Immediate Research Assistant Opening - Human Rights Work

Professor Haynes seeks a Research Assistant (volunteer or work study eligible) immediately to conduct human rights research on Bosnia, to be completed by January 5.   Interested applicants should send a short email to Professor Haynes at dhaynes@nesl.edu by Saturday, December 16, 2012.

Public Education Legislation Project Kickoff Event a Success!

The New England Law | Boston Center for Law and Social Responsibility (CLSR) held its first workshop on charter school enrollment laws and policies on November 10, 2012.  The session was led by Professor Monica Teixeira de Sousa and attended by public school teachers, parents, a public school administrator, members of the judiciary, law students and academics.  This workshop marked the first public event for the Public Education Legislation Project, an ongoing effort on the part of the CLSR to analyze public education laws and policies in order to determine their impact on the most vulnerable student populations.

Professor Teixeira de Sousa and Retired Connecticut Superior Court Judge Carmen Lopez 

The session was highly participatory and attendees shared their on-the-ground experiences with current charter school enrollment laws and policies, including their concerns about foster children and homeless students and their view that charter schools are not currently providing meaningful access for all students.

Current opt-in charter school enrollment laws requiring a child’s parent or guardian to apply to a charter school on their son or daughter’s behalf were discussed and data was shared with participants about the multiple barriers currently impeding parents from being able to take the affirmative steps necessary to enroll their children in charter schools.  The current legal framework was juxtaposed with recently proposed legislation in Rhode Island and New Jersey seeking to change charter school enrollment from an opt-in to an opt-out approach.  The opt-out approach to enrollment would include all students in a particular attendance zone or zones who are registered to attend public school in a randomized lottery.  A parent or guardian would not have to take any steps to place their child’s name on said lottery.  Parents of selected students would be notified and would have the choice at such point to send their child to a charter school or to keep their child in a traditional public school.  The Connecticut State Department of Education is currently conducting a study to evaluate the feasibility of such an approach.

The bills were examined and discussed by participants and many in the room agreed that the opt-out approach held the potential to draw from a population of students that better reflected the students currently enrolled in traditional public schools.  Concerns about the opt-out approach were also raised and the attendees engaged in a lively discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of the opt-out approach.

 
Next steps were also discussed and based on the suggestions provided by attendees, the Public Education Legislation Project will continue to conduct and disseminate research on charter school enrollment laws and policies, monitor the proposed ballot initiative in Massachusetts seeking the unlimited expansion of charter schools, examine the alleged practice on the part of charter schools of “pushing out” or counseling out students on account of academic performance, behavior or need of special education services, and keep the workshop participants and other interested community members informed about legislative and policy developments on the issue of charter school enrollment.

If you would prefer not to receive any emails from the Public Education Legislation Project in the future, please email Erika Barber at ebarber@nesl.edu and she will unsubscribe you from this mailing list.

Any other questions or requests for information may be sent to Professor Monica Teixeira de Sousa at mteixeiradesousa@nesl.edu.

Equal Justice Works Summer Corps - Apply December 18, 2012

Equal Justice Works Summer Corps provides law students with the chance to spend their summer working on a legal project at a qualifying nonprofit public interest organization or public defender office of their choosing.  Summer Corps members expand the delivery of critically needed legal assistance in low-income and underserved communities across the country on a broad range of issue areas.

IMPORTANT: New application period for 2013 Summer Corps program.

Please note: The application for the 2013 Summer Corps program will open on Tuesday, December 18, 2012, and we will be accepting students into the program on a rolling basis until the application closes on Monday, March 18, 2013. Additional information on the application and program will be communicated to you and posted on our website in the coming weeks. This program is highly competitive so you should apply in December if at all possible.

http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/law-school/summercorps

Public Interest Retreat / Weekend Getaway - Full Stipends Available

The 26th Annual Cover Retreat
Friday March 1, 2013 – Sunday March 3, 2013
Sargent Center, Peterborough, NH

The Robert M. Cover Retreat brings together law students, academics and practitioners committed to public interest to share their experiences, network and reinvigorate their commitment to this important work. The weekend is filled with exciting discussions and interesting topics, but it is also a weekend to relax and enjoy some time away from the law school environment. This year’s topic: Mission Impossible? Tools for Change in a Time of Political Polarization.

Cost: $150 includes Retreat fees, lodging and all meals/food*
* New England Law | Boston will cover the full cost of the retreat for four students. All class levels are invited to apply.

To apply: 

Please send your resume and a brief statement (a few paragraphs) describing how the retreat would benefit your career development and why you would be a strong candidate to represent New England Law | Boston. For questions or to apply, contact Erika Barber, Center for Law and Social Responsibility Fellow at erika.m.barber@nesl.edu or 617-422-7434.
Applications due Wednesday, January 16th, early submissions are strongly encouraged!

For general info about the retreat, visit http://www.law.yale.edu/news/coverretreat13.htm

Post grad job for Sept. 2013 with the ACLU in NYC

Civil Liberties Union Foundation (New York, NY)—The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation (ACLU), founded in 1920, is a nationwide, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with more than 500,000 members and is dedicated to the principles of liberty and equality embodied in the Constitution. The Speech, Privacy and Technology Project of the National office in New York City invites applications for the William J. Brennan First Amendment Fellowship, which will last for a one-year period beginning in September 2013.
The Project on Speech, Privacy, and Technology is part of the ACLU’s Center for Democracy, which works to strengthen democratic institutions and values and advocates for government transparency and accountability. In addition to the Project on Speech, Privacy, and Technology, the Center for Democracy includes the Human Rights Project and National Security Project.

The Brennan Fellowship was created to give people just starting their careers an opportunity to receive training and experience in First Amendment advocacy, and to help the ACLU advance its First Amendment goals. The Brennan Fellow will function as an integral part of the Speech, Privacy and Technology Project, and will focus on our extensive docket of First Amendment cases. The docket currently includes several major cases relating to free speech, privacy, and technology. For example, attorneys in the Project are litigating a novel and landmark First Amendment challenge to the constitutionality of patents granted on the human genes associated with breast and ovarian cancer. They have also filed suit on behalf of former chief Guantanamo prosecutor Morris Davis in a lawsuit against the Congressional Research Service, which fired Davis from his government job because of his public writings concerning the military commissions.

The Brennan Fellow's responsibilities will include, but will not be limited to, the following: participating in trial litigation at all levels of federal and state courts, including conducting legal and factual research, interviewing clients, drafting briefs and pleadings, and assisting in discovery and motion practice; assisting in drafting amicus curiae briefs; providing support for ACLU affiliate litigation; serving as a resource for ACLU legislative and policy work; and advancing ACLU policy goals through public education, organizing and participating in coalitions.

Compensation: Salary
Desired Class Level(s): 3LD, 4LE
Alumni: No


HOW TO APPLY
For details on how to apply, go to https://law-une-csm.symplicity.com/students/ and log in with your student ID and your symplicity password. Once in the school’s online job database scroll your mouse over the top purple headings to Job Postings, then click on the first dropdown option, CSO JobNet. In Keywords search ACLU and this posting will appear. You can also call the CSO with any questions.

Criminal Justice Position for Recent Grads - Washington, D.C.

The Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth (CFSY) works to end the practice of sentencing juveniles to life without the possibility of parole (JLWOP) in the United States. The Campaign works with advocates across the United States and in Washington, D.C. that use public education, advocacy, and litigation as strategies to pursue this goal. We work with active state campaigns and are advised by a committee of experts in the field.

SUMMARY OF POSITION: The CFSY Program Assistant is based in the National Campaign’s Washington, DC office and provides critical programmatic and administrative support to the staff. The CFSY offers a full benefits package and competitive salary, commensurate with experience.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Program support tasks such as targeted JLWOP research, creating spreadsheets from collected data, and preparing, formatting, editing and distributing documents such as reports, charts, advocacy documents, and posting web content.
• Perform a range of administrative tasks including, organizing all logistics for travel and meetings, assisting with reimbursements, processing and responding to mail, taking minutes at meetings and maintaining CFSY contact lists and databases.
• Respond to inquiries about CFSY, serve as a resource to outside organizations and conduct outreach to potential supporters and allies.
• Assist the Director and Operations & Development Manager with resource development efforts through drafting, editing and formatting grant proposals and reports, managing contact lists of individual donors, and liaising with some funder contacts.
• Manage online database of contacts and distribution lists.
• Assist Communications Director with new media tasks, including the development and implementation of an online outreach plan, tracking of blog and online news and posting news and other information to the website.
• Recruit, manage and coordinate the work of the CFSY intern.
• Other substantive tasks may be assigned based on demonstrated abilities.

QUALIFICATIONS: The candidate must have office/administration experience, demonstrated organizational and computer skills, as well as excellent writing abilities and competence in using the tools of electronic and social media. Strong interest in criminal justice issues, particularly reform to harsh juvenile sentencing practices in the United States, racial discrimination in juvenile justice, and / or human rights in the United States and a bachelor’s degree are required. Ability to work during weekends on occasion is preferred. Work and/or internship experience in juvenile justice is highly desirable.

CORE COMPETENCIES:
• Organized – maintains system for organizing work materials. Able to function under pressure and handle numerous tasks simultaneously.
• Flexible Time Management – able to prioritize with minimal supervision and take on unexpected tasks as they arise. Independent and creative- able to take on projects
• Enthusiastic about learning – able to take guidance on assigned tasks, eager to gain new skills and being challenged, and interested in regular feedback on completed work.
• Excellent communicator – good oral and written communication skills. Honest and straightforward with questions and ideas.
• Self Motivated – able to take the initiative to start new tasks and work diligently without a lot of supervision.
• Commitment to working as a team – friendly and courteous, willing to work closely with CFSY staff and as part of the larger community working to end JLWOP.

GEOGRAPHIC PREFERENCE

Northeast (ME, NH, VT, MA, CT, RI, NY, NJ, PA)

PRACTICE AREA(S)

Public Interest

LOCATION(S)

City

Washington

State/Province

District of Columbia

Country

United States

HOW TO APPLY

For details on how to apply, go to https://law-une-csm.symplicity.com/students/ and log in with your student ID and your symplicity password. Once in the school’s online job database scroll your mouse over the top purple headings to Job Postings, then click on the first dropdown option, CSO JobNet. In Keywords search 7775 and this posting will appear. You can also call the CSO with any questions.

Free Education Policy Workshop Saturday Nov. 10th

CORI Initiative Student co-authors Mass Lawyer’s Weekly Critique of Appellate Delay

Justice denied: appeals mired in delay

by Jeanne M. Kempthorne, Allison G. Haar ('13) and Sejal Patel

Published in Mass Lawyers Weekly: October 4th, 2012

Allison G. Haar ('13) CORI Initiative Volunteer (A project of the CLSR) co-authored the following article

Nearly 10 years ago, the Visiting Committee on Management in the Courts, chaired by Father J. Donald Monan, then-chancellor of Boston College, concluded that the courts of Massachusetts were “mired in managerial confusion” and that the “impact of high quality judicial decisions is undermined by high cost, slow action, and poor service to the community.”

The Monan Report concluded that the “management of the Judiciary is preventing the people of Massachusetts from receiving the justice they deserve” and that “[s]ome citizens get better justice than others.”

In the almost 10 years since the committee issued its scathing report, the courts and the Legislature have instituted numerous reforms to make the management of the trial courts more professional and efficient.

In at least one area, however, progress has seriously lagged. Appellate justice in the commonwealth is so slow that it may violate the due process clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Recent court data indicate that criminal appeals, in particular, are absurdly slow: In fiscal year 2012, the time between filing of the notice of appeal and entry in the Appeals Court averaged 204 days for civil cases and 333 days for criminal.

Civil cases, on average, were disposed of within 378 days of docketing in the Appeals Court; for criminal cases, the average was 483 days.

In the 1st Circuit, in contrast, appeals are decided, on average, in less than a year. The American Bar Association’s time standards provide that 95 percent of all appeals to the intermediate appellate court should be decided within one year of the filing of the notice of appeal.

Several federal courts around the nation have ruled that an appellate process that takes longer than two years is presumptively unconstitutional. Massachusetts’ system routinely exceeds that outer constitutional limit, sometimes by years.

What does this mean in the real world? It means that someone serving a two- or three-year sentence is almost certain to serve his entire term of imprisonment before disposition of the appeal.

It means that appeals from District Court convictions are, in large measure, an empty, but very costly, ritual. In fact, no one keeps track of how many defendants serve their entire term of imprisonment before disposition of their appeal.

Without question, the court reporter system in Massachusetts deserves the blame that has been heaped on it for years.

Court reporters operate largely free from court oversight and have little financial incentive to complete transcripts for indigent criminal defendants, as opposed to civil litigants, in a timely fashion.

Efforts by the committee headed by Appeals Court Judge Mark Green to speed up the process have yielded some improvement, but serious problems persist, both in quality and in timeliness.

It still falls largely on defense counsel to push to get the transcripts done, and there are few, if any, repercussions for reporters who fail to comply with time standards.

But the delay problem does not end with preparation of the transcript. The culture of delay is firmly entrenched in the appellate process.

In several counties in Massachusetts, appointed defense counsel struggle to do their jobs impeded by the clerks’ offices. Instead of court clerks automatically riding herd on court reporters, the burden to follow up falls on appointed defense counsel — at public expense.

And even when the transcript is finally completed, clerks in some offices drag their feet to get copies made for counsel, impose ridiculous requirements that counsel personally pick up the transcripts, and then take their time assembling the record.

In short, while many clerks strive to be helpful and to facilitate counsel’s efforts to accomplish the task at hand, too many continue to exhibit the lack of customer service and accountability that the Visiting Committee decried almost a decade ago.

The appellate courts themselves bear a good deal of the responsibility. Not only does there appear to be little if any repercussion for court reporters and clerks who impede the process, the court itself sets the tone.

In several, if not most districts, the commonwealth’s appellate attorneys routinely seek very lengthy extensions of time in which to file the state’s responsive brief — often 60 to 120 days beyond the 30 allotted by rule. This extension is often followed by a second request for additional time.

The Appeals Court routinely grants the commonwealth long extensions without waiting for an objection or even inquiring whether there is an objection. This surprising practice is enshrined in Mass. R. App. 15(b), which places the onus on defense counsel to file a motion to reconsider, vacate or modify such action.

In practice, the Appeals Court is extremely lenient with the state’s motions for more time. Often the affidavit submitted in support of the motion unwittingly describes lax management practices whereby an appeal is not even assigned to an assistant district attorney until it is almost due.

And, while the rule permits the aggrieved party to move to vacate or modify the order granting more time, the Appeals Court has rarely granted such motions, and even then, the process, by itself, gives the commonwealth relief from the deadline.

Many defense counsel have simply thrown in the towel, concluding that it’s fruitless to complain or fearing that their own requests for more time will be denied.

Defense requests for more time are simply not comparable to prosecution requests. For one thing, they do not raise due process concerns so long as the defendant agrees that an extension is necessary. The defendant and counsel can weigh the impact of a request for delay on the time the defendant will spend behind bars waiting for his appeal to be decided. And, if they don’t agree, the defendant has some recourse.

In contrast, delay is always in the state’s interest so long as the defendant stays behind bars for the duration. There is no client to whom the commonwealth is answerable.

Moreover, the district attorneys’ offices are in a much better position than appellant’s counsel to comply with the briefing deadlines.

First, the appellant’s brief sets out the facts, with citations to the record, frames the issues, and cites the applicable law.

Second, the DA’s Office gets plenty of notice of when its brief will be due, whereas appellate counsel is powerless to control when a case will be docketed and the clock start ticking.

Third, the DA’s Office is in a position to triage cases and manage resources in light of looming deadlines, whereas appellant’s counsel is often a sole or small-firm practitioner struggling to juggle competing deadlines.

Even when they seek long delays in the briefing schedule, the DAs’ offices reflexively oppose motions to stay execution of sentence, even in cases in which the defendant has a minimal criminal history, is convicted of a nonviolent offense, and is serving a short sentence likely to be completed before the appeal is resolved. And the courts almost never grant motions to stay, even when the delay is unconscionable.

The judiciary appears insensitive to the perception of many defendants that the system is rigged against them and that the whole appellate process is a charade with an almost certain outcome.

Even a reversal is cold comfort to a defendant who has spent years in prison waiting for justice. Rule 15(b) feeds the perception of systematic unfairness. It undermines the reputation of the court.

While a strong case can be made that the average appeal in Massachusetts presumptively violates defendants’ constitutional right to due process, neither the state nor the courts have much incentive to address the problem.

The courts pay lip service to the importance of a speedy resolution of criminal appeals and frequently criticize the glacial pace, but they have avoided providing any remedy to complaining defendants.

Thus, the due process guarantee provides no effective check on the commonwealth, including not only the DAs’ offices and the clerks’ offices, but the judiciary itself.

Three proposals to address the pervasive culture of delay immediately suggest themselves:

• First, court reporters who do not comply with time standards for producing transcripts must be subject to appropriate sanctions, including contempt and fines. At a minimum, they should not be permitted to undertake additional work, including hearings, until transcripts are complete.

• Second, the appellate courts should no longer grant the commonwealth’s motions for extensions without inquiring whether there is an opposition. At the very least, the courts should summarily deny motions that are not timely filed and should not grant extensions longer than one week without soliciting defense counsel’s position on the motion. No motion by the state for an extension longer than one month should be allowed except in extraordinary circumstances. If the commonwealth fails to file by the deadline, it should be barred from oral argument.

• Third, motions to stay execution should be given a meaningful hearing. When the sentence is short, the offense non-violent, and the defendant has no prior record, or when the commonwealth, including court reporters and clerks, are responsible for inordinate delay, there should be a strong presumption in favor of a stay.

Placing responsibility for the release of convicted defendants pending appeal where it belongs will have an immediate impact on the culture and practice of the courts, the DAs’ offices and the clerks’ offices. Nothing less will suffice to give effect to the due process guarantee of a prompt appeal.

Complete URL: http://masslawyersweekly.com/2012/10/04/justice-denied-appeals-mired-in-delay/

Tips on How to Land a Career in Public Interest from Attorney Sabel

CLSR: Law Matters Housing and Foreclosure Speaker 

Left to right: Attorney Robert Sabel, Professor Monica Teixeira de Sousa, Professor David Siegel

Director of Litigation for Rhode Island Legal Services, Attorney Robert Sabel shared his experience, joys and frustrations with the current state of legal services at the Law Matters Lunchtime Chat on October 24th at the CLSR.  For law students hoping to land jobs in the legal services sector, Attorney Sabel’s thoughtful and frank advice was invaluable.  He emphasized the increasing importance of technology and foreign language proficiency and suggested that students and recent grads learn Spanish in order to make themselves more marketable candidates.

When asked how he has managed to stay committed to legal services for his entire 36 year career, Attorney Sabel responded that he strives to keep variety in the work that he does.  He stressed the value of being on the board of directors for a non-profit housing organization in addition to his regular caseload as a way to “keep from feeling that I am just shoveling sand against the tide.”

For coursework, Attorney Sabel suggested students focus on the core classes, especially Constitutional Law and Administrative Law.  After listening to his accomplishments, I would also recommend Business Organizations and Negotiation as key courses to build a career in public interest.

Professors speaking after the event

In summing up his experience, Attorney Sabel exclaimed, “the beauty of being a legal services attorney is that you’re always on the right side of the case!” Thank you, Attorney Sabel, for visiting our center.

Prominent Foreclosure and Housing Speaker to Visit the CLSR

Guest Speaker Attorney Robert Sabel, Director of Litigation at Rhode Island Legal Services will speak about his work in the area of housing law, focusing on foreclosure prevention, landlord-tenant disputes and his work with public housing tenant associations in Newport, Rhode Island. Attorney Sabel’s qualifications include:
• 25 years of legal services experience
• 22 years of management experience
• 10 years directing litigation at Rhode Island Legal Services

When and Where:

Wednesday, October 24th at 12:00pm 

St. James Conference Room, lunch provided.

RSVP: erika.m.barber@nesl.edu 

Second DACA Training - Tuesday 10/16, 6 pm room 506

“I just wanted you both to know how wonderful Tristan and Carleigh were last night. We were able to see everyone who came into the clinic in a timely fashion. I really appreciate the time you spent working with your students beforehand. Thank you so much for helping with the DACA clinics. I look forward to meeting/working with you and your other students.” - Paige Gunning, Paralegal at Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS).

Information on the first training: 

The first DACA training was a huge success, with 26 students and 2 alumni participating. DACA, which stands for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, is a new administrative policy of the Department of Homeland Security that could affect as many as 1.4 million immigrants currently in the United States.  DACA may lead to eligibility for work authorization for young adults who do not currently have legal status in the United States. 

New England Law | Boston students are now volunteering weekly at DACA clinics held at Greater Boston Legal Services. Everyone is welcome to attend the next training and can then sign up to help real clients on a weekly basis. 

“Thank you for the opportunity to get my feet a little wet. This kind of experience is truly invaluable for me. I don't really have any contacts in the legal community and haven't spent much time with professional lawyers. The DACA session gave me a first-hand look at how I could use my passion for public service to build a future career. The people I was helping were so generous in spirit and grateful for the little bit of help I could give them. I just hope they know how grateful I am for having a chance to work with them. What a great night!” – Tristan Brown, 1L 

MA Public Defender Hiring Information Program

October 10th, 4:30pm – 6:00pm, Cherry Room

CPCS staff attorneys from the Private Counsel Division (for criminal, juvenile delinquency and related matters), the Children and Family Law Division (CAFL) and the Mental Health Litigation Unit will present information about their work and explain how students can apply for opportunities with CPCS.

Refreshments will be served.

Please RSVP with the CSO so we will be sure to order enough food: cso@nesl.edu

Equal Justice Works - 3 year position in Illinois

Seeking Applicants for the Illinois Foreclosure Fellowship Program

Equal Justice Works has been awarded a grant from Attorney General Lisa Madigan of Illinois to establish four 3-year Fellowships in the state to assist distressed and at-risk homeowners and tenants. The Foreclosure Fellows will be placed with our partner organizations—Chicago Legal Clinic, Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing, and the University of Illinois College of Law and Community Preservation Clinic.

We are currently seeking Illinois-licensed attorneys or recent law graduates with up to two years of work experience. Applicants should have a demonstrated record of ensuring equal access to the justice system for all homeowners and renters. Please visit our website to find more details about applicant requirements and the Fellowship program.

Applications are due October 24. Please direct all questions to Kathryn Gravely, Program Manager at foreclosure@equaljusticeworks.org, or (202) 466-3686 ext. 125. The three-year Fellowships will begin on December 1, 2012.

Civil Rights Internship Opportunity in Boston

Intake and Referral Volunteers for the ACLU of Massachusetts

Volunteers needed for intake and referral of complaints about civil liberties violations and general reception duties. Volunteers are responsible for handling telephone complaints and determining whether they fall within ACLUM's areas of concern - namely First Amendment violations (free speech, assembly, press, and religion), illegal search, privacy, racial equality, women's rights, immigrants' rights, employment, LGBTQ rights, prisoners' rights, and police abuse.

Volunteers screen calls and write up appropriate complaints for review by our intake attorneys. Volunteers work in four-hour shifts (9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. or 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.) and are an integral part of the daily operations of the ACLU of Massachusetts. Intake volunteers need to be able to commit to a regular weekly 4-hour shift.

Please contact us at info@aclum.org if you are interested in having a regular shift (an afternoon or morning on one or more days, depending on current needs).
Other volunteer opportunities may be available depending on your availability and background/skills.
Thank you for your interest in the ACLU of Massachusetts!

Immigration Law FT position

The DOL has announced an opening for its regional U visa coordinator position in Atlanta, GA. The U visa coordinator is responsible for U visa certification requests for the Southeast region in the DOL’s Wage and Hour Division. Spanish proficiency is required. (Many of the other DOL regional U visa coordinators are former immigrant worker advocates).

Applications are due by October 9, 2012. For more information, please visit:  https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/327366700

Call for Volunteers

Nearly 60 students attended the CLSR Open House last week and several are already participating in pro bono opportunities. We have several current projects and we are always looking for help. Browse our calendar and TWEN site, like us on Facebook, and contact me if you have questions about how to get involved. New jobs and internships are in the “News and Events” section of TWEN.

Conference on Mass Incarceration and Reentry - Free Admission

Opening Night is Free with Dr. Michelle Alexander at:

The Center for Church and Prison, Inc. Strategic National Conference On Mass Incarceration and Reentry

Boston Univ. Law Sch. Auditorium: Oct. 18th-20th (765 Commonwealth Ave. Take the Green line to BC, Get off at the 3rd stop out of the Tunnel: BU Central)

If you want to join other NEL|B volunteers at the conference, RSVP to me.

church and prison

www.conferenceonmassincarceration.com 

All seats were packed at the first CORI training!

“I know that people can change their lives and I don’t like seeing people’s pasts hold them back from making positive changes for the future.” Brett Bauman, 3L

On September 14th, Attorney Pauline Quirion of Greater Boston Legal Services captivated an audience of nearly 40 students who will work with Benjamin Y. Jones, 3L and Professor Siegel this semester to help thousands of people seal their criminal records.

Left to right: Attorney Pauline Quirion, Professor David Siegel, Benjamin Y. Jones

The process of sealing one’s criminal record can be as simple as completing a form and mailing it to the Commissioner of Probation or it can be a complex legal proceeding requiring sworn affidavits and multiple courtroom hearings. Either way, students at New England Law | Boston are ready and eager to help. The importance of sealing one’s record cannot be understated. For many, having a record can prevent employment, jeopardize housing arrangements, or even prohibit the client from participating in their children’s school events.

The participants were as diverse as the clients they intend to serve, and had various reasons for wanting to join this worthwhile cause. Katie Brazel, 2L, enrolled in the Public Interest Clinic this semester, with the goal of earning a spot in the Criminal Procedure Clinic next year. Brandon Short, an undergraduate at Boston College has his sights set on a career in the law and came to learn more about CORI reform. Esther DeRosena, 2L, a Boston native, understands on a personal level how CORI issues affect our community and feels this is a great way to get involved.

Left to right: Brandon Short, Boston College; Avana Anderson, 1L; Esther DeRosena, 2L

Students will volunteer throughout the semester every Friday from 2-6pm at the CLSR. To get involved, contact benjamin.y.jones@nesl.edu. 

Environmental Law Event - Food included!

Watch “IF A TREE FALLS: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front” on Thursday, Sept. 20 from 4:00-6:00 in Room 506.  Share your thoughts on environmental activism, and “eco-terrorism” – a vague, politically charged label that carries serious legal consequences with Professor Manus and the Environmental Law Society.  Food will be served!

RSVP to erika.m.barber@nesl.edu

Refugee and Human Rights Law Clerk Position

Summer 2013 Refugee and Human Rights Law Clerk Position

The Center for Gender and Refugee Studies (CGRS), based at the University of California Hastings College of the Law, is seeking candidates for Summer 2013 Judith Stronach Women’s Rights Fellowship positions. CGRS provides legal expertise, training, and resources to attorneys representing asylum seekers, advocates to protect refugees, advances refugee law and policy, and uses domestic, regional and international mechanisms to address the root causes of persecution. For more information about CGRS, visit http://cgrs.uchastings.edu/. Stronach Fellowship positions are not funded. CGRS encourages Fellows to seek outside funding to support their work.

Job Description

CGRS’s Law Clerk functions as a full--time fall law clerk for 10- to 12-week terms. Law Clerks are involved in the full range of CGRS’s work, and work closely with CGRS lawyers and staff in other projects as needed. For example, projects might include:
 Researching and writing on key legal issues
 Assisting in the various stages of appellate advocacy
 Analyzing emerging asylum law trends
 Developing training and technical assistance materials
 Conducting national policy work
 Engaging in international human rights projects
Given our small office and high volume of work, law clerks must be able to work with minimal supervision.
Qualifications
 Demonstrated commitment human rights and social justice
 Strong research and writing skills
 Experience or background in asylum or international human rights law
 Completion of three semesters of law school is strongly preferred
 Ability to work independently and within a team
 Ability to protect the confidentiality of our work and our communications
 Fluency in Spanish or French is desirable, but not required

Application Procedure

Submit a cover letter, resume, brief writing sample (5-10 pages), and list of three references to CGRShires@uchastings.edu with the subject line “Summer 2013 Judith Stronach Women’s Rights Fellowship.” The cover letter should explain how the applicant’s experiences relate to the mission and work of CGRS. The cover letter should also indicate eligibility for work study as well as prospects for securing external funding. Applications will be accepted starting September 7, 2012 and until October 14, 2012. No phone calls, please.
CGRS is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). All qualified persons, including people of color, persons with disabilities, women, lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgender persons, are encouraged to apply.
UC Hastings College of the Law  200 McAllister Street  San Francisco, CA 94102  (415) 565-4877

The CORI Initiative

Help Individuals in Need Seal Their Criminal Records (CORIs) to Allow for Greater Future Opportunities!

Volunteer with The CORI Initiative.

The CORI Initiative is an opportunity for NEL|B students of all years to:
-Aid Greater Boston’s indigent community
-Complete real-life legal work
-Develop client-communication skills
-Enhance legal writing skills
-Work in a team atmosphere
-Work with public interest and criminal justice-focused peers
-Contribute volunteer time towards a Public Service Notation on your transcript

As members of the CORI Initiative, we meet weekly on Friday afternoons starting at 2:00 PM in the St. James Ave. building.
At the weekly meetings, we maintain our client files by affidavit drafting, communicating with clients, and preparing the attendant documents for filing a petition to seal a CORI. There will also be regulation/ policy side-projects and opportunities to do intake at local courts during the year.

The Initiative is supervised by Professor David Siegel and managed by 3L Benjamin Y Jones.

NEXT STEP:

There will be a training on the new CORI regulations for both new and old members on Sept. 14th by one of Boston’s CORI experts, Attorney Pauline Quirion of Greater Boston Legal Services.
What: CORI Initiative Training and First Meeting
When: Friday, Sept. 14th at 2:45 PM
Where: 31 St. James Ave., 3rd Fl., Ste. 350, Conference Room

If interested in attending the training, participating in the project, or have any questions about the CORI Initiative,
please contact cori@nesl.edu.

Housing Court Advocate Position

HOUSING COURT ADVOCATE

ABCD - Housing and Homelessness Department

Advocate for and represent households at-risk of losing housing with a fourteen or thirty day eviction notice. Interview, assess and assist at-risk households with eviction notices navigate the legal system and prevent eviction. Represent clients at housing court, mediation, and administrative hearings as well as appeals and other housing related activities. Help clients understand the “due process of law” and the housing court/district court legal process. Identify financial resources to assist households in maintaining their tenancies or relocating to other suitable and/or affordable housing. Foster relationships and partnerships with legal aid partners and make appropriate referrals to legal support organizations for cases in which a client’s rights have been violated. Develop and implement an outreach strategy to identify households in need of ABCD services including working with the court system and other court-based partners, social service agencies, hospitals and ABCD’s neighborhood network on client identification. Oversee volunteers and interns, facilitate workshops, conduct training activities and provide reports as needed. Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, Law/Legal Studies, Paralegal Studies or a related field required. Master’s degree preferred. Must have up to one year of related experience. Experience and knowledge of homeless and housing issues, housing subsidies, housing law and benefits programs, Massachusetts General Laws and state sanitary code regarding rental housing required. Must have exceptional written and verbal communication skills. Valid driver’s license required. Bilingual skills preferred. Must be able to work sensitively and effectively with individuals of diverse educational, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.

ABCD - HR Dept., 178 Tremont Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02111, United States

Please submit cover letter and resume to: hr@bostonabcd.org.

MLAC job posting

The Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation is accepting applications for a Program Assistant to support MLAC’s Executive Director and the Director of the Equal Justice Coalition.

Principal Responsibilities:

The Program Assistant provides administrative support to the MLAC Executive Director and the EJC Director which includes producing general and legislative correspondence; assisting with the planning and implementation of the legislative campaign by coordinating logistics for the annual lobby day and legislative recognition awards; staffing the monthly legislative committee meetings; maintaining and updating the database for the EJC; and performing research and providing support for special projects.

Skills and Qualifications:

BA/BS degree and a passion for access to justice; political campaign experience is a plus. Administrative support experience with strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to multitask effectively; excellent communication skills and the ability to work both independently and in a team environment with a diverse staff and supporters; proficient in MS Office products; proficiency and knowledge of Salesforce or other database programs a plus. The Program Assistant must be willing to work at least 80% time (28 hours per week).

The Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation is a financially sound $18 million non-profit that provides funding for, and technical assistance to, legal services programs that advocate for low income clients. A crucial part of MLAC’s vision is supporting cultural and linguistic competence, as well as ensuring diversity of staff and volunteers, so clients can be best served. Learn more about MLAC at http://www.mlac.org.

The Equal Justice Coalition is a project of MLAC and its function is to coordinate the state-wide advocacy for increased funding for the Commonwealth’s civil legal aid programs. Learn more about the EJC at http://www.equaljusticecoalition.org.
Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter no later than Thursday, September 20th to Danielle Hines-Graham, MLAC Operations Manager at dhines@mlac.org.

MLAC is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities upon request. MLAC is committed to diversity in its workforce. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

7 Winthrop Square, 2nd floor, Boston, Massachusetts, 02110, United States

Immigration Justice Clinic Professor of Law Position

Cardozo School of Law – Assistant Clinical Professor of Law, Immigration Justice Clinic

Cardozo School of Law invites applications for a full-time faculty position as Assistant Clinical Professor of Law to work in its established Kathryn O. Greenberg Immigration Justice Clinic with the clinic’s existing director.

Applicants must be skilled and creative lawyers with an interest and ability to supervise students in both individual litigation and law reform projects. Applicants must also possess a profound interest in the educational mission of the clinic: to develop the next generation of immigrant advocates and, more generally, to teach students the lawyering skills necessary to serve individual clients and to reform our legal system. Foreign language abilities and prior experience working with immigrant communities are desirable but not required. Applicants need not be admitted to the New York bar at time of application but, if hired, will be expected to obtain admission.

The clinic’s mission is to offer an outstanding legal educational experience to its students, to provide individual representation to immigrants in traditionally neglected areas, and to serve the immigrant community in efforts to reform law and public policy. The clinic’s emphasis has historically been on removal defense cases for immigrants who are detained or who have had prior contact with the criminal justice system. In addition, the clinic represents immigrant community based and national advocacy organizations on impact projects related to immigration enforcement issues. These projects involve a broad range of legal work including, for example: impact litigation, legal support for legislative advocacy, report writing, administrative advocacy and media work. In all individual and impact cases students perform the critical legal work under the intensive supervision of clinic faculty. The school is committed to maintaining the model of having students work on both individual cases and impact projects and is committed to directing our resources toward the least served immigrant populations.

Interested candidates should send a cover letter, references and c.v. to Zsuzsanna Toth at toth@yu.edu. Applications will be accepted starting September 1, 2012.

The Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law is a part of Yeshiva University. Yeshiva University has a long-standing commitment to equal opportunity and affirmative action. We are committed to achieving nondiscrimination and equality of opportunity in employment and in all spheres of academic life. All University-wide decisions are based on equitable and equally applied standards of excellence.

BBA Public Service Kick Off Meeting

New Lawyers Public Service Kick Off Meeting and Info Session

Wednesday, September 12, 2012 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
Boston Bar Association - 16 Beacon Street, Boston, MA

Description:

Calling all law students who are interested in learning more about public service projects at the BBA. Come learn about the BBA and what it can offer you.  We encourage all students to attend and network with other law students and BBA members.

Sponsoring Section/Committee(s):

• New Lawyers Section

https://www.bostonbar.org/membership/events/event-details?ID=11777

Internships in Education Policy with BPS

Apply to Intern for The Office of Legal Advisor to the Boston Public School Department

Position: Law Clerk

Contact: Andrea Alves-Thomas, Senior Assistant Corporation Counsel

Description:

The Office of Legal Advisor to the Boston Public School Department is a subsidiary of the City of Boston Law Department that advises the Boston Public Schools. The Office of Legal Advisor employs law clerks during the academic and non-academic year. Law students who are considered for positions must have completed their first year of coursework. The law clerk position will support a five-attorney office performing a variety of litigation and transactional functions.

The Office of Legal Advisor advises, counsels, and represents the Boston Public School Department in all aspects of its operations. Law clerks are exposed to both litigation matters and policy and/or research matters. Litigation assignments touch upon every aspect of civil defense litigation – research, writing, investigating, discovery requests/responses, attending hearings, depositions, mediations, etc. Our cases range from c. 258 claims (Mass. Tort Claims Act), to civil rights violations, discrimination, and special education litigation. Advisory assignments are more in line with providing in-house counseling to School Department employees on a wide range of topics and policy issues related to education law. Applicants demonstrating diversity are encouraged. 

Forward resume and cover letter. Accepting 2 to 3 candidates per academic year.      

Email: aalvesthomas@boston.k12.ma.us

 

Boston Public Schools

Office of Legal Advisor

26 Court Street, 3rd Floor

Boston, MA 02108

Ph. 617-635-9320

Full Time position in Immigrant Children's Rights - Chicago

THE YOUNG CENTER FOR IMMIGRANT CHILDREN’S RIGHTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO LAW SCHOOL

Fellowship in Immigrant Child Law and Advocacy

The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights, based at the University of Chicago Law School’s Kane Center for Clinical Legal Education, is seeking applications for a Fellowship in Immigrant Child Law and Advocacy, to commence in September 2012. The Young Center is dedicated to promoting the best interests—safety and well-being—of unaccompanied and separated immigrant children in the United States. The immediate focus of the Young Center’s work is to serve as Child Advocate (guardian ad litem for children in immigration proceedings) for unaccompanied and separated children pursuant to the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act. The Young Center also conducts policy advocacy at the local and national level to promote consideration of best interests in all decisions concerning immigrant children. The Young Center is a project of the Tides Center and is an independent non-profit organization based at the University of Chicago Law School.

The Fellow will assist with the supervision of law students serving as Child Advocate for unaccompanied immigrant children through the Immigrant Child Advocacy Clinic. The Fellow will be expected to assist with all levels of client work, including serving as Child Advocate, research, writing and advocacy. The Fellow will participate in the teaching of a weekly seminar, focused on issues arising in the immigration context for unaccompanied immigrant children and skills training.

Selection of the Fellow is contingent upon the approval of the University of Chicago Law School and the Office of the Provost. This position has the following minimum requirements:

(1) J.D. and appropriate authorization to practice law.

(2) A strong academic background, excellent writing and oral advocacy skills, and a commitment to public interest work.

(3) Proficiency in Spanish.

(4) Candidates with at least two years’ experience practicing immigration law are preferred.

(5) Ability to take initiative and also work collaboratively.

(6) Enthusiasm for working with volunteers and teaching law students.

(7) Passion, tenacity and optimism for the issues affecting immigrant children and their families.

Salary*/Benefits: Salary is commensurate with experience. The Young Center/Tides Center provides benefits, including health/dental/vision insurance, a flexible spending account for medical and dependent care, vacation, and sick leave. The Young Center/Tides Center is an equal opportunity employer committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity. *Salary beyond one year is contingent upon funding.

Applications should include a cover letter describing the candidate’s reasons for applying for the fellowship, current resume, law school transcript, writing sample and three references.

Review of candidates will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Please email or fax application materials to:

Alexandra Laguna, Administrative Assistant: alaguna@law.uchicago.edu or 773-702-2063 (fax)

The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights

at the University of Chicago Law School

6020 S. University Avenue Chicago, IL 60637
www.TheYoungCenter.org

New England Law Boston Students Serve Veterans

“I’m from a military family, so I know that veterans are an underserved community. Entering law school I hoped to work with veterans so I feel lucky to be here today to help.” – Stephanie Rogers

New England Law|Boston students ended their first week of classes by aiding homeless and poor veterans at the Massachusetts Stand Down on Friday August, 24^th. The Stand Down is an annual event designed to provide a centralized location for Veterans Administration services, food, clothing and legal assistance. This year, Shelter Legal Services (whose Co-Executive Director is Sarah Roxburgh, ’08) manned the legal services station backed up by area law students. New England students filled more than half of the afternoon positions and counseled dozens of veterans on a variety of legal topics. 

“Pay it forward. Anything I can do today is not even a fraction of what [veterans] have done for us and for our country. I want to serve them for serving us.” – Angelina Bruno-Metzger

 Seven New England Law | Boston students volunteered in the afternoon session. Left to right: Diana Mae Cabili, Jennifer Tremesani, Benjamin Jones, Stephanie Rogers, Mary Mulcrone, Sara Burns, and Angelina Bruno-Metzger.

 Stephanie Rogers and Angelina Bruno-Metzger, quoted above.

Jennifer Tremesani and Diana Mae Cabili, returning 2Ls, were eager to help and to gain practical experience while serving the community. 

Stay tuned for more information on how to get involved with Shelter Legal Services and the CLSR.

Help fight discrimination in housing and earn $$!

Housing Discrimination Testing Program (HDTP)

- through Suffolk University Law School

Help fight discrimination in housing! Paid positions are available. 

The HDTP is launching in September 2012 and will work with members of the community and law students to fight discrimination in housing.  The HDTP is seeking individuals who are willing to serve as housing discrimination testers.  Testers are independent contractors who assume a role and, without intent to rent, pose as renters for the purpose of collecting evidence of housing practices.  A fair housing test usually involves a pair of testers – as similar as possible in all ways, but for the actual or representation of membership in a protected class.  Suffolk University Law School has partnered with the City of Boston to test for housing discrimination in four areas: LGBT, familial status, disability and receipt of public assistance and will provide complaint-based testing support for all protected classes under the Fair Housing Act.

Testers are required to follow proper procedures in order to remain objective and impartial. Testers are required to complete all test forms in a timely manner.  Testing will be done in response to actual discrimination complaints; therefore, there is no guarantee as to how often a tester will have the opportunity to participate in tests. We anticipate that testers will be compensated upon completion of each test.

Testers may be called as witnesses if legal action is pursued.  The HDTP is supported by a grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  Per HUD regulations, a HDTP must perform a criminal background check prior to approving a tester’s participation in the program.  Testers cannot have prior felony convictions or have been convicted of crimes of perjury or fraud. Tester’s personal information will be held in strict confidence, but some information may have to be released pursuant to legal process, such as if a charge is filed or litigation is pursued.

Experience with renting housing is helpful, but not required.

Testers must be at least 18 years of age.

           The HDTP will be conducting tester training Wednesday, September 12th from 4:30 – 7:30 pm and Thursday, September 13th from 8:30 – 11:30am at Suffolk University Law School. 

Contact info:

Please email Jamie Langowski at jlangowski@suffolk.edu or call (617) 573-8778 if you have any questions or to RSVP for a training session.

Attorney General's Office Fellowship Application Available

Are you passionate about serving your community? 

If so, consider applying for the AGO's fellowship. This two year commitment will begin in Fall of 2013. See below:

http://www.mass.gov/ago/docs/newsandupdates/2013-fellowship-brochure.pdf

New Center Fellow to Focus on Consumer Issues

The 2012-13 CLSR Fellow began her fellowship this week and will concentrate on consumer and foreclosure issues. 

Erika Barber, a Magna Cum Laude '2012 grad, clerked over a summer for Chief US Bankruptcy Judge Frank J. Bailey and had an internship with attorney Nina M. Parker of Parker & Associates, who serves as a Director for the American Bankruptcy Institute's Consumer Committee. Erika is committed to alleviating economic inequality through consumer law reform.

During her fellowship, Erika’s substantive work with the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) will assist hundreds of homeowners fighting foreclosure in Massachusetts. On August 20^th, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced that the NCLC and the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation (MLAC) will administer the Borrower Representation Initiative (BRI), which is part of the $19 million HomeCorps program. The program is funded by the multi-state settlement between state attorney generals and five national banks for foreclosure abuses.

For more information on the HomeCorps program, see the Attorney General’s press release. 

CEJIL Job Opportunity

APPLICATION DEADLINE: September 14th, 2012
ORGANIZATION FOCUS: International Human Rights Law in Latin America
SALARY: Mid-forties (Plus benefits)
STARTING DATE: November 1st, 2012

The Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL) seeks a bilingual (Spanish/English) Attorney to litigate human rights cases before the Inter-American System for the Protection of Human Rights. This position will be based in Washington, DC. Established in 1991 by a group of prominent Latin American human rights defenders, CEJIL is a regional organization that works to promote human rights throughout the Hemisphere through the effective use of the Inter-American System.

RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Support the litigation of cases primarily from the Andean Region and North America before the Inter-American Commission and Court;
2. Maintain relationships with local NGOs, government representatives, and international organizations in Latin America;
3. Design and support training sessions, workshops, and materials about the Inter-American System or international human rights law;
4. Participate in and support activities designed to strengthen the Inter-American System, such as writing position papers, participating in advocacy initiatives, etc.;
5. Complete institutional responsibilities, such as writing Trip Reports and Work Plans, among others;
6. Assist with general administrative tasks;
7. Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS
1. Demonstrate an interest in international human rights law;
2. Law Degree (Masters preferred but not required);
3. Three years of work experience, preferably at the international level;
4. Strong analytical skills and the ability to develop convincing legal arguments;
5. Mastery of English language, with outstanding English writing skills;
6. Ability to write, edit, and communicate fluently in Spanish;
7. Ability to work on own initiative and work with others as part of a team;
8. Ability to work under pressure and on various projects at once;
9. Willingness to travel and work in a multicultural environment.

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Short-listed applicants will be interviewed in Washington, DC or by phone. Final candidates will eventually be asked to submit a writing sample in Spanish and write a legal brief on a topic relevant to the Inter-American System.
CEJIL offers an excellent benefits package that includes generous paid vacation, as well as employer-paid health, dental and life insurance. Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume no later than September 14th, 2012 by email only to washington@cejil.org (subject: Attorney Search). Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.