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Friday, June 13, 2014

JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR OF EMPLOYMENT AND LEGAL SERVICES in AUSTIN, TX

APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED UNTIL POSITION FILLED

About Workers Defense Project:

Created in 2002, WDP is a statewide, membership-based organization devoted to workers’ rights and advocacy, chiefly aiming to build power among Texas construction workers. Its mission – to empower low-income workers to achieve fair employment through education, direct services, organizing and strategic partnerships – is accomplished through a network of dedicated staff, volunteers and members.

WDP is one of the few organizations in Texas focused on addressing workplace abuse faced by low-wage laborers. Among the most established worker centers in the South, and a leader in the national movement of worker centers fighting for fair conditions for working people, WDP has won numerous awards for its cutting-edge achievements within one of the country’s most difficult climates for workers. The New York Times described WDP as “one of the most creative organizations for immigrant workers in the country”.

Each year, WDP serves over 2,500 workers through offices in Austin and Dallas by way of various social-service and organizing programs. WDP concentrates its efforts on winning better work conditions in the construction industry, among the most powerful special interest groups in Texas, employing over 900,000 workers, half of whom are undocumented.

Achievements:
  • Recovered over $1,150,000 in back wages for 1,100 low-wage workers through negotiation, legal and direct action.
  • Won 5,000 good construction jobs that pay living wages, include expanded safety protections, and provide job training to help workers advance in the workplace by signing landmark agreements with large scale commercial developers.
  • Passed Texas’ first misclassification protection law that imposes fines on employers caught misclassifying employees on state contracts – protecting not just construction workers, but any worker employed by a state contractor.
  • Won one of the nation’s most progressive economic development policies. To be eligible for tax incentives from the City of Austin companies must now agree to ensure higher standards on construction projects including: Living and prevailing wages, OSHA basic safety training, workers’ compensation coverage, protection from misclassification for all workers on the project, and project owners are incentivized to hire from “disadvantaged” worker populations (those that are low-income, have a criminal record, and do not have a high school diploma).
  • Passed a statewide wage theft law that allows police departments across Texas to arrest employers who don’t pay their workers.
  • Won a federal OSHA investigation into Texas’ deadly construction industry. Under the initiative, OSHA conducted nearly 900 inspections throughout the state, resulting in close to 1,500 citations and fines totaling almost $2 million. Overall the investigation resulted in a 60% increase in construction safety inspections throughout the state, saving countless lives.
  • Won paid rest breaks for Austin’s 60,000 construction workersby holding a “thirst strike” with WDP construction worker members and leaders outside of City Hall during the summer.
  • Won changes in city contracts to require basic OSHA 10 hour safety trainings for all construction workers on city-funded sites.
  • Trained over 15,000 low-wage workers about their employment rights and how to best defend them.

Job Description:


The Employment and Legal Services (ELS) Director will oversee one of WDP’s most premiere programs. The Employment Legal Services Program represents low-wage workers to address employment rights violations such as wage theft, injury on the job, discrimination and sexual harassment. The Employment and Legal Services program educates low-wage workers about their employment rights, recovers back wages for workers who have been denied payment for their work, and assists injured workers obtain the benefits and care they need. The ELS program combines both legal tactics and community-based tactics (such as direct action and public pressure) to resolve legal violations. Additionally, WDP will expand its legal services to provide critically needed immigration legal services in the event of passage of comprehensive immigration reform. In Texas it is estimated that 1 in 10 workers are undocumented, and conservative estimates cite that 50% of the construction workforce as undocumented.

The ELS director is charged with overseeing this program in Austin and Dallas by:

(1) designing and implementing innovative legal strategies, including direct action, that support WDP’s broader strategic campaigns to address the systemic causes of employment abuses;

(2) overseeing a team of attorneys and support staff to successfully resolve cases;

(3) executing administrative and financial oversight of the ELS program and identifying opportunities for innovation and growth.

(4) directly representing WDP members in workplace-related employment and labor claims.

The ELS Director will work in close collaboration with other WDP staff to develop legal strategies that support WDP’s organizing goals and to ensure strong coordination on campaigns.

Duties and Responsibilities


  • Manage the ELS Program statewide to ensure strong program coordination and uniform development and implementation of new strategies and methods
  • Represent WDP members on employment issues through negotiation, legal and direct action
  • Train, supervise, and evaluate ELS program staff
  • Recruit and train a team of program volunteers
  • Manage programmatic financials and expenditures to ensure good financial stewardship and that deliverables are met for grantors
  • Research relevant legal topics and draft memos to expand the legal strategies utilized by WDP
  • Establish and manage partnerships and collaborations with ally institutions including law firms, law schools, state agencies, other legal service non-profits, and other community allies.
  • Work collaboratively with other WDP staff to ensure cross-program collaboration to advance WDP’s strategic objectives
  • Represent the organization publicly to partner institutions and funders, as needed
  • Work with WDP leadership to hire qualified ELS staff
  • Develop recommendations to strengthen the work of the ELS program
  • Oversee administrative functions including completion of monthly reports to guide program evaluation
  • Support ELS staff to fulfill worker leadership development and organizing goals
  • Any other activities that are necessary to carry out the work of WDP

Qualifications:


Candidates for this position must be able to demonstrate:
Juris Doctorate Degree

  • Admission to the Texas Bar (or willingness to apply for membership and sit for the next bar exam)
  • Two to three years of on-the-job legal experience.
  • Commitment to helping cultivate a high-performing legal program that utilizes the law creatively in the fight for systemic change.
  • Creativity and demonstrated willingness to take risks in crafting and executing legal strategies.
  • Computer literate (excel, Microsoft word, and internet)
  • Ability to work independently and juggle multiple responsibilities.
  • Excellent time management and administrative skills.
  • Two to three years of managerial experience with proven ability to supervise, mentor and develop staff.
  • Ability to publicly represent WDP and think critically in high stake meetings with employers and partner institutions.
  • Fluency in English and Spanish (strong written and verbal communication skills in both languages).
  • Excellent writing skills and ability to communicate with a diverse audience
  • Ability to work irregular hours, including nights and weekends (position is a full-time salaried exempt position).
  • Ability to travel monthly to provide support to Dallas-based staff.
  • Ability to work well with diverse groups of people (including faith, labor, Latino immigrants, and African American community, among others).
  • Commitment to social justice, furthering workers rights, and building a broader labor movement.
  • Must own a vehicle

Preferred Qualifications

  • 2-3 years of community and/or labor organizing experience
  • Previous experience with wage and hour and immigration law is a plus.

Compensation:

  • Competitive Salary
  • Generous Benefit package (paid sick leave, two-weeks of vacation, 403b retirement plan, health insurance, and maternity/paternity leave).

How to apply: Send resume, cover letter, writing sample, and three professional references to Emily at Emily@workersdefense.org.

As an equal opportunity employer, Workers Defense Project embraces diversity and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of age, race, color, creed, gender, religion, marital status, veteran’s status, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation. Women and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Job Posting: CAIR Coalition: Supervising Attorney - Detained Children's Program

Job Description:

The Detained Children’s Program Supervising Attorney oversees the program, ensuring effective implementation of the program and compliance with CAIR Coalition’s Detained Children Services (DCS) federal contract. The Supervising Attorney provides direct supervision to two staff attorneys and one legal assistant. Job responsibilities include the provision of direct legal services to detained youth, recruitment and mentoring of pro bono attorneys representing youth referred by CAIR Coalition, and training and outreach efforts. This position reports to the Legal Director.

You can find more information here.

Harvard Kennedy School Rappaport Institute Boston 101 Spring 2014 Events

Opening the Gates of Opportunity: Realizing the Potential of Gateway Cities

Friday, April 18, 2014 from 1:00 to 5:30 p.m.

Harvard Graduate School of Design, 48 Quincy Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Agenda available on-line

Gateway Cities are midsize urban centers in Massachusetts facing stubborn social and economic challenges, but with many assets that have unrealized potential. This event will bring together community leaders, public officials, policymakers, faculty and students to exchange ideas and information about workable solutions for cities and local economies. The agenda will feature speakers who represent a cross-section of new ideas for revitalizing our cities and neighborhoods. Out of these discussions we hope to capture innovative, cross-sector, collaborative ideas and models that will feed into the work that is being done by students and faculty in urban planning.

Ending the Zero-Sum Game: Regionalizing Economic Development

Monday, April 28, 2014 at 8:00 a.m.

Omni Parker House, 60 School Street, Boston, Massachusetts

Joe Curtatone, Mayor of Somerville
John Barros, Chief, City of Boston Economic Development Cabinet

The economy of Greater Boston has tremendous strengths and attracts businesses from around the world. Yet there is very little coordination of resources and activities around economic development among the municipalities that make up Greater Boston. In fact, many times they compete against each other for relocating firms. What would regional economic development look like and what structure would make it viable and durable?

Co-sponsored by Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston, The Taubman Center for State and Local Government, and the Collins Center for Public Management at UMass Boston.

Technology's Promise: Can It Create Social Mobility?

Wednesday, May 28, 2014 at 8:00 a.m.

Location TBD

Mayor Martin Walsh, Keynote Address

The Rappaport Institute’s spring conference will bring together political, industry, and academic leaders to explore the potential for greater Boston’s technology leadership to address social inequality and improve social mobility. It will explore technology’s promise in the spheres of school, life, and work.

Has CitiStat Worked in Greater Boston

Thursday, June 5, 2014 at 8:30 a.m.

UMass Campus Ballroom, UMass Boston, Boston, Massachusetts

Building on a 2003 Rappaport Institute policy brief that asked the above question, this forum will examine how Citistat has been implemented in both small and large communities in Greater Boston. The discussion will seek to draw lessons from the experience of different communities and provide a framework for deepening and broadening the use of performance management in municipalities.

Co-sponsored by Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston, The Taubman Center for State and Local Government, and the Collins Center for Public Management at UMass Boston.

Learning From Lawrence: Strategies for Turnaround Schools

Tuesday,June 10, 2014 at 5:30 p.m.

Bell Hall, 5th floor Belfer Buiding, at the Corner of JFK and Eliot Streets, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Josh Goodman, Harvard Kennedy School
Beth Scheuler, Harvard Graduate School of Education

In 2011, Massachusetts took over the Lawrence Public Schools. The state instituted a variety of reforms, including Acceleration Academies, reassignment of teachers, and new district leadership. As the state examines the possibility of school and district turnarounds, what lessons can be learned from the Lawrence experience. Have the reforms worked? Which reforms appear to be more effective?

Co-sponsored by Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston, The Taubman Center for State and Local Government, and the Collins Center for Public Management at UMass Boston.

A full listing of spring events can be found on our website at www.hks.harvard.edu/centers/rappaport/events-and-news/upcoming-boston-101-and-other-events



Job Posting: 2014-2015 Reproductive Justice - HIV Fellowship

LSRJ seeks applications from current 3Ls and recent law school graduates to work as a Reproductive Justice - HIV Fellow at a placement organization in either Atlanta, GA or Oakland, CA starting in late August 2014 through August 2015.

You can find more information here.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Job Posting: VAN DER HOUT, BRIGAGLIANO & NIGHTINGALE, LLP is seeking a Litigation Research Fellow

VAN DER HOUT, BRIGAGLIANO & NIGHTINGALE, LLP is a nationally renowned, full-service immigration and nationality law firm in San Francisco. The firm was founded in 1980 and represents a wide range of clients.

We are seeking a licensed attorney with one to three years of experience or a recent law graduate (or current 3L) to serve as a Litigation Research Fellow. The position is initially one year with the possibility of a second year. The fellow will work directly with partners and associate attorneys on a wide range of immigration cases, including deportation defense, federal court litigation, family, asylum, naturalization, and a variety of cases involving the intersection of criminal and immigration law. Cases involve representing clients before the Immigration Courts, the Board of Immigration Appeals, CIS, ICE, CBP, and the federal courts. Fellow will work closely with attorneys in the firm, handling primarily legal research and writing in support of litigation and other advocacy in a cutting edge, diverse and complex immigration law practice.

Qualifications:

  • Experience in/ Knowledge of immigration law strongly preferred.
  • Excellent legal research and writing skills.
  • Strong organizational skills.
  • Ability and interest in taking on complex and difficult immigration cases.
  • Spoken and written Spanish helpful.
  • Interest in fast-paced, energetic work environment.
  • Admission in a State Bar Preferred.

Start date flexible between May and September 2014

Salary will be commensurate with experience.

Please send your resume, short writing sample and cover letter to:

George Phillips, Office Administrator
VAN DER HOUT, BRIGAGLIANO & NIGHTINGALE, LLP
via e-mail to attyjobs@vblaw.com or Facsimile to (415) 981-3003.
No telephone calls please.

Job Posting: Commission on Immigration - Staff Attorney - Children Harlingen, TX

 Job Description:

Staff Attorney - Children
Commission on Immigration
Grant Funded
PK11048
Exempt
Hiring range: $43,800- $47,400

To give appropriate legal orientation presentations to immigration children at risk of deportation, complete detainee intakes following presentations and prepare and conduct pro se workshops and individual orientations to assist these children. Recruits, trains, and mentors pro bono attorneys, and directly represents children in their cases before the immigration court and/or review boards.

Education
Doctoral Degree (JD)

Experience
The childrens immigration project attorney should have experience working with immigrants as well as a fundamental knowledge of immigration law and immigration court procedures. Must exhibit strong writing skills, excellent communication skills and client interviewing abilities as well as the ability to work under pressure. Must be fluent in Spanish, must have a law degree, and have been admitted to a bar or have taken a bar examination and be waiting for the results by the start date of employment. Must have a law degree, and have been admitted to a bar or have taken a bar examination and be waiting for the results by the start date of employment.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V.

https://www5.recruitingcenter.net/Clients/abanet/PublicJobs/Intranet/controller.cfm?jbaction=JobProfile&Job_Id=11048&esid=az


2014 Boston Campaign Manager Training Mass Alliance

Ever wonder what makes a good grassroots campaign?

This intensive two-day training introduces future campaign leaders to the theory and practice behind successful grassroots campaigning.

Saturday & Sunday
March 29th & 30th 2014  
9 am to 5:30 pm

SEIU 1199
150 Mt. Vernon St.
Boston, MA

Mass Alliance is a coalition of progressive organizations. We work with candidates from wondering to winning. We have a track record of helping candidates run successful progressive, grassroots campaigns.

Attendees will learn from some of the best progressive campaign operatives in Massachusetts.  The training will cover:

•    Field organizing
•    Message development
•    Working with the press
•    Grassroots Fundraising
•    Other time-tested tactics for winning campaigns

The workshop is great training for full-time paid work on campaigns and is also helpful for issue and neighborhood activists who are hoping to enhance their understanding of how to influence the outcome of campaigns.

The workshop is offered on a sliding scale. The regular price is $90. If you can, please pay more to help us make it accessible to others. If you need to pay less than $90, please contact Jordan to arrange that.

For more information, or to register, contact Jordan at Mass Alliance: 617.722.4320 or jordan@massalliance.org

The European Roma Rights Centre and League of Human Rights invite applications for a Gender Research Fellowship in the Czech Republic

The European Roma Rights Centre and League of Human Rights invite applications for a Gender Research Fellowship in the Czech Republic


The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) and the League of Human Rights invite applications for the position of the Gender Research Fellow. In 2014, the Gender Fellowship focuses on the particular issue of involuntary sterilisation of Romani women and women with disabilities in the Czech Republic. We are looking for researchers and activists with robust experience in conducting gender-specific, collaborative and action-oriented qualitative research. The ERRC specifically encourages researchers and activists from the Romani, Sinti and Travellers communities to apply for the Fellowship.

Deadline for applications: 15 April 2014

Information about the fellowship


The Fellowship is expected to start in May 2014 and will last for 7 months. The Fellow will be jointly supervised by the ERRC and League staff members. The selected Fellow will work closely with ERRC and League staff members on designing research objectives, selecting cases, tailoring methodology for fieldwork and document analysis, and ensuring compliance with ethical standards of social research, as relevant.

The selected Fellow will be offered a 7-months contract and an office space at the League’s central office in Brno, the Czech Republic. Fellows will additionally spend up to two weeks at the ERRC office in Budapest, Hungary at the start of the fellowship to finalise their research proposal.

The ERRC offers the Fellow a monthly stipend and financial support for expenses occurred during the field research.

Research Frame


In Czechoslovakia, a Public Decree on Sterilisation from 1972 enabled public authorities to take programmatic steps to encourage the sterilisation of Romani women and women with disabilities placed in mental institutions in order to control their birth-rate. This legal provision resulted in giving public authorities more or less free reign to systematically sterilise Romani women and women with disabilities without their full and informed consent. The practice of sterilising women against their will did not end with the fall of Communism, when the specific Decree was formally abolished, but it continued throughout the transition to liberal democracy. The Public Defender of Rights (Ombudsperson) Otakar Motejl published a report in 2005 on the practice of sterilisation of Romani women pre and post 1989 – a report that included preliminary data on the scope of the problem and recommendations to the Czech Government on how to address the issue and compensate victims of coercive sterilisation. Meanwhile a significant number of international bodies issued compensation recommendations: the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (in 2006 and 2010), the UN Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) (in 2007), the UN Human Rights Committee (2007), the UN Human Rights Council under the Universal Periodic Review (2008) and the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (2009). In November 2009, government authorities acknowledged individual failures of hospital personnel and expressed regret for involuntary sterilisations. However, the governmental response to date has not gone any further to introduce any form of compensation mechanism for women harmed by this practice.

The 2014 Gender Research Fellowship should closely follow up the existing evidence of previous legal and policy research on involuntary (forced and coercive) sterilisation with a qualitative research insight into the life course of women harmed by involuntary sterilisation. Focusing on a selected number of case studies, it should develop a qualitative component to existing documents and reports. Specific cases should demonstrate life trajectories of individual women against the background of state laws, policies and hospital practice. Case studies should provide insight into the women’s life before sterilisation; describing the context of the sterilisation act, as well as its consequences on their family, professional and personal life and their heath status.

The research proposal should embrace general awareness of Roma rights and disability rights issues and specifically it should demonstrate basic familiarity with the institutional frame and practice of involuntary sterilisations of Romani women and/or women with disabilities in the Czech Republic. It should also propose preliminary suggestions for (1) research design, (2) methodology for document analysis, selection of case studies, and empirical fieldwork, and (3) solutions for ethical clearance for conducting research on an ethically challenging issue

Research projects should be action-oriented and collaborative, i.e. they should aim at informing Romani women/women with disabilities or enabling them to benefit from the research (advocacy, direct action, litigation, raising awareness, etc.). The Fellow will also be expected to support the ERRC and League’s domestic and international advocacy and litigation strategies.

Profile of the applicants


The ERRC/League seek the Fellow with significant experience of living and working in Romani communities/or people with disabilities and who have been engaged in work with Romani communities/or people with disabilities for extended periods. The selected fellow should have robust skills in developing and conducting a qualitative action-oriented research, including the use of collaborative and gender-sensitive methods. The Fellow should be fluent in Czech and have a working knowledge of English. Knowledge of Romani language will be considered an advantage. The ERRC specifically encourages researchers and activists from the Romani, Sinti and Travellers communities to apply for the Fellowship.

See the CSO for details on how to apply. cso@nesl.edu

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Job Posting: Ayuda Immigration Staff Attorney -- Apply Now


Ayuda is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing direct legal and social services, education, and outreach to low-income immigrants in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Through its offices in Takoma, DC and Falls Church, VA, Ayuda has amassed a 40-year history of providing critical services on a wide range of issues, and in the process has acquired nationally recognized expertise in immigration law, domestic violence and human trafficking, among other fields.

Ayuda is seeking a full-time, bilingual Immigration Staff Attorney, who can assist our immigration department and represent Ayuda before the public on immigration issues. The position is based in its Washington, DC office.

See the job posting at Ayuda's website for more details.

Job Posting: Associate Protection Officer: Kathmandu, Nepal -- Deadline March 14, 2014

The only way to currently get a job at the UNHCR. Contact Prof. Haynes before applying. Go to the job posting at the Department of State website for more details.

Friday, February 21, 2014

Great Networking Opportunity

The Career Services Office and The Center for Law and Social Responsibility Present

Pro Bono at New England Law: A Presentation to the MA Supreme Judicial Court Standing Committee on Pro Bono


Wednesday, February 26, 2014

4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.

Cherry Room



Join us as we welcome Justice Ralph Gants from the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court as well as a panel of students, alumni, and faculty to discuss opportunities for students with law school clinics, centers, and the public service transcript notation program. This is a great opportunity to learn about the array of pro bono opportunities the New England Law community is involved in as well as an opportunity for 1Ls who are thinking ahead for options during their 2L year and summer. Refreshments will be served following the program.

To attend, please RSVP to CSO@nesl.edu.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Van Der Hout, Brigagliano & Nightingale, LLP is hiring Summer and Fall 2014 law clerks


Van Der Hout, Brigagliano & Nightingale, LLP has specialized in the practice of immigration and nationality law and is based in San Francisco, California. We have developed a national reputation for representing our clients in a broad variety of matters including family and employment sponsorship, removal proceedings, federal court litigation, asylum and naturalization. We are particularly known for taking on and winning difficult cases.

We are accepting applications for the law clerk positions on a rolling-basis. The positions will remain open until filled. We hire law clerks year-round. We are currently accepting applications for SUMMER 2014 and FALL 2014.

Applicants should have completed their first year of law school. This is primarily a research and writing position. Law clerks will research immigration law topics and prepare legal memoranda, prepare briefs and motions to file before the immigration agencies and federal courts, and assist with other projects as needed. There are also opportunities to observe court hearings, work with clients, and learn about all aspects of immigration law.

Required experience: Strong legal research and writing skills. Completion of Immigration Law course or immigration law experience.

Please send applications by email. Please include: (1) cover letter; (2) resume; (3) legal writing sample; and (4) list of three references.

In your cover letter, please indicate your preferred start and end dates, an estimate of the number of hours per week that you would be available to clerk, and relevant coursework, including whether you have taken an immigration law class or plan to take one before starting the clerkship.

The clerkship positions are paid positions.

Please email all applications and questions to:


LawClerks-Jobs@vblaw.com

Law Clerk Coordinator

Van Der Hout, Brigagliano & Nightingale, LLP
180 Sutter St, Fifth Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104-4029

For more information on the firm, please visit our website: http://www.vblaw.com/

Job Posting: Secretariat - Conflict Prevention Centre, Policy Support Officer (South-Eastern Europe Desk)


http://www.osce.org/employment/vacancies/111263
Location: Vienna
Deadline: 6 March 2014
Start date: As soon as possible

Monday, February 10, 2014

Job Posting: Legislative Support Officer, Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), Democratization Department, Warsaw,PL

Interested Applicants Contact Prof. Dina Hanyes dhaynes@nesl.edu

Application Closes by February 27, 2014


Background

The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is the principal institution of the OSCE responsible for the human dimension. ODIHR is active throughout the OSCE area in the fields of election observation, democratic development, human rights, tolerance and non-discrimination, and the rule of law. ODIHR’s assistance projects and other activities are implemented in participating States in accordance with ODIHR’s mandate.

The Office’s democratization activities include the following thematic areas: rule of law, democratic governance and gender, migration and freedom of movement, and legislative support. The ODIHR implements targeted assistance programmes facilitating and enhancing participating states’ compliance with OSCE commitments towards the development of democratic structures.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Chief, Legislative Support Unit, the incumbent performs the following duties:

  • Providing expertise and drafting legal commentaries on questions of conformity of domestic legislation with OSCE human dimension commitments and other relevant international standards; assessing the impact of the commentaries prepared by the Unit and proposing follow-up measures necessary for a proper understanding and implementation of recommendations;
  • Providing briefings to ODIHR management on legislative trends and developments in selected OSCE participating States, as well as on questions of international law, including the interpretation of international instruments;
  • Following legal developments in selected OSCE participating States,
  • Conducting assessments of the legislative systems of OSCE participating States who request such assessments;
  • Making proposals for the design of the ODIHR legislative assistance and reform programme as well as for the evaluation of its outcomes and impact; providing input for the further development of the ODIHR legislative database (www.legislationline.org);
  • Designing and ensuring the well-functioning of mechanisms for the proper assignment of funds to activities carried out by the Unit; drafting donor reports based on input collected from all unit members;
  • Performing related duties as required.

Necessary Qualifications

  • Advanced university degree in law. Excellent knowledge of international human rights law as well as constitutional and comparative law in the area of human rights and the rule of law. Some knowledge of legislative drafting techniques/projects is an asset;
  • Minimum of six years of professional work experience in law and at least three years of international experience specifically in law reform in countries in transition to democracy;
  • Extensive proven experience in drafting legal commentaries on human rights and rule of law issues. Comparative knowledge of law-making processes is an asset;
  • Political intuition and tact; ability to advise high-level officials; organizational, and strong legal analytical skills; resourcefulness, initiative and maturity of judgement;
  • Ability to work with minimum supervision; experience in working as part of a team is highly desirable.
  • Excellent working knowledge of English, with strong legal drafting skills; knowledge of another OSCE language, particularly Russian would be an asset.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.

Remuneration Package

Monthly remuneration, subject to social security deductions as well as monthly changes of the post adjustment multiplier and exchange rate, is approximately EUR 4,950 (single rate) and approximately EUR 5,300 (dependency rate). OSCE salaries are exempt from taxation in Poland.
Social security will include participation in the Vanbreda International medical insurance scheme and OSCE Provident Fund maintained by the OSCE. The Organization contributes an amount equivalent to 15% of the employee's salary to this Fund and the employee contributes 7.5%. Other allowances and benefits are similar to those offered under the United Nations Common System.

Appointments are normally made at step 1 of the applicable OSCE salary scale. At the discretion of the appointing authority a higher step may be approved up to a maximum of step 3 subject to specific conditions.

Interested Applicants Contact Prof. Dina Hanyes dhaynes@nesl.edu

Application Closes by February 27, 2014


Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Women's Bar Foundation is pleased to invite you to a training and lunch focusing on military families and domestic violence


Thursday, February 6 – Boston Bar Association Summer Judicial Internship Information Session


 On February 6 from 3-4pm in Room 275, learn about how you can apply to the BBA Summer Judicial Internship program and spend your summer interning for a judge in the Boston Municipal Court, the Massachusetts District Court, or the Probate and Family Court. Several judges who participate in the program will be in attendance to explain what a terrific opportunity this is for 1Ls and 2Ls. This unpaid, non-credit internship provides students the opportunity to work directly with a judge, observe courtroom proceedings, and enhance legal research and writing skills. The BBA Diversity & Inclusion Section's Pipeline and Recruitment Committee is helping to connect the judges with potential interns. Students who have completed their first year of law school and are able to work at least 15 hours per week will be considered. Diverse students are strongly encouraged to apply. A flexible schedule is available to accommodate other commitments. RSVP to attend.

Friday, January 31, 2014

Job Posting

Country’s First Post-Graduate Fellowship in Immigration Law Announced & Accepting Applications for 2014


The Immigrant Justice Corps (IJC) is the largest expansion of immigration legal services in New York City’s history and the first fellowship program in the country dedicated to the provision of high-quality immigration legal assistance. Inspired by Chief Judge Robert Katzmann of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, the IJC recruits talented new lawyers and college graduates from around the country and partners them with New York City’s leading non-profit legal services providers and community-based organizations to offer a broad range of immigration assistance, including naturalization, deportation defense, and applications for asylum seekers, juveniles, and victims of crime, domestic violence or human trafficking.

Beginning in 2014, the IJC will offer two types of fellowships annually: Justice Fellowships for recent law graduates and Community Fellowships for college graduates. Applications for 2014 Justice Fellowships will be accepted on a rolling basis from February 1, 2014 until March 1, 2014. Applications for Community Fellowships will open in the spring.  For more information on eligibility for the Justice Fellowship and program details, please see below.

Structure of the Justice Fellowship Program

The IJC will award Justice Fellowships to recent law graduates and law clerks from around the country – individuals with tremendous talent and promise and a demonstrated commitment to provide legal services for the poor and for immigrants. Fellows will be hosted in clusters of 2-4 in New York City’s leading non-profit legal services offices, which will be selected to participate in the IJC on a competitive the basis. Upon selection, Fellows will have the opportunity to indicate their preferences for the host organization where they will work, though the IJC will, ultimately, make placement decisions. Justice Fellows will represent immigrants with the most complex cases that require lawyers to handle the case from start to finish, such as deportation defense and affirmative petitions for victims of crime, domestic violence and human trafficking, among others. The Justice Fellows will be primarily supervised by experienced attorneys at their host organization, with supplemental support from the IJC’s own supervisory staff.

Benefits

Justice Fellowships run for two years, with the option of renewing for a third year based on performance. During the two years of the fellowship, $47,000 of the Fellows’ salaries as well as benefits will be covered by the IJC, along with loan repayment assistance for law school loans. During the third year of the fellowship, for those selected, salaries will be increased to reflect greater experience. In addition, Fellows will participate in a comprehensive immigration law training program at the start of their fellowship and, throughout the course of the fellowship, will meet bi-weekly as a group for professional development activities, skills trainings, case sharing, reflection sessions and other programmatic activities organized by the IJC staff. At the end of the fellowship, IJC Fellows will be extraordinarily well trained, deeply networked in the legal and immigrant rights community, and profoundly committed to developing creative strategies to fight poverty and ensure access to justice.

 

Eligibility & Application Process

You must be a law student graduating in the Spring/Summer of 2014 or a law clerk completing your clerkship by Summer 2014 in order to be eligible for a Justice Fellowship beginning in September 2014. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on March 1, 2014 and must be submitted via the IJC website: www.justicecorps.org. Finalists will be interviewed in New York City or via video conference for applicants who are unable to travel to New York City. Fellows will be informed of their selection in March 2014.

Applicants will be asked to submit:


  • A resume
  • Three letters of recommendation, including at least one academic reference and at least one from a prior employer or someone who can speak to the quality of your work in a professional setting (internships, work study and term-time employers are absolutely fine).
  • A statement of interest no longer than 500 words describing why you would like to be a part of the IJC Justice or Community Fellowship Program. Questions to consider in drafting the Statement of Interest include: Why are you interested in immigration? How might an IJC Fellowship prepare you for the career you may want to have in the future?
  • A short essay no longer than 500 words describing the skills and experiences that have prepared you for work with immigrant communities in New York. Please do not reiterate your resume in this essay response. Instead, be specific about how 2-3 skills or experiences will be relevant to the work you anticipate you will do as a Fellow.

Questions? More Information?

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact the IJC at: info@justicecorps.org. This email address will be checked daily between February 1, 2014 and March 1, 2014 to ensure a quick response to your inquiries. Beginning February 1, please also visit our website, which will provide more background on the IJC and an updated list of FAQs: www.justicecorps.org.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

2014 Summer Fellows Program FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I apply to the Summer Fellows Program?

A: Here are the steps you should be following to apply to the Summer Fellows Program:

STEP 1: Draft a cover letter and resume. For good examples of a legal resume and cover letter download the CSO Handbook from the Symplicity website by logging in here. 
STEP 2: Applicants MUST meet with a Career Services counselor to review and edit your cover letter and resume prior to applying. You can send your resume and cover letter for review to cso@nesl.edu. CSO will also have names of potential summer internship placements to help you begin your placement search. To make an appointment to speak with a CSO Counselor call 617-422-7229.
STEP 3: Begin your search for a placement. It helps to generate a list of contacts that could help you find a placement and a list of public interest organizations, state agencies, and/or court systems (for judicial clerkships) that interest you. Once you have a general idea of who you would like to work for, you can contact a CSO counselor or the CLSR Fellow for suggestions on how to apply for an internship.
STEP 4: Apply. While you are beginning your search for an internship, you should apply to the Summer Fellows Program. There is no hard deadline to apply –applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. However, applications are strongly encouraged to apply early. By early to mid-February, your application should be completed and submitted through Symplicity. You DO NOT need to wait until you have accepted a placement to apply. 

Q: How do I find the application form?

A: The form, including important application instructions, are located on Symplicity. Here are the steps to guide you to the job posting:
  1. Log into the Symplicity website by clicking here.
  2. Click the "Job Postings" menu at the top center
  3. Select "CSO Jobnet" 
  4. Search for "New England Law Boston" as an employer or search for the posting title "Public Interest Law Summer Fellowship“
Note: Applicants must download the form, fill all fields electronically, print the form, scan the hard copy as a pdf, and upload the pdf to the applicant’s documents on Symplicity. Once the applicant’s application, cover letter, resume, references, and transcript are uploaded to their Symplicity account, the applicant will be able to select each document through the "Apply" link on the job posting.

Q: Should I wait until I find a position and then apply with the CLSR or apply now and see if I can secure a position on my own?

A: No, you should not wait to secure a placement before applying to the program. If you secure a placement after you have submitted your application, email CLSR Fellow Kevin Crane at kevin.t.crane@nesl.edu with your placement information. Include the name of the entity you are working for, the address, supervisor’s name, supervisor’s contact information, and whether or not the placement has an established internship program that includes training and supervision.

Q: Who should I send the application to?

A: Applications should be submitted through Symplicity. If you secure a placement after submitting your application, email CLSR Fellow Kevin Crane atkevin.t.crane@nesl.edu with the information described above.

Q: Do my references have to be connected with NESL?

A: No, your references are not required to be connected with NESL. An applicant should consider listing references that will speak to the applicant’s relevant professional skills and abilities and interest in public service.

Q: What are the next steps in the application process?

A: After submitting an application, students should diligently look for an internship placement on their own. After your application has been reviewed by the CSLR, selected applicants will be contacted to schedule an interview.

Q: Will the stipend of $3,500 dollars affects what I may borrow for the year for my financial aid?

A: Applicants should consult with financial aid to address issues about how the stipend impacts their broader financial situation. 

Q: Will I get paid weekly or will I be given the stipend in the beginning?

A: A final decision on how the stipend will be distributed is forthcoming. Last year fellows were paid in two installments, once in the middle of the summer, and once at the end of the summer.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Professor Haynes seeks 2 research assistants.



Prefers interest/experience in human trafficking, migration, refugee and asylum law; work study eligible; available 5-10 hours per week through semester, with possible work into summer and following year. Please send interest letter and CV to dhaynes@nesl.edu.

Monday, January 13, 2014

Internship Opportunity: MENA Intern – Emergency Investigation and Response

Interested applicants MUST contact Prof. Hanyes to apply.  

Physicians for Human Rights has an immediate need for an intern to work on several human rights research projects and international investigations related to mass atrocities and armed conflict specifically in the Middle East and North Africa.

This intern will work closely with our emergency investigations and response team by assisting with new and forthcoming investigations, as well as working on and elaborating on existing projects. The intern will be responsible for conducting in-depth background investigations on relevant international topics, including, but not limited to, creating weekly digests of current events, preparing for international field investigations, conducting background research, and contributing to international human rights publications.

Arabic fluency is required. Research will largely be conducted in Arabic.

Responsibilities

  • Conducting in-depth research on international human rights violations, armed conflict, and public health
  • Creating well-cited investigative notes and annotated outlines
  • Keeping expert notice of current events and global politics
  • Locating and analyzing current and relevant material
  • Organizing and maintaining international contact lists
  • Collaborating with organizational staff and leaders on new projects and investigations
  • Organizing and maintaining sensitive human rights data
  • Being prepared to handle emergency investigations and reports in a high energy, fast-paced environment
  • Flexibility and willingness to work on a wide variety of projects as needed

Past Investigations

Qualifications

  • Strong interest in and commitment to human rights
  • Exceptional analytical, writing, and verbal skills; superior research skills
  • Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively, effectively, and professionally in a multi-faceted organization
  • Mature judgment, strong sense of integrity, and capacity to work with minimal supervision
  • Superior organizational skills, attention to detail, and follow-through
  • Strategic thinker with excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Openness to working with individuals from all different backgrounds
  • Ability to maintain strict confidentiality
  • Flexibility and willingness to work on a wide variety of projects as needed

Location/Hours

  • The MENA intern will be based in PHR’s DC or NY offices
    This unpaid internship will require a minimum of 20 hours/week
    The position will commence in early January 2014 with at least a 3-month commitment
Interested applicants MUST contact Prof. Hanyes to apply. 

Public Service Internship in the Family Court with Senior Partners for Justice Spring 2013

Senior Partners for Justice, a unique pro bono initiative at the Volunteer Lawyers Project, is pleased to offer an internship program for law students who want to provide critical assistance to low-income clients while gaining hands-on experience in the family court.

ABOUT SENIOR PARTNERS FOR JUSTICE

Founded in 2002 by Hon. Edward M. Ginsburg, a retired justice of the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court, Senior Partners for Justice (www.spfj.org) includes practitioners of all levels of experience, from retired attorneys and judges to new bar admittees and law students, who handle family law and other matters pro bono for low-income clients who would otherwise go unrepresented.

ABOUT THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Interns are placed in the Suffolk, Middlesex, and Norfolk Probate and Family Courts, working directly alongside courthouse staff. This is an unpaid, non-credit internship, but it offers invaluable experience and a flexible schedule that can fit around other commitments. 

We ask interns to spend at least one full day (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or two half days, preferably mornings, at their courthouse each week. 

The nature of the internship is a little different at each court:

  • At Suffolk (located near North Station and Government Center), interns staff the very busy Register’s office and have the chance to help the Lawyer for the Day and observe court proceedings.
  • At Middlesex (located in East Cambridge, at the Lechmere stop of the Green Line), interns rotate between different departments, gaining broad exposure to areas including Divorce and Paternity.
  • At Norfolk (located in Canton, accessible only by car), interns work directly with the court staff members who assist unrepresented litigants, and they have a chance for more one-on-one interaction at a less busy court.

Orientation for the Spring 2013 Internship will take place the week of January 27th.  The actual program will begin the week of February 3rd and conclude the week of April 7th.

All participants in the internship program will receive support from the Senior Partners staff and invitations to trainings, luncheons, and other events through Senior Partners and VLP. It has been strongly suggested by students in the past that incoming interns take a family law training at our office. This training provides a foundation for the work the interns will be doing in the courts. The list of family law trainings is available on our website at www.vlpnet.org.  

REGISTRATION

If you have questions or would like to sign up, please contact Russell Rennie at 617-423-0648 x129 or rrennie@vlpnet.org and indicate which days you are available and which courts you prefer. You may also apply online at https://spjinternship.wufoo.com/forms/internship-in-the-probate-family-courts.


Fellowship Opportunity: Rappaport Fellows Program in Law and Public Policy – Applications due January 16

The Rappaport Fellows Program in Law and Public Policy brings together gifted students to work with top public policymakers on issues that affect residents of Greater Boston and Massachusetts.  This one-of-a-kind program exposes outstanding law students to the challenging complexities and powerful societal rewards of creating successful public policy; it is designed to attract, train, inspire, and connect emerging civic leaders and policy shapers who will guide public institutions for generations to come.   The Rappaport Fellows Program provides a generous stipend for students to participate in a 10-week summer internship in a state or local government agency in Massachusetts.  Boston-area law students not in their final year of study are eligible to apply.   The application period closes at noon on January 16, 2014.  See our website for application materials and instructions.