluency in Spanish/English is a plus and people of color are encouraged to apply.

To find out more about DART or to apply, we encourage you to email your resume to Key at key@thedartcenter.org. If you have any questions, please call: (785) 841-2680. Also, you can download applications or view profiles from previous OTs at the DART website: www.thedartcenter.org.

This Week at the CDO

Important events and deadlines for the week of January 19, 2009:

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

SPRING OCI IS HERE!
Bidding for the February Phase of the Spring On Campus Interview (OCI) Program Begins via Symplicity. Bidding will end on Thursday, January 29 at 11:00 p.m.

GET READY FOR OCI
You can't participate in Spring OCI without a resume. Get tips on how to create, edit and update your resume so that it is OCI ready at the Resume Workshop taking place on Tuesday, January 20 at 12:30 p.m. in Room 108.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

YOUR DREAM JOB MIGHT BE JUST AROUND THE CORNER
Join two of South Florida's most prominent and well-respected young attorneys as they discuss the tools and resources they used to obtain the legal job of their dreams. Jeff Cazeau and Josh Spector will present "Finding Your Dream Job in the South Florida Marketplace" on Wednesday, January 21 at 12:30 p.m. in Room 352. Don't miss this valuable opportunity to hear firsthand the ups and downs of two successful career paths.

BIDDING ENDS FOR ARMY JAG (1L and 3L students)
Interested in a summer internship or postgraduate position with the Army Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG)? Now is your chance to interview. Bidding will take place through 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 21st via Symplicity.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

SPRING JUDICIAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM DEADLINE (2L and 3L students)
The deadline to submit your application to participate in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida Spring Judicial Internship Program is Thursday, January 22 at 5:00 p.m. Applications can be submitted in hard copy to the CDO in Room A-112 or to Nirva Pierre-Louis via email. All students who apply will be assigned to a judge. Information about the program and copies of the application are available on the CDO Student Portal. All students who apply must attend an orientation session on Tuesday, January 27 at 5:30 p.m. in Room 110.

LEARN HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN OCI
First time participating in OCI? Not sure how to use Symplicity for OCI purposes? Then attend the OCI Information and Symplicity Training Session on Thursday, January 22 at 12:30 p.m. in Room 108 and get all the information you'll need to successfully participate in Spring OCI.

DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR THE FLORIDA BAR FOUNDATION FELLOWSHIP
Get paid to do meaningful public interest work this summer by applying to the Florida Bar Foundation Fellowship. The online application and other material can be found on the Foundation's homepage.


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Remember that a complete listing of semester, summer and postgraduate positions is available anytime on Symplicity and that the Spring Calendar is available on the CDO website.

Massachusetts Bar Foundation - Legal Intern Fellowship Program

The Massachusetts Bar Foundation - Legal Intern Fellowship Program 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.

Pay: Stipends have a maximum amount of $6,000. Students may receive funding from other sources to finance the internship.

2009 Deadline: March 13, 2009.

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. For the 2009 application, see http://www.massbarfoundation.org/grant-programs/legal-intern-fellowship-program.

A copy of the application form is also available on the CDO Student Portal in the Public Interest and Fellowship folder.

PSLawNet: Valuable Resource for Public Service and Public Interest Careers

The Public Service Law Network Worldwide (www.PSLawNet.org) is a national network of over 2,000 organizations that offer students and graduates opportunities in legally-related public interest and public service work.

PSLawNet is a comprehensive site. In addition to containing job postings for both internships and postgraduate positions, PSLawNet offers resources for those interested in a public interest career. Among the many publications available on the site are those dedicated to federal government job searches (including the "Plum Book" of federal positions to be vacated with the change in administration), prosecutor and public defender careers, guides to searching for international internships and postgraduate fellowships and tips on working on Capitol hill.

For those interested in postgraduate fellowships, PSLawNet has a comprehensive section devoted to these opportunities including a "background information and resources page" and fellowships deadline calendar.

To use PSLawNet, you must register. Registration is free and easy to do. Visit PSLawNet and, under "New User" select "Job Seeker." You will then be redirected to the registration page.

Institute for Educational Equity and Opportunity Fellowship and Summer Associate Programs

The Institute for Educational Equity and Opportunity is a non-profit organization dedicated to the pursuit of educational equity and opportunity, particularly for disadvantaged United States' public school children through legal means. The IFEEO is especially interested in fair and equitable public school finance laws.

Towards this interest, the IFEEO created the IFEEO Legal Fellowship Program and will provide funding for a 2009 law school graduate to work with attorneys or public interest organizations in the areas of school finance and educational equity. The one-year Fellowship ward will be in the amount of $60,000 for salary with additional fund for benefits..

In addition, the IFEEO established a Summer Associate Award in the amount of $1000 per week for 12 weeks. A second year law student will develop and submit a proposal for a full-time 12 week internship with a public interest organization or an attorney that is involved in litigation to enhance educational opportunities for disadvantaged students, particularly through legal means such as school finance/equity litigation.

To apply for either the Fellowship or Summer Associate Award, please submit a completed application to the address listed on the application form. Completed applications must be postmarked by January 31, 2009. Finalists for each will be notified mid-February, 2009. Interviews will be scheduled mid-February. Final selection will be by February 27, 2009.

ABA John J. Curtin Jr. Justice Fund 2009 Summer Legal Internship Program

The Curtin Justice Fund Legal Internship Program is seeking motivated law student interns to apply for stipends available for the Summer 2009 Program. These students should have a position offered, contingent on funding from a qualified organization.

Internship:

The Internship Program is managed jointly by the ABA Commission on Homelessness and Poverty and the Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defendants. The Program will pay a $2,500 stipend to three law students who spend the summer months working for a bar association or legal services program designed to prevent homelessness or assist homeless or indigent clients or their advocates.

Intern Requirements:

The ideal intern will have a demonstrated interest in public interest law and experience working with poor people or on issues affecting them. All law students are eligible and first year law students are encouraged to apply. The intern must commit no less than eight continuous weeks between May 1 and October 1 to the program of his or her choice.

Program requirements:

Qualified organizations include bar association programs, legal services programs and nonprofit organizations which have programs dedicated to meeting the legal needs and concerns of homeless and indigent people and their advocates. To be considered, programs must have been operational for at least one year and must have an attorney o staff or easily available to supervise the intern.

A lawyer in the program (either volunteer or paid) must supervise the intern and the program must assure the ABA that it will give the intern substantive law experiences with clients and with preparing legal documents.

Application Process:

Applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, application form and a prospective program's supporting statement. Please be specific about the issues on which you plan to focus and what you hope to accomplish.

All application materials must be submitted to the Curtin Internship Program, American Bar Association Commission on Homelessness and Poverty, 740 15th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20005.

All applications must be received by Monday, March 23, 2009.

Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A. 2009 Summer Fellows Program

Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A. 2009 Summer Fellows Program

Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc. (LSGMI) is pleased to announce it is accepting applications for the 2009 Stearns Weaver Miller Summer Fellows Program. Stearns Weaver Miller is the generous founding sponsor of the Summer Fellows Program.

The Summer Fellows Program will afford three rising third year law students (one from each of the three Miami-Dade law schools) the opportunity to become immersed in public interest law. The criteria used by LSGMI to select the Fellows will include a demonstrated commitment to public interest work and a strong academic background.

During the 12 week program each Fellow will be exposed to an in-house rotation, working alongside experienced LSGMI attorneys. Examples of project assignments include:

(1) The Renters Education & Advocacy Legal Lines;
(2) The Affordable Housing Project; and
(3) The Ryan White HIV Project.

Assignments will include research, writing, client interviews and community education and outreach. Fellows will receive guidance and mentoring from LSGMI staff attorneys, as well as meet and interact with Stearns Weaver Miller attorneys. The funding provided by Stearns Weaver Miller to support the Summer Fellows Program will afford law students the opportunity to pursue an interest in public service without forgoing compensation, as is often the case with summer internships at non-profit organizations such as LSGMI.

The mission of the Summer Fellows Program is to foster a life-long commitment to public interest work, to encourage substantive knowledge in the assigned practice areas, and to provide the Fellows an opportunity to interface with the low income communities of Miami-Dade County.

Interested students must submit an application form along with a resume, cover letter and personal statement. To obtain the application form, please contact the CDO. The deadline to apply is January 16, 2009.

ABA Fellowship in Environmental Law

The Florida Bar's Environmental and Land Use Law Section is partnering with the American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources to fund the Fellowships in Environmental Law Program in Florida. The program is designed to encourage students from underprivileged and disadvantaged backgrounds to study and pursue careers in environmental and/or land use law. The program is open to first and second year law students.

The program will fund two summer internships at a government agency or public interest organization in Florida with a stipend of $5,000.00 each. The Fellowship guidelines require an 8-10 week internship (40 hours per week) commitment wherein the recipient will work on legal matters for a government agency or a public interest organization in the fields of environment, energy, natural resources and/or land use law. In addition, each recipient will be expected to attend the Annual Update meeting of the ELULS and will be assigned a mentor from the Section to aid in the pursuit of a career in environmental and/or land use law.

More information on how to apply and a copy of the application are available here.

Completed applications and all related documents must be postmarked or emailed no later than January 30, 2009 to be considered.

INFORMATION ON FELLOWSHIPS OUTSIDE OF FLORIDA

Fellowships are available in other states as well. It is generally preferred that students select the state where they are attending law school or have permanent residency status. Exceptions can be made but preference will be giving to those attending school, those who have permanent residency or those who have a strong interest in the state they are applying to.

Fellowships are available in the following states. More information on these fellowships is available here.

California(Deadline: January 15, 2009)
District of Columbia (Deadline: January 31, 2009)
Georgia (Deadline: January 15, 2009)
Hawaii
Louisiana (Deadline: January 15, 2009)
New Mexico (Deadline: February 15, 2009)
New York (Deadline: November 17, 2008)
North Carolina (Deadline: February 16, 2009)
Oregon

Florida Legal Services Summer Fellowship Program

The Florida Bar Foundation is sponsoring the 2009 Summer Fellowship Program at legal aid and legal services programs in Florida.

The 2009 Legal Services Summer Fellowship application and other materials are now available on-line. Please note the application deadline date of January 22, 2009.

It is expected that approximately 40 full-time fellowships will be offered to first and second-year law students. The Legal Services Summer Fellowship Program runs for a period of 11 weeks and is a full-time position for the summer. Fellowship stipends are $5,500 for first-year students and $7,000 for second-year students for the eleven-week period.

Fellowship Purposes

To involve fellowship recipients in the provision of high-quality, significant civil legal assistance to the poor in critical areas of need.

To provide an in-depth educational experience in representing the poor and working with individual clients and client groups in civil matters.

To increase law student interest in and awareness of the legal problems of the poor and the challenges and satisfaction of representing the poor.

To promote commitment to pro bono representation of the poor.

Student Eligibility and Selection Criteria

First and second-year law students attending accredited law schools are eligible to apply as long as they are in good-standing with their law school. Minority students are specifically encouraged to apply. Among the factors to be considered in selections are: experience in working with the low-income community, academic achievement, writing skills, and previous contact with and long-term commitment/interest in public service/pro bono work. Law student applicants will be provided an opportunity to specify program placement preference. Click here to view a list of program placements throughout the state of Florida. Due to the necessity of insuring placement throughout Florida in a variety of programs and sites, student flexibility in preference sites may be a factor in selection.

Fellowship Term

The fellowship commences with a two-day mandatory training and orientation seminar - to be held May 21 and 22, 2009 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida - prior to the fellows arriving for work at the programs. Housing, meals, and reasonable travel expenses for the two-day training will be provided. Fellows are scheduled to report to work at their programs on Monday, May 25, 2009 with the fellowship ending on Friday, August 7, 2009.

Update on the New College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA)

For those of you following the new College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA), the final regulations for Public Service Loan Forgiveness and Income-Based Repayment have been released. Equal Justice Works has posted an excellent summary of the highlights on its website.

The prior blog posting on the CCRAA is available here.

ABA Section of Taxation Public Service Fellowships

The ABA Section of Taxation Public Service Fellowships are open to recent J.D. and LL.M. graduates, and judicial clerks who commit to working in tax-related public interest, non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations for two years.

Applicants must select and arrange employment with those organizations prior to applying for the Fellowship, and must confirm that their work will involve taxation or the administration of tax law. Up to two Fellowships will be awarded each year, and the Section will fund the salary, benefits and law school debt service (when applicable) for each awardee.

The Section is now accepting applications for the 2009 Fellowships. The deadline to apply is October 15, 2008.

The Tax Section encourages its members to participate in pro bono work. The Fellowship program is one more way that the Section can provide a meaningful way for members to give back to their communities. Detailed information, and a downloadable application, is available online.