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Welcome to the CLSR Weblog.

Please browse around, catch up on our latest public interest law projects, peruse our links (including the one to our home site, New England Law | Boston), and add your comments. Before you start, we encourage you to become familiar with our Terms of Use.

Friday, April 27, 2012

Greater Boston Legal Services Low Income Taxpayer Assistance Project

     Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS) is seeking law students and attorneys to assist with its Low Income Taxpayer Assistance Project (LITAP). LITAP is an innovative way to help low-wage workers increase their income.The project assists the low-wage community in accessing the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and thereby taps into the federal government’s largest anti-poverty program. LITAP combines the resources of a legal services program, students, pro bono attorneys, pro bono tax preparers and community agencies to provide critical legal assistance and tax help to low-wage taxpayers, many of whom speak little or no English. A significant number of low-wage workers need legal and tax expertise regarding taxes. This help is needed to increase their knowledge and understanding about their rights to important tax credits – including the EITC and the Child Tax Credit as well as their responsibilities to file and pay taxes. They also often need assistance to resolve controversies with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and related Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR) controversies.
     The project anticipates assisting approximately 200 clients in 2011-2012. The project interviews clients to determine what type of services they need (assistance in resolving tax controversies, limited tax advice, or tax return preparation), and prioritizes cases for representation and/or referral. Depending on their need, clients are referred either to students, pro bono attorneys who are trained in tax law for tax controversy representation, or to pro bono accountants to assist GBLS in its representation, or to tax preparation sites. Tax controversies may include such issues as ITIN applications, liens, levies, audits, counseling regarding the tax consequences of settlement awards or divorce, filing and/or amending past returns, and entering into payment plans, including requesting non-collectible status and offers in compromise.
     With assistance from the private bar, GBLS conducts substantive, formal CLE seminar on tax law to help assist students, pro bono attorneys and accountants. GBLS provides support to the attorneys who handle the referred cases, particularly on the special issues they may encounter when assisting the project’s immigrant clients. Trainings are provided on topics affecting low income taxpayers, such as Greater Boston Legal Services – LITAP Pro Bono how to handle EITC audits, collections, innocent spouse relief, ITINS, and misclassifications. The project also works with the City of Boston and Chelsea EITC Campaigns to train volunteer tax preparers.

To learn how you can get involved visit the CSO Symplicity Site Job ID 7317

New England Environmental Justice Summit: June 9th!


Where: Clark University
Higgins University Center
950 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01610

The EJ Summit is a unique, daylong event designed to connect community advocates, citizens, lawyers, and policymakers who are interested in the environment and its impacts on low-income people and people of color.

This event is geared to people in New England concerned with:
reducing toxins in food, consumer goods, homes and buildings
 improving environmental health for urban residents
ensuring justice for laborers and low-income users of public transit
building the strength of grassroots environmental groups
securing laws to safeguard health for low-income people and people of color

Summit workshops will cover toxics and women’s health, energy justice, urban and rural environmental issues, food justice, and more. Lawyers interested in providing assistance to environmental grassroots groups may attend a workshop on Title VI. Other special features of the Summit will include a listening session with policymakers from each New England state discussing environmental justice issues.

Breakfast/Lunch/Child Care will be provided at no charge.

To register for this free event and learn more information, please visit http://newenglandejsummit.eventbrite.com  or call Steve Fischbach, 401-274-2652 x-182. You can also visit the Facebook Page for information on the tentative agenda for the Summit at: https://www.facebook.com/events/359391727441610/

Friday, April 20, 2012

Fellowship for the 2012 ACS National Convention

The American Constitution Society announces the:
Public Interest Fellowship for the 2012 ACS National Convention
June 14 - 16, 2012
Washington, DC

In order to enable more junior public interest lawyers to attend the ACS National Convention, ACS will again be making available a limited number of fellowships for attorneys working in the government and public interest sectors who have been in practice for five years or less. The 2012 ACS National Convention will take place at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC from June 14-16. Recipients will receive registration for the Convention, lodging at the Capital Hilton and a stipend for travel.

The ACS National Convention provides unparalleled networking opportunities for progressive lawyers. There will again be dedicated networking time following each panel discussion and fellowship recipients will be able to meet leaders from their respective practice areas, as well as leaders from their geographic areas.

In order to strengthen ties between fellowship recipients and ACS and engage them in the work of the organization, we require that fellowship recipients join ACS and do at least three of the following in the coming year:
• Speak to a student chapter
• Write an ACS blog post
• Recruit five new paid members at any level
• Volunteer for Constitution in the Classroom
• Organize a lawyer chapter event
• Mentor an ACS affiliated law student or young lawyer
• Host a mentorship dinner during Convention
• Host an out-of-town student during Convention

To apply, please click 2012 Fellowship Application and complete the simple online application. Applications must be received by April 30, 2012.
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Wednesday, April 18, 2012

GBLS Americorps CORI Position

Make a difference
By becoming a member of AmeriCorps
and working in the
CORI & Re-entry Project
of Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS)

Looking for new lawyers, law students,
or aspiring law students to begin in September, 2012

GBLS is the primary provider of free, non-criminal legal assistance in the Greater Boston area, assisting low-income individuals, families, and community-based organizations with a wide range of poverty law matters.

AmeriCorps members will work with and be supervised by experienced GBLS staff. Their responsibilities may involve provision of advice, referrals, brief service, and direct representation of clients in court; participation in community education and outreach activities and other related work. A description of the project appears on the next page.

Terms of employment/benefits: Members making a one year service commitment, and who complete 1700 hours of community service will receive: $17,000 taxable yearly living allowance (paid bi-weekly); a $5,550 annual education award (payable on completion of each year of service); health insurance; day care assistance, if eligible; hands-on supervised exposure to the practice of law.

Eligibility/qualifications: Members must be at least 17 years of age, be a U.S. citizen, a U.S. national, or a lawful permanent resident alien of the U.S. In addition, candidates must be college graduate with an interest in attending law school, attending law school at night, or a law school graduate. Proficiency in Vietnamese is highly desirable. Training will be provided.

Sponsorship: The Legal Assistance for Self-Sufficiency Program is a project of South Coastal Counties Legal Services, Inc., a private non-profit law firm providing legal assistance in civil matters at no charge to eligible low-income clients. The Program is funded through the Corporation for National and Community Service, and administered through the Massachusetts Service Alliance.

Interested individuals must submit a cover letter, resume and a signed application which may be downloaded at www.mlassp.org to Sonia Marquez, GBLS, 197 Friend Street, Boston, MA 02114 or by email at jobs@gbls.org. Please use job code: “AmeriCorps” when applying. For more information, please contact Ms. Marquez at (617) 603-1805.

GBLS is an AA/EO/Handicapped accessible employer, committed to diversity in the workforce and regards differences as assets.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Teaching Fellowship in ChildLaw

TWO-YEAR POST-GRADUATE CLINICAL TEACHING FELLOWSHIP IN
CHILDLAW POLICY AND LEGISLATION
Loyola University Chicago School of Law invites applications for the post-graduate ChildLaw Policy Clinical Teaching Fellowship. This two-year Fellowship, a non-tenure track faculty position, will commence in July 2012.

Under the direction of the director of the ChildLaw Policy Institute, housed in the Civitas ChildLaw Center at Loyola's School of Law, the Fellowship provides an opportunity for a recent law school graduate to gain experience in the area of clinical law teaching specific to policy and legislative reform. The Clinical Fellow will work closely with the Policy Institute's director, participating in the Institute's policy initiatives. The Policy Institute works on a broad range of projects related to children, including child protection, juvenile justice, domestic violence and children's health through policy reform, legislative advocacy, research and training. The Fellow also will participate in the development of course curriculum for the ChildLaw Policy and Legislation Clinic and may have the opportunity to participate in teaching and supervision of students involved in other childlaw classes. The Fellow will be encouraged to develop independent areas of interest, consistent with the mission of the ChildLaw Policy Institute.
Criteria for Selection: Preference will be given to recent law school graduates with experience in legislative and policy research and analysis on the state and federal level and familiarity with the legislative process; a demonstrated interest in the field of child law; and an interest in pursuing a career in clinical law teaching. Candidates with at least two years of practice experience are preferred. Must possess excellent communication and writing skills.

Selection Process: Application materials should be postmarked by May 15, 2012 and should be submitted to Griselda Sánchez, Loyola ChildLaw Center, 25 E. Pearson St., Suite 1107, Chicago, Illinois 60611. Applications should include a short statement describing the candidate's reasons for applying for the fellowship, a current resume, a law school transcript, three references, two letters of recommendation, and a writing sample. A current resume must also be submitted through Loyola's career site.

For more information, contact Professor Anita Weinberg, Director of the Loyola ChildLaw Policy Institute, at (312) 915-6482, email aweinbe@luc.edu.

CLSR Seeks 2012-2013 Fellow!

New England Law | Boston
Center for Law and Social Responsibility
Seeks a 2012-2013 Fellow

About the Position:

The Center for Law and Social Responsibility (CLSR) is seeking a graduating New England Law student to serve as its Fellow for the 2012-2013 academic year. Applicants must be interested in completing public service legal projects in one or more of the following areas:

• Criminal Justice
• Education
• Environmental Advocacy
• Immigration Law
• Public Interest Law
• Women & Children’s Advocacy

The position runs for ten months, starting in mid-August. The Fellow is a full-time employee of New England Law | Boston and as such receives salary and benefits.

The CLSR Fellow provides both substantive and administrative support for all Center Projects. In addition, the Fellow must develop and complete one or more substantial public service legal projects in one or more of the above-listed areas. The position is highly flexible, and requires creativity, independence, initiative, and a genuine desire to spend ten months working as a lawyer and advocate in the public service field.

Past Fellows have represented clients in agency proceedings, teamed with other attorneys to write briefs, and joined advocacy groups to foster regulatory change. Fellows are encouraged to write and teach as part of their experience.

To Apply:

Please submit the following application materials, via email, to Professor David Siegel, Co-director of the CLSR at dsiegel@nesl.edu, by April 30, 2012:

• letter of introduction explaining your interest in the position
• resume
• official New England Law | Boston transcript
• legal writing sample no longer than 5 pages– must have been written by the applicant alone
• list of three references with telephone and e-mail contact information

Please contact the current CLSR Fellow, Sarah Herbert at sarah.m.herbert@nesl.edu for more information or visit the CLSR website at www.nesl.edu/centers/clsr.cfm.

Clinical Teaching Fellowship: Farmworker Legal Aid Clinic

Villanova University School of Law Clinical Program Seeks
Visiting Reuschlein Clinical Teaching Fellow for Farmworker Legal Aid Clinic
2012–2013 Academic Year

Villanova University School of Law is seeking applications for a Clinical Teaching Fellow to work in our Clinical Program from July 1, 2012, or as soon as possible, through July 2013, with a possibility of extension to July 2014.

The fellow will co-teach the Farmworker Legal Aid Clinic with Professor Beth Lyon. The Farmworker Clinic provides civil legal services to migrant workers, specializing in employment and immigration litigation. More information about this clinic can be found here.

This fellowship provides a unique opportunity for individuals to learn about legal education in a clinical setting. The Fellow will work closely with the director of the clinic and share responsibility for designing and teaching classes, supervising students in their representation of clients, and other matters. The Fellow will also cover the Farmworker Clinic caseload over the summer and during school breaks and will conduct case intake for the clinic. The Fellow will work closely with all of our experienced clinicians and other fellows, and will interact with students in the law school’s other clinics, which focus on asylum, federal tax law, health law and a broad range of poverty related civil matters. The Fellow will also enjoy opportunities for external training and professional development. Resources and mentoring are available for scholarly research and writing.

Applicants must have excellent oral and written communication skills, a commitment to public interest or pro bono legal work, a minimum of three (3) years of relevant legal practice experience, the ability to work both collaboratively and independently, and a demonstrated interest in and aptitude for student supervision and teaching. Applicants should have an interest in pursuing an academic career. Former fellows have moved on to positions at Chapman University School of Law, Rutgers School of Law-Camden, the University of Cincinnati College of Law, the University of Tennessee College of Law and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Spanish-speaking ability is highly desirable. Applicants must be qualified to be licensed in Pennsylvania.

Please send by email or hard copy a resume, a letter of interest, a writing sample, and the names and contact information for at least 3 professional references to Patricia Brown, Paralegal and Clinic Office Administrator, Villanova School of Law, 299 N. Spring Mill Road, Villanova, PA 19085, brown@law.villanova.edu. Inquiries about the position can also be sent to Professor Dveera Segal, Director of the Clinical Program, at 610-519-6417 or segal@law.villanova.edu.
We will begin reviewing applications as soon as they are received and we will continue to review applications on a rolling basis.

Villanova University is an Augustinian Catholic liberal arts institution with liberal arts and graduate programs in the western suburbs of Philadelphia. It is an equal opportunity employer and invites applications from all interested persons.

Clinical Teaching Fellowship: Civil Justice Clinic

Villanova University School of Law Clinical Program Seeks
Visiting Reuschlein Clinical Teaching Fellow for Civil Justice Clinic
2012–2013 Academic Year

Villanova University School of Law is seeking applications for a Clinical Teaching Fellow to work in our Clinical Program from July 1, 2012 through July 2013. This is a one-year position.
The fellow will co-teach the Civil Justice Clinic with Professor Dveera Segal and with Prof. Michael Campbell and Prof. Cathryn Miller-Wilson, who are also Reuschlein Clinic Teaching Fellows. The Civil Justice Clinic provides legal representation to low income individuals in a wide range of civil matters, including family, housing, employment, disability, public benefits and consumer matters. More information can be found at http://www.law.villanova.edu/Academics/Clinical%20Programs/Clinics/Civil%20Justice%20Clinic.aspx while more information about Villanova’s dynamic Clinical Program is available at http://www.law.villanova.edu/Academics/Clinical%20Programs.aspx.

This fellowship provides a unique opportunity for individuals to learn about legal education in a clinical setting. The Fellow will work closely with the director of the clinic and share responsibility for designing and teaching classes, supervising students in their representation of clients, and other matters. The Fellow will also cover the Civil Justice Clinic caseload over the summer, will share case coverage during other times and will participate in conducting case intake for the clinic. The Fellow will work closely with all of our experienced clinicians and other fellows, and will interact with students in the law school’s other clinics, which focus on asylum, federal tax law, health law and representation of farmworkers. The Fellow will also enjoy opportunities for external training and professional development. Resources and mentoring are available for scholarly research and writing.
Applicants must have excellent oral and written communication skills, a commitment to public interest or pro bono legal work, a minimum of three (3) years of relevant legal practice experience, the ability to work both collaboratively and independently, and a demonstrated interest in and aptitude for student supervision and teaching. Applicants should have an interest in pursuing an academic career. Former fellows have moved on to hold positions at Chapman University School of Law, Rutgers School of Law-Camden, the University of Cincinnati College of Law, the University of Tennessee College of Law and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Applicants must be qualified to be licensed in Pennsylvania.

Please send by email or hard copy a resume, a letter of interest, a writing sample, and the names and contact information for at least 3 professional references to Patricia Brown, Paralegal and Clinic Office Administrator, Villanova School of Law, 299 N. Spring Mill Road, Villanova, PA 19085, brown@law.villanova.edu. Inquiries about the position can also be sent to Professor Dveera Segal, Director of the Clinical Program, at 610-519-6417 or segal@law.villanova.edu.
We will begin reviewing applications as soon as they are received and we will continue to review applications on a rolling basis.

Villanova University is an Augustinian Catholic liberal arts institution with liberal arts and graduate programs in the western suburbs of Philadelphia. It is an equal opportunity employer and invites applications from all interested persons.

Fordham Clinical Teaching Fellowship

Below is an announcement on a Clinical Teaching Fellowship Opportunity:

CLINICAL TEACHING FELLOWSHIP
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CLINIC

Fordham’s Community Economic Development Clinic is offering a Teaching Fellowship starting August 2012. The Fellow will work with experienced CED practitioner Brian Glick. S/he will help supervise students in client representation and co-teach the CED Clinic seminar and is expected to participate actively in the life of our clinical program and law school. We expect the Fellow to be with us for two years.

Fordham’s CED Clinic represents New York City groups fighting for social justice in low-income communities of color and low-wage, predominantly immigrant workforces. As their general counsel the clinic helps sustain effective organizations and build institutions--health clinics, childcare centers, worker-owned enterprises--that empower their participants while providing desperately needed services and opportunities. The clinic supports neighborhood efforts to shape development, limit gentrification and win community benefits agreements. It also assists small grassroots groups with incorporation, bylaws and tax exemption. Students learn transactional business lawyering in a nonprofit social justice setting.

We seek an attorney with at least two years’ experience, preferably more, who is interested in pursuing a career in clinical teaching. Spanish fluency and transactional or social justice lawyering experience preferred. Fordham is an equal opportunity employer. Lawyers from the types of communities served by the CED Clinic are especially encouraged to apply.

The Fellow will receive a competitive stipend with full benefits and research support.

To apply, please e-mail a resume and letter of interest to cedfellowship@law.fordham.edu. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.

For further information, contact Candice Adams, caadams@law.fordham.edu, 212.636.7058.

What's Coming Next Semester in Environmental Law at New England!

Environmental Coming Attractions!

Professor Manus comes back full time in the fall and here's the slate of environmental opportunities we've got lined up so far -- Professor Williamson (our EPA connection) will continue to teach Environmental Law in the fall. Professor Manus will offer the AEL seminar Environmental Politics, and Professor Cox offers his International Environmental Law seminar. In the spring, Professor Manus takes over for Environmental Law, while Professor Bandrowicz (our other EPA connection) offers her water law seminar and a new adjunct professor, alumna Laura Bickel, offers Energy Law & Policy.

Professor Manus is also working with the Environmental Law Society and others on ideas for extra-curricular activities that the CLSR can tackle. Should be a good year for us green folk at New England. To learn more about environmental opportunities outside of the classroom, please visit the Environmental Advocacy Project at the Center for Law and Social Responsibility.

Friday, April 13, 2012

Public Defender Corps Webinar

Law Student Series: Public Defender Corps Overview

April 17, 2012 2:00 pm - 3:15 pm
Public Defender Corps (PDC) is a three-year fellowship program developed by Equal Justice Works and the Southern Public Defender Training Center. PDC provides intensive training and mentoring to new attorneys with the goal of supporting the public defender community and raising the standard of representation across the country. In this webinar, we will explain the program in detail and discuss what you can do to best position yourself for this extremely competitive fellowship program. This presentation is intended for law students and recent graduates, especially those with a strong interest in indigent defense.

Register here for this free webinar: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/670764705

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Student Experience with the Human Rights and Immigration Law Project

By Adelina Janiak

My involvement with the Human Rights and Immigration Law Project [HRILP] coincided with the beginning of my 2L year, when Professor Haynes announced a volunteer opportunity for a student interested in immigration law to collaborate with a recent New England Law | Boston alumnus on an asylum case. I was apprehensive at first, because I wasn’t sure how I could to contribute to the case, given my limited knowledge of asylum law.

However, my reservations were quickly put to rest by Professor Haynes, and Marlee Cowan (the alumnus who was handling the case), by their contextualizing of the legal issues involved and the faith they put in my burgeoning legal skills. The client was a young woman, a human rights activist from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who was kidnapped, raped, and ultimately miraculously escaped to the United States. As traumatized as she was by her experiences, her strength inspired me to fully devote my time to this case. We spent many months preparing the affirmative asylum case and we were ultimately successful. I will never forget the satisfaction I felt when the news came that her asylum had been granted.

What seemed like a one-time volunteer opportunity had turned into a long-term internship at Community Legal Services and Counseling Center (CLSACC), a non-profit organization that provides legal assistance to asylum-seekers in the Boston area, and then into a Lawyering Process clinic.

The more time and effort I invested into this work, the more challenging the assignments I was given, including direct contact with clients, whom I advised about their asylum eligibility, as well as preparing cases to be heard in Immigration Court. This invaluable experience has allowed me to develop trusting relationships with my clients, so that they can discuss their lives and fears with me. I’ve worked with rape and torture victims, people who have been persecuted by their governments or rebel groups, those who are simply hoping for a second chance in life, one that is safe and free from persecution.

When I began my work with the HRILP and CLSACC, I was interpreting from French to enable communication between the client and the attorney. Since then I’ve conducted extensive legal research (for individual cases, and other HRILP projects as Prof. Haynes’ research assistant), written legal memoranda and motions for Immigration Court on a variety of topics, and prepared expert and lay witnesses for testimony in Court.

The hands-on skills I developed by working on a multitude of asylum cases and their multi-faceted aspects, as well as other projects sponsored by the HRILP, have led me to realize that this field of law is legally interesting, evolving, personally satisfying, and ultimately immensely rewarding. I know this is not an easy field of law – due to its legal complexities and emotionally challenging life stories – but the effort is worthwhile in the end. When I took the project on, I didn’t know where my first experience with the HRILP would lead, but I am glad I did, as it has led me to realize that I truly enjoy refugee and asylum law, and most of all, the people who practice it daily.

I would encourage students to become involved in any ongoing activity of the HRILP, because it provides an opportunity to directly apply the law to real cases – and those cases represent people who uniquely need the legal assistance of students and attorneys who help them navigate the complex field of asylum law, to reach rewarding, often life-saving outcomes. It has led me to hope that I can turn this passion into a career.

Monday, April 9, 2012

Have you earned your Public Service Transcript Notation?

Below is important information on the Public Service Transcript Notation Program for those students who have taken part in public interest legal work that was not for credit and unpaid. If you have any questions, e-mail the CLSR Fellow Sarah Herbert at sarah.m.herbert@nesl.edu.

Public Service Notation Program

New England Law | Boston students who volunteer twenty-five hours of public service legal work may be eligible for the school’s Public Service Transcript Notation program. The Public Service Project at the Center for Law and Social Responsibility (CLSR) administers the program, which recognizes eligible work for which students do not receive credit or pay.

The notation will read “Public Service Honor Roll” on the transcript of students who dedicate 25 hours or more of their time to work eligible under this program. To learn more about the notation, organizations through which the volunteer work is likely eligible, and to download the necessary form, please visit the Public Service Project page.

In addition to receiving the transcript notation, students who earn the notation will also be listed on the Public Service Honor Roll. This lists those students who have earned the notation and the semester that they earned it. Please note that this list is updated a few times throughout the academic year was last updated on April 9th 2012.