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.