Equal Justice Works: Important Dates and Information.

The 2013 Equal Justice Works Fellowship application is now open!   Please visit our website

for up-to-date information on sponsor preferences, suggestions for writing a good application and more.  In addition, we will be providing a free, informational webinar "How to Create a Successful Application for the Equal Justice Works Fellowships" on Monday, August 6.   Students interested in attending can register here.

Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Legal Fellowship opportunities for 2012-2013 have been posted.  A summary can be found on our website.  Please note that applications must be submitted directly to the host site – do not apply to Equal Justice Works. 

Connecticut Fair Housing Center: Opportunity Policy Fellow

The Connecticut Fair Housing Center, a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting fair housing, seeks a dynamic individual with a strong commitment to civil rights to join our team as an Opportunity Policy Fellow.  The Fellow will work with the Center’s staff to develop policy materials promoting housing integration, advocate on issues affecting integration and access to housing located in areas with high performing schools, access to employment, and other opportunities, analyze data affecting integration policy, and engage in outreach to urban and suburban communities.  This is a one-year fellowship.

Specific responsibilities include:

•    Developing training materials on inclusionary zoning practices.
•    Creating presentations and other materials on Fair Housing Act obligations.
•    Researching and reporting on demographic patterns and housing investments affecting integration.
•    Conducting outreach to a range of communities on zoning practices and Fair Housing Act requirements.
•    Tracking exclusionary and inclusionary zoning practices across Connecticut.
•    Following legislative developments affecting housing discrimination and racial segregation.
•    Working collaboratively with other fair housing programs and initiatives to promote fair housing.

Qualifications:

•    B.A. required, J.D. or a Masters in Planning, Geography, Sociology, or Political Science preferred;
•    Demonstrated interest in social justice or civil rights;
•    Superior research, writing, and verbal skills;
•    Computer competency;
•    Bi-lingual and/or bi-cultural individuals are encouraged to apply.
•    Strong quantitative skills including statistic a plus.

Salary:  Salary competitive with other legal non-profits plus excellent benefits.
Send resume, cover letter, and writing sample to:  Deputy Director, Erin Boggs at:eboggs@ctfairhousing.org.  The writing sample should reflect the applicant’s own work without significant revision from others.  Please do not call.
Application Deadline: Tuesday, July 31, 2012.

Job Opportunity: Fair Housing Outreach Coordinator

The Connecticut Fair Housing Center, a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting fair housing, seeks an energetic individual with a strong commitment to civil rights to join our team as an Outreach Coordinator.  The Outreach Coordinator will work collaboratively with Center’s staff to organize an urban/suburban coalition promoting fair housing, leverage multi-media organizing tools to bring attention to fair housing issues, and facilitate the Center’s outreach efforts.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Assisting with the creation and execution of an urban/suburban community organizing effort to promote housing integration.
• Participating in outreach in a range of communities on topics of fair housing, integration and access to opportunity.
• Enhancing the Center’s outreach and organizing activities through traditional media outlets and the internet.
• Coordinating the Center’s outreach initiatives.

Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree;
• Demonstrated interest in social justice or civil rights;
• Superior research, writing, and verbal skills;
• Ability to create and update websites and social media or a willingness to learn; 
• Bi-lingual and/or bi-cultural individuals are encouraged to apply.
• Experience with data analysis and mapping a plus.
• Applicants with community outreach and organizing experience encouraged to apply.

Salary:  Salary competitive with other legal non-profits plus excellent benefits.
Send resume and cover letter to:  Deputy Director, Erin Boggs at:eboggs@ctfairhousing.org. Please do not call. Application Deadline:  Tuesday, July 31, 2012.

Practitioner in Residence Opportunity at Suffolk University Law School

The Practitioner in Residence for International and Comparative Law will:
Develop and maintain quality international law internships for J.D. candidate students (both domestic and abroad);
Counsel students regarding international law internships and potential post-graduation placements;
Develop and teach a co-requisite Internship Course focusing on international and comparative law practice, skills and ethics;
Work with the faculty and administration involved in the Law School’s International Concentration to coordinate internship opportunities with curricular areas of interest and courses offered;
Develop appropriate Boston-area employers for internship possibilities for currently enrolled LL.M. students;
Work with partner organizations, like the Center for International Legal Studies, to provide for-credit internship opportunities in suitable private, public, and NGO legal placements;
Promote Suffolk University Law School’s International Law and experiential learning opportunities;
Work with key administrators, faculty and students to develop longer term strategic plans for maintaining and building Suffolk Law’s International and Comparative Law internship opportunities;
Evolve the work and responsibilities of the position as the needs of students and employers evolve.

JD and member in good standing of a state bar – Massachusetts bar admission preferred but not required. Prior experience working with international law firms, organizations and/or practitioners preferred. Previous experience working with students in either or both a teaching or counseling role preferred. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Proficiency in one or more foreign languages, preferred. Ability to work well independently and collaboratively with students, faculty members and administrators. Excellent organizational skills. Ability to handle multiple responsibilities simultaneously in a fast-paced, changing environment. Attention to detail essential. Some domestic travel required. Ability to travel internationally and to work occasional evenings and weekends as needed.

To apply visit CSO JobNet ID 7459

Position with Disability Rights California Regional Office

JOB DESCRIPTION:
The Staff Attorney shares responsibility with other legal and advocacy staff for providing information, technical assistance, outreach and training and representation in administrative and judicial proceedings to clients with disabilities. The Staff Attorney works under the direct supervision of the Associate Managing Attorney and in collaboration with other Disability Rights California attorneys and advocates in their legal, advocacy, and outreach efforts.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
1.    Provide information and short-term assistance to Disability Rights California clients.
2.    Represent clients in negotiations, mediations and judicial and administrative proceedings.
3.    Participate in impact litigation.
4.    Participate in public policy activities including, but not limited to, the reviewing and drafting of legislation and regulations.
5.    Engage in community-based advocacy, outreach, and training to disability communities and organizations, particularly to under-served communities.
6.    Prepare training materials, publications, reports and special projects.
7.    Assist with Disability Rights California organizational development and planning, including the planning and development of Disability Rights California’s Advocacy Services Plan, and participate in statewide and regional teams, usually including two substantive workgroups.
8.    Supervise and mentor law clerks and other staff as assigned.
9.    Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
(Applicants MUST meet EACH of the minimum qualifications to be considered for an interview)
1.    J.D. Degree
2.    California State Bar membership; or eligible to practice under the Registered Legal Services Attorney Program (admitted to practice in another state and eligible to practice in California for three years under the California State Bar rules for the Registered Legal Services Attorney Program, and required admittance to the California Bar within three years.)
3.    Two years paid or voluntary legal experience in any combination of the following: a) a social services, human services, community-based, public interest, civil rights or health care environment; b) as an attorney in the practice of public interest law; or c) as an attorney directly representing clients in administrative hearings and/or litigation.  Judicial clerkships or externships may be counted as up to one year of experience. 
4.    Ability to conduct research and analyses of pertinent legal authority.
5.    Ability to analyze complex problems and develop creative solutions.
6.    Effective communication skills sufficient to represent clients in legal hearings, meetings, negotiations or administrative proceedings, to actively promote legal, policy and legislative developments at state and local government levels, and to develop and conduct trainings.
7.    Experience working with or sensitivity to individuals with disabilities.
8.    Experience working with or sensitivity to individuals from ethnic or language distinct communities.
9.    The ability to work independently with appropriate supervision. 

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:
1.    Knowledge of laws, rights, and services as they pertain to people with disabilities, and/or direct representation of people with disabilities.
2.    Experience in client representation, particularly in public interest and civil rights law.
3.    Ability to read, write and speak Spanish or an Asian language, or ability to communicate using American Sign Language, with sufficient fluency to do client intakes and conduct trainings.
4.    Experience in the disability rights movement and/or extensive contacts in the disability community.
5.    Experience with and/or extensive contacts in ethnic or language distinct communities.
6.    Familiarity and/or extensive contacts with one or more of the following: homelessness, criminal justice, substance abuse or Gay/Lesbian/Bi-Sexual/Transgender/Intersex (LGBTI) communities.

To Apply Visit CSO Symplicity Job ID 7436

Disability Rights California Job Opportunities

Disability Rights California seeks attorneys who are creative problem solvers and strong advocates with a commitment to public interest work to join our staff.  We have openings for a:

-    Staff Attorney in our Los Angeles Office (which serves a southern California region with more than 15 million residents). 
-    Managing Attorney in our Sacramento Office (which covers more than dozen northern California counties stretching from the Sierras to the Oregon border). 

Disability Rights California (DRC) is a well-established, innovative non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the rights of Californians with disabilities.  DRC works to achieve fairness and justice for people with disabilities through quality representation, advocacy, investigations of abuse and neglect, peer/self advocacy services, community partnerships, legislative and regulatory advocacy work, education and outreach. Our legal work includes both individual cases and cutting-edge impact litigation.

These positions are open until filled.  We will hold the first round of interviews for the Los Angeles Staff Attorney position in July, so please apply no later than June 26 to be considered for this round. 

For more information and to apply visit CSO Symplicity Job ID 7435.

Massachusetts Veterans Stand Down: Volunteers Needed

 Below is a volunteer opportunity passed on from Shelter Legal Services:


We are currently seeking volunteers to assist with providing one-time pro bono legal counseling and advice at Massachusetts Veterans Stand Down. Stand Down is an event for homeless and at risk veterans that is sponsored by the Massachusetts National Guard, Volunteers of America, and the Dept. of Veterans Affairs. Each year, dozens of agencies get together to provide services to homeless and at risk veterans in a single location. For more information, please visit: http://www.voamass.org/Services/Veterans-Services/Operation-Stand-Down-2

We are seeking volunteers who can assist us with providing one-time counseling and advice in a variety of areas. We especially need individuals with experience in consumer debt, family law, bankruptcy, housing, and criminal matters.

Stand Down is hosted by the National Guard and the objective is to get as many service providers together as possible so that veterans with very limited resources can access services in a single location. Shelter Legal Services has participated in the event for the last four years, and last year members of the Boston Bar Association's Military & Veterans Committee joined us at the event. Volunteers should be aware that typically we are providing services outside in large Army tent, so it is not in an office environment.

We will be providing legal services on Friday, August 24, 2012. We are seeking volunteers who are available from 8:30am to 12:30pm, or 12:30pm to 4:30pm. Please let me know if you would like to attend.

Contact Shelter Legal Services at 617-552-0623 if interested.
www.shelterlegalservices.org