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.

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.

For more information about the CLSR Public Interest Law Summer Fellowship click here.

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.

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

• Bahrain — PHR documented severe violations of medical neutrality and gross misuse of tear gas against civilians
• Libya — PHR documented a massacre in Tripoli during Libya’s civil war and investigated war crimes in Misrata
• Syria — PHR documented attacks on doctors and patients in Syria

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.