Job Opportunity with the Center for Public Health and Tobacco Policy

The Center for Public Health and Tobacco Policy (Center) at New England Law | Boston’s Center for Law and Social Responsibility is seeking current day or evening students who have completed their first full year to work part-time during the spring semester.

The Center supports the New York State Department of Health, the Vermont Department of Public Health and local communities in both states in the development of public policies aimed at reducing tobacco use and protecting the health of non-smokers. The Center examines the efficacy, feasibility and legality of tobacco-control policies and provides guidance on language and implementation. Frequent legal issues include First Amendment conflicts, federal preemption & questions of equal protection. The Center is directed by Professor Micah Berman.

Duties:

•Research legal and policy initiatives.

•Draft summary fact sheets, memoranda and policy reports.

•Design presentations and printed materials.

•Provide administrative assistance, including workshop preparation and logistics.

•Other tasks as assigned by the Center’s director, assistant director, or staff attorneys.

Preference will be given to those students showing a sincere interest in public health law or public interest law.

To apply visit the CSO Simplicity Site, job ID 7077

Judge Rotenberg Educational Center- Volunteer Opportunity

Volunteer Opportunity

Volunteer opportunity at the Judge Rotenberg Educational Center. This is an area special education/residential school seeking law student for its Human Rights Committee. Immediate availability. No experience necessary. Great opportunity to gain valuable legal experience in the human services field. The Human Rights Committee assists to affirm, promote, and protect the human and civil rights of students/clients served and to monitor and review the activities of the special education/residential school with regard to the human rights of students/clients, in accordance with Massachusetts regulations.


For more information please visit the CSO Simplicity site.

Summer Clerkship at the Institute for Justice

The Institute for Justice is now accepting applications for 2012 Summer Clerkships. Summer clerkships are open to first and second year law students and are available at the Institute for Justice's headquarters in the DC metro area and at our chapter offices in Austin, TX; Miami, FL; Minneapolis, MN; Seattle, WA; and Tempe, AZ. Please visit the CSO Simplicity site to apply. Students are strongly advised to apply by January 5, 2012.

About Institute for Justice: Founded in 1991, the Institute for Justice engages in cutting-edge litigation and advocacy both in the court of law and in the court of public opinion on behalf of individuals whose most basic rights are denied by the government-like the right to earn and honest living, private property rights, the right to free speech and educational choice.

Volunteer Opportunity with the Human Rights and Immigration Law Project

The Center of Law and Social Responsibility’s Human Rights and Immigration Law Project is looking for 1- 2 students to work with former Center Fellow and New England Law graduate Adonia Simpson on a pro bono asylum appeal. The assignment would run from mid-January to early April. Interested students should send in a paragraph explaining why they are interested and include their qualifications and experiences. The deadline for applications is December 15th. Please e-mail them to sarah.m.herbert@nesl.edu.

Come Support Student Testimony on Air Quality!

The Roxbury Environmental Empowerment Project (REEP) is an Alternatives for Community & Environment (ACE) program that trains young people environmental awareness, social justice and community organizing skills. REEP has been working to bring awareness to air quality issues for more than a decade. One of REEP's current campaigns is to educate decision-makers in the City of Boston about the need for a city-wide solution to diesel emissions. REEP's goal is passage of a diesel emissions reduction ordinance by the Boston City Council in 2012. REEP in partnership with City Councilors Felix G. Arroyo and Stephen Murphy are preparing for a public hearing on Tuesday, December 20 at 5:00 p.m. at Boston City Hall.

The order for the public hearing discusses diesel exhaust particle pollution as a clear and present health risk to the people of Boston, including asthma and asthma-related symptoms. The public hearing is a great opportunity for law students to see a youth-led campaign that involves a legal strategy (passing a city ordinance). Following the hearing, Councilors Arroyo and Murphy intend to file a diesel emissions reduction ordinance.

Your presence is requested at the public hearing to support those who testify about the health and climate impacts of clean construction and diesel emission reduction. The hearing will be held:
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
5:00 p.m.
Iannella Chambers, 5th Floor of Boston City Hall

Cover Public Interest Retreat- CLSR Stipend Application

CLSR invites applications for stipends to attend the 25th Annual Robert M. Cover Public Interest Law Retreat, which will be held March 2-4, 2012 in Peterborough, New Hampshire(http://www.law.yale.edu/news/coverretreat12.htm). The Retreat brings together public interest law students and practitioners for an engaging weekend of learning, networking, and fun. New England Law | Boston students have attended for the past two years and found the experience stimulating and thought-provoking, as well as a great chance to develop opportunities for summer and post-graduate work.

Stipend applications are due to the CLSR Fellow Sarah Herbert, sarah.m.herbert@nesl.edu, January 13, 2012, and must include a current official transcript, resume, and one page letter detailing experience, commitment and sources of interest. Interviews will be held the week of January 16. 1L students are welcome to apply and CLSR will request a transcript at a later date for those 1Ls that we interview.

Have a Green Holiday!

In keeping with the Holiday Spirit here are a few sources on how you can keep your Holiday celebrations and shopping earth friendly!

EPA: Reducing Holiday Waste - Especially helpful are the tips on what to do with your Christmas Tree once the season is over!

Energy Star Labels - These can help you shop smart for whatever your winter or Holiday needs are!

Sierra Club- More helpful tips from one of the larger environmental groups out there.

PlanetGreen.com- Last but not least, fun videos and articles covering a wide array of topics on how to put a "green spin" on this season.

Enjoy the Holidays!

Vacancy Announcement: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Interested applicants may wish to touch base with Professor Haynes who was a UNHCR Protection Officer.


Vacancy Announcement

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is seeking a Senior Protection Officer for its Regional Office in Washington, D.C.

TITLE: Senior Protection Officer
CATEGORY / GRADE: National Professional Officer, Grade D (NO-D)

TYPE OF APPOINTMENT: One-year fixed-term with possibility of renewal

OTHER CONDITIONS: In accordance with UNHCR Staff Rules and Regulations. This post is based in Washington and is not subject to international rotation. Application is open to both internal and external candidates.

DUTIES:

• Ensure protection of refugees, asylum-seekers and others of concern to UNHCR in the United States by developing and maintaining close relations with governments, NGOs, and other interested entities;
• Promote the understanding of protection issues by ensuring the observance of internationally accepted or legally binding standards;
• Plan and supervise the development, coordination, implementation and monitoring of protection activities;
• Provide legal advice and guidance on protection issues to all staff and ensure implementation of policy objectives and timely and appropriate response to reporting requirements;
• Draft official UNHCR comments on proposed legislation and regulations; engage in policy discussions with government authorities, NGOs and relevant experts about protection issues to safeguard international legal standards;
• Provide training to government and NGO counterparts on international refugee law and relationship with domestic asylum law;
• Provide leadership, guidance and development opportunities to staff in the Legal Unit
• Undertake other duties as required.
  

For more information on how to apply please visit the CSO Simplicity site, Job ID #7053.

The Refugee and Human Rights Clinic at U.C. Hastings Fellowship

The Refugee and Human Rights Clinic (RHRC), in collaboration with the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies (CGRS), at U.C. Hastings is seeking applications for a two-year teaching fellowship (July 2012-June2014). The fellowship provides the opportunity to learn how to teach in a clinical setting. The fellow will work under the supervision of the RHRC Director, and will share in the full-range of responsibilities of teaching the RHRC, including co-teaching the clinic seminar, and supervising the clinical students' work.

Requirements:

• Experience in asylum, immigration, or human rights law
• Excellent academic record
• Two to five years minimum practice experience, including some direct representation
• Admission to a State bar
• Excellent analytical and writing skills
• Aptitude for student supervision
• Prior teaching experience is a plus; and
• bilingual ability in Spanish is desirable

Salary: Fellow will receive $50,000 per year with full benefits, which includes health, dental, and vision care insurance plans.

To Apply: Send resume, law school transcript, a writing sample, and a statement of interest by January 15, 2012. The statement should address: 1) why you are interested in this fellowship; (2) how your experiences make you particularly suitable to contribute to the Refugee and Human Rights Clinic; 3) your specific experience with asylum, or other immigration cases, and/or international human rights litigation or advocacy; 4) your professional goals and how this fellowship is related to your longer-term goals; 5) your understanding of the objectives of clinical teaching.

For more information on how to apply please visit the CSO Simplicity site, Job ID #7052.

International Law Writing Competition

The Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law at the American University Washington College of Law and the American Society of International Law’s (ASIL) Lieber Society on the Law of Armed Conflict are pleased to announce the second annual International Humanitarian Law Student Writing Competition. The Competition seeks submissions of academic papers on the topic of international humanitarian law (IHL) from students currently enrolled in a law degree program in the United States or abroad. The purpose of the Competition is to enhance scholarship and deepen understanding among students in this important area of international law. The winning authors will be flown to Washington, DC to present their papers at a conference at American University Washington College of Law focused on emerging issues in IHL with a panel of expert professors and practitioners. In addition, winners will receive a complimentary registration to the ASIL 2012 Annual Meeting in Washington, DC on March 28-31, 2012 and a one-year ASIL student membership. Last year the Competition received nearly 50 submissions from 17 different countries.

To be eligible to make a submission, students must be enrolled in a law degree program at a US or foreign law school. Submissions must be unpublished academic papers on a topic within the scope of international humanitarian law. The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 12:00 pm (noon) EST.

The Competition presents an invaluable opportunity for students, and we would appreciate your help in promoting it through a variety of avenues that you deem appropriate. Thank you in advance for your help with this endeavor.

For detailed rules and submission guidelines, please visit http://www.wcl.american.edu/humright/center/student_ihl_writing_competition.cfm.

Boston Human Rights Night

The International Justice Resource Center (IJRC) attended our Public Interest Networking event and sent this invitation along for the New England Law community to attend its event below:

The International Justice Resource Center will be hosting Boston Human Rights Night on December 7, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. There will be an expert panel discussion (including Professor John Cerone), remarks from some of the country's leading human rights defenders, and a showcase of Boston area social justice organizations' work. More information is available at: http://humanrightsnight.eventbrite.com/.

For information on IJRC please visit its website.

Immigration Attorney Job Opening

POSITION Staff Attorney (Active Member of the Bar)
Program Coordinator (Accredited Representative)
AGENCY Catholic Social Service - VAWA and Asylum Program
STATUS Exempt


PRIMARY FUNCTION
Responsible for providing legal representation for immigrant victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking in Pima, Pinal, Yuma, Santa Cruz and Cochise counties, who are seeking immigration relief through United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the Immigration Court, or the Board of Immigration Appeals. Responsible for managing, coordinating and supervising the work of legal staff, interns, and volunteer attorneys. May perform other duties as assigned.


EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Represent immigrant victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking in Pima, Pinal, Yuma, Santa Cruz and Cochise counties in seeking immigration relief through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Immigration Court, and Board of Immigration Appeals.

• Prepare all legal documents for USCIS, including, but not limited to VAWA self-petitions and U Visa petitions and appeals for immigrant victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

• Prepare and submit or coordinate with CSS’ administrative staff and/or the program’s Advisory Board regarding the preparation and submission of grant applications, proposals, progress and other applications/reports necessary to maintain and/or expand the VAWA and U Visa program

• Prepare and submit regular quarterly Legal Assistance for Victims grant reports to the Department of Justice

• Ensure compliance with the terms of the Department of Justice’s Legal Assistance for Victims grant

• Supervise staff including, but not limited to, the paralegals, volunteer attorneys, and legal interns

• Identify and pursue training needs for legal staff

• Coordinate and manage caseload of all VAWA and U Visa clients in Pima, Pinal, Yuma, Santa Cruz and Cochise Counties.

• Identify and pursue training needs for staff, and remain current on all immigration law matters relating to caseload

• Maintain collaborative relationships with Southern Arizona Legal Aid (“SALA”)

• Maintain collaborative relationships with Southern Arizona Battered Immigrant Women Project (“BIWP”) partners and others as appropriate, in Pima, Pinal, Yuma, Santa Cruz and Cochise counties

• Develop and oversee all office procedures relating to the management of legal cases

• Evaluate claims of potential applicants for asylum and assist in referral of such cases to pro bono lawyers

• Maintain professional contacts in local and national immigration community

For more information and to apply online please visit www.ccs-soaz.org.